Just speculation -- but what if the game code is only designed around two factions?
What if adding a full-up, third faction, complete with 3-way PVP, etc, would trigger a complete rewrite of the entire code just to accomodate it?
Isn't this what they do with every patch? Takes ages for them to fix bugs, and when they filnally release a bugfix patch....there are more bugs than before.
I agree, Rom fans are being a tad unfair here. I mean, seriously. . .for all intents and purposes, they're getting a full faction. . .minus the starbases and the 'having to choose a side' for endgame material. And they're getting it in one go. One massive expansion, boom, they're getting a lot of stuff. This is more than the KDF has ever gotten in one place, imo. The Rom fans ought to be glad the faction isn't being introduced as a small fraction of a complete faction, with Cryptic sorta half-assing the further development for the next 2 years. That's what happened with the KDF faction, and look where it's at now.
My PvP toon is Krov, of The House of Snoo. Beware of my Hegh'ta of doom.
The only reality I accept here is that it's new Mission Content. In a game where the fans have been screaming for new Mission Content for over a year we will be getting a new FE and an unknown number of new Romulan Missions. I don't care if it only takes me a couple of days to play through those Missions. It's new Missions! It's new adventures, new ideas, new directions. It's meaning I'm not doing the same Fed or KDF missions over and over and over and over and over and over and over, as I have for the last 3 years.
No matter how much everyone loves to bytch about everything, I can only see new Mission Content as a good thing.
STO is about my Liberated Borg Federation Captain with his Breen 1st Officer, Jem'Hadar Tactical Officer, Liberated Borg Engineering Officer, Android Ops Officer, Photonic Science Officer, Gorn Science Officer, and Reman Medical Officer jumping into their Jem'Hadar Carrier and flying off to do missions for the new Romulan Empire. But for some players allowing a T5 Connie to be used breaks the canon in the game.
I'd trade it all for more STFs tbh, but this "xpac" has a purpose and its not for us. Its really aimed at bringing people in, I honestly have my doubts about that but we'll see.
Considering many of the positive responses in the forums I can't say 'it's not for us' -- but following your logic I have to admit that I am darn curious as to how a newbie to STO will see the Romulans -- especially a newbie who has come to STO specifically to play Romulans .
I am saying all of the above because if we forget for a moment who these Romulans are -- they could be marketed either as TNG Romulans or the descendants of the 2009 movie Romulans .
And considering that those are the two 'major' Romulans ppl generally know -- I wonder from that perspective how STO's "Romulan Faction" will be seen by a newbie ?
No matter how much everyone loves to bytch about everything, I can only see new Mission Content as a good thing.
I agree with you, but I'd much rather have seen that effort complete the KDF (which I'm still hopeful it will) and add unique end-game content to both the Feds and the Klingons along with some new STFs and some decent new rewards.
Cryptic seem hell-bent on homogenizing the end-game to the point where it doesn't matter what faction you pick - the game-play experience and story is exactly the same (and equally nonsensical to all) - I think that's a terrible shame.
Cross-faction queues? Especially for STFs. For PvP, have the Romulans fill-in for whichever side is short. Make 3-way PvP maps that allow the two outnumbered sides to ally to complete objectives. I'm sure there are other solutions.
It is NOT the only solution "that makes sense". A little creativity could've gone a long way. Instead, they just gave up... or didn't even try.
or just the good ole fashioned cryptic laziness.. they seem to try to do alot with as little as possible... they are like a car manufacturer that make a beutifull looking car, but then doesnt put carpeting on the floor, and uses milk crates as seats.. its a shame.. when they know they can make money (like andorian ships and what not) they go all out and make the perfect looking model.. but when its something that isnt as big on the c store egenda, they get very lazy and do the bare minumum...
