Greetings, Captains! You’re listening to Episode 179 of Priority One Podcast, the premier Star Trek Online podcast! This episode was recorded on Thursday, June 19th, 2014 and published on Monday, June 23rd, 2014 at PriorityOnePodcast.com!
Captains, we Trek Out a webcomic that’s been around for some time, but may have slipped under your Trek-Radar with its creator Mark Farinas!
In STONews, D’Angelo announces Season 9.5 will arrive in late July with Season 9 Dev Blog #24. There is then a followup RP letter from Commander Jenna Romaine of Memory Alpha explaining the changes to “R&D,” and a quick introduction to some of the changes to crafting materials from STODesigner, Jesse Heinig.
But, to really answer our questions about the coming Crafting update we welcome Star Trek Online’s Lead Designer Al “Captain Geko” Rivera!
With an Al Rivera Interview, we’ll forgo the Community Spotlight this week and open Hailing Frequencies to see what’s incoming from you — our listeners.
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Topics Discussed
— NET NEUTRALITY —
This week’s Community Question
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Elio is a Northern New Jersey Cuban-American and graduate of Kean University, having earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance in 2011. He has performed in internationally renowned performance halls such as Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic, as a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, and in Beijing, China as a representative for Kean University. Since 2012, he has had the wonderful opportunity to Executive Produce Priority One – the premiere Star Trek Online podcast. Whether recruiting, managing the global team of talented volunteers, arranging interviews with special guests, editing, web-development, finding sponsors, managing crowd funding, or writing content for the podcast, Elio has a hand in it all. A long-time Trekkie, Elio has been watching the series since he was a child and sneaking in late night, back-to-back, episodes of TNG reruns. He finally embraced the Trekdom in college and spent many hours catching up on the entire multiverse…. instead of studying.
Greetings, Captains! You’re listening to Episode 178 of Priority One Podcast, the premier Star Trek Online podcast! This episode was recorded on Thursday, June 12th, 2014 and published on Monday, June […]
James on 2014-06-27
The crafting episode was good, but in looking through the boards and such I am not seeing much in relation to reverse engineering items in game to get their components to be able to craft other items. Most MMOs with crafting also have that as well.
I would like to see this mechanic added into the game.
James on 2019-01-30
The crafting episode was good, but in looking through the boards and such I am not seeing much in relation to reverse engineering items in game to get their components to be able to craft other items. Most MMOs with crafting also have that as well.
I would like to see this mechanic added into the game.
LordShadow007 on 2014-06-27
Personally, I haven’t messed with the current crafting system much because all the craftable equipment can be found on the exchange, from item drops, lock boxes, or mission rewards. To be completely interested in crafting items, they would have to be items unattainable through the above mentioned methods. Currently, the only way to combine three weapon types together is to obtain a hybrid weapons [i.e. Phased Polaron Weapons] and adding in the Embassy science consoles that add plasma damage to the weapons.
As for Warp/Singularity cores, I would like to be able to craft cores that are not found currently in game. Same with consoles, shields, deflectors, and impulse engines.
As for the costs, if it is going to cost a large amount of dilithium, then the refinement cap should be increased. True most players can refine an additional 500/day and Veteran players can refine an additional 1000/day, but for high dilithium costs, the dilithium refinement cap needs to be increased.
The main thing I am interested in is the new expansion that is supposed to be slated for later this year. I am interested in knowing where the story is going. Personally, I would like for the Gamma Quadrant to be opened up, but with the current direction of the current over-all story, the Delta Quadrant will be opened up for players before the Gamma Quadrant will be.
LordShadow007 on 2019-01-30
Personally, I haven’t messed with the current crafting system much because all the craftable equipment can be found on the exchange, from item drops, lock boxes, or mission rewards. To be completely interested in crafting items, they would have to be items unattainable through the above mentioned methods. Currently, the only way to combine three weapon types together is to obtain a hybrid weapons [i.e. Phased Polaron Weapons] and adding in the Embassy science consoles that add plasma damage to the weapons.
As for Warp/Singularity cores, I would like to be able to craft cores that are not found currently in game. Same with consoles, shields, deflectors, and impulse engines.
