test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

Current Impressions, Feedback and Hopes for the Future of STO

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Greetings all.

As we are now only one day out from the official (non-headstart) launch, I thought it would be worthwhile to finally write up a more cohesive list of feedback. As I know the developers want critical feedback as well when someone does not like something, I have tried to be as detailed as possible about even what I did not like alongside suggestions for changes or improvements.

Space Combat: All in all I am very fond of space combat thus far in STO. Flying around in my starships and fighting various enemies is one of my favorite aspects of the game currently. This is one of the strongest aspects of STO right now and I hope the experience only gets better over time.
  • Likes: Overall feel and visuals of space content. Great choices of different weapon types as well as good variation within weapon categories.
  • Dislikes: Vertical movement feels too awkward with spiraling to ascend and descend.
  • Suggestions: Allow steeper angle of rise and decent on the Z-axis. Consider inclusion of static thrusters to rise or descend, albeit slowly, when stationary.

Ground Combat: To be blunt, ground combat is currently one of my least favorite aspects of STO at the moment.
  • Likes: Variety of different weapons. Tactical nature to ground combat with flanking, etc.
  • Dislikes: Requirement to swap weapons to get different beam settings. It feels like certain types of weapons should have more than just two beam modes, of a standard attack and a special attack. Slow pace of combat, time to kill of targets seems a bit too long.
  • Suggestions: Re-engineer weapons to allow for different types of beam or firing settings. Keep method of primary attack and special secondary attack when in-combat, but allow the modes to be switched outside of combat perhaps. Add visual indication to ground-combat for personal shields if possible.

Character Customization: Thus far I think the initial character customization potential is very nice. There is still a lot of room for improvement of course, but the foundation for how character creation progresses currently is very good. In general I would like to see more of the same, more options, more races and so forth.
  • Likes: Look, feel and general utility of the character customization tools.
  • Dislikes: Lack of certain desirable visual customization options. Uniform options seem a little lacking initially.
  • Suggestions: Add both more default racial options as well as additional parts for unique species customization. More uniform parts and options. In specific more options for the lower-half of the body are needed. Aside from the often-demanded Catians, I would like to see the addition of both Holographic Bridge Officers as well as Playable Characters.

Ships & Ship Customization: Though I have only customized a few different types of ship thus far, this aspect of the game is off to a good start for launch I think. The overall initial variety of ships for both Starfleet and Klingon faction players is good, but more will be desired as time goes on of course.
  • Likes: Tools and layout for Ship Customization UI. Good assortment of options thus far for existing ship types. Good progression of ship improvements (slots, weapon placements, consoles, etc.) over time.
  • Dislikes: Lack of certain specific and iconic Starfleet ships such as the Excelsior-class or the Nebula-class. Lack of a Battlecruiser option for Klingons once they graduate from their first Bird of Prey.
  • Suggestions: More ship types within each of the currently existing categories, for purposes of visual customization, would be the ideal improvement over time. Add something like a toned-down K't'inga-class ship for Klingons at the lower tier to compliment the Raptor and Bird of Prey. Additional customization options within each tier and for each category of ship in general.

Sector Space: Traveling between locations in sector space is a very nice experience thus far. My complaints currently center around how this divides up the 'world map' too much and creates a feeling of isolation in my opinion.
  • Likes: Auto-travel, manual-travel and general utility of movement in sector space. Wandering NPC contacts and PvE enemies.
  • Dislikes: Sector space being 'chopped up' into instanced blocks. Loading times when moving between them.
  • Suggestions: Merge the directly aligned sections of sector space over time to create a larger contiguous world map. Add more destinations within existing blocks in space over time, such as famous worlds, various species homeworlds and so forth.

Social Spaces: I have not yet visited all of the social spaces (such as planetary surfaces) that are in game. Of those I have visited thus far, they do seem a little barren and could utilize additional content.
  • Likes: Existence of social spaces at all.
  • Dislikes: Being able to see the zone boundary edges. Social spaces are marginalized currently, being 'off the beaten path'. Social spaces lack content, vendors, interesting NPCs and other aspects that could help make them hubs of activity and content.
  • Suggestions: Add more social hubs, such as Starfleet Headquarters on Earth and other notable locations. Expand the interior space of primary important hubs, such as space stations and other locations so more content can be added. Add NPCs, points of interest and other hub content to existing social spaces that are empty, such as Vulcan or Risa.

Playable Factions: I would like to see an increase in the number of playable factions in-game over time. The Federation and the Klingon Empire are a good starting point of course, but the demand will certainly exist to play as other groups. The three top factions I would like to see added are the Romulans, the Dominion and the Borg.
  • Romulan Star Empire: Good selection of potential ships and member races already exists. Would include the Romulans, the Remans and potentially the Hirogen to start. Good faction to exist that could be in conflict with both the Federation and the Klingons.
  • Dominion: The Dominion would make a very good playable faction in my opinion. The only problem would be deciding how to handle the Founders and Changelings in general. Could always include Cardassia (again) as a member of the Dominion or even the Breen again as well. Good selection of potential ship types and member races.
  • Borg: While it would be a bit tricky or difficult to implement, I would like to see the Borg exist as a playable faction. This would require a story change of some kind to allow for 'captain' Borg entities of course. Player-character Borg in this faction would have to be on par with Locutus or the Borg Queen in terms of still retaining some aspects of free will, initiative and the like. Bridge Officers would just be various types of customizable Borg Drones that fill the existing types of roles. Ships would be the smaller types of Borg vessels such as Spheres, Probes/Scout Ships and perhaps variants on the Borg Queen's Vessel at higher Tiers.
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on

Comments

This discussion has been closed.