Idea: Scan-only crew

Lady Gaghgagh

Scans?
Blah! Blegh! Pah! Ptooey! Ew! Yuck! Bah humbug! Boring!!!

In a recent poll asking players' least favourite daily task of the game, scans ranked as the second least liked and even though some people voted for other tasks, many comments about the dislike of scans were still quite prolific. Comments about scans often described them as monotonous, unimportant, inefficient, and a general waste of time. An interesting fact about scans is that they can be purchased with dilithium and players with higher VIP levels can purchase more scans per day; however, the damning reality is no one ever purchases extra scans. And why would they? The people have spoken, scans are not worth anything and are relatively meaningless.

So how can we the players enjoy this game feature more and how can this feature become more prominent as well as profitable for all (DB included)?

Now featuring: Scan-only crew!

Scan-only crew would act much like Voyage-only crew, except of course these crew are only available through performing scans. Each scan is a chance to receive a special and unique crew member. Scan-only crew may even become challenging by implementing various conditions for attainability such as ship used, location scanned, or even crew possessed. The possibilities are many!

Below, I have brainstormed up some fun, exciting, and positively unique scan-only crew. Have a look and share your thoughts!


Prisoner Sito Jaxa - from TNG: The Lower Decks
★★★
DIP (1), SEC (2)
Bajoran, Starfleet, Federation, Undercover Operative, Prisoner, Crafty



EV Suit Spock - from TOS: The Motion Picture
★★★★
SCI (1), COM (2), SEC (3)
Human, Vulcan, Starfleet, Federation, Musician, Astrophysicist


Marayna - from VOY: Alter Ego
★★★★
DIP (1), ENG (2), SCI (3)
Hologram, Astrophysicist, Cyberneticist, Desperate, Romantic



Lieutenant John Kelly - from VOY: One Small Step
★★★★
COM (1), ENG (2)
Human, Cultural Figure, Explorer, Astronaut, Pilot, Desperate



John Doe - from TNG: Transfigurations
★★★★
MED (1), SCI (2), DIP (3)
Zalkonian, Caregiver, Criminal, Amnesiac, Resourceful, Desperate


Yedrin Dax - from DS9: Children of Time
★★★★
ENG (1), SCI (2), COM (3)
Trill, Saboteur, Innovator, Gardener, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Engineer



Silver-Blood Seven - from VOY: Course: Oblivion
★★★★
SCI (1), ENG (2)
Silver-Blood, Human, Borg, Shapeshifter, Clone, Federation, Astrophysicist, Quantum Mechanics



Onaya - from DS9: The Muse
★★★★★
DIP (1), MED (2), SEC (3)
Muse, Artist, Writer, Musician, Inspiring, Survivalist, Crafty, Resourceful



Sphere Builder - from ENT: Harbinger, and The Council
★★★★★
ENG (1), COM (2), SEC (3)
Sphere Builder, Cultural Figure, Villain, Temporal Agent, Quantum Mechanics, Brutal



Crystalline Entity - from TNG: Datalore, and Silicon Avatar
★★★★★
SEC (1), SCI (2), DIP (3)
Cosmic Lifeform, Communicator, Saboteur, Brutal, Survivalist

[10F] Belle'Anna

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Data1001

Great idea, Gaghgagh! Scans are totally useless and worthless now (other than for getting the Ktarian Headset), so this would be a great new addition to the game — not to mention a new source of profit for DB, as people would be a lot more inclined to pay for extra scans.

And very interesting crew choices you came up with there, as well!

Lady Gaghgagh

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Mwah, thank you

Data1001 wrote: »

Great idea, Gaghgagh! Scans are totally useless and worthless now (other than for getting the Ktarian Headset), so this would be a great new addition to the game — not to mention a new source of profit for DB, as people would be a lot more inclined to pay for extra scans.

And very interesting crew choices you came up with there, as well!

It was fun coming up with them. I also am considering the idea of Species 8472, Sha-Ka-Ree, and the famed Bajoran poet Akorem Laan. Mainly I wanted to come up with people or beings you'd encounter that are either non-corporeal beings, cosmic lifeforms, are beyond the normal limits of space, are in places requiring scans to find, or are people lost in space.

Lady Gaghgagh

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Mwah, thank you

Data1001 wrote: »

Great idea, Gaghgagh! Scans are totally useless and worthless now (other than for getting the Ktarian Headset), so this would be a great new addition to the game — not to mention a new source of profit for DB, as people would be a lot more inclined to pay for extra scans.

And very interesting crew choices you came up with there, as well!

It was fun coming up with them. I also am considering the idea of Species 8472, Sha-Ka-Ree, and the famed Bajoran poet Akorem Laan. Mainly I wanted to come up with people or beings you'd encounter that are either non-corporeal beings, cosmic lifeforms, are beyond the normal limits of space, are in places requiring scans to find, or are people lost in space.

