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Cardassian Struggle Remastered
thomaselkins
Member Posts: 575 Arc User
Chances are the Cardassian Struggle will receive an update like the previous campaigns. I thought it would be worth discussing what they could possibly change, or remove from the current iteration. One thing that I would like to see is a remastered Deep Space Nine. It's not bad looking now but there are a few canon locations that are currently missing.
Security Office
Odo's office from the show, which includes a brig. A starfleet security officer could be added to this room, perhaps giving us another place to turn in contraband, as well as Laas after he has been captured. Maybe Commander Roxy can fill this position, since she and the other Omega and MACO personnel have nothing better to do right now.
The Infirmary
There is a Chief Medical Officer standing around the East Docking Ring. Would it not make more sense to include the canon Infirmary and place this medical officer there?
Quark's Bar
This area is currently separated from the rest of the map. A new DS9 should include the bar, just as Earth Space Dock has Club 47. One problem with Quark's right now is that it feels cut off and isolated. It only looked like that in the show when he closed it for the night. When it's open, he can see people walking around the Promenade. It would be neat if it was as open and inviting as it is in the show.
Garak's Shop
We have a tailor on DS9 already, but they should be moved and placeed in the space which used to belong to Garak.
Docking Rings
I think the East bay can be removed, with the bank and exchange moved to a new location. A bank was shown on the show, so they could find a place for it on the promenade and the exchange can be moved there. The West bay can be redesigned to look more like the shuttle bays on the show. They weren't shown often but runabouts and shuttles did dock inside. Perhaps they could add some shuttles and have all ship related stuff kept there.
True Way - New Dominion Alliance
This alliance doesn't really make sense. 800 million Cardassians were killed by the Dominion who attempted to exterminate them all. While the New Dominion is a separate faction from the original Dominion, it's still made pretty clear that Laas has no love for solids at all. It seems unlikely that he would ally with them. If the True Way is going to use Jem'Hadar, then perhaps they could be clones specifically created by the True Way to serve them. Instead of allying with the New Dominion, this could actually put them at odds. The New Dominion could attempt to take back any cloning facilities used by the True Way.
Storyline
The Cardassian Struggle might be named after the Cardassians, but the missions are actually a lot of random things all thrown together. There is a random mission featuring Section 31, a random Klingon mission, a fight with the Undine who attack DS9 and then the Terran Federation shows up to assault DS9. Then of course there is The 4800 where the Dominion assaults DS9. That poor station has a really bad week.
It's possible a lot of these missions will be removed to trim the fat, which is what happened with the Romulan campaign, however a lot of them could probably stay with a few modifications. If they do stay, then I think it would be wise to move some of them around.
Forging Bonds/Badlands
I would personally merge Forging Bonds and Badlands together. Perhaps after we rescue the freighter and discover the mine, we can defeat Glinn Majet and then pursue Gul Brun to the Badlands where we rescue Joshua Riker and his people. Maybe the mine itself could be replaced with a Jem'Hadar cloning facility, and New Dominion forces could engage the True Way and us at the same time.
Seeds of Dissent/The Long Night
From here, the players could go to Goralis System where we find the inhabitents being bullied by True Way forces. The mission could probably play out pretty much the same as before, but after we defeat Gul Granspir, we can learn of the True Way's base of operations at Empok Nor. Afterwards we go to Empok Nor and already find it under attack by New Dominion forces. After saving the station and boarding it for ourselves, we'll clean up what's left of the True Way and arrest Gul Madred.
The New Link
After we believe we've broken the True Way in this sector, we will then take the fight to the New Dominion. After tracking their forces to Orias III, we will do what we did before and take Laas into custody.
Suspect/War Games/Shutdown
The Romulan Mystery lost its Undine mission entirely, so it's possible these could be removed as well. If they do stay, then I think I might move them around. Unless Franklin Drake knew the Undine were already replacing people in this sector, (which I suppose is possible), then it seems a little odd that he tests your loyalty right before the Undine capture a ship. A little convenient right? I think Suspect should be moved around to make it so he tests your loyalty after your encounter with the Undine on the USS Athens.
The Rapier
I thought about forgetting this one, but it could be worth staying for a couple of reasons. For one, it would be nice to remaster the interior of the Wormhole to look more canon. We get to see a more canon interior in Operation Gamma, so it would be nice here as well. Another reason to keep it is because this is where we meet Eraun for the first time. He of course plays a larger role in The 4800.
The final reason for keeping it is because it could actually help foreshadow The 4800. A Starfleet ship disappeared in the Wormhole and then mysteriously reappears? Our characters should make note of this mystery as worth investigating at another time, only to be called to DS9 for a meeting. Of course that meeting is where the Dominion fleet returns just as the Rapier did. The 4800 would then continue unchanged.
