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Taken by surprise (new episode) discussion

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  • edited September 2023
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  • solidshark214solidshark214 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
    As good as the likes of City on the Edge of Forever, Tapestry, etc. are, I don't see how stories of such natures could be made to work in a video game. There's just nothing of genuine "gameplay" material in there.
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  • solidshark214solidshark214 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
    As good as the likes of City on the Edge of Forever, Tapestry, etc. are, I don't see how stories of such natures could be made to work in a video game. There's just nothing of genuine "gameplay" material in there.

    No, but my point is that the scope of the stories is smaller. We don't have to be constantly saving all of reality, it kind of trivializes it when EVERY threat is of such scope.

    Okay, that's fair enough. I have exactly that problem with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for that matter the Star Ocean games. There comes a point where you really have to wonder why the universe hasn't been destroyed already, with so many threats capable of doing so.
  • sierra078sierra078 Member Posts: 335 Arc User
    The mission was good IMO, the only thing that really bothered me was Kim acting like he never lost crewmembers before. From the voice lines one might think the Inyua was his first command. He's a veteran of Delta Rising, Iconian War, Tzenkethi war, Hur'q war, temporal wars, and the more recent conflicts with the terrans and V'ger.
  • annemarie30annemarie30 Member Posts: 2,698 Arc User
    As good as the likes of City on the Edge of Forever, Tapestry, etc. are, I don't see how stories of such natures could be made to work in a video game. There's just nothing of genuine "gameplay" material in there.

    No, but my point is that the scope of the stories is smaller. We don't have to be constantly saving all of reality, it kind of trivializes it when EVERY threat is of such scope.

    I have said forever that we need to go back to check up on some of the planets already seen.. just like Lower Decks is doing. see what the romans are up to or the gangsters or the children of Vaal
    We Want Vic Fontaine
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  • duncanidaho11duncanidaho11 Member Posts: 7,980 Arc User
    edited September 2023
    sierra078 wrote: »
    The mission was good IMO, the only thing that really bothered me was Kim acting like he never lost crewmembers before. From the voice lines one might think the Inyua was his first command. He's a veteran of Delta Rising, Iconian War, Tzenkethi war, Hur'q war, temporal wars, and the more recent conflicts with the terrans and V'ger.

    It's token character trauma, I hate to say it but the presentation of Kim as recoiling in horror at this without dealing in any terms with it does his character dirty (because it presents that trauma for a momentary reaction and treats it subsequently with zero gravity as zero mission time was dedicated to its reflection.)

    His role in this mission is experience a horrible situation in the moment, for the thrills of seeing him in that moment, and we don't say one word to him about it. This is Borg 2.0 and potentially has strong resonance with Federation characters but none of that comes through in the writing and mission structure. We don't have a conversation with him. We don't have a scene with him at the end, either with the player or on Kim's own reflecting on the situation and showing character growth. We retread first contact, at length, and hang the motivation on damseling Kumarkee (who's role in the mission is inexplicable, she's more or less here to get abducted) rather than rescuing Kim's crew despite basic motivation to do so, for a captain we've gone to the mat for in the past. It presents ourselves as wholly unsympathetic characters, letting our colleague face this in silence, without lifting a finger to help his crew in the end. More convenient to just kill them. Altogether, that's an awful feeling to be left with as a player, right as the game is trying to psyche us up for what's next.

    This was potentially a powerful mission but the creative directions taken undermine that completely.
    Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
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  • saurializardsaurializard Member Posts: 4,404 Arc User
    edited September 2023
    Kuumaarke's role in this episode is kinda hilarious for all the wrong reasons.
    She's an admiral, yet she's down here in Engineering on a ship that isn't hers, to protect protomatter stuff that has no reason to be on that ship and not hers.
    Then she gets captured in the worst case of "absolutely no-one, for no valid reasons, is paying attention to her despite the on-going danger, when it happens".
    Then, the Borg spend way too long before attempting to assimilate her, apparently, since only when you show up after your tour on the cube do the Borg mention she's resilient to assimilation.
    Oh yeah, turns out she's immune to basic assimilation, yet her species already has a Borg designation so the Borg should know that already.
    #TASforSTO
    Iconian_Trio_sign.jpg?raw=1
  • vetteguy904vetteguy904 Member Posts: 3,934 Arc User
    sierra078 wrote: »
    The mission was good IMO, the only thing that really bothered me was Kim acting like he never lost crewmembers before. From the voice lines one might think the Inyua was his first command. He's a veteran of Delta Rising, Iconian War, Tzenkethi war, Hur'q war, temporal wars, and the more recent conflicts with the terrans and V'ger.

