test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

Legacy of Romulus Dev Blog #13

245

Comments

  • thorodalthorodal Member Posts: 182 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I like a backstory too.

    I honestly cant stand the story the Devs are telling. Its not my story. I would prefer to give myself and my BOs their own story rather than one one invented by someone else that I dont like and am forced to ignore.

    Every thing in this expansion is FORCED. Forced to be a farmer. Forced to be in the Republic. Forced to be a Fed.


    Truth be told my character and BOs had their stories created years ago waiting for the Romulans. Everything the devs have created pretty much doesnt fit.

    That doesn't make the story the devs are telling a bad one though.

    Don't get me wrong, I can see where you're coming from, as I myself prefer selfmade stories about my boffs, but so far I like the story they are telling. That doesn't mean you need to adept it for yourself.
  • kwiat007kwiat007 Member Posts: 144 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    While I like the idea of boffs with backstory and personality, I have to say that they took it to far with Tovan. It indeed feels as if he was the captain and I was his officer. He talks to much and when he presents his opinions we don't get any other option than to agree with everything he said.
    Another problem, he doesn't treat us with respect a superior officer should get. He was a member of security, he should know what chain of command is and he should stop telling me what to do. I want an option to remind him that he should refer to me as "captain".

    On another note, it's a blessing his parents are dead, otherwise they would be ashamed knowing that their only son has become a thief, traitor and terrorist.
    [SIGPIC]Join Date: August 2009[/SIGPIC]
    I live in an alternate universe, where j.j. abrams and cryptic never existed,
    where R.S.E. is what it always should be.
  • grnlbrtnfrntgrnlbrtnfrnt Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    On another note, it's a blessing his parents are dead, otherwise they would be ashamed knowing that their only son has become a thief, traitor and terrorist.

    not to mention FARMER. We have slave species to do that.
    [SIGPIC]PWE IS NOT A REPUTABLE COMPANY[/SIGPIC]
  • quintarisquintaris Member Posts: 816 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Tovan is my bro. The Vakarian to my Shepard. Never leave home without him.
    w8xekp.jpg
  • jexsamxjexsamx Member Posts: 2,803 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    So how many of these story-oriented BOffs are we getting? I love the idea, and I would love two or three to roll with for my first story-following toon, but not all of my characters are necessarily going to be following the plot as laid out. I'd like plenty of wiggle room to craft my own full teams with minimal slot sacrifice for these un-dismissable BOffs.
  • gazurtoidgazurtoid Member Posts: 423 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Not tried it out yet, but I think this looks like a good idea - in principle.


    In theory, more backstory and immersion is a good idea. I haven't played SWTOR - but from what I have seen on Youttube this seemed like one of the plus points - your companions/boff equivalents had personality.

    However, it is important that we are able to turn this off/turn it down. I'm sure he will probably be a great character the first time round. But I could easily tire of him, especially if I have my own view of what my character is differs from his (such as me pretending I am a secret Tal Shiar agent, etc). And woe betide if I find the character annoying - that will just put me off compltely.

    Whilst backstory and immersion is great, the blank slate that STO provides is also great. On my fed character I have given all of my Boffs unique backstories and characters that are unique and distinctive to me. I would hate for Cryptic to suddenly start imposing its vision on me.

    A simple feature to turn this off/shut him up would be more than sufficient.
    yjkZSeM.gif
  • gazurtoidgazurtoid Member Posts: 423 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    jexsamx wrote: »
    So how many of these story-oriented BOffs are we getting? I love the idea, and I would love two or three to roll with for my first story-following toon, but not all of my characters are necessarily going to be following the plot as laid out. I'd like plenty of wiggle room to craft my own full teams with minimal slot sacrifice for these un-dismissable BOffs.

