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[The Technomancer]

Damnit, it figures that when I finally want to get back into this game no-one sells the subscription cards anymore.

 

[Effect]

Looks great. Been planning on going back to STO. When will this likely go live?

 

[BattleMonkey]

Well kept up with it and while I enjoyed some of it (mostly the space stuff), the game just is crazy repetitive and it turns into a huge slogging grind halfway through it feels. Some of the stuff like the weekly episodes show what could have made for a great game if such quality had been put into most of the games content. My 30 days is about up now, it was well worth the $2.50 I paid though. Perhaps with a bunch of time and content I will resub and get back to my nice little ship, which was the one thing keeping me going in the game... to get more cool stuff for my ships.

 

[Walshicus]

Looks great. Been planning on going back to STO. When will this likely go live?

Well, they still need to do a few more passes of the interior and then put the exterior up for testing. I'd guess mid February along with the UGC stuff going live.

Regarding the repetitive content - can definitely understand that. That said, I just tried the 'remastered' version of the Stranded in Space mission on the SS Azure. Very, very good. Functionally more to do, along with better presentation. Eventually all old episodes will be remade like that, which will make the game a lot better. I don't blame you for not sticking around until they're out though, but don't worry - I tend to keep this thread updated with the big changes.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Well, they still need to do a few more passes of the interior and then put the exterior up for testing. I'd guess mid February along with the UGC stuff going live.

Regarding the repetitive content - can definitely understand that. That said, I just tried the 'remastered' version of the Stranded in Space mission on the SS Azure. Very, very good. Functionally more to do, along with better presentation. Eventually all old episodes will be remade like that, which will make the game a lot better. I don't blame you for not sticking around until they're out though, but don't worry - I tend to keep this thread updated with the big changes.

Updating content is nice and all, but if it's content already played through I'm not so inclined to go back to it, really more interested in more new content to be put in, as well as them perhaps improving the variety of random missions found in exploration and other things like patrols where you often just get the same mission over and over again with a new skin. I can see some improvements in this when they added some diplomacy stuff here and there into the mix a while back, but really more of this would go a long way to me. Redoing the old stuff is nice and all, but really not something that is high on my priority list.

Looking at their future plans, theres some nice things but alot of it looks like simply them trying to redo current features and content, with only real interest to me is to see how the new ground combat is going to turn out.

 

[Walshicus]

Updating content is nice and all, but if it's content already played through I'm not so inclined to go back to it, really more interested in more new content to be put in, as well as them perhaps improving the variety of random missions found in exploration and other things like patrols where you often just get the same mission over and over again with a new skin. I can see some improvements in this when they added some diplomacy stuff here and there into the mix a while back, but really more of this would go a long way to me. Redoing the old stuff is nice and all, but really not something that is high on my priority list.

Looking at their future plans, theres some nice things but alot of it looks like simply them trying to redo current features and content, with only real interest to me is to see how the new ground combat is going to turn out.

I don't know, I fun playing that one mission again on the test server. Yeah it was "old" content, but the mission played a lot better and it's gratifying to know that all the old missions will get the same upgrades in time.

I guess you're mostly involved in exploration content and the sector defences? Sector defence missions [i.e. destroy the enemy squadrons in allied space] are being removed and replaced with an entirely new mechanic in the Series 4 update. So might interest you! Exploration content could definitely use some love now that the tech is better, though I think a lot of people are likely going to be using UGC more. Providing the rating system holds up on live like it has on test, it should be pretty easy to get to some really fun user made missions when that gets released. Haven't played a bad 5-star rated mission yet on test.

But yeah, if the game concept tempts you but not enough to sub just yet, definitely wait for UGC to come out.

 

[The Technomancer]

I don't know, I fun playing that one mission again on the test server. Yeah it was "old" content, but the mission played a lot better and it's gratifying to know that all the old missions will get the same upgrades in time.

