[Star Trek Online] Hop on my deck. Now Free to Play!

Shapeshifter

gotta buy blue hanger fighters to get the best out of it.

Hevach

Yeah, 30k dilithium there. I also don't see a good way to keep my dual beam bank, might have to invest in a third DHC, too.

But still... the ship is just too damn good. The only downside to it is that there'll be four more just like it in everything I queue for.

Hevach

That didn't take long. The Armitage now only has 30k hp, not 36k. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and pretend it really was a typo and not a preemptive nerf.

So it goes from "the best escort in the game" to "still pretty much the best escort in the game."

Shapeshifter

another nerf, the torpedo console no longer fires at 12 targets.
only 8.

kafziel

Shapeshifter wrote: »

another nerf, the torpedo console no longer fires at 12 targets.
only 8.

Eh, that's a console nerf. Ship's still a better Fleet Escort with a Hangar Bay.

Frei

yeah, the new escort is really cool. have a feeling it's going to be extremely popular.

also, every time I log on we have maybe 2 or 3 people on fleet. am I going to have to just find an active fleet if I want any progress at all when starbases come out? no one's ever on.

Owenashi

The new Season should draw Fleet members from both sides back.

hazywater

Shapeshifter wrote: »

another nerf, the torpedo console no longer fires at 12 targets.
only 8.

how is it a nerf if its not even released yet?

CroakerBC

Frei wrote: »

yeah, the new escort is really cool. have a feeling it's going to be extremely popular.

also, every time I log on we have maybe 2 or 3 people on fleet. am I going to have to just find an active fleet if I want any progress at all when starbases come out? no one's ever on.

For what it's worth, I'm usually on a couple of days a week (Croaker@CroakerBC ), though admittedly I'm still chewing through the storyline, so not much use to anyone wanting to run missions. Unless you need yet another Engie Cruiser damage sink. Still need to pick up some more shinies, I think. And I haven't got around to playing my KDF character properly yet.

That said, I'm not in the fleet, it seems, so that may not matter! (Er...can someone hook me up on that one?)

Frei

CroakerBC wrote: »

Frei wrote: »

yeah, the new escort is really cool. have a feeling it's going to be extremely popular.

also, every time I log on we have maybe 2 or 3 people on fleet. am I going to have to just find an active fleet if I want any progress at all when starbases come out? no one's ever on.

For what it's worth, I'm usually on a couple of days a week (Croaker@CroakerBC ), though admittedly I'm still chewing through the storyline, so not much use to anyone wanting to run missions. Unless you need yet another Engie Cruiser damage sink. Still need to pick up some more shinies, I think. And I haven't got around to playing my KDF character properly yet.

That said, I'm not in the fleet, it seems, so that may not matter! (Er...can someone hook me up on that one?)

I just hit max level myself, so I'm not really doing much of anything yet, either.

I'd invite you but no one bothered to promote me at all in the fleet, so I can't really use the bank or do anything.

SquiddyBiscuit

I guess I gotta save up my dil. for that ship then.
With my luck, they'll probably have released an even better ship by the time I get enough dil points

CroakerBC

SquiddyBiscuit wrote: »

I guess I gotta save up my dil. for that ship then.
With my luck, they'll probably have released an even better ship by the time I get enough dil points

If it's any consolation, leaving aside about 900CP 'capital' that I'm using to test out arbitraging the dilithium market, I'm still ~10k ilithium away from the 400 CP I need to get rid of the credit cap.

New ships are a looooong term goal.

Hevach

Frei wrote: »

yeah, the new escort is really cool. have a feeling it's going to be extremely popular.

It will be. I'm willing to predict that after the initial rush of everybody flying them dies down, this will still be the most popular escort, if not ship, in the game. Above the MVAE, above the Excelsior (which isn't saying much, haven't seen half as many of them around as you used to), probably above the Odyssey.

