NPC Crews or Player Crews?

[OddjobXL]

Hello all, I'm brand new here but need to figure something out before I get more involved.

I'm not too clear from the FAQ on this. Are NPC crews optional or are you stuck with them? I'm a pretty huge fan of the PoB (player on board) ships in SWG and player cities for that matter. Seems to me that a game about Star Fleet ships would be the best of both worlds. Flying player-on-board-cities!

I can see why having the option of an NPC crew is desirable. Some folks like to solo and even more sociable folks don't always have a group at hand. Still, there's nothing like crew-based adventuring.

Way back in the day I played the FASA Star Trek RPG tabletop. I still remember the mats set up like starship readouts for each player as we juggled energy and shields and tried to get the engines to do things that engines really aren't supposed to do. I remember the player of the Captain with no display at all. He was always coordinating actions while keeping his focus on the bigger picture (aka the tiny spread of miniatures on the table and the menacing hints the ref would be dropping). It could be pretty exciting.

Years later I discovered text-based online MUSHes and, eventually, HSPACE which recreated that sense of cooperation and tension with coded systems for spaceflight. My crew and I lived, most of the time, inside the handful of 'rooms' that made up our ship. Years later I'd discover Firefly and think to myself "Hey, that was us!" It was more than a vehicle, it was home. We were more than a crew, we became family. I know there were Star Trek and Star Wars MUSHes that used, are using, HSPACE and eventually I went full circle when I joined a Firefly themed MUSH.

And then Jump to Lightspeed hit SWG. Now, while space is still sorely lacking purpose in SWG, the ships themselves were amazing. Everyone had a functional role aboard a PoB (player-on-board) vessel and we could even decorate them to our tastes. Fully rendered ships with a live crew wandering about it. I've still got my trusty YT and many former members of my crew went on to captain their own ships.

I'd like to get some of the old gang(s) together and put together a crew for a Federation ship. Assuming this can be done. If it's NPC only, well, I'm still curious enough to check out STO. If players can crew, however, I'm much more motivated to go out and recruit myself a capable staff.

[Sumoben]

Hello all, I'm brand new here but need to figure something out before I get more involved.

I'm not too clear from the FAQ on this. Are NPC crews optional or are you stuck with them? I'm a pretty huge fan of the PoB (player on board) ships in SWG and player cities for that matter. Seems to me that a game about Star Fleet ships would be the best of both worlds. Flying player-on-board-cities!

I can see why having the option of an NPC crew is desirable. Some folks like to solo and even more sociable folks don't always have a group at hand. Still, there's nothing like crew-based adventuring.

Way back in the day I played the FASA Star Trek RPG tabletop. I still remember the mats set up like starship readouts for each player as we juggled energy and shields and tried to get the engines to do things that engines really aren't supposed to do. I remember the player of the Captain with no display at all. He was always coordinating actions while keeping his focus on the bigger picture (aka the tiny spread of miniatures on the table and the menacing hints the ref would be dropping). It could be pretty exciting.

Years later I discovered text-based online MUSHes and, eventually, HSPACE which recreated that sense of cooperation and tension with coded systems for spaceflight. My crew and I lived, most of the time, inside the handful of 'rooms' that made up our ship. Years later I'd discover Firefly and think to myself "Hey, that was us!" It was more than a vehicle, it was home. We were more than a crew, we became family. I know there were Star Trek and Star Wars MUSHes that used, are using, HSPACE and eventually I went full circle when I joined a Firefly themed MUSH.

And then Jump to Lightspeed hit SWG. Now, while space is still sorely lacking purpose in SWG, the ships themselves were amazing. Everyone had a functional role aboard a PoB (player-on-board) vessel and we could even decorate them to our tastes. Fully rendered ships with a live crew wandering about it. I've still got my trusty YT and many former members of my crew went on to captain their own ships.

I'd like to get some of the old gang(s) together and put together a crew for a Federation ship. Assuming this can be done. If it's NPC only, well, I'm still curious enough to check out STO. If players can crew, however, I'm much more motivated to go out and recruit myself a capable staff.

You'll pretty much be stuck with NPC Crews, however you can have a fleet with your old gang.

[OddjobXL]

Thanks for the feedback.

[Sumoben]

Thanks for the feedback.

No problemo, anything else?