I guess you're mostly involved in exploration content and the sector defences? Sector defence missions [i.e. destroy the enemy squadrons in allied space] are being removed and replaced with an entirely new mechanic in the Series 4 update. So might interest you! Exploration content could definitely use some love now that the tech is better, though I think a lot of people are likely going to be using UGC more. Providing the rating system holds up on live like it has on test, it should be pretty easy to get to some really fun user made missions when that gets released. Haven't played a bad 5-star rated mission yet on test.

But yeah, if the game concept tempts you but not enough to sub just yet, definitely wait for UGC to come out.

I think I will wait for that to come out, then suck up my neuroses and subscribe. I didn't play much past beta, but I did most of the intro missions, it'll be interesting to see how they changed it.

 

[Ferny]

Tried the trial and it just isn't for me which sucks cause the general idea of the game sounds really cool.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Once my EVE online runs out for the month I will possibly come back to this as I might want to take a break from it. There is some good stuff here and it's a solid game outside of the lack of content. But with user content growing once foundry is complete, I can see things being much better. I just can't justify paying for 3 separate MMO's right now as I'm also playing EVE and DC Universe Online.

 

[Walshicus]

Once my EVE online runs out for the month I will possibly come back to this as I might want to take a break from it. There is some good stuff here and it's a solid game outside of the lack of content. But with user content growing once foundry is complete, I can see things being much better. I just can't justify paying for 3 separate MMO's right now as I'm also playing EVE and DC Universe Online.

Man, I'm perpetually tempted by Eve... but my day job is as an Analyst and I just *know* I'll end up burning out between work and Eve.

 

[CzarTim]

Eve is much better in concept.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Man, I'm perpetually tempted by Eve... but my day job is as an Analyst and I just *know* I'll end up burning out between work and Eve.

I love EVE but it really requires much more commitment of time to get enjoyment out of it. It is one of my favorite MMO's but have played it on and off for a while now just because I can't commit the time I should to it. Unlike most other MMO's it's not a game you can just log on and play for a little bit and log off. The constant character progression while you are even logged off is nice feature but still, it can be like work at times.

 

[The Technomancer]

Ugh, Season four isn't until like June? I'm struck with a strong urge to dive back into the game, but I'd be restarting a new character, and I really don't like the idea of playing through old intro content only to have it be revamped a few months later.

How populated or empty does it usually seem?

 

[BattleMonkey]

Stations and such are pretty empty at times, though sector space travel usually has lot of folks flying around but that is because it is instanced. Trying to get into pvp can take some time, but I don't know it didn't seem very heavy in population when I tried joining the various queues and waited forever.

 

[Walshicus]

Ugh, Season four isn't until like June? I'm struck with a strong urge to dive back into the game, but I'd be restarting a new character, and I really don't like the idea of playing through old intro content only to have it be revamped a few months later.

How populated or empty does it usually seem?

"Season four" is a more a feature release - the content release [weekly series 3] starts next Saturday I believe.

http://www.startrekonline.com/feature_episodes/

 

[The Technomancer]

"Season four" is a more a feature release - the content release [weekly series 3] starts next Saturday I believe.

http://www.startrekonline.com/feature_episodes/

Well when does the revamp of the early game content that someone mentioned go into effect?

 

[Walshicus]

Well when does the revamp of the early game content that someone mentioned go into effect?

First episode on the Azure goes live in a few days time. Then the developer assigned to the revamps is moving on the the P'jem mission.

 

[The Technomancer]

First episode on the Azure goes live in a few days time. Then the developer assigned to the revamps is moving on the the P'jem mission.

Alright, think I'll give it two weeks then and then renew my subscription. I really enjoyed my time with this game, and I've been pining for it lately.

 

[Walshicus]

Hey all,

Just wanted to give a heads up about the new Weekly Series which started yesterday. Cloaked Intentions focuses on a Reman plot to use technology hidden in The Vault

Spoiler

a Romulan starbase dedicated to the research of Borg technology, from which the Star Trek 2009 backstory tells us Nero upgraded his mining ship before being sucked into the past with Spock.

.
Trailer here: http://www.startrekonline.com/node/2282


The first episode "The Vault" is pretty well done, and I thought I'd share some pictures taken from it along with some more of the sector space and Earth Space Dock revamps.


