Making the Galaxy X work.

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I think I've got a viable solution for Cryptic concerning how to make the Galaxy X functional and fair in-game.

Cryptic has stated before that they would have to make the big cannon functional if they made it but that seems unfair at first. This is how you do it.

First, The Galaxy X should be a tier 5 cruiser. Sell it in the C-Store for 1000 credits. Give it 4 rear slots and only 3 standard front slots with an auxiliary slot for 1 single beam array of any energy type. Place a special button for the use of that slot on the hud. When used, the big cannon would fire a blast similar to Beam Overload 3. The off-set would be a 2-fold. After using the big cannon, it sets all energy weapons on a 20 second cool down and places the use of the big cannon on a 2 minute cool down.

So after use, you would have only torpedoes for a 20 second count. The other off-set would be that you only have 3 standard forward slots since your trading up 1 for big cannon use only. As far as I can tell, the trade offs puts it on equal footing with other Tier 5 cruisers, adds something cool to the game and does so without adding an unfair advantage.

Thoughts?

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How about just adding a special ability to all T5 ships and making the Galaxy-X the Vet reward for 400 days of service...


I know... whacky thought isnt it...

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The only part I really don't like is selling it in the C-Store. Just add it to the game, this would make such a great STF reward.

As for the rest, I don't really have an opinion, I'd expect this cannon requires you to point the ship at your target. Being that this thing is a large cruiser, you'll only get to fire off one, maybe 2 shots with that cannon before you're back to using phasers broadside again. So all the special limitations might be overkill.

Anyway, just my opinion.

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For something as iconic as the Galaxy X a vet reward is the ideal solution.

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I'm not so huge a Gal-X fan as to shoot for it, that said I think that the decision to make it a reward for recruiting is a smart one.

I also think it would be worthwhile for them to include another way (in-game) to acquire it, but I personally think it should be very difficult to do so.

Its the effort that adds to the special awesomeness factor. :D

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Sucks to be an Escort / Science pilot dosent it. Something that seems to have gone unnoticed amoungst all the complaints about this one ship.

Wheres the Special variations of THOSE ships eh ?

We can have...

Incursion - Escort
Gimick power - Holographic Masking

Nebula - Science
Gimick Power - Enhanced Sensor Scan


Not that I really give a damn about the Galaxy-X but there is a difference between MR.X flashy skin that does nothing special and Oh look mr. X just hit me, and Y others with a 5k - 10k split beam attack.
The former makes no real combat advantage, the latter offers someone an actual gameplay advantage by being able to do more damage regadless of how much it is.

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And I am one of these crazy freaks which would pay 1000cp for this ship. But I doubt your good suggestion will find its way into the game.

We are going to hear some political answers like "there will be similar T5 ship skins... just wait... season 2.0 etc."

They have no idea how to deal with their most loyal player base. The MMO freaks are mostly gone, they reached RA5 months ago and two weeks later they left. Who's left? Right, the Star Trek-Fanbase which don't care much about MMO balance, and huge content. And what's important for these players? Right. New Ships, correct details, more Races, functional bridges, ship interiors...

And what do they do? Kicking the butts of these players by getting the coolest items to a stupid referral program...

Unbelievable.

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The RAF program needs something that will actually inspire the fan-base to want to get new people into the game. Due to LTSs the "1 Free Month" many other MMOs give away just isn't incentive enough. The item needs to be rare enough that people are willing to work for it. The TAG Enterprise is a decent choice. Those who only fly Escorts and Science Vessels aren't going to care that much but it's still something to work for. Personally I would've made the T5 Galaxy, Defiant, and Intrepid skins the bonus. That's something most people want.

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The RAF program needs something that will actually inspire the fan-base to want to get new people into the game. Due to LTSs the "1 Free Month" many other MMOs give away just isn't incentive enough. The item needs to be rare enough that people are willing to work for it. The TAG Enterprise is a decent choice. Those who only fly Escorts and Science Vessels aren't going to care that much but it's still something to work for. Personally I would've made the T5 Galaxy, Defiant, and Intrepid skins the bonus. That's something most people want.

Not to sound cynical, but I would say that they're not playing to the LTS's anyway. LTS's gave a big chuunk of change to help get the game through the first few months to a year, but they're not longer the lifeblood of the game, or at least won't be for long. Cryptic has the LTSs' money, and if the game goes on for longer than about two years the LTS's become a liability to them, in fact. The monthly subscribers are the ones that keep the game -- any MMO, really -- going. To that end, play time as reward would be in keeping with other MMOs that have referral programs, and would be of value to the monthlies.

