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An Earnest Question for the Player Crew Crowd
X-Porter
Member Posts: 229
And I apologize now in advance if this violates some forum rule I'm unfamiliar with, and if this gets deleted Ok.
But how many of you have tried Starquest Online?
I read a lot of posts about,"I want to be Dr. Drake Remoray", or "I want to be Chief Engineer Fixum", And I get that. Really. I play EVE as a marketeer. I tried to play WOW as a Dwarf Hunter-Skinner-Pathfinder type. I run my FFXI characters as retired adventurers/crafters. I get the whole sandbox/give me options deal, really.
But as it becomes apparent that STO is not going to be a "full galaxy experience" (and I'm fine with that, personally) A lot of people post about "I want to do [yadda-yadda-yadda] and I'd play any IP that lets me do that".
Starquest has a solid lore behind it. It's very StarTrekesque. You can man bridge stations, or engineering, or wander the ship. The UI is awkward to get used to, but not impossible. Everyone on your ship is a Player Character. And the ships have barracks for a ton of marines in addition to crewmembers. Or, play as a civilian and buy your own ship and make your own way.
You can try SQO for free, Just read up a bit on the interface and give it a go. They have training ships ready to take new players on, and they're a nice bunch. I played for awhile, and liked some of it, but don't currently have time to really get into it. Still I find myself thinking about getting back to it.
Not flaming STO, because I'm eagerly awaiting it, and not meaning to over-sell SQO, because it's not my thing right now, but I don't see the two as being mutually exclusive. You've got a few months before STO comes out, why not try something new?
If you like it you might have found a new game, and if you don't then you might see why Cryptic took the path they did.
I'm still looking forward as playing as Captain, myself. But play what you like.
Comments
I think I'll check SQO out.
Important facts:
1. Free to Play games are poorly made.
2. Casuals are not all idiots, but idiots call themselves casuals.
3. Great solo and group content are not mutually exclusive, but they suffer when one is shoved into the mold of the other. The same is true of PvP and PvE.
4. Community is more important than you think.
I've tried it a couple of times and really tried to get into it but just couldn't. I could forgive the 1990's graphics as they aren't a high priority for me anyways if a game has great game play but the absolutely horrid game play mechanics I just couldn't get past. It felt like I was fighting with the controls just to do the simplest things like check inventory or carry on a conversation with an NPC. If they revamped the game controls completely I'd be playing it in an instant but I just can't get into a game that I have to fight with the controls just to play.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
One thing I've tried to make clear several times and it never quite gets through:
Not every critic of STO is a fan of the player crew system!
So there are plenty of us here who have very limited or no faith in Cryptic/STO but it has nothing to do with player crews.
Do we all FINALLY understand that now? ... Yeah, I'm probably asking for way to much from this crowd...
Anyway, I have been aware of Starquest for quite awhile but I've never tried it. I've considered it a few times but when I read reviews it either sounds too much like EvE (where you spend ungodly amounts of time grinding to earn enough money just to buy a damn ship) or it sounds too much like a political pissing contest between the existing players and anyone new trying to break into the game. I've seen this sort of xenophobic behavior from a lot of small lesser known games. The existing players get an attitude that the game belongs to them and they don't have to make room for new players unless those players spend an approprate amount of time sucking up first. And even then they still need to understand they are new and will always be second rate citizens compared to the people who have been there for years. I don't have any desire to deal with that kind of crap again.
The History of the Order of The Golden Shields
Raltar, I did specifically direct my question to the people who want player crews. I know you have a hate-on for Cryptic though, so whatever.
There are elements of the SQO community like you describe. There are also a lot of good folks. I did definitely get a sense of hierarchy in my short time there, but some people enjoy "working their way up the ranks". I don't think the politics of the game are worse than any other, really. If you don't like it, you could always run for President in-game (yes, they actually do that).
@Bren:
Yeah the gameplay is kind of funky, but the developers are constantly tweaking it. It's very much a labor of love for them and they are very receptive to player input so they're always changing something-or-other.
I just think it might be worthwhile for people to consider. It doesn't cost anything to check out their forums or download the trial. A lot of people won't be interested, it is really rough around the edges, but maybe a few will find something they like.
I tried SQ last year for about a week. Turned out to not be my cup of tea. The issue for me wasn't the graphics, it was the entire interface/GUI and the game mechanics. Too clunky and non-intuitive. The other problem I had was that my crew were all in Europe and I was pretty much the sole US player. Made getting involved very difficult.
