PC Crew, totally new idea

[Flixi]

Hi there,

before you beat me because of the topic ... please note that this thread is about a totally different approach on the crew idea and that the title of thread tries to say this also :)

I was taking the following given facts into account

- Player is captain
- Player owns a ship
- Player has profession
- Player plays captain as avatar

Now let's see what people might want

- Player does notwant to be forced to be captain
- Player wants to be Away Team member together with other players
- Player does not want an away team full of captains
- Different Professions are mostly needed in away teams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now my idea is to try to combine both:

Each player has a minimum of two avatars later in the game.
He starts the game with one avatar: Either captain or Scientist, Doctor, Engineer or whatelse.

Then later in the game, when he gets his first bigger ship with bridge crew, he then either CREATES a captain for his crewman, or Creates crewman for his captain, depending what he has chosen at the start of the game. This is like Making New Charakter in Game.

Ok, afterwards he has a crew with at least two selfmade avatars. One is captain, one is crewman for away teams who has profession.

The captain's role is always played in Space and when it comes to away missions or other tasks, the captain(player) can chose his other avatar to manage the stuff.

While playing you may unlock more avatar slots in your crew.

All avatars are capable of being skilled and leveled independently. But You can decide which avatar gets skilled or updated when you gain experience.

----------------------------------------------

At the end you have multiple characters in one crew.
All being playable.
And only in Space you are limited to your Captain's role.

---------------------------------------------

I know this system sounds complex, and many people might not find it good, I am even not sure for myself, but it sounds great that you can have a crew from which you select a character to play in a given situation (quest). And this even eliminates the need of twinks ... just unlock new cre slots later in the game, maybe you can have 3 or 4 of them in endgame :) Wouldn't that be fantastic?

Ok, what do you think about my idea - would it work out or is it totally non-sense?

[Flixi]

Note:

With the idea above a player can play as a doctor for 100 %. Only when he uses space to travel between doctor-missions, he is forced to switch into captain's role. But it reduces his captain more or less being the transport-vehicle for your doctor. So this player will try to skill up the doctor as far as possible and don't care about his captain avatar :)

[desstl]

Interesting idea but this thread will more than likely be closed as Razor has stated he will close threads on this topic. if you want to be able to address it then add it to the NPC/PC sticky.

[Flixi]

Yeah but that's exactly the problem desstl.

This idea does not belong to this section because it is totally different from the discussion about Player Bridge crew.

I try hard to find another topic/title for this one ... but failed :(

This topic is about crew, yes, about being not a captain only, yes, about having more than one avatar, yes ... but it has nothing to do with threads about Player Bridge Crew. I hope Razor will read it before closing it due to possible misinterpretation of title :)

[KO_Gilligan]

I like new ideas... this one seems simple enough and considering the character specialization aspects, I wonder if it's not already being done :D
wouldn't be surprised if you could run around with a tricorder or a hypospray whenver your not at the helm - depending on your career choice. Multiplayer for planetside and spacestations will be there I believe... I think te RPG crowd might be pleasently surprised as this game takes form.

[KO_Gilligan]

Yeah but that's exactly the problem desstl.

This idea does not belong to this section because it is totally different from the discussion about Player Bridge crew.

I try hard to find another topic/title for this one ... but failed :(

This topic is about crew, yes, about being not a captain only, yes, about having more than one avatar, yes ... but it has nothing to do with threads about Player Bridge Crew. I hope Razor will read it before closing it due to possible misinterpretation of title :)

You are correct, this topic does not belong there ...(quote Razor): the sticky topic is for " the issue of Player Character (PC) and Non-Player Character (NPC) Bridge Crews " or as we all know, and Jack has indicated their won't be, it's about the people who want to argue for roleplay on the ship while flying.