As for the costs, if it is going to cost a large amount of dilithium, then the refinement cap should be increased. True most players can refine an additional 500/day and Veteran players can refine an additional 1000/day, but for high dilithium costs, the dilithium refinement cap needs to be increased.
The main thing I am interested in is the new expansion that is supposed to be slated for later this year. I am interested in knowing where the story is going. Personally, I would like for the Gamma Quadrant to be opened up, but with the current direction of the current over-all story, the Delta Quadrant will be opened up for players before the Gamma Quadrant will be.
seannewboy on 2014-06-26
Thanks for dropping by Al, great show everyone.
As for the new crafting, pribably the most complete dil sink aver created for sto.
seannewboy on 2019-01-30
Thanks for dropping by Al, great show everyone.
As for the new crafting, pribably the most complete dil sink aver created for sto.
Vivienne Anthony on 2014-06-25
Can there be more interviews and in depth of maybe some other sci-fi related? I really am losing hope that Star Trek Online will start to create content and gameplay that follows Star Trek. It seems Star Trek Online has been taking the Star Trek from Star Trek Online turning it to Combat Online.
Starting with players losing the one thing that any player desired is advancement and skill progression with the major traits and reputation system passive skills Nerf. Now the time and money gating dilithium sucking crafting system. Additionally, removal of the the sector clusters. Veteran players are being ignored.
Frankly, it seems Priority One Podcast is losing some belief or hope that Star Trek Online can provide a Star Trek MMO experience that sticks to IP. I say it’s time to move on.
Vivienne Anthony on 2019-01-30
Can there be more interviews and in depth of maybe some other sci-fi related? I really am losing hope that Star Trek Online will start to create content and gameplay that follows Star Trek. It seems Star Trek Online has been taking the Star Trek from Star Trek Online turning it to Combat Online.
Starting with players losing the one thing that any player desired is advancement and skill progression with the major traits and reputation system passive skills Nerf. Now the time and money gating dilithium sucking crafting system. Additionally, removal of the the sector clusters. Veteran players are being ignored.
Frankly, it seems Priority One Podcast is losing some belief or hope that Star Trek Online can provide a Star Trek MMO experience that sticks to IP. I say it’s time to move on.
Hayden Jones on 2014-06-25
I’d like to see the following things in a crafting system:
1) I want the ability to just do pure research. i.e. The crafting does not produce an item for us but would provide additional experience.
2) It would be nice if a character could specialize in one type of item. A person could change their specialization but at a cost.
3) Please promise me there will be more schools coming. For example, it is not clear to me what school would be associated with science consoles.
4) Please leave the system open to expansion for crafting ships and ship interiors.
Hayden Jones on 2014-06-26
WRT #3, okay Science consoles go under the ‘Science’ school (how did I miss that)
Hayden Jones on 2019-01-30
I’d like to see the following things in a crafting system:
1) I want the ability to just do pure research. i.e. The crafting does not produce an item for us but would provide additional experience.
2) It would be nice if a character could specialize in one type of item. A person could change their specialization but at a cost.
3) Please promise me there will be more schools coming. For example, it is not clear to me what school would be associated with science consoles.
4) Please leave the system open to expansion for crafting ships and ship interiors.
Hayden Jones on 2019-01-30
WRT #3, okay Science consoles go under the ‘Science’ school (how did I miss that)
Miroslav on 2014-06-25
I have listen lot of things but more boring thing I never listened in my life. This is already 5th podcast and you are not getting better. Sorry but find something you can do. Thank you for you hard work and time you invested but this is not your thing. Where are the 2 guys from STOKED look at their work.
Elijah on 2014-06-25
Thanks for your input! We’ll be sure to take your amazingly constructive criticism into consideration!
Miroslav on 2019-01-30
I have listen lot of things but more boring thing I never listened in my life. This is already 5th podcast and you are not getting better. Sorry but find something you can do. Thank you for you hard work and time you invested but this is not your thing. Where are the 2 guys from STOKED look at their work.
Elijah on 2019-01-30
Thanks for your input! We’ll be sure to take your amazingly constructive criticism into consideration!