That being said, there were a few things I enjoyed about the game. I really felt like I was a member of a crew, and that my actions had a direct bearing on mission success. My first night playing, my orientation got interrupted when a flag officer came aboard and took command of the ship. I was thrust into manning the tactical station and we went on a hunt for a pirate. Serious adrenaline rush! Also, I read the forums and saw some court martial proceedings for acts of mutiny, which I thought was a great touch of realism.
Maybe if they update the game client, and I found a US crew, I'd give the game another shot. But I really hope that STO will eventually offer a true player crew experience.
i played sqo for over1 year now, and ihave seen so many advances, COlonial buildings, more ships, factions, gfx updates, we even have shuttles now :O
and because of the different stations, and somewhat lack of crew, you will get sooooo much attention, help etc when you join, be it from starfleet of the united systesms alliance, the emporer of the klinshaya empire, the consul of the (newly formed) ICS, the solitary Confeds of non aligned worlds (CONW) or even the mysterious Therataan protectorates. There WILL be a place for you somewhere, PvP = Klins, Science, explore, PvE, PvP = Alliance/ICS, science, explore = Therataa.
as for Civ side, there are people who can help you get started, i am gettin a new ship soon, so who knows, maybe you can crew my ship
ill even buy first 3 people a shuttle 
i have, do and always will love SQO, 1000 stars / 5 stars forever
www.castlethornsoftware.com
take a look and look me up on forums
im comet :P
www.castlethornsoftware.com
^ The link that began it all...
www.runescape.com
^ The link to end it all xD
Hi, I'm Known as Aoin Lorna or Jake Lorna in SQO i joined about 6 months ago and didn't want to leave, The Devs of SQO are always listening to the players and respond to the suggestions we give, If there is a Bug we find they fix it in the next patch and there are allow a patch coming to us, the Admins Love us
I have played SQO - until i quit about 2months ago.
The "STesqueness" of SQO is what has brought me initially to that game.
But of course SQO cannot be for true ST fans, for legal purposes alone it HAS to be (too) much different in key-areas.
A very nice bunch of people made up for THAT disappointment though, and i found other aspects i liked.
You are right, the SQO-crowd is (mostly anyways) nice, but the issue is that a FEW bad apples spoil the fun for too many others and can do so very easily, with next to no restraining mechanisms. The players doing so call themself "hardcore" and claim to have "the right" since .the game's mechanism (or rather: lack thereof) allow them mostly to do what they do.
At any rate, the impact they can have/actually have is far too great, the game as such is very much imbalanced, not only in combat but basically in all aspects - not to mention other issues like (client)lag and the importance of your ping (which is even more important in certain situations in SQO than in Battlefield2, go figure).
The final straw for me was when the SQO Admins decided to completely ruin their economy by (apparently) giving in to the demands of those players that care nothing about economy in the first place.
I for one do not NEED to "be" or have crew, i can do just fine with a game like EVE or "X" where you are "only" a ship.
But what i AM looking for (and so far SQO was the only game that gave it to me, until they threw it all away) is a game that allows me to build stuff (has a solid economy, preferably player-run), colonize and explore.
With solid PvE content and perhaps SOME(!) PvP (read as: i don't need nor really want PvP but i can see it CAN be fun once in awhile, if proplerly designed).
But most certainly with solid mechanisms in place to interact with other players - and if that means to only have "large scale" encounters (to ME anything more than one space ship is already "large scale" ), then i think i can live with it too.
SQO has no PvE content to speak of (though i hear they are working on that atm, after years of players asking for it), just the odd NPC pirate that may spawn as you enter systems.
STO on the other hand, seems as if it will lack in the "explore" and especially build/colonize area for me.
I will still give STO a try, but from what i am reading on the STO forums, it looks as if STO will be an "EQ in space" (i.e. you'll have the typical roles Tank, Healer, DPS in one way or the other and no "real" economy either, not to mention lack of colonization - heck i cannot even play a romulan :P) more than anything i'd truly expect from a space-MMO.
I'll still give it a try though once it goes live, most certainly.
By all means, try SQO.
But when you do so, throw any ST-related expectation overboard first, as you will most likely (due to legal necessity, if nothing more) be disappointed if you do not.
HI.
I play SQO now soon more then a year, and i can say to everyone that the game is still fun.
The gameplay offer so much unique features in every faction what you cnat even imagine in other games, and well cant even wait from other games in the close future.
Being a crew of a ship, or having your crew of ship, running freely inside your ship. Thats something what got me from teh begin and with now the put small ships inside the main ships (shuttles, soon fighters) its something what we never seen in an mmo.