Tears of the Prophets/Crack in the Mirror
This could actually be made into its own campaign. Split it off from The Cardassian Struggle and place the new Mirror campaign between Struggle and Borg Advance.
After everything that has happened recently, the Cardassians decide to send a gift to the Bajorans. When we go to Cardassia we find remnants of the True Way attempting to steal the Orb, but then Terran Federation ships show up and take it for themselves. When they leave, you're contacted by the Prophets who warn you about the Mirror Orb. When you return to DS9 you engage Mirror ships in orbit attempting to change the Wormhole to allow their invasion force to come through.
The Other Side
After we prevent the invasion we can take the fight to them and take the Orb back. The mission could probably play out as it did before but with various gameplay updates to make the mission more interesting. If we don't kill O'Brien in the previous mission, we could do so here. Or maybe we don't kill him, (We're Starfleet), but after defeating him we arrest him or the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance could kill him.
Cage of Fire
The Orb doesn't play a role in this mission but it could now. Perhaps Cerin Teresa could request the Orb at the Temple where she attempts to use it for a Pah Wraith ceremony.
These are just a few ideas I was thinking of today and thought I would post here for discussion. If there is an update to this campaign, I'm sure it will be sometime long after Season 10. It's still worth discussing, IMO.
Security Office
Odo's office from the show, which includes a brig. A starfleet security officer could be added to this room, perhaps giving us another place to turn in contraband, as well as Laas after he has been captured. Maybe Commander Roxy can fill this position, since she and the other Omega and MACO personnel have nothing better to do right now.
The Infirmary
There is a Chief Medical Officer standing around the East Docking Ring. Would it not make more sense to include the canon Infirmary and place this medical officer there?
Quark's Bar
This area is currently separated from the rest of the map. A new DS9 should include the bar, just as Earth Space Dock has Club 47. One problem with Quark's right now is that it feels cut off and isolated. It only looked like that in the show when he closed it for the night. When it's open, he can see people walking around the Promenade. It would be neat if it was as open and inviting as it is in the show.
Garak's Shop
We have a tailor on DS9 already, but they should be moved and placeed in the space which used to belong to Garak.
Docking Rings
I think the East bay can be removed, with the bank and exchange moved to a new location. A bank was shown on the show, so they could find a place for it on the promenade and the exchange can be moved there. The West bay can be redesigned to look more like the shuttle bays on the show. They weren't shown often but runabouts and shuttles did dock inside. Perhaps they could add some shuttles and have all ship related stuff kept there.
True Way - New Dominion Alliance
This alliance doesn't really make sense. 800 million Cardassians were killed by the Dominion who attempted to exterminate them all. While the New Dominion is a separate faction from the original Dominion, it's still made pretty clear that Laas has no love for solids at all. It seems unlikely that he would ally with them. If the True Way is going to use Jem'Hadar, then perhaps they could be clones specifically created by the True Way to serve them. Instead of allying with the New Dominion, this could actually put them at odds. The New Dominion could attempt to take back any cloning facilities used by the True Way.
Storyline
The Cardassian Struggle might be named after the Cardassians, but the missions are actually a lot of random things all thrown together. There is a random mission featuring Section 31, a random Klingon mission, a fight with the Undine who attack DS9 and then the Terran Federation shows up to assault DS9. Then of course there is The 4800 where the Dominion assaults DS9. That poor station has a really bad week.
It's possible a lot of these missions will be removed to trim the fat, which is what happened with the Romulan campaign, however a lot of them could probably stay with a few modifications. If they do stay, then I think it would be wise to move some of them around.
Forging Bonds/Badlands
I would personally merge Forging Bonds and Badlands together. Perhaps after we rescue the freighter and discover the mine, we can defeat Glinn Majet and then pursue Gul Brun to the Badlands where we rescue Joshua Riker and his people. Maybe the mine itself could be replaced with a Jem'Hadar cloning facility, and New Dominion forces could engage the True Way and us at the same time.
Seeds of Dissent/The Long Night
From here, the players could go to Goralis System where we find the inhabitents being bullied by True Way forces. The mission could probably play out pretty much the same as before, but after we defeat Gul Granspir, we can learn of the True Way's base of operations at Empok Nor. Afterwards we go to Empok Nor and already find it under attack by New Dominion forces. After saving the station and boarding it for ourselves, we'll clean up what's left of the True Way and arrest Gul Madred.
The New Link
After we believe we've broken the True Way in this sector, we will then take the fight to the New Dominion. After tracking their forces to Orias III, we will do what we did before and take Laas into custody.