Ben Churchill on 2014-06-24
Great interview with Al guys! The new crafting system sounds great. It seems complex enough to keep me interested in levelling up more so than the current system, that I just gave up on. It needs to be complex to keep people engaged in it. Eventually crafting ships, that sounds amazing!!! I loved Al’s comment when looking for a white doff, “I don’t have any white doffs…because…I’m a developer…” Thanks Al, it sounds like you and the team has been working hard and continues to work hard on this new system! Can’t wait to try it on Holodeck.
Eklinaar on 2014-06-24
There’s one thing I’d like to know that wasn’t covered. Will characters be limited to mastery in only a single crafting “school” or will a single character be able to max out every crafting school?
Ben Churchill on 2014-06-24
As far as my understanding, you can do all of them, but best to invest in one or two as it could take some time to level up all of them at the same time.
Eklinaar on 2014-06-24
Also, I’d like to point out that subscribing monthly is very worthwhile under very specific circumstances. The first circumstance is if you have never subscribed before and you are never going to make any more alts. In this case, it is very worthwhile to subscribe for a single month, and then cancel your subscription. This single month gives you a bunch of unlocks, like bank and inventory slots and BOff slots, that you keep after unsubscribing. The other situation where it is very worthwhile to subscribe is if you are actively leveling very frequently. If you are going to level up one or more characters to promotion points (like Commander to Captain, etc) multiple times in a month, then it becomes very worthwhile to have an active subscription, and then to cancel it when you are no longer leveling. Of course, the lifetime subscription is by far “the most bang for your buck”, but carefully planned temporary monthly subscriptions are worthwhile for those who find the $200 price tag too high.
Sunseahl on 2014-06-24
It’s sad that Al’s didn’t really address the biggest issue here…. Yes they may tweak he Dilithium costs…. but WHY is there a Dilithium cost at all?
Doen’t it already take 4 days for me to get rep gear? Why do I now need to also sink Dilithium into a crafting system reputation in which my only payout will be EC and ONLY if I get those VR or Elites….
Make no mistakes here either, this IS a new reputation. In fact there are several separate ones at once and leveling it will have no value to me as lower level or lower rarity items are always dirt cheap on the exchange, even after they tweak the junk vendors purchasing prices.
And anyone who defends this by saying “they have to make money somehow” They already will! Catalysts will be their own friggin’ crafting DOff pack thing and be stuffed in lockboxes.
You can’t tell me that my using dilithium ensures they make money when they’re already gonna make it with a Zindi Lockbox.
Ben Churchill on 2019-01-30
Great interview with Al guys! The new crafting system sounds great. It seems complex enough to keep me interested in levelling up more so than the current system, that I just gave up on. It needs to be complex to keep people engaged in it. Eventually crafting ships, that sounds amazing!!! I loved Al’s comment when looking for a white doff, “I don’t have any white doffs…because…I’m a developer…” Thanks Al, it sounds like you and the team has been working hard and continues to work hard on this new system! Can’t wait to try it on Holodeck.
Losdos on 2014-06-24
Things I get from Captain Geko’s comments on the new expansion to the doff system (I mean crafting system).
1. This really isn’t an alpha, its what a beta should be, but we are gunna call it an alpha. We want you to think you actually have a say at how we are creating this. What you see is basically what you are going to get but there might be a few tweaks and we are going to polish it up a bit.
2. It’s still going to be random. It gets less random as you get better skill but there will not be certainty. Why give you what you want first time when we want you to spend a ton of dilithium trying again or spend real money on the new catalysts (we don’t actually know whet a catalyst is)
3. It’s going to be part of the doff system. Certain projects will only be completed by doffs that can only be brought off the c-store (or for millions off the exchange).
4. Dilithium costs might change, but not be anything meaningful.
5. They don’t understand what a dilithium sink is. The dilithium store was not a sink, but they are changing it to a doff system that will eat through even the biggest savers dilithium reserves.
6. It is going to take a very long time and/or be very expensive to get to the stage that you might get anything useful, because that’s how we think it should be. But, we will let you try and get something useful when you start out but give you worse odds than getting a ship out of a ship out of a lock box.