The admins give a totally freedome (sometimes they need ot act for better good but its rare) to make your faction or be one of the main factions leader if you work hard.
The lack of PvE is true, but not for first time, you will have a real starship combat feeling in your first battle (and for a long long time still) when you get your orders from your CO. Also its kinda unique that the starship can freely move and have different arch of shields and weapons.
I know its in a lot singleplayer but ts rare in the multiplayers especially in MMOS. Usually you just got a shield and a health bar then go and get your ass kicked.
In this game its really matter where you get hit or where you shoot and which shields down or up.
But thats only 1 of the planty of unique features what SQO offers to every player.
The graphic not the best, but its give back the needed visuals if you give it the time. The GUI is kinda "hardcore" aswell but all game need learning phase, here its need a bit more time to get useto it. Thats all. Its not a space WoW to join and you can instantly go slay kobolds and level up. You need to be more patient and live in the days of a Starfleet Cadet/Officer or a new civilian worker/businessman. But in 1 mounth all can learn the game and it 1 mounth free. Theres no other game what can be truly played before a mounth, you need level up, skill up, get items or whatever. Here you need to learn, the skil up phase is like 1 week to get a maximum skilled character. But to learn all as a player you need atleast a mounth to feel yourself familiar with the ships, then god knows when you will find out everything, but it makes the game fun.
Ok, thats it for me
or i wil never end... wheres my pills..
Try SQO guys! The more we play its more fun.
(Oh and i run as Sisay in the game if you join and would like to contact)
L.A.
I'm not going to comment on SQO, being this is kinda hijacking STO's forum, but there is a vote being taken on admins revamping the SQO control scheme right now. Go here to vote.
Besides that, i'm a representative. Anything I feed you, you'll take as just hype. Want a real taste of what StarQuest is? Read some of the players action reports. There are thousands, the one I linked to is from the Yorktown, a noob training ship.
Proof SQO is seamless.
I played SQO for a couple of months. It's got ALOT to reccomend it....but for my boat it also had some fatal flaws.
Most of these, I think, can pretty much be ascribed to the size of the company running it.... and therefor the resources that can be allocated to it.
It's a pretty small operation.... I think around 8 people total in the company....and since it's not a cash earner for them... they seem to be doing it on the side.
Given that.... and the pure scope of what they are doing... it's quite buggy....and server stability and lag leave alot to be desired. At least they did when I tried it. I also found the client UI a bit clunky to use.
Another big killer is that the game has a rather small player base.... mostly due to lack of advertising I think. Games like this really do a need a critical mass of people to be entertaining.
Another issue is that PvP is a very large part of the game.... especialy for players of one faction....and the penalties for PvP are quite HARSH.... and it's completely open PvP with no safe areas.... and many of the PvP'ers have no concept of consentual PvP. Combine that with the fact that being successfull at PvP (or even just successfully escaping it) REALLY REQUIRES experienced players/ship..... and you got a recipie for frustration for people starting out. It's been more accurately described as Player vs Victem often-times in SOQ.
Also the type of internal politics that goes on in some of the factions (especialy the one representing StarFleet....which is where most starting players tend to gravitate) is really not healthy.
SOQ has a HUGE universe and there are some really cool aspects of that out there.....unfortunately after you've been playing for a month or two...you quickly discover ALOT of the content is repititive and formulaic. For instance... you CAN discover planets with alien life-forms on them. However you quickly discover (at least as far as animals go)... that there are ONLY about a dozen different animal species out there.... and you keep finding different combinations of the same type on each planet that has them.
The options for interacting with them are also some-what limited.
The game is also one that would be idealy suited for Live Content....and I understand in the past that used to happen quite a bit with GM's....but in the period I played it seemed pretty much non-existant.
Finally, they didn't really answer the question of "What do you do if your crewmates aren't around?" very well. Note that there ARE ways to address that issue.... SQO just didn't happen to do so. For instance, they didn't impliment any "Fast Travel" options to get off your current ship to another one elsewhere in the galaxy or to a planet/starbase, etc. So doing PUG's or switching between solo and group content is pretty much impossible.
Note: I don't believe ANY of these problems are unsolvable. With more resources I think SQO could be an awesome game. As it stands right now, at least for me, it was a game with awesome (but unrealized) potential....
I been playing SQO for almost 2 years now, and it has been a Great Experince. I help run one of the Largest Player Run Factions in the Game, ICS. This game is for anyone who wants to have fun in a Scifi MMO.
first off, I would like to appologize that us Sqoins have hijacked a forum thread. But on another note I felt the urge to imput my thoughts on this subject as well.
