I just want to know for those who command a galaxy class starship or anyone from cryptic if in the game you can separate the saucer section and the battle section?
Pre-release videos would suggest that at one point the Saucer section could seperate, presumably this was removed because of a bug or gameplay issue. But that doesnt mean it will stay that way, with any luck that option will be added in at some point in the future.
The Galaxy model has the capacity to be separated and in some videos you can see that it does but the problem becomes - when you do spit into two ships - which one are you then driving? We could easily make it so that you are driving the Battle Bridge (what you see in prior vids) but what about the Saucer? Does it just follow you around? Does it sit dead in the water? Those are all issues that we've been looking into and hope to find a working solution for so we can get this in game.
The Galaxy model has the capacity to be separated and in some videos you can see that it does but the problem becomes - when you do spit into two ships - which one are you then driving? We could easily make it so that you are driving the Battle Bridge (what you see in prior vids) but what about the Saucer? Does it just follow you around? Does it sit dead in the water? Those are all issues that we've been looking into and hope to find a working solution for so we can get this in game.
So the mechanics are there for something like this or would that also have to be added?
I believe it's simple.
when you separate you command the battle section and as for the saucer you assign a BO to command it and give it co-ordinate where they'll wait for you.
doing so your ship become fast and more easy to manoeuvre
The Galaxy model has the capacity to be separated and in some videos you can see that it does but the problem becomes - when you do spit into two ships - which one are you then driving? We could easily make it so that you are driving the Battle Bridge (what you see in prior vids) but what about the Saucer? Does it just follow you around? Does it sit dead in the water? Those are all issues that we've been looking into and hope to find a working solution for so we can get this in game.
The saucer section was largely civilian wasn't it? Then on seperation wouldn't it make more sense for the saucer just to warp out and change the galaxy to have more power to weapons and a faster turning rate or something like that?
Could you not implement it with some sort of Attack Pattern XXXX where you give a specific set of instructions to the other additional sections, such as rotate around enemy left or right and fire at will with options like if below 50% shields use EPtS or something. So set as more of a rule base but let you fly the main battle section as you want.
Similar to the rule setup used in like FF12 for your additional characters.
Saucer separation should be a really rare ability, last ditch effort to save the ship. More problems arise of course.. what if one half gets destroyed during combat... does it just magically reappear?
I can understand why you haven't added that feature in yet Cryptic.. At some point it may be a neat, (rare) ability, but I'm sure you have bigger things to look at first.
LOL :P I was being rhetorical - we've discussed many if not all of the options stated above - it just takes time to build logic into a ship that players can customize and there needs to be a gameplay reason/benefit for doing all the work to make it happen that makes sense and is balanced. I've been begging for ship emotes as well - and have a list of them but it will take time to get them into game. I really want a /spock to shoot out a black torpedo when I'm in space. For those special memorial moments
LOL :P I was being rhetorical - we've discussed many if not all of the options stated above - it just takes time to build logic into a ship that players can customize and there needs to be a gameplay reason/benefit for doing all the work to make it happen that makes sense and is balanced. I've been begging for ship emotes as well - and have a list of them but it will take time to get them into game. I really want a /spock to shoot out a black torpedo when I'm in space. For those special memorial moments
...ship emotes... AWESOME! hehe that could be fun probably not something worth spending a ton of effort on at the moment but in a few months definitely .
Perhaps it should replace or be tied to the abandon ship skill, when things get desperate you abandon ship, one piece fly off with reduced weapons while the other explodes damaging nearby enemies. You then have the choice to warp to saftey or stay and fight but because of reduce crew/weapons you do a % less damage.
When Intrepids go to warp they should so raise their pylons, i guess its because some of the variants already have them raised that its not being put in.
The Galaxy model has the capacity to be separated and in some videos you can see that it does but the problem becomes - when you do spit into two ships - which one are you then driving? We could easily make it so that you are driving the Battle Bridge (what you see in prior vids) but what about the Saucer? Does it just follow you around? Does it sit dead in the water? Those are all issues that we've been looking into and hope to find a working solution for so we can get this in game.
You've got plenty of Star Trek AI models to choose from such as ST Legacy (whom many people might shoot me for suggesting).
Not only that, but you have AI models from old games such as Wing Commander to Sacrifice. Hitting closer to home, you have AI pet mechanics like hunters/warlocks in WoW. (The AI in STO right now needs polishing). I realize you guys might not have the time to play all these games I've mentioned, so if you need the details, ask and I'll provide them (or someone else will).
As far as problems go in terms of logistics...