[OddjobXL]

That's it for now. I'll need to read up a bit more before I have any other questions. Intelligent or otherwise.

It's a bit sadmaking there aren't player crews but there's still enough in STO to make it something different and I tend to gravitate to titles trying to push the envelope.

[Dyzan]

Hey OddjobXL,

I'm hoping you're the Oddjob from Vagabond's Rest?

They've gone into a bunch about the player crew thing. Cryptic decided, that NPC crews were the best way to go, to promote the most fun. Debate is of course rampant. However, you can have specialties, science engineering, etc. and people can group up and go on missions, including away missions to planets.


Dyzan

P.S. I expect a bunch of people will post shortly to correct me. :)

[CinC-UFPForces-Cardassia]

Thanks for the feedback.

Indeed - in terms of the bridge crew of your starship, you'll have four NPCs.

However, when working together with up to four other players during an away mission (which will be an integral part of the game play experience), you can replace each of those NPCs with the PCs on those other four starships. You can also team up during space activities with up to four other players, though the NPCs will still play a role in how each ship functions.

[Hagon]

Yes, there's absolutely nothing about not having player crews that will stop anyone from grouping and associating with their mates. In fact everyone will be able to be in on the fun this way, as opposed to most everyone condemned to a dull experience watching a dial or playing some mini-game or some other nonsense.

[OddjobXL]

Yeah, I don't want to ignite any controversies. Just had a question and some fond memories.

Hey, Dyzan - yes, it is I. Mandash Grim. Crusty old freighter captain and former security chief for Vagabond's Rest. I have to admit I was thinking of the old VR gang when imagining the possibilities of a USS Vagabond! *laughs* Small world, ain't it?

The more I think about it the more I'm okay with NPC crew. Heck, City of Heroes' Mastermind class was my favorite. Loved having flunkies that were useful and listened to orders (unlike most players). Still...man, you remember VR. Remember the camaraderie? My YT crews were like that but even moreso because we were such a small group. Really built up elan and a sense of family almost.

[Dyzan]

To be honest Oddjob, I'm really looking forward to being able to advance my crew. I think it'll get me invested them, in ways that other 'pets' just didn't. So Iam very hopeful. And I would love it also if you got a few of VR people to come out any play :)

Dyzan

[OddjobXL]

There was some talk about that with the 'old timers' a while back on Davyn's forum. I think alot of folks are rather intimidated by roleplaying Star Trek (including me). There's just so much lore involved. In Star Wars you can roleplay being an ignorant puke from a backwater planet. In Star Trek you've graduated the Academy at least so you probably know alot about how everything works ICly.

[CinC-UFPForces-Cardassia]

In Star Trek you've graduated the Academy at least so you probably know alot about how everything works ICly.

If you care to spend some time getting familiar with it all, Memory Alpha (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Portal:Main) will be your best resource.

But really, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Play in the way that you'll enjoy.

[Dyzan]

Yeah those Star Fleet peeps never stop asking questions... LOl

[Dext]

RED ALERT!!!!!

The Flam War is about to start.

[OddjobXL]

If you care to spend some time getting familiar with it all, Memory Alpha (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Portal:Main) will be your best resource.

But really, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Play in the way that you'll enjoy.

Thanks for the link. Yeah, I'm a pretty hardcore roleplayer. When I get into a game I tend to do all the research I can on a setting. I've got shelves of Conan and Star Wars books I wouldn't otherwise have if I hadn't got involved in MMOs based on those settings. I even managed to wrangle Middle Earth and come out the other side with my dignity intact. But my steely resolve melts in the face of Star Trek lore. There's just so much of it!

That said...enough with the posting. Seems I have alot of reading to do.

[Hagon]

RED ALERT!!!!!

The Flam War is about to start.What's a Flam War? Is that like people drumming at each other? :p

[KO_Gilligan]

As if....

Count me in on the fun.

3000 posts on the issue right above. Please just continue where we left off

[Fernos]

Why bother it ain't happening and that is the only thing that matters. :)

I do hope however that leveling up your NPC crew will be as much fun as it is in Dawn of WAR II, as I am currently having a blast tweaking stats and doing gear load outs for different missions.

Hmmmm Shall I take the Security chief on the Mission? And would a first contact species really consider the Temporal Phase cannon a sign of aggression? :D