    You said what I meant, but in three lines rather than paragraphs;)

    Backstory and content are always good. But give us the flexibility/option to make our own story as well, if we choose.
    yjkZSeM.gif
  • kwiat007kwiat007 Member Posts: 144 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    jexsamx wrote: »
    So how many of these story-oriented BOffs are we getting? I love the idea, and I would love two or three to roll with for my first story-following toon, but not all of my characters are necessarily going to be following the plot as laid out. I'd like plenty of wiggle room to craft my own full teams with minimal slot sacrifice for these un-dismissable BOffs.
    There are 4 so far, only Tovan can't be dismissed.
    [SIGPIC]Join Date: August 2009[/SIGPIC]
    I live in an alternate universe, where j.j. abrams and cryptic never existed,
    where R.S.E. is what it always should be.
  • assimilatedktarassimilatedktar Member Posts: 1,708 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    While I like the idea of boffs with backstory and personality, I have to say that they took it to far with Tovan. It indeed feels as if he was the captain and I was his officer. He talks to much and when he presents his opinions we don't get any other option than to agree with everything he said.
    Another problem, he doesn't treat us with respect a superior officer should get. He was a member of security, he should know what chain of command is and he should stop telling me what to do. I want an option to remind him that he should refer to me as "captain".

    Since when do you have these self-esteem problems? Seriously, it's no different with the Fed officers, only that they are generic. They still tell you what to do. And if you want to be called captain you mustn't play a Romulan. Romulans don't have captains.
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    On another note, it's a blessing his parents are dead, otherwise they would be ashamed knowing that their only son has become a thief, traitor and terrorist.

    Thief? Traitor and terrorist for choosing to defend himself when the Tal Shiar sells his people to aliens?
    FKA K-Tar, grumpy Klingon/El-Aurian hybrid. Now assimilated by PWE.
    Sometimes, if you want to bury the hatchet with a Klingon, it has to be in his skull. - Captain K'Tar of the USS Danu about J'mpok.
  • dieutoutpuissantdieutoutpuissant Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I've grown to hate him.

    Aside from the uniform issue, he doesnt speak like a Romulan and uses idioms and slang no character in the game should be using. I cringe everytime he says something.

    He comments constantly even when he isnt on a bridge station, department head or Away Team. He didnt beam dowm but still adds his two cents.

    That's why I like him.
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    Another problem, he doesn't treat us with respect a superior officer should get.

    What a sad life if you need virtual characters to bow before you to feel better.
  • jexsamxjexsamx Member Posts: 2,803 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    There are 4 so far, only Tovan can't be dismissed.

    Oh, okay. That's perfect.
  • tilarium1979tilarium1979 Member Posts: 567 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    So... am I forced to use these BOffs? Sorry. Nice idea and all. This is my character though, not yours. I don't want you dictating me what my back story is. I plan to make a TOS Romulan that was caught in a time rift and pulled into the 25th century. Hardly not the story you want me to play and hardly the story that these companion BOffs will fit into.
  • gaalomgaalom Member Posts: 531 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    This is a bad idea and overkill. Voice is nice and all but overrated to an extend. Meaning its needed for cut scenes, but with special companions you kill the uniqueness of each captain. Meaning they all have the same bridge officer. In swtor it was nice at first, later on it just well felt stupid. Like I said giving voice to quest givers or someones captain, and in a cut scene is a good thing. As far as companions go, there is only one way to do that, and thats to give everyone the same bridge officer. As already stated there goes the uniqueness out the door. Something else to consider devs is the long term. As they found out in swtor, you will not be able to keep up with it beyond LOR. Think for one moment you come out with it for LOR yay all good, then some months later your trying to put out a another series, and all of a sudden it hits you. Oh TRIBBLE now we have to continue the story. personalty, and everything else for that bridge officer for that series.
  • linyivelinyive Member Posts: 1,086 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I've grown to hate him.

    Aside from the uniform issue, he doesnt speak like a Romulan and uses idioms and slang no character in the game should be using. I cringe everytime he says something.

    He comments constantly even when he isnt on a bridge station, department head or Away Team. He didnt beam dowm but still adds his two cents.

    Its MY story not his.

    He isnt my first officer, he isnt my buddy and I dont really care about his personal relationships.

    Either make him an NPC or a Boff but not both.

    My only wish is that when you are indoctrinated that he is the one you get shoot. Even if its just a hologram.

    If I wanted companions with stories, I'd be playing SWTOR.

    I can only hope at some later point he dies a slow painful death
    Do you need to bring him along, or can you dismiss him from the ship? If I had to choose between a voiced companion and a mute first officer, I would take a later any day of the week. Unless Cryptic is turning "Star Trek: Online" into an actual rpg, I do not see the importance of including a voiced bridge officer.
  • assimilatedktarassimilatedktar Member Posts: 1,708 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    So... am I forced to use these BOffs?

