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Iconian War Anthology discussion thread

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  • thay8472thay8472 Member Posts: 6,164 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Not to be rude or anything.

    Can't we just keep a list here somewhere?
    zx2t8tuj4i10.png
    Thank you for the Typhoon!
  • ammianusammianus Member Posts: 85 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    I am not a foundry maker, but I have a story, and I more than ready to discuss the details if any of you brave souls would opt for making it a reality. :)

    The title is work in progress, simpler - Sacrifice, or more complex - For the Federation

    In short, the player would embark on a mission to save the Federation, but by doing this he would go against everything Federation represents. Namely, the Prime Directive. I am inspired by one of best DS9 (Trek, and shows) ever - In the Pale Moonlight

    The mission would start with a player sitting in the ready room at his/her ship, and looking at the list of war casualities (perhaps including his best friend from the Academy, to make it personal, or someone from a previous foundry ico mission to give it gravity). The war is now going for months, with Federation being forced to withdraw from most of the territory (according to other mission stories), and situation seems hopeless. Then he gets a call from Section 31, who tells him that there is a record of the weapon of some sort (probably Preserver), on a planet in the Delta quadrant which is on the verge of creating a warp drive (very advanced), but it is extremely hostile to outsiders.

    To make things worse the record of immense importance for the survival of the Alliance is in possession of that race, and what is even worse the previous away team was captured and is days away to be executed for intrusion. As the hostile race does posses elaborate bioscaning technology, the only way to get it is to assemble a small comando team, and go in, guns blazing.

    After rescuing the away team, the player recoginzes that their leader is a noted hig-ranking member of Tal Shiar, involved in a Hobus incident. Now, he needs to work with that person whom he disgusts, and go against everything that he believed, and make crimes against innocents (as technically Federation is trespassing on the planet) to save the Federation, and the Alliance.

    Also, I would start the mission by transferring on a Romulan ship (as it can cloak), as the hostile race has an advanced technology, and has ships able for a interplanetary travel. Also, coming by Romulan ship, and having Romulan in away team, may provide for interesting dialogues and decisions once we liberate Tal Shiar guy :P

    What do you think...anyone willing to lose hours in making this possible :)
  • starfarerthetastarfarertheta Member Posts: 740 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Due to an almost unanimous sentiment that it is too much like a patrol, I have decided to withdraw "Blinded." It occured to me that such a mission may not be entirely appropriate for what is suppose to be a story anthology.

    It could be republished in the future, but I need to figure out what to do with it first.
  • markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,236 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Due to an almost unanimous sentiment that it is too much like a patrol, I have decided to withdraw "Blinded." It occured to me that such a mission may not be entirely appropriate for what is suppose to be a story anthology.

    It could be republished in the future, but I need to figure out what to do with it first.
    Further information is required for me to either condone or condemn this decision.
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
  • starfarerthetastarfarertheta Member Posts: 740 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Further information is required for me to either condone or condemn this decision.

    The main feature of the mission was a "hide and seek" mechanic which involved finding jammers. The way the player finds the jammers involves searching a set of markers until the correct one is found. Then the player disables the jammer and moves on to the next. There are only three in the mission.

    After disabling the jammers the player is then tasked with defending the Panthera from an Elachi squadron. After that, there is some final dialogue and the mission completes.

    There's not much to it beyond the "hide and seek" mechanic, and it seems that most people find that to be either tedious or too difficult. This is significant since that mechanic made up the bulk of the mission and was the main feature. There's not much story either. In other words, it just doesn't seem to be a very good mission. It was therefore pulled until I think of ways to improve it, especially where story is concerned.
  • drogyn1701drogyn1701 Member Posts: 3,606 Media Corps
    edited May 2015
    Not having played your mission yet, I couldn't comment on the mechanic you tried. But I would say that there is definitely room to have shorter, less story-based missions in this anthology, but what we'd need to make that work is to have more of them.
    The Foundry Roundtable live Saturdays at 7:30PM EST/4:30PM PST on twitch.tv/thefoundryroundtable
  • csrr12905csrr12905 Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    The main feature of the mission was a "hide and seek" mechanic which involved finding jammers. The way the player finds the jammers involves searching a set of markers until the correct one is found. Then the player disables the jammer and moves on to the next. There are only three in the mission.

    After disabling the jammers the player is then tasked with defending the Panthera from an Elachi squadron. After that, there is some final dialogue and the mission completes.

    There's not much to it beyond the "hide and seek" mechanic, and it seems that most people find that to be either tedious or too difficult. This is significant since that mechanic made up the bulk of the mission and was the main feature. There's not much story either. In other words, it just doesn't seem to be a very good mission. It was therefore pulled until I think of ways to improve it, especially where story is concerned.

    Having played through the mission, I had a few possible ideas on that front.

