 Star Trek: Online, A Visual Journey |
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 Oct 22 2012, 03:28 PM
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#1
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 Slightly Off  Group: Supporter Posts: 30,169 Joined: 24-January 04 From: Nebraska Member No.: 4,016 Faction: Autobot  |
So, since my MMO of choice is soon to die, I've been looking for a replacement - preferably something Free to Play. So, on a whim, I decided to give Star Trek: Online a shot. It was a bit of a moment of insanity really, as I'd tried the game at launch and it's not a understatement to say it sucked.
However, I am pleased to say that the suck has been if not removed then toned down considerably. It's still at it's core a ode to the old Starfleet Command games with a 3D Space Combat game, and Away Team Missions still generally turn into a poor man's Mass Effect. But back then, that's all there was to the game. Now they've added "Diplomatic" Missions, which generally consist of running back and forth between various NPCs, but you still get experience and the space missions have become much more varied. Back in the day, you got the Borg in the tutorial and then nothing but Klingons for the next twenty. In five levels, I've encountered Borg (Tutorial still), Klingons, Gorn, Orions, and Undine. Plus it's not always "Blow away all enemies" objectives. I even had a random away mission where I didn't fire a shot - just exploring a abandoned listening post. The game also has surprisingly little in the way of unlockable content. Uniform pieces for your avatar, some ship types and classes, more character slots (You get two off the bat, and one doesn't unlock until you hit Level 25), bank slots, etc. They have, however, taken a page from Valve in that a quarter of the loot that has dropped has been "Temporal Lockboxes", which - you guessed it - take single use Keys to open. But more then the gameplay, I've flat out forgotten how flipping pretty this game was. So expect most of these posts of mine to have pictures attached to them. So...pretty... (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/tngwok.jpg) My dude. I'm a "boring" Humie. I do like that the color options for the uniform allowed me to create my own 25th Century version of the Wrath of Khan uniforms (Said WOK uniforms are also available...for a price) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/stoThunderhead.jpg) My starting ship, the USS Thunderhead. A "Frankenstein"-Class comprised of parts from the Centaur, Miranda, and ShiKar Classes. Her armaments are two phaser banks up front, with a Photon Mine layer in the back. Hence the name "Thunderhead". I'm a evil little snot to close ranks with. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto003.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto012.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto010.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto013.jpg) I'm not much better on the ground, either. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto001.jpg) My avatar's presently rocking a Phaser Assault Cannon. Frankly, if those were available in the shows why in the world would they beam down with just Phasers? Peace through Superior Firepower, baby. And now, just some random glamour shots as I found things that looked cool. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto007.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto011.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto009.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto002.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto008.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto006.jpg) (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto005.jpg) -------------------- Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did? |
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Oct 22 2012, 04:07 PM
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#2
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 Oh dear lord I am bored... Group: Citizen Posts: 27,860 Joined: 11-January 02 From: Canada, thats why stuff costs so much! Member No.: 200 Faction: Free Agent |
You do a good job of selling the game man.
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Oct 22 2012, 04:28 PM
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#3
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Slightly Off Group: Supporter Posts: 30,169 Joined: 24-January 04 From: Nebraska Member No.: 4,016 Faction: Autobot |
Two more in rapid succession of great missions:
(IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto14.jpg) From a mission where I had to scan some anomalies. I was impressed the planet model actually reflected light from the sun. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto015.jpg) Time to do some Anti-Piracy runs, investigating if local ships in the area are preying on merchants. Beautiful starscape. -------------------- Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did? |
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Oct 22 2012, 05:05 PM
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#4
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 Mm? What's that, my boy? Group: Supporter Posts: 2,415 Joined: 12-October 10 From: Indiana, United States Member No.: 13,734 Faction: Free Agent |
Aw man... you make me miss that game so much!
I played it for a while before it went Free to Play and enjoyed it a lot, though it seemed to run out of actual content pretty quickly. I wish my graphics card hadn't died, otherwise I would so be playing it again. I wonder I still have any of my old screenshots from it... -------------------- |
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Oct 22 2012, 05:05 PM
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#5
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 They fight crime. And cupcakes. Group: Citizen Posts: 19,064 Joined: 27-March 06 From: The State of Misery Member No.: 8,050 Faction: Equestrian |
It does seem like they were usually really under-equipped during away missions on the shows. In the games and movies, we see that the Federation makes serious rifles and other large weapons. So yeah, let's send people down to the potentially hostile planet armed with pistols instead. That makes sense.
