Star Trek Future Tense.... IS BACK!

[Phantom]

Hi guys,

Okay, long hiatus... but with stuff going on outside of the Armada and hobbiest world (some of us are married with kids now! how crazy is that! some of us were teens when we started making this close to 16 years ago!)

Future Tense for me, along with a lot of other stuff were halted and mothballed. The team disbanded and went about their own paths. After elements in life forced me to rethink what I've done and after a bit of soul searching I came to the realization that when I start big projects, something happens and it never gets finished.... Future Tense being a prime example.

That said I contacted some of the old team members and we're proud to say... we're back!

This Future Tense will be different from the previous one - that was, well a mess. We kept adding, bug fixing... no public releases or anything to keep you guys interested other than pretty pictures and promises of a grand release.

So changes....

When we were modding we kept finding new things to play with, and the MOD kind of lost it's way, we had 47+ Federation units, 9 races, Massive maps inspired from the likes of Star Trek Voyager / Enterprise / DS9 / TNG and the Original Series.

We spent a few hours simplifying it, consider what to drop, what to keep, what to add and organising a vision for Future Tense. The Federation List has been halfed, the Borg AI programming is going to make you think twice before taking on a cube and we have something special planned for the others.

GREAT NEWS TOO! Stuff dropped from Future Tense and older versions of ships that get a face lift... WILL see a Public Release! Dates TBC for now.


Watch this space!

 

[Hellkite]

I will be look forward to seeing what your team comes up with.

 

[CABAL]

You're alive! This is great! I refuse to believe that was 16 years ago!

 

[Phantom]

Lol, cheers guys (Sorry bout the signature too, account closed due to my inactivity so was just restoring the links, will make a smaller version soon)

The team should have some sneaky peaks ready in the next day or so in terms of screenshots of new models and gameplay


Adam,

 

[Admiral*Alex]

I only just got Armada 2 (I'm like twenty, SO....), so this is exciting. I've heard a bit of your project (though recently, some of it has survived).

That said, the trailer that I found ModdB looked COOOL.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Phantom, your name was one I've not heard in aeons. It is nice to see you are still alive and well .

I look forward to see what will you and your team will come-up with.

By the way, are you going to work with EO too?

 

[Phantom]

Yup, for the most part were all reunified. Couple have too many commitments now with kids, jobs, education and stuff, but myself, Taras (MrVulcan), Sam (EO) and Warren (Torrence) along with newcomer Dan (Chev) are structuring the foundations for FT and then we'l start piling on the assets. Couple of ships have been rebuilt from the ground up too so will share the new models once they nodes and stuff have been added. The old models they're replacing will then be released for public use and coded for A1 as they'll work on both games should players wish to use on either

 

[kjc733]

Hey FT is back. This is the mod that got me started on Amada all those years ago.
I lost track, is this still going to be A1 or did you decide to move to A2. I remember being astonished at some of the wizardry you managed to pull with A1.

 

[Phantom]

It's still Armada 1 and we have a few rabbits we're gonna pull out of our hats

 

[Phantom]

First update with some eye candy:

Were gonna work race by race rather than all over the place adding here there and everywhere before. Focused efforts and then go from there. After the team assessed every model, unit and capability for each so they have a pro and a con, and a reason to be added to the fleet of the AI or player, we decided a few models - mainly those built at the very beginning (our skill has advanced a decade and a half so detail and taking advantage of polyons are better) or ones no longer fit for purpose for one reason or another, would be rebuilt from scratch.

Now the old models WILL be released in due course, so for now, here are some of the 'new' vessels.

Firstly, the Steamrunner which will now be 'Cruiser 3'
It'll retain the original Armada long range feature, but will be more adaptive, it's designed for exceptional long-range assaults. Weak in close combat, but will never miss a shot at long range!

The steamrunner, like the previous is heavily designed and adapted from the concept art for the one that finally made it to screen.

Next up is the Ronin which has been rebuilt by EpytronOmega and textured by me, designed by the great Mr. Hobbs. The original model was fine, but we felt that firmer lines, more detail to areas - especially the bottom and overall feel of the ship needed an update:

Thirdly and lastly for now, the Federation Constructor.... Was a giant workbee, was over scaled and though looked cool, we felt something meaty would be better and after being inspired from a shuttle design on Facebook, and took many inspiring nods to the beahemoth that is Thunderbird 2, created a Construction Tank... Slow moving (so plan bases well) but can take a wallop! Should last longer under fire if a sneaky Romulan decloaks and threatens your base's future.

More to follow soon

Any feedback would be great as I'm sure I don't speak for myself when I say that guys too would appreciate it a great deal


Adam

 

[dvatreknerd314]

These all look great!

The only criticism I see is the construction ship. Its overall shape doesn't really say Federation to me. I'd suggest something to round out the features of the ship to make it look a little softer and more inviting (even the Defiant was mostly round)

 

[Admiral*Alex]

These all look great!

The only criticism I see is the construction ship. Its overall shape doesn't really say Federation to me. I'd suggest something to round out the features of the ship to make it look a little softer and more inviting (even the Defiant was mostly round)

I disagree, somewhat. It seems it has some linage to the Defiant. The nose section is strikingly Defiant-like. The rest of the ship doesn't feel Trek. Mainly, it doesn't have traditional Warp Nacelles. What I'm guessing are Warp Nacelles seems to blend into the Impulse engines.

 

[Phantom]

Yeah notes from the Defiant were taken so you have the bussards at the front (similar to the Defiant) with the grill exhausts at the back alongside the impulse engine

 

[Majestic]

Looking forward to seeing progress on this. Keep us updated.

