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Kelris
Bandit Boob
3433 Posts |
 Posted - 02/26/2010 : 15:45:25
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So, they apparently gave out "buddy keys" recently to subscribers. So i apparently have 5 buddy keys to give out to anyone that is interested in trying the game out for free. (you would need to download the client, and the buddy key lasts 5 days). Let me know if you would like a key.
My take on STO so far:
This game is very solo friendly. I've made it to Admiral grade5 with almost no grouping. but, if you did want to group, there is a nice autogroup feature... its kinda like zoning into an instance, and if someone is already there you get autogrouped with them.
Pvp seems pretty optional. there are quests requiring pvp ... but you can just drop them. Also there are open pvp "fleet" battles. I generally dont pvp.
99% of the game is doing the mission quests. while the missions are very detailed and have a feel of good immersion if you have a trek background, if you never watched a single episode ... you may be wondering whats going on. There does seem to be a lack of overall cohesion to the game, but I think Cryptic is still working out the endgame stuff.
The one thing I really do like about the game is there is no real strict need to have classes. you dont "need" a tank a dps and healer to get anything done. and some of the classes bleed over into each other a little bit. and the whole class/ship/profession thing is a little confusing.
when you start a toon, you select wether he is a Engineer, a Science or Tactical officer. these sorta guide you down your career. then once you hit lvl 11 you can choose a ship other than the generic Miranda class ship everyone starts with. Engineering deals with building drones and turrets and grenades and stuff like that for ground missions. and deals with maintaining your ships shields, hull integrity, power and stuff like that. Tactical gives weapon buffs, and influences your dps. Science is the major buffer/debuffer class. they really are a mix of everything. they can heal others shields, removes stuns/holds and give stuns/holds to enemies. these are very brief descriptions, there is alot more to each career path.
the ships are Cruiser, Science vessel and Escort class. The Cruiser is more of a takes a beating and keeps on ticking and dishes a moderate amount of dps.
the Escort is all dps, all the time. once you rip through its shields, its toast.
the Science vessel is more of a mix of the two. it has less hull strength but better shields than a cruiser. but also has less dps than a Escort, but more than a Cruiser. (I havent played all these, but this is the impression im getting from what i have seen).
The career paths tend to go with certain ships. Tactical to Escort, Science with Science Vessel (didnt see that once coming) and Engineer with Cruiser. with that being said folks do hybrid them. like putting your Tactical officer in a Cruiser. I havent fooled with this yet, im running an Engineer/Cruiser.
The missions are split between ground and space missions. for ground missions, you can select some of you bridge officers to make an away team. generally its you and 4 bridge officers (your bridge officers are also either Engineering, Science or Tactical). I have no idea how aggro actually works in this game yet (ground or space). but if you start tooling on a mob, you will definetly get his attention, and sometimes those very near him.
The space missions (awesome!) I really enjoy, I love the space ship to ship combat. much like gearing your toon out in wow, you gear them for the ground missions, but you also get to trick your ship out in the same manner. many many different weapon types and stuff to choose from.
Career skills. while it is an interesting approach, much like wow talent trees, but a little broader in scope, is very confusing. the tooltips for these and as well as items leaves alot to be desired. so i want to put a skill point in Spaceship Deflector fields .... great..this can influence X, Y and Z. but i have no idea wtf x y and z ARE! lol. this area needs some work definitely.
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For a good time, call theef's mom. 1-900-big-lady
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shetl
Bandit Dork
2683 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 19:08:51
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Nice write up Kel :) Howsa bouts the loots ? grey/white/green/blue/purple stuff ? Money ? What about vanity stuff (pets,homes (or modeling your ship) etc ? Bosses ?
Thx bud ! |
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Qatrina : I don't have any kids so my breasts are just for aesthetics. :P
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Retired
AC1 (Solclaim-first and only server)
SWG (Not too shabby a game in beginning)
Earth and Beyond/Lineage/AC2/CoH = never made it past Beta
LOTRO = Lifetime sub
WoW = Still here :)
Fallen Earth beta .. not so good :( |
Edited by - shetl on 02/26/2010 19:09:13 |
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Trekman
Bandit Noble
1562 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 20:07:43
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Yes there are various levels of loot :
Items are categorized into "Marks", according to your rank - two Marks per rank, for example "Mk VII" and "Mk VIII" for rank Captain.