But agreed, they would need something to appeal to the Science and Tactical people as well (unless there's a couple of Universal consoles on that Galaxy-X.) But then there needs to be something appealing to the Klingon players, too, now that I think about it, and I'm not sure what Klink ship was all that iconic that isn't in the game already.

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The monthly subscribers are the ones that keep the game -- any MMO, really -- going. To that end, play time as reward would be in keeping with other MMOs that have referral programs, and would be of value to the monthlies.

I agree with what you are saying, but LTS customers may still make purchases via the C-Store and expansion packs, so they do continue to bring funds into the game.

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In other words, Cryptic will satisfy their desire to fleece their customers for every last bit of money they can get by carrot or stick. Even if it goes against their former platitudes their Money based items would remain COSMETIC additions that had no impact on gameplay.

Oh right, refer people and now you get:

A coveted skin
PLUS an extra power,
PLUS a holographic BO,
PLUS a new Tribble,
PLUS the ability to instantly warp to them,
PLUS a damage buff / XP Buff for flying with your referrals

Want to produce an incentive to get 5 people without using a ship to get it ?

Refer 5 friends and get:
Free Time
Free Extra Character slots
Free Respec
Free Extra Costume Slots
Free Extra Ship Slots
Free PRE-ORDER bonus items / Uniforms.

Since the PRE-ORDER items are essentially worthless beyond the starter ranks and the Uniforms remain cosmetic. That would have no effect on gameplay and give no specific advantage to anyone.

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Not to sound cynical, but I would say that they're not playing to the LTS's anyway. LTS's gave a big chuunk of change to help get the game through the first few months to a year, but they're not longer the lifeblood of the game, or at least won't be for long. Cryptic has the LTSs' money, and if the game goes on for longer than about two years the LTS's become a liability to them, in fact. The monthly subscribers are the ones that keep the game -- any MMO, really -- going. To that end, play time as reward would be in keeping with other MMOs that have referral programs, and would be of value to the monthlies.
I'm going to have to agree with Shard-Warrior here. Cryptic still expects money to be made from C-Store and future Expansion Packs. It appears the Romulan EP will be out sometime this year. Cryptic's going to want the LTS's $29.99 just as much as the monthly subscriber's. And with 4-9 C-Store items going in every month they want the money from that too. LTSs still vote with their dollars, though maybe not as loudly as monthers.

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This is brilliant. The ship isn't even in game yet and there are already complaints about how to make it more far, without anyone even testing it to see if it's unbalanced.

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For something as iconic as the Galaxy X a vet reward is the ideal solution.

Iconic?

What?

It's a future that never happened timeline ship that appeared in one episode.

It's not iconic at all.

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Iconic?

What?

It's a future that never happened timeline ship that appeared in one episode.

It's not iconic at all.
Yep. IIRC, in this timeline Riker's 74 years old and still only the Captain of the Titan.

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The ship IS Iconic.
The fact so many people remember it, lobby for it and willing to get fleeced for it should demonstrate this rather well.

Just because its in one episode or from a different timeline does not negate the fact it is iconic.

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The ship IS Iconic.
The fact so many people remember it, lobby for it and willing to get fleeced for it should demonstrate this rather well.

Just because its in one episode or from a different timeline does not negate the fact it is iconic.

Nobody was lobbying for it. There are hundreds of threads for the Excelsior. That's the ship people were lobbying for. And are still lobbying for. And will keep lobbying for.

There are dozens of threads where people are lobbying for The Galaxy (not the three nacelled Future That Never Happened one) ... the Defiant ... and the Intrepid to be available at T5. Which seems to be what we'll be getting for FREE.

The Galaxy X? Not iconic at all.

The Galaxy? Very iconic.

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Iconic?

What?

It's a future that never happened timeline ship that appeared in one episode.

It's not iconic at all.

What throws me off about this debate is that, in Beta, I was begging for the Galaxy X and the playerbase then said that 3 nacelles was ugly, that the ship belonged to another timeline, that 3 nacelles went against Gene Roddenberry's and Matt Jeffries' vision, etc. The strongest support was an, "Eh. It might be cool."

I moved on, realizing I don't really like Cruisers except for show.

NOW, everyone is upset...? Where were these people before?

I think it's more about people who don't like rewards being tied to anything but achievement or the idea that they can't have everything than the Galaxy-X itself being that special or iconic.

Whereas I think Cryptic has been very clear about going for a "nobody can have everything" approach.

