Hey All,

Just wondering if anyone else on here is going to be playing Star Trek Online? I just got in on the open beta, and it looks pretty sweet so far!

Rick

Pah. Bloody network here won't let me play it. I might buy it now, though, to get some freebies. I doubt there would be a problem redeeming the codes in a few months, but I've got an open ticket with Cryptic's billing support just to check this before I shell out £40 for the honour right now.

I'm playing, as I know Greg is, too.

You can find me at Memo@AdmiralMemo

Now for a neat trick. Here's how to get Chronodynamic Armor WITHOUT buying through Steam. Just buy it whatever other way you like, and install it. Now, before you load it up, go load up Steam. Click "Add non-Steam game..." down there at the bottom. If Star Trek Online shows up in that list, great. Select it. If not, go browse for it. (It's typically installed in C:\Program Files\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online.exe or something similar.) Once there, click "Add Selected Programs" down there at the bottom. Star Trek Online should now appear in alphabetical order in your "Installed" section with all the rest of your Third-Party Mods and other shortcuts, but underneath all your regular Steam-installed games. Boot up Star Trek Online through Steam. Go log in and get to where you can see your character or ship running around. Go to the C-Store (located in the down arrow on the upper right part of the HUD). You should be able to see it available for selection in there.

Your mileage may vary with this. All I know is that I did not buy through Steam, but I run it through Steam and it's available to me.

kymagic: Your regular retail codes should be still good, but any pre-order codes are about to expire.

Why would you buy a game without Steam and still use Steam? It seems to me that the whole purpose of Steam is to download games straight to your computer?

It's a convenient way to keep a list of all your games in one spot. You want to play a game? No need to clutter up your start menu. Just pop it in Steam.

Mind, I have never gotten into using it regularly for that purpose, but it is an option.

I'm curious how the game is going since its initial release. Is there a lot of server down time? patches or bugs? or just totally OP stuff that needs to be nerfed? I want to play im just wondering if its worth starting now or waiting a few months.

Here are my thoughts on the game so far:

Pros:
1. Renewed my fondness for the Trek franchise that was all but destroyed by the one-two punch to the gut of Nemesis and Enterprise.
2. Character customization, uniform options and ship customization are extensive.
3. Space battles, especially when grouped with other ships, are pretty fun and mimic the kinds of battles we saw in the final season of DS9 and the opening scene of First Contact.
4. Ground combat is also pretty fun. It's like WoW but you get to control the whole party yourself.

Cons:
1. Missions seem to be very repetitive. I'm either killing X number of dudes in space or X number of dudes on a planet.
2. Starfleet keeps giving me missions I've already completed. I don't know if this is a bug or by design.
3. I'm at level 10 and so far I can't find anything to do other than my same repetitive missions. Does this change at higher levels?

So far I like the game and I can't wait to get a new ship. Whatever shortcomings there are I put with because A. It's Star Trek and B. I've been wanting a new sci-fi MMO for a long time (I tried EVE but didn't like it). From what I've read there are a lot of people playing so I think as long as the game stays popular Cryptic will add new things and it can only get better from here.

Cosmos wrote:Missions seem to be very repetitive. I'm either killing X number of dudes in space or X number of dudes on a planet.

That is every MMO ever its ether kill or fetch quest. But i am wondering something for the people that played the game can you walk around inside you ship and if so how much of the ship can you see.

Disclaimer: I'm only at level 10 so what I say could be different at later levels.

When you customize your ship you can pick what you want your bridge to look like and yet I have never seen my bridge after that moment. You don't get to explore your ship which means no holodeck adventures or hanging out in ten forward asking the bartender for advice.

I think a great use of the holodeck would be like the mission architect in City of Heroes. People could design their own stories and share them with everyone. They wouldn't even have to be Star Trek related, they could be mysteries, westerns, etc.

collegestudent22 wrote:Why would you buy a game without Steam and still use Steam? It seems to me that the whole purpose of Steam is to download games straight to your computer?

Plus, Steam chat works in-game this way. It works in-game on almost all of my games I've thrown into it. There's only a select few older games it doesn't work on.

Also, I can sit there, inside the game, press shift-tab, pop up the Steam menu, and check my email through the Steam browser, or search for a walkthrough, if I'm stuck, or whatever, all without leaving the game.

chill182 wrote:When you customize your ship you can pick what you want your bridge to look like and yet I have never seen my bridge after that moment.

Go to the upper-right menu. Click the down arrow. Click "Visit the Bridge" and voila! You're on your bridge with your crew working around you. You can invite folks to visit your bridge, too. That's it, right now. Yeah... The bridge needs work, but it's as functional as they promised.

My MAIN complaint with things like the bridge is that they call attention to just how unnecessarily HUGE they are. This is the scale issue I talked about all over again.

...also, the fact that they're kind of pointless, all things considered.

Greg Dean wrote:My MAIN complaint with things like the bridge is that they call attention to just how unnecessarily HUGE they are. This is the scale issue I talked about all over again.

...also, the fact that they're kind of pointless, all things considered.

First off, Hello everybody! Decided to sign up for the forums after reading this comic for years. I saw the recent STO comics and decided to contact Mr. Dean in game.

The bridge was added pretty hastily right before Open Beta. I honestly don't think they were planning on putting it in before release, but the forum outcry over the lack of the bridge was pretty loud. I have a long list of things I think they should improve, but as a brand new MMO it's a refreshing change from WoW.

I am currently Commander grade 3, but frankly I would likely be at least a Captain by now if not for Mass Effect 2... Anyways,if anyone has any questions or wants some help, feel free to contact me here or in game. My in game handle is kbpcarl as well.

I caved and bought it today, i have to say it seems like it is a great single player game. I realize as with most mmo's that the initial release (other then maybe wow) is always rough and has some bugs. I really don't see a point to the MMO aspect with what is in the game currently. Right now its just your outnumbered on a mission so you have to have more ships to help you. I would feel different if i could like serve as part of someones away team, or could serve on their bridge. You almost are loosing the point in being a captain right now cause you have no one to really interact with in space. Also whats the point of a guild or Fleet (that right?) in the game, is there systems you have to "raid"? I haven't looked at the STO forums but im sure its full of complaints and suggestions. Also i haven't seen another server...is there just one?

I dont want to sound completely negative, I love the character , costume and ship design stuff. I appreciate games that lend to that unique feel. I dont mind grinding missions, and i kind of like the whole scanning to pick up unknown metals and stuff in space. There is alot of room to expand and i hope they do.

Toss me a message if you want to chat in game, i dont pay attention all that much to it cause all Ive seen is gold spam. but ill try to watch more.
- Daevan
U.S.S. Togashi

Well, right now the only thing that really warrants grouping is the Fleet Actions. I personally find them a lot of fun. They're huge missions that you just can't finish yourself. As far as serving under another person on their ship, no thanks. No offense to anyone, but it's rare that command structure actually works out well.

Fleets right now are more a social think than anything else. I know previously it's been mentioned by developers that they want to have a more user created world. With fleets being able to commission and build their own Starbases. Things of that nature, but only time will tell if that works out.

Right now it's a waiting game. There's a decent engine with some fun content, but it has a long way to go before it's a top tier title. Hopefully Cryptic will be able to make a unique and successful game.

KBPCarl wrote:As far as serving under another person on their ship, no thanks. No offense to anyone, but it's rare that command structure actually works out well.

True, i guess what i was trying to say is it is missing a bit of the interaction MMO's have. And granted i have only had the game a day so , theres alot to see still. I think your right its got the ground work to be a great game down the road, right now to me its like playing a star trek game with a window for MSN open to talk to someone at the same time.