Will there be "life" in the STO galaxy?

[daviboi83]

What i mean by this is; could you be flying through a sector of space, detect a ship nearby, drop out of warp to investigate, to find that it is simply an asteroid mining vessel. Therefore you fire up the ol' warp drive and carry on your original course?

The best game i have encountered for this kind of NPC activity is the x series of games. loads of traders, miners pirates etc going about their business.

Also, should you feel the need, you could blast them and pinch their cargo! the choices!

Perhaps if this was the case, fed ships would be alerted of the pirate raid with an option to investigate.

I just wonder to what extent we will see this non instanced gameplay in STO, or if we will go from instance to instance pretty much!

Thoughts...

[Redshirt_40067]

The devs had said before that you can receive distress calls randomly and choose to ignore them, or render assistance. I imagine that your tactical officer would be able to report an unknown vessel on scanners, allowing you to choose to drop from warp or continue on course. Would make an interesting change of pace with this kind of random encounter.

[IIntrude]

I am hoping that we will encounter random enemy patrols, pirates and syndicate groups pillaging shipping lanes. I hope we will be assisting freighters under attack, and helping to repair ships damaged in plasma storms. There are so many possibilities for interaction beyond that of combat in the Trek universe, I have to believe that we will be taking place in many such encounters.

[Anichent]

I want the galaxy to be filled with random ships: transports, privateers, shuttles from neutral races, but not that it always has to be an event

I want to warp to Vulcan, or a new world, or a random sector, see random ships...no distress calls, no hailing, no missing...just see them. So the galaxy feels real

[Loekii]

I want the galaxy to be filled with random ships: transports, privateers, shuttles from neutral races, but not that it always has to be an event

I want to warp to Vulcan, or a new world, or a random sector, see random ships...no distress calls, no hailing, no missing...just see them. So the galaxy feels real

I agree with you and the OP on this.

I do not want every ship to be 'an encounter' as well.

I would like to see random ships that really have nothing to do with me flying about -- Ferengi traders, vulcan scientists, etc.

When I go to DS9, I want to see activity beyond just 'players and Vendors'. I want to see Diplomats and traders walking about, as well as various no-bodies.

Yes, I would like to see 'Life' outside the scope of the game.

[IIntrude]

I agree with you and the OP on this.

I do not want every ship to be 'an encounter' as well.

I would like to see random ships that really have nothing to do with me flying about -- Ferengi traders, vulcan scientists, etc.

When I go to DS9, I want to see activity beyond just 'players and Vendors'. I want to see Diplomats and traders walking about, as well as various no-bodies.

Yes, I would like to see 'Life' outside the scope of the game.

Can you imagine the first time you make it to DS9, and if the game "life" is as we hope, seeing the wormhole open up for the first time and some random ships come through, some docking at the station, others heading to Bajor, while others head off on their endeavors? If the universe is "living" like that I will be unbelievably pleased.

[PattonJ007]

I can see it now ... the space around DS9 is going to be like a crowded parking lot and if you get onto the station its going to be just like Ironforge back in "vanilla" WoW.

...I cant wait :)

[Manta2015]

The wormhole opening and closing... indeed ~ C'mon, Cryptic, nail the way this one looks, please =)


-Manta-

[.Spartan]

I agree with you and the OP on this.

I do not want every ship to be 'an encounter' as well.

I would like to see random ships that really have nothing to do with me flying about -- Ferengi traders, vulcan scientists, etc.

When I go to DS9, I want to see activity beyond just 'players and Vendors'. I want to see Diplomats and traders walking about, as well as various no-bodies.

Yes, I would like to see 'Life' outside the scope of the game.

I concur. I want it to feel like a dynamic and engaging atmosphere beyond the players or scripted components.

[Anichent]

I can see it now ... the space around DS9 is going to be like a crowded parking lot and if you get onto the station its going to be just like Ironforge back in "vanilla" WoW.

