Read the FAQ (August 12, 2008)

[Kestrel]

There has been a lot of information released about Star Trek Online in the past few days.

We know you have questions. We have the answers. Check out our Star Trek Online FAQ (http://www.startrekonline.com/faq).

[onesoul1982]

1st!

Very cool FAQ . Looking forward to the game even more now

[Damnation]

yes very cool looking stuff. 2nd!

[Pierce28]

Very cool! However, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question yet - what happens to your ship when you are on an away mission? Does it just orbit the planet, vulnerable to attack, or will it vanish?

[Locutus]

#4

Very cool FAQ .. nice Cryptic

[STOZone]

Woot! Cryptic is really on the ball, I can't believe we have an official FAQ already!

I love this company.

[TheDart]

Thank you, Kestrel!

Time to add the link to mah sig. :cool:

[CaptainKev]

yes I agree looking forward to the game very much. Like to also see were you can just fly around in space, & visit other planets at will, without playing a level I.E freedom just to fly & visit places a bit like what you can do in Second Life.

[Zizi]

Yay, FAQ!

Nice to see you guys got this together so quickly this go-round, Kestrel! It'll definitely help, I think!

[T-child]

my sto want level just went down a few notches with the hole eve open world thingy.
will have to see how the death pentatlys will be before puting a final stamp of doom on the game tho.

[Polt]

Everything that has happened here since the launch has surpassed all my expectations.

You have already proven yourselves to me, Cryptic.

Thanks for everything so far...

Polt

[SammyF]

Awesome. Let me know when you add answers to the other 1,400 questions. ;)

[Shogun48]

Good FAQ; I'm interested to see how this game progresses; especially in terms of how much freedom you will have balanced with a sense of purpose/direction from your higher HQ, etc.

[krynoid]

I think it speaks to the care and consideration that Cryptic have put into their design for this game and the beautiful execution that they've shown so far that I am motivated to register on this site.

I HATE MMOs, I really do. There's nothing I find compelling about the fairytale grind-fest of World of Warcraft or open world sandboxes like Crackdown or GTA4. But the moment I saw what they had done with STO and heard about the plans they have to bring this franchise the interactive treatment it deserves, I couldn't get in line fast enough.

This is an MMO I can get behind. Thanks Crypic!

[RogueEnterprise]

Great FAQ... though it looks like the writer is trying a little too hard with the "Can I play something other than a Captain" answer. =\

[Djin]

The FAQ really doesn't answer much... hmm...

I already knew all that already.

[achaney23]

Good Introduction to those that are just joining us. So far you have smoked perpetual at every turn. Good job! The hard part is maintaining the FAQ and updating the site regularly. But I'm sure you have dedicated people for that. So far the game seems to be in good hands.

I like no money. If you can figure out a way for gold farmers to NOT make a cent in STO please do it. Also late last night a gold farmer posted an obvious advertisement at 12:30 am PST. I and several others reported him. The thread was deleted in less than an hour! Along with my 2 posts in the thread. This above all impresses me the most. In the MIDDLE of the night someone was up to deal with this wanna-be turkey. Running an online game is a 24 hours job, this includes the forums. Great job! I don't want this turned into Star Farmer Online. I'm sure just about everyone feels the same as I do on the subject.
:)

[Kloz]

When is the release date?

[Nightstorm]

Nice FAQ :) How often will this be updated? I'm sure there's at least a million more questions that will/are coming up. I'm sure you have a plan though.

[Tomkan]

PCs AND Consoles DO NOT fit together. Remember that! :(

[Djin]

When is the release date?

3 years...

[Nasedo]

Will there be realistic travel times in space?
Travel times will be semi-realistic, with a focus on fun. Space is big, and it can take a very long time to travel great distances. That travel time can be impractically long. We will introduce transwarp conduit technology and worm holes to allow players to travel to distant sectors of the galaxy without needing days or weeks of gameplay to do so.

Can I play something other than a Captain like a Doctor or an Engineer?
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 choose 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.

WOOT!!!!! CS is so fast when making this game! and has noting to hide!! (besides release date) but iim loving this more and more every day. thats why i cant spend hours on the forums it would make me go crazy

[Wayne]

Will you need to have to have an internet connection to play Star Trek Online?
Yes.

Wow, i never imagined that an internet connection would be necessary to play an online game. Really beats me.

[CinC-UFPForces-Cardassia]

I think it would have been fairly easy for Cryptic to rest on its laurels a bit after Sunday's press blitz, so I'm encouraged that they've worked this quickly to get up a decently informative FAQ. There is some new information here, particularly when it comes to the list of playable races. The inclusion of the Orions is a real twist, and this would initially seem to indicate that more than the seven races scheduled by Perpetual were playable.

Good show, and I hope they'll maintain a commitment to maintaining the FAQ.

[Gamar]

3 years...

I dunno.... The game will be set in the year 2409... so SOMEHOW ;) I guess it will be released next year....

[Koseph_MIvyotlh]

I have just signed up but I haven't been able to actually play the game. Is there a page or site that I need to visit first?

[stockigabi]

as i red the FAQ 2 question hit a stake in my mind:

universe with economy, fleet battles and taking territorys - will it be similar with EVE online?
walking on surface and in ships - similar to Earth and Beyond (there u can walk on stations and EVE similar to this mmo)?

whit this 2 old mmos as example the good graphic and playeable in most computers are really reacheable.

bye

[Shades29A]

i just read the FAQ, and i found it quite interesting!
i'm looking forward for more :D

*edit*
oh, just read the previous post too, and i'm happy to see some ppl still remember Earth & Beyond!
that was a wonderful MMO, too bad it vanished so soon ...
if STO goes the way E&B did, i'm sure it'll become a SUPER MMO, one i'll be playing for sure! :D
and being a CoH/V player, i have high hopes ;)

[Sarevok]

I have just signed up but I haven't been able to actually play the game. Is there a page or site that I need to visit first?
Uh... in case you missed it: the game isn't out yet...

[Shades29A]

Uh... in case you missed it: the game isn't out yet...

not even beta yet !

[Djin]

I dunno.... The game will be set in the year 2409... so SOMEHOW ;) I guess it will be released next year....

Did you not see the podcast? He said 3 years.

[ibtsd]

Did you not see the podcast? He said 3 years.

Learn to read within the lines :-)
3 years is not an official date. Just some kind of joke.
I bet they will release it next year.

If they have some sense of bussiness they will do an open beta test appx. 2 months. It good for us and good for them. The players can explore the gameplay, and Cryptex has a chance to test the system under pressure, and fix the errors, bugs, etc.

[Varrangian]

Will there be PvP, PvE and RP rule set servers?
There will not be separate servers. Open PvP will be restricted to designated sectors of space (far-off reaches of unclaimed territory). Consensual PvP and competitive PvE will occur between the realm borders (the Neutral Zone), where players will be competing over territory and resources with the option to PvP.

Taken from the new Official FAQ (http://www.startrekonline.com/faq)

Am I reading this right? This is saying there will not be separate servers for different play styles? or is it saying there will be one big server?

*I didn't see a thread on this, so if I missed it just linky me please. thanks

[Acelan]

I was hoping for RP servers.....:(

[TheDart]

The first - it's responding to the question "Will there be separate servers for RP, PvP and PvE?" with a simple "No."

We will likely have multiple servers (unless Jack gets his wish), but they will be different in name only, like CoX's.

It IS easy to misread, though, I agree.

[danubus]

Kinda looks that way. Or multiple copies of pve servers only. Although, Jack said they had the tech to do an Eve type server set up.

[ArchBuck]

You are reading that correct... the announcment Q&A in Vegas said similar, that they were trying to contain it all on a single server.

Personally I would like 2... a PVE and a PVP... I do not like areas that PVP is not allowed... two servers allow players who don't want pvp to stay away from those who enjoy pvp and the added element of gameplay.

[LordDave]

Seems to me like all servers (however many there are) will be the exact same aside from player driven content and players.