Because, aside from the OP complaints and KDF outrage, this thing is pure, unapologetic fan wanking, and right now Cryptic's players could use a good calming rub down. Even note the different tone of the dev blog - they skipped the in-character stuff like they did for the Odyssey, Bortas, or Atrox and talked about how long the ship had been on the whiteboard and why it only now made it to the game.

A. T5 Akira has been second only to the Ambassador in terms of player demand, to the point that every new ship that was neither became a sign of ill will or disconnect between the devs and the community.
B. The torpedo console covers it's ridiculous but canon role as a heavy torpedo gunship, and does so in a way that will be a massive boon in the No Win Scenario. Fans loved the idea of the Akria spraying torpedoes everywhere because it was a radically different battle style than any other ship, even if there's canon reasons why it wouldn't be as effective.
C. The hangar bay covers its designer's original intent. Even if the ship got scaled down severely before it had any chance to be a carrier in canon, fans still fell in love with the idea of it as an aircraft carrier.

Also, outside the fan wank, this also creates an entirely new class of ship. Its carrier role sets it apart from escorts, raptors, or destroyers, but it's still doesn't fit cleanly as a flight deck cruiser, carrier, or battle carrier.

Heroth

Whoo... finally got threw all my Contraband before the nerf comes in! That took awhile...

And just in-time for that new Akira T5 it looks like... i'm seriously considering picking it up although i prefer the look of my fleet escort...

Hevach

Looks like the contraband nerf isn't in the patch notes today. Not sure if the part about the spacedock change means the Armitage is in the window or not, but there was a dev post the other day that said the Odyssey won't be there for much longer. It could be cool, but the Armitage is still a fairly small ship - the Akira had a lower volume than a Galaxy stardrive section.

Edit: Actually, yep
http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx26/revo_2010/screenshot_2012-06-13-22-23-53.jpg

Even less a fan of that saucer than before, but I was probably going to stick to an Oslo or Thunderchild saucer anyway. I do like those nacelles.

Librarian's ghost

Hevach wrote: »

Even as I posted that, new dev journal is up: Confirmed, tier 5 Akira with a new skin (Armitage class), torpedo point defense console, LTC engineer boff station, and one hangar.

Minimum Rank: Vice Admiral
Hull Strength: 36,000
Shield Modifier: 0.9
Crew: 200
Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
Device Slots: 2
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Ensign Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science
Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 2 Science
Base Turn Rate: 15 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.2
+15 Power to Weapons
Can Load Cannons
Photon Torpedo Point Defense System
1 Hangar Bay with 1 wing of Peregrine Fighters

BOUGHT.

This thing's going to be the most durable escort in the game, it'll have fighters, and it'll be an AOE machine. Basically to escorts what the Odyssey was to cruisers. Doesn't technically invalidate all of them, but damn if they aren't a hard sell now.

The skin looks pretty, too. Closer to the standard Akira than the Thunderchild, with some Odyssey style nacelles and a weird pylon assembly.

Fucking BOUGHT

Librarian's ghost

Okay this ship is pretty sweet. A nice thing I noticed about it is that even though you'll see a shit ton of them, because there are four ship variant models, you are not going to be seeing exactly the same ships everywhere.

Also I tried putting my birds of prey and repair ships into this but no luck.

Forum Post Supplemental:I got my Escort Carrier set up to look like an Akira and named it after the escort carrier my grandfather served on during WW2, the USS Makin Island. It's nice that the Defiant's quad cannons fit on it. Man if you want to alpha strike now, I got beam overload, torpedo high yield, cannons rapid fire, and both point defense and torpedo point defense going at once along with the fighters. Against a single target it is just so many good damn torpedoes being fired at once!

This ship has the right mix of everything I like.

All I want in this game now is an Ambassador class and I'll be happy.

Just_Bri_Thanks

There are several nice ships in the store I would like to own, but it would require me to log in enough to get the in-game rank for them.

*effort*

Owenashi

timspork's ghost wrote: »

Man if you want to alpha strike now, I got beam overload, torpedo high yield, cannons rapid fire, and both point defense and torpedo point defense going at once along with the fighters.