Suspect/War Games/Shutdown
The Romulan Mystery lost its Undine mission entirely, so it's possible these could be removed as well. If they do stay, then I think I might move them around. Unless Franklin Drake knew the Undine were already replacing people in this sector, (which I suppose is possible), then it seems a little odd that he tests your loyalty right before the Undine capture a ship. A little convenient right? I think Suspect should be moved around to make it so he tests your loyalty after your encounter with the Undine on the USS Athens.
The Rapier
I thought about forgetting this one, but it could be worth staying for a couple of reasons. For one, it would be nice to remaster the interior of the Wormhole to look more canon. We get to see a more canon interior in Operation Gamma, so it would be nice here as well. Another reason to keep it is because this is where we meet Eraun for the first time. He of course plays a larger role in The 4800.
The final reason for keeping it is because it could actually help foreshadow The 4800. A Starfleet ship disappeared in the Wormhole and then mysteriously reappears? Our characters should make note of this mystery as worth investigating at another time, only to be called to DS9 for a meeting. Of course that meeting is where the Dominion fleet returns just as the Rapier did. The 4800 would then continue unchanged.
Tears of the Prophets/Crack in the Mirror
This could actually be made into its own campaign. Split it off from The Cardassian Struggle and place the new Mirror campaign between Struggle and Borg Advance.
After everything that has happened recently, the Cardassians decide to send a gift to the Bajorans. When we go to Cardassia we find remnants of the True Way attempting to steal the Orb, but then Terran Federation ships show up and take it for themselves. When they leave, you're contacted by the Prophets who warn you about the Mirror Orb. When you return to DS9 you engage Mirror ships in orbit attempting to change the Wormhole to allow their invasion force to come through.
The Other Side
After we prevent the invasion we can take the fight to them and take the Orb back. The mission could probably play out as it did before but with various gameplay updates to make the mission more interesting. If we don't kill O'Brien in the previous mission, we could do so here. Or maybe we don't kill him, (We're Starfleet), but after defeating him we arrest him or the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance could kill him.
Cage of Fire
The Orb doesn't play a role in this mission but it could now. Perhaps Cerin Teresa could request the Orb at the Temple where she attempts to use it for a Pah Wraith ceremony.
These are just a few ideas I was thinking of today and thought I would post here for discussion. If there is an update to this campaign, I'm sure it will be sometime long after Season 10. It's still worth discussing, IMO.
Post edited by thomaselkins on
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— Sabaton, "Great War"
Check out https://unitedfederationofpla.net/s/
I don't like to see content deleted, so bring back the Undine epesodes as a remastered arc.
Douglas MacArthur - Quote on the dedication plaque of the U.S.S. Ranger NCC-97332-A Armitage class Fleet Heavy Strike Wing Escort.
I think DS9 as a whole could use a revamp though, and a lick of paint. It's a Cardassian (nor Bajoran) Station, though I'm pretty sure paint still exists in the 25th Century. Lets brighten the place up a bit.
As for the missions and content, it currently seems to revolve around the True Way and Terran Empire, both of which are unappealing to me, though they do serve a purpose. I guess it depends whether they (Cryptic) ultimately wish to set the stage for a Cardassian Fraction (lets hope not), but it would make sense to conclude that this area of space is where the next big revamp is going to take place.
(I was not impressed by the changes to the Romulan arc. You can tell, can't you?)
Ha, that would actually be a good addition. I wonder how Drake would take your "trust no one" approach?
I don't really like seeing content deleted either. I like the changes to the Romulan Mystery for the most part, but it's awfully short now and I wish it was longer. A lot more of the remastered Klingon missions managed to stay.
I don't think that it would be a waste. DS9 is a pretty busy hub with players coming and going from there all the time. As long as it remains active, then the update would be worth the effort. Attention to detail and making it more canon might even attract even more people there to see it. I say DS9's fresh look would be no different from ESD's new look.
As for those offices, if the map is getting brought up to date then it makes sense to just include them. They're canon after all. Besides, that's why I suggested adding the appropriate characters there so people would need a reason to go there. Other than just to see it of course. Commander Roxy could be put to use since she is current;y obsolete and taking up space. Her being placed in the security office makes a lot of sense anyway, since after you defeat Laas you turn him into a Security Officer. So we have to travel across the quadrant to drop him off somewhere? Why do that when you can just take him to the security office on DS9? This gives it a purpose.
I don't know how many people visit a doctor to heal themselves in this game, but a doctor is already present on the station, I just think it would make sense to put them in the appropriate place, instead of them standing around in the docking bay.