7. We are designing the new doff UI to work on a mobile device. Even if we can’t actually get it to run on a mobile device, it will still look like it could be.
8. Existing crafters of the current system get sweet FA. It only took the a few hours to get there, because I have a magic Dev button that gives me everything I need. The new system is sooo different, we changed the name for the materials, made it so that it is done by doffs, split it into different “Schools”, and got rid of the near instant and and convenient crafting times. Just because you can craft a full Aegis set now deosn’t mean you should be able to craft a full Aegis set in the new system withough spending months grinding (you could always pay hundreds of thousands of refined dilithium to get the ability back sooner).
9. This was built with new toons, which they get access to after that get access to the doff system (because this is the doff system). Lets not mention the need for certain doffs that they need to actually use this system might not be given to them at the start.
10. We might add the things people actually want from a doff crafting system, at some point in the future… we promise… seriously guys, this time we mean it…
seannewboy on 2014-06-26
This is how i feel about the new crafting system at this time.
Curzon Peers on 2014-06-24
I am glad to hear more about crafting, though do have some concerns on their plans for later.
I have checked it out on Tribble and like it so far and do realize things can and will change so the only suggestion I can make is that the Dilithium cost be related to what grade item we are MOST LIKEY to get at the level we are expected to craft it at. For instance, if Cryptic expects us to attempt to craft XIIs at level 15 but Rares are more likely than Very rares (and uncommon has little to no chance, the dilithium cost should be on par with that mark and grade. That way we aren’t losing anything by a bad craft but there’s a chance for a bonus.
As far as the future, I am hoping crafting catalysts and doffs can be bought normally. Doff packs and lockboxes are alright and such, and great as a requirement to craft alien gear, but for any Starfleet/KDF/Romulan gear (like the Aegis) I want to be able to spend my dilithium to guarantee I will get what I need to craft it.
Eklinaar on 2019-01-30
There’s one thing I’d like to know that wasn’t covered. Will characters be limited to mastery in only a single crafting “school” or will a single character be able to max out every crafting school?
Ben Churchill on 2019-01-30
As far as my understanding, you can do all of them, but best to invest in one or two as it could take some time to level up all of them at the same time.
Eklinaar on 2019-01-30
Also, I’d like to point out that subscribing monthly is very worthwhile under very specific circumstances. The first circumstance is if you have never subscribed before and you are never going to make any more alts. In this case, it is very worthwhile to subscribe for a single month, and then cancel your subscription. This single month gives you a bunch of unlocks, like bank and inventory slots and BOff slots, that you keep after unsubscribing. The other situation where it is very worthwhile to subscribe is if you are actively leveling very frequently. If you are going to level up one or more characters to promotion points (like Commander to Captain, etc) multiple times in a month, then it becomes very worthwhile to have an active subscription, and then to cancel it when you are no longer leveling. Of course, the lifetime subscription is by far “the most bang for your buck”, but carefully planned temporary monthly subscriptions are worthwhile for those who find the $200 price tag too high.
Sunseahl on 2019-01-30
It’s sad that Al’s didn’t really address the biggest issue here…. Yes they may tweak he Dilithium costs…. but WHY is there a Dilithium cost at all?
Doen’t it already take 4 days for me to get rep gear? Why do I now need to also sink Dilithium into a crafting system reputation in which my only payout will be EC and ONLY if I get those VR or Elites….
Make no mistakes here either, this IS a new reputation. In fact there are several separate ones at once and leveling it will have no value to me as lower level or lower rarity items are always dirt cheap on the exchange, even after they tweak the junk vendors purchasing prices.
And anyone who defends this by saying “they have to make money somehow” They already will! Catalysts will be their own friggin’ crafting DOff pack thing and be stuffed in lockboxes.
You can’t tell me that my using dilithium ensures they make money when they’re already gonna make it with a Zindi Lockbox.
Losdos on 2019-01-30
Things I get from Captain Geko’s comments on the new expansion to the doff system (I mean crafting system).