    -Rather than merely shutting down the jammers, have a team beam over to disable them, while your ship defends against Elachi trying to board the jammer and take out your team.

    -Board one of the jammers yourself, taking out Elachi and planting explosives.

    -Fight of boarders aboard the Panthera for the last section of the mission.

    -Add a few Elachi ships as possible things to find instead of a Jammer (or even replace one of the Jammers with an Elachi group, because ship-based jammers are a very reasonable thing)

    - Use Interference volumes to knock out the mini-map, making the jamming seem to affect your ship as well??(not sure this would be a good idea!)

    - Using patrol mechanics, escort the Panthera back through the nebula in the last section.
  • starfarerthetastarfarertheta Member Posts: 740 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    csrr12905 wrote: »
    Having played through the mission, I had a few possible ideas on that front.

    -Rather than merely shutting down the jammers, have a team beam over to disable them, while your ship defends against Elachi trying to board the jammer and take out your team.

    -Board one of the jammers yourself, taking out Elachi and planting explosives.

    -Fight of boarders aboard the Panthera for the last section of the mission.

    -Add a few Elachi ships as possible things to find instead of a Jammer (or even replace one of the Jammers with an Elachi group, because ship-based jammers are a very reasonable thing)

    - Use Interference volumes to knock out the mini-map, making the jamming seem to affect your ship as well??(not sure this would be a good idea!)

    - Using patrol mechanics, escort the Panthera back through the nebula in the last section.

    I'm going to have to try these. Thanks for the suggestions! :)

    As for the interference volume, I tried that once and it had the desired effect but also made travel slow going. Really. Slow. Going. The resulting experience was like pulling one's own teeth out.
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    I'd like to get involved, butI have a question. The story I've been working on leads into the Iconian war, (ending just before uneasy allies) could i use elements (characters and faction from that story in the Iconain War as I'd planned? I'm thinking perhaps a head injury effected the PCs short term memory in some cases, so it would just need a dialogue work around.
    I've actually had this in word I just needed to get accses to the Heralds. :)
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • wildkazoowildkazoo Member Posts: 31 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Ok guys, we have a TV Tropes Page for the Anthology. Go ahead and add any details you want to add to it!

    Heres the Link.

    Everyone is responsible for getting their own missions started since its an open project. I've preliminarily put folders for the ones officially announced in this thread. But from here on out, its all you guys.

    I think this is great to have a separate site where the information can be gathered, but would it be better to just use the STO wiki? They have a section specifically for UGC Foundry missions. You could even have character pages that give bios and include images with sliders so other creators can add them to their own missions.

    As examples:
    A mission page http://sto.gamepedia.com/Foundry:To_Helna_and_Back_(ST-HGTEIDK7L)
    And character page http://sto.gamepedia.com/Foundry:To_Helna_and_Back_(ST-HGTEIDK7L)/Helna

    And I think we should also create a post that is just mission summaries for completed Anthology episodes.
  • drogyn1701drogyn1701 Member Posts: 3,606 Media Corps
    edited May 2015
    That sounds ok. I think we're accepting pretty much anything related to the war, including stuff leading up. Just make sure you put something in the description or opening dialogue saying when it takes place.
    The Foundry Roundtable live Saturdays at 7:30PM EST/4:30PM PST on twitch.tv/thefoundryroundtable
  • markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,236 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    wildkazoo wrote: »
    I think this is great to have a separate site where the information can be gathered, but would it be better to just use the STO wiki? They have a section specifically for UGC Foundry missions. You could even have character pages that give bios and include images with sliders so other creators can add them to their own missions.

    As examples:
    A mission page http://sto.gamepedia.com/Foundry:To_Helna_and_Back_(ST-HGTEIDK7L)
    And character page http://sto.gamepedia.com/Foundry:To_Helna_and_Back_(ST-HGTEIDK7L)/Helna

    And I think we should also create a post that is just mission summaries for completed Anthology episodes.
    Yeah, the wiki is easier to edit than TVTropes....
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
  • sirboulevardsirboulevard Member Posts: 722 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Yeah, the wiki is easier to edit than TVTropes....

    Its the same format, Mark. Seriously, TV Tropes uses standard Wiki mark up.


    Also, TV Tropes actually gets more traffic than the foundry section of the STO Wiki. Heck the STO wiki isn't even up to date on most content. And the TV Tropes Recap section actually gets traffic to allow for free advertising. Sheesh, I didn't even know there *WAS* a foundry section to the STO wiki. And I'm active over there. Which should tell you how likely it is that anyone will see it.

    If you want to add it to the STO wiki go ahead. But more availability and publicity is good.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    TRIBBLE Hydra! Hail Janeway!
  • drogyn1701drogyn1701 Member Posts: 3,606 Media Corps
    edited May 2015
    Now now, gentlemen. The obvious answer is to do all of the above.
    The Foundry Roundtable live Saturdays at 7:30PM EST/4:30PM PST on twitch.tv/thefoundryroundtable
  • csrr12905csrr12905 Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Ok, I've been doing a bit of reading, and I am trying to figure something out- are the Fek'ihri a servitor race?

