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Episode 4 - Cold Case

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Finally get to use the puzzle for the star chart we have all been salivating over since it was accidently released early. Enjoyable story driven mission with lots of hidden goodies. All the existing items/clues suddenly coming to light and being discovered was a tad cheesy but fantastic mission overall.

POTENTIAL SPOLERS :eek:

Pro - Back to Defera - Been waiting for the next chapter here to learn more about...

Pro - Ruins! Star Chart!

Con - This just in, updated data explaining everything in detail.

Pro - Ruins puzzle, where is my plasma whip?

Con - The puzzle really was super but highlights the weakness in the dialog/interaction interface. "Activate panel" x 8

Con - Breen attack force, weaker than a patrol. Especially with the comment about the debris field I fully expected additional Breen hiding in there.

Con - Unidentified this, unknown that...all with a row of pretty nav beacons showing that plenty of people had been here before.

Pro - Hollow? That's no moon!

Pro - Using the term orrery.

Con - Popping asteroid zits.

Con - Couldn't at least try to disable the escaping Breen ships? What are we? Klingons?

Pro - Racing the Breen, this is the sense of urgency missing last episode.

Pro - Ground Breen really make for worthy opponents.

Con - My poor bikini clad Orion female tactical officer kneeling in the snow of Raveh II.

Pro - Another puzzle!

Con - It's not another puzzle.

Pro - Not this time Belloq...er Thot Par. Epic battle.

Pro - Boss Thot - I'm REALLY looking forward to mounting your helmet on the wall of my ready room.

Con - Nooooo it's over! Need to wait until next week! So good it hurts.

Con - Seriously this couldn't be any more like watching a favorite TV show ending on a cliffhanger. All that was missing was the "To be continued..." text.

Pro - The previous two cons. This episode was riveting.

Pro - Breen Biothermal Dampener - more mission integrated rewards. Now we just need to use all of them in the final episode.

Pro - Breen Biothermal Dampener - really cool effects!

Pro - Further updates from Ambassador Sugihara.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010

    Con - Nooooo it's over! Need to wait until next week! So good it hurts.

    Con - Seriously this couldn't be any more like watching a favorite TV show ending on a cliffhanger. All that was missing was the "To be continued..." text.

    thats something they need to look at doing..

    using something similer to the tech thats putting the mission names over the start, having a "to be continued... " at the end of each weekly with a "to be concluded..." on the second to last one..

    in fact, they could even use some of the cut-scene tech CO uses to maybe come up with a "previously on Star Trek Online" cutscenes at the start of each episode..

    the weekly episodes thing is innovative, and an amazing thing in itself, but something like this will cause some serious nerdvana i think :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    ACTUAL SPOLERS :eek:

    I'm stunned by the number of people complaining in zone chat in regard to the puzzle. These same people probably don't know how to highlight invisi-text though either. :rolleyes:

    Invisi-text
    >
    1. Park yourself on the middle node
    2. Direct your BO/party member to stand on each corner node.
    3. Click/Select the various panels.

    t<
    Invisi-text
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    i just played the mission again. (spoilers) personally im in two minds. i think its technically the best mission of the four, but i find the lack of combat (mainly in space) a slight disappointment.

    the second bit of space combat should have had at least one more group, maybe a cruiser, and the final bit needed some space combat. if there are breen on the planet there should be ship in orbit to fight.

    the last ground section could have done with your character starting further out and having another mob or two to fight.

    but apart from that i really enjoyed it, so again well done devs, just crank the action up a bit.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    You' think it that simple, except I've been standing here an hour doing just that, no joy thus far ....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    egguk wrote: »
    You' think it that simple, except I've been standing here an hour doing just that, no joy thus far ....

    Did it a second time now and notice that its possible to be in the center and out of range of some of the panels. Suppose that could be an issue for some.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    I think it was the Best one,( the reward i dont understand). :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    The mission was very good indeed, but i second what has been said, it does need a bit more space pew-pew-pew.

    And the reward is a bit lacklustre if you are not on a team, could have been selftargetting if not on a group...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    Yeah it was a good mission, no doubt. Really liked it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    ACTUAL SPOLERS :eek:

    I'm stunned by the number of people complaining in zone chat in regard to the puzzle. These same people probably don't know how to highlight invisi-text though either. :rolleyes:

    Invisi-text
    >
    1. Park yourself on the middle node
    2. Direct your BO/party member to stand on each corner node.
    3. Click/Select the various panels.

    t<
    Invisi-text

    You know, if you read the actual mission text it is real easy, it says make an Arrow pointing EAST, then an arrow pointing SOUTH then make an arrow pointing SOUTH-EAST.