[desstl]

Ok I’ll bite... Maybe we can discuss a few possibilities before Razor wakes up and give it the axe if he doesn't see it the way you do... I do like the possibility of having more than one character assigned to the same ship. Logistically I see a few problems. In most MMO's and other games items obtained in the game "are the properties of the toon that found or created them" unless they are sold, put up for sell on some sort of community vendor or placed into a fixed location storage container. Would it even be possible for ones ship to remain "spawned" in game if the owning toon is no longer logged in? If so wouldn't that mean it would have to always occupy a point in space in order for you to have the possibility of returning there or spawning your alt there? Which would mean and npc or pc could stumble across it and destroy it? I base my question off of the only other MMO I know of that you have a character that move and interact in a way similar to this. SWG. If my main toon logs out and I'm in space then when I relog I go to the planet and port where I launched not the point in space where my ship was last located. The game would have to have a fixed X/Y/Z reference point in order for you to return to that point. If my Alt toon then moves the ship from that point wouldn't I respawn in open space? and lastly wouldn't that mean there could never be any unique/no trade type items in the game because other player are prevented form moving or using those kinds of items. Which in-turn means they can't move or manipulate those items?

Not being Sarcastic of trying to devalue your idea here but I believe if you present an idea and have all the bugs worked out or addressed you have a better chance of getting it done.

[Kitsunami]

You pretty much just put the same ideas that are in the official thread.

Nothing new here. Also, post in the right thread please :p

[Father_Origin]

Ya that thread at the top of the thread list...this goes there, not here.

[KO_Gilligan]

Interesting idea but this thread will more than likely be closed as Razor has stated he will close threads on this topic. if you want to be able to address it then add it to the NPC/PC sticky.

You pretty much just put the same ideas that are in the official thread.

Nothing new here. Also, post in the right thread please :p
Ya that thread at the top of the thread list...this goes there, not here.



:eek:

^ Proof that as soon as you use certain key words, nothing you say will actually be read.

[RetroX]

I see the point here, I quite like the idea, the crew are going be pets anyway so its basically having the ability to be able to take direct control of them? I guess then depending on what department you like the most you skill up that crew man more? Really the system to have multiple characters is already here and your toon would more or less be related to your ship rather than your person. E.G you could login as USS. IPwn and have control of 2 or more actual toons. Therefore your items that you collect and what ever kind of currency you have is related to the ship than the individual toons.

[Flixi]

Yep, i need the topic/ title being renamed, otherwise many people start thinking this is just another "PC Bridge Crew nonsense"


I go PM Razor, maybe he changes the Title of this topic for me, to be more "Non-PC-Bridge-Crew-Like", hihi

[Flixi]

Yep, RetroX,

items and rewards can be linked to ship and either boost specific crewman with specific professions or give all crewman a general boost. That sounds great.

I did not expect that this idea was brought up before, but funny, that some people love it and don't see it as non-sense.

I would love it to fly around with a Captain and play away teams missions with my Doctor-character :)

[KO_Gilligan]

Yep, i need the topic/ title being renamed, otherwise many people start thinking this is just another "PC Bridge Crew nonsense"


I go PM Razor, maybe he changes the Title of this topic for me, to be more "Non-PC-Bridge-Crew-Like", hihi

You might be able to still change it with [edit] for your first post, I changed mine once, although I did it right away (one of the things I like about this forums features)

[KL0k]

maybe "customizable bridge crew" would fit better? i dunno...

but its an interesting idea which could be brought far among that, like regular roleplaying NPC partys.. someone remember the ol'fashioned rpgs like baldurs gate? or i think dragon age would be an to-date example for this. they will behave like pets, but you got full control about them if you want to and able to switch to them, outfit them, lvlemup and all that sort of things. and with a good AI for them, it could also be a path towards the almighty wanted player-bridge-crews in the future.
so someone has to look this up, if this game will be a success when it hits the shelves.

[Flixi]

Yeah Baldurs Gate :) That was cool.