    It's token character trauma, I hate to say it but the presentation of Kim as recoiling in horror at this without dealing in any terms with it does his character dirty (because it presents that trauma for a momentary reaction and treats it subsequently with zero gravity as zero mission time was dedicated to its reflection.)

    His role in this mission is experience a horrible situation in the moment, for the thrills of seeing him in that moment, and we don't say one word to him about it. This is Borg 2.0 and potentially has strong resonance with Federation characters but none of that comes through in the writing and mission structure. We don't have a conversation with him. We don't have a scene with him at the end, either with the player or on Kim's own reflecting on the situation and showing character growth. We retread first contact, at length, and hang the motivation on damseling Kumarkee (who's role in the mission is inexplicable, she's more or less here to get abducted) rather than rescuing Kim's crew despite basic motivation to do so, for a captain we've gone to the mat for in the past. It presents ourselves as wholly unsympathetic characters, letting our colleague face this in silence, without lifting a finger to help his crew in the end. More convenient to just kill them. Altogether, that's an awful feeling to be left with as a player, right as the game is trying to psyche us up for what's next.

    This was potentially a powerful mission but the creative directions taken undermine that completely.

    The problem is that you have basically 4 types of characters in this story from the player perspective, Romulan, Federation, Klingon and Jem Hadar. bot the Jemmies and the klinks would crings if they were scripted to to be consoling to Kim. I don't know if they Roms would or not. so you suggest that the script for fed. fair enough, the majority of players play fed, but it just goes down the "cryptic doesn't care about the KDF/RRW?Dominion" rabbit hole. That was what i liked in older missions like step between the stars, were you could say oh cooper please be strong, or Tuvok says you are the man to Listen up, I'm not dying here because of YOU. but that's my preference and it can impede gameplay I suppose
    sig.jpg
  • baucoinbaucoin Member Posts: 821 Arc User
    I'm sorry but the whole moving through the jefferies tubes at a snail's pace wasn't needed. The argument that you and Kim are trying to be quiet really doesn't hold up. At one point there is an explosion somewhere on the ship and Kim SHOUTS over the communicator "This is Kim - what just happened? Report!". There goes being stealthy.
  • rattler2rattler2 Member, Star Trek Online Moderator Posts: 58,667 Community Moderator
    So I heard from a friend that the Mirror Borg have Suicide Spheres as well as the kamekaze drones. And they HURT.
    db80k0m-89201ed8-eadb-45d3-830f-bb2f0d4c0fe7.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ExOGQ4ZWM2LTUyZjQtNDdiMS05YTI1LTVlYmZkYmJkOGM3N1wvZGI4MGswbS04OTIwMWVkOC1lYWRiLTQ1ZDMtODMwZi1iYjJmMGQ0YzBmZTcucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.8G-Pg35Qi8qxiKLjAofaKRH6fmNH3qAAEI628gW0eXc
    I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
    The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
    normal text = me speaking as fellow formite
    colored text = mod mode
  • baucoinbaucoin Member Posts: 821 Arc User
    This was brought up in the Feature Episode, Events, and PvE Content threads by Iokharno, but did anyone notice that the rewards for this new mission are very low? As Iokharno pointed out the mission only rewards 3570 exp, 450 expertise, and no dilithium ore. While the proceeding mission Wish Upon a Star rewards 16,125 exp, 14,325 experise, and 240 dilithium ore. Both sets of numbers are for the first play through.

    I'm mentioning this here so it will get more views, more people check out the general discussion area than the feedback section.
  • solidshark214solidshark214 Member Posts: 347 Arc User
    Another thing: Cryptic made kind of a big deal about getting a real-life scientist for Kim's science officer... and then she did basically nothing in the mission. I mean, a couple of lines of exposition that could've been anyone, I think? Just not sure what the point was. At least Kim and Kuumaarke did something in the mission.
  • vetteguy904vetteguy904 Member Posts: 3,934 Arc User
    edited September 2023
    rattler2 wrote: »
    So I heard from a friend that the Mirror Borg have Suicide Spheres as well as the kamekaze drones. And they HURT.

    I think that was what got Anne when she ranted. they chase you down when they hit 0 HP and blow up, you take massive antiproton damage it took me from full shields to about 30% in a Martok battlecruiser
    sig.jpg
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  • rattler2rattler2 Member, Star Trek Online Moderator Posts: 58,667 Community Moderator
    I think I'd rather they get real life ACTORS to do the voice ACTING. I mean, they want her to help work out the science in their science fiction, and I'm all for it. Maybe even base the character on her appearance, but let an actor do the acting.