...I cant wait :)

The wormhole opening and closing... indeed ~ C'mon, Cryptic, nail the way this one looks, please =)


-Manta-

Then again, dont go overboard and have it so there are tons and tons of ships at DS9. It was never overly crowded, but alive would be nice :)

[IIntrude]

I am now wondering, thinking about the "parking lot comment" will DS9 be represented on the System Space map where you can fly your ship around and see other players doing the same. Or will it be represented on the Sector Space view, as simply a destination to travel to and once there you simply load into the station interior map? Hmmmm....

[billybob442]

I am hoping that we will encounter random enemy patrols, pirates and syndicate groups pillaging shipping lanes. I hope we will be assisting freighters under attack, and helping to repair ships damaged in plasma storms. There are so many possibilities for interaction beyond that of combat in the Trek universe, I have to believe that we will be taking place in many such encounters.

I'm a bit worried that the game may be too combat oriented for Trek. So far that's all that's been shown or discussed by the devs. If they don't include a fair number of these kinds of interactions I'll be sorely disappointed as it would hurt the "Trek experience" ... which is what the game should be all about.

[Jaymz]

I am now wondering, thinking about the "parking lot comment" will DS9 be represented on the System Space map where you can fly your ship around and see other players doing the same. Or will it be represented on the Sector Space view, as simply a destination to travel to and once there you simply load into the station interior map? Hmmmm....

It could be instanced. That would prevent the parking lot issues while letting you take a good gander at it, that is, circle around it while playing the DS9 theme on the stereo.

Speaking of which, what kind of stereo comes with a 2409 Starfleet vessel?

[Loekii]

I am now wondering, thinking about the "parking lot comment" will DS9 be represented on the System Space map where you can fly your ship around and see other players doing the same. Or will it be represented on the Sector Space view, as simply a destination to travel to and once there you simply load into the station interior map? Hmmmm....

I think one way to avoid the 'parking lot' effect, is to do the ladder -- just a destination that loads you into the station when you approach it.

[IIntrude]

I'm a bit worried that the game may be too combat oriented for Trek. So far that's all that's been shown or discussed by the devs. If they don't include a fair number of these kinds of interactions I'll be sorely disappointed as it would hurt the "Trek experience" ... which is what the game should be all about.

I can understand them focusing on combat scenarios so far, as honestly that is what will draw in non Trekkies, the ability to blow some stuff up real good with cool looking ships.

But I must agree with you 100% and I hope Cryptic is listening, there needs to be a lot more to STO than blowing things up. There hopefully will be a crazy amount of rescue missions, humanitarian runs, exploration of planets where not a single shot is fired, but some kind of amazing discovery that aids your ship is made.
The Federation are explorers and researchers first and foremost, and that should play a HUGE role in the game.

I almost hope that we see a real split in players, those interested in combat and glory go to the KDF, while those interested in exploration and defense of others migrate toward the federation. It would be more "realistic" like that I suppose.

[IIntrude]

It could be instanced. That would prevent the parking lot issues while letting you take a good gander at it, that is, circle around it while playing the DS9 theme on the stereo.

Speaking of which, what kind of stereo comes with a 2409 Starfleet vessel?

I don't know but the damn kid down the street drives his past my house every night with those awful subwoofers a booming. I don't understand how he can even hear the Red Alert Klaxon anymore.

[Varrangian]

I can understand them focusing on combat scenarios so far, as honestly that is what will draw in non Trekkies, the ability to blow some stuff up real good with cool looking ships.

But I must agree with you 100% and I hope Cryptic is listening, there needs to be a lot more to STO than blowing things up. There hopefully will be a crazy amount of rescue missions, humanitarian runs, exploration of planets where not a single shot is fired, but some kind of amazing discovery that aids your ship is made.
The Federation are explorers and researchers first and foremost, and that should play a HUGE role in the game.

I almost hope that we see a real split in players, those interested in combat and glory go to the KDF, while those interested in exploration and defense of others migrate toward the federation. It would be more "realistic" like that I suppose.

One of the problems with non-combat content is that it becomes hard to talk about without giving away "plots". And while we'd all love to see a game that didn't get repetitive I'm afraid the reality is that given time, resources and technology there are only so many "plots" they can devise.