There would be those in the military wanting to go back to the old times where they held the power, but allying with the Dominion aain, really ?
I meant in the context that there's no point creating detailed rooms with no afterward purpose.
There's a medical guy on DS9? I've been playing for a little over three years, never knew this. :eek:
But yeah, it does not make a lot of sense when you actually consider it.
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She needs to be introduced much earlier in the whole story arc and actually be established as someone sympathetic, so her treachery hits harder and is more surprising.
...
Otherwise, a lot of interesting ideas. And I definitely think that the True Way should not cooperate with any Changlings or Jem'Hadar. Jem'Hadar might deserve an exception if the True Way has created them and they are loyal to the Cardies, but normally, I'd say no one in Cardassia will ever want to work with the Dominion or dominion related forces for a long time. They tried to commit genocide on the Cardassian people!
War does terrible things, and forces good people to commit terrible acts. I'm not saying the Jem'Hadar aren't to blame (though I actually think the Breen took more enjoyment out of it), but I can see a superior Cardassian Force using Jem'Hadar to get a job done, especially if said force is a little on the crazy side.
And Cardassians have often been shown as, umm, intelligently flexible in matters of loyalty and allegiance. I can imagine some of them doing a deal with the devil, if they needed guns and ships, and the devil was offering them.
But I think Jem'Hadar shooting loved ones is a memory not so easily forgotten or forgiving. The fact that they executes these orders without question, hesitation or remorse and knowing that they would do so again if asked by their masters is not exactly somethnig that puts you at ease.
Sure, they'd be convenient if their loyality was for Cardassians and not Founder - but the True Way arc makes them still Changling-Fixated, but even if they were "reprogrammed" - do you trust that reprogramming, do you trust them to be incorruptable by Founders?
Hasn't it been 40 years? I think most of the True Way leaders aren't old collaborators anymore. Unless we're fighting a lot of grand-parents.
*) Actually, thinking about it, i am not sure if there are even many Cardassian offiers that would have to face charges of collaboration in the first place. The Dominion was an ally at first, only when the war turned badly did they turn against the Cardassians.
Additionally, Cardassians revere age and an older person is IMO more likely to be able to command a significant following than some young whippersnapper.
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Low-level participants in TRIBBLE war crimes are still being sought out for prosecution to this day, a lot more than forty years after the event. (The high-level participants are all long in their graves, and good riddance to them). I don't find this scenario as unlikely as you seem to think it.
Why ... they could always replace 15 Missions with 1 remastered Episode ... would be nothing new ... since the ratio seems to be going downhill ... :P
Klingon War : 15/13
Borg Advance : 6/4
Romulan Mystery : 15/4
Cardassian Struggle : ?
Well, let's agree to disagree here. It's not that important.
I think we agree that an alliance between Cardassians True Way and Dominion remnant forces just seems wrong.
It isn't really a good DS9 fan service if it doesn't reflect the historical development during the show.
Been around since Dec 2010 on STO and bought LTS in Apr 2013 for STO.
Yes Please, would make a lovely addition to a Quarks Bar remaster
Also i generally agree with the OP in most matters, would love to see this arc brought up to current standard, but would also like to retain the majority of content
My character Tsin'xing
You might be right about the "Klingon War" - Arc ... but you couldn't be more wrong about the "Borg Advance" - Arc ... they completely changed the Story, and even put 2 seperate Arcs into one (Undine & Borg)
So, please, do elaborate on the changes.
My character Tsin'xing
Yeah, we do agree it is an unholy alliance to say the least.
As for the Cardassian age stuff...well, what can I say--I enjoy the Cardassians a lot, so I spent the time to hazard what I think is an educated guess. It's certainly not proof, other than the onscreen fact that Cardassians do revere age. No worries.
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
Proudly F2P. Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
I agree with most of it too. I especially love the ideaof merging Quark's with the promenade as one zone. It would be great if there was a reason to actually visit DS9 again too. There used to be when you needed to go there for STF gear but now there's no reason to leave ESD, Qonos or the Dyso Sphere.
I'm hoping that the next season takes us through the wormhole and DS9 becomes a major social hub again.
Off the Top of my head :
- adding Cooper, Tuvok & their entire Storyline
- the "Iconian - Undine - Threat" didn't really exist before ... all we got was some mysterious Gateway at the End ...
- nothing about Iconians using Decoy-Ships i.E. ...
- the whole "Terradome" - Thing (including the Gekli & those weird Aliens) was replaced with an Space Battle against Undine ...
- Romulan Republic wasn't part of the Story before ...
- pretty much every map was different, including Romulan Interiors ...
-> granted Assimilation is kind a similar story-wise, but that's about it ...