As chance would have it I landed on the new "recruit" sign-up page and saw this STO trailer for the first time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00MU4uEVcBw
"Whatever comes, whatever finds you- stand tall - hold fast - YOU are a starfleet officer"
All I can say is wow - now I really feel like a starfleet officer - how many new players do?
Then I started a new Character - starfleet of coarse(but everyone must who is new)
and beam into my ship outside the sol system to be met with the powerful voice of
Mr Leonard Nimoy:
(in a dark and forboading tone - with the startrek theme playing in the background)
"My Friend sacrificed so much to secure peace with the klingons, I bear the reponsibilites to him and his crew, a thought that troubles me to this day!
The hope was that this alliance would last forever - It did NOT! The KLINGONS have chooses WAR!!(TRIBBLE!!)
The Federation is doing it's utmost to protect it's borders and the billions of "innocents" that call this space home!(from the evil klingon terrorists)
I FEAR that this conflict may be our undoing!"
Can you save us from these agressive savages - yes you can - you are a Starfleet officer!
I won't let you down Mr Spock I will fight these Klingon TRIBBLE for my whole STO career!
Ok - SO does this entry by ALL new players in the game taint the perception of the KDF? Or do people just see it as a game intro?
Comments
IMHO, I don't believe it is the conflict that will be your undoing.
It would have to be the EMO run animation of female Starfleet that gets me going.
And don't forget there's always your in-zone chat. Its like a room full of "Uh-Uhr... Yes it is! You sux" 24/7.
Is it time to end the conflict - is it even possible given the way the first 20 lvls are structured?
What would peace really bring each of the factions?
More than just lack of content - I am just thinking that the way the begining is structured permently handicaps the KDF - just a thought.
Absolutely agree with you. KDF is not even an afterthought.
If I was running things I would let each faction in the game have it's own landing page.
So you have a STO landing welcome page that is about STO.
Then there are two links to UFP and Klingon Empire.
Then the theme for each faction and web content specific to that faction to generate enthusiasm and a sense of belonging.
I truly believe that the KDF will eventually become a full faction in my heart.
I believe this because I want to see other factions in the game as well like the Cardassian, Romulan and the Ferengi.
Whether or not people will admit it, these factions are iconic representatives of Star Trek.
Star Trek may be about the adventures of Starfleet and the United Federations; but equally important are the enemies it faces and the settings it finds itself in.
Take the KDF away, or join it with Starfleet, and Starfleet becomes void of substance and purpose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zftBaJsIUQA&feature=related
For all the bahoo that is made about the war between the Empire and the Federation there is a surprising lack of fighting between the factions.
I could swear just some minutes ago I had two Federation speedbumps in my STF team and couldn't kill them for their incompetence...
Apparently you haven't been playing the Starbase missions. If those don't make the war feel real, nothing does.
"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
-Thomas Marrone
No where does it give the impression of the KDF being savages or that the federation is bent on destroying them like they are savages.
All the intro truelly does is set the tone that the UFP is in dire straights and the quadrant is in the turmoil of war and conflict. Its a intro trailer and doesnt set the KDF as being anything other that what it is, a faction that embraces war and conquest. As any ST fan already knows.
R.I.P
I'm a relativly new player. I decide to switch side to Klingons, because most of the player base "Starfleet Officers" don't act as "Starfleet Officers" at all.
Despite of the intro movie, I found out that many so called Starfleet Officers ...
... have no honor.
... attack without warning.
... are selfish (do not use any ability to heal comrades).
.. act uncoordinated and chaotic.
So I decided to went Klingon. Although you find the same of the above "qualities" on Klingon side, at least it don't feel so "un-trek" since these traints are not uncommon for Klinks :-)
Could be but the VO does paint the fact as you say that the Federation is in dire straights due to it's war with the Klingons - it is the players job to turn this around so to speak by being a good captian and destroying the klingons through several of the next missions. My question was does this effect whether people end up playing KDF or not - one person says no. I think its time to end the war.
Well, some Klingon players operate by their own codes of honor. Usually something along the lines of 'fair play', etc. I sorta have my own code, but a lot of Feddies might not interpret it as such. . .they seem to view a BoP temporarily retreating and cloaking as 'dishonorable' and 'un-Klingon', and they don't approve of sneak attacks, especially when they work.