[Pilov]

I would like to see one big server for everyone.

[Varrangian]

The first - it's responding to the question "Will there be separate servers for RP, PvP and PvE?" with a simple "No."

We will likely have multiple servers (unless Jack gets his wish), but they will be different in name only, like CoX's.

It IS easy to misread, though, I agree.

Yeah I read it as "no" to separate rule sets, but it is a little confusing.

I really think one big server is problematic for those of us that would like to try both factions.

[LordDave]

You are reading that correct... the announcment Q&A in Vegas said similar, that they were trying to contain it all on a single server.

Personally I would like 2... a PVE and a PVP... I do not like areas that PVP is not allowed... two servers allow players who don't want pvp to stay away from those who enjoy pvp and the added element of gameplay.

Isn't that the same reasoning the "Zoned" PVP uses?

"different zones allow players who don't want to PVP to stay away from those who do"

[Bazil]

Am I reading this right? This is saying there will no be separate servers for different play styles?

There will not be separate servers.

That is correct.

[Djin]

Learn to read within the lines :-)
3 years is not an official date. Just some kind of joke.
I bet they will release it next year.

If they have some sense of bussiness they will do an open beta test appx. 2 months. It good for us and good for them. The players can explore the gameplay, and Cryptex has a chance to test the system under pressure, and fix the errors, bugs, etc.

Open beta test usually means it's about to go gold....

The open beta test would be cluttered with kiddies who want nothing but a free game to play... you're talking about regular beta testing, that day will come.

Open beta usually is based around stress testing the servers, login servers, etc.

[Chronotope]

Good to see the FAQ up, but not much new on there.

[miqrogroove]

At this rate, we could have an official wiki by the end of the week! :p

[JOHNHAGGARD]

I have been waiting for a star trek MMO to come out for many years (since ultima online debute) since I have always been a big star trek fan. I was disapointed to hear in the podcast that it would be up to three years before release. I hope you are right that it may be next year sometime but i doubt it.

[Jenkl]

Some solid questions with some solid answers. I was hoping for a lot more but this is a good start. Keep it coming Cryptic!

[meridianblade]

Learn to read within the lines :-)
3 years is not an official date. Just some kind of joke.
I bet they will release it next year.

If they have some sense of bussiness they will do an open beta test appx. 2 months. It good for us and good for them. The players can explore the gameplay, and Cryptex has a chance to test the system under pressure, and fix the errors, bugs, etc.

You're not being serious about a open beta in two months... Are you???

Nevermind, I won't even bother... lol

[CaptainQuirk]

PCs AND Consoles DO NOT fit together. Remember that! :(

I don't mind PC players and Console players being able to play on the same server together. as long as the PC version is not dumbed down just to accomodate the limited input capacity of console interfaces. If I am playing on a PC, then I had better be able to have full hotkey support and all of the in-depth interface options of a full-blown PC-only MMO, even if the console players must make do without such features.

The way technology is advancing, within the next three years, there will likely be keyboard and mouse add-ons for all of the mainstream consoles, which will allow those player to experience the full input features.

All though it was never officially confirmed or denied, supposedly, the dumbing down of Star Wars Galaxies that occurred with the NGE was a precursor to the launching of that game on the console. The interface was simplified way down and no longer could be customized. I think that what threw a wet blanket on their plans was the fact that so many people left the game because they hated the changes. The outlook couldn't have been good for the investors whose money would have been rding on a PC-to-console port deal.

Oh SWG is much better these days, but it took them three years to get it that way, and still they have a lot of work to do.

So again... As long as the PC version of the game is not dumbed down to accomodate console players who do not have a keyboard and mouse, I'll be fine. But if it IS dumbed down in that way, I promise that I will not waste my money on it. Not to buy it and certainly not to subscribe to it.

[Spicer001]

Awesome FAQ, answered a lot of questions.

Not sure how Console and PC people will play together =/

[walltar]

Keep up the good work ;)

[CaptainQuirk]

You're not being serious about a open beta in two months... Are you???

Nevermind, I won't even bother... lol

I think he meant that open beta should last at least two months to get the most out of the stress testing and bug stomping process before launch.

I beg Cryptic to not release this game one day before it is ready. For once, I would like to see an MMO launched without the attitude of "we can launch this crap now and let the players pay us while we take our sweet time to finish."

Tell marketing to keep their noses out of development's business. And tell corporate to trust development and to tell marketing to take their prozak and chill. And tell corporate to tell marketing to promote the game that is being designed, not the one they would design if they were designing it. SOE's marketing team printed a description of SWG on the box that did not accurately reflect gameplay, so accusations of false advertisement and a lot of whining prompted SOE corporate to direct development to redesign the game rather than telling marketing to correct their mistakes. DON'T make the same mistake.

[Captain_James_Deckkard]

As amazing City of Heroes and City ov Villains was, I severely doubt the guys and gals at Cryptic Studios will deliver a product that is any less amazing. I expect, and I believe that they can produce something that surpasses COH &COV in it's entirety. Those two games are the only MMO's that I've played, and liked thus far, and I've played virtually every MMO.

That being said, from what I've seen in the trailer, and from what I've read in the FAQ, things are really shaking up to be a truly amazing game, one that I am most definitely going to pick up on Day One, and play religiously.

Finally a ray of sunshine can be seen in the Star Trek Universe, at least to me that is.

[Yavin_Prime]

*waves fist in the air* You didn't have all the answers... you didn't have them allllllllll!!!

Ok now that I've goten that out my question thats been floating around a ton (in my... posts and community) is this: Will Klingon and Federation players be able to work together on any level?

Obviously lots of words like PvP and competative PvE are being thrown around so its becoming very clear to my current fleet that any Klingon fans will have to spin off and make a Klingon Fleet as I doubt you'll be able to have a fleet that represents both factions.

With that said will Klingon ships be able to hail, talk to, and even (in some non competative areas) play with Federation members?

[onebuffyfan2]

I sure hope this game is going to be the one i am tired of jumping from game to game and being disapointed.good luck cryptic.;)

[Hoebee]

He what happen when your dead or your ship is destroyed are you going to start over or does the server make sure you jumpt the escape hatch and just get an other ship ???

So what happend if I can't gut it ???

[Flatfingers]

Definitely a start -- thanks for the pointer, Kestrel.

There may be one or two (http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=5854) other questions that a potential player might like to have answered. :)

But it's a start.

--Flatfingers

[lumpking69]

Thanks, Hope it gets updated weekly.

[Thorgar]

considering how much probably still has to be done and decided i doubt if they HAVE the answers to some of the questions yet. I remember they said they had not decided on the death penalty but that "the days of harsh death penalties are behind us" (more or less got that right i think). It may be a while before we get anymore solid information, especially with GenCon this week, Cryptic is sponsoring it. Man Cryptic has three good MMOs in its hands it seems. First Champions Online, now Star Trek Online, and they have concept art for some cuthulu-esque looking MMO on their main site. keep up the hard work Cryptic!

[trek4life]

Thanks cryptic for answering alot of good questions. I look forward to future answers as well. Keep up the good work! :D

[r2data]

Wow. An FAQ so fast. Good job Cryptic!

One small little thing. I noticed something your proofreaders missed.

"Picard was an archeologist and diplomat, Crusher was a doctor, Worf a security/tactical officer, and Janeway was a scientist. Each eventually choose a career in command and became ship captains."

Should be "chose" not "choose".

[Djin]

Wow. An FAQ so fast. Good job Cryptic!

One small little thing. I noticed something your proofreaders missed.

"Picard was an archeologist and diplomat, Crusher was a doctor, Worf a security/tactical officer, and Janeway was a scientist. Each eventually choose a career in command and became ship captains."

Should be "chose" not "choose".

OH NOES!!!!@#!$!$ SPELLING NAZI!!!@!$

[Masen]

I dunno.... The game will be set in the year 2409... so SOMEHOW ;) I guess it will be released next year....