    One.
    Sorry. Nice idea and all. This is my character though, not yours. I don't want you dictating me what my back story is. I plan to make a TOS Romulan that was caught in a time rift and pulled into the 25th century. Hardly not the story you want me to play and hardly the story that these companion BOffs will fit into.

    Sorry, it's their game, not yours. If you want to play a Jedi Knight you damn well have to play the Chosen one who will rid the galaxy of the Sith Emperor (err, sorry wrong franchise, wrong game). Seriously, calm down. I too have time-traveling crews who didn't exactly benefit from starting out as ensigns on a Centaur in a battle against the Borg. So what? Adapt! Heck, the game even makes it easy for you. Make your character a Romulan who was pulled through a timerift to Virinat. The TOS-warbird you start with is actually your ship. Just ignore what Khev is saying when he tells you otherwise.:P
    linyive wrote: »
    Do you need to bring him along, or can you dismiss him from the ship?

    Nope, he sticks with you.
    linyive wrote: »
    If I had choice between a voiced companion and a mute first officer, I would take a mute first officer any day of the week.

    Well, have fun with your Fed and KDF-Chars.^^
    FKA K-Tar, grumpy Klingon/El-Aurian hybrid. Now assimilated by PWE.
    Sometimes, if you want to bury the hatchet with a Klingon, it has to be in his skull. - Captain K'Tar of the USS Danu about J'mpok.
  • cptshephardcptshephard Member Posts: 8 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Why does it have to be one way or the other?

    He's part of the storytelling so obviously he has to stay around for a while. But once the story is done give people the option to dismiss the little Gary Sue, or at least change his appearance. That way the people who want to keep the special little snowflake can and the people who want to shove him face first out an airlock can do so.
  • felderburgfelderburg Member Posts: 854 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Is it true we can't change his appearance? At the very least, can we change his clothes?

    Why does Cryptic, a company that used to be known for character customization, keep giving us these BOs that can't be changed?
  • neoakiraiineoakiraii Member Posts: 7,468 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    well the way he barks commands and gives orders and offers his opinion, it often feels like you ARE his BO.

    he needs to learn his place.

    And that's different from how Riker did it?
    GwaoHAD.png
  • tsurutafan01tsurutafan01 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    felderburg wrote: »
    Is it true we can't change his appearance? At the very least, can we change his clothes?

    Why does Cryptic, a company that used to be known for character customization, keep giving us these BOs that can't be changed?

    It's infuriatingly stupid. I have no idea. Literally no one thinks it's a good idea to deny people the option, if they want it.

    A BOFF I can't edit in any way or dismiss. Yeah that's a great idea. It makes sense if you can dismiss him once the Romulan story arc is played through, though, and that would be fine. But otherwise I don't see how this works. Making him dismissible after the last mission of the new content would make the most sense, and I assume that's the plan.


    "We are smart." - Grebnedlog

    Member of Alliance Central Command/boq botlhra'ghom
  • tilarium1979tilarium1979 Member Posts: 567 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Sorry, it's their game, not yours. If you want to play a Jedi Knight you damn well have to play the Chosen one who will rid the galaxy of the Sith Emperor (err, sorry wrong franchise, wrong game). Seriously, calm down. I too have time-traveling crews who didn't exactly benefit from starting out as ensigns on a Centaur in a battle against the Borg. So what? Adapt! Heck, the game even makes it easy for you. Make your character a Romulan who was pulled through a timerift to Virinat. The TOS-warbird you start with is actually your ship. Just ignore what Khev is saying when he tells you otherwise.

    Figured someone was going to mention that. That's one instance, takes 10 minutes and then it's done forever. This Tovan or whatever sounds like he's never gone, always present. Makes it a lot harder to ignore.
  • commandersalvekcommandersalvek Member Posts: 116 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    felderburg wrote: »
    Is it true we can't change his appearance? At the very least, can we change his clothes?

    Why does Cryptic, a company that used to be known for character customization, keep giving us these BOs that can't be changed?


    After seeing what happens with these stupid make your own aliens -immersion and storyline suffer-Its Star trek-not this week in 2 foot green midgets and 7ft tall bright pink woman in hotpants spaceland -Fed Spacedock is a cringe-I went Klingon to dodge it -its there but maybe due to lower player count its ok -so hoping the Romulans would dodge this.