It's really funny watching Feddies rage about BoPs using the only real advantage they have left as much as possible. As if keeping raiders weak wasn't enough. . .
Not "destroying the Klingons", but rather "defending the Federation from aggressors, including the Klingons".
Of course it won't affect whether people play as Klingon.
If it can be done realistically, without ruining PvP and the Starbase missions, sure. But keep in mind that for new characters, the war will still be raging.
"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
-Thomas Marrone
Well one thing for sure would help the KDF is running the new missions the same way STF is run - with both factions being on the same team.
Wiat...we have new missions..?
Oh, I see...you mean if they decide it's cost effective to make new missions...
I have always felt the newer intro completely sidesteps the fact you can even play Klingon.
It would be nice to mention the fact you can play as Fed OR Klingon even.
Shoot, if they actually advertised that, maybe they would attract more players since, despite what the majority thinks, not everyone wants to play as Federation.
If that was the case, there wouldn't be such an outcry to introduce Romulans.
IMOHPO, leaving that little fact out of the intro tells me volumes about how Cryptic feels about the Klingons in STO.
KBF CO
We are the Dead
join date Aug 2008
R.I.P
Endgame I can agree that the choice to go agnostic in missions makes sense with what storyline options we have at this level.
COming up the lower ranks though missions should be faction specific and only go agnsotic as the player approaches the endgame to set up the idea that at endgame the truth is out on the Undines/Iconians plot and a unsteady peace exists on an individual player point of view.
The game as a whole could still have fed versus KDF conflict under the premise that not everybody in game , iether player or NPC, is aware of the Undine/Iconian plot.
R.I.P
I don't think so. When a new player logs into the game, the first thing they'll have to do is click "New Federation Character". I would think it's hard to miss the greyed-out-for-now "New Klingon Character" button sitting three pixels away.
I think the intro was actually more even than that. It mostly focuses on Spock and the destruction of Romulus, then the Klingon Empire becoming more aggressive, and ends by highlighting all the craziness happening in the quadrant from a Fed perspective. So I say it's got a decent chunk of KDF advertisement in there.
What would be perfect, though, is getting a KDF-exclusive intro for Klingon characters.
"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
-Thomas Marrone
And to add to that perfection, it would be even more awesome if the intro was done by a famous Klingon, like Worf, Martok, or somebody else.
Or Kahless. :eek::D
"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
-Thomas Marrone
But everyone thinks the arrogant feds are incapable of doing any wrong and are always right, even if they are putting the entire galaxy at risk.
Sort of related note - If they bring in a season focusing on shuttles, they need to include the Maquis on the KDF side, as it makes sense and maybe it'll make feds start to consider what they are doing if they have their own people angry to the point they are taking pot shots at them.
What Cryptic should consider before releasing anything.
Excellent idea!!!! In a pinch, if the the actor who played Kahless in the series is not availible, the VO could be done by anybody whom sounds enough like him to be usable.
R.I.P
It won't happen before Romulan, Terr...something - you know the drarwes with beards? - Vulcans, cavemen, and fundamentally THE DINOSAURS, are all fully fledged playable factions.... Before that happens, we will NOT see KDF as a fully represented faction, at all.
Hmm..
Sorry to pop your bubble there tho, but that won't cut it. The FED are the two-goody-shoes, the shining paladins of righteousness - they can't do anything wrong! Can they? No! They unify the adults, they brainwash the kids, in a grand crusade like no one has ever before seen! And like religions, ultimately failing, but that's another story...
But to indeed put it factually, KDF's been right more oft than wrong, unlike the FEDs.
And in that, you're right! Except that KDF doesn't exist for Cryptic, or anyone else wanting a Rolls Royce or a Ferrari (I'd prefer a Toyota Camry tho... more reliable).
Sad part is you are right. Ah well, hopefully if cryptic ever release open pvp and territory conquest I'll meet you over Earth in, oh I don't know, 5 minutes? Last one to pop a torpedo at Starfleet Command buys the bloodwine!
