Let me first preface this with the understanding that "faction" in terms of the post-iconian-war era of STO refers to an origin story of a particular subset of character types... A way of introducing new players... or veteran players... to the currant STO narrative from a new perspective.
It seems clear that 2018 will bring us the Gamma Quadrant, which will by need of Star Trek precedemt involve Bajor, Deep Space Nine, and the wormhole as the jump-off and tie-in points. But I also see a wonderful opportunity to carry on the post-dominion-war storyline surrounding Cardassia.
Some in this community have wanted a cardassian faction. And I want to be among those championing that branch of new-character-narrative.
Because the last we saw of Cardassia in Deep Space Nine was that of a world and society in ruin, it is my sincere hope that the initial content of potential; cardassian-centric content would chronicle the period of rebuilding following the Dominion War. And I want to propose that this period of rebuilding be modeled after fleet holdings, but achievable for individuals. To clarify, I refer to the mechanics. As a cardassian citizen stepping up to be instrumental in this period, we would be interacting with Legate Garrick to help rebuild Cardassia.
Yes. Let Garrack factor heavily in the story. And please... Try to get Andrew Robinson to give the character his voice.
And to clarify... this would not just be about Cardassian. It would also involve Bajor and Deep Space Nine. So there is an opportunity to bring back several DS9 cast members as several VOY characters were brought back for Delta Quadrant stories.
So how would the fleet holding model apply? Simple... through gameplay tied to the Cardassian/Bajor/DS9 plotline, Cardassia prime would gradually be built back up to a point where as a civilization it can contribute to the post-iconian era, where all players find themselves regardless of the origin story concerned.
That's something I would like to see. What do you all think?
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The two ICONIC ships.
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only if they make that way, there is at least one other way it could go.
if I stop posting it doesn't make you right it. just means I don't have enough rum to continue interacting with you.
The Fleet holding, hopefully not just another Dranuur colony (New Bajor, for example) it's too soon to be building (or rebuilding a blown up colony) another colony. I would suggest having DS-9 be heavily damaged, and its rebuilding be part of that Fleet holding mechanic, but, it's also a major social zone, so would 'continue to exist' outside of the Player's Fleet's Experience. So, I'll modify that idea to say 'a Federation outpost in the Gamma Quadrant' (space, rather than ground) Could be anything from an embassy, to a deep space array, like in The Motion Picture, plenty of scope for creativity, but of course, the Devs will already be working on it, so not really much point in proposing ideas
One thing I do hope to see, is that racist Bajoran finding her way out an airlock... There was no need for her use of the C Word
"I was here before you, I will be here after you are gone. I am here, regardless of your acknowledgement or acceptance..." - The Truth
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
"I was here before you, I will be here after you are gone. I am here, regardless of your acknowledgement or acceptance..." - The Truth
"I was here before you, I will be here after you are gone. I am here, regardless of your acknowledgement or acceptance..." - The Truth
Whatever story they have planned for the expansion, will be crossfaction.
"I was here before you, I will be here after you are gone. I am here, regardless of your acknowledgement or acceptance..." - The Truth
Though at this point I'd just like to see more storyline missions involving Cardassia and the Cardassian people. They played a truly massive part of DS9 yet they were pretty much written out of their own arc after the revamp in favour of Mirror Leeta and her silly Terran Empire. Even the main True Way "baddie" of the revamp missions was a darned Changeling.
So, bring back Cardassians! Make it so!
I mean, he's an actor, he's going to do the voice if he gets paid to do the voice, but he'd probably do a better job if Garak just served as a narrator, or perhaps an older gentleman in the area offering advice to the young Cardassian about to join the home defense fleet. (Then, of course, you'd fold your character into the Starfleet story about level 10, because so far as I know there's no justification for Cardassians joining the KDF.)
That's different. When they made the Romulan faction, they were able to bring in Iconic ships for leveling, the D'Deridex and the T'liss. Feds have access to the T1 Connie (via C-Store) and the T2 Connie Refit (by default).
If they make a Cardassian faction (which I don't see that OR a Dominion faction whatsoever for the reason I am about to highlight) they would not be able to bring in the Galor or Keldon as leveling ships. Why?
BECAUSE THEY MADE THEM LOCKBOX SHIPS!!!
To make their iconic ships Lockbox, then suddenly turn around and give EVERYONE free versions, even if they are inferior in any way, will be seen as stabbing those players who got the lockbox ships in the back, and the forums will burn like the wildfires in California.