IMHO, to hammer this home, we should start seeing missions (non-repeatable) where you have to choose one of four bound cosmetic rewards but nobody can have all of them. And then have no way to obtain all four. And refuse to offer the others in the C-Store.

Just to hammer home that money and skill and time will not get you everything, that nobody has everything, that nobody is entitled to more than 25% of everything. Because it promotes real, honest-to-goodness diversity of some kind if the majority of things in game are something no one person can have, regardless of Cryptic Points or STF completions or persistence. You get what you get. Nobody gets a complete set of anything for any reason.

That's the direction I'd like to see MMOs head. Then people might focus on what they like instead of what they can have that other people can't or "keeping up with the Joneses".

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I think this carrot is going to work well. It's so enticing that players are clamoring for it. And the only way to get it is to recruit people.

Honestly, with this much buzz now, does anyone really think they're going to make this ship easier for anyone to obtain?

I honestly don't think it will ever be on the Cryptic Store. Subscriptions are infinitely more valuable than any small sum worth of C-Points that the ship would be worth. Unless it were worth at least five LIfetime Subs worth of C-Points. That's 96,000 C-Points, BTW, which makes this the most expensive ship in the game ;)

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This Ship is just as "iconic" as any other thing that had only one Episode...
Prometheus, Doomsday Machine, Crystaline Entity (wait no fair it had 2 eps! oh snap AGT was a 2 parter!)... Enterprise C (one episode), Enterprise B (one movie and only at the beginning!)...

and maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was the FINAL Episode of TNG?

..."alternate timeleine that did non happen", uhm the 2 Negh'Var Klingon Ships seen there the first time did not happen? Strange, they are pretty much everywhere now.


Even the Enterprise-J from ENT has a Fanbase and that ship wasnt even shown properly.

"iconic" might not be the right word... "important" is more like it.

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Yes AGT was a too parter... the Enterprise from the future timeline was only in part 2 though.

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Honestly, with this much buzz now, does anyone really think they're going to make this ship easier for anyone to obtain?


Indeed, they should clarify it: you only get one nacelle per 5 people recruited. All 3 requires recruiting 15...
:)

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..."alternate timeleine that did non happen", uhm the 2 Negh'Var Klingon Ships seen there the first time did not happen? Strange, they are pretty much everywhere now.

Even stranger ... Data's in the future timeline of that episode.

And yet ... dead in the current canon timeline.

Nah ... Q's Anti-Time was a probable future. That will not happen the way it did in the show. There's no warp 13. Data does not leave starfleet to become a professor.

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To be honest, I was unaware of the recruit thing with the TAG Enterprise, I was just talking about a way to make the ship work balanced in-game.

No, they should definitely let this be gotten from recruiting, c-store and as STF reward. Let people get it the way they want to.

As for the other two classes getting a ship, how about offering the Deploy-able Armored Intrepid for Science and a Multi-Vector assault mode Prometheus for Tactical. Have all three for sale from the C-Store for 2000 a piece for those who don't want to wait, A reward for STF and a choice of one of the 3 for part of the reward for recruitment.

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As for the other two classes getting a ship, how about offering the Deploy-able Armored Intrepid for Science and a Multi-Vector assault mode Prometheus for Tactical. Have all three for sale from the C-Store for 2000 a piece for those who don't want to wait, A reward for STF and a choice of one of the 3 for part of the reward for recruitment.

They already said what they're going to do with the "tier" of ships that the AGT Enterprise fits into ...

A T5 Galaxy (regular galaxy), Defiant and Intrepid.

This is probably the easiest route for them to take ... and it is something a ton of fans have asked for. Far more than have asked for the AGT Enterprise.

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I agree with what you are saying, but LTS customers may still make purchases via the C-Store and expansion packs, so they do continue to bring funds into the game.

Oh, absolutely. That's certainly a good point. I was referring only to the subs. =)

Though we'll never see the numbers, it'd be interesting to see how much income is gained from the C-Store and similar MTs.

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Thoughts?


Ice cream on a jelly sandwich seems to be an odd pairing.....
how did it end up in the place where your brain is supposed to be?!

Baffling... oh yes....

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They already said what they're going to do with the "tier" of ships that the AGT Enterprise fits into ...

A T5 Galaxy (regular galaxy), Defiant and Intrepid.

This is probably the easiest route for them to take ... and it is something a ton of fans have asked for. Far more than have asked for the AGT Enterprise.

True, but my idea is cooler. ;)

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Even stranger ... Data's in the future timeline of that episode.

And yet ... dead in the current canon timeline.

Nah ... Q's Anti-Time was a probable future. That will not happen the way it did in the show. There's no warp 13. Data does not leave starfleet to become a professor.

