After a week of playing, I have played this beta twice as long as I played Champions and I'm having a lot more fun. There are still bugs, naturally, problems with missions not completing properly and some lag-associated issues, but the game feels pretty solid so far... about like CoV during its beta.

When I stopped playing last night I was about 100xp from level 11 (if the last mission I did before bed hadn't been bugged and I could have completed it I would have leveled and been promoted to Lieut. Commander). Space combat is fun, if a little slow feeling sometimes, but I've upgraded my ship with combat engines which helps with maneuverability. The massive encounters with dozens of enemy ships against a dozen or two players are actually quite fun, frenetic at times, and have a feeling of scale. The flight mechanics are the same as in CoH and Champions, with the same range of movement and limits, which is actually a downside because you can't do loops or orient your ship upside down to an enemy. It operates more like terrestrial flight than space flight, but really it's a minor annoyance. While some encounters can be quite frustrating, it is a satisfying experience to finally overcome a tough enemy. I prefer the combat in EVE, but it wouldn't fit into the ST universe.

Ground combat is fun too. It's a bit like playing a mastermind only easier to set up tactical arrangements like ambushes. You can set up half your team on either side of a door, pull a group through and surround them. Since you get flanking bonuses for hitting enemies from behind or the side, you can really increase your damage output by effectively placing your away team to take advantage of damage bonuses. You can also outfit your bridge crew with armor, weapons, and devices like your can do for yourself and further enhance them. If you don't keep a hand on your away team though they have a tendency to run out in the open and get themselves killed, but for the most part they play well and I've had no trouble with them not buffing when they should. My engineer will recharge my personal force field when it gets too low and my science officer will heal at the right times, but not unnecessarily.

The economy is convoluted and overly complex. It feels like they designed it in committee and everyone left happy because their idea was used. Energy credits are the primary form of currency and are acquired by selling items to vendors or recycling them in your ship's replicator. Merits are earned for doing Starfleet missions and can be used to buy other things like new bridge officers and skills. You can also earn exploration merits to buy different stuff (I have no idea how you get exploration credits). You also earn credits through PvP which you can use to buy other stuff.

Crafting is pretty much worthless as far as I can tell. As you go about your doings you'll come across the ubiquitous anomaly (there are several flavors) that you will scan to gather data on what you found. This data can be turned in to researchers who will give you stuff. Most of this stuff requires multiples or many different types of data as well as some non-data item. The stuff you get is low-grade and mostly worthless since you will likely have received drops that are better than anything you can craft or have received better rewards for completing missions. I'm guessing there will be some sort of badge later for wasting your time crafting in order to justify having it in the game.

I will probably buy the game. I'm still deciding on the lifetime subscription, though I might get it because I've been looking for a space-themed game to play (I like EVE but there's not enough stuff to do to justify the subscription fee).

What are they asking for a lifetime subscription ?

http://www.startrekonline.com/exclusive_specials

$239.99

I've preordered the game, I'm still on the fence whether or not I want to spring for a lifetime or not. I probably will. I'm having fun now and the game certainly has promise.

Well the 4-day headstart is officially underway, and we've formed a 'fleet' called the Twilight Crusaders. The Crusaders global channel from Champions is still active in STO, so be sure to use it!



DelTaco has a STO promotion where you can redeem a code from their 'Macho size' drink for a Type 8 Shuttlecraft. What they don't tell you on the website is that the coupon is also good for a free trial of the game. So, if any of you want a shuttlecraft or a free trial for yourself or to give away, but lack a local DelTaco, please let me know and I'll get you a soda and PM you the code. You can just owe me an Apocalypse: Chance for Damage or something.

Who is we? And where do I find you? I'm Gaz, so I guess you could send me a tell at Gaz@Gaz aboard the USS Twilight. Oh, and invite me to the damn fleet! I didn't even realize anyone else was playing. Yay!

Heck ya we have people playing! Last night we had myself, Blue, Prof Allister, Cappy, Cappy's bro, Nosh's bro, Engine, Alpha-One, and probably someone else I'm forgetting.

Oh I am so happy right now!

I will catch up with you all when the server comes back up.

Well, since we've sort of consolidated now, may as well let everyone know who all is here in a consolidated manner...

I'm a lifer, and my main has been Allister of the USS Amadeus, and Engineer. Also, I seem to have taken on the role of tank, but I seem to do it reasonably well. I also have an alt of Angela, of the USS Carnelian, a Scientist.

Nexus is on, not a lifer, last I heard, and he's running as Juan Rico of... Uhm... some ship or other. Tactical.

Gaz is here, and he's a lifer or a h4><02, as he has a Borg, Gaz of the USS Twilight. Engineer.

Blue (Mrs. Nexus) is on, likely not a lifer if Nexus isn't, and she's... something that looks like Azure, but isn't, of the USS Space Waffle. Engineer, I think.

Engine is around, as Krieger of the USS Belligerence. Tactical, I believe.

Cappy is on as iiX of... something. Can't remember class.

Alpha One is on as Alpha One. Only seen him on Crusader channel.

And, when forming the Fleet, we took on another person who seems upstanding so far, of the USS Hiawatha. Not sure if he's been invited to the forums or Crusader. His name starts with T, he pilots the USS Hathaway, and he's a Tactics with a ponytail. Be sure to make him feel welcome.

Anyone I missed? These are just who I remember encountering from my various sessions. Feel free to supplement this list. Also, let's have some more Science officer love!

If we've got active guilds running in Champions and Star Trek, should I create sections for these two games in the forums? Right now I have registrations turned off, but if there is real activity going on or planned, I can turn it back on and do this right. And for those of you leading the guilds in the various games, if there's anything you want/need with the forums or the website, let me know.

Close! Azelle@shardsofblue. Engineer is correct.

Separate forum sections would be neat!

I moved this over here as I saw the new sections had been made. And because I could

Ahhh!

New sections confuse me.

So many places with 0 posts.

I might have to fix this "problem."

I am not sure what 'handle' refers to, but I am Dossan, Capitan of the Larb!

"Handle" is the part after your character name, Dossan@soandso; it's essentially your global name.

Your handle is important - that is the part that determines who you are.

If my understanding of the naming conventions is correct, there can be a ton of Dossan, captain of the Larb. You are Name@Handle. Dossan@Larb has no conflict with Dossan@LarbImpersonator. Regardingt he ships, I believe that the names are also free to the whole world, with restrictions on the registry number. Although, I don't know - I've never been denied a custom registry, but that could just be because it's early on, and most people are taking the default...