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Forums > Home› Star Trek Online General Discussion

Cryptic , where are the higher-quality Specialist Boffs ingame ? (intel etc.)

aelfwin1aelfwin1 Member Posts: 2,896 Arc User
edited May 2015 in Star Trek Online General Discussion
Allow me a brief quote from a Blog that addressed this issue when Intel Specialist Boff's first began to show (highlights are my own) :
We intend to make higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officers available through various in-game methods, but the specific details are still in flux. More precise details will become available as we near the launch date for this expansion.
Jeremy “BorticusCryptic” Randall

Source .


So , considering that it's been six months , and I can get one (sci) higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officer in game (Mr. Potato Head) , and a few from the Lobi store (@ 300 Lobi a pop) , or ... I can buy the DR ship bundle (only 15.000 Zen) -- where exactly are those higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officers available through various in-game activities ?

The question also includes the other types of Specialist Bridge Officers (Command , Pilot) , as well as a request for a wider variety of higher-quality Specialist Boffs (Tac , Sci , Eng , Fed , Rom , KDF) including different species .





... unless I am to believe that the sharpest minds in the galaxy are the Hierarchy & Talaxians -- as far as Intelligence officers of higher quality go ... ?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • warpangelwarpangel Member Posts: 9,427 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    You've been able to train any bridge officer with any specialization (or all of them if you want) since the training revamp in February, so... They are everywhere.
  • mustrumridcully0mustrumridcully0 Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    warpangel wrote: »
    You've been able to train any bridge officer with any specialization (or all of them if you want) since the training revamp in February, so... They are everywhere.

    Yeah, that seems to cover it pretty well - you don't need dedicated Intel BOFFs from anywhere, you can just send your own high quality officers back to school. (Don't worry, it won't take long).

    For piloting, they also added a Pilot Qualifaction Manual to Delta Flight.

    So I think they got it covered with training manuals. You don't need to expand your BOFF Roster infinitely just because they're adding specs.
    Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
  • induperatorinduperator Member Posts: 806 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    mustrumridcully0 wrote: »
    Yeah, that seems to cover it pretty well - you don't need dedicated Intel BOFFs from anywhere, you can just send your own high quality officers back to school. (Don't worry, it won't take long).

    For piloting, they also added a Pilot Qualifaction Manual to Delta Flight.

    So I think they got it covered with training manuals. You don't need to expand your BOFF Roster infinitely just because they're adding specs.

    A few months ago I was thinking I'd have to get a new set of Specialized Bridge officers but luckily the Specialization Qualification means we can also keep Boffs that have certain favourable Space traits like the efficient Liberated Borg officers.
  • pwecangetlostpwecangetlost Member Posts: 538 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    warpangel wrote: »
    You've been able to train any bridge officer with any specialization (or all of them if you want) since the training revamp in February, so... They are everywhere.

    Thanks for clearing this up. I had no idea if you got 'locked in' to a trained specialism with your Boffs, was really reluctant to make use of the training manual.
  • bernatkbernatk Member Posts: 1,089 Bug Hunter
    edited May 2015
    aelfwin1 wrote: »
    Allow me a brief quote from a Blog that addressed this issue when Intel Specialist Boff's first began to show (highlights are my own) :



    Source .


    So , considering that it's been six months , and I can get one (sci) higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officer in game (Mr. Potato Head) , and a few from the Lobi store (@ 300 Lobi a pop) , or ... I can buy the DR ship bundle (only 15.000 Zen) -- where exactly are those higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officers available through various in-game activities ?

    The question also includes the other types of Specialist Bridge Officers (Command , Pilot) , as well as a request for a wider variety of higher-quality Specialist Boffs (Tac , Sci , Eng , Fed , Rom , KDF) including different species .





    ... unless I am to believe that the sharpest minds in the galaxy are the Hierarchy & Talaxians -- as far as Intelligence officers of higher quality go ... ?

    Yeah, it's not easy to figure out but I'm here to help you out. We vets should teach you noobs.

    Alrighty then. You play the game thus earn dilithium (it's an ingame resource you can refine only 8k a day). Then you buy Zen on the dil exchange. With those Zen you buy master keys (which open lockboxes). Lockboxes contain 4 lobi crystals. If you have hefty amount of lobi, double cklick on them and buy your desired boff.
    You can also buy Delta pack with accumulated Zen.