Hmmm, interesting theory. I like your thinkin'! :D

[r2data]

OH NOES!!!!@#!$!$ SPELLING NAZI!!!@!$

Hehe,

What can I say? Some people read, I proofread...

EDIT: And they've changed it anyhow...:D

[jo7700]

how would u select a crew will it be Captins choice, will it have cpu controlled or will players be randomly selected for wat jos ar open and the players will chose?:confused: i like 1 with 3 together wat do u think

[iPond317]

This is fantastic! Thanks Cryptic!

[staticblue]

I can't believe I missed it. I'm sure quite a few of us did. :P

http://www.startrekonline.com/faq

What is Star Trek Online?
Star Trek® Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Star Trek universe. Star Trek Online will be developed for both console and PC formats. Game features will include customizable ships and characters from the Klingon Empire and United Federation of Planets, ground, space and shipboard gameplay and unique options for player-generated content.

What is an MMORPG?
MMORPG is an acronym for massively multiplayer online role-playing game. In an MMORPG, millions of players from around the world can interact with each other to socialize or achieve common goals.

Will a monthly fee be required to play?
We haven't decided on pricing plans yet.

What is Cryptic using from the previous development?
Star Trek Online is entirely based on Cryptic's design and built entirely using Cryptic Studios' technology and assets. The former studio that we acquired the Star Trek game rights from had a huge amount of concept art created for their game – much of that is applicable, and we are taking advantage of it. But Cryptic's engine, technology platform and content pipelines have become so mature that with a small team we can quickly ramp up a project.

Will there be PvP?
Yes. We plan for a faction vs. faction PvP ruleset, but there are also plans for a competitive PvE mechanic.

Will there be PvP, PvE and RP rule set servers?
There will not be separate servers. Open PvP will be restricted to designated sectors of space (far-off reaches of unclaimed territory). Consensual PvP and competitive PvE will occur between the realm borders (the Neutral Zone), where players will be competing over territory and resources with the option to PvP.

Will there be an economy?
Many of the details are still in the works, but yes, there will be an economy that makes sense in the Star Trek universe. Since the Federation has explicitly done away with money, expect bartering and trading of goods to be an important part of the economy. Less tangible forms of economics such as Reputation are also not out of the question.

What are the system requirements?
We haven't finalized this yet. Suffice to say, we want to make a game that looks great and can run well on a wide variety of systems.

Will you need to have to have an internet connection to play Star Trek Online?
Yes.

When does the game take place?
Approximately 30 years after the events in Star Trek Nemesis. The game starts in 2409. Technology has advanced and the galaxy is a much more volatile place.

What races will we be able to play?
The plan is Human, Vulcan, Andorian, Klingon, Orion, Gorn, and several others. You will also be able to create your own race with its own custom look and attributes.

Will everyone be the Captain of their own ship?
Yes, but you will have to earn the responsibility and skill to command larger and more powerful vessels. Remember, in Star Trek as well as naval tradition, whoever commands the ship is the "Captain," even if it is not your current rank.

Can I play something other than a Captain like a Doctor or an Engineer?
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.

Do I need to be well-versed in Star Trek lore in order to play Star Trek Online?
No, even the most casual Star Trek fan will enjoy and appreciate the world. For those not familiar with the Star Trek universe, Star Trek Online will be a new experience with as much depth as each individual is comfortable with exploring. However, the world will be rich with lore from every series and movie that will satisfy even the most devout Trek fan.

How will I be able to play with my friends?
In space, you can form teams and do missions together. Space battles will occur between multiple player and NPC vessels. When you do a ground mission, the mission owner can build an away team that consists of other players. Outside of combat, there will be numerous community building features, locations, hubs and events that will bring players together.

Will console and PC players be on the same servers?
We would like that to be the case. There is nothing technologically keeping us from making it so.

Will there be realistic travel times in space?
Travel times will be semi-realistic, with a focus on fun. Space is big, and it can take a very long time to travel great distances. That travel time can be impractically long. We will introduce transwarp conduit technology and worm holes to allow players to travel to distant sectors of the galaxy without needing days or weeks of gameplay to do so.

[thefrayl]

One server. Excellent! The only downside is trying to get a decent name a few weeks after launch. But that's while I'll take that day off work to stake my claim and play till my eyes bleed. I love these forums cause I can't feel bad for being a nerd :)

[staticblue]

One server. Excellent! The only downside is trying to get a decent name a few weeks after launch. But that's while I'll take that day off work to stake my claim and play till my eyes bleed. I love these forums cause I can't feel bad for being a nerd :)

Preorder. hopefully we would get early access. At least you have a better chance. Also make a list of names for alts. So you aren't stuck at the naming screen trying to make one up on the fly. :D

[Korris]

Typical, this FAQ is incomplete, but as expected of Fedahration propoganda.

Do we get to eat? If so will there be live food or will we have to suffer through that putrid dead flesh you Fedahration types call food?

Should we sharpen our Bat'leth for splitting hooman heads or will they dishonor themselves, as per usual and try to talk us to death?

As a member of the KDF, does promotion still depend on a warriors ability to assume the command of the next higher ranked officer by honorable battle? (For Example, if Captain Kular is a weak commander, may I behead him and assume command as an hornorable warrior and crush our enemies!)

Should it come to pass that warriors are defeated in battle, or are no longer able to fight will the Fedahration honor us by allowing Hegh'bat?

What limitations does the KDF have placed upon them, since the Khitamer accords and other old treaties are now defunct?


I'm sure there are many others but I'll let some of my brothers speak now!

''Kai kassai, Klingon!

[Phineas6]

Nice info!!

2 Questions though.

1) Will a player's starship act as their house as well? Will characters have quarters or a "ready room" on the ship to decorate with mementos of past adventures or art or furniture. Archer, Kirk, Picard, Janeway and Sisko all had rooms that they personalised. Will that touch be in the game as welll?

2) What happens if a player looses combat? Does the ship explode and we have to build/buy another ship or will there be some form of insurance that we (the players) can buy to replace lost components/ships should they be destroyed or crippled in combat?

[Cyjack]

The FAQ should be part of the registration process.

[doam]

That was quick, thanks. Nice read too... mostly just to see stuff confirmed, or reconfirmed. :p

[tbone9581]

I will be interested to see just how your chosen background/profession will influence your command style. Will there be mini-games when you are giving out commands? When grouped on an away mission with other 'Captians' how will the chosen professions act together, will it be like a typical MMO? How much control will you have over your bridge crew? Will your bridge crew have their own stories, and 'emotions'? Just some questions that struck me immediately after reading the faq.

~Tbone9581

[SirBismuth]

The FAQ makes me very optimistic about the final product. It seems as if they have listened to the community, and implemented the better ideas.

One server cluster is the only way go with MMOs these days, I am glad they are doing that. Although, I suspect PC and console players might have their own servers. That is fine, I don't want to play STO on a PC, while being limited because they want to accommodate console players on the same server. At the same time, I also want console players to enjoy the game, though, don't know how it would work on a single server cluster.

Their approach to the whole "Captain" question is ok, and it seems as if Command will be your primary role, and one of the other ones that you choose Secondary. It remains to be seen how your ability to choose say, a medical career path, pans out.

I also like their response PVP/PVE, it keeps as faithful to ST as possible, while still giving you something to do if you want to PVP/PVE, and it looks like some sort of reward. At least you are not forced in to PVP/PVE.

Just a few more questions I would like to see answered in future FAQ revisions: What happens when you die? What happens to your ship when you are on away missions? Are there any naming conventions/restrictions for you character and ship?

AB

[Gamar]

Did you not see the podcast? He said 3 years.

He said, "Less than 3 Years"... laughs ... "Well that is an outrageous comment in the industry, MMOs usually take alot longer to develope"

[Calvert]

Nothing new in except the server information. Sounds that Cryptic is perhaps really planning to create one large server and let all players on there. (i hope so)

Great!