Data is alive in the game, mind you.

Though he's commanding the Enterprise.

Which was first suggested as a possible future in Peter David's novel Imzadi (set in 2405). (I hope they use Data's crew from Imzadi as the templates for the Enterprise Bridge crew, in part.)

And what did Imzadi do? It inspired All Good Things, particularly the Worf/Riker dynamic there.

I think Imzadi is arguably the most important Trek novel ever written in terms of its influence on subsequent works, both canon and otherwise.

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I'm going to have to agree with Shard-Warrior here. Cryptic still expects money to be made from C-Store and future Expansion Packs. It appears the Romulan EP will be out sometime this year. Cryptic's going to want the LTS's $29.99 just as much as the monthly subscriber's. And with 4-9 C-Store items going in every month they want the money from that too. LTSs still vote with their dollars, though maybe not as loudly as monthers.

As above, yes, that's a very good point. I hadn't taken the C-Store into account in my statement.

In theory, all players have an equal voice; in practice, some are a bit louder than others. =) The argument can be made, too, that LTS would have more immediately disposable income and would be more inclined to make C-Store purchases but that is information that's WAY above my paygrade, let alone my ability to analyze; it's just raw speculation on my part.

[Archived Post]

Data is alive in the game, mind you.

Though he's commanding the Enterprise.

Which was first suggested as a possible future in Peter David's novel Imzadi (set in 2405). (I hope they use Data's crew from Imzadi as the templates for the Enterprise Bridge crew, in part.)

And what did Imzadi do? It inspired All Good Things, particularly the Worf/Riker dynamic there.

I think Imzadi is arguably the most important Trek novel ever written in terms of its influence on subsequent works, both canon and otherwise.

And that book was also inspired in part by the TOS episode The City on the Edge of Forever, which is regarded as the best Star Trek Episode ever. On another note Imazdi was also the last book that Gene Roddenberry gave his blessing to create before his death. That more or less solidifies the arguement for its importance.

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How about something for us Klinks... a new tier 5 ship would be great... or how about a mission?! I will not recruit 5 people for a stinking fed ship which i will never use... Kingon love please... All we have is pvp...

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Any item, ship or power that's made available for promotions should also at least be made available in the C-Store to purchase.

That should be a no brainer on Cryptic's part.

[Archived Post]

Any item, ship or power that's made available for promotions should also at least be made available in the C-Store to purchase.

That should be a no brainer on Cryptic's part.

This is a carrot. For referrals.

If they made the carrot attainable through an easier means, like the C-Store ... the carrot loses its value. It is no longer an incentive for referrals.

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This is a carrot. For referrals.

If they made the carrot attainable through an easier means, like the C-Store ... the carrot loses its value. It is no longer an incentive for referrals.

there is no incentive for the referred people to play the game either.

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there is no incentive for the referred people to play the game either.

Then don't bother with the referral program?

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This is a carrot. For referrals.

If they made the carrot attainable through an easier means, like the C-Store ... the carrot loses its value. It is no longer an incentive for referrals.

I'd still personally like to see it as a reward for EITHER bulk of referrals or retention of any one referral.

Ie. get 5 friends to resub an extra month (the current model) or get one friend to sub for 5 additional months (6 total, including the boxed gametime). Having two criteria would make it more attainable and I think the longterm healthier approach would be to encourage each of us to get one friend who will stick around than to get 5 who may not.

[Archived Post]

I'd still personally like to see it as a reward for EITHER bulk of referrals or retention of any one referral.

Ie. get 5 friends to resub an extra month (the current model) or get one friend to sub for 5 additional months (6 total, including the boxed gametime). Having two criteria would make it more attainable and I think the longterm healthier approach would be to encourage each of us to get one friend who will stick around than to get 5 who may not.

That's been one of the better ideas I've seen come out of this discussion. It addresses the complaint of 5 referrals being too many. But then still keeps to the core of the idea. Having one player sub for 6 months. You do the game a service. Mathematically their sub fees equal the effort of 5 friends. But you give the game a sub with some retention value.

I like that idea.

I find the suggestion to put this ship directly into the C-Store is a cop out. It does not consider the intent of the referral program and really only serves to fill players "wants" with no real consideration of what the company is trying to do.

I find your idea actually works within the framework of what the company is trying to do. While still making it easier to obtain the item. Since most of us interested in the thing can probably find one really close friend to go through 6 months of subscribing. Where finding 5 friends is ... less likely.

