"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them." -Thomas Marrone
They can open a Portal to the center of a star. Using the portal to vent the Nuclear heat, & Pressure from the core of that star, Funneling it, directing it.
Like a giant nuclear heat ray.
So it's basically a weapon.
From the sounds of it, we escort a ship loaded up with Iconian Gateway tech to one of these aperture heat ray event horizons. it keeps the portal open, we go through. And attack the facility housing the weapon system.
^ The way I read the blog words "special ships" implies special special npc/sci vessels or some such, as during the elachi special event.
Or the Iconians are not interesting in dirtying their hands with the grunt work...
It's been being shown for 5 years that they work through proxies, and it seems to be a combo of disdaining grunt work and perhaps a lack of manpower/population themselves to execute their plans. Perhaps they're sadistic enough to enjoy seeing other races fall for their benefit, or perhaps they are just mortal enough that a concerted effort could pose a problem to them...interesting headcanon fodder.
Well... he could still have been right.
But I would think that a number of other races pushing your species to the brink of extinction would change your perspective on things. Perhaps rather than being at the mercy of others, like the dominion, they chose to subjugate potential threats before they became a real one.
Which I would have absolutely no problem accepting, even if is a little too similar to the Dominion's origins, but again, it would be nice if such an explanation eventually showed up in game. Currently, the implication is that the Iconians have always been super evil, or at the very least, arrogant jerks. I'd also be sort of fine if that's the direction they decided to go with them, but it would still be nice to have someone go, "Oh yeah, there were some people that thought the Iconians might not have been so bad, long ago. Guess they were wrong." Just...some sort of acknowledgement to better weld the original episode they were mentioned in with the STO storyline.
From an IC perspective, we are no where near ready to take these guys on. Yes we have the alliance (Fed/KDF/RR) and the new Delta confederation (or whatever that's called), but that fragile at best. What I'd like to see is us start to see some iconian action, is to realize we are way outgunned, and go through story arcs bringing the voth, the undine, and, dare i say, the borg queen in on this alliance. You could start us out very gradually with some iconian action, but still be able to stretch it out with some really good content building up into a full blown war of wars.
I doubt that this is the direction they will go with it, based on the whole "THE ICONIAN WAR IS FINALLY COMING!" hype they are promoting, but it would awesome from a story perspective, and help to pad things out a bit, if after winning a few token victories against the Iconians, like with the Herald Sphere, they make good on their "Do not attract our attention again" threats, and proceed to wipe the floor with the Alliance. And that's when we realize we'll need the help of the other major powers of the galaxy, and the real war can finally begin.
I guess, and I'm probably not alone in this, it would just be nice if we actually went up against a villain that was, from a story perspective, an actual, long-running threat, and not just the most recent basis for a new reputation/lockbox, until the next threat comes along soon enough.
"There will never be enough blood to wash away my need for vengeance! A single world...I could destroy a million worlds and it would not be enough! Your existence is an insult to the memory of my people! I will continue my fight, even if I must fight alone!"
Trendy. For whatever reason, this made my terrible day, a little brighter. Thanks for it.
To actually comment on the subject matter, I find it amusing if we're given some freebie T6 faction ships. But they are only unlocked by the Delta Recruits.
This is your mission and you are required to take upon this mission which we will code name massive treadmill grind(or we will flash a tos in your face that says we will kick you out if you don't play and spend money again). So the iconians have taken over a newspaper called the herald and their headquarters is some kind of rock in space with pretty colors splattered on it. Because the pages of a newspaper when rolled up are too tight to burn or vaporize with a phaser rifle you will be going on a mission to turn it into a sphere where you then will light with an interstellar lighter. Now you willl love this because its going to be a new dilithium, doff, skill point, specialization, ship mastery, crafting, etc grinds for you to do because you love them Geko(TM). Now you can get your awesome rewards once you have glued all the letters that make up the newspaper in the form of a ransom note to get those poor starving zombie children who were abducted in DR. Now you will love this because once a day per character when you finish this mission if you do not fail it of course you win one letter of a word to construct your herald newspaper. Keep in mind we did not intend for this to be a grind but we are offering if you buy lockbox keys today we will give you a vowel to go with your other letters. Now after such and such date it will require lobi to get these vowels.
So that Liam McIntyre guy we heard about recently, he gonna do Iconian voices or Herald ones?
<curious>
STO Member since February 2009. I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born! Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
While in the Subspace with Worf we checked the various consoles including one that mention gateway to another galaxy. This could open up another galaxy to explore if the cards were played right by Cryptic.
So that Liam McIntyre guy we heard about recently, he gonna do Iconian voices or Herald ones?
<curious>
He's gonna' do Spartacus VO ofcoruse.
What did you think this entire "Delta Recruitment" shtick is about?? A time travelling temporal agent will send us to ancient Rome, where we meet Spartacus (voiced over bu Liam McIntyre) who will train us to fight the Iconians.
How about a Mission where the Iconians, Elachi, Solanae, and these Herald guys arrive and start beating the TRIBBLE out of some planet? Bla bla bla A battlezone... bla bla bla... PEW PEW PEW
WARNING! SARCASM!.....
