I'll miss them both. Kestrel may have gotten some stick over the years for some of her stories, but I have always enjoyed them. And as for Frost, he's the only dev I've ever actually seen provide confirmation and feedback in the bug report threads... That's going to be missed greatly. Sad days.
Join date is wrong, I've actually been around since STO Beta.
True alters don't have a "main". Account wide unlocks for all unique event rewards!!
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
Thats a bummer. If you follow this thread Kestrel: Thank you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the entertaining stories I had the privilege to play. And a very big thank you for picking up the smoldering pieces a certain movie maker left of the Romulans, after he thought he had a "kewl" idea, and forging them into something new & awesome.
"He shall be my finest warrior, this generic man who was forced upon me.
Like a badass I shall make him look, and in the furnace of war I shall forge him.
he shall be of iron will and steely sinew.
In great armour I shall clad him and with the mightiest weapons he shall be armed.
He will be untouched by plague or disease; no sickness shall blight him.
He shall have such tactics, strategies and machines that no foe will best him in battle.
He is my answer to cryptic logic, he is the Defender of my Romulan Crew.
He is Tovan Khev... and he shall know no fear."
Yeah, I hope it's not because of the harsh criticisms. Even I have had my share critical opinions on the story to make at times, but in the grand scheme of things I know nothing is perfect for any writer and it's overall been a very interesting plot throughout the game that makes you wonder what's next all the time and leads to much interesting speculation!
Perhaps the story has already been completely fleshed out to the end well in advance and that job is done? Quite some time ago we heard even season 11's plot had been pretty much concrete and complete, and it's quite a while before that even comes still! It's really not hard to imagine that one could write ahead for 2 or 3 seasons if really good at it. And that IS simply called having proper planning so I hope that's the case! Good work!
I enjoyed a lot of the earlier writings in STO more so than the new stuff we have now. The missions felt so much more Trek and had caveats that really were nice to see. The Devidian FE series and the two missions involving the Guardian of Forever are my favorites! If it wasn't for these missions and the early writings, including the original STF stories, a lot of players felt this game has the longevity to be successful. Thank you for your contributions to STO and all the best in your new ventures!
But I would really like to know who will continue the story of STO now. How long has he or she been in the team, has he or she worked with Kestrel in the past?
I don't think we have anyone lined up. Remember, the design team themselves are capable writers as well.
If you're interested in the position, or know someone who is, you can feel free to apply.
I don't think we have anyone lined up. Remember, the design team themselves are capable writers as well.
[Citation Needed]
Excuse my sarcasm. But there are really some things that I don't know how exactly to do better (because I am a writer), but as a player feel wrong to me. But I don't know who is responsible for it.
As a recent example - why T'Mara thinks she must keep fighting to her death and basically steps dying through a portal (whose creation is likely what killed her) for example.
Unless there is still some Stephen Moffat Doctor Who timey-whimey explanation behind it, it feels wrong and should probably be told differently.
Or another example:
Our ranks are not really fully considered for many missions. I know, the featured episodes are now available for anyone above level 10, but eventually, they'll be Level 40+ story content, where every character is admiral/general level. We should be treated as if we had some say in how things get done.
House of Pegh was good at it (even if some have issues with the story, ultimately that I as Admiral are asked how to handle things and can alter the plan - even if I don't have a choice as player, my character has). Broken Circle was not so great at it.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
But I would really like to know who will continue the story of STO now. How long has he or she been in the team, has he or she worked with Kestrel in the past?
I don't think we have anyone lined up. Remember, the design team themselves are capable writers as well.
If you're interested in the position, or know someone who is, you can feel free to apply.
I hope the good Foundry writers take note of this and apply. There are some excellent writers playing this game that could be a suitable addition to the PWE team at Cryptic.
I think kestrel did a good job with the STO storyline; an I do hope Cryptic IS getting an actual writer to replace her and not just leaving writing duties to someone like say Captain Geko - but we'll see. It's also said to see Cryptic Frost go; as he was the only QA person even daring to come to the forums and communicate; and I also guess it means Cryptic's STO QA division goes from five down to four people.
Anyhow, I wish you guys the best and hope you find success in whatever you're moving on to.
Formerly known as Armsman from June 2008 to June 20, 2012 PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
Geko is a SYSTEMS designer. While he helps to shape the overall story as the Lead Designer on the project, the individual CONTENT designers, who actually implement missions, and hook up NPCs and such are the ones who would be writing dialog and stories. They actually already do that to an extent. Much of the dialog we do currently is written by that mission's content designer, and then just touched up, and trekkified by Kestrel. We may be missing the latter now, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of telling stories.
Geko is a SYSTEMS designer. While he helps to shape the overall story as the Lead Designer on the project, the individual CONTENT designers, who actually implement missions, and hook up NPCs and such are the ones who would be writing dialog and stories. They actually already do that to an extent. Much of the dialog we do currently is written by that mission's content designer, and then just touched up, and trekkified by Kestrel. We may be missing the latter now, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of telling stories.