By Beam Overload, you mean with DBBs?

Hevach

Man if you want to alpha strike now, I got beam overload, torpedo high yield, cannons rapid fire, and both point defense and torpedo point defense going at once along with the fighters. Against a single target it is just so many good damn torpedoes being fired at once!

I've got this all, too. A variant on it, scattery volley and torpedo spread, is just unfair in the mirror event. I cleared out battlegroup alpha except the battleships in one ridiculously irresponsible orgy of AOE before the rest of the team had even warped in, and had a good try at taking out a battleship with ramming speed. When they fix the bug stopping it from queueing for STFs, so many optionals are going to be lost because of this thing taking out nodes early.


Dstahl's in the redalert channel doing a S6 Q&A. Hard to follow everything with all the clamoring for answers.

Only really notable new thing I caught, an upgraded Sovereign battleship is in development, possibly C-store or fleet advancement in S6. The Gamma Quadrant doff pack isn't completely going away, it's becoming a new "reinforcement pack," that'll have something to be announced and will double as the next lockbox (chance to give a new ship and other stuff in addition to doffs).


Also, somebody noticed that Morn's model is in game, bald and ugly as ever (it was actually Dstahl's avatar): http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3760/screenshot2012061423174.jpg

And a teaser of Starbase interiors:
http://www.startrekonline.com/dyncontent/startrek/uploads/kdf_starbase_mainhall_wip_061412.jpg
http://www.startrekonline.com/dyncontent/startrek/uploads/kdf_starbase_huntingbar_wip_061412.jpg

Owenashi

Nothing like sitting by the fire and sipping a mug of hot cocoa to relax after a long day of applying Bite to Starfleet officers and then blowing the nacelles out from under them. Or over them.

Hevach

Seriously, that's a goddamn Mugato skin rug. That's a major safety hazard. Not something you use because it's nice, something you used because "Fuck you, I killed him and I'll kill you too." And I don't know what kind of thing those jawbones over the fireplace came from, but I'm guessing Gornzilla there killed it with his bare hands.

Owenashi

I just love that they actually work a fireplace into the starbase, safety regulations be damned.

Just_Bri_Thanks

You see, it is a large electric space heater holographically camouflaged.

Owenashi

Here's a partial transcript of today's in-game Q&A from Stahl in that it features just his answers (though it lets you know what the questions are).

STO.com's General Discussion Sub-forum wrote:

Note: Discussion below contains information that is subject to change

Guest of honor: yfrog.com/gyimtrpj

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: S7 story - it is going to focus on one of the 3 main stories in STO as well as a specific enemy group

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: M12 gear tokens - Fleet Advancement will help with this

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: S6 on Tribble = over the next 3 weeks

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: NPC Fleet Uniforms in Starbases - unfortunately we don't have that tech (yet)

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: more music - we have been pursuing more music for some time and you may hear some new tunes in S6

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: unbind tokens - we are not planning this - but we are planning to evaluate if some items should be account bound instead

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: saying things for sure - I do say things for sure - when it is not definite I don't speculate - I say maybe

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: KDF Content - we are focused on all faction end game content for the foreseeable future - no plans to do KDF levels 1 -18 at the moment

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Lock box break - we will continue to offer lock boxes, but as you've noticed we are trying new and various ways to implement them. Look for more changes in S6 including the Lobi store

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: New KDF Uniforms - yes a new fleet uniform (which is awesome) is coming in S6

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: increasing team size in Foundry missions - that is a very great suggestion that I'm going to pass on to the devs.

< Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: new ship designs - yes new ship designs are planned - we have a few refits and retrofits to get out as well

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: new Foundry interiors - yes, we have an artist tagging as many as they can to get ready for S6 release

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: More captain skills - these new skills will be tied to additional ranks and/or personal advancement system

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Porthos - I've heard rumor one of the animators is working on this in their spare time - we'll see if it really happens

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: PVP - we have a dedicated specialist revamping PVP to allow cross faction matches and any level bolstering. We are starting with a space arena revamp and going from there - post S6

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Ship Interior Holodecks - we want to see these in Quarks, Starbases, and Ship interiors - no timeframe yet

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: STF timer - we are evaluating. Many of the new queue missions in S6 use variants of this - we will collect feedback and adjust post S6

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Hair and Hair Fixes - no eta - this is on the Character Art lead to resolve, but no firm plan yet

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Fleet Starbase Shipyard functionality - you will be able to buy new ship variants, but not customize further than you already can.

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Time gated content - yes there will be less in the future - we are making a big change to this in S6

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: minigames - these require bored software engineers to get made - right now we have them too busy with bugs and features

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Voyager and TNG bundles - those are both planned - no eta

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: STO in China - it is being evaluated, but no decision yet

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Demo Record - it is a poorly supported feature that people like yourself turn into awesomeness. The dev who owns it is too busy elsewhere to make fixes. What u need is cutscenes in Foundry

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: Re: PvP in China - we have Gozer working on PVP because we want PVP to be better and it can be.

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: visiting the gamma quadrant - someday, but there are several sectors in line before it

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: new chat system - not in the works yet - but I've heard rumor of Chat coming to Foundry

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: holstered weapons while at rest - this has been tested internally - we want to do it and are testing systems to make it happen

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: 1 universal station - this is the planned functionality of your #1 when you obtain future ranks

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: DX11 mesh errors - we have recently hired a new engineer to help coordinate the video devs and address issues like this.

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Top 3 Systems, Top 3 Stories: Crafting, Traits, PvP, Foundry, Advancement - Iconians, Remans, Sela, War, Unification

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Flight simulator controls (aka true 3D) - never

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: "real" FPS on ground - not possible in this engine - what we have now is the closest we were able to get

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Future Ranks - Fleet Admiral and/or other specializations

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Playable Risans/Deltans - currently we have no plans for "official" species, but it is not difficult to do and could be a nice to have for a future update

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Next Ship - is a special ship appearing in the next doff pack - Reinforcements Duty Officer Pack

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Account Shared Currencies - We are evaluating those currencies for use with Account Shared Bank now, and you'll see this change when Season 6 goes live in July

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Tholians - I just saw the latest models - they look absolutely amazing - they are crystaline and nearly see through in various light - very nasty

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Team Focus - we have various people working on various tasks all the time - our schedules look like an excel monster - but we do focus on specific releases and the makeup of those releases

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Ship Testing - yes there was a big post-mortem about the Armitage - we continue to have issues like this and are making changes

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Boff Power Searching on exchange - it is not on the schedule yet, but planned

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Kits for KDF - this is a bigger issue with how KDF costumes were made - there is a long term goal to make this happen and it goes along with the kit revamp we want to do

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Bugs - I don't have a schedule of when bugs get fixed - there is a huge database with priority and they crunch through as fast as they can

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: PVP leaderboards - these are planned for the PVP update

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Re-unification and end of KDF war - this is a possible future storyline - but no spoilers yet

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: new sectors - yes several coming over the next year

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Cross Faction Fleets - currently we aren't allowing this, but have discussed ways it could happen in the future

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Sector with content - lol yes - new sectors will have new content - the first new sector is in Season 7, we are starting work on it as soon as S6 releases

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Sovereign - it is coming soon

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Civ traffic and attire - we are working on this right now but focused around your Starbase

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Reinforcements Duty Officer Pack - it will replace the DS9 Cadre and it has a chance of a new ship that has some special qualities

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Xindi - the species isn't specifically on our timeline, but it may show up in a future sector

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: DOFF Packs replacing lock boxes - not yet, but we are definitely experimenting with the right way to bundle items

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Ambassador ship - it is currently scheduled for a specific storyline in a future Season (no details yet) but it is planned

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: S6 on Tribble - you'll start seeing Season 6 on TRIBBLE over the next 3 weeks