Of course I would say that the player shouldf focus on as few avatars as possible at the beginning of the game. Otherwise the player would become overwhelmed by character-switching rapidly.

Also it is good to let the player grow his crew-avatars slowly and first of all gets a chance to use and get familiar with one character, later with two. When someone really wants more, this should be optional, because some people don't like to be forced playing another avatar every hour, while others like it.

[KO_Gilligan]

Yeah Baldurs Gate :) That was cool.

Of course I would say that the player shouldf focus on as few avatars as possible at the beginning of the game. Otherwise the player would become overwhelmed by character-switching rapidly.

Also it is good to let the player grow his crew-avatars slowly and first of all gets a chance to use and get familiar with one character, later with two. When someone really wants more, this should be optional, because some people don't like to be forced playing another avatar every hour, while others like it.

You couldn't change the topic title ? ( or am I set on "ignore" :eek: )

[KL0k]

hm, that could be handled like in star wars kotor. if you dont want to, you dont have to switch, just equip them, auto-level-them-up, and they'll follow and do as you wish (like attacking oponents, or just beeing there for plot related stuff)

[Flixi]

Sorry fo double posting all the time,


but I can't hold laughing when I thought about this scene:

Imagine your Captain's Avatar is named "Gregor Koplozki" and your Chief Engineer's name is "Chief Tanner"
When we would have sort of crew-dynamics, Tanner could pop up onscreen while in Space on mission and could report you how bad a phasor hit his engines down in machine room.

So you could in some way interac with your avatars while still playing one of them.

Or the typical "Tanner beam me up" after finishing an away mission. Cool!. So even solo players don't get the feeling of being alone. And they will very fast identify themselves with not only one person, but their whole crew. And then they might love playing the Chief tanner today, while being Cpt. Koplozki tomorrow

[Flixi]

You couldn't change the topic title ? ( or am I set on "ignore" :eek: )


KO you are not on ignore :)

I tried to, but i failed. It only changed the title after opening the thread. In the Thread overview it still shows the old title.

[KO_Gilligan]

KO you are not on ignore :)

I tried to, but i failed. It only changed the title after opening the thread. In the Thread overview it still shows the old title.

RATS !!!

I misspelled a word really bad in a title once and fortunately it allowed me to change it after I posted, but maybe after a response, it locks the title.

Also I'm glad your not ignoring me yet

[KL0k]

Sorry fo double posting all the time,


but I can't hold laughing when I thought about this scene:

Imagine your Captain's Avatar is named "Gregor Koplozki" and your Chief Engineer's name is "Chief Tanner"
When we would have sort of crew-dynamics, Tanner could pop up onscreen while in Space on mission and could report you how bad a phasor hit his engines down in machine room.

So you could in some way interac with your avatars while still playing one of them.

Or the typical "Tanner beam me up" after finishing an away mission. Cool!. So even solo players don't get the feeling of being alone. And they will very fast identify themselves with not only one person, but their whole crew. And then they might love playing the Chief tanner today, while being Cpt. Koplozki tomorrow

thats the best summary so far of this idea :D

[lumberman_619]

In my own opinion i kinda see the idea of having to be a full time captain to be sometimes to be a burden and this new idea is kind of a good footing in the right direction for people who prefer to not have the responsibility of commanding a crew and ship. However it would be nice to actually join another player's ship crew roster, and just play as the science officer, or engineer, or even security or away team member, instead of taking the role of being a captain always, and always having to shoulder the role. I mean i am just speaking my mind on the subject and having been a guild leader in the past and leading raids on WoW i must say sometimes it is nice to not be the leader of the raid and just sit back and heal or dps, while someone else takes the role.

[Flixi]

you are right lumberman,

with this idea/feature, a player can use all experience points or rewards to skill his prefered crewman, maybe the scientist. And with this avatar he can join other people's crew.