its a shame really.. shame on the powers to be ie, cbs and originally atari.. you dont take one of the largest ip's in the world, and give the rights to a company that is the smallest, least known, and what is known of them is that marvel pulled out of their contract (which should have been an eye opener).. again, its a shame really.. a good, high quality game is there (graphics are beyond nice, customization is un parralled in the gaming industry.. however, when it comes to story they just seem to not have it in them.. when it comes to creating new content, they seem to be the slowest ones out there.. and when it comes to quality assurance (ie, bugs and whatnot) they are non existant.. i have never played a game that has had this much down time(ie, servers being juiced). and i have played alot of games.. i have never played a game that had bugs for over 2 or 3 years in the game..
ill say it now, if this game wasnt a star trek game, it would never have made it this far.. how long can cryptic and pwe ride the star trek wave before peeps finally quit...
The factions we see in the TV series have a wide variety of personalities, including the first Romulan we see in TOS. The Reunificationists are "real" Romulans too. They are just as canon as the villains. Just because those in power are villains does not mean the entire populace is. The stereotype has merit, but is not all encompassing.
Let's see ... Klingons have farmers ... or at least we hear that they do in TNG .
We even interact with some Klingon farmers in the very first KDF mission in STO.
So why didn't Cryptic make KDF Klingons farmers ... and had a tale about Klingon farmers life ?
To be honest it would have made sense -- in the STO Universe .
Because in the STO Universe , Klingons should be farmers , Romulans should be hippies and Feds should be Bad Azz TRIBBLE's who shoot to kill any and every thing that stands in their way .
Well, it's certainly not an accident that it's coming out around the same time as Makeb for TOR.
But anyway, the thing is, they it basically seems like they started making a full faction and just got bored and decided to roll them into the two pre-existing factions. Or maybe they just chose to go with the easiest plan to begin. Either way, like a half-finished school project, the effort just isn't there.
Yeah, Makeb's coming out more than a month before LoR. :P
Don't think it's worth calling an expansion, though - more like an oversized DLC.
Infinite possibilities have implications that could not be completely understood if you turned this entire universe into a giant supercomputer.
I agree, Rom fans are being a tad unfair here. I mean, seriously. . .for all intents and purposes, they're getting a full faction. . .minus the starbases and the 'having to choose a side' for endgame material. And they're getting it in one go. One massive expansion, boom, they're getting a lot of stuff. This is more than the KDF has ever gotten in one place, imo. The Rom fans ought to be glad the faction isn't being introduced as a small fraction of a complete faction, with Cryptic sorta half-assing the further development for the next 2 years. That's what happened with the KDF faction, and look where it's at now.
Here is the primary reason: "New Romulus" and the "new" Romulans suck. They're weak, patethic, simpering fools that have no relation to what makes Romulans compelling: the trickery, the plotting, the scheming. Essentially Cryptic took the Romulans to the vet and had them neutered.
And yes, I absolutely hated Season 7 and that stupid planet.
Cross-faction queues? Especially for STFs. For PvP, have the Romulans fill-in for whichever side is short. Make 3-way PvP maps that allow the two outnumbered sides to ally to complete objectives. I'm sure there are other solutions.
It is NOT the only solution "that makes sense". A little creativity could've gone a long way. Instead, they just gave up... or didn't even try.
Now I've been trying wrap my head around not only the Ask Cryptic itself, but the backlash that it has received regarding the Romulans being a mini-faction.
As long as Cryptic is advertising the upgrade clearly, I have absolutely no problem with it being a mini-faction. Regardless about the faction's size, I am going to thoroughly enjoy playing as a Romulan.
Think I saw some answers to a few of these but anyway...
Will Romulan Republic players get their own STF gear? or will we be grinding for Maco/KHG depending on our faction alligence?
If I alley with the Feds. Will I be able to go to Earth? likewise Qu;nos if im a Klink?
Will our starbases have a Romulan theme added to one of the rooms? (ie 200k dilithium for a Romulan Embassey on the tarbase.. where we all complain about the chairs... or for the klingons.. a brig or their romulans.)
