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Next Expansion Suggestion: Kelvin Timeline
hauriant
Member Posts: 145 Arc User
The way things are planned ahead in STO, it might be too late to make a suggestion for the next expansion. But I might as well, in case it has an impact. I have a tie for what I hope the theme for the next expansion is. One is Liberated Borg. The other is Kelvin Timeline.
Lots of people have talked about a [good] Borg faction. Unfortunately, in the most recent livestream, Al Rivera discussed logistical problems with making a Borg faction. So, instead, I’ll urge considering using the Kelvin Timeline.
The Kelvin Timeline has such potential. One could visit any planet from any of the series, and show a different version of it based on the diverging history. Not inherently an evil version like with the Mirror Universe -- but better, worse, some combination. What would different people from either timeline do when learning about the alternate universe? How would they experience the changes? What could they learn about their universe by exploring the counterpart? What conflicts could arise between universes?
I’d love to see Kelvin versions of STO-only scenarios. I’d love to see Prime Timeline versions of elements introduced in the Kelvin movies.
Although there are certainly quadrants that could be expanded, primarily the Delta Quadrant, the best way to add a new sector space map would be the Kelvin Timeline. And, like with Agents of Yesterday, there should be no problem in being able to integrate an alternate Starfleet character into the main storyline. Especially since we know Daniels and his group know about the Kelvin Timeline in the first place. (Oh, and since Uhura’s roommate was an Orion, it would be great to allow Kelvin Starfleet characters to be able to choose Orion as a race.)
As of Victory is Life, there are three parts of the franchise (not counting auxiliary materials and the animated series) that are underrepresented in STO: the Kelvin timeline, Discovery, and Enterptise. Of the three, the Klevin Timeline is the one that most needs an expansion to be properly included in the game. Time travel, holodecks, or just encountering places, species, or situations introduced in Discovery or Enterprise could easily more fully integrate those shows into STO. We already have included elements from Enterprise in the main story, and I’m sure more than uniforms and ships from Discovery is coming. Sure, the Kelvin Timeline could be included in an individual mission. It was included in an individual mission, already. But to get the full Kelvin experience, it makes sense to have its own sector space and to explore its distinct situation as well has have its own Starfleet faction. That screams out to me, “Expansion.”
So, too, would adding a bunch of Kelvin ships beyond the one-per-faction we have, as well as giving Kelvin Starfleet players different beam-up animations, and all the other things that would be required to get the feel of the alternate timeline right. The very need for a distinct faction (aka Origin) is also clearest with the Kelvin Timeline.
Although I’m not fully sure, as I understand it, Cryptic has the rights to use elements only from the first two Kelvin movies so far. Negotiations might not be able to get rights to the rest. So even if they want to do this, it might fall through. But I think it’s worth pursuing.
I only really like one of the Kelvin Timeline movies so far. But I could find things to enjoy in all three, and STO has a talent for including disliked elements of Trek in ways that a lot of players enjoy. And there are people who like more of the Kelvin movies than I do.
Plus, there does appear to be a fourth Kelvin Trek movie in the works. Synergy could be a bonus to maintain the health of the game.
Lots of people have talked about a [good] Borg faction. Unfortunately, in the most recent livestream, Al Rivera discussed logistical problems with making a Borg faction. So, instead, I’ll urge considering using the Kelvin Timeline.
The Kelvin Timeline has such potential. One could visit any planet from any of the series, and show a different version of it based on the diverging history. Not inherently an evil version like with the Mirror Universe -- but better, worse, some combination. What would different people from either timeline do when learning about the alternate universe? How would they experience the changes? What could they learn about their universe by exploring the counterpart? What conflicts could arise between universes?
I’d love to see Kelvin versions of STO-only scenarios. I’d love to see Prime Timeline versions of elements introduced in the Kelvin movies.
Although there are certainly quadrants that could be expanded, primarily the Delta Quadrant, the best way to add a new sector space map would be the Kelvin Timeline. And, like with Agents of Yesterday, there should be no problem in being able to integrate an alternate Starfleet character into the main storyline. Especially since we know Daniels and his group know about the Kelvin Timeline in the first place. (Oh, and since Uhura’s roommate was an Orion, it would be great to allow Kelvin Starfleet characters to be able to choose Orion as a race.)