He only has to take the captain's role while in Space to maneuver the spaceship that carries his scientist :)

So on an away mission, either someone else brings in his captain's avatar, or it simply is an away team without captain but with one away-team-leader. Pretty cool :)

[curtst]

Hi there,

before you beat me because of the topic ... please note that this thread is about a totally different approach on the crew idea and that the title of thread tries to say this also :)

I was taking the following given facts into account

- Player is captain
- Player owns a ship
- Player has profession
- Player plays captain as avatar

Now let's see what people might want

- Player does notwant to be forced to be captain
- Player wants to be Away Team member together with other players
- Player does not want an away team full of captains
- Different Professions are mostly needed in away teams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now my idea is to try to combine both:

Each player has a minimum of two avatars later in the game.
He starts the game with one avatar: Either captain or Scientist, Doctor, Engineer or whatelse.

Then later in the game, when he gets his first bigger ship with bridge crew, he then either CREATES a captain for his crewman, or Creates crewman for his captain, depending what he has chosen at the start of the game. This is like Making New Charakter in Game.

Ok, afterwards he has a crew with at least two selfmade avatars. One is captain, one is crewman for away teams who has profession.

The captain's role is always played in Space and when it comes to away missions or other tasks, the captain(player) can chose his other avatar to manage the stuff.

While playing you may unlock more avatar slots in your crew.

All avatars are capable of being skilled and leveled independently. But You can decide which avatar gets skilled or updated when you gain experience.

----------------------------------------------

At the end you have multiple characters in one crew.
All being playable.
And only in Space you are limited to your Captain's role.

---------------------------------------------

I know this system sounds complex, and many people might not find it good, I am even not sure for myself, but it sounds great that you can have a crew from which you select a character to play in a given situation (quest). And this even eliminates the need of twinks ... just unlock new cre slots later in the game, maybe you can have 3 or 4 of them in endgame :) Wouldn't that be fantastic?

Ok, what do you think about my idea - would it work out or is it totally non-sense?

Maybe, I am a little slow but does anyone else think this is screaming NPC? Which means it does not belong here and it belongs in the official thread Razor created.

So let me see if I got this right, please correct me if I am wrong.

1. Player actually as many characters to choose from while playing
2. Player only assumes these characters while on away team
3. Player is only "captain" while on the ship (remember just because your are the "captain" doesn't mean that is your rank, you are merely in command of the ship), players other character turn into NPCs and do their regular duties on the ship.
4. And people can use their other characters to play on someone else's ship.

Is that about it? Sounds a lot like what Cryptic has planned with the exception you don't take over the NPCs. You as the player also pick a profession, so you can be engineer, science or whatever. So what is the point taking over NPC crews. You still play PC if you want. This really does need to be in the official thread. Some people have mentioned stuff similar to this.



^ Proof that as soon as you use certain key words, nothing you say will actually be read.

Proof that people do read it and it STILL belongs in the official thread.

[Flixi]

Hi curist,

You have understood it right ... but you haven't seen the essence of the topic i guess.

The essence is that you have multiple avatars, playable for the player. So that a player can go on away missions or other tasks using his Science Officer as "playable and skillable character".

And i do most often speak about away missions here, where you can select one of your characters to send down and play with.

I think this has nothing to do with Player BRIDGE crew.

But except the essence, you got it right :)

Maybe read some other entries in this thread ... there are cool explanations and an example of how this could work.

[KO_Gilligan]

Maybe, I am a little slow but does anyone else think this is screaming NPC? Which means it does not belong here and it belongs in the official thread Razor created.

So let me see if I got this right, please correct me if I am wrong.

1. Player actually as many characters to choose from while playing
2. Player only assumes these characters while on away team
3. Player is only "captain" while on the ship (remember just because your are the "captain" doesn't mean that is your rank, you are merely in command of the ship), players other character turn into NPCs and do their regular duties on the ship.
4. And people can use their other characters to play on someone else's ship.