Why was Alien turned into a subscriber/lifetime rewrad for the Roms? Surely you would have attracted more people with races like.. Hirogen?
Here is the primary reason: "New Romulus" and the "new" Romulans suck. They're weak, patethic, simpering fools that have no relation to what makes Romulans compelling: the trickery, the plotting, the scheming. Essentially Cryptic took the Romulans to the vet and had them neutered.
And yes, I absolutely hated Season 7 and that stupid planet.
Yeah, their lack of agency in the New Romulus 'content' seems to flow right into their dependency on bellying up to Starfleet or the KDF in their storyline. As someone else's sig decries, it's not the Raptor's wings they're going to be marching under.
Yes, I am aware that their F2P model sucks..however, i am a subscriber there and I do not buy their "cartel packs" as they call them.
But their end game content is far superior. Their PVP is superior. More people play, short q times for both PVE and PVP.
I pay 14.99 per month and have access to everything. I have no need to buy anything from their Cartel Store, as I can get anything from that store on their exchange sold by other players. Nothing is bound. And there are NO P2W items in their store atm. Ive played it since launch, I left prior to the F2P conversion, but I think its gone in a good direction for subs post F2P.
So I am 100% simpatico with the frustration other players have that the Romulans are not being made into a separate faction. However please don't mention TOR. That game is the worst f2p piece of TRIBBLE ever.
Numerous restrictions on f2p and preferred players
Death penalty ... You die 5 times in total ... And then you pay to unlock respawns
charging subscribers for Makeb
Ugly looking armor ... All good stuff is in cartel market
P2w gear
Lied to APAC customers and now killing their servers
No winter event ... Except for selling life day TRIBBLE in cm
No anniversary event
....
Anyways let's get back to STO. I am looking forward to playing the new content. I think we should give Cryptic the chance. The best part ... It is totally free. If you hate it you don't need to give them another cent.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
If I alley with the Feds. Will I be able to go to Earth? likewise Qu;nos if im a Klink?
I would say yes. There is no proof, but if (as a Romulan) you're allowing them on your home turf, I'd expect you to be allowed on Federation/Q'onos soil.
That being said, it depends if New Romulus becomes more of a social zone for Romulan players. You can get RP or DI from KDF/FED, yet you can't travel to Earth or Qo'nos with that.
Why was Alien turned into a subscriber/lifetime rewrad for the Roms? Surely you would have attracted more people with races like.. Hirogen?
The Hirogen are a mere species with a selection of traits. Aliens can be more heavily customized, and as Romulans alone will likely be limited, they'll probably get a fair bit of money out of dedicated players who want a good trait build for their characters.
ill say it now, if this game wasnt a star trek game, it would never have made it this far..
I agree completely. STAR TREK is why they come here, and if it werent for that "pull" the game would be one of the thousands of F2P roadkill titles out there. Cryptic owes everything to the franchise.
People stay for the game play (or not), but Star Trek is what brings them in the door
Now I've been trying wrap my head around not only the Ask Cryptic itself, but the backlash that it has received regarding the Romulans being a mini-faction. .....<SNIP>
That's my view of everything anyways.
In short you kinda summed up my feelings on this matter to a "T".
You know, Vreenak is brought up often to describe peoples' sentiments relating to this; not only is he poignant insofar as he's a surly Romulan, his titular phrase "It's a FAAAAKE!" describes this situation so aptly. However, it's more than that.
My feelings are similar to Vreenak's insofar as I am Vreenak and Cryptic is Starfleet. And like Vreenak, my feelings about Cryptic was so low that it would indeed be difficult to disappoint me.
But hope springs eternal, right?
What makes it so much more frustrating is that this pseudofaction nonsense will be the copypasta template for the Cardies, the Dominion, The Jesuits, The Nerfherders, etc etc that what we get here is what were are going to get for now on; don't expect the Greenies to get their own exploration Doffs, their own territory that requires diplomatic immunity to enter, etc. It just kinda seems like the path-of-least-resistance methodology to adding content at times.
