Not sure how much longer I'm going to be playing.

[eaglescoutdjb]

I'm really frustrated right now, there's so much about this fleet and the game I like but as someone that doesn't have a lot of money to spend on gaming I feel like more and more of the game is locked behind a wall I'll never get through.  The exchange and dill exchange have gotten insane to the point that I feel like I can't get anything without devoting an unreasonable amount of time to STO, a game is supposed to be fun but instead it feels like it's becoming a job if I want to keep up.  And to make it worse I feel like the change that made things get so bad, raising the cap on the exchange, was done with the intent of making it harder so they could sell more keys.  Might I'll just take a break and come back in a few months like I've done before but the more time I put into the game right now the more I hate it.

[James]

Everyone needs a break from the game sometimes, and as someone who has taken breaks before for some of the same issues, I can definitely understand.

Sometimes it's refreshing to go play something else (or nothing at all) for a little while before coming back - and in a lot of cases it's the best thing you can do.

No matter what you decide to do, the fleet will of course be here when you come back!

And you never know, perhaps the upcoming changes might help in some way

[Attilio]

I've found not caring is a very important part of enjoying the game. Who cares about the new ships? Who cares about the new equipment? I'm still using a Pilot escort with Elachi weapons and equipment from 1-2 years ago. It's still effective enough. I don't care about grinding, I just enjoy the story.

With that said, it's true that everyone needs some sort of break every now and then. Even if it's as simple as playing only 3 or 4 times a week.

[eaglescoutdjb]

I've found not caring is a very important part of enjoying the game. Who cares about the new ships? Who cares about the new equipment? I'm still using a Pilot escort with Elachi weapons and equipment from 1-2 years ago. It's still effective enough. I don't care about grinding, I just enjoy the story.

With that said, it's true that everyone needs some sort of break every now and then. Even if it's as simple as playing only 3 or 4 times a week.

Don't think I could do that. One of the things I enjoy most about this game is coming up with and trying new builds, take that away and a lot of the fun goes with it.

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

[Bhaltair]

There is a lot you can achieve without Zen, and even though it might be frustrating to not have the latest ship/trait/console, there is nothing that can be replaced or worked around somehow. 
As for EC, if you spend 15 min per toon you have you can make up to 925k per toon by doing the Tour the Galaxy daily. Add a few minutes in doffing, and you literally will make over 1m per toon per day. Save the EC for your main, and buy what you want/need from the Exchange.

[eaglescoutdjb]

There is a lot you can achieve without Zen, and even though it might be frustrating to not have the latest ship/trait/console, there is nothing that can be replaced or worked around somehow. 
As for EC, if you spend 15 min per toon you have you can make up to 925k per toon by doing the Tour the Galaxy daily. Add a few minutes in doffing, and you literally will make over 1m per toon per day. Save the EC for your main, and buy what you want/need from the Exchange.

How many toons do you have? Let's say a person has 3, that's what I have, and wants the Paradox, the ship I want right now, even if we doubled what you said and farmed 2 million EC a day per toon it would still take almost 2 months to get the ship. And it's one of the cheaper ships. The thing that drew me to STO was that with a little patience you could get anything, the increase of the cap on the exchange has pushed things well beyond my patience.

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

[Bhaltair]

How many toons do you have?  Let's say a person has 3, that's what I have, and wants the Paradox, the ship I want right now, even if we doubled what you said and farmed 2 million EC a day per toon it would still take almost 2 months to get the ship.  And it's one of the cheaper ships.  The thing that drew me to STO was that with a little patience you could get anything, the increase of the cap on the exchange has pushed things well beyond my patience.

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

I fully understand, as there are also a few ships I want, including some expensive exchange ships.
I don't have many toons, and yes, it does take a lot of patience. And I admit I don't have much of it, but I am trying.

Sometimes I grab some Zen on a sale, then wait for the next key sale, and buy the key-ring bundle for 1912 Zen.
Those keys sell for at least 5.4m per key, last time I checked prices were at 5.9m, and I heard of even higher prices.
So a stack of 20 keys gets you at the very least 108m EC, and much closer to you desired ship.
Plus an ultimate upgrade as the icing on the cake.
Of course this is what Cryptic wants you to do: spend real money. It's still a business, after all. 
Or you exchange Dil for Zen, but at current prices you need to farm 67 days with one toon to get 1912 Zen.
Or 'only' 22 days with 3 toons...

Another source of EC is selling off unused Doffs, even Rare and VR.
I had several VR suliiban with desirable traits twice (from the Cell ship doff missions), put them on the exchange and suddenly was over 20 mil EC richer. 

While patrolling in Argala - quitting before killing the last wave and then restarting - you gain a lot of junk drops. 
(also a very good spot to master any new ships). Once you filled up your inventory you ship go and sell it.
The best place to sell anything is in the Command Center in the Dyson Sphere (in the Delta Quatdrant). The vendors
there give a lot more EC then normal vendors in the Beta or Alpha Quadrant.

Crafting can be profitable as well, but again you need luck and patience to right mods, as those are random.
An example would be the conductive RCS accelerator with EPS mod.

At the end of the day: as with most MMORPGs some of the desirable goals need an investment of time and patience to achieve, or some real hard cash.

[roughrider1988]

I'm really frustrated right now, there's so much about this fleet and the game I like but as someone that doesn't have a lot of money to spend on gaming I feel like more and more of the game is locked behind a wall I'll never get through.  The exchange and dill exchange have gotten insane to the point that I feel like I can't get anything without devoting an unreasonable amount of time to STO, a game is supposed to be fun but instead it feels like it's becoming a job if I want to keep up.  And to make it worse I feel like the change that made things get so bad, raising the cap on the exchange, was done with the intent of making it harder so they could sell more keys.  Might I'll just take a break and come back in a few months like I've done before but the more time I put into the game right now the more I hate it.

I understand fully.  I play for free as well and do not have access to the fancy ships and epic gear.  I did grind out the Uber Dorito from Q for all 3 toons the anniversary event.  But, as this is a game, you should play it or not play it as you see fit and for your enjoyment.  Perhaps, as others have said, after a break you may return and find it more enjoyable.  Whatever you decide, you have to do what is fun for you.

[James]

I understand fully.  I play for free as well and do not have access to the fancy ships and epic gear.  I did grind out the Uber Dorito from Q for all 3 toons the anniversary event.  But, as this is a game, you should play it or not play it as you see fit and for your enjoyment.  Perhaps, as others have said, after a break you may return and find it more enjoyable.  Whatever you decide, you have to do what is fun for you.

Well said

[James]

I understand fully.  I play for free as well and do not have access to the fancy ships and epic gear.  I did grind out the Uber Dorito from Q for all 3 toons the anniversary event.  But, as this is a game, you should play it or not play it as you see fit and for your enjoyment.  Perhaps, as others have said, after a break you may return and find it more enjoyable.  Whatever you decide, you have to do what is fun for you.

Well said