You can find a German translation here:

http://www.startrek-online.info/index.php?id=240

[MajorD]

Concerning the question, "Will there be an economy?", I would like to say that the answer is incorrect, it is Earth humans who do not have money. On the other hand the individual groups within the Federation do have money, including Starfleet. There are several instances, but a particular one is where Captain Janeway says, she went on vacation to Vulcan and she was overcharged, when a Vulcan merchant found out she was Starfleet.

Barter is a horribly inefficient means of trade and I hope it doesn't factor in except on a personal level, not as the basis of the economy.

[maquis]

Question will STO be introducing races that are in the popular fan flims like Hidden Frontier and Odyssey? or will we be able to mod them into the game?

[johnny_sisko]

You guys are setting an early tone for fantastic community updates. Keep this up, and I am sure that you will have a large chunk of the MMO community following you.

Can't wait for more updates!

[NateGrey]

I had the impression that the Starfleet Uniforms would look like the one's from
the conceptual art that Perpetual had. Those were cool looking. I knew it's all still
early, but is there a possibility that those uniform designs might be used? They would
definitely make it look more 25th Century like.

Cheers.

[Squirrel]

Im not happy with some of those answers. Some of them, yeah kwl thanks for confirming, but, i dont like Guild Wars because you have to instance everything by yourself. If its anything like that. Im not gonna play this game. Its an inconvenience that isnt needed.

[Tomkan]

I don't mind PC players and Console players being able to play on the same server together. as long as the PC version is not dumbed down just to accomodate the limited input capacity of console interfaces. If I am playing on a PC, then I had better be able to have full hotkey support and all of the in-depth interface options of a full-blown PC-only MMO, even if the console players must make do without such features.

The way technology is advancing, within the next three years, there will likely be keyboard and mouse add-ons for all of the mainstream consoles, which will allow those player to experience the full input features.

All though it was never officially confirmed or denied, supposedly, the dumbing down of Star Wars Galaxies that occurred with the NGE was a precursor to the launching of that game on the console. The interface was simplified way down and no longer could be customized. I think that what threw a wet blanket on their plans was the fact that so many people left the game because they hated the changes. The outlook couldn't have been good for the investors whose money would have been rding on a PC-to-console port deal.

Oh SWG is much better these days, but it took them three years to get it that way, and still they have a lot of work to do.

So again... As long as the PC version of the game is not dumbed down to accomodate console players who do not have a keyboard and mouse, I'll be fine. But if it IS dumbed down in that way, I promise that I will not waste my money on it. Not to buy it and certainly not to subscribe to it.

I smell something. Consoles ARE COMING.

If the STO would be optimized for console, I won't play it. I'm sure it would dumbed down the game for us PC players. :mad:

[Break-Out]

I think that all new MMO's (except the free ones) will be console compatible. Consoles are now technically capable of playing MMO's and it is too large a market ooportunity for developers to ignore.

Hopefully it will not cause the game to be "dumbed down", but rather have better features and faster updates becuase the the target audience is larger and the developer makes more money from the game.

I am a PC gamer and I think adding in consoles gamers is a good thing.

[Haroludo]

"Will there be an economy?
Many of the details are still in the works, but yes, there will be an economy that makes sense in the Star Trek universe. Since the Federation has explicitly done away with money, expect bartering and trading of goods to be an important part of the economy. Less tangible forms of economics such as Reputation are also not out of the question. "

One word: Latinum

I appreciate this FAQ and look forward to updates.

Is there a specific place we should be submitting our questions?

[Trekkie]

The FAQ is great because it answers the basic questions everyone wants to know while simultaneously leaving a lot of room for other details and ideas! I am happy to see the that players will be able to differentiate their characters with different career paths and the like, and the information about how players will interact as also great as well. Good work on the FAQ Cryptic Studios!

[By-Product]

Looking good! I cant wait for it.

[MajorD]

Question will STO be introducing races that are in the popular fan flims like Hidden Frontier and Odyssey? or will we be able to mod them into the game?
There will be a captain creator that will probably have enough variety that you can make any humanoid alien you've ever seen.

[Loc-Deu]

Will you need to have to have an internet connection to play Star Trek Online?
Yes.

LOOOOL wtf :eek:

[Lord_Nightblade]

I smell something. Consoles ARE COMING.

If the STO would be optimized for console, I won't play it. I'm sure it would dumbed down the game for us PC players. :mad:

Actually, there's an easy way to find out. Just wait for the beta of Champions Online, which should be coming soon. CO is being made for PC/console like ST:O, so I imagine the interfaces of the two games will work on similar principles.

[hoggj]

Looking forared to the star trek online game the faq was great really hellpfull

[Tomkan]

Actually, there's an easy way to find out. Just wait for the beta of Champions Online, which should be coming soon. CO is being made for PC/console like ST:O, so I imagine the interfaces of the two games will work on similar principles.

Probably, we'll see.

[jsutich]

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the FAQ has been updated to clarify something a little more. On the question of PvP, PvE and RP ruleset servers the first part of the answer has changed to:

"There will not be separate servers for PvP and PvE rulesets."

The answer had given the impression that there would not be separate servers, period. That issue is still being addressed and more information will be available as we get further along in development.

[TheDart]

Thanks, Razor. I've seen that mistake made in a bunch of places and have tried to correct it when I can, but this saves me the work. :cool:

[Ryan121]

Very cool! However, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question yet - what happens to your ship when you are on an away mission? Does it just orbit the planet, vulnerable to attack, or will it vanish?

I would imagine your ship cannot be attacked as it would ruin an away mission by you having to beam up and defend your ship. While doing an away mission it would probably be a good idea that your ship isn't even detectable to avoid people waiting to destroy you or any thing like that.

[jaggedx]

Looking forward to boldly go.

Lets hope its not another conan esque let down of borg proportions.

hi all o/

[ArkonPhoenix]

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the FAQ has been updated to clarify something a little more. On the question of PvP, PvE and RP ruleset servers the first part of the answer has changed to:

"There will not be separate servers for PvP and PvE rulesets."

The answer had given the impression that there would not be separate servers, period. That issue is still being addressed and more information will be available as we get further along in development.

If you guys can make it so there is only one game server, then that will be great, as this is where many other games have failed.

[Ragbag24]

I agree i just can't wait to fly freely and walk in your own ship and i hope it is free!!!!

[Haroludo]

LOOOOL wtf :eek:

What we as a community have to keep in mind is that this game is targeted to a wide variety of ages and walks of life.

Cryptic is tasked with creating a game world that is casual enough for the beginner, and yet be able to satiate the most die-hard of Trek fans.

We are going to get "newbs", both to Star Trek, and/or to computers in general. We must coddle, like in the early days of the internet, the new users and welcome them with open arms; not scorn them for their curiosity and questions. :)

The first question a co-worker of mine asked when I informed him of the new game was: "Is this a single player game?" I told him that is an MMO, like WoW. He was turned off by that. I am hoping that in the coming months(or even years) I will be able to turn his thinking around.

We must not allow cynicism to ruin this game before it even launches. We are the wild tangent that Cryptic is relying on to make their game enjoyable. We are to make their game, our game.

Thank you for reading. :)

[stockigabi]

1 Big question is get into my mind:

What happens when u lost a ship? u have to start again the whole game or what?

bye

[Social1]

3 years...
thought it was more like 5 years

[Social1]

What we as a community have to keep in mind is that this game is targeted to a wide variety of ages and walks of life.

Cryptic is tasked with creating a game world that is casual enough for the beginner, and yet be able to satiate the most die-hard of Trek fans.

We are going to get "newbs", both to Star Trek, and/or to computers in general. We must coddle, like in the early days of the internet, the new users and welcome them with open arms; not scorn them for their curiosity and questions. :)

The first question a co-worker of mine asked when I informed him of the new game was: "Is this a single player game?" I told him that is an MMO, like WoW. He was turned off by that. I am hoping that in the coming months(or even years) I will be able to turn his thinking around.