What makes it so much more frustrating is that this pseudofaction nonsense will be the copypasta template for the Cardies, the Dominion, The Jesuits, The Nerfherders, etc etc that what we get here is what were are going to get for now on; don't expect the Greenies to get their own exploration Doffs, their own territory that requires diplomatic immunity to enter, etc. It just kinda seems like the path-of-least-resistance methodology to adding content at times.
It would be an alright model for most of them. I'd love to see the Gorn put into a semi-faction, for example. But not for Romulans, not for Borg, not for Cardassians or Dominion
The only harsh reality we need to face is that we can expect to see an endless stream of Romulan related threads on the forums because people don't like to post their opinion in the existing ones.
I probably should have posted this in a new thread :cool:
To be honest it was the players who speculated that there would be a full-blown Romulan Faction. The fact of the matter is Cryptic have taken the same path as Blizz did in "that" game with the Pandarian race. Of all the complains about that race being introduced into the game the fact that they were not a "3rd faction" was pretty non-existent.
None of us as players yet know the reasoning in-game for the Romulan PC's faction choice. I'm being positive and hoping it will be a well thought-out and interesting reason.
Basically, we as players need to wrap our heads around the fact that the Romulans will be a RACE you can play in STO, as opposed to a FACTION.
While I can understand Romulan fans being disappointed with Cryptics choice in the matter I'm seeing it as a half-full glass rather than a half-empty one. Perhaps its a bold move on their part, maybe we'll see Cardassians/Jem'Hadar/Hirogens being introduced as playable races in the same way..? Who knows.
This is yet another example of Cryptic's biggest disconnect with their audience: They want the game to be played one way, and the audience wants to play it a different way. But they don't seem to care what the players want. It's their way or the highway.
If you rely on someone to pay the money that makes your paycheck possible, you find out what they want out of the product you hope they will pay money for.
I suspect they sincerely believe that their customer base wants a low-contact game that can be played casually. It is the most carebear game I have ever played in that regard: quick ranking, no item loss on death, point-and-click combat, replicatable commodities, etc. I havent seen the numbers, but I suspect they view a long-play immersive RPG as counter to their business interests.
As near as I can tell, the only thing they're really missing from being "True Factions" are the Starbase and the Embassy, the latter of which would make no sense whatsoever to have.
And, again, as near as I can tell, the only reason they make an alliance is to actually gain access to a Starbase and Embassy (of that faction). I believe they'll have some less ships starting (but they're a new faction, it'd be hard for Cryptic to put them up to FED standards that fast), so I guess that could hurt.
Either way, I'm confident that they'll be fun, and have the content they need to be a full, pre-starbase faction.
Original Join Date: January 2010 Original Name: -Gen-Alaris Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
and a storyline that made sense for the history of Romulans, and three-way PVP
Okay, valid point, they don't have 3-way PvP. I'll give you that. I personally don't feel the need for a 3rd PvP faction, when I have enough trouble finding a Klingon group to team up with in PvP. Splitting the people even more is just going to end badly in regards to PvP.
However, I disagree with the Storyline thing. They have a storyline that leads up to the creation of the New Romulus colony.
Yes, they're not getting the "Romulan Star Empire" story, but they are no longer the Romulan Star Empire.
Also, I would have to reserve the right to judge AFTER the actual story is released. We don't know all of the details yet.
Original Join Date: January 2010 Original Name: -Gen-Alaris Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
To be honest it was the players who speculated that there would be a full-blown Romulan Faction. The fact of the matter is Cryptic have taken the same path as Blizz did in "that" game with the Pandarian race. Of all the complains about that race being introduced into the game the fact that they were not a "3rd faction" was pretty non-existent.