YAY! More grinding! Just what I was looking for! END SARCASM. Apparently, to Cryptic, It's not grinding if they bother to give the grind context which is wrong but whatever, they can't impress me. Cryptic truly is Craptic and this is just par for the course.
This Is Your Mission And You Are Required To Take Upon This Mission Which We Will Code Name Massive Treadmill Grind(or We Will Flash A Tos In Your Face That Says We Will Kick You Out If You Don't Play And Spend Money Again). So The Iconians Have Taken Over A Newspaper Called The Herald And Their Headquarters Is Some Kind Of Rock In Space With Pretty Colors Splattered On It. Because The Pages Of A Newspaper When Rolled Up Are Too Tight To Burn Or Vaporize With A Phaser Rifle You Will Be Going On A Mission To Turn It Into A Sphere Where You Then Will Light With An Interstellar Lighter. Now You Willl Love This Because Its Going To Be A New Dilithium, Doff, Skill Point, Specialization, Ship Mastery, Crafting, Etc Grinds For You To Do Because You Love Them Geko(tm). Now You Can Get Your Awesome Rewards Once You Have Glued All The Letters That Make Up The Newspaper In The Form Of A Ransom Note To Get Those Poor Starving Zombie Children Who Were Abducted In Dr. Now You Will Love This Because Once A Day Per Character When You Finish This Mission If You Do Not Fail It Of Course You Win One Letter Of A Word To Construct Your Herald Newspaper. Keep In Mind We Did Not Intend For This To Be A Grind But We Are Offering If You Buy Lockbox Keys Today We Will Give You A Vowel To Go With Your Other Letters. Now After Such And Such Date It Will Require Lobi To Get These Vowels.
WARNING! SARCASM!.....
YAY! More grinding! Just what I was looking for! END SARCASM. Apparently, to Cryptic, It's not grinding if they bother to give the grind context which is wrong but whatever, they can't impress me. Cryptic truly is Craptic and this is just par for the course.
It's... an MMO? Also, the queue itself has a mini story which gives it context. But since you said they can't impress you, why are you playing? You don't /have to/ play this content, you know...
It's... an MMO? Also, the queue itself has a mini story which gives it context. But since you said they can't impress you, why are you playing? You don't /have to/ play this content, you know...
That is true, but gameverseman can't help but complain about stuff even if it's unreasonable. If you say something to someone like him, they'll call you either a white knight or something similar. The fact that gameverseman used the word "craptic" should tell you that he doesn't care what the devs do, he'll always complain about something that comes from them.
What did you think this entire "Delta Recruitment" shtick is about?? A time travelling temporal agent will send us to ancient Rome, where we meet Spartacus (voiced over bu Liam McIntyre) who will train us to fight the Iconians.
I would so play it. We could accidently kill someone in the past who we eventually find out later was just some ancient Roman redshirt.
Wait a sec. ..i thought we've already established that the spheres (at least the first two) were built by the solanae and the solanae were the 'click clicks'. It's there still speculation who built the spheres?
I agree with this. I'm excited about taking it to the Iconians, but i want it done right. This reminds me of seasons of B5 building up to the great vorlon / shadow war. It's been building up to a showdown for so long i would be really disappointed if it's just an stf and a few FEs.
From an IC perspective, we are no where near ready to take these guys on. Yes we have the alliance (Fed/KDF/RR) and the new Delta confederation (or whatever that's called), but that fragile at best. What I'd like to see is us start to see some iconian action, is to realize we are way outgunned, and go through story arcs bringing the voth, the undine, and, dare i say, the borg queen in on this alliance. You could start us out very gradually with some iconian action, but still be able to stretch it out with some really good content building up into a full blown war of wars.
I agree, i hope season 10/11/12 will be the end of the Iconian war, it deserves multiple episodes and content!
Hark the Heralds
(Sung to the tune of Hark the herald )
Hark the heralds built a sphere
glory to another year
STO has gotten to mild
another grind to drive us wild
Avenge full alliances arise
to beat back the demons of earth and sky
with pew pew as much a sin
a lock box appears marked iconian
with pew pew as much a sin
a lock box appears marked iconian
Nerfs they lay their metrics by
Made so fans may ever grind
Made so no content goes unerfed
Made so its clear metrics first
Comments
This mission looks interesting, though. I look forward to the next blogs.
"Critics who say that the optimistic utopia Star Trek depicted is now outmoded forget the cultural context that gave birth to it: Star Trek was not a manifestation of optimism when optimism was easy. Star Trek declared a hope for a future that nobody stuck in the present could believe in. For all our struggles today, we haven’t outgrown the need for stories like Star Trek. We need tales of optimism, of heroes, of courage and goodness now as much as we’ve ever needed them."
-Thomas Marrone
^ The way I read the blog words "special ships" implies special special npc/sci vessels or some such, as during the elachi special event.
Btw, Cryptic: I'm getting ship fatigue. (Anyone else feeling similarly?)