Default control the battle section, but be able to switch to Saucer section. The part that is not being player controlled acts as a pet, which automatically attacks nearby enemies. With Saucer separation mode come an array of clickable attributes for both parts, as well as a set list of orders such as:
Stay in Formation
Follow Me
Break and Attack
Attack Nearby Enemies
Attack my target
Attack enemy who is attacking me
Retreat
Defend target
If one part of your ship is destroyed, it would be necessary to go to Earth Space dock and pay a merit or energy "repair fee" for which the missing segment is replaced. You could also tie these mechanics into whatever death penalty you guys settle on (if at all).
LOL :P I was being rhetorical - we've discussed many if not all of the options stated above - it just takes time to build logic into a ship that players can customize and there needs to be a gameplay reason/benefit for doing all the work to make it happen that makes sense and is balanced. I've been begging for ship emotes as well - and have a list of them but it will take time to get them into game. I really want a /spock to shoot out a black torpedo when I'm in space. For those special memorial moments
I believe it's simple.
when you separate you command the battle section and as for the saucer you assign a BO to command it and give it co-ordinate where they'll wait for you.
doing so your ship become fast and more easy to manoeuvre
I think the best way to handle it would be to have it a "Pet" that follows you around. Have it take one front and one rear weapon and give it some of the basic commands you can give a BOff. It takes half your hull points (or some other percentage that might work better) and while the battle section still has it's full shields, the Saucer section has a weakened version of those same shields.
Meanwhile, the battle section (run by the player) Has greater maneuverability to make up for the lack of hull, And perhaps greater weapons power to make up for the weapons lost (since it will no longer have to power the saucer section). If the Saucer section is "destroyed/disabled" then you lose it and the weapons it took with it for a maybe a minute or two, or until you are out of combat, whichever takes longer.
There are a few Practical reasons to use that tactic, the best i can think of is to aggro a bunch of smaller, quicker ships into attacking the saucer while the battle section sets up for ideal striking positions, or takes out a larger threat without being harassed by it's minions. who knows what else people will come up with.
If nothing else people will play with the ability for others.
The Galaxy model has the capacity to be separated and in some videos you can see that it does but the problem becomes - when you do spit into two ships - which one are you then driving? We could easily make it so that you are driving the Battle Bridge (what you see in prior vids) but what about the Saucer? Does it just follow you around? Does it sit dead in the water? Those are all issues that we've been looking into and hope to find a working solution for so we can get this in game.
I would think you have to do something for this but:
The saucer section acts as your pet and follows you around or vice versa. You would have to add stay commands and follow to make this work. That way if you want to leave the saucer you tell it to stay, you could also redesignate the engineering section as the pet.
Weapon power could be simply more for the engineering half and less for the suacer? This might make sense in order to balance out damage output.
The saucer section was largely civilian wasn't it? Then on seperation wouldn't it make more sense for the saucer just to warp out and change the galaxy to have more power to weapons and a faster turning rate or something like that?
Galaxy saucer doesn't have warp engines, just impulse. The only separable ship in all of Trek that had warp nacelled onthe saucer (retractable) was the Prometheus prototype.
In early episodes of TNG they show the saucer fighting the Borg alongside the battle section - again, it's a bit difficult to control, not to mention VASTLY overpowered if you kep the weapons power the same on both hulls (doubel firepower while split? Tripled for the Prometheus?) - what happens if one part gets destroyed? The saucer's dead in the water without the warp section (shown in "Generations") - though what a death penalty if you lose the saucer, huh? (Lost ALL consoles/weapons/shields./etc and have to re-buy 'em)...not to mention a saucer section
lets keep it in Startrek universe the saucer once seperated never goes in battle. on st TNG I never see the saucer to be use as a back up in battle (unless I forget some episode)
Galaxy saucer doesn't have warp engines, just impulse. The only separable ship in all of Trek that had warp nacelled onthe saucer (retractable) was the Prometheus prototype.
In early episodes of TNG they show the saucer fighting the Borg alongside the battle section - again, it's a bit difficult to control, not to mention VASTLY overpowered if you kep the weapons power the same on both hulls (doubel firepower while split? Tripled for the Prometheus?) - what happens if one part gets destroyed? The saucer's dead in the water without the warp section (shown in "Generations") - though what a death penalty if you lose the saucer, huh? (Lost ALL consoles/weapons/shields./etc and have to re-buy 'em)...not to mention a saucer section
Galaxy saucer doesn't have warp engines, just impulse. The only separable ship in all of Trek that had warp nacelled onthe saucer (retractable) was the Prometheus prototype.