    She's done some voice acting as well. The character she played in STO also appeared in Prodigy.
    db80k0m-89201ed8-eadb-45d3-830f-bb2f0d4c0fe7.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ExOGQ4ZWM2LTUyZjQtNDdiMS05YTI1LTVlYmZkYmJkOGM3N1wvZGI4MGswbS04OTIwMWVkOC1lYWRiLTQ1ZDMtODMwZi1iYjJmMGQ0YzBmZTcucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.8G-Pg35Qi8qxiKLjAofaKRH6fmNH3qAAEI628gW0eXc
    I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
    The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
    normal text = me speaking as fellow formite
    colored text = mod mode
  • postagepaidpostagepaid Member Posts: 2,899 Arc User
    Splodeyballs hints that the mirrorborg aren't as into efficiency as the regular ones or that they played STO as part of their preparation to invade and knew that's what their ships would be doing.

    The odd thing is it does seem as though nuking them down too fast for the suicide to trigger no longer causes a warpcore breach explosion which makes their mechanic pretty trivial when faced with the pewpew from years of meaningless power creep.
  • fleetcaptain5#1134 fleetcaptain5 Member Posts: 5,051 Arc User
    Another thing: Cryptic made kind of a big deal about getting a real-life scientist for Kim's science officer... and then she did basically nothing in the mission. I mean, a couple of lines of exposition that could've been anyone, I think? Just not sure what the point was. At least Kim and Kuumaarke did something in the mission.

    This is only the second episode in the new story arc, and the first where she appeared. There may be a bigger role for her in future episodes?

    I mean, she survived. Which is more than most of Harry's crew could say.
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  • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
    Did anyone find the anti-Borg phaser shotgun in the Jeffries Tubes?
    NMXb2ph.png
      "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
      -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
    • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,497 Arc User
      edited September 2023
      Did anyone find the anti-Borg phaser shotgun in the Jeffries Tubes?

      is there one?

      Edit: Apparently it is on one of the bodies in the tubes. I'll try to grab it with the character i plan to do the episode on today.

      If it is merely a phaser assault gun or blast assault gun with a borg modifier them it s likely not worth it.
      This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
    • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
      NMXb2ph.png
        "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
        -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
      • spacehermitspacehermit Member Posts: 358 Arc User
        Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?
      • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,497 Arc User
        Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?

        Cannot say i have.

        Going back to the shotgun found ingame, it appears to be the phaser assault which can be purchased in the Omega reputation store.
        This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
      • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
        questerius wrote: »
        Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?

        Cannot say i have.

        Going back to the shotgun found ingame, it appears to be the phaser assault which can be purchased in the Omega reputation store.

        Free gun is a free gun
        NMXb2ph.png
          "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
          -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
        • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,497 Arc User
          questerius wrote: »
          Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?

          Cannot say i have.

          Going back to the shotgun found ingame, it appears to be the phaser assault which can be purchased in the Omega reputation store.

          Free gun is a free gun

          While technically true, this weapon may actually be a worse pick against the Borg than a regular shotgun.
          The weapon sacrifices one weapon mod for a Borg modifier which add 10% kinetic damage. In addition kinetic damage is reduced by shields.
          This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
        • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
          questerius wrote: »
          questerius wrote: »
          Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?

          Cannot say i have.

          Going back to the shotgun found ingame, it appears to be the phaser assault which can be purchased in the Omega reputation store.

          Free gun is a free gun

          While technically true, this weapon may actually be a worse pick against the Borg than a regular shotgun.
          The weapon sacrifices one weapon mod for a Borg modifier which add 10% kinetic damage. In addition kinetic damage is reduced by shields.

          Still could be useful in non-Borg content so no big loss
          NMXb2ph.png
            "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
            -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
          • questeriusquesterius Member Posts: 8,497 Arc User
            questerius wrote: »
            questerius wrote: »
            Anyone else notice the Star Wars quote on the Jefferies tube doors?

            Cannot say i have.

            Going back to the shotgun found ingame, it appears to be the phaser assault which can be purchased in the Omega reputation store.

            Free gun is a free gun

            While technically true, this weapon may actually be a worse pick against the Borg than a regular shotgun.
            The weapon sacrifices one weapon mod for a Borg modifier which add 10% kinetic damage. In addition kinetic damage is reduced by shields.

            Still could be useful in non-Borg content so no big loss

            Technically yes, but as the name implies added functionality against the Borg and one ends up with less functionality against all it is a proverbial newbie trap. An item which does not live up to its promise.

            This program, though reasonably normal at times, seems to have a strong affinity to classes belonging to the Cat 2.0 program. Questerius 2.7 will break down on occasion, resulting in garbage and nonsense messages whenever it occurs. Usually a hard reboot or pulling the plug solves the problem when that happens.
          • theraven2378theraven2378 Member Posts: 6,016 Arc User
            Mine's still not fully upgraded
            NMXb2ph.png
              "The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
              -Lord Commander Solar Macharius
            This discussion has been closed.