CAPTAIN'S BLOG

One thing I've learned about this game over the past 4 years is that you'll never have your characters to where you want them. There is always some work that needs to be done on them lol. Eventually I decided to just focus on my main character, otherwise I'll drive myself crazy trying to keep them all updated.

Anyway, the good thing is that the developers said they don't want us to feel like we wasted our money on T5 ships, so there will be some sort of upgrade system. Universal consoles are generally leveless which is good since they scale to your level. As for other equipment Frankly, don't expect any free equipment upgrades. That's just my opinion but I suspect it will be true.

If they make me grind at all to match my current equipment and ships to the new stuff, I want at least 2 free respecs for every character I have. That, or 1 free respec for every character I have AND an easy means of upgrading. For example, Turning in old fleet equipment for upgraded versions at cost of only like 10-15k FC flat. Not per item. We all have ground for our fleet gear. Doesn't it seem unfair that it be made less worth the value we ground by releasing better equipment? Don't get me wrong, having better ships and gear is GREAT! I just shouldn't have to grind for it when I already have for its predecessors. Which, at the time, were top of the line. And yes, I will never be satisfied with my character builds but I have yet to even get the equipment I want for them. Never mind what their performance might be. There are, however, characters I have that have 90% of the gear they need and have good enough performance for now. But that will change with the level cap, hence a cause for concern.

Also, what's the point of a level cap increase? If you are in PvP or PvE with top line gear on both sides and beat them 2:1. So your DPS overwhelmed their shields and hull 2:1, how will that be any different if you were to get the T6 equivalent to the T5 in terms of ship and equipment and PvP again? Despite their increase in specialization from 50 to 60, generally speaking you will still beat them 2:1 again anyways. So, again, I ask, what's the point?

From my perspective, I've always been grinding for better gear. First there was just regular gear, then the aegis set came out, then I think the maco and omega, eventually fleet great. The way I see it, there is always better gear coming out and it always need a grind. I don't disagree that fleet gear should be turned in for upgraded gear at a discounted price. I think that's a great idea and hope they do it.

A lot players have been asking for a level cap increase since at least 2011. By your logic, what's the point of having levels at all? Just remove levels from the game completely. Frankly there isn't much point to levels 1-49 because it's so easy to level and by the time you get to 50, all the gear you acquired is useless anyway because there is better level 50 gear.

Well that's not completely true. You need, as I call them, Precursor levels to establish your skills and what play style you will have. By level 50, I'd assume you would already know and would have an end-game objective for your character. That being the start of the grinding, which is understandable. To me, at 50 there is not much more to establish with your character. So any skill continuation would just be a secondary reputation system in my opinion. But I do see your point.

I guess level 60 will be that marker for new players. In all honesty, I bet this won't be the last level cap increase. I'm sure another one won't come for at least 2 more years, and I really don't know what they would do for it, but I can see it happening.

HA! 2 years from now we probably will be god quality compared to how we are now if that happens.

That's an interesting idea. Maybe be able to have it as a secondary class and you get to choose one or two abilities for ground and space from that secondary class.

With the cap increase, I'd like to see more trait slots to accommodate our specializations as you suggested 187.

I highly doubt that. There would be no balance. All o the lifers would have an advantage over everyone else. The community would be in an uproar. I'm scared just thinking about it.

I do agree it would be nice to get more perks. It doesn't have to be anything insane. Frankly if they gave us weapons that had the same stats as top level fleet gear but with a unique look to them, I would be happy.

I'd agree that the Stipend should at least be increased.

There is no link. There won't be one for a while.

I completely concur. Chances are that ships and rep gear will get free upgrades but fleet gear will not. But that is speculation.

There's a post in the forum with pictures of the new ships. The Klingon and Romulan examples look pretty good, the Federation ships look like they were assimilated by Tron.

I like Tron :)

Simple answer to your question.... to keep us playing and paying. Your optimism is sweet, but knowing Cryptic... It will be in vain I'm afraid. But I hope your optimism is correct :)

From my perspective, the only reason this is turning into a big "problem" is because it's an expansion. This is not the first equipment Mk increase to the game. There was a time when Mk X gear was the very best and everyone had it. Other gear came out that made it obsolete so players went out and got that gear. I'm under the assumption that all my gear will be obsolete but I'm 100% certain that it won't be worthless because that stats of it are not going to change due to new equipment being released.

Well of course the items themselves will not change... if they did, it will be a bigger issue since, for most, that would be theft for those who spent real money to get the gear. But that is not what the case is. Stats will remain the same but will be less effective by comparison to the new gear. So, by comparison, they will be obsolete. It's is not just about the items themselves, it's about the effect the expansion will have by comparison. The only way I could see this situation being ok is if the new items are only like a 4-8% increase. That way our current equipment won't be completed outmoded.

That's exactly what I said. The fact is that this is the same scenario as when Mk XI and Mk XII gear were released. It rendered all Mk X gear obsolete but people just went out to get the new gear. I don't remember people getting as upset as they are now, and in my opinion the only reason people are making a bigger fuss is because this is an expansion and not some random addition to the game as the Mk XI and Mk XII gear was.