    The end of the Fek'ihri arc establishes them as being created by Hur'q technology. However, the iconians have used other's tech to implicate the wrong species before. Also, the Hur'q seem to be extinct. Also, they hit Qo'nos, which is obviously a primary target for the Iconians.

    However, if I put a Fek'ihri squad and a Herald squad in the same room, the Fek'ihri are rapidly and efficiently wiped out.

    So- are Fek'ihri a Servitor species? Could the Hur'q have been a Servitor species? Or are the Hur'q something completely different from the Iconians?
  • starfarerthetastarfarertheta Member Posts: 740 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Alright, [Ico] Blinded has been refitted and is ready for another trial voyage. It will seem similar to the previous version at the start, but towards the end is where the additions will become noticable.
  • markhawkmanmarkhawkman Member Posts: 35,236 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    csrr12905 wrote: »
    Ok, I've been doing a bit of reading, and I am trying to figure something out- are the Fek'ihri a servitor race?

    The end of the Fek'ihri arc establishes them as being created by Hur'q technology. However, the iconians have used other's tech to implicate the wrong species before. Also, the Hur'q seem to be extinct. Also, they hit Qo'nos, which is obviously a primary target for the Iconians.

    However, if I put a Fek'ihri squad and a Herald squad in the same room, the Fek'ihri are rapidly and efficiently wiped out.

    So- are Fek'ihri a Servitor species? Could the Hur'q have been a Servitor species? Or are the Hur'q something completely different from the Iconians?
    Heralds are more powerful than most AIs. Not all AIs are created equal, some are simply stronger than others.

    Anyways, my personal theory is that the Hur'q are a servitor race and that the Fek'lhri are either a servitor, or the creation of a servitor. There are several similarities between Fek tech and Herald tech. Also there's the question of how a Gamma Quadrant race conquered Qonos in the first place. It's not even close to the Celestial Temple....
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    My character Tsin'xing
    Costume_marhawkman_Tsin%27xing_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_488916968.jpg
  • csrr12905csrr12905 Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Anyways, my personal theory is that the Hur'q are a servitor race and that the Fek'lhri are either a servitor, or the creation of a servitor. There are several similarities between Fek tech and Herald tech. Also there's the question of how a Gamma Quadrant race conquered Qo'nos in the first place. It's not even close to the Celestial Temple....

    That's what I'm thinking as well, but I'm a little nervous about it, considering that I just spent all my free time of the last few days writing a mission that assumes they are a servitor race...
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    I just published an a mission for this thread, taking place roughly a week or two after the destruction of the Preservers.

    Name: [Ico] Glimmer of Hope
    ID: ST-HI4WX2V59
    Level: 61+
    Author: Gromio
    Faction: Starfleet or Romulan Republic
    Door: Toron System, Alpha Quadrant

    Description:
    The Iconian war wages across the Milky Way. No one is safe from wrath of the Heralds. An assault of Bajor may be far out of the way of the Heralds, but there may still be secrets in Deferi space, not to mention countless innocent lives. Bajor must not be allowed to fall.


    This mission reintroduces some characters I've created and a couple factions. I've tweaked the dialog so that it makes sense if my other mission's haven't been played.
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • sfc#5932 sfc Member Posts: 992 Bug Hunter
    edited May 2015
    I published a custom-built map called "The Dyson Underground" last year for my STO roleplaying group - they needed a map, so I built it.

    The story we had going was that a gateway underneath the Fleet Spire - which led to the location of an Obelisk Carrier. I don't know if this sounds any interesting to anyone, but it may be nice to expand on. Perhaps they're refitting Obelisk carriers to house Solonae, to bring to normal space? the mission's available in the Foundry for a quick playthrough - and I mean quick. look around for interactable lore!
  • paxfederaticapaxfederatica Member Posts: 1,496 Arc User
    edited May 2015
  • csrr12905csrr12905 Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    zionus0 wrote: »
    I just published an a mission for this thread, taking place roughly a week or two after the destruction of the Preservers.

    Name: [Ico] Glimmer of Hope
    ID: ST-HI4WX2V59
    Level: 61+
    Author: Gromio
    Faction: Starfleet or Romulan Republic
    Door: Toron System, Alpha Quadrant

    Description:
    The Iconian war wages across the Milky Way. No one is safe from wrath of the Heralds. An assault of Bajor may be far out of the way of the Heralds, but there may still be secrets in Deferi space, not to mention countless innocent lives. Bajor must not be allowed to fall.


    This mission reintroduces some characters I've created and a couple factions. I've tweaked the dialog so that it makes sense if my other mission's haven't been played.

