Star Trek Online Discussion Thread (now free to play!)

[borgboy]

I finally had time to make a character and play a little bit.
I made an Andorian tactical officer (and he's very hunky!). Peeking at the store in the game, there is a lot of fun stuff in there I'd enjoy playing with if I ever really got the hang of this to make it worth the expense. I read that I can get some weird variant of a tribble as a pet for free, but the game won't let me have it. Am I required to set up some kind of account with a credit card or something, or is there some other issue? It's not a big deal, but I'd like to get the tribble if I can get it for free.
I really enjoyed everything in the beginning. The shipboard action, the visuals of everything were very nice.
Once the whole thing turned into piloting the ship around though, the whole thing got pretty awful. I'm apparently very very bad at piloting. I think I'm improving, but it wasn't much fun. I struggled thru it, trying to get back to the part where I was having fun. So far, there's not been much of that. Now I'm out of the training intro and into the first episode and I've spent a long long ....long time scanning an area with nothing happening, and for the life of me I can't figure out if I'm supposed to do something else or if I really am supposed to just stick in one small area and run my scanners all day.
It's possible my problems are due to my own incompetence and poor skills. I've never done one of these mmo whatever games before. The parts that were good were very good, and I want to like it, but I don't know how much I'm going to play with the level of difficulty and frustration I'm having.
If anybody has any advice to help I really appreciate it. I want to like the game, and play it. But either the game is a lot more difficult and tedious than I was expecting, or I'm doing something wrong.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

I finally had time to make a character and play a little bit.
I made an Andorian tactical officer (and he's very hunky!). Peeking at the store in the game, there is a lot of fun stuff in there I'd enjoy playing with if I ever really got the hang of this to make it worth the expense. I read that I can get some weird variant of a tribble as a pet for free, but the game won't let me have it. Am I required to set up some kind of account with a credit card or something, or is there some other issue? It's not a big deal, but I'd like to get the tribble if I can get it for free.
I really enjoyed everything in the beginning. The shipboard action, the visuals of everything were very nice.
Once the whole thing turned into piloting the ship around though, the whole thing got pretty awful. I'm apparently very very bad at piloting. I think I'm improving, but it wasn't much fun. I struggled thru it, trying to get back to the part where I was having fun. So far, there's not been much of that. Now I'm out of the training intro and into the first episode and I've spent a long long ....long time scanning an area with nothing happening, and for the life of me I can't figure out if I'm supposed to do something else or if I really am supposed to just stick in one small area and run my scanners all day.
It's possible my problems are due to my own incompetence and poor skills. I've never done one of these mmo whatever games before. The parts that were good were very good, and I want to like it, but I don't know how much I'm going to play with the level of difficulty and frustration I'm having.
If anybody has any advice to help I really appreciate it. I want to like the game, and play it. But either the game is a lot more difficult and tedious than I was expecting, or I'm doing something wrong.

What issues are you having steering the ship?

 

[borgboy]

Just getting it to go where I want it to. I'm not sure there's actually a problem beyond my terrible skills. I have gotten a little better, but it seems like so far there's been an awful lot of steering.
The big issue now is this whole thing about scanning the alpha point. I'm pretty sure I'm in the right area, because the map keeps pointing back here if I try to go anywhere else, but my scans aren't turning up anything and I'm at a loss as for what to do next.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

What's your character@handle in game... logging in now with a new character, i can team up with you for a bit and help you get a grip on space flight/combat. Because let's face it... if you don't like space in STO, this game might not be entirely for you.
Space is where all the marketing focus and most of the MMO part of it lies.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

Just getting it to go where I want it to. I'm not sure there's actually a problem beyond my terrible skills. I have gotten a little better, but it seems like so far there's been an awful lot of steering.
The big issue now is this whole thing about scanning the alpha point. I'm pretty sure I'm in the right area, because the map keeps pointing back here if I try to go anywhere else, but my scans aren't turning up anything and I'm at a loss as for what to do next.

How are you steering? With the mouse or WASD?

 

[borgboy]

Thanks for the offer of help. I'm so burned out right now I need a break. I may not continue, especially if the game is mostly space flight. That's the only part of the game I didn't like.
I am steering with WASD which is the default setting. I don't know how to switch to the mouse. I'd think I'd be able to steer better with the mouse.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

yeah, you can change the setting to what you prefer... Don't give up so fast. You may still grow to like it. And it's really best to team up with a veteran to learn the ropes better than the tutorial could ever teach you.