    I hope this helped. And welcome to the game, noob.
    Tck7dQ2.jpg
    Dahar Master Mary Sue                                               Fleet Admiral Bloody Mary
  • garaks31garaks31 Member Posts: 2,845 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    actually i would not help someone that asks sarcastic questions without searching for solutions himself but i do it this one time

    Specialization Qualification - Command
    - intel
    - pilot

    search those in exc. and all the high tier BO manuels can be found in exc too

    i really like the commands abilities they are great for eps replays ...

    http://i.imgur.com/MGLJdwU.png
    tmprl.jpg?width=998&height=499

    https://forum.arcgames.com/startrekonline/discussion/1249570/axanar-locks-in-start-date-for-filming
  • duncanidaho11duncanidaho11 Member Posts: 7,980 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    aelfwin1 wrote: »
    So , considering that it's been six months , and I can get one (sci) higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officer in game (Mr. Potato Head) , and a few from the Lobi store (@ 300 Lobi a pop) , or ... I can buy the DR ship bundle (only 15.000 Zen) -- where exactly are those higher-quality Specialist Bridge Officers available through various in-game activities ?

    It also doesn't appear that the OP found the Kobali command boff in the "Dust to Dust" maze (still claimable too, just keep an eye on your minimap). :P
    Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
    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!
  • farmallmfarmallm Member Posts: 4,630 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    They are in the game, just have to look for them. There is a Kobali freebie in Dust to Dust. Also you can look at the exchange or vendors. I found some there as well.

    My ships has a couple of these Special Boffs. Not to mention I have my main Boffs trained in several skills. Thus making them even better than they used to be. So I can swap up skills at a moments notice to help.
    Enterprise%20C_zpsrdrf3v8d.jpg

    USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
    Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited May 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • aelfwin1aelfwin1 Member Posts: 2,896 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    warpangel wrote: »
    You've been able to train any bridge officer with any specialization (or all of them if you want) since the training revamp in February, so... They are everywhere.

    HA .

    HA-HA !!

    Ha .... . :(

    That is what I have to say to that , after what I've been through the last few hours on this fine Saturday .

    So let's see ... :


    * No actual info / help in game (or in their Blog) from Cryptic . Shocking .

    * Gotta hit Google .
    Okidoke , after a little while of pointless reading (see Cryptic's Blog) , I finally hit what I actually needed (not a snarky reply like the one above , but the term "Specialization Qualification - Intelligence") .

    Thanks stoacademy .
    But wait , there's more !
    According to STOacademy :
    When you allocate 10 Captain Specialization points to the Intelligence Specialization, you can craft a "Specialization Qualification - Intelligence". That item allows you to turn a Bridge Officer into an Intelligence-Hybrid Bridge Officer, so that Intelligence abilities can be used.

    When you allocate 22 Captain Specialization points to the Intelligence Specialization, you can craft Intelligence abilities

    Grrrreat , I'm saved !!! :cool:

    Except I have zero points on anything on that toon , sooo ... -- I know ... , THE EXCHANGE !!!

    Wait ... , that's the same exchange that is working optionally at the moment , right ?
    (2 days ago I was only able to see 3 Fleet Modules on it for example -- even when there were more according to sellers from whom I got them cheaper face to face on ESD)


    So here came that feeling of a House of Cards ... .
    Something kinda works... , but only so far as it depends on you having EC and the Exchange working right -- not to mention someone else having to grind out 10-22 Spec points in some ****ty Spec tree .

    CHARMING .

    But wait ... , there is still more .
    After I shoved a bunch of Dil to this needy toon , turned that into FC , bought 2 Rommy Boffs from the Embassy -- guess what happens when I finally try to train said Boffs to become Intel Officers (with that ever so special "Specialization Qualification" thingy that I did manage to get from the Exchange) ???

    IT DID NOT WORK !!!

    And yes , it was at this point that I had the very strong urge to reach across the screen and punch whoever the f&ck developed this merry go round in the face . :mad:

    Because F-#-C-K whoever came up with this , and whoever then marketed this as "much easier" then the old system .