1. This really isn’t an alpha, its what a beta should be, but we are gunna call it an alpha. We want you to think you actually have a say at how we are creating this. What you see is basically what you are going to get but there might be a few tweaks and we are going to polish it up a bit.
2. It’s still going to be random. It gets less random as you get better skill but there will not be certainty. Why give you what you want first time when we want you to spend a ton of dilithium trying again or spend real money on the new catalysts (we don’t actually know whet a catalyst is)
3. It’s going to be part of the doff system. Certain projects will only be completed by doffs that can only be brought off the c-store (or for millions off the exchange).
4. Dilithium costs might change, but not be anything meaningful.
5. They don’t understand what a dilithium sink is. The dilithium store was not a sink, but they are changing it to a doff system that will eat through even the biggest savers dilithium reserves.
6. It is going to take a very long time and/or be very expensive to get to the stage that you might get anything useful, because that’s how we think it should be. But, we will let you try and get something useful when you start out but give you worse odds than getting a ship out of a ship out of a lock box.
7. We are designing the new doff UI to work on a mobile device. Even if we can’t actually get it to run on a mobile device, it will still look like it could be.
8. Existing crafters of the current system get sweet FA. It only took the a few hours to get there, because I have a magic Dev button that gives me everything I need. The new system is sooo different, we changed the name for the materials, made it so that it is done by doffs, split it into different “Schools”, and got rid of the near instant and and convenient crafting times. Just because you can craft a full Aegis set now deosn’t mean you should be able to craft a full Aegis set in the new system withough spending months grinding (you could always pay hundreds of thousands of refined dilithium to get the ability back sooner).
9. This was built with new toons, which they get access to after that get access to the doff system (because this is the doff system). Lets not mention the need for certain doffs that they need to actually use this system might not be given to them at the start.
10. We might add the things people actually want from a doff crafting system, at some point in the future… we promise… seriously guys, this time we mean it…
seannewboy on 2019-01-30
This is how i feel about the new crafting system at this time.
Curzon Peers on 2019-01-30
I am glad to hear more about crafting, though do have some concerns on their plans for later.
I have checked it out on Tribble and like it so far and do realize things can and will change so the only suggestion I can make is that the Dilithium cost be related to what grade item we are MOST LIKEY to get at the level we are expected to craft it at. For instance, if Cryptic expects us to attempt to craft XIIs at level 15 but Rares are more likely than Very rares (and uncommon has little to no chance, the dilithium cost should be on par with that mark and grade. That way we aren’t losing anything by a bad craft but there’s a chance for a bonus.
As far as the future, I am hoping crafting catalysts and doffs can be bought normally. Doff packs and lockboxes are alright and such, and great as a requirement to craft alien gear, but for any Starfleet/KDF/Romulan gear (like the Aegis) I want to be able to spend my dilithium to guarantee I will get what I need to craft it.
Lord-Ice on 2014-06-23
Something that Geko said bothered the crap out of me. You’re lowering the prices on Deflectors and raising them on weapons… based on the usefulness of the item. You are *deliberately* inflating prices, completely arbitrarily, because players want more of one thing.
Lowering the costs of deflectors isn’t going to raise demand for deflectors. Raising the price of space weapons will – and already has – upset a lot of players. You are making it arbitrarily harder to get the things players want most and you refuse to increase refining caps. It’s almost like you’re saying “we want you to buy ZEN to get dilithium for these items so we can make money.”
NO. That is bad marketing. Ships require 6-8 weapons to gear at end-game. So, they should cost less, because you need more of them. Instead, you are raising prices… why? Because you can? Why do weapons NEED to cost more? They don’t. What you are doing is terrible.
sanokskyrat on 2014-06-23
Crafting revamp. Hell yes. I understand its in “Alpha” but I have deep concerns.
Players are never really listen to about costs, because we want it to be easier, (looking at you Duty officers grinding). And with all the changes with the rep stf’s you do get less dil as the marks and the BNP drops have changed. But i feel that devs never listen to use about it.
I am glad to see ALL normal weapon type are there from day one, as i have over 30 toons and making some purple items would be awesome. It will be so much fun fighting around with a NX class with all purple gear with anti-protons, during the the half way point in the tutorial, or making great gear for a friend who i am trying to get in to the game.