 

[Phantom]

It's nice to see familiar names Though it'll take me a while to get thousands of posts trophies and accolades lol. Can't remember however many I got initally as by admission, I kinda lost touch with my Armada family

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I remember EO showed me the Ronin's mesh, it is great to see it finally completed! .

 

[Hellkite]

Well Phantom if you need anything like a

Explorer/carrier/ command ship
http://www.msfc.com.au/community/index.php?resources/seraphim-class.135/

or a a slipstream capable light cruiser
http://www.msfc.com.au/community/index.php?resources/seeker-class.292/

or a tactical frigate
http://www.msfc.com.au/community/index.php?resources/peredhil-class-frigate.143/

I think we may have some that would fit the bill

 

[Phantom]

Ooo... I like the Seeker

 

[kjc733]

Well if you're looking for new designs and you like the Seeker, you may also like the new Midway.
http://www.msfc.com.au/community/index.php?resources/midway-class.322/

 

[Hellkite]

On be half of the Seraphim Build Team you can use the Seeker class

 

[Phantom]

Awesome, thank you. Will let the team know and see if we can squeeze her into our fleet list really nice design

 

[Hellkite]

Thanks

She is one of my best designs and the work Jet and Kjc done one her is top notch

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
In my opinion, I always had a soft spot for the Peredhil Class Frigate .

And I saw something very nice in EO's gallery on DeviantArt, so something cool is approaching!

 

[Phantom]

Here's this weeks update.

We've been working on the Federation Hero units. Whilst I've been busy trolling episodes of Star Trek Next Gen and Voyager, Sam's been busy outfitting the old models.

Now when Future Tense was originally concepted, the U.S.S. Titan was a reference on Nemesis, no book series or anything. Now the Luna has been recognised as 'Canon' it'd be like calling the AkiraPrise an Enterprise... Oh... wait. (Messing, loved Enterprise as much as the rest - for the most part) anyway... Sam has done a fantastic job in creating the Luna class at a poly affordable price tag as to not upset the game.

Here's some eye-candy:

We all had a sit down and after much deliberation... we've made the unanimus choice to REMOVE the Sernaix race from Virtual Voyager and keep it in keeping with a well known race that has the potential to instil fear into others! Now we'll leave that little spoiler until we have something to show you, but that also means that Voyager needs a change and an update.

We didn't want a radical change like the Virtual Voyager starship which'll be released soon, but we did want something easily identifiable, and a ship that's fit for purpose.

Again Sam worked his magic and created this master piece. Here is our 'unique' Intrepid refit for the U.S.S. Voyager:

We're undecided whether to revert the standard intrepid to a more 'classic' skin or keep the above, but both Titan and Voyager will get a skin of TGA over the coming days/week

 

[dvatreknerd314]

Now the Luna has been recognised as 'Canon'

Proof, please

 

[Hellkite]

The Luna class is still non-canon like all things from the books but is well known

The Star Trek canon is the set of all canonical material in the Star Trek universe. The official Star Trek website defines canon as comprising the television series Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, and the films in the franchise.

 

[kjc733]

Proof, please

Seriously?
These guys are resurrecting THE Armada mod. They drop a number of bombshells on the way they are taking the mod and they show off some good, new models. And the only thing you want to do is pick up on the word "canon" for a ship which, whilst it has not been on the TV screen, has been used on the front cover of a whole series of novels, features in Star Trek Online AND has an Eaglemoss model. Perhaps you would have preferred that they stuck with their original Titan which most certainly had no providence (but I still liked by the way Phantom).

Rant Over.

Phantom, that's good work on the Titan. I understand why you dropped the Sernaix, it's been a long time since I read the Voyager virtual seasons but I do remember that they creeped the hell out of me.
As for the Voyager, the elongated hull works surprisingly well, I may have to try something similar if I reattempt my own refit. I still prefer mine though
The Intrepid texture looks a little bland to me, I'm not sure why. Any chance of a comparison picture with the old version?

 

[Phantom]

Didn't mean to cause offence, was my interpretation since the Luna is literally recognised now as Titan, but wont drag out as it's recognised so would be weird otherwise not to include her.

Thanks KJC733 and Sam did a terrific job on the Intrepid, we felt whatever design we went with had to be honest to the original, and maybe a few tweaks to make it fresh. Still tweaking the slipstream nacelles at the moment. The texture on the original intrepid is the original, just deciding to whether to go classic or leave as she is. I think we're gonna go classic skin but maybe some subtle astec panels. Gonna have the intrepid added some mesh detail and tidied up a little. The intrepid will feature the ablative armour seen in Endgame as one of it's Special Weapons, alongside the Tricobalt Torpedoes. Voyager meanwhile will retain the Delta Flyer which you'll be able to launch and some TBC weapons

 

[kjc733]

Yeah, refitting the Intrepid is an incredibly difficult thing to do. All the things that make the design unique are the ones I wanted to change. In the end I went the opposite way, the hull and saucer retained more or less the same proportions but I made a sleeker integration of the saucer/deflector housing and elongated the nacelles. I'm considering refitting my refit again now that I have some "slipstream" nacelles. What you're doing is a little closer to Rademakers Intrepid refit (although he was going to take it much further by lowering the saucer as well).

 

[Epytron_Omega]

Yeah, refitting the Intrepid is an incredibly difficult thing to do.

This is so true. I was going off of Rademaker's design, but wanted to also have my own unique twist on it.