And holding down both mouse buttons lets you steer without changing anything, though that means you should use keys to activate abilities which is probably the better gamer set-up anyway. But I never had the patience to commit all those commands to muscle memory, so I just stick to steering with WASD which works alright for me (except when sling shotting around a sun to time travel , which definitely easier with the mouse )

 

[Ruaidhri]

I've never gotten the hang of steering with the mouse. WASD all the way, bro!

 

[intrinsical]

The free tribble is likely only available for characters who were created prior to the launch of season 8 on Nov 12. So chances are you do not qualify for it. Anyway its a very minor reward, most players view it as useless so it doesn't really matter if you have it.

I second Timelord's suggestion of teaming up with a player with more experience who can show you the ropes. As for piloting the starship, just keep practicing. The starter ship is known to be a very slow and clunky ship, both in speed and turn rate. I know how frustrating it can be to pilot that ship, I just keep yelling "Come on, move your ass!" at my screen XD

The good thing is you should be level 4 or 5 by this time and can abandon the starter ship at level 10. You will get a choice of 3 different types of ships, Kirk's Constitution class cruiser, Oberth Science Vessel and Archer's "Akiraprise" Light Escort. There are 3 other ships to pick from but you'll have to pay money for them (and totally not worth the cost, so don't).

Cruisers are the beefy ships, moves slowly, has medium attacks but can take a lot of damage. Science vessels are faster than cruisers, has weak attacks but is good at sciencey effects that can take down shields, hold ships in place, etc.. Escorts are zippy and fast, has strong attacks but blow up easily.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

The good thing is you should be level 4 or 5 by this time and can abandon the starter ship at level 10. You will get a choice of 3 different types of ships, Kirk's Constitution class cruiser, Oberth Science Vessel and Archer's "Akiraprise" Light Escort. There are 3 other ships to pick from but you'll have to pay money for them (and totally not worth the cost, so don't).

Here I have to correct you.
The NX Class, the Oberth and the original Constitution are all C-Store ships and can be bought at starter level. if he bought them he could replace the Miranda.
At level 10 you can choose between a Constitution Refit, a Nova class science ship or a Saber class escort for free.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

I've never gotten the hang of steering with the mouse. WASD all the way, bro!

I have a hybrid style I go forward with (w) but do most of the steering with the right mouse button. But several of my friends swear by the both mouse button technique

 

[intrinsical]

The good thing is you should be level 4 or 5 by this time and can abandon the starter ship at level 10. You will get a choice of 3 different types of ships, Kirk's Constitution class cruiser, Oberth Science Vessel and Archer's "Akiraprise" Light Escort. There are 3 other ships to pick from but you'll have to pay money for them (and totally not worth the cost, so don't).

Here I have to correct you.
The NX Class, the Oberth and the original Constitution are all C-Store ships and can be bought at starter level. if he bought them he could replace the Miranda.
At level 10 you can choose between a Constitution Refit, a Nova class science ship or a Saber class escort for free.

Oops, my bad. I mis-read the wiki page. But yeah the ship types still apply, Constitution Refit == Cruiser, Nova == Science Vessel, Saber == Escort.

I've never gotten the hang of steering with the mouse. WASD all the way, bro!

Its not exactly WASD vs mouse piloting. Each has their advantages so the key is knowing when to use the keyboard and when to use the mouse.

Typically, I prefer to pilot with the mouse by pressing both mouse buttons down. The advantage is that the camera is turning with your ship so its a simple point and aim system. It is great for out of combat movement.

Using WASD doesn't turn your camera and as a result I find that it is difficult to point the ship in the right direction. Having said that, I use WASD a lot during ship combat to make minor tweaks to my ship's orientation and speed to keep weapons pointed at a moving target, especially when I'm flying in reverse.

 

[matthunter]

Never could handle flying with WASD or mouse, I mapped flight controls to an XBox joypad, torps on LT, beams on RT. RB/LB for impulse settings, D-pad for power presets. Use keyboard still for powers. Thumbsticks control direction and also camera view.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

Never could handle flying with WASD or mouse, I mapped flight controls to an XBox joypad, torps on LT, beams on RT. RB/LB for impulse settings, D-pad for power presets. Use keyboard still for powers. Thumbsticks control direction and also camera view.