Within each Mark you have various qualities : white, green, blue, purple (sound familiar ? ), but there is least one more quality above purple I think...
Items above white generally seem to be BoE, but I also found white BoE stuff.
Your ship is your home 
Your rank defines what ship "tier" you get out of the chosen Cruiser/Escort/Science, so "ship tiers" relate to rank.
Each tier of each ship class consists of 3 different models - same stats and features, but different visuals.
Furthermore you can create your own model by combining various ship sections from the 3 available models - like "saucer from model1, narcelles from model3, ....".
And you can select one of a few predefined bridge types.
You can visit your own bridge (after all - you are the captain  )), but no other area. When you do so, your ship "disappears" from space so that it cannot be attacked.
A really nice feature is that you can invite other players to your bridge. When they accept, they get beamed to your bridge and their ships "disappear" from space as well. So you can use your bridge as a meeting room and for item trading even though the players' ships are in different parts of the galaxy.
However I did not find hints in the lore yet how they manage to beam persons across these big distances
When you get promoted to the next Rank (i.e. every 10 levels/Grades) you get one ship of the new tier for free while keeping your old ship. You can also purchase another ship class for Energy Credits (one of the two ingame currencies).
Special NPCs act similar to WOW Stable Masters - you "store" all your ships there and select the "primary", the one you actually use.
No, you cannot use all your other ships simultaneously as your private little fleet 
Some other nifty features :
- you do not need to sell loot at vendors. Onboard your ship you have a Replicator that does not create new things (like you might expect ) but converts stuff to Energy Credits : Recycling of the 25th century
- you can read ingame mail in your ship without the need to visit a mailbox at a station/planet. However this usage is restricted to text-only messages. If you want to send items, you need to use a station/planet's mailbox.
- you can send a mail to all your toons by using only your Handle as recipient. While all your toons get this mail referenced in their inbox, the mail itself is not copied for each toon, therefore you cannot use that to multiply items
- mails currently do not seem to have an expiration. Combined with the "send to all toons" feature this can be "exploited" to act as more or less unlimited account-wide storage. I wonder how long this will work 
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... and all those "Trek..." toons |
Edited by - Trekman on 02/26/2010 20:38:33 |
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Oogluk
Bandit Queen
4815 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2010 : 02:46:02
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I have a handfull as well. I've just been a bit buried with work lately to play.
the loot is pretty good. You have all the traditional possibilities. Drops, badge-style, AH. And you also have the ranks, white, green, blue, purple, red ala WoW. The drops are pretty sparse but in general you don't need to be doing upgrades that often and it makes that real good drop all the more special. Badge gear up until you hit admiral you can acquire as fast as you want by getting the marks on the missionns with an half hour cooldown. Once you hit admiral (where everything is epic) you'r edealing with daily cooldowns. Some epic gear is cheap, somme is a week or more worth of daily missions.
customizations. you have a fair number of options. the ship is customizable with different hulltypes at each class. you can also mix and match the pieces parts of the hulltypes together. As well as mess wit modelling and patterns on hull, color variations, etc.
grond mode. Your toon is mainly limited to the weapon you carry and the gear and uni you use. all that shows on you in ground mode. The uni is completely customizable with a zillion variations and styles ranging from original TOs to something akin to far flung future past Voyager era.
The missions aren't long and they scale based on the people in them. Makes it nice and challenging. No instawins. some are storylines that carry through the levels and honestly they have nice ties bak to lore from the shows (like seeing the doomsday machine from TOS or running into the pahwraiths arround Ds9) |
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"Save a RAID, Hug a Healer |
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shetl
Bandit Dork
2683 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2010 : 12:06:28
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| Very nice...thx guys :) |
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Qatrina : I don't have any kids so my breasts are just for aesthetics. :P
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Retired
AC1 (Solclaim-first and only server)
SWG (Not too shabby a game in beginning)
Earth and Beyond/Lineage/AC2/CoH = never made it past Beta
LOTRO = Lifetime sub
WoW = Still here :)
Fallen Earth beta .. not so good :( |
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Trekman
Bandit Noble
1562 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 07:45:36
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Starship or Transformer ?