Is that about it? Sounds a lot like what Cryptic has planned with the exception you don't take over the NPCs. You as the player also pick a profession, so you can be engineer, science or whatever. So what is the point taking over NPC crews. You still play PC if you want. This really does need to be in the official thread. Some people have mentioned stuff similar to this.




Proof that people do read it and it STILL belongs in the official thread.

As soon as you decided to throw it into the PC/NPC debate, it forces the issue.
But if you read my post as well as his, I think we clarified that this wasn't multiplayer bridge debate.
But where does he say he wants

"4. And people can use their other characters to play on someone else's ship." ?

I'm glad you threw that bit of nonsense in their to keep your judgement from muddying the waters of constructive discussion. You did the same thing with my idea - but to be honest, I put it in the official RPG fight thread for the trolls, not many would actually adress my points, GundamAces points, nor will they read this... they say ignorance is bliss. But I hardly call it bliss.

[curtst]

"4. And people can use their other characters to play on someone else's ship." ?[/B]

I'm glad you threw that bit of nonsense in their to keep your judgement from muddying the waters of constructive discussion. You did the same thing with my idea - but to be honest, I put it in the official RPG fight thread for the trolls, not many would actually adress my points, GundamAces points, nor will they read this... they say ignorance is bliss. But I hardly call it bliss.

I don't see how that is nonsense,

And with this avatar he can join other people's crew.

He says it right there.

You are going to have to remind me. I have seen so many ideas that my head hurts, that I have seem to have forgotten yours.

Anyway, Cryptic is on the right track, can't wait for the game to come out. I am sure its gonna be a good one.

[KL0k]

well, the idea of this thread is basicly not about to hireup on someone elses ship, it just expands the single and soloing players experience, where "everyone gets its little own enterprise" so to speak. where the bridgecrew gets involved in a more oldfashioned rpg-typical sense.

it might lead to fully established player bridge crews somewhere in the far future, but thats not the point.

[Flixi]

I am too lazy to search for my own quote, hihi ... but with the sentence "with this avatar he can join other people's crew" I mean joining in away teams and missions, and yes maybe later on joining other bridge crews or starbase crews or whatever.

But initially I mean joining an away team or playing missions (solo and group) with your science officer or engineer-avatar. So that away teams are not captain-only :)

Sorry curtst, but do you so dislike or really don't understand the idea?


Once more in one sentence: One player can create not only the character for the captain during the game, but also one character he wants to play in away teams that is not the captain, like an engineer, science officer or whatever

Puh, that was a three line sentence :)
You are right, with this idea you may also join another BRIDGE CREW with your non-captain avatar, but that is not focus or idea of this discussion. It goes more about away teams, where you can really need an engineer, or a doctor. And the idea is for those players who like to play a non-captain role (not on BRIDGE).

hell, i always have to repeat this "not on bridge" ... grrr, GO was right, my thread is doomed :(

[Flixi]

Ok, maybe i try to make an example once more: KL0k loved my last example as it seems :)

You are captain Koplotzki (your first avatar)
You played up to level of Commander and you should be prmoted to captain soon.

Starfleet command gives you your first big ship including a test mission to show your capability of being a captain. With this order you also get the possibility to select one favored crewman of your choice ... your second avatar.

You can now go to the character creation menue and select a profession for your non-captain-character.
You can for example create your 1st officer, your engineer, your science officer, your doctor or security chief or whatever you like. And all of these positions have sort of basic skills gained from their academy training and on top you can customize them as you like, even the appearance.

You make Doctor Jansen

So, now you have two characters on your ship, plus "rest of crew"

Cpt. Koplozki & Dr. Jansen


And whenever you get a mission that is NOT space battle - you can chose from these characters, who should play the mission.

So, Starfleet sends you to Omicron Star System to investigate a shuttle crash there.
You set course and fly there - with your captain avatar on bridge.
But once you are there and want to beam down to the coordinates of the crashed shuttle, you can now chose from Koplotzki and Jansen. If you think the doctor can handle this better than the captain, then do it so.