On approach to Earth Space Dock. Yes, the door opens and closes.

The USS Mary Celeste in sector space.

Runabout Mozart near a Federation battle group.

The Vault...

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

The latest update finally brings the Foundry (user generated missions) out of testing. Just downloaded the patch, haven't given it a go yet.

 

[The Technomancer]

Are there any stats on how this game is doing? They're still providing free content, so it can't be losing them money, right? I'd hate to get into this this summer, only to have it shut down in the fall.

 

[Walshicus]

Are there any stats on how this game is doing? They're still providing free content, so it can't be losing them money, right? I'd hate to get into this this summer, only to have it shut down in the fall.

It seems to be doing quite well. The last Weekly Episode series saw a tonne of people in sector space at least, and the Foundry is doing the same.

Foundry's actually quite cool in that you now see more people in some of the mid-level sector blocks as people use these systems as "doors" to their missions. Speaking of which, I just published my first mission to live.

It's called Uplift:

Dr Jurana - a controversial scientist from the Federation protectorate of Beranave - has disappeared after being implicated in the theft of medical replicators from the Starfleet hospital ship Yuris in the Risa sector.

Beranave has ambitions to full Federation membership, however this has been complicated by the emergence of evidence painting elements of the Beranavian Navy as complicit in the theft. A swift resolution is essential to prevent further delays to the planet's accession.

You may need to search in "Review Content" rather than "Community Authored", until it gets a few more reviews.

 

[firehawk12]

I tried to play it a bit a few weeks ago and after an hour, I just couldn't do it. How do I get out of these "visit 4 planets and collect the artefacts" or "visit 4 sectors and fight Klingons" missions and into all this presumably better content?

 

[Walshicus]

I tried to play it a bit a few weeks ago and after an hour, I just couldn't do it. How do I get out of these "visit 4 planets and collect the artefacts" or "visit 4 sectors and fight Klingons" missions and into all this presumably better content?

Well;

1) Rank up to Lt. Cmdr and visit Defera sector [north of Cardassian space]. There are a number of missions here.
2) Contact the Section 31 contact in the neutral zone sector block.
3) Contact Admiral T'Nae on Starbase 39.
4) Play "Community Authored" missions.

 

[sk3tch]

I have the CE coming from Amazon. I always wanted to try this game and for $9.50 it's worth a risk. I'm a fickle MMO guy (just bought and gave up on Rift) but I love space games (Star Control II, anyone?) and Star Trek so hopefully the two can link up.

 

[The Technomancer]

I have the CE coming from Amazon. I always wanted to try this game and for $9.50 it's worth a risk. I'm a fickle MMO guy (just bought and gave up on Rift) but I love space games (Star Control II, anyone?) and Star Trek so hopefully the two can link up.

Its a very satisfying game in some respects. Having your own fully customized ship and crew just feels good. The content was lacking back when I played, but I hear its a lot better now.

 

[Zzoram]

How much has this game improved since launch? How many subscribers do they still have? New content from the developers still coming?

 

[The Technomancer]

How much has this game improved since launch? How many subscribers do they still have? New content from the developers still coming?

Definitely yes to the latter. They've been rolling out major updates every six months or so from what I've heard.

 

[DurielBlack]

Is there a GAF guild for this? I played the first month at launch and enjoyed it quite a bit, I'm bored with WoW and will be freeing up that monthly fee to put into something else. From reading the last few pages it seems the game has improved a lot, and if UGC stuff turns out to be as cool as it sounds then even better.

 

[Walshicus]

Is there a GAF guild for this? I played the first month at launch and enjoyed it quite a bit, I'm bored with WoW and will be freeing up that monthly fee to put into something else. From reading the last few pages it seems the game has improved a lot, and if UGC stuff turns out to be as cool as it sounds then even better.

Yup - GAFfleet for Federation players. We *were* going to start the House of GAF for Klingons, but we never got the five players together at the same time. Luckily they'll soon be changing the Fleet rules to allow one person to start them.


