Star Trek Online Space & Ground Tactics | STOked S01 E12

STOked Season 1 Episode 12: We cover the massive amount of new details for game tactics, we discuss a surprise glimpse at full on Galaxy Class saucer separation in game, and just how it might work in game. Then we go over the best details in our interview round up with Cryptic staff, plus we reveal a few more beta details sent to us from our anonymous tipsters.

Then – We cover some of the all time best screen shots, and pick out the details that we think are important.

Plus so much more!

This Week’s Links & Notes:

Episode 12

News:

-Cryptic launches brand new interactive web design
https://www.startrekonline.com

-Open Beta date announced, Starting January 12, 2010 thru January 26, 2010
https://www.massively.com/2009/11/19/star-trek-online-open-beta-dates-announced/

Beta Leaks:
-Multiple confirmations that STO works just fine under Bootcamp on Macs.
-Received some screenshots of a work-in-progress on a game manual.
-Latest patch improved graphics. New screenies just look like they added a glow or filter.
-Still no playable Klingons or Bridges

Panel Question: Micro-Transactions

-Are you ok with paying for in-game upgrades/mods
-NCsoft is selling Super Booster IV and Hero-Con Re-Cap in City of Heroes, $9.99
-All characters on the account get the upgrade/boost

-Would you be ok with these kinds of upgrades in STO?
-Does it make the game unfair because people with spare money can get an un-fair advantage?
-Do you think if STO takes off, Cryptic might consider this? — Note from Jeremy: These are already confirmed to be present in STO.
-Quote from Zinc: “Star Trek will have micro-transactions, but most of those will be cosmetic things. Some will augment gameplay, but won’t replace any gameplay.”

Articles:

-Ship Q&A @ Massively
https://www.massively.com/2009/11/16/ships-star-trek-online-community-qanda-answers/
-All ships of the same class/tier have the same stats. (T4 Escorts = identical, except cosmetics)
-Confirmed plans to add more ships
“Escorts are the quick-moving, precision-striking ships of the fleet. They’re not as hardy as other ships, but they’re tough to hit and can fit cannons, which are high-damage, almost sniper-style weapons. Cruisers are big ships with a big crew and huge engines that provide them lots of power, so they can fit a lot of guns, send big boarding parties and repair their hull and subsystems very quickly. And Science ships can detect cloaked vessels, use tractor beams to hold other ships in place and expose a weak side, take out shields with powerful tachyon beams, and lend aid to other ships in need. “

-Ground Combat Q&A @ TTH
https://www.tentonhammer.com/node/76794
-“Each episode is a 5 act instance. Within those five acts, 3-5 ground maps.”
-Flanking confirmed.
-Episodes (60/40) // Patrol Missions (almost 100% space) // Star Clusters (50/50, and contains many non-combat areas to explore)
-Most melee attacks ignore shields
-All weapons have 3 attacks: Primary (steady dmg), Secondary (special effects) and Melee (usually w/ knockback).
-“Replay Mechanism” — helping someone do a mission you’ve already completed, will give you a secondary reward.

-Maximum PC interviews Zinc
https://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/star_trek_online_interview

-There are surrenders, in main storylines. (no ship explosion)
-Death in space = return to spawn point w/ “some damage to your systems”
-Crew level affects hull regeneration. You can USE crew as boarding parties against enemies, or repair (healing) parties to allies.
-Each boff can get up to 4 abilities (1 per rank) on top-rank stations.
-Maximum abilities is 6 boffs, 12 abilities available (station limits).
I-f <5 players, team leader assigns boff slots for ground combat. -There ARE large away missions with multiple teams - all captains (no boffs) -"Security Escort" ability (from a kit) beams in a team of "highly aggressive redshirts." mwahaha -"We don't have levels..." but there are 5 ranks w/ 10 subranks each... so really, they DO have levels. -There will be some randomly generated content (Genesis), but most seems to be handed off to designers to finish. -4 Sector Hubs: Fed, Klingon, Romulan, Borg (4 seasons coincide)
Videos:

-New video @ official site: “Starship Tactics (part one)” https://www.startrekonline.com/videos
Note: Look how much smoother the footage is!
-AoE torpedo explosion!
-Floating combat text confirmed

-New video on IGN: “Starship Tactics (part two)”
https://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14270158/star-trek-online/videos/startrekonline_trl_starshiptacticspt2_111909.html
“Resourceful captains will also be able to utilize and recognize the different classes of starships: Cruisers for tanks, Science vessels for Support, and Escorts for lightning strikes.”
-TNG Enterprise bridge shot! (@0:50sec)
-Boarding parties: Launch shuttles, which then work internally on the enemy ship to disable systems and decrease efficiency of repairs/shield regen.
-But then the ship blows up? Those better have been worthless redshirts…
-Saucer separation? Glitched, but shown @ about 2:55… a Galaxy class without a saucer, and a nearby ship that might be the detached saucer.

Vertical Slice.tv — Eurogamer footage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF_uhGz4PY8