[Archived Post]

That's been one of the better ideas I've seen come out of this discussion. It addresses the complaint of 5 referrals being too many. But then still keeps to the core of the idea. Having one player sub for 6 months. You do the game a service. Mathematically their sub fees equal the effort of 5 friends. But you give the game a sub with some retention value.

I like that idea.

I find the suggestion to put this ship directly into the C-Store is a cop out. It does not consider the intent of the referral program and really only serves to fill players "wants" with no real consideration of what the company is trying to do.

I find your idea actually works within the framework of what the company is trying to do. While still making it easier to obtain the item. Since most of us interested in the thing can probably find one really close friend to go through 6 months of subscribing. Where finding 5 friends is ... less likely.

I disagree completely. By putting incredibly sought after items as a referral only ploy, you alienate a large percentage of the player base by putting the item out of their reach. The only friends I have that would be remotely interested in playing STO already bought the game. We were all there since closed beta. Out of those 12, only myself and one other are still playing and that's only due to my having lifetime and his having a year long membership. the others stopped playing less than 2 months after launch. That's why they're going for the 5 friends with one month payed for approach, they probably don't think they can get but 5% of those who buy in to remain more than one month so they think getting 5 "suckers" to buy in for a month will net them more cash.

They're better off making it for sale in the C-Store and make the cash they can from there as well and avoid ****ing of the those who are loyal c-store spenders.

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Any item, ship or power that's made available for promotions should also at least be made available in the C-Store to purchase.

That should be a no brainer on Cryptic's part.

For how much?

The plan is for 5 subscribers for at least one month. That equates to;

~$20 for game purchase (5 x $20 = $100) + ~15$ for a 1 month subscription (5 x $15 = $75) = ~$175

Why would they put this in the C-Store for $10 or $20?

Just curious about the thinking there...

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I disagree completely. By putting incredibly sought after items as a referral only ploy, you alienate a large percentage of the player base by putting the item out of their reach.

It's a carrot. On a stick. It's supposed to be just out of your reach. If you really want this item, you can go get it.

Your suggestion ruins the incentive of the referral program. For what? So you can get this ship? That's not the goal of the referral program.

They're better off making it for sale in the C-Store and make the cash they can from there as well and avoid ****ing of the those who are loyal c-store spenders.

The C-Store will have other things in it. That people will pay money for. The more hype and more posts threads like this get ... the more likely Cryptic gets the message that this is the perfect carrot for the referral program. All you people want this ship so badly, you know how you can get it.

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I think I've got a viable solution for Cryptic concerning how to make the Galaxy X functional and fair in-game.

Cryptic has stated before that they would have to make the big cannon functional if they made it but that seems unfair at first. This is how you do it.

First, The Galaxy X should be a tier 5 cruiser. Sell it in the C-Store for 1000 credits. Give it 4 rear slots and only 3 standard front slots with an auxiliary slot for 1 single beam array of any energy type. Place a special button for the use of that slot on the hud. When used, the big cannon would fire a blast similar to Beam Overload 3. The off-set would be a 2-fold. After using the big cannon, it sets all energy weapons on a 20 second cool down and places the use of the big cannon on a 2 minute cool down.

So after use, you would have only torpedoes for a 20 second count. The other off-set would be that you only have 3 standard forward slots since your trading up 1 for big cannon use only. As far as I can tell, the trade offs puts it on equal footing with other Tier 5 cruisers, adds something cool to the game and does so without adding an unfair advantage.

Thoughts?

I'm with you on all counts except the cooldown: halve that. Tricobalts only take a minute to cool down, and they're insta-kill buttons all the way up to a pretty close-level opponent (at least in PvE). And for PvPs and STFs, 20 seconds is a long time to go without active defenses.

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For how much?

The plan is for 5 subscribers for at least one month. That equates to;

~$20 for game purchase (5 x $20 = $100) + ~15$ for a 1 month subscription (5 x $15 = $75) = ~$175

Why would they put this in the C-Store for $10 or $20?

Just curious about the thinking there...

Just as a math adjustment:

At $20 a piece, Atari isn't seeing any money off those sold boxed copies unless you buy them from the Atari store or consider retailers ordering more copies to replace them.

Someone who gets five successful referrals also gets 2000 Cryptic points, a $25 value.

So, in theory, it might be worth putting it up for $50 to calm people down, if it would work, because that amount wouldn't conflict too heavily with the existing model and would retain RAF as the preferred way to go given the other bonuses. But do you think a $50 C-Store option (4000 Cryptic Points) would make things better or worse?

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Sell it in the C-Store for 1000 credits.