Would be nice if we got a bit more active on the fleet front, especially now there's a tonne of Foundry content to play through cooperatively.

 

[DurielBlack]

Yup - GAFfleet for Federation players. We *were* going to start the House of GAF for Klingons, but we never got the five players together at the same time. Luckily they'll soon be changing the Fleet rules to allow one person to start them.


Would be nice if we got a bit more active on the fleet front, especially now there's a tonne of Foundry content to play through cooperatively.

Re-activated my account, trying to decide if I should start a new character or continue with my old ones.

I don't even remember how to play.

 

[Walshicus]

Well, give my foundry mission "Uplift" a whirl when you're in game. You'll need to search for it in the Reviewer section, perhaps...

If you'd waited a couple of week's they're making some changes to the first levels of the game. The current Federation tutorial is going to be reworked into a regular mission, with a Starfleet Academy social hub created for Feds. Klingons should be playable from the start too, with the Klingon Academy.


EDIT: Is it worth making a new thread for STO's Foundry in the gaming section? It's pretty big news for the game, and a lot of people probably don't know about it.

 

[DurielBlack]

I don't see GAFleet on the list of fleets.

 

[Walshicus]

I don't see GAFleet on the list of fleets.

Post your full username and I'll invite you. Might even be able to request a join off of me:

E'Sel@Walshicus or ESel@Walshicus, can't remember which.

 

[Ponti]

Can folk from the EU play with those from the US? Would be good to run some of the Special Task Force(? or whatever the high end raid stuff was called) missions with GAFleet assuming it has the numbers. Been a good few months since I last played, back when the Foundry was supposed to be released, may resub and check it out along with those new Reman episodes.

 

[DurielBlack]

I'd post my username but I am at work and can't check what it is lol.

Anyways, reading up on some guides since the site isn't blocked for some reason, theres a lot to catch up on.

 

[Walshicus]

Can folk from the EU play with those from the US? Would be good to run some of the Special Task Force(? or whatever the high end raid stuff was called) missions with GAFleet assuming it has the numbers. Been a good few months since I last played, back when the Foundry was supposed to be released, may resub and check it out along with those new Reman episodes.

Only thing stopping EU and US play is the timezone difference. If you can find a mutually acceptable time to play, there's no issue.

 

[The Technomancer]

EDIT: Is it worth making a new thread for STO's Foundry in the gaming section? It's pretty big news for the game, and a lot of people probably don't know about it.

I'd say do it. At they very least its not lock-worthy, if people aren't interested the thread will just die.

I'd like to see what response it gets though.

 

[DurielBlack]

Got it, if someone wants to add Saska@Moofaa to the GaFleet it would be much appreciated.

 

[Walshicus]

Got it, if someone wants to add Saska@Moofaa to the GaFleet it would be much appreciated.

You have been added! If anyone here is able to make my character E'Sel@Walshicus an Admin in the fleet, would be very much appreciated. I think I'm probably one of the more active members, so just thought it made sense!

 

[Vlodril]

I ve been interested in getting this game as well lately (due to watching tng mainly) but since there will be a revamp on the first missions ill wait for it. Ill send a pm for invitation to the fleet when it goes up.

 

[LProtag]

I took part in the Beta and was somewhat impressed, though with most MMOs I never really could get into any sort of grouping or working together with other people.

Anyway, is now a good time to get back into the game? Is there still a decent userbase?

 

[Walshicus]

I took part in the Beta and was somewhat impressed, though with most MMOs I never really could get into any sort of grouping or working together with other people.

Anyway, is now a good time to get back into the game? Is there still a decent userbase?

Yeah, pretty sizeable now that the User Generated Content mechanic is up and running.

There are a fair few review threads on the game's forums, but this one is the best I've seen:
http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=209242

Be sure to give "Uplift" a try if you do come back - I'd be interested in getting more opinions on it.

 

[LProtag]

Another question, are there any guides on character builds or anything online? I'd like to be able to see what I could do if I got back into it.