    So it really isnt much of a puzzle. You just use your Boffs to make arrows.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    Did it a second time now and notice that its possible to be in the center and out of range of some of the panels. Suppose that could be an issue for some.

    that is the only thing that throws people and got me when it first appeared a few weeks ago by accident. as you rotate around sometimes the panels switch from 3 down to 2 and you dont realise you just need to move your main character a touch to see the third panel.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    modemfox wrote: »
    You know, if you read the actual mission text it is real easy, it says make an Arrow pointing EAST, then an arrow pointing SOUTH then make an arrow pointing SOUTH-EAST.

    So it really isnt much of a puzzle. You just use your Boffs to make arrows.

    Exactly. I did it quite logically. I was watching the STOked guys play it live and they were confused about how it worked. I just wanted to say you only need three people at least standing on the circles and overhead make triangles pointing east, south and then southeast.

    If you do it like that, then only one glowing panel activates at a time. Not all of them, as the OP mentioned with seeing 8 "activate panel" messages. You only see 1 if you're doing it right.

    Repeat - you don't need boffs standing in all of the corner positions. Just two of them will do!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    So is this a bug?

    Completed the panel puzzle, and the "Scan the..." button pops up... but clicking it does nothing.

    No scanning, no mission progression, no sound.

    MOved my BOs away from the puzzle, had them activate all nodes, etc.. nothing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    i just played the mission again. (spoilers) personally im in two minds. i think its technically the best mission of the four, but i find the lack of combat (mainly in space) a slight disappointment.

    the second bit of space combat should have had at least one more group, maybe a cruiser, and the final bit needed some space combat. if there are breen on the planet there should be ship in orbit to fight.

    the last ground section could have done with your character starting further out and having another mob or two to fight.

    but apart from that i really enjoyed it, so again well done devs, just crank the action up a bit.

    This mission was quite Star Trekkular. I like the puzzle. I wish there was one at the end to assemble the star chart to make the finish a little more challenging. I didn't mind the weak space combat but liked the in space science aspect, destroying asteroids and scanning moons, etc. We have plenty of pew pew.

    The boss fight could have been tougher but I did get toasted a couple times. All in all great stuff. All the planets need the detail of Deferi, sound effects, ships flying over and more. Stores on planets just like other mmos. It's getting better.

    Keep it up.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    A biit confused with the reward item. Why do i want to equip something that will FREEZE a friendly target??
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    It's a fun, play in spacedock toy. :D

    Also, at the end of the mission I was fully expecting something like this...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F5YWVr0fC8
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    when i got the message that my science team was analyzing the gas i collected, i wish i could have gone down to my science lab and done it myself. or at least supervised. just sayin'
    But i liked the puzzle and it was a decent episode. I had to minimize my chat window tho because other players were spoiling my immersion.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    Hi,


    No matter what i do with that puzzle i get No reaction.

    I have the arrow pointed the right way. One panel lights up. Click it no reaction

    Tried moving the BO around the outside no reaction

    Tried restarting mission still does not work

    What am I doing wrong

    All help appriciated


    Captain Paws:(
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    I was disappointed. A lot of cheap tricks were used to extend the life of the mission. For example, with the asteroid players are required to run to exact opposite sides of a planet repeatedly. Why? To extend the overall length of the session. The same is true of warping to one system and then warping right back to the original one.

    It's clear that this was used in place of actual content, which I expect takes more time to implement. The story aspect remains ho-hum for me. It's a race to the MacGuffin... and that's really it. The last mission felt largely the same. Lots of running, a cool story bit, and nothing else.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    This mission was fantastic. Very 'Trek' for sure. Any nitpicking from people is just silly. I loved the sense of urgency in it, I loved the puzzle. Reminded me of the TNG episode "The Chase" in season 6. I have absolutly LOVED this weekly stuff. Keep it coming.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    I very much enjoyed this mission. Really felt like an Trek episode!. This was the best so far, can't wait until next Saturday!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    gave up on this mission. wtf am i supposed to do? i moved my bo's making every arrow possible pointing east, south & sw, nothing happens. i have stood on the center, i have used bo's only, nothing happens. then i go to zone chat and ask for a little more explanation, & get told that i am TRIBBLE.i guess maybe i am. i somehow managed to get 2 generals & an admiral without even knowing that you COULD order your bo's to go somewhere before this mission, i've been playing for 4 months without ever having to make them go anywhere.i click on the plith i want them to move to, & they stop right before it. they dont stand on it.
    ( sometimes they do, sometimes they dont.) i feel like a complete idiot here, but a walk through for my stupid self would be appreciated.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    OMG the Breen Biothermal Dampener is useless. It affects friendlies? What kind of weapon is that? I thought it was a msitale so I tried it on a ground mission. Sure enough it freezes my own peopele. Oh yes it is a nice effect and gives my enemies a chance to flank me. OIC it is a weapon - for the enemy.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    KataH wrote: »
    OMG the Breen Biothermal Dampener is useless. It affects friendlies? What kind of weapon is that? I thought it was a msitale so I tried it on a ground mission. Sure enough it freezes my own peopele. Oh yes it is a nice effect and gives my enemies a chance to flank me. OIC it is a weapon - for the enemy.