As of Victory is Life, there are three parts of the franchise (not counting auxiliary materials and the animated series) that are underrepresented in STO: the Kelvin timeline, Discovery, and Enterptise. Of the three, the Klevin Timeline is the one that most needs an expansion to be properly included in the game. Time travel, holodecks, or just encountering places, species, or situations introduced in Discovery or Enterprise could easily more fully integrate those shows into STO. We already have included elements from Enterprise in the main story, and I’m sure more than uniforms and ships from Discovery is coming. Sure, the Kelvin Timeline could be included in an individual mission. It was included in an individual mission, already. But to get the full Kelvin experience, it makes sense to have its own sector space and to explore its distinct situation as well has have its own Starfleet faction. That screams out to me, “Expansion.”
So, too, would adding a bunch of Kelvin ships beyond the one-per-faction we have, as well as giving Kelvin Starfleet players different beam-up animations, and all the other things that would be required to get the feel of the alternate timeline right. The very need for a distinct faction (aka Origin) is also clearest with the Kelvin Timeline.
Although I’m not fully sure, as I understand it, Cryptic has the rights to use elements only from the first two Kelvin movies so far. Negotiations might not be able to get rights to the rest. So even if they want to do this, it might fall through. But I think it’s worth pursuing.
I only really like one of the Kelvin Timeline movies so far. But I could find things to enjoy in all three, and STO has a talent for including disliked elements of Trek in ways that a lot of players enjoy. And there are people who like more of the Kelvin movies than I do.
Plus, there does appear to be a fourth Kelvin Trek movie in the works. Synergy could be a bonus to maintain the health of the game.
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"It appears we have lost our sex appeal, captain."- Tuvok
NO... there will be so much dialog ... he doesn't shut up ... even if I spam the 'F' key I doubt I'll actually get to he mission.
Star Trek Battles member. Want to roll with a good group of people regardless of fleets and not have to worry about DPS while doing STFs? Come join the channel and join in the fun!
http://forum.arcgames.com/startrekonline/discussion/1145998/star-trek-battles-channel-got-canon/p1
Cirran
I believe the comics have done some time travel stuff. I haven't read any of them, but I believe I saw a picture from one that had Q and Gul Dukat on the bridge of the JJ-Prise.
I was going to post this in the "what keeps you in STO?" thread but this is as good a place as any: it's Morn. His advice, his insight, his compassion for the players--that's what keeps me in STO.
More Kelvin stuff in future? Sure, the universe wasn't rent asunder last time and I think any argument to the effect of "Just no!" is leaning a little too hard into a personal preference. I simply think we need a lot more time to see where that series continues (and what the long-term relationship between CBS and Paramount is going to be) to begin considering what next to do with the KT.
As for what the next expansion could be about: simple, Borg (Al talked about the problems of having traditional borg ships. Ie. spheres, diamonds, and maybe cubes) but I wouldn't go so far as to say "IT MUST BE TNG THEMED" because there's only so much more they can do to honor that series that hasn't already been done (the major ships have been released, interior revamped, and most easily accessible guest stars had.)
I'd just as well have Cryptic do whatever that expansion needs to be the best damn expansion possible (starring whoever would allow that to happen), and hang the sense that we need to maintain an arbitrary rotation of what they pay homage to (to me that's just easy prognosticating, overlaying a simplistic pattern on a more complicated creative process, and not something the devs should actually follow.)
STO is a CBS licensed game, so...too bad.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Yes me too. Please no Kelvin timeline and very little if any discovery. focus on the good stuff.
"He shall be my finest warrior, this generic man who was forced upon me.
Like a badass I shall make him look, and in the furnace of war I shall forge him.
he shall be of iron will and steely sinew.
In great armour I shall clad him and with the mightiest weapons he shall be armed.
He will be untouched by plague or disease; no sickness shall blight him.
He shall have such tactics, strategies and machines that no foe will best him in battle.
He is my answer to cryptic logic, he is the Defender of my Romulan Crew.
He is Tovan Khev... and he shall know no fear."
I think this race however was a reference to Aliens and Species with the name Syl. But I found the race to be cool anyways.
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/File:Syl's_head_open.jpg
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/File:Syl.png
Would not mind seeing the race Jaylah was in the movie. She was an awesome character.
I mean, think about it. The Prime universe has drastically affected the timeline of the Kelvin universe. I wouldn't be surprised if they did Kelvin factions (fed/kdf), but they ended up in the 23rd century and do things that influence the Prime instead. (Edit: After all, we do have that fancy map that isn't being used.) They'd also be probably stuck in our side of things for a lot of the story before eventually getting the chance to "go home" but realizing that this universe is now home to them.