This post has been edited by Waspinator: Oct 22 2012, 05:06 PM -------------------- |
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Oct 22 2012, 05:43 PM
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#6
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Slightly Off Group: Supporter Posts: 30,169 Joined: 24-January 04 From: Nebraska Member No.: 4,016 Faction: Autobot |
Man, I goofed on my character. I should have made him an Andorian - could have had a theme going (Just unlocked my third Bridge Officer character. My first Choice of one I should say. I chose the Andorian Science Officer. My ship's being overrun by blue skins!)
The Anti-Piracy mission turned out to be a lot of fun. A lot of things to scan, and a lot of ships to either fight or avoid. That's right - you can avoid action entirely in the 3D plane. The only times I engaged in combat were when they were too close to objectives to be avoided). A little visual journey... (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto015.jpg) Repeat Image of entering the sector (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto17.jpg) Scanning the first victim. And yes, there is scale involved here. For all my glamour shots, Thunderhead is dinky. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto16.jpg) The results (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto18.jpg) Carrying on the mission (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto019.jpg) Firefight #1. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto020.jpg) Firefight #2, a whirling battle over and around one of the mission objectives. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto021.jpg) Helmsman's asleep aka "Peeking over Big Brother's Shoulder" And finally, the view from Earth... (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto022.jpg) Fairly light crowd around Earth. "Only ship in the quadrant my Tactical Officer's Blue Ass..." EDIT: But seriously, half the fun is looking at what other people named their ships. Some are good (USS Argentina springs to mind), some are stupid (USS Killomatic), some are tongue in cheek (USS In Amber Clad). This post has been edited by Rust: Oct 22 2012, 05:49 PM -------------------- Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did? |
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Oct 23 2012, 01:35 AM
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#7
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 I brought the Glow Sticks! Group: Supporter Posts: 4,416 Joined: 25-October 04 From: Longview, WA Member No.: 5,224 Faction: Maximal |
Damn that is making it tempting to download that again. My pal still plays it even though I've gotten him started on TOR. If the missions are a bit more varied now it is tempting to hop back in but I need to focus on One MMO at a time I think.
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Oct 23 2012, 02:06 AM
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#8
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 Get some! Group: Owner Posts: 51,565 Joined: 13-December 01 Member No.: 1 Faction: Cannonball's Pirate Crew |
I haven't played since Beta but here's some pics from that
Here's my ship and my pet shuttle (IMG:https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247793_10152213907675584_1025924109_n.jpg) Here's the happenin' cap'n himself. (IMG:https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/60782_10152213909100584_608431880_n.jpg) And this is... my roomba... I mean "lol beta" (IMG:https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420453_10152213904650584_1252466482_n.jpg) |
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Oct 23 2012, 04:23 AM
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#9
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Slightly Off Group: Supporter Posts: 30,169 Joined: 24-January 04 From: Nebraska Member No.: 4,016 Faction: Autobot |
This game just sold itself to me.
Simple Courier mission transforms into Scientific investigation as my crew becomes infected with a unknown contagion and I have to whip up an antidote. Not only is it Trial-and-Error in whipping up a cure, but you have to pay attention to the various NPCs dialogue to figure out the proper components to nullify the bacterial infection. Not going to lie, that was a lot of fun. -------------------- Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did? |
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Oct 23 2012, 09:22 AM
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#10
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 Suddenly, Batcure. Group: Supporter Posts: 18,844 Joined: 25-February 03 From: YES TOWN Member No.: 2,375 Faction: Lesbian Ninja |
God dammit now I have to play this.
--------------------  QUOTE(orionpax44 @ Jun 24 2012, 01:03 AM)  Childrens toys? whaa the boxes seriously say ages 5+ I consider myself the plus. QUOTE(mx-01 archon @ Sep 9 2012, 01:53 PM) You're talking to ▲ndrusi. Assume everything that he posts is snark. |
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Oct 23 2012, 10:22 AM
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#11
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 Group: Supporter Posts: 2,062 Joined: 14-July 11 From: Dublin, OH Member No.: 14,614 Faction: Autobot |
I'd almost want to play again if I didn't remember how boring this game is. The graphics have greatly improved and as you said, the suck has been toned down, but still at its core, Star Trek Online is a bad game. It has so very little to do with Star Trek that it's more like a space shooter with a Star Trek skin tacked onto it. It's not at all what I thought a Star Trek MMO could or should be.