I use the Xbox controller for Champions Online but it never felt right for me in STO. Don't know why they are the same engine

 

[Vendikarr]

Ok, I need to vent for a moment.

I have been spending time in the Battleground, accumulating enough marks to buy the commendations I need to get to max rep.

I am seeing people run into the various areas and not join the fight. They stay on the finges and seem to wait for the battle to end to get the marks and dilithium. They also jump in and grab the command points, even though they didn't contribute.

It really annoyed me when i was trying to take a section of the city by myself. I tend to jump in and wait for others to come and help out. I can usually hold my own for most of a fight, until you get past 2/3.

Two people came into the area and stayed on the edges. But since they were there, that ramped up the difficulty and more mobs showed up. I got my ass handed to me. When I went down, they left instead of jumping in.

There has to be a way of making these people play or get out.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Ok, I need to vent for a moment.

I have been spending time in the Battleground, accumulating enough marks to buy the commendations I need to get to max rep.

I am seeing people run into the various areas and not join the fight. They stay on the finges and seem to wait for the battle to end to get the marks and dilithium. They also jump in and grab the command points, even though they didn't contribute.

It really annoyed me when i was trying to take a section of the city by myself. I tend to jump in and wait for others to come and help out. I can usually hold my own for most of a fight, until you get past 2/3.

Two people came into the area and stayed on the edges. But since they were there, that ramped up the difficulty and more mobs showed up. I got my ass handed to me. When I went down, they left instead of jumping in.

There has to be a way of making these people play or get out.

Yeah, kite the mobs over to them and then stealth out of there.

 

[Scout101]

Season 8 seems to be missing an overall STORY or something. Seems really aimless; i just wander around and find little mini-challenge missions, but not overly sure what I'm supposed to be doing or why. I guess it's supposed to be unlocked through the rep system, but what drives you getting the commendations instead of the marks? loading up on marks, but can't seem to gain ground on commendations.

Either way, feels like there's an overall wrapper/guidance missing on this mission. It fell kinda flat with me. And due to the size, it's a giant PITA to get around anywhere and do the space or ground missions. Visually very interesting, but not much to hold attention. And yeah, the 'observers' running in and grabbing rewards without helping is a definite problem. In the ground part, i find myself clearing most of a section of the city completely alone, and only occasionally run into another person helping.

Without more engaging storyline, this will be as dead as Defera once people start to get the reputation ground through. Pretty, but pointless. And the missions were just a couple tutorials, was hoping for more storyline content like the FE started us out on. Instead just a tutorial and mini-games...

 

[Vendikarr]

Season 8 seems to be missing an overall STORY or something. Seems really aimless; i just wander around and find little mini-challenge missions, but not overly sure what I'm supposed to be doing or why. I guess it's supposed to be unlocked through the rep system, but what drives you getting the commendations instead of the marks? loading up on marks, but can't seem to gain ground on commendations.

Either way, feels like there's an overall wrapper/guidance missing on this mission. It fell kinda flat with me. And due to the size, it's a giant PITA to get around anywhere and do the space or ground missions. Visually very interesting, but not much to hold attention. And yeah, the 'observers' running in and grabbing rewards without helping is a definite problem. In the ground part, i find myself clearing most of a section of the city completely alone, and only occasionally run into another person helping.

Without more engaging storyline, this will be as dead as Defera once people start to get the reputation ground through. Pretty, but pointless. And the missions were just a couple tutorials, was hoping for more storyline content like the FE started us out on. Instead just a tutorial and mini-games...

You can spend 350 marks to buy 5 commendations. And at 2500 a commendation, you only need 40 to max out your rep. I should be done with tier 2 when I get home today, and have 18 commendations already. I think 15 more should do it, which I should have before the weekend. Then I can just stock up a few marks for completing the tiers and I won't need to return to the sphere unless there's something worth buying in the rep store.

 

[Rocketeer]

I agree with Vendikarr. I was getting frustrated on the both the ship and ground combat with players hanging on the edge. That plus it seemed like the ones that did participate had no clue on how to work as a team. Have all the *good* players left the game? :-/

Season 8 crashed my game (just like Season 7) and required a total re-install. Still can't get it to work on my laptop.

Thanks

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Ten Ton Hammer are giving away the Motion Picture uniform for free.
If anyone is still missing that one you can pick it up here.

http://giveaways.tentonhammer.com/giveaway/10