None of us as players yet know the reasoning in-game for the Romulan PC's faction choice. I'm being positive and hoping it will be a well thought-out and interesting reason.
Basically, we as players need to wrap our heads around the fact that the Romulans will be a RACE you can play in STO, as opposed to a FACTION.
While I can understand Romulan fans being disappointed with Cryptics choice in the matter I'm seeing it as a half-full glass rather than a half-empty one. Perhaps its a bold move on their part, maybe we'll see Cardassians/Jem'Hadar/Hirogens being introduced as playable races in the same way..? Who knows.
Well, it's more than a race, less than a classical MMO faction. And the skinny on that is basically that it is a full faction except for:
PvP
Starbases
Level 40-50 missions
The OPTION to use Fed or KDF gear and ships, which isn't one you have to take
Personally, I think they should give Romulan Embassy Starbase functionality for Romulan players. That way, purists just focus on the embassy. Just make the shipyard projects 40% more expensive but unlock more ships and gear to a lot for there being fewer tiers.
As for PvP, a long term solution I see is to focus on developing all future PvP as free for all or team free for all rather than faction based. Perhaps also with matches that are side v. side but people choose which side to queue for.
So you have things like 5 teams of 5 duking it out. If faction ceases to be what drives PvP, it becomes less relevant for new factions to be faction aligned in PvP.
And if you make the Embassy the Romulan starbase and have another shared holding for new factions later that offers extras for Fed/KDF but primary starbase functionality for the faction most tied to it, you have an option for new faction purists.
Where did you get this? I heard they have to ally with a faction, but I also heard they continue to get story missions of their own, even afterward.
It's in the ask Cryptic and dastahl's posts.
They choose an ally at level 10. They continue to play unique Romulan missions until 40. Then they get the faction agnostic Featured Episodes after 40.
Comments
Isn't this what they do with every patch? Takes ages for them to fix bugs, and when they filnally release a bugfix patch....there are more bugs than before.
No matter how much everyone loves to bytch about everything, I can only see new Mission Content as a good thing.
Considering many of the positive responses in the forums I can't say 'it's not for us' -- but following your logic I have to admit that I am darn curious as to how a newbie to STO will see the Romulans -- especially a newbie who has come to STO specifically to play Romulans .
I am saying all of the above because if we forget for a moment who these Romulans are -- they could be marketed either as TNG Romulans or the descendants of the 2009 movie Romulans .
And considering that those are the two 'major' Romulans ppl generally know -- I wonder from that perspective how STO's "Romulan Faction" will be seen by a newbie ?
I agree with you, but I'd much rather have seen that effort complete the KDF (which I'm still hopeful it will) and add unique end-game content to both the Feds and the Klingons along with some new STFs and some decent new rewards.
Cryptic seem hell-bent on homogenizing the end-game to the point where it doesn't matter what faction you pick - the game-play experience and story is exactly the same (and equally nonsensical to all) - I think that's a terrible shame.
or just the good ole fashioned cryptic laziness.. they seem to try to do alot with as little as possible... they are like a car manufacturer that make a beutifull looking car, but then doesnt put carpeting on the floor, and uses milk crates as seats.. its a shame.. when they know they can make money (like andorian ships and what not) they go all out and make the perfect looking model.. but when its something that isnt as big on the c store egenda, they get very lazy and do the bare minumum...
its a shame really.. shame on the powers to be ie, cbs and originally atari.. you dont take one of the largest ip's in the world, and give the rights to a company that is the smallest, least known, and what is known of them is that marvel pulled out of their contract (which should have been an eye opener).. again, its a shame really.. a good, high quality game is there (graphics are beyond nice, customization is un parralled in the gaming industry.. however, when it comes to story they just seem to not have it in them.. when it comes to creating new content, they seem to be the slowest ones out there.. and when it comes to quality assurance (ie, bugs and whatnot) they are non existant.. i have never played a game that has had this much down time(ie, servers being juiced). and i have played alot of games.. i have never played a game that had bugs for over 2 or 3 years in the game..
ill say it now, if this game wasnt a star trek game, it would never have made it this far.. how long can cryptic and pwe ride the star trek wave before peeps finally quit...