In early episodes of TNG they show the saucer fighting the Borg alongside the battle section - again, it's a bit difficult to control, not to mention VASTLY overpowered if you kep the weapons power the same on both hulls (doubel firepower while split? Tripled for the Prometheus?) - what happens if one part gets destroyed? The saucer's dead in the water without the warp section (shown in "Generations") - though what a death penalty if you lose the saucer, huh? (Lost ALL consoles/weapons/shields./etc and have to re-buy 'em)...not to mention a saucer section
I could have sworn they said something about the saucer section being capable of sustaining warp 4... come to think of it though that could have been photon torpedoes... eh probably torpedoes.
Off the top of my head, they separate in Encounter at Farpoint (the only time you see them join back together too), Arsenal of Freedom and Best of Both Worlds pt 2. In Encounter at Farpoint, it implies that the saucer section can warp too, as they leave it in space then warp to Farpoint and wait for it to arrive, though that's probably just an oversight.
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I recall a devpost about it waay back in closed beta.
Quoted for fun! ^^
Kaiyanwan
So the mechanics are there for something like this or would that also have to be added?
when you separate you command the battle section and as for the saucer you assign a BO to command it and give it co-ordinate where they'll wait for you.
doing so your ship become fast and more easy to manoeuvre
The saucer section was largely civilian wasn't it? Then on seperation wouldn't it make more sense for the saucer just to warp out and change the galaxy to have more power to weapons and a faster turning rate or something like that?
Similar to the rule setup used in like FF12 for your additional characters.
I can understand why you haven't added that feature in yet Cryptic.. At some point it may be a neat, (rare) ability, but I'm sure you have bigger things to look at first.
...ship emotes... AWESOME! hehe that could be fun probably not something worth spending a ton of effort on at the moment but in a few months definitely .
Was really excited to get it and see if it did it. But alas...Lovin the game so far though!
You've got plenty of Star Trek AI models to choose from such as ST Legacy (whom many people might shoot me for suggesting).
Not only that, but you have AI models from old games such as Wing Commander to Sacrifice. Hitting closer to home, you have AI pet mechanics like hunters/warlocks in WoW. (The AI in STO right now needs polishing). I realize you guys might not have the time to play all these games I've mentioned, so if you need the details, ask and I'll provide them (or someone else will).
As far as problems go in terms of logistics...
Default control the battle section, but be able to switch to Saucer section. The part that is not being player controlled acts as a pet, which automatically attacks nearby enemies. With Saucer separation mode come an array of clickable attributes for both parts, as well as a set list of orders such as:
If one part of your ship is destroyed, it would be necessary to go to Earth Space dock and pay a merit or energy "repair fee" for which the missing segment is replaced. You could also tie these mechanics into whatever death penalty you guys settle on (if at all).
Meanwhile, the battle section (run by the player) Has greater maneuverability to make up for the lack of hull, And perhaps greater weapons power to make up for the weapons lost (since it will no longer have to power the saucer section). If the Saucer section is "destroyed/disabled" then you lose it and the weapons it took with it for a maybe a minute or two, or until you are out of combat, whichever takes longer.
There are a few Practical reasons to use that tactic, the best i can think of is to aggro a bunch of smaller, quicker ships into attacking the saucer while the battle section sets up for ideal striking positions, or takes out a larger threat without being harassed by it's minions. who knows what else people will come up with.
If nothing else people will play with the ability for others.
I would think you have to do something for this but:
The saucer section acts as your pet and follows you around or vice versa. You would have to add stay commands and follow to make this work. That way if you want to leave the saucer you tell it to stay, you could also redesignate the engineering section as the pet.
Weapon power could be simply more for the engineering half and less for the suacer? This might make sense in order to balance out damage output.
at least you can use it to rescue near by damage ship's crew and fly to safty
Galaxy saucer doesn't have warp engines, just impulse. The only separable ship in all of Trek that had warp nacelled onthe saucer (retractable) was the Prometheus prototype.
In early episodes of TNG they show the saucer fighting the Borg alongside the battle section - again, it's a bit difficult to control, not to mention VASTLY overpowered if you kep the weapons power the same on both hulls (doubel firepower while split? Tripled for the Prometheus?) - what happens if one part gets destroyed? The saucer's dead in the water without the warp section (shown in "Generations") - though what a death penalty if you lose the saucer, huh? (Lost ALL consoles/weapons/shields./etc and have to re-buy 'em)...not to mention a saucer section
I could have sworn they said something about the saucer section being capable of sustaining warp 4... come to think of it though that could have been photon torpedoes... eh probably torpedoes.
First season, I don't remember the episide name - will track it down. They used the same video later on a screen in another episide,
Off the top of my head, they separate in Encounter at Farpoint (the only time you see them join back together too), Arsenal of Freedom and Best of Both Worlds pt 2. In Encounter at Farpoint, it implies that the saucer section can warp too, as they leave it in space then warp to Farpoint and wait for it to arrive, though that's probably just an oversight.