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Vesta - it is in the pipeline - no eta yet, still working out details

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: TRIBBLE testing concerns - we hear you and understand the frustration - people do get in trouble over this stuff including myself

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Ship in Reinforcements pack - stay tuned for more details on the website very soon

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Audio tracks - there is rumor of new tracks in S6, but I haven't heard them yet

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Argo Shuttle/Ground Vehicle - we think this would be an awesome item for a special mission

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: Gold Perks or SB Advancement - nothing specific, but we do plan to add more perks in the future

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: new ship designs - they are coming

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Moving Crafting to Ships - look for changes similar to this to be tied to the crafting update planned for between S7 and S8

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Ships/Free Ships - there will be all types of ships continually added to the game - some as soon as S6 tied to Fleet Advancement Tiers

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: New Engines - we do not have any new engines planned for STO, but we do have engineers continually working with Video Card makers to constantly improve our existing engine.

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: Ships from other ST games: unfortunately no, our license is for movies and tv shows owned by CBS

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: re: KDF Season - not currently. We are instead focusing on more KDF content for max level players intead of levels 1-18 because 90%+ of all players are max level

<Dev> dMorn@dstahl: RE: EDCs, STFS and Rewards - we are tackling this issue in S7

Pre-Branflakes Answers:

(5:09:50 PM) dstahl: Season 6 will be posted to TRIBBLE over the next 3 weeks... release to HOLODECK IN JULY

(5:10:35 PM) dstahl: The PvP Maps Gozer has been working on are waiting on some software that won't be ready until Season 6 ships - once we get that - then we can start putting the new PvP test maps on TRIBBLE

(5:11:47 PM) dstahl: RE: KDF version of Armitage - that is a possibility - there are quite a few ships coming with the Starbase progression - so if you don't see something you like when S6 hits, then we can consider it...

(5:12:22 PM) dstahl: RE: Accolade UI - there has been some discussions and white board mock ups, but nothing more concrete than that yet.

(5:13:00 PM) dstahl: RE: new Science ships - there is one specific Science ship we've been talking about forever that has finally been approved and will be coming this year (not allowed to say which one yet)

(5:13:30 PM) dstahl: RE: STF Currency simplification - that is a feature on the docket for Season 7

(5:14:24 PM) dstahl: RE: Sovereign class bridge - we don't have it on the schedule yet, but there is rumor of a sov variant coming soon

(5:15:11 PM) dstahl: re: Account linking - there is an account linking promo in the works so you'll get another chance to link accounts soon.

(5:15:31 PM) dstahl: RE: Foundry Token Store - great idea - something I'll share with the leads

(5:15:45 PM) dstahl: re: First Contact Space Suits - yes they are coming

(5:16:45 PM) dstahl: RE: Starbase Interior layouts - while they will not be customizable at launch, there will be exclusive projects that are time-sensitive which will unlock new cool decorations

(5:17:16 PM) dstahl: RE: Silver access to emotes - we are reviewing emotes soon and trying to get that all squared away

(5:18:27 PM) dstahl: RE: BOFFS more relevant at end game - yes. this is a big feature reserved for the rank of Fleet Admiral - we want to see Away Teams in space - where BOFFS command ships that help you

(5:19:08 PM) dstahl: RE: Voyager ship pack - it is on our list of "ship packs" and I believe is near the top

(5:19:42 PM) dstahl: RE: New VO - there is some new VO in Season 6, and we will continue to include it whenever our budgets allow.

(5:20:20 PM) dstahl: RE: D'deridex in a lockbox: That ship will be part of any future plan for a playable Romulan species and not a lockbox

(5:21:04 PM) dstahl: RE: Death Animation in Space - We have toyed around with the idea (disabled ship). It is something we can consider for the future.

(5:21:26 PM) dstahl: re: Customizable Ground Kits - this is high on Al's list of features but is not on the schedule right now

(5:21:54 PM) dstahl: re: New species - yes you can expect several new species every year.

