The Devil is in the details

[STOZone]

What makes any movite, TV show, video game, or other entertainment media really great? The details.

I'm an un-apologetic nitpicky person (sometimes known as a perfectionist), and to me, any great MMO is defined in the details you find throughout.

So I was thinking about some of the little, tiny, small things that may or may not affect overall gameplay, but will enrich the experience of STO.

Things like:

1. Hair that moves - Might seem like a small thing, but hair that realistically bounces around as you walk can add a nice touch. CoX was horribly lacking in this department, even though WoW has been doing it for years.

2. Damaged clothing/armor - Something I've always wanted to see in an MMO, and never have, is damage effects on my character. Might be as simple as a torn shirt, a bruised eye, a ****** mouth, or as complicated as your arms and legs actually breaking based upon where your character is hit. Either way, it's something that could add a lot to gameplay.

3. No fireballs around corners - Whether you call it an energy blast, or a frost bolt, the fact that ducking behind a tree doesn't matter always gets on my damn nerves. I hope that will be lessened in STO.

4. Extraneous clothing items - I'm far from a roleplayer, but I love it when my character gets to wear something for no other reason than because it looks cool. I always loved it when one of my Dranny characters got the Blood Elf Bandit Mask. I hated it when I had to give it up for armor later on.

5. Plants that know you're there - I've seen some of the toughest plants in existence in MMOs. You're telling me I can do over 10,000 points of damage to a level 70 world boss, but I can't run through a rosebush?!

Ok, now that I've laid down a few of mine, what are some of the small things you'd like to see in STO?

[IanD967]

6. represented damage on players. virtually if you get hit 25 times in your leg your not going to be running away and you would be limping (if that), if your right arm kept getting shot then you probably wont be able to hold anything in that hand/or your aiming is significantly decreased as your in pain from using a damaged limb (think of it like trying to walk on a broken leg)

[NeedsMoreShatner]

I would kill to see varying personalities in your npc bridge crew depending on how you've customized them. I realize it's a bit much, but I really want a little, exasperated brow-beaten first officer.

Is it so much to ask?

Me: "Number One, have the boy wash my uniform shorts."
XO: "The 'boy', sir?
Me: "You. You wash my uniform shorts."
XO: "Sigh."

[jamisings]

More interaction with NPCs period. I mean, you walk up to them and if they have nothing to do with your current quest or mission they don't say anything more then a quick dismissal. It would be nice if you could have small conversations with them. Like "Hi, how are you?" especially if once in awhile they'd randomly drop information to you that would prove valuable later on.

[njdss4]

STOZone, I especially agree with #3 and 5. I hated how magic spells would follow me through solid objects in WoW. If I was quick enough to move behind something I should be able to avoid it. And plants shouldn't be able to stop you. Heck, you should be able to destroy them. WoW was okay with this, as you could walk right through MOST bushes, but some invisible boundaries never made any sense. Just thinking about that makes me angry!

[r2data]

I would kill to see varying personalities in your npc bridge crew depending on how you've customized them. I realize it's a bit much, but I really want a little, exasperated brow-beaten first officer.

Is it so much to ask?

Me: "Number One, have the boy wash my uniform shorts."
XO: "The 'boy', sir?
Me: "You. You wash my uniform shorts."
XO: "Sigh."

And also uniforms with tiny little skirts.... and no pants :D /jk

[DurMan667]

Different phaser settings having different effects. Kill and Maximum are NOT the same thing!

The ability to climb. I hate it when a two degree increase on incline is all it takes to haltyour ascent up a mountain.

Different animations for like activities. I, for one, use a different set of motions to eat a steak than I use to eat soup.

I'd like my character to be recognized my NPCs that I've interacted with often. I'm sure the folks who work at the grocery store recognise you!

[IanD967]

r2data, ooo wow a person here who wants Skants :D

although if i have female <insert races except tellarite> then i would want them too :cool:

[njdss4]

I just hope that not too many guys create female characters. I could never trust anyone in WoW when they said they were actually a girl. I made the mistake of having one female character of my 20 something alts, and I couldn't believe how often I was hit on. It's disgusting.

[IanD967]

yeah it is annoying :( its ok if they agree to go on voice comms though as then you can be sure it is a girl heh

[LordDave]

1. When did hair move? It was a static model on the character's head. The whole thing bobbed with the head but that's it. Personally I agree that hair should move somewhat realistically, but too much and the system get's bogged down. Hair is a pain to render.

But I'd want to see facial art. Just for kicks.

[PhantomPhoton]

A bit off topic, but as I guy I almost exclusively play female toons. If I'm going to be watching someone running around for the next 3 years of my life I sure don't want to be staring at some dude's rear that whole time. The problem you described, Lord Dave, isn't that prevalent in many of the MMOs I've experienced... just WoW.

I do agree that it's often the little things that make the game great. Do many little things right and overall the game is much more enjoyable.
The features the OP has indicated have been on the want list for gamers for years. The problem with some of them is the raw power/ skill in coding that is required to make that happen.
I completely agree about hiding behind a hill or navigation of terrain really does need an upgrade in most games. I've always been fond of the 6" crack in the ground that I couldn't step up to... instead I have to walk 6 feet around to get onto the patch to walk up the hill. Such things have imho almost always been due to lazyness and lack of attention to detail on the part of the terrain designers.

[LordDave]

A bit off topic, but as I guy I almost exclusively play female toons. If I'm going to be watching someone running around for the next 3 years of my life I sure don't want to be staring at some dude's rear that whole time.
Same here buddy. :D

[STOZone]

I understand that some of these are hard to implement because of development time/costs, but added immersion is never a bad thing. I'm hoping there is a concerted effort to at least acknowledge some of these issues, and attempt to solve them.

[bitgolem]

No hair that moves... That much superfluous detail is a waste of system resources. Besides, between clean cut Feddies and Ponytail Klingons, there shouldn't be any flowing hair.

Object mapping that allows you to use any solid object as cover is a must in a game where phaser fire is a big part. Nothing ****es me off like NPCs attacking through walls.

[Trekkie]

You present some very valid points and I hope that at least some of your ideas are implemented in the game eventually. I also pay close attention the small details of a game and I think it really shows dedication when the developers go the extra mile to implement features such as the ones you pointed out.