The mission is NOT a spacebattle because in space you are automaticly playing the captain - I mean the doctor is not good in commanding and flying the ship, or is he? :)

and NOT in space also defines best why this is not the typical Player BRIDGE CREW thread topic, because in space you are most likely on bridge, right?


(If Cryptic decides to make player bridge crews, yes then you might join their crew not only with your captain avatar, but also with your doctor avatar, according to my idea ... but if Cryptic implements player bridge crew has nothing to do with multiple playable characters per shipcrew)

[curtst]

But Cryptic is already planning on allowing you to join real people on away missions, even host them on your ship (even though they can't actually take over a station).

Maybe I just don't understand the point? The character you create will also have a skill set that you choose be it engineer, science or whatever they are planning. So with the above sentence Cryptic is already doing what you think except you won't take over the NPCs.

So I apologize for my misunderstanding. But usually when you say crew for the Star Trek world, it usually means ship.

[KO_Gilligan]

But Cryptic is already planning on allowing you to join real people on away missions, even host them on your ship (even though they can't actually take over a station).

Maybe I just don't understand the point? The character you create will also have a skill set that you choose be it engineer, science or whatever they are planning. So with the above sentence Cryptic is already doing what you think except you won't take over the NPCs.

So I apologize for my misunderstanding. But usually when you say crew for the Star Trek world, it usually means ship.
That's because in all the posts you found one line that fit your intent to prove otherwise. But I already said what you just said, that they might be planning it already.

Every time he has mentioned the multiplayer aspect he has given a qualifier that he meant for away team, and that he was not suggesting a multiplayer crew on the actual Bridge...

In every instance he states his non-multiplayer ship position.
Case in point, your quote in which you changed the context by removing the sentence immediately following.


with this idea/feature, a player can use all experience points or rewards to skill his prefered crewman, maybe the scientist. And with this avatar he can join other people's crew.

He only has to take the captain's role while in Space to maneuver the spaceship that carries his scientist

[Flixi]

I think i give it up ...

You are right, you won. Cryptic does all the stuff but they always force me to be captain. a Captain with medical education, a captain with science education, or a captain of high level that can all. Cool!

I just wanted it the old fashioned Star Trek way, a Captain plus crew with different skills amongst their people. And every player can switch between two or three of his favorite crewmen.


For example:

You host another player on your ship and show him your machine room. So why not play the engineer character for this, while the captain might still sit on bridge "virtually commanding the ship".

[KO_Gilligan]

But Cryptic is already planning on allowing you to join real people on away missions, even host them on your ship (even though they can't actually take over a station).

Maybe I just don't understand the point? The character you create will also have a skill set that you choose be it engineer, science or whatever they are planning. So with the above sentence Cryptic is already doing what you think except you won't take over the NPCs.

So I apologize for my misunderstanding. But usually when you say crew for the Star Trek world, it usually means ship.

I might add to that that non-combat worlds might already be planned to utilize specialties. If there is a spacestation, a scientist might be able to hang out and do research work.

[KO_Gilligan]

I think i give it up ...

You are right, you won. Cryptic does all the stuff but they always force me to be captain. a Captain with medical education, a captain with science education, or a captain of high level that can all. Cool!

I just wanted it the old fashioned Star Trek way, a Captain plus crew with different skills amongst their people. And every player can switch between two or three of his favorite crewmen.


For example:

You host another player on your ship and show him your machine room. So why not play the engineer character for this, while the captain might still sit on bridge "virtually commanding the ship".

I think there will be activities that match your specialty...

