Starting "Ship Classes" and "Character Classes"

[captmontalvo]

Has any mention been made as to what character classes or ship classes will be available at the start of the game? What classes would you guys say are appropriate for starting?

[Varrangian]

Has any mention been made as to what character classes or ship classes will be available at the start of the game? What classes would you guys say are appropriate for starting?

For the starting ship. The Game Informer article said that the starting ship would be about the size of a runabout. I'm not sure if this is just for the tutorial or if this means for the first few "levels" of the game we will command smaller sized ships.

As for "starting classes" this is what the FAQ has to say. It is related, but does not answer the question directly.


Q: Can I play something other than a Captain like a Doctor or an Engineer?
A: Everyone is a Captain, (remember, if you command a ship, you are automatically a Captain), and you will command a crew, but that does not limit your role. Your character will still be able to choose from a variety of career paths, such as Engineer, Tactical Officer, Doctor, Science Officer, etc. Your career path is your root, and will affect your skills, and how you command your crew. Consider Jean-Luc Picard, Beverly Crusher, Worf and Kathryn Janeway. Picard was an archeologist and diplomat, Crusher was a doctor, Worf a security/tactical officer, and Janeway was a scientist. Each eventually chose a career in command and became ship captains. This does not mean the game will limit your ship choices based on your profession – far from it. The examples are simply an example of how the game design was inspired.

[crazyeddie1564]

I think possibly Nova class ships, and bird of prey for Kligons

[Varrangian]

I think possibly Nova class ships, and bird of prey for Kligons

At what point do you think we'll reach those? Like I said the Game Informer article said our first ship would be about the size of a runabout. Now granted this might be for the tutorial, but I don't we would go from a runabout in the tutorial to a Nova without some sort of ship in between.

[Keldaria]

At what point do you think we'll reach those? Like I said the Game Informer article said our first ship would be about the size of a runabout. Now granted this might be for the tutorial, but I don't we would go from a runabout in the tutorial to a Nova without some sort of ship in between.

nove might be abit large for the fed starting vessel, something like a saber might be more in line. a bird of prey is about the smallest klingon vessel i'm aware of tho, I don't think they come much smaller unless you go back in history by about 100 years into something that probibly should've been scrapped a long time ago

[Varrangian]

nove might be abit large for the fed starting vessel, something like a saber might be more in line. a bird of prey is about the smallest klingon vessel i'm aware of tho, I don't think they come much smaller unless you go back in history by about 100 years into something that probibly should've been scrapped a long time ago

While I agree with you about the bird of Prey, I don't think there is any reason to think the Devs can invent a new Klingon ship. I mean they have decided to give the Klingons carriers, so they don't seem afraid to play with new ideas.

[captmontalvo]

Whats the basic ship used for training in the academy? Was one ever mentioned in the Trek universe?

[Varrangian]

Whats the basic ship used for training in the academy? Was one ever mentioned in the Trek universe?

There have been a few mentioned, so there is nothing cut and dry. Also the Game Informer article says we will be able to customize the first ship (the runabout sized ship I mentioned) so there is that to keep in mind too.

[Sevenblade]

Well, for Federation, it's kind of a stretch, as they're not very autonomous, but I would say something as small as a type 8 to 10 shuttlecraft (maybe even something like the Delta Flyer). More likely, though, you'd get a standard Danube class runabout. Next would be Saber, maybe something like the Miranda, other smaller, outdated ships (Excelsior), then you get to the big stuff.

For Klingons, probably a B'rel Bird of Prey (equivalent to Saber or Miranda level). I'm sure Cryptic can come up with some kind of Klingon shuttle of their own design. Or maybe they have a modern equivalent to the Raptor class from ENT. After B'rel would be K'vort Bird of Prey, and since the K'tinga is outdated, next would be the Vor'cha, finshing with the Negh'var or the Klingon carrier (assuming they're not just going to turn a Negh'var into a giant hangar and call that the carrier).

[Tranchera]

I hope it's a shuttle or runabout. I wanted to work up to a Nova class (favourite ship ey).

I really hope it takes a lot of time and effort to get to the big ships. It'd be silly to have a thousand Galaxy class ships on one server because it's so easy to advance.

[Varrangian]

I hope it's a shuttle or runabout. I wanted to work up to a Nova class (favourite ship ey).

I really hope it takes a lot of time and effort to get to the big ships. It'd be silly to have a thousand Galaxy class ships on one server because it's so easy to advance.

Keep in mind that ships will have "classes". For the Feds they will be Escorts, Science and Cruiser/Exploration. So not everyone will want a Galaxy Class ship.

Also keep this in mind from the Skewed and Reviewed interview.

CZ: Players will start with a basic starship, and as they progress through the game they will have the opportunity to upgrade to another ship or improve the abilities of the one they have. Some ships are more general purpose and some are more specialized. Your ship and the equipment you outfit it with help define the role you play in combat.
You will be able to craft or trade for items that improve and customize the combat, science and engineering capabilities of your ship.