What Cryptic should consider before releasing anything.
That would be awesome - every starfleet player has to attack the KDF and protect earth - all KDF have to attack and protect Qo'noS
the kicker is that every ship that is destroyed is gone for good and you have to pay for a new one.
"Sure, you have these heals on your ship, and you are running all different types of beam arrays on your cruiser (As a tac), but who cares, YOU'RE the captain, to space-hell with everyone else!"
I'll give you a chronological listing of the events that led to this war.
(Star Trek: Klingon Academy) The Klingon Empire enters a civil war. Chancelor Lorak died and the head of House G'Iogh proclaims himself Emperor. General Chang kills him. Melkor, the impostor's younger brother claims Qonos as it's new emperor and the Empire splits itself in 3 factions. Melkor's, Chang's and Gorkon's sides.
After long fights, it's made known that Melkor is dealing with the romulans and the Empire rallies behind Gorkon who, in a dire battle, saved Chang from a certain death. Once the civil war ends, Gorkon is named Chancellor of the Empire and Chang is to serve him as his Chief of Staff.
(Star Trek 6) Spock and Gorkon are trying the impossible, a treaty of peace between the Federation and the Klingons. Romulans, Starfleet officers and a group of Klingons under Chang plot the assassination of Gorkon and frame Kirk, leading to a war.
After much investigating, Spock and the Enterprise crew make it to Kithomer in time to stop another assassination attempt against Chancellor Azetbur. They unfoil the whole plan and allow the Federation and Klingon Empire to become true allies.
(Deep Space 9) Chancellor Gowron reign is marked by seeking glory. After many altercations between the Klingons and Sisko, Gowron invalidates the Kithomer Accord and attacks DS9 with an impressive armada. A year later, Gowron reinstates the Accord in order to face the Dominion and save the Alpha Quadrant.
(Voyager) Janeway helps the Borg to defeat a fierce enemy known as "Species 8472". It is unknown to Janeway and her crew what caused the conflict until it's too late. The Borg entered fluidic space first and attacked... It is not explained how the managed to get there.
Few months/years later, Janeway encounters another group of Undines who are shapeshifted as Federation officers. Their plans is to infiltrate the high spheres of power of the federation and make it collapse.
Few months/years later, Janeway and her crew finally make it home. Janeway gets promoted to Admiral.
(Star Trek Online, events leading to the game) The Klingon Empire is infiltrated by Undines. They discover the plot and cleanse themselves of every infiltrated Undine. It is also known to them that the Gorn head of state is an Undine. Diplomatic efforts to reveal the truth to the Gorn is unsuccessful so, as a True Warrior does what has to be done, the Klingons lay a siege to Gornar in order to liberate it's people from the impostor alien.
The way the Klingons acted doesn't please the Federation and they ask the Klingons to withdraw themselves from Gornar. Obviously, the Federation is also infiltrated by the Undines. The Klingon Empire demands that the Federation respect the Kithomer Accord and help them with the Gorn Hegemony situation.
The Federation refuses. Another sign that Starfleet high ranks are infiltrated by the aliens. In no way would the Federation betray a peace treaty they've worked so hard to negociate. The Klingon Empire ends the treaty, once again, and procedes in the most important war for it's survival... the cleansing of every Undine from the Alpha Quadrant nations.
Play the game... see for yourself... the Klingons are the heroes of this game... while there are genuine heroes in Starfleet (the players) the faction itself can't be trusted. Section 31 keeps toying with the best of Starfleet... and no Undine has been taken out of the Federation yet. (as a Federation player, you never even try to investigate the matter... even when a Vulcan Ambassador is revealed to be an Undine !)
There's a KDF mission where the player boards a disabled feddie cruiser, fights their way to the bridge, and tortures the captain for info about the UP shipyard. I used to torture the captain with my landing party blasting him with rifles until he submits the info. Last couple of time I've left my team on the bridge, and tortured the federation officer in private- with the butt of my rifle.
If that's not a war then your not looking close enough.
The only thing more satisfying than beating the fed captain senseless for information is killing the fed battleship in a single pass (alpha sorte).
Awoken Dead
Now shaddup about the queues, it's a BUG