If they're intending this to be an item obtained by bringing in at least $175 to $200 (5 game purchases + at least 5 1 month subs), why put in it the C-Store for $12?

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. But do you think a $50 C-Store option (4000 Cryptic Points) would make things better or worse?

I recommend a social experiment. Make it cost 10,000 cryptic points. Make the referral path the easier path.

See how people react.

It'll be fun.

[Archived Post]

But do you think a $50 C-Store option (4000 Cryptic Points) would make things better or worse?

You could put it in the C-Store for 50 cents and you'd still have people complaining they have to buy it.

[Archived Post]

For how much?

The plan is for 5 subscribers for at least one month. That equates to;

~$20 for game purchase (5 x $20 = $100) + ~15$ for a 1 month subscription (5 x $15 = $75) = ~$175

Why would they put this in the C-Store for $10 or $20?

Just curious about the thinking there...

I can answer that. How many people do you really think Cryptic will get to be able to actually complete that magical 5 player sign up with 1 month played? Probably as many as will actually just buy 5 more copies of the game them selves and pay for a month of service for each just for the Galaxy X. I bet you no more than 20 - 30 people will actually pull it off, if that.

30 x 175 = $5250

No I can imagine that even at only 10 bucks a pop that they could sell between 2000 and 5000 at the C-store.

10 x 2000 = $20000
10 x 5000 = $50000

Even if they only sold 1000 copies, they would still end up with twice what they would make with it as referral only. Hell, sell 500 copies at 20 bucks and you do the same.

As for complainers, sure, there will always be those who thinks they should just get it all for free. I don't count those fanatics in my numbers. Cryptic wants money and I'm happy to give them some, but I can't get 5 other clowns to do the same and I'm not crazy enough to spend 175 bucks to do it myself.

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... the more likely Cryptic gets the message that this is the perfect carrot for the referral program. All you people want this ship so badly, you know how you can get it.

Except that no matter how much we want it, we can't pull friends who want to play STO out of our collective asses if they don't exist.

There needs to be an alternative for those of us with Star Trek and MMO loving friends whom Cryptic has already alienated with an STO purchase.

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I can answer that. How many people do you really think Cryptic will get to be able to actually complete that magical 5 player sign up with 1 month played?

I have no idea how many, and neither do you or anyone else. You're guessing at how successful the program will be. You've not the slightest clue whether it will work or not.

Probably as many as will actually just buy 5 more copies of the game them selves and pay for a month of service for each just for the Galaxy X. I bet you no more than 20 - 30 people will actually pull it off, if that.

What actual real data are you basing this on?

People who are able/want to buy 5 more copies of the game and 5 more monthly subs for a month just to get the ship is no difference in income for them than 1 person inviting 5 friends to do the same. It's still ~$175 to $200 of income vs. $12. That's simple math.

As for "only" 20 to 30 people buying those 5 copies etc., you're guessing.

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Except that no matter how much we want it, we can't pull friends who want to play STO out of our collective asses if they don't exist.

Then don't pull friends. Get strangers. Go to the local mall. Or gaming shop. Solicit. Go door to door. Run your own contest through your own website. Come up with a plan.

Cryptic just wants you to get them people. They don't have to be your close personal friends.

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Then don't pull friends. Get strangers. Go to the local mall. Or gaming shop. Solicit. Go door to door. Run your own contest through your own website. Come up with a plan.

Cryptic just wants you to get them people. They don't have to be your close personal friends.

You are truly cracked man. Fine, you go out and ring yourself some door bells, I'm going to continue going up Cryptic's ass until this makes it in the C-Store. Don't get me wrong, I understand Cryptic's reasoning in doing this and why you think its smart business sense on their part, but not why you're defending the idea like it will personally benefit you in some way if it stays recruitment only. Why do you care if people have the option to buy it from the c-store? Does it negative effect you in some way?

...and no Shard-Warrior, I have nothing to base those figures on what-so-ever. Nobody has anything "real" to base any calculations on. Its just a guess based on how the game has done so far and how I've seen it perceived in the gaming community over the last 2 months. I guess we'll all see in the end. Either way, I'll continue to push for it's release in the C-store.

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Why do you care if people have the option to buy it from the c-store? Does it negative effect you in some way?

Well, for starters, if he is willing to go out and do the legwork and find 5 other subscribers whereas you can just buy it cheap, then yes it has a negative effect on him. You got the same thing he did without doing the work to get it.

There are a great number of "exclusive item mongers" who would also have issue with "exclusives" being dumped into the C-Store for everyone to buy.