I have been in SQO over a year now and in that time I have played till my eyes have bled, wiped em off and played more. In the 1+ year in SQO I have been on ships with active crews and inactive crews. I have been a member of a crew in Alliance as well as a Captian, I have been in numerous pvp and pve skirmishes, and then retired and started and cared for growing colonies, I've dabbled in the player run economy, built ships and the like. I short, I have tried almost every aspect in sqo (or atleast all I know of).
Now, I only listed the above so that my next segment will maybe carry a little merit:
The flaws I have seen in SQO is :
1.) Due to the design of the game there is not much to do when alone on a ship, not saying you CAN NOT do anything, it just rapidly starts to feel hollow and more like work.
2.) as stated above, the control system needs a little TLC. At times you feel less like you are controling a ship and more like you are fighting Mike Tyson (or whomever you know that just plan PWNs).
3.) Also, as others have stated above. The graphics are about 10+ years behind the times, honestly this factor can be ignored in games that hit a niche or strike the right cord with people. But it is a flaw to the game as a whole, thus I listed it.
4.) Since this is a sandbox game and the faction that is supposed to defend the civ players of the game is also player driven. You often find yourself alone when help is needed and (this fact I know will get me flamed) at certian times in the past (less now but not totally gone) the same defensive force became more a nazi Regieme and regularly harrassed the people in which they were to defend, mainly by randomly stopping a ship for inspection. At times this only happened once a week, but more so multiple times a day (granted it was fun to RP out, but not in the frequency in which this happened).
I could list more, but I will stop here.....
Now, keep in mind the staff from this company is small and they do try their best to do what they can with the budget they get.
PERKS:
1.) This game is unique in the aspect you feel as a char within a ship instead of a ship itself. Which adds a lot of versitility to the amount of things you can do.
2.) The sky is the limit, Be what you want, when you want, how you want, but every action has reprocussions
3.) Devs ACTUALLY LISTEN to you in this game, you don't feel like you need and act of god for player opinions to be heard.
4.) An ever changing political system, with suspense, intrigue, backstabbing, and a lil touch of stroking behind closed doors.
Once again, I'll stop here...
I am not bashing nor praising SQO, I am simpily IMO not just pointing at the pretty flowers, but also showing you some of the poo you have to step in to get to them. I still play SQO to this day and I hope that Cryptic might just give us another possible alternative within STO.
Hope STO/Cryptic eventually will cater to both sides of the player crew VS npc crew debates.
I tried it and as others before me have stated I just found the graphical quality was just too low for me (especially for something they expect me to pay for). I'm not all graphics crazy like AOC players but that was just below my threshold. Otherwise though the game seemed to have some very engaging concepts to it and if one can get beyond the dated and inferior graphics could have a decent amount of fun I'd think.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Starquest online is a fracking headache. It goes nowhere, and its devs are rather pathetic and rude. Its vet players are power whores and if you don't get into the in crowd you’re done for, blacklisted, killed over and over. They add content from time to time and said content doesn't work, or so the players i spoke to have told me so about the long awaited shuttle crafts.
-Save yourself the time and headaches, I played for about 4 months and if you speak up against the hardliners of the game you will be censored and banned from the forums.
-GFX do suck, player interface is cumbersome and if you don’t go to the bathroom you will wet your pants and get dirty and need to shower.
But if you do give the game a try here is some advice:
-Don't forget when you shower to take off your socks or it just won't work and you will be screaming in the help channel for someone to help you but the only other guy who is in there can't shower either.
- Evito will kill you over and over again, its rather amusing.
- Bosh will submit a vote in 'parliament' and his alt will second it and his other alts will pass the motion.
-Don't run around the bridge naked it will piss off your CO.
-And when you delete the game you will have to manually delete the game folder, least when i played there was no uninstall feature, i suppose the devs figured no one would dare remove the game from their computer cause it is perfect.
Enjoy
Sadly from what i know Dog didn't try going to another faction so he only got one perspective of the game, I will say that the Alliance Faction is Controlled by a Power Hungry dictator, The Therataa have a heavy RP base and there leader is very nice and there Government is balenced, and the Klinshaya are a Mid RP base but right now are really not actively playing
Devs: They listen to the player base and will answer questions and request
Bugs: There are a Few Bugs but they Usually don't get in the way of playing the game but if they do the devs will fix it within a reasonable amount of time
*shrug*
My shuttle works
actually i was a Therat for longer than a Fleet slave.
Therats were much better it was the Devs that I left over.
The issue is mute anyway, i always say play what you like. Some people just like being abused.