 

[Walshicus]

Another question, are there any guides on character builds or anything online? I'd like to be able to see what I could do if I got back into it.

Haven't really seen any specific guides. But again the forum probably has a tonne of them. I just use the below for reference mainly!

http://www.stowiki.org/Guide:_Skills

If you wait a few weeks, you can join with the Season 4 code release. This will redo the tutorial for the Fed [making the current one a higher-level intro to a Borg mission series] bringing in Starfleet Academy. Qo'nos will also get a revamp and the addition of the Klingon Academy so that players can make Klingons from the start rather than needing a Level 6 Fed.



EDIT: Just wanted to add a screeny from one of the recent Feature Episodes.

 

[LProtag]

Yeah, I wouldn't start until I got done with my school work and settled down for a bit. Thanks for the info, I'll look into it a bit more.

 

[LProtag]

Back with some more questions!

Is it really worth waiting for Season 4 updates to come out to play, considering I can start in a week or so with a decent amount of free time?

Also could someone explain the best captain career + ship types, or at least how those dynamics work? I realize that in the higher ranks the ships seem to be a little more diverse (being able to get a science ship that either has more tactical or engineering options as a secondary for instance). Are all combinations valid? If so what takes priority in your role, the career of your captain or the ship you're flying?

I'm leaning towards science right now, and was thinking that perhaps a science officer in a reconnaissance science vessel would work well for debuffs and DPS, though could this be flipped on it's head and say that a tactical officer could do that better and maybe a science officer in a science-secondary escort would be better for this playstyle?

Just interested in the dynamics between careers and ship types, especially when they open up and have more variety in the higher ranks.

Thanks so much!

 

[Walshicus]

Back with some more questions!

Is it really worth waiting for Season 4 updates to come out to play, considering I can start in a week or so with a decent amount of free time?

Hmm, well there's probably enough Foundry content out that you can pace the main-game content, so it might not be an issue. Was just thinking that the new tutorials might be worth a run through!

Also could someone explain the best captain career + ship types, or at least how those dynamics work? I realize that in the higher ranks the ships seem to be a little more diverse (being able to get a science ship that either has more tactical or engineering options as a secondary for instance). Are all combinations valid? If so what takes priority in your role, the career of your captain or the ship you're flying?

Ship and career classes are somewhat separate. For instance I've got a Science captain in a Cruiser. Depends on preference really, though min-maxers might find some combinations better than others. In space, science captains get a scan passive [detects cloaked ships] and the holographic fleet ability - don't know too much about other classes. Captain class makes more difference on the ground really, where it controls which kits you can use.

Ships are different. There are five classes:
Escorts: High DPS, high agility, low shields, low hull
Cruisers: Mid DPS, low agility, mid shields, high hull
Science: Low DPS, mid agility, high shields, mid hull
Carriers [KDF only]: Low DPS, low agility, high shields, high hull
Shuttle: *special*

I'm leaning towards science right now, and was thinking that perhaps a science officer in a reconnaissance science vessel would work well for debuffs and DPS, though could this be flipped on it's head and say that a tactical officer could do that better and maybe a science officer in a science-secondary escort would be better for this playstyle?

Just interested in the dynamics between careers and ship types, especially when they open up and have more variety in the higher ranks.

Thanks so much!

I'd possibly go with an Engineer captain flying a Science Vessel. You get some shield buffs with the captain which sync up pretty well with the massive benefits to the science vessels' innate shield strengths.

Plus, as an Engineer you can fabricate phaser turrets on the ground. Pretty much all of the best Away Team builds focus on a group of engineers with phaser turrets backed up by a medic.

 

[LProtag]

Hm, I was really thinking about doing Science in Science. I realize that the Captain's powers don't really dictate as much as the ships do, but I really like what the Science Officer has to give. Also I figure I could probably get a decent DPS if I use the right debuffs in a RSV with two tactical stations.

 

[Walshicus]

Yeah, that's possible. They're doing a "re-run" of the Breen episode arc this Thursday, adding in a new three-piece-set of Breen equipment which has some nice perks suited for Science ships.