This Sisko1

As someone who scanned regula for 2 years, please no lol

Dirk Gunderson

That’s a fun idea for taking a game feature that isn’t quite stale or boring so much as totally meaningless and turning it into something interesting.

This Sisko1

Now that I have the stupid headset it is true that scans should do more. Especially because of the 3 a day requirement. Atleast ads can be used.

Magisse

As long as they're not "one time drop only", like the Voyage crew, forcing you to then spend Honor on them if you want to FF.

Kaitee

Full disclosure, I don't feel like I'd ever spend dilithium on more scans anyway - but I would totally park around whatever planet I had to to chase special crew, so from a player engagement point of view it works for me. I love the idea of having the Crystalline Entity be a bridge officer too, like would it shrink down to humanoid-sized, or would you just stick a really big combadge on it and have it fly alongside the ship?

Lady Gaghgagh

Magisse wrote: »

As long as they're not "one time drop only", like the Voyage crew, forcing you to then spend Honor on them if you want to FF.

I was thinking they shouldn't be one time only. Due to the likely rarity of the drop anyway, collecting all however many there were would take so many scans that, collecting all of them would take luck, dedication, or in DB's strongest interest...dilithium. I'm trying to sell the idea here as you can see

robownage

Never has an "Awesome" been so well-deserved. What about the Cytherian from The Nth Degree?

Also, as if I only just learned about the Ktarian Headset...I guess I have to stop pitching Lefler and Crusher.

Hungry Dog DDM

My first thought is NO!

My second thought is "You know what? Why not? It wouldn't be the worst thing DB has done."

RNGeverything

John Kelly would be perfect honestly

Mirror Cartman

Prisoner Ash Tyler. Just after the Terrans have tried to rxecute him by beaming him into space, and Discovery beams him aboard.

Yateball

Why not require us to have to pick one of our active crew to go on "Scan Duty" and they become unavailable the same way shuttles and voyages do. The higher rarity or skilled the person you have there the more likely you are to have the scans come back with something decent. This would also just auto-scan every time the timer is up so we don't have to check on it all the time

[BL] PShivers

I love this idea as well. Scans has just become a button I push when it comes available. Total waste.

Jhamel

How about adding Jhamel and Eris into the scan crew? Jhamel could be scanned at Andoria and Eris at the Founder's Homeworld.

RogaDanar

If the characters could not be fully fused through this process (aka if they are one time only) I would be against this.

Mirror Cartman

Yateball wrote: »

Why not require us to have to pick one of our active crew to go on "Scan Duty" and they become unavailable the same way shuttles and voyages do.

I like the idea, but why not tie it to the ship you are already using for ship battle missions. e.g. The only way to get Prisoner Ash Tyler is by scanning with the USS Discovery. Sphere builder would be recruited by scanning with the NX01.

If you don't like DIS, then you can choose never to have the chance of getting Tyler. It would also let you concentrate on one scan character at a time.

Every time a new ship is brought out, a new scan character could be added, with the chance of getting the character increasing with ship level. This would monetarise the feature for DB.

Zann Calcore (ISA)

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Well, you could also incorporate both ideas. Create a scanning station where you can put any crew member and then press the scan button. As was said earlier, who you use, combined with what ship you’re in, and even where you are, could all determine who or what you might get when scanning. Great idea!

Oh, one thing though, this should be in Make It So, though I’m sure it’ll get more attention on the Bridge, it still needs to be where someone at DB might see it. Any thoughts, @Shan ?

Lady Gaghgagh

Zann Calcore wrote: »

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Well, you could also incorporate both ideas. Create a scanning station where you can put any crew member and then press the scan button. As was said earlier, who you use, combined with what ship you’re in, and even where you are, could all determine who or what you might get when scanning. Great idea!

Oh, one thing though, this should be in Make It So, though I’m sure it’ll get more attention on the Bridge, it still needs to be where someone at DB might see it. Any thoughts, @Shan ?

Yes, I knew it should be in Make It So, but I wanted to launch the thread here just so people could get a first take on it. The Bridge is likely our most used part of the forums. My plan was to @ Shan later on and see if she could move it fresh to Make It So after a few days.

Zann Calcore (ISA)

Lady Gaghgagh wrote: »

Zann Calcore wrote: »

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

When I read this, I imagined that there is a 'scan' slot you put a crew member on, who scans and picks up debris. The better they are, the more value you pick up.

However, your idea is infinitely more exciting and you've highlighted some awesome crew! I dig it. A lot.

Well, you could also incorporate both ideas. Create a scanning station where you can put any crew member and then press the scan button. As was said earlier, who you use, combined with what ship you’re in, and even where you are, could all determine who or what you might get when scanning. Great idea!

Oh, one thing though, this should be in Make It So, though I’m sure it’ll get more attention on the Bridge, it still needs to be where someone at DB might see it. Any thoughts, @Shan ?

