Parallel between STO and the Starfleet Battles series

[47Wasps]

It may just be me,but I think their are some similarities between SFB and STO. These parallels lie mostly in the state of the universe at the time of the two games.Most of Starfleet Battles took place during "The General War",a time of galactic conflict between two large factions and many smaller ones. This conflict lasted for many years,and wasn't like traditional wars in Star Trek(like the Dominion War) It seems STO is building up for a similar conflict.
Any thoughts on the topic?

[Loekii]

I think that STO will be a 'cold war' situation, like TOS, rather than open warfare. A Cold War supports the Restricted Conflict Rules - limited PvP, & Dev's comments about some Inter-Factional Cooperation.

[babanathie]

I don't see "the Great War" happening in STO; so, no I don't see a parallel. SFB had an un-Star Trek feel to it, and I do get a feeling that the developers are (well at least alittle bit) trying to adhere to canon and the essence of Star Trek.

[Saladin_Class]

I SFB had an un-Star Trek feel to it,.

You musta been smoking good stuff back then.

SFB tired into F&E seamlessly, and you could fight one one one, or side vs side.

WHen SFB came out Star Trek had been dead for 6 years, and it held the fans tight until the late 80s when STNG came out, and still does.

No other Star Trek combat simulator will ever be as persise as SFB.

We had a F&E run that lasts over two years, and had 20 odd folks in it.

It was a non stop RP and economics fest that no other game has ever matched to date.

[babanathie]

You musta been smoking good stuff back then.

SFB tired into F&E seamlessly, and you could fight one one one, or side vs side.

WHen SFB came out Star Trek had been dead for 6 years, and it held the fans tight until the late 80s when STNG came out, and still does.

No other Star Trek combat simulator will ever be as persise as SFB.

We had a F&E run that lasts over two years, and had 20 odd folks in it.

It was a non stop RP and economics fest that no other game has ever matched to date.

I've never done drugs; however, the use of drones, ewar shuttles, inclusion of Federation Battleships were not conductive to a Star Trek feeling in my opinion. Yes, it had a Star Trek skin and was a very fun game; however, it definitely (and obviously if you weren't smoking anything) diverged from Star Trek in significant ways.

[dyvimtorm]

First off, love SFB, particularly the early 90s edition (memory fails which it was, just loved playing cloaked Romulans.....oh the power drain).

Lots of parallels...SFB is a combat tactical simulator set in the Star Trek universe while STO is an MMO with a tactical space combat system as part of the game. So those parts are conceptually very similar. But don't forget, this will be a persistent online world, you'll have ground based avatar combat as well, missions, episodes, and advancement potential well beyond SFB.

Like SFB? Yes, in parts. But much more as well, I hope!

Pavel Bester

[AchillesHeel]

Even if the developers intend for the Alpha Quadrant to evolve into a "general war", it probably wouldn't actually happen for years. First, it will be a while before there are enough player-controlled Factions in the game to participate. We're starting off with the Klingons and the Federation and, based on the "Path to 2409" articles, it looks like the Romulans will be along shortly. That's the classic Star Trek power triangle. After that, I suppose they could add the Dominion, and a revived Cardassian Union could make a fifth.

But I wouldn't want to see a bipartisan division of the Alpha Quadrant powers, a la World of Warcraft. The politics of Star Trek are much richer and more complex than the politics of Star Fleet Battles. An SFB-style "general war" would actually make Star Trek Online less interesting than it already is, in my opinion.



p.s. That said, I loved SFB, back in the day. Played it 'til my eyes bled. If the starship combat in STO is half as interesting, they'll have made a heck of a game. The tactical side of SFB was the shizzle. The strategic side, not so much.

[OddjobXL]

As far as setting goes I tend to agree with the Cold War analogy. And frankly, not only is that smart from the point of view of explaining certain gameplay elements (restricted PvP and so on) but it builds the potential for things to heat up later on. Foreshadowing, much like they did in Eve Online before Faction Wars, builds anticipation. I don't think they should ever have unrestricted PvP in a Star Trek setting but they might expand PvP options down the road by introducing new elements or maps and then, voila, the war heats up!