We must not allow cynicism to ruin this game before it even launches. We are the wild tangent that Cryptic is relying on to make their game enjoyable. We are to make their game, our game.

Thank you for reading. :)
OMG take it down some, you got years to wait to play the game or someone else to buy it and start over again!

[JPJappic]

thought it was more like 5 years

The webcast said it was less than 3 years though i'm sure Mr. Emmert only said that so that people would be satisfied with a time frame. He repeated over and over again during the webcast that he could not give a specific time as to when the game was going to be released and that it was sooner than we all thought.

[Markham_Karis]

Very nice FAQ. I can honestly say I can't disagree with any of it...not that I'm looking to. Just means I'm VERY happy with what I'm reading as to the development of STO so far.

Highlights: I like the fact we'll be a captain but have skills in other areas of profession of Starfleet. I also liked the fact that space will be immense and that we'll have "fast-travel" options to meet up with our "Fleet" for some Star Trek missions, ship combat vs various hostile alien races, away missions, etc.

Thanks for sharing Cryptic!

[Telaveen]

All I have to say is wow. I am so glad this game wasn't killed off and I am really looking forward to it now.

[arakkis]

Concerning the question, "Will there be an economy?", I would like to say that the answer is incorrect, it is Earth humans who do not have money. On the other hand the individual groups within the Federation do have money, including Starfleet. There are several instances, but a particular one is where Captain Janeway says, she went on vacation to Vulcan and she was overcharged, when a Vulcan merchant found out she was Starfleet.

Barter is a horribly inefficient means of trade and I hope it doesn't factor in except on a personal level, not as the basis of the economy.

I really think a more vibrant economy than simple bartering needs to be in place if STO is going to capture a majority of the EvE market. Starfleet officers certainly have access to GPL (gold pressed latinum) since they wouldn't be able to patronize Quark's bar without it.

I smell something. Consoles ARE COMING.

If the STO would be optimized for console, I won't play it. I'm sure it would dumbed down the game for us PC players. :mad:

I will certainly play the game, however the question is how long will I play. Depth has been a problem for Cryptic games in the past and designing a game for a console platform puts artificial limitations on design options. I would like to see this game realize the full potential of the Star Trek IP, but if it falls short, the game will have limited to no longevity.

[Keldien]

I will certainly play the game, however the question is how long will I play. Depth has been a problem for Cryptic games in the past and designing a game for a console platform puts artificial limitations on design options. I would like to see this game realize the full potential of the Star Trek IP, but if it falls short, the game will have limited to no longevity.

The 360 and (I believe) PS3 both have USB ports that can be utilized. I'm sure they'll be taking that into account when they look at console optimization. With a USB mouse and keyboard hooked up the only limitation is the hardware itself, which is in the higher end of the current PC spectrum - so I doubt it will effect PC gamers much, if at all.

[ddredar]

The webcast said it was less than 3 years though i'm sure Mr. Emmert only said that so that people would be satisfied with a time frame. He repeated over and over again during the webcast that he could not give a specific time as to when the game was going to be released and that it was sooner than we all thought.

I visited this site several months ago, more that a year ago I think. The site only had a page or two. Some where in that version on the web site said the game would be released in 2009. Of coarse that could have DRASTICLY changed by now :(

My friend thinks they will release the game around the time the new Star Trek movie comes out in may of 2009. It would be good publicity.

On another note, if they do wait 3 to 4 years, I fear they will not be competative enough considering the current graphics in the trailor.

[Jertyrael]

There is so much potential to this game it could be overwhelming for ya guys to deliver...

I have so many questions and suggestions I could go insane! Hah... hopefully I'll have a chance to rattle off a few ideas that would be amazing to incorporate into the game (at least I would think so). One I do want to mention now merely because there was something regarding it in the FAQ: Travel time. 30+ years and we can't perfect Quantum Slip Stream Drive? C'mon ;)

Yeah, Voyager is fresh in my head because it's been on TV a lot lately...

I wonder if Species 8472 will show themselves again, too...

Ahh, gitty...

*edit* I imagine Cryptic will have to design some new ship models too... Sovereign class is going to be out-dated.

[Zalb]

It's nice to see the devs go out on a limb and shoot down any potential discussions about PvP servers before they even start, the constant discussions they had (and they're probably still having them) on the stargate worlds forums made me pay less attention to the game as a whole.

[flowover]

I think they're going for everything on the same server, but sectioned into zones. I don't want to wait! This is going to be ultra!

[staticblue]

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the FAQ has been updated to clarify something a little more. On the question of PvP, PvE and RP ruleset servers the first part of the answer has changed to:

"There will not be separate servers for PvP and PvE rulesets."

The answer had given the impression that there would not be separate servers, period. That issue is still being addressed and more information will be available as we get further along in development.
:eek: oh noes!

[NX02]

here's a questions that are not on the FAQ..:p

good questions that affect the basic role-playing and space simulation aspects of STO
=============================================
will it be single game server universe and interact in a "persistent world" in real time with other users worldwide?

What is the interface like?

Can the ships Jump to warp any point in space the player like the ship go to?

will it be an fully interactive map of the galaxy for navigating ?

Can I build my own starbase?

How is skill advancement achieved from cadet to admiral?

[Cpt.J.Apollo]

I dunno.... The game will be set in the year 2409... so SOMEHOW ;) I guess it will be released next year....


i have it... 2409 = 2nd of April 2009

what do you guys think ?

Apollo

[Tomkan]

i have it... 2409 = 2nd of April 2009

what do you guys think ?

Apollo

Hmmm, interesting. Nice way of thinking :)

[Ace.Rimsey]

One thing I disliked about EVE was the fact you were basically a Capsule inside a ship hull. What was really cool about Microsoft's Freelancer game was the ability to walk in to the bar and talk to your contact. Jack hinted that you could take a tour of sections of the ship with your friends. If you can tour inside a ship with friends, it shouldn't be too great a leap to be able to teleport inside a ship whose shields are down and tackle the enemy crew in person to person combat. Something like in the movie Star Trek First contact where part of the crew was trying to hold off against the Borg Queen's assimilation of the enterprise and her crew by fighting deck by deck. Also combat outside the ships hull like when Picard in a space suit went to disconnect the transmitter dish to prevent the Borg calling reinforcements to earth sector. Hope Cryptic is able to meld first person combat and the ship combat relatively seamlessly.

[AndyX]

Looks frick'n Awesome
I just hope that it isn't all combat based.
Might be nice to just explore Space, every once in a while.
or sit down and play some Dom Jot, or Dabo, or something else.

... say while you've got the Startrek licsense it would be great to See a
Startrek Elite Forces 3

[bbosley]

i heard it will be for xbox 360 if it is will they play xbox live or through the internet in a diffrent place also will some controls be lost

[captpicard74]

the release date is wrong again they will never release sto!!!!

[BluDog]

Look ! . . . Is that a light at the end of the wormhole ? . . . Hmmm . . . Better put my shades on just in case :cool:

[bbosley]

the longer it takes to get out hopfully the better the game gets

[johnfdees]

I would like to see a whole community come of this. Star fleet officers down to the lowest rank. I'm not shure I would like to be the Capt. but I would like to give this a try once it comes out. I've watched startrek sence it aired and like the games. Whish it was real.

[random714]

looking forward to it.

[Dakron]

The Star Trek Online presentation in Vegas was just as cryptic.

[AlienTwo]

I would like to see a whole community come of this. Star fleet officers down to the lowest rank. I'm not shure I would like to be the Capt. but I would like to give this a try once it comes out. I've watched startrek sence it aired and like the games. Whish it was real.

Check out Second Fleet in Fleet Registration, the type of community you spoke of is forming there, now.

[seawarrior]

When do we get a release date? The anticipation is killing me!