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You are truly cracked man. Fine, you go out and ring yourself some door bells, I'm going to continue going up Cryptic's ass until this makes it in the C-Store.

I don't want the ship.

You do.

That's the difference.

There's no need for them to put this in the C-Store. They want you to bring referrals to the game. And have provided a carrot. You are going about this the wrong way.

Don't get me wrong, I understand Cryptic's reasoning in doing this and why you think its smart business sense on their part,

It's not that I think it's smart business sense. I merely think your logic is faulty. And you are walking into a brick wall here. You want the ship. They've given you a way to get the ship. If they put it in the C-Store, they ruin the entire point of their referral program. You're argument isn't going to sway them. Because it doesn't take into account the reason why they're doing this program.

Why do you care if people have the option to buy it from the c-store?

I don't care. I just think that your entire premise is going nowhere. If you want this ship as badly as you seem to, you have options to get it. You just don't like those options.

You have a choice. Get the ship. Or don't.

They put this in the C-Store and they cut their nose to spite their face. It won't work. It's not part of their plan. It's not "smart business" ... it's just business.

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...and no Shard-Warrior, I have nothing to base those figures on what-so-ever.

Right, so ultimately you're just complaining.

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If they put it in the C-Store, they ruin the entire point of their referral program.

That's definitely the point he isn't getting. The goal of the marketing plan is to bring in new customers and subscribers. Just dumping into the C-Store does not accomplish that.

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That's definitely the point he isn't getting. The goal of the marketing plan is to bring in new customers and subscribers. Just dumping into the C-Store does not accomplish that.

Why not give out C-store points as a reward for recruiting people?

Give people who bring someone new into the game who subscribes the equivalent of $15 worth of C-Store points for each person they recruit.

As thin as the content and options already are in this game, we need to STOP making more exclusive stuff. We need more general content, and putting the ship in the C-Store is a lot better option than making it yet another exclusive that will make it rare (and thus, the Dev time spent on it a waste of effort).

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Why not give out C-store points as a reward for recruiting people?

They are. (http://www.startrekonline.com/referral) Read what the program offers (so far).

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They are. (http://www.startrekonline.com/referral) Read what the program offers (so far).

My logic is fine. The ship isn't the only thing you get out of the referral offer and the people who can will still go the referral way rather than spend 20 bucks in the C-Store, you would be stupid to do other wise. Why would anyone spend 20 buck when they could do it for free. I get the logic, I just think its crappy logic.

They're offing a very prized ship among many for something that not everyone is capable of doing. The only people who will go for this game no matter how hard you push would be Trek fans and MMO players, both of which are more than likely fully aware of this game by now and have either already bought it or have no interest in doing so. Telling people that if they want it they'll find a way is pure and total bull **** and you know it.

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My logic is fine.

But it isn't. You still don't see it.

The ship isn't the only thing you get out of the referral offer and the people who can will still go the referral way rather than spend 20 bucks in the C-Store, you would be stupid to do other wise. Why would anyone spend 20 buck when they could do it for free. I get the logic, I just think its crappy logic.

You're still not getting it. This is not about spending money for an in-game item in the C-Store. The overall goal is to bring in new subscribers and to reward those customers who help achieve that goal. How does putting this ship into the C-Store accomplish that?

Telling people that if they want it they'll find a way is pure and total bull **** and you know it.

I disagree. If you want anything bad enough, the onus is on you to do what is necessary to get it.

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I get it fine. It will not work. They will make more money from the C-Store and **** off less customers.

My opinion.

Thanks for derailing my thread about how to make the Galaxy X function fairly in game, a thread which was not created to discuss the logic of the referral program.

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I disagree. If you want anything bad enough, the onus is on you to do what is necessary to get it.

It seems YOU don't get it, because you're buying into the cynical situation Cryptic have created without even thinking about it.

"Ooooh if you want the Galaxy X so bad then why don't you go and get 5 peope to subcribe!"

Nevermind the fact that most of us are simply incapable of getting 5 people even interested in STO, let alone subscribe. The fact is Cryptic are attempting to force us to do their job for them (marketing) by using something they KNOW we all want.

That's despicable.

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It seems YOU don't get it, because you're buying into the cynical situation Cryptic have created without even thinking about it.

"Ooooh if you want the Galaxy X so bad then why don't you go and get 5 peope to subcribe!"

Nevermind the fact that most of us are simply incapable of getting 5 people even interested in STO, let alone subscribe. The fact is Cryptic are attempting to force us to do their job for them (marketing) by using something they KNOW we all want.

That's despicable.