    To make this clear... this device is not a cryo grenade. This is a social toy for use outside of missions. :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    To make this clear... this device is not a cryo grenade. This is a social toy for use outside of missions. :D

    And a very fun one, too, in my opinion. :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    gave up on this mission. wtf am i supposed to do? i moved my bo's making every arrow possible pointing east, south & sw, nothing happens. i have stood on the center, i have used bo's only, nothing happens. then i go to zone chat and ask for a little more explanation, & get told that i am TRIBBLE.i guess maybe i am. i somehow managed to get 2 generals & an admiral without even knowing that you COULD order your bo's to go somewhere before this mission, i've been playing for 4 months without ever having to make them go anywhere.i click on the plith i want them to move to, & they stop right before it. they dont stand on it.
    ( sometimes they do, sometimes they dont.) i feel like a complete idiot here, but a walk through for my stupid self would be appreciated.

    You use the arrow at the very bottom of your boff icon to move them. You click it and the cursor will make a pointer. It's an arrow shape. Place that pointer when you want your boff to go and click. A circle should appear where the location is. Repeat for each boff. To undo what you just did, left click the same icon and your boff should return to their normal position.

    The ruins are pointed North, so south is the plith directly opposite of that, east is to the right, the top right plith and south east is the the bottom right. The arrow is three people standing on three plits that form a triangle pointing in the required direction. Click all the panel buttons that come up until you see your science officer tell you you've got it. Each time you position your boffs correctly you'll get a message you are unlocking the data.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    KataH wrote: »
    OMG the Breen Biothermal Dampener is useless. It affects friendlies? What kind of weapon is that? I thought it was a msitale so I tried it on a ground mission. Sure enough it freezes my own peopele. Oh yes it is a nice effect and gives my enemies a chance to flank me. OIC it is a weapon - for the enemy.

    The item, has no other effect other then appearance. It doesn't actual hold you or put you in any state other then an altered Animation. You actually break the animation on Move or another animation. So when you say its useless... you are correct =). Although next week Item is far from useless =)....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    i feel like a complete idiot here, but a walk through for my stupid self would be appreciated.

    OK, I just did it and took some screenshots as I went ,for you:

    (The screenshots always face north)
    Your science officer will tell you the instructions as you approach the ruin - i.e. use three people (yes they do specify that and apparently most people missed reading that) and then form arrows pointing east, south and then south east.

    First, make sure you orient yourself to where North is and which way the puzzle ruin is facing - the stairs on the puzzle are on it's west side. Once you know that, you can make your boffs form an arrow pointing east. My character is pointing east and standing next to the correct panel.
    http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz246/Galactrix2000/Random%20Screenshots/puzzle1.jpg

    Then once you activate the panel, rearrange your boffs to form an arrow pointing south. I have my character pointing south to give you the idea and standing near the panel that needs activating.
    http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz246/Galactrix2000/Random%20Screenshots/puzzle2.jpg

    Then finally point them south east.
    http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz246/Galactrix2000/Random%20Screenshots/puzzle3.jpg

    If you do it like that, only one panel glows each time - the correct panel - so there's no random guessing of multiple glowing panels as most people seem to be doing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    The item, has no other effect other then appearance. It doesn't actual hold you or put you in any state other then an altered Animation. You actually break the animation on Move or another animation. So when you say its useless... you are correct =). Although next week Item is far from useless =)....

    Is it a BO whose species starts with a B???? :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    Is it a BO whose species starts with a B???? :D

    Cool! A Benzite Boff finally!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited September 2010
    exyle wrote: »
    You use the arrow at the very bottom of your boff icon to move them. You click it and the cursor will make a pointer. It's an arrow shape. Place that pointer when you want your boff to go and click. A circle should appear where the location is. Repeat for each boff. To undo what you just did, left click the same icon and your boff should return to their normal position.

    I had to reconfigure my controls as default to get that to actually work. FYI for those of you who have the left click mapped to something else.
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