I'm talking about old uniforms and ships. Theres only so much material there, and I personally don't like the way things have been going. Its concerning that the story seems scattered, and that we have more from the periods before this games period, than we do of the period.
I think it's time for the dev team to start creating unique ships and other things for the game. I don't think we need 6 varieties of TOS uniforms, and need a retrofir/refit of every ship from before DS9.
So my question becomes, when will cryptic started making their own material again?
I do agree that one of the most disappointing aspects of this game, to me, is that it doesn't live up to its original idea: the next generation after the Next Gen era. I do hope at some point the game starts focusing more on the 25th century and less on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. I know Cryptic has to keep its fans happy to keep them subscribing but there a lot of fans who want more 25th century material to keep them subscribing too.
Edit: Just wanted to add that, as a Star Trek fanboy, I'll be running around with my 11th alt next week in an NX. So even though I wish STO was something different I can't control the inner geek in me.
Fortunately, they have shown with the Weekly Series that they can create some good content that fits within the universe they created while appealing to those who prefer the older eras. There are loads of unfinished stories for them to go back and visit. For me, the good thing about them finally adding all the ships and uniforms is they will have the time to go back and revisit all these stories...
That's a tough issue as I see it. Making new stuff that looks aesthetically Star Trek but still different enough to be new is difficult. If you look at the Rear Admiral ships (cruisers aside) a lot of people didn't like their looks. This is why we have the Captain level refits at Vice Admiral instead of new designs. I know I couldn't wait to get out of my Rear Admiral level science ships.
That's a tough issue as I see it. Making new stuff that looks aesthetically Star Trek but still different enough to be new is difficult. If you look at the Rear Admiral ships (cruisers aside) a lot of people didn't like their looks. This is why we have the Captain level refits at Vice Admiral instead of new designs. I know I couldn't wait to get out of my Rear Admiral level science ships.
I like the T5 escorts and both sets of Sci ships. I thought they were pretty nice. The Jupiter and the imperial made me a little disturbed though. But I think the guy who created those ships isn't the guy currently doing the ship work. I think CapnLogan has the ability to produce some really nice ships.
Same goes for weapons and uniforms.
I wish they'd throw in some new with all of this retro... stuff. I haven't really bought anything on the C-store because none of it appeals to me. I'd really like a new ship thats original, instead of a ship thats been around for awhile. Vesta excluded, seeing as how it technically is in the same period as the Luna.
I'm talking about old uniforms and ships. Theres only so much material there, and I personally don't like the way things have been going. Its concerning that the story seems scattered, and that we have more from the periods before this games period, than we do of the period.
I think it's time for the dev team to start creating unique ships and other things for the game. I don't think we need 6 varieties of TOS uniforms, and need a retrofir/refit of every ship from before DS9.
So my question becomes, when will cryptic started making their own material again?
Agree 100%
This refit/retrofit stuff is getting very old, very quick. Okay I get it, some people want iconic ships, fine. But I agree it's getting out of control. I understand copyright/cbs stuff is an issue with ship design, but we have an alien creator, we are shortly going to have a mission creator, why can't we have a sweet ship creator?
You could design your own unique ship (within the limits of the creator of course) and the device slots and so forth would be decided by the tier you are allowed based on rank, and what type of the 3 main categories of ships you pick (escort, science, cruiser).
I'm talking about old uniforms and ships. Theres only so much material there, and I personally don't like the way things have been going. Its concerning that the story seems scattered, and that we have more from the periods before this games period, than we do of the period.
I think it's time for the dev team to start creating unique ships and other things for the game. I don't think we need 6 varieties of TOS uniforms, and need a retrofir/refit of every ship from before DS9.
So my question becomes, when will cryptic started making their own material again?
Well, I did see a post recently from dStahl saying that the "design the FUTURE Enterprise" competition would be soon. This is where people design the Enterprise F which would be contemporary with the 25th Century and showing the design evolution towards Enterprise J.
Also the upcoming All Good Things uniforms are supposed to be circa 2395, so that's close to present day new uniforms... sort of.
I wonder how that contest is going to work. I hope we don't have to create and then submit 3D models of the ships. i have some 2D stuff, but 3D is over my head.
I've got a 2-D design myself ready to have serious time put into it for a contest. I'm probably going to get spanked by pretty much everyone else design-wise, but just the idea I could get a ship design, for the Enterprise no less, out into the world is to... exciting to pass up.
I would like so see a few more future ships, of course. If the Future Enterprise contest goes over well, they could do another one for a Future Escort (since Escorts are under-represented in the current Federation ship count). I'd jump on that, too, personally; I've got an Akira variant design they could throw in on the refit if they ever do one, and a couple of other ideas floating around my head.
My design is simple. I don't think it's worthy of the Enterprise, but i'd like to see it put in somewhere.
"Enterprise" is a tough thing to design for. The name speaks of grace, power, glory, elegance, sophistication, and sheer force of presence. Every Enterprise, with the sole exception of NX (which is forgivable due to being more or less the first true Earth starship) has managed to convey all of those things at least to some extent. Coming up with something that does the same is a monumental task, and I really would have hated to be the guy that had to come up with the Sovereign (though obviously he did a spectacular job).
Even on a technical level, the name begs certain things. Saucer, neck, secondary hull, pylons, nacelles, and always in a certain arrangement. There's only so many ways you can arrange the same parts, and just one thing out of place can ruin the Enterprise feel. I've got a small pile of balled-up paper on the floor right now that can attest to how easy it is to lose the Enterprise vibe.