    - So at this point , between fuming , wanting to delete this sorry game , and feeling that even if I started to explain this to someone , I'd break down in the middle and just become a torrent of colorful metaphors -- well , at this point I chose to ask for help -- with the pre-warning , that I might have a meltdown during the process . :o


    So guess what ?
    It turns out that you cannot train your Boff with "Specialization Qualification" --- until you promoted your Boff , not once , not twice , but all 3 times ... .

    Yes ... , this is "simple" , this is "easy" , and this is "much better" -- according to Cryptic .




    ... oh , and this may be stupid sentiment at this point -- since this was a toon that I also had to get Mk XIV gear for ... , but I DO SO MISS THE DAYS ... , when you could get a new ship ready to fly within 20-40 minutes ... , and do so without breaking the bank , your nerves , and just enjoy a new purchase ...
  • thecosmic1thecosmic1 Member Posts: 9,365 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    You can go to the Trainer on a Faction base, like ESD, and buy a Class Upgrade directly from him - or you can buy them from the Exchange. This will allow you to turn a Tac Boff into a Tac/Intel Boff, or Tac/Pilot Boff, or whatever you want.

    You can then buy the Specialist Abilities directly from that same Trainer - and add/change them just like you would any other Boff ability. Or you can buy them from the Exchange.

    It took me all of 1 minute to buy Pilot Specializations and Boff skills for my new Rom Pilot ships.
    STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
  • orion0029orion0029 Member Posts: 1,122 Bug Hunter
    edited May 2015
    Umm... Ok, you kinda lost me, aelfwin1, in that maze of gripes, complaints, and would-be-profanities...

    I agree there could be some better explanation about qualificaiton manuals in-game, I found out about them by reading my specialization perks.

    And training a boff with a specialization could use some explaining, I hit the 'needs promoting' wall too...

    Still, I didn't have to resort to google searches and wiki pages, it just takes a little reading in-game...

    Aside from the rather poor explanations on how to use it, the boff specialization system is quite nice as it allows players to keep their old boffs and train them in all the new abilities present and future. :)

    (And honestly, who wants to have mountains of boffs on their roster when the old ones* work just as well?)

    *assuming preferable traits
  • duncanidaho11duncanidaho11 Member Posts: 7,980 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    aelfwin1 wrote: »

    Wait ... , that's the same exchange that is working optionally at the moment , right ?

    Yup. In addition to not looking around in game (ex. relevant tooltips), on the website (they did discuss this update), or in your head for connected pieces of information you also didn't bother to look on the exchange right now for intel and command qualifications :P. They're not expensive, there's nothing wrong with their search function (they weren't listed under the old data sample category), and you can claim a pilot specialization as a mission reward from Delta Flight.
    CHARMING .

    So guess what ?
    It turns out that you cannot train your Boff with "Specialization Qualification" --- until you promoted your Boff , not once , not twice , but all 3 times ... .
    .

    You also have to promote your officers to use their higher level abilities regardless of their specialization (its absolutely pointless to train in a spec before promoting). It also costs a incredibly minor amount of XP and you only need to do it once for each officer.

    OP, you made a mistake in overlooking a recent update. Ranting more is the worst way of trying to save face. Take a deep breath, step away from the keyboard, and go do something else for a while.
    Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
    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!
  • carlosbflycarlosbfly Member Posts: 682 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    I have a question on this - I've trained a tactical BOFF in Intel skills and purchased (and applied) ground Intel skills to use on the character. However, after doing so I can't have them use the Intel skills despite them being trained.

    The space powers will work on the BOFF, just not the ground Intel ones.

    Is this normal?
  • bobtheskull99bobtheskull99 Member Posts: 706 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    carlosbfly wrote: »
    I have a question on this - I've trained a tactical BOFF in Intel skills and purchased (and applied) ground Intel skills to use on the character. However, after doing so I can't have them use the Intel skills despite them being trained.

    The space powers will work on the BOFF, just not the ground Intel ones.

    Is this normal?

    I have noticed a few bugs with the ground abilitys....sometimes there is a graphical glitch where a skill wont change in the UI even though the skill has really been selected....also sometimes ground abilities will "reset" before beaming down you can re-select them and they work fine.....
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