[Yavin_Prime]

Any ETA on another update... I'm restless these days... well untill WAR and Spore come out to keep me busy untill STO. :D

[Rakkis]

Will you be able to capture a ship and the crew? Cuz nothing would be cooler than bring back a federation ship in tow of a bird of prey with most of its crew. Maybe that could be an alternitive to death... prisoner exchange.

[Rudra]

For those out there who don't understand english Mr Emmeert said that his kids will be a year older when the game comes out!!!

[darkwolf630]

This is great can't wait to play this been looking for a game like this for years :)

[darkwolf630]

For those out there who don't understand english Mr Emmeert said that his kids will be a year older when the game comes out!!!

got back to the vegas video at 38:13 ish he didn't say that

[Sacrilegious]

The whole concept sounds awesome. Good to see a ton of people organising themselves into "fleets" at this (early?) point in development.

The space combat / exploration sounds HUGE. I like it. :)

I just hope the ground combat isn't "click to fight" like in WOW - I know it looks like it will be third person (from the trailer), but if it leans toward a more FPS style I would be happy. BUT, if the combat is real fast with multiple enemies, I guess "click combat" will be ok.

I guess there's not much else to do now but wait.... Thanks for the FAQ. Will lurk & look for more updates in the comming months.

[Hatim]

hi my trekkie fellows! :)
I must say that my dream has finaly become reality :D
im loking so much forward to ST online, cant wait

[Hatim]

but if it leans toward a more FPS style I would be happy. BUT, if the combat is real fast with multiple enemies, I guess "click combat" will be ok



I totaly agree with you , it was excactly what i was thinking, the ground combat should be more like FPS first person shoting view style instead of third person view,
we want the feel that feels just like we are in the real world invorioment or VR world and by get this feeling like we are in Real life then we shoudl se the ground battle and exploration on the ground from first person view and stear the weapons nand carachers hand like any other FPS games instead , the ground combat should be in first persion view like the one you see in FPS games like the star trek Elite Force game forexample , witch is also one of my favorite ST game :D FPS view gives the perfect feeling that you are inside the game like insid the starship or walking on the along the beach in some distant palnet :D
so if we should gain the best Reallife feeling that we exploring the invorioment on the ground or shooting enemies or battle klingons with beth'leth on the ground then it should be viewed from FPS view , and NOt from third person view.

[Rakkis]

if they did FPS it should be like Mass Effects.... Not rewarding twicht control. Plus if alot of people on in ur area it could slow down so that would be useless. Mass Effect FPS was ur accuracy is based on skill points, so being dead on at a far range could still miss.

[Sacrilegious]

but if it leans toward a more FPS style I would be happy. BUT, if the combat is real fast with multiple enemies, I guess "click combat" will be ok



I totaly agree with you , it was excactly what i was thinking, the ground combat should be more like FPS first person shoting view style instead of third person view,
we want the feel that feels just like we are in the real world invorioment or VR world and by get this feeling like we are in Real life then we shoudl se the ground battle and exploration on the ground from first person view and stear the weapons nand carachers hand like any other FPS games instead , the ground combat should be in first persion view like the one you see in FPS games like the star trek Elite Force game forexample , witch is also one of my favorite ST game :D FPS view gives the perfect feeling that you are inside the game like insid the starship or walking on the along the beach in some distant palnet :D
so if we should gain the best Reallife feeling that we exploring the invorioment on the ground or shooting enemies or battle klingons with beth'leth on the ground then it should be viewed from FPS view , and NOt from third person view.

Some good points, but, now that I think of it - if your going to go to all the trouble of customising the race / look of your character - you want to SEE what the results look like.

You may have misunderstood what meant by : I just hope the ground combat isn't "click to fight" like in WOW - I know it looks like it will be third person (from the trailer), but if it leans toward a more FPS style I would be happy. BUT, if the combat is real fast with multiple enemies, I guess "click combat" will be ok.

I just mean more control of your aiming rather than clicking on a specific ememy & waiting till it's dead until you click on the next. (Headshots FTW). MMO games NEED to be in the third person view.

[tonybudz]

They definately have the space battle simulation thing going in the right direction. The only concern I have with Cryptic Studios is with their ability to truely grasp the nature of Star Trek. I recall what made me stop playing City of Hero's, the worlds were all the same once you got to know them. It became boring as I would find myself going through simliar types of caverns that were only slightly augmented for differentl levels and powering up took forever, characters were predictable and fight scene's were a little over the top when everyone was using their powers, it was redundant and in the end I quit playing, in turn they stopped getting my 14.99 a month.

It will be necessary to simply have the ability to hop in my own ship and travel to the Mutara sector, find someone such as a small Vulcan science vessle doing research and assimliate them. We need to be able to punch in the coordinates to Wolf359 and accelerate to warp 8 if a emergency comes over the com. Captains Chair visuals would be a definate plus. Black holes that flip you into another part of the galaxy would be pretty cool too, but we can only hope the designers think of everything. If they do, they got my $14.99 for life, if it sucks l'll play it for a month or so and wait for the next cool game to come out.

Hopefully they will focus their attention on the actual galaxy and try to mimic our own galaxy into the world of Startrek. They should have each quadrent mapped and the ability to travel in somewhat real time to each quadrent. So if I want to leave Earth and go explore the Delta Quadrent and it takes me only 5 minutes to get there at warp 9, I'm not going to be impressed, not even if I'm piloting a Fusion Cube at transwarp. :rolleyes:

t.

[Fischfaust]

i just read the FAQ, and i found it quite interesting!
i'm looking forward for more :D

*edit*
oh, just read the previous post too, and i'm happy to see some ppl still remember Earth & Beyond!
that was a wonderful MMO, too bad it vanished so soon ...
if STO goes the way E&B did, i'm sure it'll become a SUPER MMO, one i'll be playing for sure! :D
and being a CoH/V player, i have high hopes ;)

I loved E&B. I was a baffled by its' 'twilight' as anyone.

As long as Electronic Arts has nothing to do with STO, It's life span will be determined by the player base and developers, and not by some executive who dislikes games and wants to save a penny.

X

[Hatim]

It will be necessary to simply have the ability to hop in my own ship and travel to the Mutara sector, find someone such as a small Vulcan science vessle doing research and assimliate them. We need to be able to punch in the coordinates to Wolf359 and accelerate to warp 8 if a emergency comes over the com. Captains Chair visuals would be a definate plus. Black holes that flip you into another part of the galaxy would be pretty cool too, but we can only hope the designers think of everything. If they do, they got my $14.99 for life, if it sucks l'll play it for a month or so and wait for the next cool game to come out.

Hopefully they will focus their attention on the actual galaxy and try to mimic our own galaxy into the world of Startrek. They should have each quadrent mapped and the ability to travel in somewhat real time to each quadrent. So if I want to leave Earth and go explore the Delta Quadrent and it takes me only 5 minutes to get there at warp 9, I'm not going to be impressed, not even if I'm piloting a Fusion Cube at transwarp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AGREE WITH YOU

i hope they using real pace physic as much as possible and focus on the actualy physics galaxy to mimic our own milky way galaxy as much as possible, and show large phenomena like blackholes, ionic winds , solarsystem and planets formations, comets, meteor rains, supernovas, temporal rift or like quantum singularities that can send you to another universe like the universe of terran empire forexample, and explore beyond the realm there too,and in this other paralell universe can be another big server forexample.
And also use realtime to interstellar travells like impuls drive , transwarpdrives and warpdrive travel trough the milky way galaxy, like 70 thousand lightyears would take like seven 70 years with warp-speed to travel and etc, and in that slowmotion way you would be able to discover and find new civilisations and new life and techs and new undiscovered space phenomena in space whitch is perfect for space exploration beyond the realm , like never seen before, and if you using like artifical deepspace nine wormholes witch i hope it will be excisting in ST online witch i hope would give you the paossebility to travel to other edge in minutes without the the need of waiting for years before you reach the other side , but for that you would instead dissmis all the new discoverey that you would find if you traveled in slower rate like with warpdrive, and transwarp should take the same amount iof time like the real transwarp condours in real st series, so wormhole is perfect for battles to shortcut travels, to specific battle areas or meetings


and when it comes to stear the ship in space with impulsdrive forexample it would better to stear it in realtime, like with jouystic or keyboard like you stear your car race games or like you stear the ships on Star Trek legacy by for full realtime controll ((and AVOID all the klicking like you use in EVE)) instead stear the ship freely in full control of your own and the ship should be seen from third person shooter like it is shown in spacebattles in ST online :)
And when it comes to go to warpdrive on specific coredantes it would be awsome to type like warp 8 or 9 on keyboard and then klick on the cordenation on the map and from there it goes to warp after you cklick on warp button on keyboard or on mouse scroll weel like you do in startrek legacy (but after you gave the cordinates for warp) so the ship can go to warp from point A to point B :o

and i also hope that space phenomena stars and planets would be in realtime size aswhen you aproch the celestial object like in real life reality , and not like you see in eve or in startrek legacy that looks like the ship is alsmost big as the whole planet :eek:

[iceman8370]

I am a huge star trek fan. Own the movies.....t.v series(not deep space 9) and some of the books. I also am a huge mmo fan. wow, daoc, city of hero's and such. And when a friend told me about this i went through the roof. Watched the trailer and drool'd :) and watched the via web show of the conv in las vegas and after it all.......it 's gonna kill me to wait 3 to 4 years:)!!!! This is the mmo i ve been waiting for. Didnt care for e.v.e at all. I am glad this is coming out, but to announce it 3 to 4 years proir? You do realize theirs a ton of us trekkies drooling at the key board:)!!

[Hatim]

if your going to go to all the trouble of customising the race / look of your character - you want to SEE what the results look like.

i know the consequense that i might miss the caracters lookthat i have designed.
but for me it sems that the FPS view and control like aming and movement in ground combat or exploration, is far more important , than what your caracter you made look like, for me i the feeling the feels that you are in the game, would make alot of fun and gives the real feels that you are in the game, that would make you you love playing the ground battles,
and besides wen you play in fps mode the other online gamers would still se your caracter from persons view, witch is more important that they se eyour whole caracter than you see your won caracter all day long , becaus ein reality you the invorioment from FPS view and your whole self unless you use mirror offcourse ,and the game could archive the same in ground battle and exploration like oteher fps games, by using your caracter from 3d view is not the way to give the feeling like you are in the invorioment, all online games have 3d person viewing like wow forexample, and i think its time to make something new something diffrent revolutionary when it comes to online gaming that would go one step futrthure toards a real vr like games instead, by thinking outside the box instead, it is the key that would make gaming more fun and also there are many VR.video glases or helmet with head tracking movment sensor system on the market that can be used for FPS viewed gaming instead of using your regular pc screens or mouse movment to look around. the head mount tracking vr glasses or helmet would replace that and give you the tootal filing that you are inside the game, wicth would make the game alot more funn and alot more realitsic, but that is only if the ground battle games is seen from FPS view ofcourse,
because the more realistic feeling the game has the more fun the game will have , instead of only focusing how your designed caracter looks like all the time, its better to let other online gamers see how you look like insetad of you look at yoru caracter all the time, if you do so the feeling in the game wont be the same as if you use fps view, it you can insted use mirror in the room to see your whole self instead from 3rd view , and also see your self on 3rd view if the video sequense in the game loads up forexample then you cna better see your self from 3d person view in the video, and then wehn you begin to play you see yoru self from first view instead for best maximum realistic feeling,
and yes avoid all the mouse klicking
ground battle should be full controlled from persons own will, move aim at will in realtime and etc instead, for clicking like you do in WOW or final fantasy like a boring physical traditional brick game XD ,
you would never archive a real feel like invorioment if you play games with klicking or use view as 3d person view, the game would never be much fun as it it would if it could be controled and seen as realistic as ppossible , move your won caracter and aim your self on caracter you want to shoot etc and see the whole thing from first view instead. online gaming should go more toards the virtual reality goals,
and go NOT toards stupid WOW like games

[Hatim]

btw im sorry for my bad english, i know i spelled like a 5 year old child :o :(

but i hope you understood me ? my dear trekker friends :o

[Eugene]

Hello everyone!

For russian fan Star Trek Online

http://pc.reborn.ru/index.php?contentid=64472

:p

[Jertyrael]

I truly hope the fights are FPS-like. Space fight with the ships can be more RPG like, obviously, as you have to upgrade your ship's various systems throughtout your career... but I'll highly dislike an RPG-style phase fight...

"You have learned disrupter attack 2! Costs: 47 stamina and does 13-32 damage"...EWW

I would rather you have a chance to earn different weapons that do different kinds of damage, amounts of damage, different ranges, recharge rates, energy capacities, accuracy, etc... and play it like any First Person Shooter. I'm so taking a phase rifle and blasting some Klingons in the face! BOOM, headshot.

I saw someone mentioned Elite Force... Yes! I want the ground/in-ship combat to be like Elite Force... man that would be awesome.

I guess there could still be a lot of RPG style to it too... as long as it plays like a FPS.

You could earn new tech like a personal transporter or a personal shield generator... a temporary force field emitter, a tricorder to locate people, a tricorder jammer... maybe even a drone... medical supplies... so much potential that I wish I could be a real part to the development of this game.

[Hatim]

excactly precicly JERTYRAEL! :)



that was excactly what i ment

i totaly garee with you my friend


and also btw , im the one who mensioned the ST Elite Force before . in my previoues post :D

Elite force is my favorite game i love it because it gives the best realistic feeling that you are inside the game invorioment thanx to the FPS view and freely movement


that the ground battle games should be in FPS excactly like Elite Force , to stear and shot aim and fight freely everything freely like every FPS game. so long you are on the planet or inside your starship walking around , interact with others etc or inside the spacestation space colony or on some moon or other places, everything should be seen from FPS view and fight and shoot klingons in the head from FPS view and move freely like elite force ;)

while the ship bettle in outer sapce can be seen from 3rd view but avoid the klicking, and use freely movment instead

[Hatim]

but i also wish that spaceships battles could also be seen from FPS vie too like you seen in st bridge commander game, that you siiting on the chaire and stear the ship from the eyes view (FPS), that would be awsome, with maximum feeling that you are inside the game and would feel more that you have control over your own shup too ;)
like in the real star trek movies and series


at least when it comes to exploration in space form space ship it is almost a must to be seen from FPS view when you discover new space phenomena or planet in space, it would be more better controled and realisticaly to see it from FPS vie when you siting in the bridhge, like in brid commander and in reality , and also alowed to go around the bridge to difrent posts and press the bottons by pushing the other player whio already stand there i his post and etc, this way it could be more relaisticaly because it would be more freely and therfore far more fun because its will make you feel free to move around the bridge on st online from fps view while you are in the battle between the romulan ship in space forexample and you can use other occupied post by puching your crew member from post and alow yoru self press the button of photon torpedos and etc, that would be super awsome! :D

even if i know it wont be anything like that in st online :(

but i hope at least some specific mode for st online can make this happen to transfrom the ship battle to FPS view or at least ground fight to FPS view, (( witch is a must in my opinion ))
i would be more than happy if they give uss the possebility to transfrom to almost everything in FPS view

[Rilok]

Will you need to have to have an internet connection to play Star Trek Online?

