Star Trek Online - To Boldly Beta where No One Has Beta'd Before!

[TheNoblePlatypus]

How many months do you want to give this MMO?

I give it 14 months before servers close down.

Considering all the MMOs that hobble along for years, that's unlikely with the Star Trek IP behind it. I just don't feel right about giving Cryptic anymore of money after Champions.

 

[lupi]

the similar game skinned for SW would be great. An even bigger game would have the ability for players to assume the role of fighter pilot if they wanted to, redoing the battle of ender (minus the death star) or Coruscant would be pretty cool.

 

[lupi]

someone link to a map he did of the galaxy.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/669/35galacticmapv1.jpg

 

[lupi]

How do you take a screen shot in game, and how would you disable all the normal UI elements to do so?

I'm slowly going through all the fed pve quest so I'll probably still by cruisin around in the enterprise till this weekend.


And let me restate, after having to patch my wow client yesterday I have yet to see a STO patch that wasn't easier to do.

Also noticed some blurb on the login news thing about them boosting server capacity again based on high use levels they saw during the headstart.

And they weren't kidding about these stupid tribble things, they don't breed when offline but if you keep them in you bag while logged on with food you may run out of inventory. I'm now up to 2 tan, 1 grey, and 2 black ones.

 

[Malladine]

...but Star Trek will do until the Warhammer 40k MMORPG comes out.

whaaa?!

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

To Star Trek Online players:

Are Kirk and Picard in the game? Yes/No?

 

[SunnyD]

To Star Trek Online players:

Are Kirk and Picard in the game? Yes/No?

Yes and no. Backstory has Picard as an ambassador to Vulcan in this time period, so he's mentioned a few times, but not anywhere in the game as far as I can tell. Why Kirk would be in the game in this timeframe (he's dead, Jim) is beyond me.

 

[lupi]

This game follows the tv shows/movies except for the last (acknowledges the opening moments with romulus and such that occurs in the original universe) so kirk would still be gone and picard is probably an old man if still alive but haven't heard anyone mention him.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Yes and no. Backstory has Picard as an ambassador to Vulcan in this time period, so he's mentioned a few times, but not anywhere in the game as far as I can tell. Why Kirk would be in the game in this timeframe (he's dead, Jim) is beyond me.

Blah. Pass.

Why would Kirk still be alive? Well, in a universe where time travel and alternate realities occur on a regular basis, it wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility (in Star Trek world) to bring him back somehow.

 

[SunnyD]

 

[SunnyD]

God I love MMOs...

 

[lupi]

First one was pretty funny, second too small to read on the mobile.

 

[lupi]

Forgot to add earlier that I got to try out quantum torps for the first time. I'm kinda torn on them though. They are definitely sweet when trying to stuff a salvo up someones tailpipe given their above average speed, but they are somewhat detracting in that the reload time is just as noticeably longer than photons. I would almost think that having both on a larger vessel would be nice as you could open with quantum, spam photon as range closes, saving a snapshot quantum load when you have a shields down moment.

 

[SunnyD]

Forgot to add earlier that I got to try out quantum torps for the first time. I'm kinda torn on them though. They are definitely sweet when trying to stuff a salvo up someones tailpipe given their above average speed, but they are somewhat detracting in that the reload time is just as noticeably longer than photons. I would almost think that having both on a larger vessel would be nice as you could open with quantum, spam photon as range closes, saving a snapshot quantum load when you have a shields down moment.

I finally made a wholesale switch to quantums after getting a green the other night. At first my observations were that the damage difference between quantums and photons was negligible (amounted to about 50 damage, NOT dps) while photons have a distinct advantage in dps. I made the switch to quantums and started dumping points into the torpedo skill, which arguably will improve photon torps as well, but that's where the point damage difference kicks in.

Quantums are used best with High Yield Torpedoes, utilizing your energy weapons to knock out a shield then deliver the kill shot with the torpedoes. It becomes more about burst damage rather than sustained damage - something which flying an escort that does some 1300+ dps with energy weapons (without buffs) is easy to do.