The way I look at it, there's only two ways you can design an Enterprise; design what you want as a fan, or try to push every preconceived notion of what an Enterprise is out of your mind and just draw the best damn ship you can think of.
They have to get all the BS out of the way for the hard core fans (the ones who are keeping this game floating) so that they can start on the stuff /they/ want to make.
The Enterprise J preceded the Sphere Builder battle. You're still stuck knee-deep in ugly.
Load your last save? Y/N
We have no idea how much of an effect the temporal cold war had on the j's design, there's simply not enough information to make anything but wild guesses. You're only fooling yourself either side you come down on.
All I'm saying is we shouldn't be locked into a design method based on something that may or may not have come to pass. Go on pure aesthetics instead, and what feels right.
I agree with the new Enterprise design needing a pair of nacelles, a saucer, hull, and something of a neck. but i find that the need for the neck has diminished, and the next incarnation may have only a small one.
I actually think I have an idea. It's the damn deflector thats in the way, grrrr.... lol.
I agree with the new Enterprise design needing a pair of nacelles, a saucer, hull, and something of a neck. but i find that the need for the neck has diminished, and the next incarnation may have only a small one.
I actually think I have an idea. It's the damn deflector thats in the way, grrrr.... lol.
All I'm saying is we shouldn't be locked into a design method based on something that may or may not have come to pass. Go on pure aesthetics instead, and what feels right.
Comments
Edit: Just wanted to add that, as a Star Trek fanboy, I'll be running around with my 11th alt next week in an NX. So even though I wish STO was something different I can't control the inner geek in me.
I like the T5 escorts and both sets of Sci ships. I thought they were pretty nice. The Jupiter and the imperial made me a little disturbed though. But I think the guy who created those ships isn't the guy currently doing the ship work. I think CapnLogan has the ability to produce some really nice ships.
Same goes for weapons and uniforms.
I wish they'd throw in some new with all of this retro... stuff. I haven't really bought anything on the C-store because none of it appeals to me. I'd really like a new ship thats original, instead of a ship thats been around for awhile. Vesta excluded, seeing as how it technically is in the same period as the Luna.
Agree 100%
This refit/retrofit stuff is getting very old, very quick. Okay I get it, some people want iconic ships, fine. But I agree it's getting out of control. I understand copyright/cbs stuff is an issue with ship design, but we have an alien creator, we are shortly going to have a mission creator, why can't we have a sweet ship creator?
You could design your own unique ship (within the limits of the creator of course) and the device slots and so forth would be decided by the tier you are allowed based on rank, and what type of the 3 main categories of ships you pick (escort, science, cruiser).
Well, I did see a post recently from dStahl saying that the "design the FUTURE Enterprise" competition would be soon. This is where people design the Enterprise F which would be contemporary with the 25th Century and showing the design evolution towards Enterprise J.
Also the upcoming All Good Things uniforms are supposed to be circa 2395, so that's close to present day new uniforms... sort of.
I would like so see a few more future ships, of course. If the Future Enterprise contest goes over well, they could do another one for a Future Escort (since Escorts are under-represented in the current Federation ship count). I'd jump on that, too, personally; I've got an Akira variant design they could throw in on the refit if they ever do one, and a couple of other ideas floating around my head.
Ugly is canon.
I'd love to watch the canon purists try to wiggle out of the ugliness of the Enterprise J.
It would make an interesting read...LoL
"Enterprise" is a tough thing to design for. The name speaks of grace, power, glory, elegance, sophistication, and sheer force of presence. Every Enterprise, with the sole exception of NX (which is forgivable due to being more or less the first true Earth starship) has managed to convey all of those things at least to some extent. Coming up with something that does the same is a monumental task, and I really would have hated to be the guy that had to come up with the Sovereign (though obviously he did a spectacular job).
Even on a technical level, the name begs certain things. Saucer, neck, secondary hull, pylons, nacelles, and always in a certain arrangement. There's only so many ways you can arrange the same parts, and just one thing out of place can ruin the Enterprise feel. I've got a small pile of balled-up paper on the floor right now that can attest to how easy it is to lose the Enterprise vibe.
The way I look at it, there's only two ways you can design an Enterprise; design what you want as a fan, or try to push every preconceived notion of what an Enterprise is out of your mind and just draw the best damn ship you can think of.
Thats easy, since the war with the Sphere Builders never happened!
Beat me to it
The Enterprise J preceded the Sphere Builder battle. You're still stuck knee-deep in ugly.
Load your last save? Y/N
We have no idea how much of an effect the temporal cold war had on the j's design, there's simply not enough information to make anything but wild guesses. You're only fooling yourself either side you come down on.
All I'm saying is we shouldn't be locked into a design method based on something that may or may not have come to pass. Go on pure aesthetics instead, and what feels right.
Still an alt timeline...
I actually think I have an idea. It's the damn deflector thats in the way, grrrr.... lol.
Than rethink the deflector.
I agree and to me, the J feels wrong.
Damn! I was hoping to use it when I win the universe's largest pizza contest.:(
A pizza nearly 3km+ in diameter! EPIC!
It was going to be a Chicago style deep dish.:(
I prefer Detroit-style pizza - 'cause I'm such a square.