So, as a big launch pad for me getting back into things, I have been watching and Pre-Ordered StarTrek Online, I was raised by a Trekkie, so needless to say the geek gene was totally passed on (In some ways, I still avoid Math like the plague, even though my father was a naval aviator and then a math teacher hehe, I taught Social Studies instead).

ANYWHO....I was wondering of others have been watching this and plan on playing as well? Also curious about general thoughts on the system from what has been released. I like how the recent STOked interview with Daniel Stahl pointed out that the hot key system allows for various complexity, such as shooting your phasers all with the space bar and being able to have pre-set power distribution. Likewise, from watching the actual gameplay videos (not the sped up trailers) the pace seems to be very reasonable as well. I have noticed a few folks on the STO forums plugging Ablegamers, which was a really good kick in my pants to remind me to add it to my signature and start getting back into things...hrmm I should probably post a formal hello I am back sorta thing in the general forums.

I am looking forward to this game and hoping to touch base with some folks who are likewise interested.

The setting seems a tad lacking to me. All that backstory just to set up another federation vs Klingons situation.
Also the focus is a lot on combat, I prefer the Picard style of handling conflicts.
They in my opinion made a mistake in going for a war scenario. the trek universe in itself offers enough dangers and possible conflicts without this upscaling.

I guess they wanted to avoid people comparing it to EVE online.

I'm going to give this one a miss, also because I no longer play subscription based games.

Indeed. I've already pre-ordered it, and am currently working on designing a new custom control system that will allow me to control the directional movement of the ship (the all-mouse method won't really work for me). I seriously can't wait for January.

<strong>RenderB wrote:</strong>


To an extent, I can see where you're coming from. The whole Federation vs. Klingon conflict is a tad on the arch side. I can't really fault Cryptic for taking the game in this direction, though. Star Trek Online, regardless of whatever else it may be, is at its core an MMO. And like it or not, the first item historically proven to be a requirement in any largely successful MMO is two factions. When you try to tweak that system and go for "everyone for themselves" you end up with a very niche product like EVE. Perhaps fun, but not a probable smash success.

Also, to be fair, the Cryptic devs have stated on several occasions that there is much more to the game than just "Let's go kill some Klingons!" & vice versa. Depending on what play style one prefers and what their goals are, diplomacy will be a significant part of the game. As will exploration, research, etc. There's far more than simply two parties duking it out.

A few of the staff have STO betas, however, the NDA is still in effect so we cannot disclose who or what they think. I can say that the opinion has been mixed as to whether they went in the right direction. we hope to bring you our accessibility review as soon as we are allowed without penalty of death.

WARNING: High fan rant percentage. READ AT OWN RISK

@The3:

I know what you mean, but on the other hand the univerrse has already got pre defined factions. Take a Klingon ship near Cardasia and trouble is bound to come your way. Go exploring in borg space and voila.
This would open up the way for rescue missons in enemy space, sneaking in for some espionage etc. There is nothing preventing things from escalating. Say romulan high command ordering sortyes into federation space, causing a response from them. And we can always count on some ferengi to play pirate on a badly armed ship with valuable cargo.


The rethinking of the shapeshifter invasion thing also seems cheap. The only thing missing is Q making things interesting. But given the timeline that is unlikely.

Do not get me wrong, I would love to see another good trek game, and I've not played this so it could be grand. What really gets me going is that for an established IP I wish they would use it as is.

I consider Enterprise, and the last star trek movie off cannon. That also up to a point goes for nemesis. Especially Data croaking does not fit in with future events seen in various eps.

Thankfully I am less concerned with Canon than with A) Playability and The overall feeling of the game. The Genesis system they have has me fascinated, you certainly won't see me off fighting the Klingons if I can help it, my hardcore PvP days are long behind me. I am more interested in being able to head off and explore a bit, even if the content is not as robust as I would like.

What can I say, in some respects I'm a snob
In the end I can only comment on those aspects I know about. I do not trust gameplay trailers or previews. So untill they give trials for the game I cannot say anything sensible about that.
Hm, now I feel like playing starfleet academy again...*Starts hunting down the cds.*

Off topic: it's nice to see there is still room for civil discussions on some forums out there. Not having to scroll trough countless insults is such a nice change.

I wish I could comment but I am to busy playing STO. hehe, I am not 100% sold on the game so far but I am not past the more scripted start... the rest NDA

Does the NDA allow you to say when the NDA is lifted (i.e. when open beta starts, when the early start happens etc.)??

Personally, I'll probably even play even if the game doesn't totally floor me. At this point, I'm pretty sick of all the other MMOs currently out there and just want something novel to try.

<strong>The3 wrote:</strong>


That is about where i am now, have not played anything since I left WoW back in August, finally found a class I could tank with there (DK) and then got sick of all the crud that goes with being an fairly in demand tank (Balancing acts, snobbery, folks incapable of comprehending good tanks still mess up, blah, blah blah)

Figure if STO does not work out for me either, probably gonna toss in the towel again until something really grabs me.

Well servers are down for Maint, but I have a character now, contact me in game if anyone likes under Yrdach@Yrdach hehe, not too rough =)

Okay, ask away. I also know that Steve is working on a preview.

So, who all's playing now? What does everyone think of it?

*Any*one playing this? The "Season Two" updates and the Diplomacy additions have changed the game for the better... I myself hauled my giant Halo Reach box in from the mail just now, yet I'm still going to log in and check with my STO characters for a bit before I devote the rest of the day to Reach.