It's been being shown for 5 years that they work through proxies, and it seems to be a combo of disdaining grunt work and perhaps a lack of manpower/population themselves to execute their plans. Perhaps they're sadistic enough to enjoy seeing other races fall for their benefit, or perhaps they are just mortal enough that a concerted effort could pose a problem to them...interesting headcanon fodder.
Which I would have absolutely no problem accepting, even if is a little too similar to the Dominion's origins, but again, it would be nice if such an explanation eventually showed up in game. Currently, the implication is that the Iconians have always been super evil, or at the very least, arrogant jerks. I'd also be sort of fine if that's the direction they decided to go with them, but it would still be nice to have someone go, "Oh yeah, there were some people that thought the Iconians might not have been so bad, long ago. Guess they were wrong." Just...some sort of acknowledgement to better weld the original episode they were mentioned in with the STO storyline.
I doubt that this is the direction they will go with it, based on the whole "THE ICONIAN WAR IS FINALLY COMING!" hype they are promoting, but it would awesome from a story perspective, and help to pad things out a bit, if after winning a few token victories against the Iconians, like with the Herald Sphere, they make good on their "Do not attract our attention again" threats, and proceed to wipe the floor with the Alliance. And that's when we realize we'll need the help of the other major powers of the galaxy, and the real war can finally begin.
I guess, and I'm probably not alone in this, it would just be nice if we actually went up against a villain that was, from a story perspective, an actual, long-running threat, and not just the most recent basis for a new reputation/lockbox, until the next threat comes along soon enough.
Exploration Cruiser and Negh'var
Bet there is a
Iconian Rep obvs toooo
Interesting....
Careful, that stuff is still Redacted!
To actually comment on the subject matter, I find it amusing if we're given some freebie T6 faction ships. But they are only unlocked by the Delta Recruits.
This is your mission and you are required to take upon this mission which we will code name massive treadmill grind(or we will flash a tos in your face that says we will kick you out if you don't play and spend money again). So the iconians have taken over a newspaper called the herald and their headquarters is some kind of rock in space with pretty colors splattered on it. Because the pages of a newspaper when rolled up are too tight to burn or vaporize with a phaser rifle you will be going on a mission to turn it into a sphere where you then will light with an interstellar lighter. Now you willl love this because its going to be a new dilithium, doff, skill point, specialization, ship mastery, crafting, etc grinds for you to do because you love them Geko(TM). Now you can get your awesome rewards once you have glued all the letters that make up the newspaper in the form of a ransom note to get those poor starving zombie children who were abducted in DR. Now you will love this because once a day per character when you finish this mission if you do not fail it of course you win one letter of a word to construct your herald newspaper. Keep in mind we did not intend for this to be a grind but we are offering if you buy lockbox keys today we will give you a vowel to go with your other letters. Now after such and such date it will require lobi to get these vowels.
Enjoy the Newspaper Grind!
<curious>
I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
"... I have no prayer for that."
Yeah, like anyone in STO doesn't know about STO content leaks website...
--->Ground Combat General Bugs Directory
Real join date: March 2012 / PvP Veteran since May 2012 (Ground and Space)
He's gonna' do Spartacus VO ofcoruse.
What did you think this entire "Delta Recruitment" shtick is about?? A time travelling temporal agent will send us to ancient Rome, where we meet Spartacus (voiced over bu Liam McIntyre) who will train us to fight the Iconians.
Better then flyinginto a Supernova in order to get to the Q Continuum.
Queued event = Meh.
USS Casinghead NCC 92047 launched 2350
Fleet Admiral Stowe - Dominion War Vet.
My character Tsin'xing
That, and the fact that the Herald sphere queue on tribble rewards iconian marks...
YAY! More grinding! Just what I was looking for! END SARCASM. Apparently, to Cryptic, It's not grinding if they bother to give the grind context which is wrong but whatever, they can't impress me. Cryptic truly is Craptic and this is just par for the course.
Here Here!
It's... an MMO? Also, the queue itself has a mini story which gives it context. But since you said they can't impress you, why are you playing? You don't /have to/ play this content, you know...
1) More heals
2) More DPS or damage related bonus
3) More speed
Seems they ran out of ideas.
Same goes for a new specialization tree. Science please!!!
Pretty much this ^^^
I would so play it. We could accidently kill someone in the past who we eventually find out later was just some ancient Roman redshirt.
I agree, i hope season 10/11/12 will be the end of the Iconian war, it deserves multiple episodes and content!
Interested in Role Playing? Join the 12th Fleet Science division!
(Sung to the tune of Hark the herald )
Hark the heralds built a sphere
glory to another year
STO has gotten to mild
another grind to drive us wild
Avenge full alliances arise
to beat back the demons of earth and sky
with pew pew as much a sin
a lock box appears marked iconian
with pew pew as much a sin
a lock box appears marked iconian
Nerfs they lay their metrics by
Made so fans may ever grind
Made so no content goes unerfed
Made so its clear metrics first
Other words, "Star Trek: Online" may be ending with Season Ten.
We may have come full circle.
Outside of directly fighting the Iconians, I don't see any other logical way forward.
*turns the page*