As to the original post. I doubt we will see the scenario. The reason being is that dropping out of warp to investigate something that turns out to result in no actual game play content (a wild goose chase if you will) is a wast of development resources. Yes it adds ambiance, but In order to develop a game with enough content (even exploration type content) means that the focus will always be with "events" and "actions".

The more likely scenario is dropping out of warp to find a mining ship contaminated with an infectious disease and you have to find a way to cure it without infecting your ship. This is not combat oriented content, but it is still focused on "action".

Let's be honest that is exactly how the shows work. We are hardly ever show routine mundane patrols in Trek the don't result in some form of "action". It would be unfair and unreasonable to expect that a Trek game (not sim) would be any different from the shows.

[IIntrude]

I agree Varrangian, I just hope that there is a very healthy dose of the non-blowy-up kind of action as well.

[Varrangian]

I agree Varrangian, I just hope that there is a very healthy dose of the non-blowy-up kind of action as well.

It is hard to say, we just haven't heard much. But then again I can understand keeping it under wraps for a while, it is what will (if done properly) set STO apart from other MMOs (regardless of genre).

[Loekii]

It is hard to say, we just haven't heard much. But then again I can understand keeping it under wraps for a while, it is what will (if done properly) set STO apart from other MMOs (regardless of genre).

Imo, it is a big undertaking.

Combat is easy - See rat, kill rat, loot.

Non-combat content is a different beast entirely, and is something other MMOs have avoided.

If Cryptic can successfully pull it off, it could be a hallmark of the game.

[Redshirt_40067]

How about implementing a player-driven content system? Players can "craft" their own scenarios, even providing NPCs to interact with or fight, along with rewards. I'd go so far as to suggest that these scenarios be able to be "packaged", copied, and tradeable to others for their enjoyment. SWG is doing it now, and from all accounts, the system is coming along nicely. Would definitely give the RP crowd something to do aside from whining about no RP content or interferance from non-RPers. I've seen it happen in other games like SWG and LOTRO.

[Musterion]

I am hoping that we will encounter random enemy patrols, pirates and syndicate groups pillaging shipping lanes. I hope we will be assisting freighters under attack, and helping to repair ships damaged in plasma storms. There are so many possibilities for interaction beyond that of combat in the Trek universe, I have to believe that we will be taking place in many such encounters.

I absolutely agree with this and hope all of these things will be in-game :)

[Archangelwoghd]

I'm sure that they will have a random encounter system in place that is similar to their genesis system.
This will be cool.

[Tain]

I'm sure that they will have a random encounter system in place that is similar to their genesis system.
This will be cool.

I totally agree. There were alot of interesting random encounters throughout all the series.

[ransomwk]

I support this. Especially for places like DS9, it's an open port, there should be people there. Ships coming and going, and not despawning as soon as they leave the sector.

[128hoodmario]

But if we have DS9 then people are going to want to go through the wormhole. Only the Alpha and Beta quadrants have been confirmed so far for STO so how would they control people being able to visit DS9 but not being able to go through the wormhole

[ransomwk]

But if we have DS9 then people are going to want to go through the wormhole. Only the Alpha and Beta quadrants have been confirmed so far for STO so how would they control people being able to visit DS9 but not being able to go through the wormhole

Simple, go into the worm hole, and the Prophets boot you back out the way you came in.

[keldarus88]

That, also you could have an officer say "Captain, we haven't been cleared by Starfleet to travel to the Gamma Quadrent yet!" and just dont allow you in.



In terms of DS9 itself, I think that it and the wormhole should be their own "system" map with eachother, with Bajor being its own.

The DS9 external area could be instanced, so perhaps only you and your small party would be visible to you. Then they could have several NPC Ships coming and going, through wormhole, to Bajor, and docked as a few of the ports/pylons. maybe you could occasionally see random famous ship, like the Enterprise-E or the Defiant docked in its usual spot.


If they just had it in open space, you would fly up to see every docking port and all the upper and lower pylons full. We want it to seem busy, but not *that* busy!