But...all that said, I'm going to have to see how the USS Apache (Sovereign Class) is doing. -------------------- |
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Oct 23 2012, 02:34 PM
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#12
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Get some! Group: Owner Posts: 51,565 Joined: 13-December 01 Member No.: 1 Faction: Cannonball's Pirate Crew |
*holds breath*
(IMG:https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3717_10152213902280584_1636194137_n.jpg) Also in beta (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-waspy.gif) |
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Oct 23 2012, 03:32 PM
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#13
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 I love this thread. Group: Citizen Posts: 20,182 Joined: 22-March 02 Member No.: 731 Faction: Autobot |
tempted, tempted. If I wasn't bringing up a panda I'd jump on this.
Though now I wonder how many ships named R are out there. -------------------- QUOTE(ChessPieceFace @ Mar 28 2013, 03:22 PM) You won't be the killjoy, we will. We will kill the absolute jive out of that joy. |
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Oct 23 2012, 03:51 PM
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#14
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Group: Supporter Posts: 2,062 Joined: 14-July 11 From: Dublin, OH Member No.: 14,614 Faction: Autobot |
Ships named R?
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Oct 23 2012, 04:07 PM
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#15
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I love this thread. Group: Citizen Posts: 20,182 Joined: 22-March 02 Member No.: 731 Faction: Autobot |
Thus creating the USS R.
-------------------- QUOTE(ChessPieceFace @ Mar 28 2013, 03:22 PM) You won't be the killjoy, we will. We will kill the absolute jive out of that joy. |
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Oct 23 2012, 05:37 PM
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#16
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 That one perfect moment Group: Citizen Posts: 14,109 Joined: 21-July 05 From: The Land of Confusion Member No.: 6,915 Faction: Maximal |
From the looks of your ship, you've definitely got a hunter on your hands.
Ironbtie-wish I had a computer that could play the damn game though. --------------------  Welcome back exploding 'raptor. QUOTE(Fortress Ironhold @ Sep 3 2007, 08:32 PM) Are you so intent upon trying to damn everyone that you are willing to use material you know full well to be wrong? |
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Oct 23 2012, 06:40 PM
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#17
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Slightly Off Group: Supporter Posts: 30,169 Joined: 24-January 04 From: Nebraska Member No.: 4,016 Faction: Autobot |
Now this is interesting.
Hit Lieutenant Rank 7, and unlocked my crew compliment. What does this mean? Star Wars: The Old Republic and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood style of sending crewmembers on missions - which may or may not be dangerous. It adds a little bit more depth to the mission selection. Two new glamor shots: (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto023.jpg) The Thunderhead runs into its first real fight. (IMG:http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/STO/sto024.jpg) Warping out. -------------------- Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did? |
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Oct 23 2012, 08:34 PM
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#18
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Group: Supporter Posts: 2,062 Joined: 14-July 11 From: Dublin, OH Member No.: 14,614 Faction: Autobot |
Where's the damn antimatter inducer?
I wonder if I need to start over from scratch. I'm rear admiral, and the game assumes at this rank I know what the hell is going on. "You do still know how to fire phasers, right?" Not exactly. Too much has changed since I last played I really don't know how to do the most basic things, so I figure if I start over, the game will walk me through it all. I have a ship that I outfitted to fight the Borg, and I was destroyed by a Klingon assault force. Granted, it was a fleet operation that I went in on alone, full impulse, Leroy Jenkins-style into a cloud of enemy ships, but I still used to be able to fight my way out of that. I'm not sure if I like the game enough to try to relearn how everything works. This post has been edited by Benbot: Oct 23 2012, 08:42 PM -------------------- |
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Oct 23 2012, 08:36 PM
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#19
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 Professional Lurker Group: Supporter Posts: 1,332 Joined: 11-January 02 Member No.: 190 |
Sounds like those photon mines are handy.
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Oct 23 2012, 08:40 PM
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#20
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 Novus ordo seclorum Group: Forum Moderator Posts: 41,343 Joined: 18-June 03 From: Westlake, OH Member No.: 3,012 Faction: RIBFIR |
QUOTE It has so very little to do with Star Trek that it's more like a space shooter with a Star Trek skin tacked onto it. It's not at all what I thought a Star Trek MMO could or should be. 1000x this. I honestly lost all interest when they said "everyone gets a ship!" instead of having to staff a crew and rise through the ranks. I tried the beta but it sucked so I never went further then that. Such an enormous waste. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-screamer.gif) --------------------  |
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