In fact... while the exact time and Dev eludes me right now... it was said that they would NOT make a playable faction whose ships were put into a Lockbox. They even admitted they shot themselves in the foot with the Cardassian Lockbox.
Also... if someone was to bring up the argument about adding factions/subfactions into the game through expansions...
We have an established pattern.
Legacy of Romulus - Added Romulans
Delta Rising - No new faction
Agents of Yesterday - Added TOS Fed
Victory is Life - If pattern holds... NO NEW FACTION
Unknown expansion - If pattern holds... possible faction/subfaction
There is also one other factor to consider.
The cost of making a whole new set of ships and specialist ships for said new faction. Not only would Cryptic have to make an entirely new set of basic ships, they would have to retroactively create ALL the T6 specialist ships. Full set of Intel, Command, Pilot, Temporal, and Miracle Worker ships.
At this point... a full faction I don't see happening, even if done in the style of the Romulans. Subfactions such as TOS Feds are more likely as they only have to make a few thematic ships for the subfaction for leveling purposes. Cost wise this would be the better option.
My fire extinguisher is ready.
True, Delta Rising didn't give us a playable Faction, but it did give us playable Talaxians (wish we had also gotten playable Ocampa) as an LTS reward, I could see them giving us playable Cardassians and/or Dominion the same way.
As for a possible Cardassian mini-Faction, ala TOS FED, they could get around the ship thing by simply leaving the Galor out. It and its T6 equivalent are the only playable Cardassian ships in-game. Cryptic could make the Hideki and their own Cardassian style ships for leveling and make endgame versions the same way they did for the TOS FED mini-Faction. The Galor and Keldon could be added to the C-Store later with new/different Specialization seating to preserve the originals.
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Well as an owner of a Galor and Keldon ship it would not bother me in the slightest if a Cardassian faction had access to those ships. The whole reason I have them is because I made a Cardassian with the Alien option. To play as a true Cardassian would be a dream come true. (Besides, I really don't see many Galors or Keldons flying around these days. Do you?)
I also think if anyone who should feel resentment it would be those making Cardassian toons on a Cardassian faction. Seeing those Feddies and Klingons flying around in their Galors and Keldons...it's vile!
I completely agree, this building colonies or homeworlds routine is getting old, I hope they do something different with upcoming content. But we definitely do need a lot more to do in the Alpha Quadrant, which is extremely bland in my opinion, so I would welcome almost anything that encourages me to spend time there.
I think there are plenty of alien options to use in a Cardassian faction though. We have their known allies: Valerians, Klaestron, Xepolites, and Lissepians; plus we could even have a Bajoran race who are Collaborator descendants, and a Cardassian/Bajoran hybrid race. That gives 6 race options for a faction, which isn't bad.
One thing I don't want to see in a Cardassian faction, however, is the combination of Cardassia with the Dominion. After the bombing of Cardassia Prime there is no way the majority of the Cardassian people would go along with that reunification. The True Way was controversial enough and was limited mostly to tyrannical militants who believed the people betrayed the Dominion, that sort of mentality isn't going to go over well in the general populous. To be honest I would like to see the opposite happen, a Cardassian/Dominion conflict where the Cardassian player fights the Jem'Hadar to get revenge for the destruction and hardship endured during the Dominion War.
In the content that featured Cardassians, they felt more like they were given a pity invite by the major powers. Sky Rukil basically says pretty much that during the Borg conference on DS9, they have no military so why are they being asked to participate. They feel isolated from the major powers because they have no power and are constantly reminded of that fact everytime they are invited to a crisis conference. It would be great to see them respond with a new military infrastructure to make themselves feel competitive again. Their development could be fueled by seeing the Alliance make friends with the Dominion or by being caught in the middle of a conflict between the Dominion and the Alliance. Either way, I hope to see a Cardassian faction that tries to be separate and independent of either the Federation or the Dominion.
The ships would be difficult though, and I don't hold out much hope for a Cardassian faction for that reason alone. If a game play option requires a monetary investment from Cryptic we can pretty much guarantee that it won't happen. They have gotten incredibly lax regarding this game over the last few years and are now literally just repeating old content to minimize their bills. But if STO doesn't get a large influx of new radical content soon I think it will probably start to die out.
Have not read comments after yours, so if someone said this already... well, I don't really care if they did.
They could do like the Connie and make the Galor & Keldon lower tier ships for the Cardassian faction. Then they'd not give the lockbox ships any 'completion'. Make em T3 or T4. Not sure why you're assuming they'd be top tier ships.
Well, except for the fact that I'd probably have to blow up at least 1 Galaxy Class... being forced to do that always brings a tear to my eyes.