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Star Trek Online to feature customizable ships and personnel |
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Written by Derek Kessler on
Thursday, 02 October 2008
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 In the latest series of the Star Trek Online team’s Ask Cryptic, the programmers behind the game have answered a series of questions on everything from the customization of ships and personnel as well as tackling the important issue of player vs. player interaction. We’ll break it down for you after the break into regular person speak.
 Will ship roles be analogous to naval combat roles or will they be more like the party roles in other MMOs – will ships be cruisers or destroyers or they be tanks or healers?
Federation ship classes are inspired by the television shows. So, for example, you could have a ship like the Enterprise, the Defiant or the Voyager. We call the different classifications of ships Cruisers, Escorts and Science Vessels.
More details on the exact roles and differences are coming soon, but for now, suffice it to say that the ship roles are a combination of naval combat and traditional MMO gameplay. Klingon ships are different, and reflect their style and culture. And everything will be very customizable and very Star Trek. |
As this is a Star Trek MMORG, it would not be complete - or even plausible - without ships. You start off as a Captain in STO and can move up to newer, larger, and more powerful ships, or customize and upgrade your current ship. Customizations and upgrades will likely include enhanced weaponry and shields, faster engines, larger crew capacity, better sensors, etc. Depended upon the type of ship you choose, you can expect that some will be better suited to certain tasks than others - the Defiant would be more capable in a battle than the Voyager. Given time, though, you could upgrade your Voyager to handle better in a fight.
Will Starfleet and Klingon uniforms be semi-customizable with extra additions?
Character customization is one of the hallmark features of a Cryptic game. You will be able to modify and customize the uniform of your characters, but it will always have the look of a uniform. The costume options will reflect popular pieces from the show, as well as new concepts and styles. |
Don’t expect to be able to put on a bright fuchsia uniform, but in the world of MMORPGs, customizability is an important capability. So you might be able to put on a Klingon sash or a Bajoran earring, or something else that the Cryptic team dreams up for other races. These items might even enhance or diminish the capabilities of you character. But it sure will make it look cool!
Will our choice of ships be limited by our chosen specialty as captain? So, for example, Defiants and Akiras are usable only by tactical captains, Nova and Nebula for science, etc.?
No, not at all. You can train and advance in any ship class, or even in multiple ship classes. Certainly your skills and abilities – and those of your Bridge Officers – will affect your ship in many ways, as will your ship modifications. So expect to see lots of permutations. |
Just as the archeologist Jean-Luc Picard found himself in command of the Enterprise, don’t be surprised if you specialize in medicine and find yourself in command of a Defiant-class starship. Though it might not be a good idea for you to head up command of that ship, as you may not be suited, tactically speaking, for the situations you’re likely to end up in. But you’re not alone - you will have bridge officers (which you will train and equip like your captain) that will help to run the ship. So while you may be the archeologist, you’ll still have a doctor and engineer and tactical officer to help with the important things.
How customizable will Bridge Officers be? Will players be allowed to choose their race, gender, name and/or physical appearance?
You will be able to fully customize your Bridge Officers' race, appearance, gender, name and physical appearance. It wouldn't be a Cryptic game if you couldn't. You will also train and customize their skills and abilities throughout their career. |
As mentioned above, you will have bridge officers to help with the whole running of a starship thing. For them to be useful, you’ll have to train them in specific skill sets. And, of course, like yourself, you can customize your bridge officers to be a tall female Andorian scientist with long white hair or a short balding male Vulcan engineer with a goatee. Or most anything else.
Will we be able to play 3D chess?
We are always looking at gameplay elements to enhance the Star Trek experience. 3D chess is a Trek classic, and it's on the list. But it may not be in for launch – maybe an expansion. Should it be before or after the playable Horta? |
Unlike traditional computer games (say, Halo or Call of Duty or Gears of War), a MMORPG literally drops you into another world. And when you’re not battling with Romulans or exploring Dantanio IV, you need something to do. So, there are markets or chatting with other players, or playing games to play games. Like 3D chess. And while it may no be part of the initial launch, it and other new features may be included in future expansions and updates. For Cryptic’s flagship MMORPG City of Heroes, they’ve released twelve expansions, with two more in the works - all have been free to the game’s subscribers.
Space PvP has already been confirmed for the outer most regions and neutral zones, but what about planets in those sectors? Will there be ground PvP?
Where you can PvP in space, you will be able to PvP on the ground. There will be open PvP ground locations, and perhaps instanced PvP locations. |
PvP means “player versus player,” which is taken to be a competitive engagement between two players, usually a fight or battle of some variety. Other interactions common to MMORPGs include PvE (Player versus Environment) and PvM (Player versus Monster), both of which are likely candidates to find their way into Star Trek Online. The game will permit both space battles between ships (presumably not against other Starfleet vessels, though you might be able to go rogue if you so desire) and personnel combat on the surface of planets.
[via: Star Trek Online]
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