Prestige/XP for Non-Combat Gameplay?

[Flatfingers]

Over in one of the threads requesting some information from Cryptic on non-combat content, Ubernaut wrote:

All MMOs have a host of diversionary activities aside from combatting villains and monsters, true... but aside from combat, there's no way to gain experience. Since Cryptic is including other facets to the game like diplomacy and exploration, I think it should come with a sizeable XP payoff, so the roleplayers like myself will be able to keep up with the people who just go out and get into fights.

In my opinion, there should be GREAT rewards for acting as a good Federation Captain would act. How about lots of bonus XP for pulling your crew and ship through a difficult situation intact?

I believe that is an excellent question that deserves its own thread.

Should non-combat success allow characters to receive the same advancement rewards as combat success?

If so, how should that work?

Should it just be bonus prestige for a Starfleet character who solves a problem without armed force? Or should entirely non-combat gameplay provide prestige in the same amounts as combat gameplay?

There are a lot of questions we can ask about this, so I'm curious to hear what you folks think.

Please try to disagree in a respectful way. ;)

--Flatfingers

[loyaltrekie]

Well I think its a hard topic to discuss as we have no grasp on any gameplay system outside of the general overview on combat. SInce there are so many different ways they can develop each system its hard to even speculate although I will throw out some pretty general thoughts ont he subject.

Since the gameplay is split between people who think combat and non-combat are the most important things in Trek and with how Cryptic keeps talking as they are designing around both concepts I don't see any reason why both should be grouped together. What I mean by that is if you are doing non-combat things; it should increase your "ability" to do non-combat things; if you are pew pewing like no other your "ability" to pew pew should become better.

As for the other thread; from a general "experince points" situation; I think "EXP" should be based on the situation; such as someone who pew pew's something easy shouldn't get the same amount of "exp" as someone who did something difficult non-combat wise and vice versa. The amount of "exp" you gain should be based on the difficulty of the situation at hand; and not just how its handled(non-combat or combat etc). [Note: "EXP" is just a general term in the above statements]

Like I said though, I can't really pinpoint my opinions on the subject as we have no idea how the systems will work in the slightest; which kinda sucks since I sure would like something more "tangible" to discuss.

[Teleon]

Over in one of the threads requesting some information from Cryptic on non-combat content, Ubernaut wrote:



I believe that is an excellent question that deserves its own thread.

Should non-combat success allow characters to receive the same advancement rewards as combat success?

If so, how should that work?

Should it just be bonus prestige for a Starfleet character who solves a problem without armed force? Or should entirely non-combat gameplay provide prestige in the same amounts as combat gameplay?

There are a lot of questions we can ask about this, so I'm curious to hear what you folks think.

Please try to disagree in a respectful way. ;)

--Flatfingers

Over in one of the threads requesting some information from Cryptic on non-combat content, Ubernaut wrote:



I believe that is an excellent question that deserves its own thread.

Should non-combat success allow characters to receive the same advancement rewards as combat success?

If so, how should that work?

Should it just be bonus prestige for a Starfleet character who solves a problem without armed force? Or should entirely non-combat gameplay provide prestige in the same amounts as combat gameplay?

There are a lot of questions we can ask about this, so I'm curious to hear what you folks think.

Please try to disagree in a respectful way. ;)

--Flatfingers

Flatfingers,

I think Cryptic Studio’s said that we will earn prestige points. I would hope that you gain prestige points for simply completing an Episode successfully. In that way no matter how you end up completing the episode, through combat or diplomacy… your earnings should be the same. In this way Cryptic will not be restricting how you choose to meet conflict.

[Manta2015]

Basically achievements from all likes to acquire rewards.

PvE

-Collecting badges / insignias off certain vanquished members

-Rewards based on how many planets you've discovered

-How many new species made for first contact

-Per scientific artifact / archeological discovery made

-Spacial discovers such as wormholes, nebulae and other phenomena.

-Trade and transportation missions increasing favor with certain races

-Episodes completed

PvP

-Points from an enemy player killed based on their Tier / Skill

-Capturing a section of space/territory in the neutral Zone

-fleet engagements etc... and the list goes on.

And then there's those for receiving good reputation if any of the above is done for a certain smaller faction --

Now each achievement might have it's own 'currency' (prestige etc) encouraging a diverse way of playing. Most the PvE / exploration rewards will be attained through exploring, and most the PvP through PvPing -- The better/best items will be acquired through the end-game content.

You shouldn't be able to get the best PvP item through doing lots of PvE, nor should you get the best PvE items through PvPing. People love to be rewarded for what they do, so there's a middle ground to it =)


-Manta-

[BirdOfPrey]

I fully support all ideas about "XPing" without fighting.
In lotro one of my favorite mission is when you are just walking and talking to Frodo.
But missions like this are way too rare..

[WinterPark1701]

I think that for at least the Feddys I'd like to see you get more prestige for non-combat / peaceful resultions.

[rporter]

Uh oh, I already posted a thread about this yesterday. I appreciate the props though, man.

[Flatfingers]

Uh oh, I already posted a thread about this yesterday. I appreciate the props though, man.

Whoops! My apologies, Ubernaut -- you sure did.

Before I created my own, I actually did scan the first several pages for a thread with a title on this subject, but apparently I missed yours. Thanks for letting me know.

Folks, please continue this discussion over on Ubernaut's thread: XP payoff for non-combat activities (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=25164). Sorry for the confusion!

--Flatfingers

[scholarman]

For my two slips of gold-pressed latinum -- I would say prestige should be granted for the resolution of a mission within an episode, without regard to how many enemies you kill along the way. Combat rewards for advancement don't make sense in a Star Trek game -- at least on the Federation side.

However, there should be an achievements system that takes note of such things. So, if you destroy 100 Klingon birds of prey, the game should give you some sort of accolade or perk. Those perks would then be usable to unlock something nice that's related. (Say, access to Poloron weapons.) That would also allow perks for Engineering or Science to do the same for those specialists.