(5:22:42 PM) dstahl: re: more biography space - we have a special web team working on a complete revamp of the offline character profile which may include more bio space and lots more features

(5:23:23 PM) dstahl: re: more bank slots - we will be offering more shared bank slots in Season 6 along with Bind on Account changes to some items

(5:23:56 PM) dstahl: re: New STFs - nearly all the new queued missions in Season 6 are meant to be challenging group combat for 5 to 20 players.

(5:25:07 PM) dstahl: re: bugs: there are still lots of bugs here and there and I don't have status on each one - we do have QA going through all old bugs to clean out the system and regress issues to determine priority

(5:25:55 PM) dstahl: re: Featured Episodes in the Future: We are going to be focusing on Story content for Season 7 (releasing laster this year)

(5:26:43 PM) dstahl: re: Cat hair styles - not currently on the schedule - it is up to Matt if he can get to this outside of everythign else we are working on

(5:27:39 PM) dstahl: RE: Foundry - Season 6 is going to be a great boost for the Foundry. Small nice to have features and a new codebase designed to get us to room-by-room interiors in the future.

(5:27:59 PM) dstahl: RE: Foundry Spotlight - is going to be getting more formal support after Season 6 releases

(5:28:13 PM) dstahl: re: Vesta - maybe

(5:28:46 PM) dstahl: re: more reusable combat pets - there are new operational assets with Fleet Starbases that will add more variety

(5:29:19 PM) dstahl: re: Into the Hive: Gozer definitely has plans and is waiting for schedule approval

(5:29:51 PM) dstahl: re: Crew uniform - this was something we were hoping to get into S6, but it is still not happening yet.

(5:30:32 PM) dstahl: re: Accessibility options for Captains - brilliant idea! bummer we don't have anything like that yet...

(5:30:59 PM) dstahl: RE: More small craft - we are waiting for a new feature to set default small craft - once in - more small craft inbound

(5:31:25 PM) dstahl: re: Specialized inventory - inventory could use an overhaul - nothing on the schedule currently but its a good idea

(5:32:02 PM) dstahl: re: More Decor points - we are reserving this for when we get Foundry room-by-room editing. It has teh features you're talking about

(5:32:27 PM) dstahl: re: Re-Trait Tokens - Another feature on Al's to do list - but no date when it is happening yet

(5:33:26 PM) dstahl: re: Fleet Admiral Rank - we are looking at the skillpoint cap right now and working on our timetable for rank increases. Look for news on this in the near future.

(5:34:17 PM) dstahl: RE: Crafting update - it is schedule to be somewhere between S7 and S8 -- probably around Feb is my guess (all dates subject to change of course)

Hevach

I missed the talk about the Vesta. I wonder where the rights thing is there - last we knew, the author got the green light from CBS and the publisher, but Cryptic didn't. It would be the perfect flight deck cruiser for feds. It had elevators on the dorsal surface to accommodate large shuttles and group launches, and from what I read on Memory Beta threw away runabouts worse than Voyager was with shuttles.

KDF definitely should get an Armitage counterpart. They could kill two birds with one stone, since they also want Ferasan ships. Take the Caitian style and make it more angular/aggressive, call it a Strike Carrier, give it some unique fighters. For a third bird, give it a console designed to fight spam, like the Thunderchild's maybe, Fed got anti-carrier stuff to answer Klingon carriers, now Fed has carriers without a KDF anti-carrier.

Librarian's ghost

Isn't the Vesta from the books? They got the Luna class in here and that was from the Titan books.

Hevach

Yes, it is. The Luna was slightly easier to get, but still took a special deal with the publisher. The Vesta's a bit more complicated - it was made by a paid artist, the Luna was a fan contest submission. The paid artist retains certain rights, the contest winner relinquishes the rights as the price of admission (same as the Odyssey contest). It adds a fourth player to the game and everybody has to sign off.