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... and all those "Trek..." toons |
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Matrix Monkey
Bandit Monkey
2587 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 14:09:52
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| Can someone PM me a buddy key please? chrisslemmer@hotmail.com if you need an email |
Doozer Lvl 75 Warrior,
4?? Alchemy/Herbalism
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Qatrina
Bandit Kitten
10434 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 16:29:28
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| Love the pics, Trek. That really does look like a Transformer ship. On the last pic, the top of the pic looks like the head of a transformer with the nacelles as his shoulders. All you need is for the bottom of the ship to fold out into legs. LOL |
LOTRO costars: Qatsmeow level 39 Elf Runekeeper Tinker, Qitqat, Qatastrophy, Qitty, Purrfyct, Qatrisma, Stalkeress, Qitten
Syrdeth: If excuses were mooses, this would be Alaska.
Member of Pillow for Poco, Inc.
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Kelris
Bandit Boob
3433 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 18:16:43
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Ach ... I misread the fine print. Current subscribers only have 1 buddy key that lasts 5 days. I misread that and though i had 5 keys to give away. I have already given my 1 key out to a bandit already. Maybe Din or Trek can hook up Matrix with theirs?
sorry bout that! |
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For a good time, call theef's mom. 1-900-big-lady
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Trekman
Bandit Noble
1562 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 15:20:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Qatrina
Love the pics, Trek. That really does look like a Transformer ship. On the last pic, the top of the pic looks like the head of a transformer with the nacelles as his shoulders. All you need is for the bottom of the ship to fold out into legs. LOL
I would rather say the whole ship is a Transformer head/mask with the two Federation symbols as eyes
MM I PMed you my buddy key...
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... and all those "Trek..." toons |
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Jacks
Bandit Worker
290 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2010 : 19:17:47
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| I used my buddy key as well but I know a couple of folks who could send one if you still need it MM. Let me know. |
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AC - Wixer, UA
WoW - Jacks, Priest
STO - Rysan, Tactical Officer |
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Matrix Monkey
Bandit Monkey
2587 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2010 : 00:33:56
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Trekky sent me one, Thanks Trek.
Hopefully it isn't activated yet. Haven't had a chance to set it up.
I love Star Trek so I'm very curious. |
Doozer Lvl 75 Warrior,
4?? Alchemy/Herbalism
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Trekman
Bandit Noble
1562 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2010 : 18:11:47
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Anyone still playing STO ?
I log in from time to time - but never see one of you online.
They did some nice updates to the UI - like filtering the skill table to make spending skillpoints easier. So you can filter for whatever you want to maximize, like Plasma Weapon damage or a skill like Engineering Team, and the window only displays (or highlights) all related skills that influence the selected one....
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... and all those "Trek..." toons |
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Lemmus
Bandit Noble
1134 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2010 : 19:14:27
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| In theory, Trekman. I was in the closed Beta, was suitably impressed that I took out a pre-order & lifetime sub, but I haven't actually played in months. I will go back to it in the future, of that I have no doubt, but I don't have the time right now and won't for several months. When I do start playing again, even irregularly, I'll post my character details. |
current
(LotRO) Gladden: Sangua (HH), Vilica (EH), Tonitrus (DRk)
(STO) Lifetime sub, char names to follow.
on hiatus
(WoW) CC-H Domare, WW-A Cyanea, tS-A Stiria
retired
UO, EQ, E&B, EVE, HZ, CoV, EQ2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemming
"Wikispecies is free. Because life is public domain!" |
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Kelris
Bandit Boob
3433 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2010 : 23:47:17
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I went full klingon for a bit (cause i never saw anyone fed side) and have a capped klingon Tac/BoP. was fun for awhile till it was apparent that they would never fix 1/2 the broken stuff for Klinks. Went back to my Fed Eng/Cruiser and been playing that for awhile. havent played in a month or so (started playing lotr again). it seems they know where the money is, they constantly have new stuff for feds, new races, new ships, new exploration areas, developing new factions ... but klingons still remain broke as hell. they are getting alot of flak for it too.