[Awarkle]

i think you will find the training vessels is somthing about the size of the peregrin attack fighter (see voyager or marquis vessels)

I do think for training missions should be based on your group size. If your just solo then yeah shuttle craft / runabout. But if you got a load of friends starting together then it shouldnt matter if it wasnt a nova or sabre or defiant class.

Anyways we will see i personally love runabouts :)

[James_Harvey]

I wouldn't mind a raptor for the first Klingon ship.

[Sevenblade]

i think you will find the training vessels is somthing about the size of the peregrin attack fighter (see voyager or marquis vessels)

I do think for training missions should be based on your group size. If your just solo then yeah shuttle craft / runabout. But if you got a load of friends starting together then it shouldnt matter if it wasnt a nova or sabre or defiant class.

Anyways we will see i personally love runabouts :)

I forgot the Peregrine. Good idea. Much more self sufficient and stronger than a runabout, without jumping too fast into the capital ship range.

[captmontalvo]

I hope it's a shuttle or runabout. I wanted to work up to a Nova class (favourite ship ey).

I really hope it takes a lot of time and effort to get to the big ships. It'd be silly to have a thousand Galaxy class ships on one server because it's so easy to advance.

I completely agree, but realistically? I think we're going to see a huge number of entry level capital ships almost right away.

[Eisenwolff]

i think you will find the training vessels is somthing about the size of the peregrin attack fighter (see voyager or marquis vessels)

I do think for training missions should be based on your group size. If your just solo then yeah shuttle craft / runabout. But if you got a load of friends starting together then it shouldnt matter if it wasnt a nova or sabre or defiant class.

Anyways we will see i personally love runabouts :)
The Peregrine class is not the Maquis raider btw

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Peregrine_class

[Sevenblade]

The Peregrine class is not the Maquis raider btw

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Peregrine_class

No, but close. As is the Fed attack fighter, which is what I think he was trying to bring up, and I confused with the Peregrine as well as with him. Though I'm sure the Maquis didn't care much about the differences. They were all of similar make, and served the Maquis' interests well, so I'm sure they used all 3 ships.

[jayrelo]

we're talking about this again? :confused:

whuu happ'n?

[Varrangian]

we're talking about this again? :confused:

whuu happ'n?

The search button seems to allude many people and so does the information from Game Informer. GI should be paying me, I'm reaching more people then their magazine did.

[Haegemon]

There have been a few mentioned, so there is nothing cut and dry. Also the Game Informer article says we will be able to customize the first ship (the runabout sized ship I mentioned) so there is that to keep in mind too.


We know some facts:

1.We know Westly used a starfighter to perform in an acrobatic patrol while in the academy due to an episode.
2. We know some cadets "the red squadron" were trained in a defiant class before the eruption of Dominion war.
3. We know that shuttles are used abroad in Starfleet academy and HQ areas.

[Haegemon]

nove might be abit large for the fed starting vessel, something like a saber might be more in line. a bird of prey is about the smallest klingon vessel i'm aware of tho, I don't think they come much smaller unless you go back in history by about 100 years into something that probibly should've been scrapped a long time ago

Maybe the first command should be an old ship of average size. As can be seen in the shows the cast always have the newer and better but still there are lots of older ships around.
Picard passed from a Constellation-class to the Galaxy-class, and from that to the Sovereign-class. Still the the Galaxy-class stayed standar but being a little older. Sure there were oldest ones in use.

[Silverspar]

You will start in something small as far as ships go.

As far as starting class, I wouldn't think so much of a starting class as more of a starting package that denotes your base skills or a more advanced choose your own skills method. It doesn't sound like there will be the traditional level scheme for STO, and more of a skill based system like old UO was.

[Freejack]

1.We know Westly used a starfighter to perform in an acrobatic patrol while in the academy due to an episode.


Academy flight training craft are types of spacecraft flown by Starfleet Academy cadets; a type of sublight vessel was flown in the 2360s by such groups as Nova Squadron. (TNG: "The First Duty")

The Academy cadet ships were small, one-pilot, blunt-winged vessels, with a fairly flat cross-section; pilots had to wear flight helmets. The craft were equipped with landing struts, proximity alarms, and emergency transporters.

I'm pretty sure, as captains, we will start beyond the Academy phase and I think even higher than the traditional ensign. I would imagine a rank of Full Louie to justify command of a ship and crew.

A non-public tutorial may be the exception.
;)

[Silverspar]

I'm pretty sure, as captains, we will start beyond the Academy phase and I think even higher than the traditional ensign. I would imagine a rank of Full Louie to justify command of a ship and crew.

A non-public tutorial may be the exception.
;)

Actually I am sure the Academy will be our tutorial. In fact, I think it's been mentioned by Cryptic that it will be.