Let's see ... Klingons have farmers ... or at least we hear that they do in TNG .
We even interact with some Klingon farmers in the very first KDF mission in STO.
So why didn't Cryptic make KDF Klingons farmers ... and had a tale about Klingon farmers life ?
To be honest it would have made sense -- in the STO Universe .
Because in the STO Universe , Klingons should be farmers , Romulans should be hippies and Feds should be Bad Azz TRIBBLE's who shoot to kill any and every thing that stands in their way .
Yeah, Makeb's coming out more than a month before LoR. :P
Don't think it's worth calling an expansion, though - more like an oversized DLC.
Infinite possibilities have implications that could not be completely understood if you turned this entire universe into a giant supercomputer.
Here is the primary reason: "New Romulus" and the "new" Romulans suck. They're weak, patethic, simpering fools that have no relation to what makes Romulans compelling: the trickery, the plotting, the scheming. Essentially Cryptic took the Romulans to the vet and had them neutered.
And yes, I absolutely hated Season 7 and that stupid planet.
Fully agree.
Will Romulan Republic players get their own STF gear? or will we be grinding for Maco/KHG depending on our faction alligence?
If I alley with the Feds. Will I be able to go to Earth? likewise Qu;nos if im a Klink?
Will our starbases have a Romulan theme added to one of the rooms? (ie 200k dilithium for a Romulan Embassey on the tarbase.. where we all complain about the chairs... or for the klingons.. a brig or their romulans.)
Why was Alien turned into a subscriber/lifetime rewrad for the Roms? Surely you would have attracted more people with races like.. Hirogen?
Yeah, their lack of agency in the New Romulus 'content' seems to flow right into their dependency on bellying up to Starfleet or the KDF in their storyline. As someone else's sig decries, it's not the Raptor's wings they're going to be marching under.
So I am 100% simpatico with the frustration other players have that the Romulans are not being made into a separate faction. However please don't mention TOR. That game is the worst f2p piece of TRIBBLE ever.
Numerous restrictions on f2p and preferred players
Death penalty ... You die 5 times in total ... And then you pay to unlock respawns
charging subscribers for Makeb
Ugly looking armor ... All good stuff is in cartel market
P2w gear
Lied to APAC customers and now killing their servers
No winter event ... Except for selling life day TRIBBLE in cm
No anniversary event
....
Anyways let's get back to STO. I am looking forward to playing the new content. I think we should give Cryptic the chance. The best part ... It is totally free. If you hate it you don't need to give them another cent.
- Judge Aaron Satie
They should at least get access to the Omega Stuff, as that is more universal than it is specific.
I would say yes. There is no proof, but if (as a Romulan) you're allowing them on your home turf, I'd expect you to be allowed on Federation/Q'onos soil.
That being said, it depends if New Romulus becomes more of a social zone for Romulan players. You can get RP or DI from KDF/FED, yet you can't travel to Earth or Qo'nos with that.
I highly doubt it as such would become irrelevant should the Romulans later get their own fleet system.
The Hirogen are a mere species with a selection of traits. Aliens can be more heavily customized, and as Romulans alone will likely be limited, they'll probably get a fair bit of money out of dedicated players who want a good trait build for their characters.
People stay for the game play (or not), but Star Trek is what brings them in the door
In short you kinda summed up my feelings on this matter to a "T".
You know, Vreenak is brought up often to describe peoples' sentiments relating to this; not only is he poignant insofar as he's a surly Romulan, his titular phrase "It's a FAAAAKE!" describes this situation so aptly. However, it's more than that.