Also, the "you are captain on your ship with no multiplayer", suggest that added content will allow for this. I don't think added content will allow the ship to go to battle as multiplayer. For that instance you should see my multiplayer only single use instanced team ship idea in which there is no PC/PC/NPC exchangeable crewmembers. Or GAs ida of breaking up single player controls

[Korrific]

I kind of like this idea. Makes me wonder what TNG would have looked like if filmed from Worf's or Geordi's point of view instead of Picard's :D

There may be a couple of complications, though... If you can play and develop your engineer, why wouldn't you be able to log on to your science officer also, or any other non-Captain officer? My first reaction was to suggest this, but then I decided I wasn't so sure about fielding a ship of alts... But maybe that's just me and my altoholism talking.

Also, if you do decide that you'd rather play your engineer than your Captain (or bridge crew), how do you develop your Captain so that you can handle ship-to-ship battles? Or would space combat just be part of the background or story line while you're in non-Captain mode?

[KO_Gilligan]

I kind of like this idea. Makes me wonder what TNG would have looked like if filmed from Worf's or Geordi's point of view instead of Picard's :D

There may be a couple of complications, though... If you can play and develop your engineer, why wouldn't you be able to log on to your science officer also, or any other non-Captain officer? My first reaction was to suggest this, but then I decided I wasn't so sure about fielding a ship of alts... But maybe that's just me and my altoholism talking.

Also, if you do decide that you'd rather play your engineer than your Captain (or bridge crew), how do you develop your Captain so that you can handle ship-to-ship battles? Or would space combat just be part of the background or story line while you're in non-Captain mode?

You might have to prove yourself in battle as the toughest flying janitor of the fleet!

[Johenric]

About topic: I like it a lot. Great idea.

[Flixi]

As I said, while in Space and maneuvering your ship, you are automaticly in the role of your captain avatar, thus the reward and experience goes also to him.

Of course Cryptic needs to find a way how experience points and rewards will be shared among your characters on the ship ... but I would say, you could chose yourself which character gets skilled up. Because it is one crew, one ship, reward goes to all, and finally the player decides which character he likes to develop more.

So someone who wants battles in space and on ground only, e.g. Klingon, may only use his Captain avatar and only skill him. thus he is best at fighting in space or on ground.

While another player likes science more, will put all effort into science officer and thus having very little skill on his captain in space combat.

[RetroX]

As I said, while in Space and maneuvering your ship, you are automaticly in the role of your captain avatar, thus the reward and experience goes also to him.

Of course Cryptic needs to find a way how experience points and rewards will be shared among your characters on the ship ... but I would say, you could chose yourself which character gets skilled up. Because it is one crew, one ship, reward goes to all, and finally the player decides which character he likes to develop more.

So someone who wants battles in space and on ground only, e.g. Klingon, may only use his Captain avatar and only skill him. thus he is best at fighting in space or on ground.

While another player likes science more, will put all effort into science officer and thus having very little skill on his captain in space combat.
Ship battles could generate a command skill increase(for your captain) and a general crew increase skill but if you use the increase on ur science officer over your helmsmen that's where you get the boost.

I think this way would also allow a bigger dynamic to ship crews, as long they set a limit on the skill points available for a ship, so you cud have all purpose ship or focus in(Tho i believe in part that's what they doing?) Except you would bring down one or more of your crew officers on away missions:D. The one you would focus on would obviously provide a boost in that area. Rather than the Captain beam down which I belive is rarerity on general away missions in ST

[Flixi]

Aye RetroX,

That sounds good. I have no doubt that Cryptic can come up with a cool and easy system to skill up more than only the captain charakter.

I also love the dynamic crew interaction that could be possible with this system.
And I love the possibility to switch characters and develop "sort of twink" while I don't have to completely start a new game.

So while playing STO i could get the chance to really form and create a unique crew on my ship, starting with one char, after some days of gameplay I get a second one and maybe when in endgame i get the chance to unlock further characters playable in my crew.


So someone who likes to twink a lot can for example have some "low experienced" just unlocked officers on his ship and doing missions with this character. So even a "high-level" captain may have fun playing low-level content again, helping newcomers in away missions with his own lowbie character :)