^^^
And this IS the major flaw with Cryptic's endgame content design when compared to most other MMOs. It not that the drop system is inheirently random (and although WoW is changing some elements of that now, in my days of hardcoire WoW raiding you had ONE drop - and it may not even be for you Class - that could go to ONE of 40 raid members (and usually each Guild had a system of points - most of them called it DKP - and a player earned DKP by going on Guld Raids - and when something dropped - players who wanted it would bid their DKP, etc.

That said, the issue with Cryptic's end game content is that it's designed to be 'PUG (aka Pick UP Group) doable; and that just lleads to the situation we have where spome players DON'T contribute and just go grab the loot at the end. There is no way in hell a 40 man pick up group could do any part of WoW's Black Wing Lair back in the day; or really make meaningful progress in Molten Core. that facty that WoW's endgame content WAS insanely difficuklt and required gear, coordinated play between a large number of players to even progress, etc. was a reason why the random drop system (as bad as itr is) worked to a point - because to get the loot - and for a player to obtain the loot; the guild as a whole, and the player HAD to contribute; or NOBODY got anything.

Of course, if Cryptic tried top put any content of that type into STO - the casual playerbase would either have a stroke - or quit en masse; so they're left ith using a random system on content that is r ather easy to beat and doersn't require all 5 to play at ther best (remember it's been sttated that winning/failing the optional objective has NO bearing on te tech drops that give the MkXII gear - so if that's what you're playing to get, failing the optional isn't a big deal) - so thus you CAN have a situation where a slacker still has a chance to win an item the rest of th group worked to get <---- And THAT is where the current system fails.

And here's another issue: IF they make everything currency based (IE They make the top gear buyable with EDCs or some other 'always get' currency); it won't solve the main point of failure and may even compund it as you'll just have motre slackers sitting in the wings - knowing full well, that just by doing that, eventually, they get the coveted gear they want.

The main issue is the PUGability of the content as - if you do give 'kick' ablility to the leader; or even make it a 'vote' system - that can (and will still be a griefable mechanic. That's what designing end game content requiring a Fleet/Guild avoids in that it's self policing in that the Guild will kick out undesirable members; and if the Fleet leader gets out of line, there's nothing prteventing those that don't like him/her (and who still play together well); from leaving en masse and forming a new Fleet to do content.

So, yeah, the real failure of teh STO endgame STFs is that they are designed to be easily PUGable - and the game queue system PROMOTES that way of doing STFs over everything else. Yes, Fleets can do private instances (and a lot do); but when your Fleetmates aren't on - or enough aren't interested; or you're the 6th man - your only resort is to PUG - and that's where the STF endgame system fails

I disagree that "everyone" clicks need on anything and everything. I personally do not do that.

Also, how do you know if someone has an "actual need" or not? Do they send you a tell with each roll to justify their choice?

Grandiose generalizations which appear to be false to me take away from the points you trying make in my opinion as I am now unsure what in your posts may be factual and what may be hyperbole.

And what content can I do exactly where I don't rely on an extremely low drop rate or artificial time gate where I can actually upgrade my gear? Please tell me, I've been looking for it. And if the answer is join a fleet and wait for season 6 please don't bother.

In addition, if it is acceptable to you that there are in fact edge cases where people can run 1,000 STFs without getting the gear they are trying to get that is just messed up. Would you be ok with a bug that made a quest reward vanish...if it only happened to 1% of the player base? .1%? What is the 'acceptable' amount?

In my personal experience two of my toons have gotten a tech drop after their first 2-3 STFs, another has ran more STFs than any of my toons and has yet to see a single piece. My conclusion? Poor design.

And the worst part of it is that it doesn't matter how many STFs I have ran with that toon. He has the same odds of getting that drop next time he runs it as an alt who is running his first!

In my mind this is really the crux of the issue. There IS a chance that you could get nothing. No matter how much time and effort you put in to STFs. No matter how you look at things, that just sucks. And needs to be changed. I don't know if that means boosting the drop rate or giving it to players on their 1000th run, or what, but the fact that there is possibly no reward is a terrible thing (and no, I don't count playing the same thing over and over again as its own reward).

What's with all the whining. Wa Wa.. It's only a COSTUME in a GAME. Do more STFs and less whining on the forums and you just might just get the drops. Never seen so much whining since preschool. The stats are BARELY BETTER THEN MK XI ANYWAY.

Oh the irony

I got the set, but if I didn't I wouldn't be on here basically crying lol. This tread is so hilarious because it's so juvenile!

You still dont get it, thats priceless

Wish I had heard that before I spent the 120 EDC I had on Mk XI Omega set I really didn't need. (had MACO already)

Whining is as integral to an online game as grinding gear. :p