its really too bad. the space combat is awesome but it seems the devs are very heavy handed in nerfs and redesigns (which they were famous for in their previous game. And the ground combat ... well .... it just sucks. |
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For a good time, call theef's mom. 1-900-big-lady
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Hotelyorba
Bandit Noble
1063 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2010 : 11:12:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Kelris
I went full klingon for a bit
You NEVER go full Klingon |
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Kelris
Bandit Boob
3433 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2010 : 00:32:14
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| Tropic thunder ..... awesome usage ... |
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For a good time, call theef's mom. 1-900-big-lady
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Jacks
Bandit Worker
290 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2010 : 11:18:17
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LOL ^
I have not played in quite awhile and canceled my subscription. I really enjoyed the space combat but as Kelris said the ground stuff sucked. I am also looking for a new dynamic in an MMO beyond find stuff and grind levels - something where we as players have a little more bearing on the world. I know a dynamic universe would be hard to create and run but that's what I am really looking for. When two different characters run the exact same path from level 1 to whatever it is a little boring. This was one of my big complaints with WoW. Anyway, i will probbably be looking at Guild Wars and Lego Universe next. If I have time that is. |
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AC - Wixer, UA
WoW - Jacks, Priest
STO - Rysan, Tactical Officer |
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Myst
Bandity Hippy
1286 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 14:04:26
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| I did the lifetime sub. Do not log in. Boy, did I screw up. I would have been better off buying the LOTR lifetime. I have a sore butt for kicking my own ass (flash back to jim carey in "Liar Liar". |
Peace,
Myst
(Now appearing in real life, VW bus included) |
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Amy
Bandit Angel
18114 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 01:04:59
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And sadly you cannot get Lifetime subs to LOTRO any longer, Myst.
Jacks, I think what your looking for, the closest I ever came was Horizons. The game itself was a wreck, the concept was fantastic. I think one of my best memories, was when Berelain managed to figure out the puzzle and open the gates for the release of the new toons the Dryads. They were like litte fairy creatures that actually did fly...not to mention the ability to be a dragon, and grow up..and learn the right of passage to adulthood. Building your homes, and walls, and having a guild house that was constantly under attack...sigh...good ideas, that worked...but the game itself was so hard to play due to LAGGGG and many other things that could have been fixed but were never done.
I really believe that during that time, we became a much closer knit guild as well. We worked together as a guild, and we put our hearts into completing things. WoW on the other hand destroyed all that.
Anyway, the game still exists but it is called Isteria or something like that now.
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Many people will walk in and out of your life; only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
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Pach
Bandit Dwagon
17210 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 06:38:08
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| I miss the group projects. We all kicked in for those, the high levels and the low. |
--Pach
Pacha, 48 hobbit burglar
Pachahontas, 30-something elf huntah
... and a whole bunch of other alts with "Pach" in them...
(retired) WoW: Pach, level 80!! Night Elf Rogue (Pockaholic with dragon flying mount)
"Life is good. Flight is better." -- me |
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Myst
Bandity Hippy
1286 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2010 : 08:54:01
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Istaria is indeed the name http:www.istaria.com They do have a free to play option iirc so you can try it out. I have a dragon there. I tried it for a month. May go back again. Getting restless again :)
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Peace,
Myst
(Now appearing in real life, VW bus included) |
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Trekman
Bandit Noble
1562 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 12:26:24
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Major content patch :
- level cap raised to 51
- Diplomatic Missions (maybe a bit closer to Star Trek than the "shoot first, ask later" combat simulator focus of the game)
http://www.startrekonline.com/season_two
Over 2 GB of Patch currently downloading  
Edit : some nice stuff added. For example "ship interior"....you have a Ready Room off the Bridge (apparently you can place trophies there) and you can visit Engineering and Crew Quarters on your ship... 
Still searching how to enter the Diplomatic Corpse or get First Contact missions  |
... and all those "Trek..." toons |
Edited by - Trekman on 07/29/2010 21:34:00 |
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Pach
Bandit Dwagon
17210 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2010 : 06:35:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Trekman
Still searching how to enter the Diplomatic Corpse or get First Contact missions
Ew.... why would one want to enter a corpse????
(sorry Trekky - I know it was a typo, but I couldn't resist!) ;) |
--Pach
Pacha, 48 hobbit burglar
Pachahontas, 30-something elf huntah
... and a whole bunch of other alts with "Pach" in them...
(retired) WoW: Pach, level 80!! Night Elf Rogue (Pockaholic with dragon flying mount)
"Life is good. Flight is better." -- me |
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Star Trek Online
