STO News

[Adm_Z]

Yeah, it doesn't look that bad. Heck, for only $15 a month, I might actually buy a couple months as well, just to see if it is worth it.

 

[SciFiFan]

Here are the two biggest complaints with STO:

1: Klingon content. There are just not enough missions for the KDF. You have to grind to get to the next level to unlock the next set of missions and then grind some more. They are increasing the level at which a player unlocks the KDF so I guess that will serve as a bandaid to make the leveling seem mre fluid till more content is released.

2: End game content in gemeral. Other than the STFs, FSs, FAs, and daily repeatable missions, there really is not a lot for the non PVP players. They are working on revamping the STFs and adding one or two more. They are also working on more FAs and adding more PVP maps. When they get the staff they want, they want be able to push out weekly episodes of their FSs with little more than two weeks gap between series.

I honestly believe this game is headed in the right direction. With a little patience and encuragement from the community from the community, we will have a game we can be proud of.

NOTE: STF = Special Task Force, FA = Fleet Action, FS = Featured Series

 

[Adm_Z]

I just found out that I can't play this game on my current computer... I guess I will have to wait until I build my new PC, but hopefully that will be before STO goes f2p.

 

[SciFiFan]

Every month, the lead developer asnswers questions submitted by the community. This month, there have been a lot of questions regarding the free to play move. You can read this months Ask Cryptic here.

For those of you that may get into the game after free to play, if you would like to join a fleet, I would be happy to help set one up. Any one playing STO is more than welcomed to friend me. My handle is @SciFiFan_78

 

[Aerilon]

I've been looking into STO quite a lot recently, I've never been interested in playing these online games for the simple reason that we have / had to pay for them. Obviously now with this F2P feature coming out, I'm tempted to start up. A few queries before I do start up though...

I've read a lot about ship customisation. The user choosing a ship class (such as Heavy Cruiser) and essentially picking parts from three ships to make one. Is this specific to the class of ship that you create? An example? I saw a video recently where it used the Constitution as an example. The Constitution is Cruiser, along with the Excalibur Class and Vesper Class. Thus, I can mix and match between these three ships to make one, right? Does the same apply to other class of ship? Say I decided to go with a Heavy Cruiser (Cheyenne, Dakota & Stargazer) ~ could I mix and match between these three to again create a unique ship?

Then to expand on that, can I mix and match between two class of vessel, say a pair of Constitution nacelles on a Nebula? @ I figure this is a long shot (and would be a horrible combination) though I must ask.

The other thing, is in regards to your bridge crew. Obviously there are character creation screens, but how does that work? Do you create 'you' in Trek form, or do you create your entire bridge crew and go from there?

Appreciation for replies and information.

 

[SciFiFan]

I've been looking into STO quite a lot recently, I've never been interested in playing these online games for the simple reason that we have / had to pay for them. Obviously now with this F2P feature coming out, I'm tempted to start up. A few queries before I do start up though...

I've read a lot about ship customisation. The user choosing a ship class (such as Heavy Cruiser) and essentially picking parts from three ships to make one. Is this specific to the class of ship that you create? An example? I saw a video recently where it used the Constitution as an example. The Constitution is Cruiser, along with the Excalibur Class and Vesper Class. Thus, I can mix and match between these three ships to make one, right? Does the same apply to other class of ship? Say I decided to go with a Heavy Cruiser (Cheyenne, Dakota & Stargazer) ~ could I mix and match between these three to again create a unique ship?

Then to expand on that, can I mix and match between two class of vessel, say a pair of Constitution nacelles on a Nebula? @ I figure this is a long shot (and would be a horrible combination) though I must ask.

The other thing, is in regards to your bridge crew. Obviously there are character creation screens, but how does that work? Do you create 'you' in Trek form, or do you create your entire bridge crew and go from there?

Appreciation for replies and information.

Yes ship customization is pretty huge in STO. Each "class" has three variants. You can mix and match between each variants. Also, they are making Tier.5 variants that can be purchased from the C-Store to add more options. The Venture Class that I showed earlier in the thread can be mixed with the Galaxy Class. As for mixing parts from other classes, no. The former Exec Prod said he would like for that option in the future but, he has stepped down this week. View this Ship Chart. Each ship within each section are interchangeable. For example, the Starter Ships section consists of the Miranda, Centaur, and Shikar classes. My starter ship USS Evanescence had these parts Centaur Hull, Miranda Strut, Miranda Pylon, and Centaur Nacelles.

As for Characters, you create your captain. You earn your bridge officers but can then customize them to your liking. If you do not like the skills your Boff has, then you can train them with different skills. If you have a friend that has a trainable skill you want then you can have that player train your officer for you.

Hope this info helps.

 

[SciFiFan]

Here are some more information that I have meant to get out to you guys.

Executive Producer Dan Stahl is stepping down.