Yes, I knew it should be in Make It So, but I wanted to launch the thread here just so people could get a first take on it. The Bridge is likely our most used part of the forums. My plan was to @ Shan later on and see if she could move it fresh to Make It So after a few days.

Okie dokie. Sounds good.

Siblin

I like it. I don’t think we can expect dB to throw 4*/5* crew at us like candy but even if it’s mainly common and uncommon as long as they are unique it provides some entertainment, people for the cryo mausoleum or at very least a tiny bit of honour.

Would be good if the crew were specifically people found stranded, in pods etc.

Lady Gaghgagh

Here are some others I thought of...



Kaitaama - from ENT: Precious Cargo
★★★
DIP (1), SEC (2)
Kriosian, Princess, Prisoner, Royalty, Romantic, Desperate



Jono - from TNG: Suddenly Human
★★★
SEC (1), COM (2)
Human, Talarian, Warrior, Primal



Akorem Laan - from DS9: Accession
★★★★
DIP (1), COM (2)
Bajoran, Cultural Figure, Writer, Spiritual



Jhet'laya - from VOY: Ashes to Ashes
★★★★
ENG (1), SEC (2), COM (3)
Human, Kobali, Starfleet, Maverick, Casual, Crafty, Desperate, Resourceful



V'ger Creator
★★★★★
DIP (1), SCI (2), ENG (3)
Human, Probe, Innovator, Explorer, Communicator, Exobiology, Xenoanthropology

Lady Gaghgagh

Siblin wrote: »

I like it. I don’t think we can expect dB to throw 4*/5* crew at us like candy but even if it’s mainly common and uncommon as long as they are unique it provides some entertainment, people for the cryo mausoleum or at very least a tiny bit of honour.

Would be good if the crew were specifically people found stranded, in pods etc.

Well the thing is, the rarity of getting 3, 4, and 5-star crew wouldn't make it equivalent to giving them away like candy anyway.

I mean just ask the forums about the mythical Ktarian headset and how long it's taken some people to get that.

As for the crew, my logic behind the scan-only variety is...
a) crew found stranded (like you said)
- example: Yedrin Dax, EV Suit Spock, maybe Silver-Blood Seven, maybe Marayna
b) crew found in pods/wreckage/escape craft (like you said)
- example: Lieutenant John Kelly, Kaitaama, Prisoner Sito Jaxa, Akorem Laan, Jono, Jhet'laya, John Doe
c) cosmic lifeforms which live/travel in open space
- example: Crystalline Entity, V'ger Creator
d) non-corporeal lifeforms capable of being out in open space
- example: Onaya
e) lifeforms from different space-time dimensions or which manipulate space
- example: Sphere Builder, Species 8472

Pinkyfirst

I really like this idea. Scans are, essentially, three button taps required for a daily goal. If it wasn't necessary for the small amount of free honor, I am pretty sure it (arguably) would be the least-tapped button in the game. There is practically nothing useful acquired from them for new, old, f2p, moderate or high spenders. With how much interest there is in special crew (voyage, gauntlet, honor hall), it would definitely add something else to chase for us players. Given the current state of the game, something new and engaging is much needed.
I have a couple of ideas to expand upon this, but shall wait until it is in Make It So. Overall, this is a great idea worthy of DB's legitimate review and discussion imho.

Lady Gaghgagh

Pinkyfirst wrote: »

I really like this idea. Scans are, essentially, three button taps required for a daily goal. If it wasn't necessary for the small amount of free honor, I am pretty sure it (arguably) would be the least-tapped button in the game. There is practically nothing useful acquired from them for new, old, f2p, moderate or high spenders. With how much interest there is in special crew (voyage, gauntlet, honor hall), it would definitely add something else to chase for us players. Given the current state of the game, something new and engaging is much needed.
I have a couple of ideas to expand upon this, but shall wait until it is in Make It So. Overall, this is a great idea worthy of DB's legitimate review and discussion imho.

Thanks. I can't wait to hear your ideas.
I'm actually surprised @Shan or @Black Pebble hasn't moved this thread to Make It So yet.

[10F] Belle'Anna

Has anyone actually spent dilithium on scans to see if the loot increases the more you spend? It seems such and odd thing to spend dilithium on that I'm genuinely curious as to why it's even available as an option.

Lady Gaghgagh

[10F] Belle'Anna wrote: »

Has anyone actually spent dilithium on scans to see if the loot increases the more you spend? It seems such and odd thing to spend dilithium on that I'm genuinely curious as to why it's even available as an option.

As far as I know, no one has tried. And therein lies the problem, DB wants to make coin off this feature they're offering clearly, but no one does. Hence, a new way to revamp this feature is with the scan-only crew. I really hope DB takes this idea to heart.

[10F] Belle'Anna

I like literally had no idea it was so expensive.

You are going to want a guaranteed super-rare for that price! That's a lot of dilithium for a few thousand credits lol