Dude, I'm so glad someone came into this thread with a brain and some moral judgment finally, thank you, I was starting to think I was surrounded by Enron board members.

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It seems YOU don't get it, because you're buying into the cynical situation Cryptic have created without even thinking about it.

"Ooooh if you want the Galaxy X so bad then why don't you go and get 5 peope to subcribe!"

Nevermind the fact that most of us are simply incapable of getting 5 people even interested in STO, let alone subscribe. The fact is Cryptic are attempting to force us to do their job for them (marketing) by using something they KNOW we all want.

That's despicable.

The logic here is faulty. If the game isn't interesting to 5 people, how is it so interesting to you that you have this much passion about a ship in it?

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The logic here is faulty. If the game isn't interesting to 5 people, how is it so interesting to you that you have this much passion about a ship in it?

Take your logic to Vulcan, this is Earth were passionate people want a real alternative to having to spam strangers in order to get a wanted ship.

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Take your logic to Vulcan, this is Earth were passionate people want a real alternative to having to spam strangers in order to get a wanted ship.

it just makes absolutely no sense. If this game is as bleak, unplayable, and horrible enough that you think no one will want to play it ... why spend this much time ranting about how badly you want to play this game in this ship?

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it just makes absolutely no sense. If this game is as bleak, unplayable, and horrible enough that you think no one will want to play it ... why spend this much time ranting about how badly you want to play this game in this ship?

He's got a valid point there.

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Because I bought a lifetime script and it would help to have something new to amuse myself with.

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Because I bought a lifetime script and it would help to have something new to amuse myself with.

your ship has sailed anyway. It goes live and exclusive tomorrow so cough up around $175 ( providing you can find 5 copies of STO at around $20 ) or see how long your friends remain your friends after bringing them here at their expense.

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How about just adding a special ability to all T5 ships and making the Galaxy-X the Vet reward for 400 days of service...


I know... whacky thought isnt it...

simplicy when effective is always the best route. Making it a vet reward like you suggested makes total sense.

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it just makes absolutely no sense. If this game is as bleak, unplayable, and horrible enough that you think no one will want to play it ... why spend this much time ranting about how badly you want to play this game in this ship?

Because even on a sinking ship, we want to be on the highest part above water.

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your ship has sailed anyway. It goes live and exclusive tomorrow so cough up around $175 ( providing you can find 5 copies of STO at around $20 ) or see how long your friends remain your friends after bringing them here at their expense.
Actually it goes live when 1.2 launches, and no one can get it until the person buys the game and pays to subscribes for 1 month. In most cases that means 2 months before anyone will see the Galaxy X. :)

Beyond that I've already invited 5 friends to this game, all of whom are still subscribe - and 3 even purchased LTSs. Not everyone dislikes the game just because you do.

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Actually it goes live when 1.2 launches, and no one can get it until the person buys the game and pays to subscribes for 1 month. In most cases that means 2 months before anyone will see the Galaxy X. :)

Beyond that I've already invited 5 friends to this game, all of whom are still subscribe - and 3 even purchased LTSs. Not everyone dislikes the game just because you do.

put me on ignore will you please? If I wanted someone to follow me around contradicting everything I said I'd have not gotten divorced.

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Seriously...?

Guys its a ship it remains to be seen how it will effect the rest of the game plus we have season two in a few months which could very well bring the things people are worried about on this ship to most other fed ships (like cloak).

Dont get me wrong I want the ship lol but I have nothing against Cryptic using as a means to help motivate others to bring people to the game. Almost every other MMO does it. Cable companies do it, web sites do it, its a common business practice even outside of gaming. Its even used as a business model in some cases. No one is forcing you to do anything if you feel forced its because you are pushing your self because you want it.

I do like the idea of letting it be a 400 day vet reward though, for the record. Lets all just see how it pans out over the next few weeks and see before we blow our lids off 20 times a day.

And as a side remark, there is no way someone could not find 5 people interested in ST enough to sign up for one month. Its one of the most rabid wide spread fan bases on this planet.

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I'm moving this thread to the more appropriate C-Store and Promotional Items feedback subforum.

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put me on ignore will you please? If I wanted someone to follow me around contradicting everything I said I'd have not gotten divorced.
I don't follow you around. I correct anyone who makes mistakes on the forum. You just happen to be making a lot recently. :)

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As much as I may want to purchase this for $10 to $20 Cryptic points, having it as a veteran reward after 500 to 600 days of subscribing would be great. It would give those who want it over a year early, access to it by referring 5 friends now. And for those of us that can't we can stick around until our 500 or 600th anniversary to get it.

WIN-WIN