    So I for one im ok-i can make own story and im fine they can force all the canon star trek races on us -to remind us its not freakfleet.
  • kwiat007kwiat007 Member Posts: 144 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Since when do you have these self-esteem problems? Seriously, it's no different with the Fed officers, only that they are generic. They still tell you what to do. And if you want to be called captain you mustn't play a Romulan. Romulans don't have captains.
    On TV Picard or Janeway would call their officers to ready room and ask them to offer possible solutions to a given problem. Geordi, Data, B'Elanna or 7 of 9 would than present options, but it would be the captain, Picard or Janeway, who would give the order to "make it so".
    And this is how it works in STO on FED side, my officers give me options, but I'm the one who gives the orders. With Tovan it's different, I get the feeling that he is in charge and I'm just following his footsteps.
    Thief? Traitor and terrorist for choosing to defend himself when the Tal Shiar sells his people to aliens?
    All colonists from Virinat are thieves. In the story Cryptic have created there are millions of Romulans starving, but those few chosen from Virinat decided to appropriate (I hope it's the right word) an entire agricultural colony, entire planet, just for themselves. They trade only with other thieves, defectors and traitors like D'Tan instead of allowing the government to redistribute the goods among loyal citizens in need. Instead of rebuilding the Empire they help tearing it apart. When Tovan joins RR he becomes a traitor, in later missions also a terrorist.
    [SIGPIC]Join Date: August 2009[/SIGPIC]
    I live in an alternate universe, where j.j. abrams and cryptic never existed,
    where R.S.E. is what it always should be.
  • linyivelinyive Member Posts: 1,086 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Well, have fun with your Fed and KDF-Chars.
    If there is no option to dismiss the companion, I might just skip playing the Romulan faction. Thanks for the suggestion. I want this story to be about my captain. I could careless about a talking companion.

    "Star Wars: The Old Republic" is a multi-player online role-playing game.

    "Star Trek: Online" is a linear multi-player strategy game.

    As I previously said -- If Cryptic is turning "Star Trek: Online" into a roleplaying game, I will have absolutely no problem with this new companion experience. I just do not see why a strategy game needs a talking companion.

    I hope Cryptic explains why a talking companion is necessary.

    I could careless about his backstory.
  • thay8472thay8472 Member Posts: 6,165 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Now if torvan was like the romulan in the link below who I think the Commander calls "pilot" we'd all be happy... just a loyal romulan shooting the traitors

    3:10
    zx2t8tuj4i10.png
    Thank you for the Typhoon!
  • assimilatedktarassimilatedktar Member Posts: 1,708 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Figured someone was going to mention that. That's one instance, takes 10 minutes and then it's done forever. This Tovan or whatever sounds like he's never gone, always present. Makes it a lot harder to ignore.

    You will survive. And after a few days you reach level 50 and no one will ask for him anymore.:(
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    On TV Picard or Janeway would call their officers to ready room and ask them to offer possible solutions to a given problem. Geordi, Data, B'Elanna or 7 of 9 would than present options, but it would be the captain, Picard or Janeway, who would give the order to "make it so".
    And this is how it works in STO on FED side, my officers give me options, but I'm the one who gives the orders. With Tovan it's different, I get the feeling that he is in charge and I'm just following his footsteps.

    Funny that you feel that way. As I said what Tovan does is no different from what your Fed bridge officers do. Sorry, but what I'm getting from your writing is that you feel inadequate next to him.
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    All colonists from Virinat are thieves. In the story Cryptic have created there are millions of Romulans starving, but those few chosen from Virinat decided to appropriate (I hope it's the right word) an entire agricultural colony, entire planet, just for themselves. They trade only with other thieves, defectors and traitors like D'Tan instead of allowing the government to redistribute the goods among loyal citizens in need. Instead of rebuilding the Empire they help tearing it apart. When Tovan joins RR he becomes a traitor, in later missions also a terrorist.

