NEWS:

Breen shown in “Expanding Universe, Pt 4” video

              – Also shows “Mercernary” costume pack.

              – Breen ships look awesome.  So do their suits!

Iconians show up in Star Trek magazine

              – Pages 50-52.  Careful, you can only zoom in 3 times!

              – SPOILERS!  They’re manipulating everything – even the Undine and Borg!

              – SPOILERS!  They will be revealed as the “Big Bad” of STO in late-Season2/S3

STO is on Wine 1.2’s “GOLD” list

              – visit www.winehq.org for more details

– This means:  Linux play just got a solid play option!

PvP Queue changes coming

              – Private matches will soon allow mixed teams, mixed tiers, and much more.

              – Also hints at a short-lived ladder/tournament system.

DANIEL STAHL UPDATE

– re: “Free to Play” — “… my point is that I don’t agree that business plan is the last straw.”

* Goes on to clarify that there is a lot of industry-wide interest in the concept, across every type of MMO regardless of their success level.

* Chris & Jeremy will be discussing this more in-depth NEXT WEEK!

Stahl @ Massively

– “… once you’re a vice-admiral, being able to take bridge officers that you’ve sort of promoted under your wing, and make them their own character[s].”

– Confirms the goal of adding Gorn and Naussican ships to KDF choices.

Stahl @ TrekMovie.com

– Talks more about C-Store, and finding the balance between paid content and played content.

– Hints at voice overs.

Stahl @ DevTracker

– Jokes about renaming it the “dstahl tracker”

– Rare particles (via mini-game) should be triggering an Accolade, but currently not working.

– Increasing non-star cluster DXP rewards:  “I agree.”

– Weekly content might include repeatable dailies.

– More retrofits, but Klingon ships come first!

– Thoughts on a new bridge officer transfer system.

MATH:

An introduction to Diplomatic Corps:

Despite many great guides being published on the subject, I still get people asking me about how to start on the path to becoming an Ambassador. 

So, here’s your official “YOU GOT MATHED” introduction to Diplomacy.

VERY SPOILER HEAVY!  If that concerns you, please skip to the “MAIL” segment.

The reason for the spoilers though, is that many of these missions can be failed, and having to restart a mission that involves only walking & talking is a frustration that feels like a huge waste of time.

So, I’ll give you a quick walkthru of the first SEVEN missions you can do at any time.  Additional special diplomatic missions don’t unlock until you’ve gotten a total of 160 DXP and ranked up to Attache.  Each of these missions give you 10 DXP, so you’ll have to do additional non-combat missions to reach Attache. (e.g., Aid The Planet, or Scan 5 Things)

Vulcan:

– Talk to Ambassador on the steps, then the Romulans by the fountain, then back to the Vulcan and her assistant.

– Talk to ALL of the scholars on the planet, to debunk the death threat letter’s information.  Don’t miss the handful that are up a path in the distance, past the fountain.

– Show the evidence to the Romulan, then confront the Vulcan’s assistant, tell him to “do the right thing.”  He’ll point you to the real culprit – the Romulan lieutenant!  Dun dun DUN!

Starbase 39:

– Speak with the Lt Commander, who will ask you to run all over hell & back introducing yourself to the ambassadors.

– Then you’ll basically end up doing a back & forth between the Ferengi and Deferi until the console on the wall unlocks.

– At this point, make sure you’ve listened to the recording of the Ferengi talking about Entertainment Provisions, then ask Admiral T’nae for input and head to the Ferengi.  Offer him an Entertainment Provision, and … BOOM!  Success.  Now just more running around to mop up.

DS9:

This one’s a doozy.  I’m not going to give you a complete walkthru, just tell you to NOT use the pulse laser on the strange device.  Dowse it with water instead.  As long as you don’t screw that up, you should eventually be able to prove the Gul’s innocence in this matter, and everyone goes home happy.  Just investigate EVERYthing else, and go into the mission assuming the guy is innocent.

Oh, and while you’re at DS9, buy a Bajoran Jumja Stick.  You’ll thank me later.

DO NOT EAT IT!  (and make sure no Tribble does, either)

Memory Alpha:

There are a total of FIVE missions here.  The three important ones are all involving Ferengi brothers.  There’s not much thinking required here, just a bunch of talking and running.  Despite asking almost everyone I know, it doesn’t appear as though you can fail these, so just click click click.  They ARE fun stories, worth reading.  I encourage you to do so, but it’s not required.

Then give your Jumja Stick to Kirayoshi O’Brien.  Easiest 10 DXP EVER!  If your mission log doesn’t update, simply log out and back in.  That should update it.

Another dude at MA will send you off to K7 with medical supplies.  When you arrive, you find out that –SHOCK– your crew has been infected with some sort of bacteria that was contained in the shipment.

Deepspace K7

You’ll have to investigate the cure using the equipment in the lab (attached to the bar – excellent location!).  Again, this is kind of an involved mission, so just pay attention to what you’re clicking on while experimenting.  NOTE:  The buttons will CHANGE POSITION on the final replicator step, so remember what you’re clicking on, not just where the buttons are.  Once you have plugged in the recipe, pick up the antidote at the console next to Nurse Leppa, and shoot your invisible quartermaster in the face with it.  Bingo!

For a more thorough guide, please visit Stonewall Fleet’s Guide to Diplomacy. 

MAIL:

Honorable Mentions:

* AdmiralMurphy:  “Picard Maneuver” — a TNG fan service (no likeness rights available)

* AgentExceider: “Reflections” — You have to confront your ISS mirror self on his/your ship

* Leprech: “Diplomacy at the Point of a Knife” — An interesting twist on diplomacy

Jeremy’s choices:

1) “Smoke & Holograms” — Daniel (aka DPT)

** Holo fleet, captured and fight your way out

** Reasons:  Relatively simple, but the beginning of what could be an EPIC story arc.

2) “Something Rotten on Risa” — Stoney977

** The mission looks diplomatic, but turns into a murder investigation, then a space chase after the Undine infiltrators.

** Chosen because of its strong and twisty plotline, plus giving an established location a deeper purpose.

Chris’ choices:

1) “Invasion of the Ship Snatchers” — E Beyer

** You are lured to a Cardassian ship that’s been disabled by a virus.

** A changeling reveals itself, and its plan to steal your Slipstream tech.

** You have to disable your own ship, using the crippled Keldon.

2) “What are Little Ferengi Made Of” — Daniel (aka DPT)

              ** A classic homage to the TOS episode, with a TWIST!

              ** Killing a horde of Ferengi sounds UBER fun.

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