My feelings are similar to Vreenak's insofar as I am Vreenak and Cryptic is Starfleet. And like Vreenak, my feelings about Cryptic was so low that it would indeed be difficult to disappoint me.
But hope springs eternal, right?
What makes it so much more frustrating is that this pseudofaction nonsense will be the copypasta template for the Cardies, the Dominion, The Jesuits, The Nerfherders, etc etc that what we get here is what were are going to get for now on; don't expect the Greenies to get their own exploration Doffs, their own territory that requires diplomatic immunity to enter, etc. It just kinda seems like the path-of-least-resistance methodology to adding content at times.
I probably should have posted this in a new thread :cool:
None of us as players yet know the reasoning in-game for the Romulan PC's faction choice. I'm being positive and hoping it will be a well thought-out and interesting reason.
Basically, we as players need to wrap our heads around the fact that the Romulans will be a RACE you can play in STO, as opposed to a FACTION.
While I can understand Romulan fans being disappointed with Cryptics choice in the matter I'm seeing it as a half-full glass rather than a half-empty one. Perhaps its a bold move on their part, maybe we'll see Cardassians/Jem'Hadar/Hirogens being introduced as playable races in the same way..? Who knows.
I suspect they sincerely believe that their customer base wants a low-contact game that can be played casually. It is the most carebear game I have ever played in that regard: quick ranking, no item loss on death, point-and-click combat, replicatable commodities, etc. I havent seen the numbers, but I suspect they view a long-play immersive RPG as counter to their business interests.
And, again, as near as I can tell, the only reason they make an alliance is to actually gain access to a Starbase and Embassy (of that faction). I believe they'll have some less ships starting (but they're a new faction, it'd be hard for Cryptic to put them up to FED standards that fast), so I guess that could hurt.
Either way, I'm confident that they'll be fun, and have the content they need to be a full, pre-starbase faction.
Original Name: -Gen-Alaris
Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
TOR comes out April 9th, or 14th if it wasn't pre-ordered.
LoR comes out May 21.
I wouldn't say they are coming out around the same time at all.
Okay, valid point, they don't have 3-way PvP. I'll give you that. I personally don't feel the need for a 3rd PvP faction, when I have enough trouble finding a Klingon group to team up with in PvP. Splitting the people even more is just going to end badly in regards to PvP.
However, I disagree with the Storyline thing. They have a storyline that leads up to the creation of the New Romulus colony.
Yes, they're not getting the "Romulan Star Empire" story, but they are no longer the Romulan Star Empire.
Also, I would have to reserve the right to judge AFTER the actual story is released. We don't know all of the details yet.
Original Name: -Gen-Alaris
Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
Well, it's more than a race, less than a classical MMO faction. And the skinny on that is basically that it is a full faction except for:
PvP
Starbases
Level 40-50 missions
The OPTION to use Fed or KDF gear and ships, which isn't one you have to take
Personally, I think they should give Romulan Embassy Starbase functionality for Romulan players. That way, purists just focus on the embassy. Just make the shipyard projects 40% more expensive but unlock more ships and gear to a lot for there being fewer tiers.
As for PvP, a long term solution I see is to focus on developing all future PvP as free for all or team free for all rather than faction based. Perhaps also with matches that are side v. side but people choose which side to queue for.
So you have things like 5 teams of 5 duking it out. If faction ceases to be what drives PvP, it becomes less relevant for new factions to be faction aligned in PvP.
And if you make the Embassy the Romulan starbase and have another shared holding for new factions later that offers extras for Fed/KDF but primary starbase functionality for the faction most tied to it, you have an option for new faction purists.
Where did you get this? I heard they have to ally with a faction, but I also heard they continue to get story missions of their own, even afterward.
Original Name: -Gen-Alaris
Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
It's in the ask Cryptic and dastahl's posts.
They choose an ally at level 10. They continue to play unique Romulan missions until 40. Then they get the faction agnostic Featured Episodes after 40.