    They didn't appropriate a thing. Some of them were born there, others made a home there after most of the original population left, and they actually worked for the crops there while the Tal Shiar tried to sabotage them by keeping supplies and machinery from them. So yeah, if actually working for food while others play war in their spaceships makes you a thief. Not mentioning that the Tal Shiar blew up most loyal citizens of the Romulan Empire. So you have mass murderers and traitors call others thieves and traitors.
    FKA K-Tar, grumpy Klingon/El-Aurian hybrid. Now assimilated by PWE.
    Sometimes, if you want to bury the hatchet with a Klingon, it has to be in his skull. - Captain K'Tar of the USS Danu about J'mpok.
  • nyniknynik Member Posts: 1,628 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    kwiat007 wrote: »
    All colonists from Virinat are thieves. In the story Cryptic have created there are millions of Romulans starving, but those few chosen from Virinat decided to appropriate (I hope it's the right word) an entire agricultural colony, entire planet, just for themselves. They trade only with other thieves, defectors and traitors like D'Tan instead of allowing the government to redistribute the goods among loyal citizens in need. Instead of rebuilding the Empire they help tearing it apart. When Tovan joins RR he becomes a traitor, in later missions also a terrorist.

    An interesting take, although we haven't seen anything to suggest there is much of a representative government left at all, let alone any signs of 'resource redistribution' efforts on the part of Empire's shattered institutions. If anything, Sela seems to be 'ruling' through martial law while steadily being less aware of what the Tal'Shiar is actually getting up to - and its been like this for what? TWENTY TO THIRTY YEARS?

    Using D'Tan's *recent* separatist group as a scapegoat for the Empire's abject failure in protecting it's people may appeal to some. Uniting against a scapegoat might just be what is needed to make the ordinary people feel that bit less down-trodden by Sela's royal stranglehold and the Tal'Shiar's ruthless oppression of their lives.

    Either way, kindly sort it out before President Aennik Okeg allows Starfleet to breach it's prime directive by interfering with the internal matters of another society on May 21st!
  • doubleohninedoubleohnine Member Posts: 818 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    For starters someone please edit out all the spoilers here. Its not a spoiler thread, thanks alot guys, we dont all Tribble test.

    I'll admit I had no idea who my crew was going to be, so this helps that, for a while. But yeah, I want them all off my ship sooner rather than later. I dont play TOR, I play STO. Cryptic needs to stop JJing STO. Go work for TOR if you love their game so much. I was debating whether every crew member was going to wear the same uniform, or mix match, but I guess that decision has been made for me. Good thing I only planned on making ONE Romulan. Frankly, forced BOs discourages alts, and therefore player spending. Not exactly smart.

    Kestral finally gets creative control over boff characters, but still cant write them as BRIDGE OFFICERS and continues the disrespectful tone BO dialogue in this game has toward their captains. So sounds like she already failed again to write properly for Star Trek.
    STO: @AGNT009 Since Dec 2010
    Capt. Will Conquest of the U.S.S. Crusader
  • linyivelinyive Member Posts: 1,086 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    In Legacy of Romulus, players will experience the story like never before through unique companion Bridge Officers brought to life. These unique characters feature voice work, character art, and personalities all their own. Chief among these is Tovan Khev, the player?s friend, first officer, confidant and council throughout the all-new Romulan adventure featured in Legacy of Romulus. This is his story.
    So, we are not allowed to choose a customizable set of bridge officers?
  • jexsamxjexsamx Member Posts: 2,803 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    linyive wrote: »
    If there is no option to dismiss the companion, I might just skip playing the Romulan faction. Thanks for the suggestion. I want this story to be about my captain. I could careless about a talking companion.

    "Star Wars: The Old Republic" is a multi-player online role-playing game.

    "Star Trek: Online" is a linear multi-player strategy game.

    As I previously said -- If Cryptic is turning "Star Trek: Online" into a roleplaying game, I will have absolutely no problem with this new companion experience. I just do not see why a strategy game needs a talking companion.

    I hope Cryptic explains why a talking companion is necessary.

    I could careless about his backstory.

    Yes, how dare they inject roleplaying into a game you're already roleplaying in. The nerve.
  • assimilatedktarassimilatedktar Member Posts: 1,708 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Cryptic needs to stop JJing STO.

    That's exactly what they're doing.
    Kestral finally gets creative control over boff characters, but still cant write them as BRIDGE OFFICERS and continues the disrespectful tone BO dialogue in this game has toward their captains. So sounds like she already failed again to write properly for Star Trek.

    Didn't you just write that you haven't played on Tribble? But you are already accusing the writer of failure. Real nice.:rolleyes:
    FKA K-Tar, grumpy Klingon/El-Aurian hybrid. Now assimilated by PWE.
    Sometimes, if you want to bury the hatchet with a Klingon, it has to be in his skull. - Captain K'Tar of the USS Danu about J'mpok.
Sign In or Register to comment.