Or, as Monty Python puts it:

Headmaster: What's wrong with a kiss, boy? Hm? Why not start her off with a nice kiss? You don't have to go leaping straight for the [overt warfare] like a bull at a gate. Give her a kiss, boy.

[Loekii]

As for SFB, it was one of my all time favorite games growing up. In some cases, I feel it was better than some RTS video games out there.

I would be rather happy to see many of the aspects of SFB mechanics appear in STO.

[starbuck1771]

Well if it is anything like SFB the bettered get permission as CBS/Paramount dont own the rights to that. They have to go through the Amarillo Design Bureau just like they did with the starfleet command series. Otherwise I smell a lawsuit comming. Just another reason why the lame simulated space combat bs is an epic fail!

[djnattyd]

Well if it is anything like SFB the bettered get permission as CBS/Paramount dont own the rights to that. They have to go through the Amarillo Design Bureau just like they did with the starfleet command series. Otherwise I smell a lawsuit comming. Just another reason why the lame simulated space combat bs is an epic fail!

Do you actually think before you post? Or have you got a hotkey that has "POST SOME CRAP" written on it?

[KirksOtherSon]

In one of the New York Comic Con clips out there, Craig Zinkievich mentions in passing that the two factions will not officially be at war when the game launches. So Loekii's "Cold War" analogy is appropriate, I think, and the political "feel" of the galaxy at game launch may be more reminiscent of original Star Trek than of Star Fleet Battles.

My take, anyway,

KOS

[Saladin_Class]

, the use of drones, ewar shuttles, inclusion of Federation Battleships were not conductive to a Star Trek feeling in my opinion. .

Gee in STNG they even send Worf's ole lady in a drone type tube.

DS9s runabouts were all about how many special goodies could be put in a shuttle.

What about the 3 nacelled Enterprise of the furture? A BS by any standard

But yet my fav Pacard quote " And so ends the first starfleet battle simulation."

Im sure Armadillo didnt mind the plug.

I dont think any of your got the whole F&I/SFB connection. the SFC series was narrow even by SFB standards.

No one knows what they have instore for us in STO

But Ill bet the SFB players will have a tactical edge

[babanathie]

Gee in STNG they even send Worf's ole lady in a drone type tube.

DS9s runabouts were all about how many special goodies could be put in a shuttle.

What about the 3 nacelled Enterprise of the furture? A BS by any standard

But yet my fav Pacard quote " And so ends the first starfleet battle simulation."

Im sure Armadillo didnt mind the plug.

I dont think any of your got the whole F&I/SFB connection. the SFC series was narrow even by SFB standards.

No one knows what they have instore for us in STO

But Ill bet the SFB players will have a tactical edge

You're examples are just great. Use of a drone..., wait a torpedo casing to send someone to a meet with a ship is just a great example of drone use in TNG. I never noticed all the great goodies they packed into runabout. Could you point out where in a battle during the Dominion Wars where Star Fleet utilized runabouts as an EWAR shuttle? If EWAR shuttles were going to get into Star Trek, I would think that an actual battle situation would feature their use. The "All Good Things" Enterprise was an alternate timeline (which in itself makes a bad point as a good example), and it's exact military equivalent role is debatable (in other words, you're entitled to believe that it a battleship; however, no one can prove that it is or that it is not - that makes its an unprovable point). Of course, there is a segment that claims the Galaxy Class is a battleship; however, production notes place it officially in the explorer role and unofficially more in a heavy cruiser role.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed SFB, but I don't feel that it captured the full essence of Star Trek.

[Commodore_Rook]

Ahhh memories. I miss my beloved Hydrans.....

[Loekii]

Ahhh memories. I miss my beloved Hydrans.....

Would be interesting to see what is possible with the 'Custom Race' creator. :D

I definitely think there are some nice weapon options (even if they are simply for NPC Use only).