    I just tried playing through "Glimmer of Hope". Unfortunately, there seems to be a mission-breaking bug on the third map 'forest', where the objective 'Reach the mountain pass' seems to be either above or below where the player can reach it, preventing any further progress.

    From what I have seen, however, the maps are absolutely brilliant! The writing, I have a few suggestions on-

    It's good form, at least in my mind, to have the text for transferring to the first map say Begin "[name of foundry mission]" , as this means that the player is certain of which mission they are starting.

    Hoping this bug gets fixed, because I really want to play through the rest of the mission!
  • thay8472thay8472 Member Posts: 6,164 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    I published a custom-built map called "The Dyson Underground" last year for my STO roleplaying group - they needed a map, so I built it.

    The story we had going was that a gateway underneath the Fleet Spire - which led to the location of an Obelisk Carrier. I don't know if this sounds any interesting to anyone, but it may be nice to expand on. Perhaps they're refitting Obelisk carriers to house Solonae, to bring to normal space? the mission's available in the Foundry for a quick playthrough - and I mean quick. look around for interactable lore!

    I might hijack that idea.

    Instead to turning space into Solanae friendly areas... maybe they're turning their ship interiors to house subspace stuff.... Maybe after "Delta Flight" they thought... "meh... this is easier."
    zx2t8tuj4i10.png
    Thank you for the Typhoon!
  • sfc#5932 sfc Member Posts: 992 Bug Hunter
    edited May 2015
    thay8472 wrote: »
    I might hijack that idea.

    Instead to turning space into Solanae friendly areas... maybe they're turning their ship interiors to house subspace stuff.... Maybe after "Delta Flight" they thought... "meh... this is easier."
    By all means. Take it - if you give the map a go, I'd appreciate any pointers you would have to make it a "full fledged" mission.
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    csrr12905 wrote: »
    I just tried playing through "Glimmer of Hope". Unfortunately, there seems to be a mission-breaking bug on the third map 'forest', where the objective 'Reach the mountain pass' seems to be either above or below where the player can reach it, preventing any further progress.

    From what I have seen, however, the maps are absolutely brilliant! The writing, I have a few suggestions on-

    It's good form, at least in my mind, to have the text for transferring to the first map say Begin "[name of foundry mission]" , as this means that the player is certain of which mission they are starting.

    Hoping this bug gets fixed, because I really want to play through the rest of the mission!

    Just started a republish, thank you for telling me about that, I admit I neglected to test that map in the Foundry. It's working now- i chaged it to an invisible object, and should be republished when I get home for work.
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Has anyone else wondered what the Voth might be doing during these recent developments with the Iconians? I'm thinking they probably are aware to an extent what is going on, but has are there any members of their people who aren't willing to do nothing. Or maybe they feel the need to "prove" their doctrine against a clear and decisive group who is clearly superior to them, and contradicts their beliefs?
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • patchm142patchm142 Member Posts: 43 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    zionus0 wrote: »
    Has anyone else wondered what the Voth might be doing during these recent developments with the Iconians? I'm thinking they probably are aware to an extent what is going on, but has are there any members of their people who aren't willing to do nothing. Or maybe they feel the need to "prove" their doctrine against a clear and decisive group who is clearly superior to them, and contradicts their beliefs?

    That's an issue I want to explore in the mission I'm working on right now, but really I'm going to be focusing more on their "relationship" with the Preservers (Not too happy with what the Preservers mean about the Doctrine). Your idea is really good too though, can't wait to see what you do with it.
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Not sure how I'd do this myself for a mission...
    Personally if I were the Iconians I'd try not to focus on the huge alliance and try to prevent others from joining it.. The dominion for example. It makes sense to stop others joining, they clearly have enough ships to make a heavy blow against the Founders and slip away into a portal.
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • zionus0zionus0 Member Posts: 395 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Glimmer of Hope-
    Has been Republished and is working now.
    Why do I still play and put money into STO?
    The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
  • captainhunter1captainhunter1 Member Posts: 1,632 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    zionus0 wrote: »
    Has anyone else wondered what the Voth might be doing during these recent developments with the Iconians? I'm thinking they probably are aware to an extent what is going on, but has are there any members of their people who aren't willing to do nothing. Or maybe they feel the need to "prove" their doctrine against a clear and decisive group who is clearly superior to them, and contradicts their beliefs?

    This is a difficult one to go at as a Foundry author.

    You may end up making the best Foundry mission ever using this as a basis....only to have Cryptic completely go another way with it...thus leaving your mission gutted/irrelevant.

    I love the pretense - as I too have wondered what the Voth are up to now that the Vaadwaar and Undine threats (as of the latest episodes) are taken care of. But the danger in exploring this is that you may put a lot of work into this concept only to have the rug pulled out from under your story later. :(
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