Group Away-Team Incentives

[Crux]

It has been mentioned that we will have the option of grouping with players from other ships to perform group oriented tasks. If we don't have enough officers to fill a team we can use NPCs to fill in the open spots.

It has also been said that our senior bridge crew has the ability to grow and gain experience the more we use them therefore improving our bonuses for our ship/crew. My question is what incentives do I have to group with others when I can play solo and improve my entire crew therefore improving my bonuses quicker? Anyone have any ideas how they could add incentives to group but not hamper the progress of our NPC crew?

[cavilier210]

i figure its just a social fun factor for the most part. maybe the NPC bridge crew grows as your PC character grows. like a direct link between them

[jayrelo]

perhaps when we gain exp, our npc crew levels with us regardless if they are with us or not.

[Sabrel]

Since Cryptic tends to describe your bridge crew more as "pets" rather than as full-fledged individual NPCs, I imagine they'll level up with your PC, regardless of if they actually go on the mission. It's the easiest and simplest way to handle things, rather than having to get into balancing incentives. I can't really think of a reason for requiring the NPCs to be there to level, aside from a "realism" factor, which I would gladly see ignored in favor of more fun gameplay.

[Trekkie]

Honestly, I think that interacting with other people is reward enough for me, but I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of system that encourages group play implemented.