3rd Party Contributor Removal
Peachtree Rex
✭✭✭✭✭
in The Bridge
I have deleted my public copy of the "Level 100 Crew Stats" spreadsheet that I have maintained the better part of my playing history with this game. This is to support TekmanRo's removal of the IAmPicard tool due to, in no small part, DB's dithering on whether or not his tool should be approved for use, despite being stickied on their strategy page for over a year.
I encourage others who have also created 3rd party tools, including the STT Wiki, to remove public access at least until DB has clarified how derivative works of their game should work.
For many, this game is nearly unplayable without the help of 3rd party tools to manage its more tedious aspects. DB needs to come out in support of these fans and developers or risk losing them forever.
I encourage others who have also created 3rd party tools, including the STT Wiki, to remove public access at least until DB has clarified how derivative works of their game should work.
For many, this game is nearly unplayable without the help of 3rd party tools to manage its more tedious aspects. DB needs to come out in support of these fans and developers or risk losing them forever.
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Comments
Invitation code: https://discord.gg/8Du7ZtJ
DB's 3 months of silence and removal of the thread without commenting on it is a pretty loud statement in itself. DB chose NOT to work with TekmanRo to help the tool conform within their guidelines. Instead, they've done nothing which breeds fear and misinformation.
If you get burgled because you accidentally left the front door open when out, then you are in part responsible for not taking the steps to secure your home. If caught, the burglar would get convicted and in any case your insurance company probably wouldn't pay out.
People may not share my view. Just ask your insurance company what would happen if you did that.
This is killer because I love using your spreadsheet too, but I certainly get the show of solidarity
What a **tsk tsk** day in STT land
I've used the spreadsheet many times (thanks to you and all contributors), but have never considered using the app. I enjoy being hands-on and making manual calculations, strategizing and implementing my own decisions.
To each their own I suppose, but any app or macro that automates or streamlines gameplay just doesn't seem sporting to me.
You mean you enjoy being hands-on and consulting @Peachtree Rex's calculations.
When I was starting out, and now occasionally during a behold with 3 new characters? Absolutely.
Over the last two years I have built my own spreadsheets that provide all that data and more for my own crew.
Spreadsheets are just storing data that is available in-game. They don't make the game quicker or easier to play, and in fact referencing that raw data is incremental time spent on the game in addition to actually playing the game itself. The spreadsheets certainly don't make and/or implement gaming decisions for me.
Consider voyages. Consulting a spreadsheet, or your memory, or the crew selection screen in-game, presents the raw stats for each crew member. It is up to the player to select the 12 crew members that maximize the stats across the six skill categories. Just selecting the 'best' voyage crew listed in a spreadsheet doesn't really help, since that selection is dependent on which crew you actually have, what the traits are, and how the selections mix together to cover the skills (ie: primary, secondary, other four). If the app analyses your entire crew roster and can automatically instantly select that 12 crew that maximizes the skill points for that particular voyage, then the player is no longer the one playing the game.
To suggest that consulting a static spreadsheet equates to an app or macro that automates gameplay, is like suggesting that reading a car's operating manual before heading out on a road trip equates to being driven around by a chauffer or a self-driving vehicle.
Is it considered “sporting” for DB to sell “Double Your Crew” when that streamlines leveling crew?, Or is it “Sporting” for DB to sell event crew? Is using warp, whether it’s 1x or 10x considered automating gameplay? I would think these parts of the game gives an advantage to those with lots of money they can spend on this game. This is considered acceptable because DB offers these deals, but neither are really “sporting” for those that don’t have the money to spend on this game.
Every player has equal access to those features, whether or not they choose to utilize them. They are part of the game.
If you developed an app that removed the 30-minute refresh for ad-warping, then that would certainly not be sporting, since you would be deliberately circumventing the designed gameplay to create an unfair advantage for yourself.
Your analogy is incorrect, specious, and disingenuous. Timelines was the same car with or without IAP. A more fitting analogy would be going on that road trip without a map at all, with a map made by oneself (one's own spreadsheet), or with a GPS (IAP).
I've maintained my own spreadsheets for three years. I know very well how they work. But what about players who don't? Is it very sporting for players who don't know how to do that to go up against those who can? Boo hoo to them, right?
I disagree, and noted in my first post on the topic that I understood people would have varied opinions.
If the map simply helps a driver navigate more efficiently, I think that's fine. For me, the line is when the map starts driving the car for the driver.
I am 100% against macros, even though they don't do anything differently from what the player would do themselves. As for the app in question, I don't have an issue with some aspects of it, just the parts that take the decision-making process out of the players' hands.
I'm sad to see the removal of this exceptional spreadsheet (thank you Peachtree) and I'm sad to see anything useful lost.
This whole argument about macros and iampicard is ridiculous. The new cadet warps would surely fall into that category then, as they remove user input and selection of crew from your available roster and subsequent choice of the correct path. This is now condensed into a single button push, using crew from Cryo. Smells a bit like a macro to me...
Anyway. I respect your decision Peachtree, and applaud you for taking a stand and look forward to a better time when we might all be able to make use of your hard work again.
Furthermore, I call for the Friday event announcements to be canceled - event notes should only be posted here at the time the app is updated on Wednesday, to further prevent some players from having a competitive advantage over others. Everyone should be on the same level playing field when it comes to preparing for future events, and having more time to level bonus crew or unfreeze them at a lower cost is simply unacceptable these days when only some enjoy that benefit.
Webberoni, it’s not equal access if people don’t have the money to afford the extra crew or other deals. That’s like saying I have a choice to live in a mansion, but I chose to not untilize that choice. Just disregard the idea that I chose to not live there because I can’t afford it. If Double your crew, warp 10, and buying event crew was truly equal access, DB would give away these things to everyone instead of making it cost money or have a certain VIP level.
It sounds like your logic is that people need to either have lots of money to play the game, or be smarter than others so they can create a personal tool to use playing the game.
Preach. 🙌🏻
If we want a supposed level playing field for all(impossible) then let’s have a level playing field for all.
I would be more than happy to play a game where spending wasn't a factor, and we were all on equal footing. I am not even VIP-14, so far from a big spender.
Equal opportunity and equal execution/implementation are totally different issues. I don't buy every offer that comes along, but I still get presented with the offer, so the game is giving me an equal opportunity.
The same argument could be made about sleep. In many events an advantage is given to players that minimize, forego or interrupt their sleep. You could also sub "family" or "life" for "sleep" in this analogy. We all play the game the way we want, which often means not committing every waking moment to it. However, a player that chooses to invest more time, effort or money into the game will gain an advantage. We all make different choices, but we all have equal opportunity.
I do not consider this an advantage over any other player, since it does not enhance my strategy in the game, does not increase my odds of anything, etc. It is merely a tool I feel is required in my circumstance to assist me with my game.
I can see a lot of debate forged by this move on both DBs part and @Peachtree Rex, and it is certainly each of their separate option and right to do what they feel is right.
I guess all I can say is "Live Long and Prosper".