Yes, technically anyone can 'write' - but no everyone can write well, and that touch up 'polish' you seem to dismiss as nice but not essential can have a bigger overall effect than you realize, even if were just talking a Star trek game here. Small bits of writing polish can go a long way depending on the situation, and IMO, Kestral moving on is a BIG loss to the storytelling aspect of STO.
It remains to be seen if you have, or can find someone to maintain it at the level its been, but again, time will tell.
(And yes, there have been a few real 'stinkers' under her watch, but honestly, that's true of any Star Trek related TV or feature film series from 1966 to today. Just shows that Kestrel was able to deliver stories and plots of similar caliber to what had been done for TV/Film with Star Trek - IMO.)
Formerly known as Armsman from June 2008 to June 20, 2012 PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
Geko is a SYSTEMS designer. While he helps to shape the overall story as the Lead Designer on the project, the individual CONTENT designers, who actually implement missions, and hook up NPCs and such are the ones who would be writing dialog and stories. They actually already do that to an extent. Much of the dialog we do currently is written by that mission's content designer, and then just touched up, and trekkified by Kestrel. We may be missing the latter now, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of telling stories.
Yes, but who will now be in charge of the plotting of the overall storyline? Who's going to insure that all of the missions enjoy a certain amount of continuity? Who's going to tell the content designers that their dialogue stinks?
In short, you have writers. Who's the new editor-in-chief with Kestrel leaving?
Back on topic...
Kestrel, you have done a fine job for STO over the years and have done well within the limitations you had to work under. Best of luck in your new opportunity. Live long, and prosper.
Geko is a SYSTEMS designer. While he helps to shape the overall story as the Lead Designer on the project, the individual CONTENT designers, who actually implement missions, and hook up NPCs and such are the ones who would be writing dialog and stories. They actually already do that to an extent. Much of the dialog we do currently is written by that mission's content designer, and then just touched up, and trekkified by Kestrel. We may be missing the latter now, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of telling stories.
I think the thing people miss sometimes is how much the gears all turn one another. It's easy to imagine yourself as the writer who runs everything.
But outside of some very recent television and a bit of stuff back in the 50s and 60s with Desi Arnez and Rod Serling, it's not how things work.
It's a collaborative process, I imagine. There are maps you are dying to make. There are systems Geko wants to make because they're good for the financial or mechanical health of the game. The lead writer hopefully gets some input but the story has to be written around those things.
And it was almost always that way with Trek. When Denise Crosby or Jeffrey Hunter left, they had to write around that.
In TNG's pilot, they had extra budget that had to be spent on main engineering's set or it wouldn't have the money to get built based on later episodes' lower budgets. So they wrote Riker randomly stumbling into main engineering. Ideally, when the craftsmanship is top notch, nobody questions it. But I'll take that clunky scene with Riker because of what it did for Geordi and Data's characters later. You would never get that amazing scene of Lore in main engineering, you wouldn't get Barclay's workplace drama... at least not on the same level. And that set inspired many of the great scenes in First Contact and Voyager. Had TNG never built a warpcore set, I'm not sure First Contact or Voyager would have either. But it became an iconic place to stage action.
Some of my early mentorship as a writer came from a guy who worked on the TV show Maverick in the 50s. He gave me his old scripts to review. His job was largely restaging action. If they had a train rented for a week, he'd rewrite Sunset Strip and Maverick episodes to take place on that train.
I think that's legitimate, even noble, work. It's not always perfect but when it's good, it makes everything else better as a result.
The tools of literacy are available to most everyone in the information age, but this has the paradoxical effect of devaluing them -- that is, people assume that because anyone can write, that anyone can write well. The latter is a skill that takes work, of course. This is why skilled writers are important in game development.
Frost, thanks for all your patience and hard work verifying bugs. I do hope you find a good place to go next.
Kestrel, thank you for all the great stories. I'm glad to hear you have a new job lined up. I sincerely hope that months and years down the road you still find it as shiny as it looks today.
Comments
Member Access Denied Armada!
My forum single-issue of rage: Make the Proton Experimental Weapon go for subsystem targetting!
You Will Be Missed...
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
"He shall be my finest warrior, this generic man who was forced upon me.
Like a badass I shall make him look, and in the furnace of war I shall forge him.
he shall be of iron will and steely sinew.
In great armour I shall clad him and with the mightiest weapons he shall be armed.
He will be untouched by plague or disease; no sickness shall blight him.
He shall have such tactics, strategies and machines that no foe will best him in battle.
He is my answer to cryptic logic, he is the Defender of my Romulan Crew.
He is Tovan Khev... and he shall know no fear."
Hopefully she also didn't make the decision based on the sometimes overly harsh criticisms of players.
I'm sure she didn't.
On to bigger and better things.
