Relationships with NPC Crew?

[M_Wagner]

I was watching "All Good Things..." today and I had a thought that I think would be really cool for STO. What if you could establish relationship standings with your NPC crew? Like Kirk was friends with Spock and Bones, and Picard was almost like a father to Data. In all of the Trek series we see each Captain build bonds - and even romantic interest - with their crews throughout the course of the shows run. In the game, you would interact with your crew between missions and learn more about them. The better your relationship with your crew, the better they will work for you. It would add an interesting aspect to the game. Just a thought. What do you guys think?

[bradley1701]

I like the idea...so we want to combine STO with The Sims? hahaha I'm not being sarcastic either, I think it's a neat idea.

[LordDave]

Yeah but that level isn't easy to do, especially when you have the option of swapping out an NPC probably at will.

But I can just as easily write up how I have the hots for the Chief Medical Officer, but never truly express my interest.

[marscentral]

It's been touched on a little over here (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=10719) and other threads. I agree, I think you should get an attachment to the Bridge Crew and interacting with them certainly helps that..

[Trekkie]

I think that this is a great idea in concept, but beyond a roleplaying perspective I think that something like this might be difficult to implement in the game.

[Futuristicdragoon]

I was watching "All Good Things..." today and I had a thought that I think would be really cool for STO. What if you could establish relationship standings with your NPC crew? Like Kirk was friends with Spock and Bones, and Picard was almost like a father to Data. In all of the Trek series we see each Captain build bonds - and even romantic interest - with their crews throughout the course of the shows run. In the game, you would interact with your crew between missions and learn more about them. The better your relationship with your crew, the better they will work for you. It would add an interesting aspect to the game. Just a thought. What do you guys think?

I like the idea...so we want to combine STO with The Sims? hahaha I'm not being sarcastic either, I think it's a neat idea.

I'd like to talk about this idea, but first I have to go to the bathroom for 20 min, then shower for 2 hours, then watch T.V. (or else I'll be too depressed to talk.) LOL.

I think you got something going there though. I like the idea of not necessarily knowing my crews past and learning it through interaction, but not much at all like The Sims. Much more deep than that.

[PugPug]

Building a bond with your crew is a great idea, but I don't know how they'd pull that off in an MMO. They would need personalities and a LOT of dialogue, preferably voiced.

From what I've read so far, there will be a lot of crewmen available (custom, even), so I kind of assumed they'd be more like stat sheets with character models.

[The_Vulcan_Kid]

That sounds like a good idea. It would give you people to talk to if you play solo a lot, and there's the fact that it would be fun.

[Futuristicdragoon]

It might not be as hard as you think. An expansive story might be, but how they act shouldn't be too tough to program...

As a Simulation and Digital Entertainment major, I know hey could just set moods to different variables. The ship is badly damaged, some may act more angry (or hopeful in some cases.) Or more happy if you just won a battle. I don't see why simple conversation with your senior crew can't be implemented with some creative thinking and a bit of time.

[Captain_Intrepid]

It'd be funny visiting a friend's ship and watching that person engage in one-sided conversations with 'elegible' crew members.....:p

[Elvennomad]

I think at minimum it would be nice if there was a loyalty meter or something like it. Something where as your crew gains trust in your command skill this bar/level/whatever increases and they become better at there job. As far as romances are concerned ... I don't know ... I think I'd rather chat with real people lol. Although I love games that allow characters to get married in them. Don't ask me why? I really don't know? I am a sucker for an in game tux though lol.

[Keldaria]

But I can just as easily write up how I have the hots for the Chief Medical Officer, but never truly express my interest.

Lol ... Hey that gives me an idea... Muhahaha

[Futuristicdragoon]

It'd be funny visiting a friend's ship and watching that person engage in one-sided conversations with 'elegible' crew members.....:p

LMAO! That'd rock. " I'll talk to you at math class tomorrow, but right now I have a date with Lieutenant Vana! "

I think at minimum it would be nice if there was a loyalty meter or something like it. Something where as your crew gains trust in your command skill this bar/level/whatever increases and they become better at there job. As far as romances are concerned ... I don't know ... I think I'd rather chat with real people lol. Although I love games that allow characters to get married in them. Don't ask me why? I really don't know? I am a sucker for an in game tux though lol.

Yeah, a meter would be cool. To be honest though, it'd suck if they did real bad as a team just cause you didn't talk for awhile. It might be cool if it was like (I keep coming back to this, so I'm sorry!) WoW's pet meter for feeding the pets. Like the more you talk, the more stat bonuses they get. These stat bonuses would be limited though. I also wouldn't like it to be just this talk button you tap tap tap till they have +10% engineering efficiency.

Maybe it'd be like the randomizes missions... they have a random problem in their life that they maybe have to talk them through.

Well, it's all been said. I guess all we can really do is hope for the best.

[jonleach]

I like the ideal of being able to build a relationships with the NPC. Because as captain you are going to have to make decision on life and death and it would add an extra level of realizm to having to send NPC to thier death if you have invested time and resources on them. Kind of what Troy had to go thru in the NGS show where she had to send jordie (bad spelling) to his death to save the ship.

[Angryfirebird]

It might be hard having attachments though. Just think of redshirts.

[Debaser]

Won't someone please think of the redshirts!

But seriously though, are we talking Picard style relationships, or Kirk style?:p

[JMD10222]

Seeing as they want you to be able to bond with and develop your crew, I would hope they give a way to develop them in depth.

[ajaco3025]

Ugh! People are wanting too much to turn this into a Sims type of game or another Second Life. Too much customization and instancing.

[JMD10222]

Ugh! People are wanting too much to turn this into a Sims type of game or another Second Life. Too much customization and instancing.

It doest have to go that far to give it depth, and I agree I DO NOT want a Sims or Second life type game.;)

[Wackedyo]

i agree would be a great idea!!!
maybe you could earn prestige points based on your npc reputation with your current crew.
maybe you got your engineering post faster than a rival engineering officer below you, that one may try to mess with your orders as you play, slower responces when ship shileds need to be upgraded.
your medical doctor may decide to defect to thier native faction and you may be left without that npc for the duration of your voyage ? all because you were a jerk =p

millions of possiblities im sure.

[thefreshjedi]

I like the idea...so we want to combine STO with The Sims? hahaha I'm not being sarcastic either, I think it's a neat idea.

That's an interesting thought about the 3rd person perspective.

Although I'd hate to watch myself turn inside out and explode due to a transporter malfunction.

(like burning yourself alive at the stove because you forgot to clean it)

:p:D

-Avery

[marscentral]

Ugh! People are wanting too much to turn this into a Sims type of game or another Second Life. Too much customization and instancing.

I dunno about Second Life (I've given that a wide berth), but the point of the Sims is to manage these virtual people. What we really want here is for the crew to be like living, breathing people and get on with their own lives. In a way, all the customization is to prevent us having to treat them like the Sims.

[Nagilum]

I think at minimum it would be nice if there was a loyalty meter or something like it. Something where as your crew gains trust in your command skill this bar/level/whatever increases and they become better at there job. As far as romances are concerned ... I don't know ... I think I'd rather chat with real people lol. Although I love games that allow characters to get married in them. Don't ask me why? I really don't know? I am a sucker for an in game tux though lol.

I think it would be a good idea. Having a loyalty or moral meter that you have to maintain so that your ship will function at optimal levels.

[Lt.Renak]

a real great idea. One way to implement could be just klicking on your crew members and choose between different themes. The more crew members you interact this way the better they work for you. O.K. some will read the texts others not. But this would be a matter of interest

[Angelphoenix12]

i would to have a ferture like this in the game. :D