I have alot more to say but I’ve covered on the forums.
ddesjardins on 2014-06-23
Really wish they had communicated this better before adding it to Tribble.
I judged what I saw and was appalled. Although they have not always ‘done’ what they’ve said within podcasts, if they do follow through with the changes mentioned in this podcast, it’s doesn’t sound so bad.
Lord-Ice on 2019-01-30
Something that Geko said bothered the crap out of me. You’re lowering the prices on Deflectors and raising them on weapons… based on the usefulness of the item. You are *deliberately* inflating prices, completely arbitrarily, because players want more of one thing.
Lowering the costs of deflectors isn’t going to raise demand for deflectors. Raising the price of space weapons will – and already has – upset a lot of players. You are making it arbitrarily harder to get the things players want most and you refuse to increase refining caps. It’s almost like you’re saying “we want you to buy ZEN to get dilithium for these items so we can make money.”
NO. That is bad marketing. Ships require 6-8 weapons to gear at end-game. So, they should cost less, because you need more of them. Instead, you are raising prices… why? Because you can? Why do weapons NEED to cost more? They don’t. What you are doing is terrible.
sanokskyrat on 2019-01-30
Crafting revamp. Hell yes. I understand its in “Alpha” but I have deep concerns.
Players are never really listen to about costs, because we want it to be easier, (looking at you Duty officers grinding). And with all the changes with the rep stf’s you do get less dil as the marks and the BNP drops have changed. But i feel that devs never listen to use about it.
I am glad to see ALL normal weapon type are there from day one, as i have over 30 toons and making some purple items would be awesome. It will be so much fun fighting around with a NX class with all purple gear with anti-protons, during the the half way point in the tutorial, or making great gear for a friend who i am trying to get in to the game.
I have alot more to say but I’ve covered on the forums.
ddesjardins on 2019-01-30
Really wish they had communicated this better before adding it to Tribble.
I judged what I saw and was appalled. Although they have not always ‘done’ what they’ve said within podcasts, if they do follow through with the changes mentioned in this podcast, it’s doesn’t sound so bad.
The_Grand_Nagus on 2014-06-23
A crafting revamp is long overdue, so I’m glad its finally happening. That said, I strongly dislike them removing all star cluster missions. Granted they werent the best, but they were something to do if you only had 10 minutes to play, and now if I only have 10 minutes to play I wont bother logging in. Thats not a good thing.
The_Grand_Nagus on 2014-06-23
Star cluster missions also gave me something to do on my alts that didnt feel like I was replaying the exact same mission I had just played on another character, since they were random. Now I will be playing a lot less with my alts, which is also not a good thing.
Lanceandragon on 2014-06-23
Well Al pretty much cleared most of my worries and fears of the system. I still don’t like the idea of having to make 20 little items for my final item but there has to be some time investment some where. Maybe we could get some recipes that just give an item that is worth ECs and give a big chuck of crafting school so it doesn’t feel like I’m making equipment that I’m just going to vendor anyway. A means to break down your crafted to get some of the used components back would be nice as well.
The_Grand_Nagus on 2019-01-30
A crafting revamp is long overdue, so I’m glad its finally happening. That said, I strongly dislike them removing all star cluster missions. Granted they werent the best, but they were something to do if you only had 10 minutes to play, and now if I only have 10 minutes to play I wont bother logging in. Thats not a good thing.
The_Grand_Nagus on 2019-01-30
Star cluster missions also gave me something to do on my alts that didnt feel like I was replaying the exact same mission I had just played on another character, since they were random. Now I will be playing a lot less with my alts, which is also not a good thing.
Lanceandragon on 2019-01-30
Well Al pretty much cleared most of my worries and fears of the system. I still don’t like the idea of having to make 20 little items for my final item but there has to be some time investment some where. Maybe we could get some recipes that just give an item that is worth ECs and give a big chuck of crafting school so it doesn’t feel like I’m making equipment that I’m just going to vendor anyway. A means to break down your crafted to get some of the used components back would be nice as well.
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