Perhaps the story has already been completely fleshed out to the end well in advance and that job is done? Quite some time ago we heard even season 11's plot had been pretty much concrete and complete, and it's quite a while before that even comes still! It's really not hard to imagine that one could write ahead for 2 or 3 seasons if really good at it. And that IS simply called having proper planning so I hope that's the case! Good work!
My STOwiki page | Reachable in-game @PhyrexianHero
Fed Armada: Section 31 (level 730, 2700+ members)
KDF Armada: Klingon Intelligence (level 699, 2100+ members)
--Red Annorax
Roberto Orci...
*runs away and hides*
His biological and technological distinctiveness has been added to our own. His files have been passed on to another unit.
I don't think we have anyone lined up. Remember, the design team themselves are capable writers as well.
If you're interested in the position, or know someone who is, you can feel free to apply.
No, she got a good gig lined up.
Excuse my sarcasm. But there are really some things that I don't know how exactly to do better (because I am a writer), but as a player feel wrong to me. But I don't know who is responsible for it.
As a recent example - why T'Mara thinks she must keep fighting to her death and basically steps dying through a portal (whose creation is likely what killed her) for example.
Unless there is still some Stephen Moffat Doctor Who timey-whimey explanation behind it, it feels wrong and should probably be told differently.
Or another example:
Our ranks are not really fully considered for many missions. I know, the featured episodes are now available for anyone above level 10, but eventually, they'll be Level 40+ story content, where every character is admiral/general level. We should be treated as if we had some say in how things get done.
House of Pegh was good at it (even if some have issues with the story, ultimately that I as Admiral are asked how to handle things and can alter the plan - even if I don't have a choice as player, my character has). Broken Circle was not so great at it.
I hope the good Foundry writers take note of this and apply. There are some excellent writers playing this game that could be a suitable addition to the PWE team at Cryptic.
Anyhow, I wish you guys the best and hope you find success in whatever you're moving on to.
PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
Good luck to both for their new future.
Yes, technically anyone can 'write' - but no everyone can write well, and that touch up 'polish' you seem to dismiss as nice but not essential can have a bigger overall effect than you realize, even if were just talking a Star trek game here. Small bits of writing polish can go a long way depending on the situation, and IMO, Kestral moving on is a BIG loss to the storytelling aspect of STO.
It remains to be seen if you have, or can find someone to maintain it at the level its been, but again, time will tell.
(And yes, there have been a few real 'stinkers' under her watch, but honestly, that's true of any Star Trek related TV or feature film series from 1966 to today. Just shows that Kestrel was able to deliver stories and plots of similar caliber to what had been done for TV/Film with Star Trek - IMO.)
PWE ARC Drone says: "Your STO forum community as you have known it is ended...Display names are irrelevant...Any further sense of community is irrelevant...Resistance is futile...You will be assimilated..."
Yes, but who will now be in charge of the plotting of the overall storyline? Who's going to insure that all of the missions enjoy a certain amount of continuity? Who's going to tell the content designers that their dialogue stinks?
In short, you have writers. Who's the new editor-in-chief with Kestrel leaving?
Back on topic...
Kestrel, you have done a fine job for STO over the years and have done well within the limitations you had to work under. Best of luck in your new opportunity. Live long, and prosper.
I think the thing people miss sometimes is how much the gears all turn one another. It's easy to imagine yourself as the writer who runs everything.
But outside of some very recent television and a bit of stuff back in the 50s and 60s with Desi Arnez and Rod Serling, it's not how things work.
It's a collaborative process, I imagine. There are maps you are dying to make. There are systems Geko wants to make because they're good for the financial or mechanical health of the game. The lead writer hopefully gets some input but the story has to be written around those things.
And it was almost always that way with Trek. When Denise Crosby or Jeffrey Hunter left, they had to write around that.
In TNG's pilot, they had extra budget that had to be spent on main engineering's set or it wouldn't have the money to get built based on later episodes' lower budgets. So they wrote Riker randomly stumbling into main engineering. Ideally, when the craftsmanship is top notch, nobody questions it. But I'll take that clunky scene with Riker because of what it did for Geordi and Data's characters later. You would never get that amazing scene of Lore in main engineering, you wouldn't get Barclay's workplace drama... at least not on the same level. And that set inspired many of the great scenes in First Contact and Voyager. Had TNG never built a warpcore set, I'm not sure First Contact or Voyager would have either. But it became an iconic place to stage action.
Some of my early mentorship as a writer came from a guy who worked on the TV show Maverick in the 50s. He gave me his old scripts to review. His job was largely restaging action. If they had a train rented for a week, he'd rewrite Sunset Strip and Maverick episodes to take place on that train.
I think that's legitimate, even noble, work. It's not always perfect but when it's good, it makes everything else better as a result.
Kestrel, thank you for all the great stories. I'm glad to hear you have a new job lined up. I sincerely hope that months and years down the road you still find it as shiny as it looks today.
Good to know, thank you.