This week the crew caught up with the all the news that has been coming out of Star Trek Online ready for the 5th Anniversary with Star Trek Online's System Designer Jeremy "Borticus" Randall.
The show can be streamed or downloaded from here:
http://holosuitemedia.com/review/tribbles-in-ecstasy-take-151/
We're hoping to have this episode transcribed and I'll post back when it is complete.
Comments
Still waiting patiently for the transcript...
PHASE ONE: INTRO AND HISTORY OF BORTICUS
System Designer's Job: Anything that is not a mission
Borticus started as a dev on the DOFF system
Everyone (devs and Jeremy) thought his inerview would not go well
Was a writer for TenTonHammer
Was a co-host on the Original STOked podcast before joining Cryptic
The infamous "KURLAND HERE" was recorded during the podcast's visit to Cryptic
With the Voyager cast doing VO work for DR, they are now a part of the SAG (Screen Actors Guild), with restrictions on who can be cast for VO work
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PHASE TWO: COMMAND SPECIALIZATION
Primary Specialization for Ground and Space, 30-point system
Command is more team-focused, whilst Intel as a contrast is more self-focused
No plans for Specialization Respec since you can keep earning points, if you make a bad choice, just earn more
Bort's Favorite Spec power is Victory Cry
Extrovert: Only for you, based on team size
Changing Traits for Bridge Officers: Currently Shelved, not sure if it will come back
BOFFs with the Veteran Trait for newer players: Possibly, no plans
Ferasan BOFFs in the Vendor for KDF (Feds can get Caitians): Not Likely [Of Course, KDF Equality will never happen]
The Romulan BOFF D'Vex is the only BOFF readily available that has the Veteran trait
The unique outfit pieces that are on the Romulan Starting Crew are one of the few times that the team made unique outfits
Tovan Khev can't be discharged because his species isn't Romulan, it's Tovan Khev
Patch Sizes are depenent on what is changed in each patch
Beaming to a ground location as a starship: "Transactional Failure", caused by high server load
Borg in front of the wormhole photo: Reference to the Top 3 System
Spec Advancement: Bort expects a casual player to gain 1 point per play session
Reward for additional Spec Points after 90: Not revisited yet, was removed due to the Tau Dewa Exploit
Diplomacy Revamp: Possible that future updates could render Diplo/Mara more universal in DOFF system
Tier 6 Galaxy w/Command Station: Won't Talk about it, but will say that the ship schedule for the future is insane, a crazy number of ships for 2015
K'Vort Class: "K'Vort is silly, no business being that big, was a camera trick", maybe a K'Vort-esqe ship
T6 Fleet Ships: Out of the loop, couldn't tell you anyway
Type 9 Shuttle (Voyager): Eventually, it's a Canon ship
Aeroshuttle as a playable shuttle: He can see that happening, probably bundled with the Pathfinder if it happens
Science Powers (My Question): Tachyon Beam is on the list for review to improve it, General Science needs more gameplay support i.e. more CC/Debuff based mechanics
Mask Energy Signature as an innate non-cloak power: Game Design, same as all ships not having innate tractor beam, Borticus calls it "Ghetto-Cloak", Looking for a way to improve the power's usefulness
KDF PvP Stat-less post DR: First He's heard of it, Sounds like a UI or Software problem, will refer to others
New Fleet Holding: Nothing set in stone
Dump Project for Fleet Provisions: He'll look into it
Boosting Value for Fleet Mark Dump: He'll look into it
System for converting marks into EC or other marks: Not likely
Alt-Friendly Changes: Aware of one that he can't talk about, many ideas are being tossed around