:eek::eek:

lmao

[Jertyrael]

but i also wish that spaceships battles could also be seen from FPS vie too like you seen in st bridge commander game, that you siiting on the chaire and stear the ship from the eyes view (FPS), that would be awsome, with maximum feeling that you are inside the game and would feel more that you have control over your own shup too ;)
like in the real star trek movies and series


at least when it comes to exploration in space form space ship it is almost a must to be seen from FPS view when you discover new space phenomena or planet in space, it would be more better controled and realisticaly to see it from FPS vie when you siting in the bridhge, like in brid commander and in reality , and also alowed to go around the bridge to difrent posts and press the bottons by pushing the other player whio already stand there i his post and etc, this way it could be more relaisticaly because it would be more freely and therfore far more fun because its will make you feel free to move around the bridge on st online from fps view while you are in the battle between the romulan ship in space forexample and you can use other occupied post by puching your crew member from post and alow yoru self press the button of photon torpedos and etc, that would be super awsome! :D

even if i know it wont be anything like that in st online :(

but i hope at least some specific mode for st online can make this happen to transfrom the ship battle to FPS view or at least ground fight to FPS view, (( witch is a must in my opinion ))
i would be more than happy if they give uss the possebility to transfrom to almost everything in FPS view


Star Trek Bridge Comamander = Awesome space fights...

I hope they do the space fights like the are in STBC...
If anyone has played Legacy.. I HATED Legacy... I couldn't get past the first level, it was just so annoying...

[WinterPark1701]

btw im sorry for my bad english, i know i spelled like a 5 year old child :o :(

but i hope you understood me ? my dear trekker friends :o

Spelling like a 5 year old would be a massive improvement for myself.

[pyriel32]

Have they said anything about species stats for the charaters like vulcans getting +1 to int or KIingons geting +2 to str or any thing like that just one of the many things i was wondering.

[Dariuas]

Go Cryptic! You guys did an amazing job with City of Heroes.

my question; is Cryptic going to be both developing, and publishing, or will you guys be publishing it through NCSoft?

[Jacius_Ceed]

A F.A.Q. just like I like them full of info that I wanted to know!

[mathjam]

Very cool! However, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question yet - what happens to your ship when you are on an away mission? Does it just orbit the planet, vulnerable to attack, or will it vanish?

i think it just orbit the planet how about when your in a battle do you die or do yo get another ship:)

[BBGamer]

You guys said you haven't decided on a price yet, but you know, everything good in life is free.:D

[Djin]

You guys said you haven't decided on a price yet, but you know, everything good in life is free.:D

And every "free" thing in life sucks. Well, most of it does.

[shredfest]

Guys, can someone please just put a tenative go live date up? I've spent the last 15min looking for one thing...an indication of when you'll likely have this off the ground. :confused:

[bunkdawg]

I don't mind PC players and Console players being able to play on the same server together. as long as the PC version is not dumbed down just to accomodate the limited input capacity of console interfaces. If I am playing on a PC, then I had better be able to have full hotkey support and all of the in-depth interface options of a full-blown PC-only MMO, even if the console players must make do without such features.

The way technology is advancing, within the next three years, there will likely be keyboard and mouse add-ons for all of the mainstream consoles, which will allow those player to experience the full input features.

All though it was never officially confirmed or denied, supposedly, the dumbing down of Star Wars Galaxies that occurred with the NGE was a precursor to the launching of that game on the console. The interface was simplified way down and no longer could be customized. I think that what threw a wet blanket on their plans was the fact that so many people left the game because they hated the changes. The outlook couldn't have been good for the investors whose money would have been rding on a PC-to-console port deal.

Oh SWG is much better these days, but it took them three years to get it that way, and still they have a lot of work to do.

So again... As long as the PC version of the game is not dumbed down to accomodate console players who do not have a keyboard and mouse, I'll be fine. But if it IS dumbed down in that way, I promise that I will not waste my money on it. Not to buy it and certainly not to subscribe to it.

With the keyboard/mouse hardware available for the Xbox 360 & PS3 I wouldn't see any need for Cryptic to dumb down the game like SWG was. SWG was dumb down due to Sony wanted to release the game on PS2 which doesn't have that kind of hardware available or at least didnt at 1st.

Dumbest mistake LucasArts ever did was give Sony rights to make changes to the game. Sony did the same to Everquest & Matrix per my understand and that's why the developer specificly doesn't allow Sony to make changes to Everquest II per what I've read. Sony only host the servers now. Cryptic if you use Sony to host I suggest not allowing them to make changes. Everything they touch turns to sh** in the MMO world. They don't have a good understanding of what makes an MMO attractive. They only care about what makes their PS2's and PS3's sell.

[bunkdawg]

I loved E&B. I was a baffled by its' 'twilight' as anyone.

As long as Electronic Arts has nothing to do with STO, It's life span will be determined by the player base and developers, and not by some executive who dislikes games and wants to save a penny.

X

Yeah.. I loved E&B also. Played it to the bitter end. EA really had a gem and just didn't know it. I think it would be a huge MMO today if they had kept it up and updated. It was one of the earliest sci-fi MMO's that I know of and would have competed nicely even today IMO.

[bunkdawg]

I've seen alot of questions on here, but don't think I've seen this one. Will a single account be allowed multiple toons? Say 1 Federation and 1 Klingon (along with others as the other empires become availalbe). I think that would be great.

If doing 1 big server I guess their could be problems with that, but then again it would allow for spy missions for the PVP part if wanted. If doing several big servers then you could allow 1 fed on 1 server and 1 kligon on a 2nd server possibly.

Guess it will all be answered over time though.

[VainEldritch]

Cryptic if you use Sony to host I suggest not allowing them to make changes. Everything they touch turns to sh** in the MMO world. They don't have a good understanding of what makes an MMO attractive.

I wouldn't worry... no one in their right mind would trust SOE and their cretinous CEO with a new MMORPG after the SWG fiasco.

I'm hoping Bioware pull an ace with KotOR Online and kill SWG for once and for all - the final nail in the coffin. That'll leave Lucas(f)Arts with a failed MMORPG from one of the best i.p.'s to ever grace the genre.

Way to go, Smedley. I quote the old Urban Dictionary definition of "Smed" long delete by much remembered:

"SMED": to interfere with ones gaming enjoyment. To drastically alter something which is enjoyed by thousands. To pull a Smed - Jeez - those developers pulled a Smed on SWG big time.

:mad:

[Blackbriar]

Nice FAQ, guys. I'm sure there'll be more questions to answer as we go along, though.

[maxatron]

I don't mind PC players and Console players being able to play on the same server together. as long as the PC version is not dumbed down just to accomodate the limited input capacity of console interfaces. If I am playing on a PC, then I had better be able to have full hotkey support and all of the in-depth interface options of a full-blown PC-only MMO, even if the console players must make do without such features.

The way technology is advancing, within the next three years, there will likely be keyboard and mouse add-ons for all of the mainstream consoles, which will allow those player to experience the full input features.

All though it was never officially confirmed or denied, supposedly, the dumbing down of Star Wars Galaxies that occurred with the NGE was a precursor to the launching of that game on the console. The interface was simplified way down and no longer could be customized. I think that what threw a wet blanket on their plans was the fact that so many people left the game because they hated the changes. The outlook couldn't have been good for the investors whose money would have been rding on a PC-to-console port deal.

Oh SWG is much better these days, but it took them three years to get it that way, and still they have a lot of work to do.

So again... As long as the PC version of the game is not dumbed down to accomodate console players who do not have a keyboard and mouse, I'll be fine. But if it IS dumbed down in that way, I promise that I will not waste my money on it. Not to buy it and certainly not to subscribe to it.

i play on both pc and console and love playing on them both however i must agree with you that that the PC version must not suffer because i played C&C3 on the PC and then got it for 360 and the interface was dumbed down and it sucked! so i will be getting this game for the PC because it is simply better for this type of game

[V_GER]

I wouldn't worry... no one in their right mind would trust SOE and their cretinous CEO with a new MMORPG after the SWG fiasco.

(( No one except DC studios with DC Universe Online in the works. )).

[Quin_Draco]

Shall we assume that the FAQ is the official word and that info from interviews and articles is secondary?
I know the game is developing and changes in concept (and therefore apparent conflicts) will occur. So I am just wondering what the general guideline is having read the FAQ and then having found much more detailed discussions of topics elsewhere such as in these forums and in Gameinformer. Thanks for any help here.

[raptorkill]

nice 1 i can not wait