One thing to remember about torpedoes in general - they ALL share a cooldown timer. It looks like they've changed it slightly, making it better overall, but there is a minimum 3 second global cooldown on all torpedo tubes across your ship - meaning you can not fire more than one torpedo at once. Photons get a 6 second cooldown, quantums 8, and the next grades 10. Worst case scenario in terms of timing, you're looking at 11 seconds between quantums or 9 seconds between photons if you're alternating. There is a best case as well, which is roughly 5 seconds between shots. Because of the non-linear cooldowns, this value will slide around. Your best bet will be keeping multiple of the same type of torpedo launcher rather than mixing in order to maximize fire times.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

To Star Trek Online players:

Are Kirk and Picard in the game? Yes/No?

Please tell me Wesley Crusher isn't in the game.

 

[Trell]

I came across something that was named after Wesley Crusher... Some kind of particle, but I cant remember if it was a crusherite or something else lame like that...

 

[lupi]

I remember reading an article about weapons on the main site; someone had broken down the use and global cooldowns on how many weapon banks you'd need to max output. It was something like 2 photon banks, 3 quantum, and a higher number for some third type.

I'll probably have to wait till later tier ships before I decide as I do like photons at opening engagement range as you can pump out more, but the quantums do reign in that momentary pot shot at a weak section.

I've got high yield, as well as basic torp weapon and beam weapon maxed out on the lt skills. Can't wait to get into tier 4 where you get 4 forward weapons so I could slot 2 beam and 2 torp. Tossing out 4 torps with high yield is going to be a serious hÙll punch.

A side note for those interested, the old enterprise vessel doesn't just have an extra eng slot, but it also gets about 2400 more hp points. Not that insignificant as that's almost a dual photon volley.

 

[SunnyD]

I've got high yield, as well as basic torp weapon and beam weapon maxed out on the lt skills. Can't wait to get into tier 4 where you get 4 forward weapons so I could slot 2 beam and 2 torp. Tossing out 4 torps with high yield is going to be a serious hÙll punch.

I wonder if high yield burns on the first volley or not. That'll be interesting to see. I'm betting it does, which means you'll only get it on one tube.

 

[lupi]

But with two tac officers wouldn't you be able to burn boths abilities? Just guessing a bit though as I haven't moved past tier 2 myself.

 

[SunnyD]

I would assume so, but why would you want to have two tac officers with the same ability? I mean, as a Lt.Cmdr right now in an escort, I run two officers - one slot is an Lt station with 2 abilities while the other is an Ensign station that only allows one. Yeah, both my tac officers are Lt.'s, but the one at the ensign station only gets to use the ensign skill. The way I have it laid out, she uses High Yield, while the one at the Lt. station is running Tactical Team (overall tactical/weapons buff) and Rapid Fire (cannon RoF/dps buff). I can see where you're going, but you still have to DROP the enemy's shields down before torpedoes actually become meaningful.

 

[aigomorla]

and the next grades 10.

im guessing the next grade is a heavy plasma torpedo the romulians use.

They OWN the living crap out of you.

If you see a romulain ship and your not in at least a cruiser.. seriously run..

 

[lupi]

lol, finally able to read second comic.


as far as tac officers, even if you have someone above ensign, wouldn't they still be able to use ensign ability too? would be a bummer if not.

 

[JD50]

This thread is TLDR, can someone give me a quick thumbs up or thumbs down on this game?

 

[SunnyD]

lol, finally able to read second comic.


as far as tac officers, even if you have someone above ensign, wouldn't they still be able to use ensign ability too? would be a bummer if not.

You can use any rank of bridge officer in a given station. The station limits the level of ability they use. So yes - your higher rank officer can only use the ensign ability at the lower level station (for T2).

 

[lupi]

You can use any rank of bridge officer in a given station. The station limits the level of ability they use. So yes - your higher rank officer can only use the ensign ability at the lower level station (for T2).

well nice to know now before I trained too many BO in areas I wouldn't be able to use.