I don't know if the randomly generated mission zones will become stale over time. Right now, they're anything but. I find the space combat very white-knuckle. The over powered NPCs in the space combat missions is what makes my heart race. Like W101, the content scales based on the number of participants. However, you're always out numbered and flying noob ships against NPC cruisers is a battle. You go in knowing that you're outclassed and out-gunned. The question is, what are you going to do about it?
Some groups know how to handle the situation and we complete the mission with no deaths. Other groups struggle and ships get popped left, right and center until they stop charging in alone and let someone else get things going. In either case, no one is communicating in chat, myself included. Action trumps words and the players who have a clue about to do go for it.
In a recent "State of the Game" letter to the players, the Alpha strike behavior of the NPCs has been deemed unintentional and will be fixed before release. I hope they don't tone them down too much. It's space. It's war. Shit - err, death happens in space. So far there's no death penalty so I don't see what the problem is anyway. With a DP that isn't lose your ship and it's gone permanently, I'd rather have exciting over-powered NPCs, instead of easy encounters that we'll be repeating.I WISH I'd thought to record the mission previous to this one. OMG, what an insane ride. I'm damaged spec'd but acting as a tank in many groups and doing pulls when no one else seems up to the job. I definitely won't go DPS for Live. So far, I'm liking the tank role in space even though I've never wanted to tank in other games. I'd like to try out the science/support ship role too.
It's also exciting to realize that I'll be able to play with anyone without worrying about what server people created there characters on. I don't know how easy it will be reality, to get together with people you know. For all I know the tools in place to facilitate such grouping might be inadequate or crude. But at least the whole rick-roll of starting over to get on the right server with friends and acquaintances won't exist.
Noob in Space - Lowbie PVE Mission
Does randomly generated content get stale? When it is coupled with missions that are a challenge as these always are, I don't think that they will get stale at all. However, keep in mind that no one has played the game beyond 16 levels on either side yet - the game may change entirely after level 16...or 20.
Julie Whitefeather
Posted by: Julie Whitefeather | January 19, 2010 at 10:07 AM
I've read that at level 10 (or 11, can't remember) it gets much better. Your options at the level broaden which makes the combat even more interactive.
Posted by: Alysianah aka Saylah | January 19, 2010 at 11:51 AM
When you get a new ship at level 11 is when you can diversify a little bit more depending on what ship you pick up, since you have 3 different options.
And of course it opens up a bit more skill options to advance in.
As for getting together I think that will work out just fine. In Champions our SuperGroup consists of players from all sorts of timezones.
If I log in during a weekend morning I will find US people playing in their late evening and Australians jumping in for their afternoon play, for example. (And I am in Europe)
As long as you have th global ID of someone you can get them in your friends list, chat with them and/or email them - which character they play does not matter. Switching instances is easy and straightforward and the system typically gives preference in choice of instances to those that your team embers or /supergroup/fleet members are in - if you do not pick them yourselves actively.
And friends list/chat/email also works between STO and CO - it is the same system for both.
Posted by: Sente | January 20, 2010 at 11:39 AM
I'm want to try Science role but don't want to start over now that I'm so close to hitting the range where I'll see more options for combat.
Posted by: Saylah | January 22, 2010 at 03:35 PM