Orion Light Carrier

Elite Task Force Uniforms

KDF Honor Guard Uniform

New Defiant Variant

Nausican Ships

 

[Majestic]

Here are some more information that I have meant to get out to you guys.

Executive Producer Dan Stahl is stepping down.

Orion Light Carrier

Elite Task Force Uniforms

KDF Honor Guard Uniform

New Defiant Variant

Nausican Ships

Thank you for the news and images, however I must say I don't like those new uniforms or the Defiant Variant. They seem kind of cheap and medieval like and don't fit in this type of space RPG.

 

[Hellkite]

Looks more like they ripped off Mass effects' Quarian environmental suits

 

[K_merse]

If it's right what I've heard and STO becomes free indeed, then I'll think about playing it again some time

 

[SciFiFan]

Free to play is on its way. The new executive producer has started a blog on what will be happening. Here is his first entry. Nothing specific, just letting the community know that the testing of the free to play game is now open. I will be checking it out when I get home. I will let you know what I think and do my best to post screen shots.

Here is the second entry in the Dev Blog.

 

[Majestic]

Thanks for keeping us updated mate, much appreciated.

 

[SciFiFan]

Happy to do my part sir. On that note, Part Three. It discusses the Duty Officer system.

 

[SciFiFan]

Here are more up dates.

Dev Blog part 4.

Dev Blog part 5.

Thunderchild variant.

Video on a new Constitution Refit variant with a seeking torpedo (A la ST:VI). *requires quicktime*

 

[Terra_Inc]

LOL, that Thunderchild thingy looks an awful lot like the Britain... (which is understandable as they're both akira derivates)

 

[K_merse]

I never loved STO style ships with a few exception. This Thunderchild is NOT an exception...

 

[Adm_Z]

I don't think it is that bad. the saucer is down right ugly, but the overall stance and shape of the ship is not bad.

 

[Majestic]

Thanks for the update Sci-Fi Fan, not a fan of that design though, it's another poorly done not imagination involved kitbash. In think Federation wise there is like 3 or so designs I like the rest are just ****py kitbashes and designs.

I really think they did to go back to some of the design John Eaves did for the first Star Trek Online. Some of them are great.

 

[SciFiFan]

I am not too happy with a lot of the STO designs. I have been mixing and matching parts to find a design that I do like. I like the center pod on the Thunderchild but, that is about it.

Here is the next installment.

 

[SciFiFan]

Hello all. There have been more in the relm of STO going on. There have been 4 more entires in the Path to Free to Play blog (Click here for complete Archive). Also, they have shown off more ships coming out. Some are (in my own opinion) quite nice and others not so much. I will link as much as I can. Also there is a pod cast called Stoked. They have done a multipart 100th episode in which they went to Cryptic Studios and interviewed the Devs and got some sneak peaks into what is coming.

Without further ado:

Constitution "Exeter Class" Variant.

Intrepid Variant.

K'Tinga Variant

Bird of Prey

STOked 100th pt1
STOked 100th pt2

 

[Adm_Z]

I love that intrepid and k'tinga. Great find man.

 

[Majestic]

I love that intrepid and k'tinga. Great find man.

That K'tinga is actually the unused D4/D6 from Enterprise. They really don't have much imagination to come up with something new do they? The D6 wouldn't be used in that era they would be so out of date that even be updates they would be canon fodder.

 

[Knight]

Liking the Exeter and the K'Tinga.
Like the Intrepid saucer, but thats about it for that design. the bird of prey is ugly. best thing for it is to blow it apart lol.

 

[SciFiFan]

Star Trek Online has announced their free to play lauch date. It will be free to all who wish to join on January 17, 2012.

Official Launch Announcement.

Also there are more entries to the blogs regarding the free to play switch.

Path to F2P.

 

[Aerilon]

Star Trek Online has announced their free to play lauch date. It will be free to all who wish to join on January 17, 2012.

I guess the bit on their web page where it said 'coming 2011' was a little deceiving of them then?

 

[SciFiFan]

I guess the bit on their web page where it said 'coming 2011' was a little deceiving of them then?

Yeah, that has been edited. Half of the forum goers are mad calling it "another in the list of broken promises." The other half (including myself) are absolutely fine with it preferring they not rush a bug laden product out (again).

 

[SciFiFan]

Star Trek Online is now free to play. If you have not had the opportunity to try the game, feel free and give it a go. Just go to the official website. If you like it and would like to form a fleet, let me know either here or via the game mail system. A minimum of 5 players are required to start a fleet.

Look out for me. My handle is @SciFiFan_78

 

[Majestic]

Thanks mate, downloading it now.

 

[Hellkite]

I'm boycotting this game due to their actions in the Enterprise Contest​

 

[ISS_Enterprise_D]

I'm boycotting this game due to their actions in the Enterprise Contest​

Care to elaborate Hellkite? This sounds like something I should have known.