It's not entirely clear what's going on with the Vesta, but from the twitter and blog posts by the artist, it sounds like he got permission from the publisher to license his ships (not just the Vesta) to Cryptic, but Cryptic hadn't gotten permission from CBS to use them yet.

Librarian's ghost

Wait, how do you get Lobi crystals? Is it just from lock boxes? I kinda want that Maco BO or the missile launcher.

Hevach

Yeah, just lockboxes. The FE replays gave some away, but it was 1 per mission and tied to an accolade, so you couldn't grind them, just get 20. Enough for a Ferengi energy whip, but not much else.

Owenashi

The Gamma Quadrant DO Pack also gave away 10 crystals if you didn't get the JH-ship instead.

Hevach

Reading over the last few Tribble patch notes is kind of funny. Gozer seems personally offended that people were beating his No Win Scenario. Kiting enemies away from the transport? Now certain ones never retarget off it. People using a screen of carrier pets to interdict the super torpedoes? Now the torpedoes have a beam and clear the path in front of them. Still doing it? Death timer in effect. Not enough? DOUBLE death timer in effect.

This guy does not know the meaning of the term "subtlety." He's just duct taping anvils on his sledge hammer.

Hopefully once it's basically done they'll put him on something else and Borticus or Heretic will restore sanity to NWS before it goes live.

Edit; Jamjamz has also implied that this is the veteran hull material:

https://twitter.com/STO_JamJamz/status/213688408642555904/photo/1

i.e. neons without the Aegis.

Librarian's ghost

Are the ferengi rapid fire missiles even worth it?

Avynte

timspork's ghost wrote: »

Are the ferengi rapid fire missiles even worth it?

If you've ever wanted a DHC in missile form i guess?

Or plan on getting the 3-piece set and saving up for a Marauder to get the daily contraband mission.

Librarian's ghost

So I realized I had enough Dilithium for the advanced Peregrine Fighters. Stuff dies even faster now.

superspork

Any reccomendations on BOFF power layouts for a Tac captain in an Amritage. I was in a Fleet Escort so I'm having to rearrange who has what but I just can't get a clear idea for how.

Just_Bri_Thanks

Hate the Romulan front.

I need a hand. Can someone log in?

Owenashi

The special DO weekend is active again starting today. Pick up a special VR-class DO at ESD or FC if you didn't the last time this rolled around.

Hevach

superspork wrote: »

Any reccomendations on BOFF power layouts for a Tac captain in an Amritage. I was in a Fleet Escort so I'm having to rearrange who has what but I just can't get a clear idea for how.

I've been using EPTS1, 2, and Aux2SIF 2 in the engineer, PH1 and HE2 in the science slot. RSP over SIF isn't bad, but I like the almost always on resist and frequent heal better, since with only two science powers I loose sci team's shield heal.

As for tac, it's a bit harder to work around and more variations. Weapon wise, I have 2 DHCs, 1 DBB, 1 quantum fore, and 2 turrets and a tricobalt aft. My setup currently (being refined all the time):

CMD: TT1, RF1, HY3, AP:B3
LT: HY1, RF1
En: BO1

The fleet escort's tactical slots are a lot easier to figure out, since you can have RF2 and HY3.

I also have alternate boffs to swap spread and scatter volley instead of rapid fire and high yield. You can just go straight with those, too, if you want. Throw both point defense consoles on it and you're pretty much required by law to engage in unhealthy and irresponsible AOE spam.

Also, as for weapons, if you're using the Thunderchild console, there's some pressure to use phaser weapons, but as for the torpedo console, conventional wisdom is that you should use your tac consoles for energy damage rather than kinetic, so they get the same skill bonus no matter what consoles you use.

CroakerBC

Just_Bri_Thanks wrote: »

Hate the Romulan front.

I need a hand. Can someone log in?

Two days late, I know, but if I'm around GMT I'll drop a message in chat; I just wound up the Romulan Front, so would eb delighted to help someone else finally grind clear of it.
The Cardassian Front may be worse.