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Getting back into STO
lushros
Member Posts: 2 Arc User
Hey all, it's been a very long time since I've played STO regularly. I think I quit at some point during 2012, right around or during New Romulus/Legacy of Romulus. I'm fairly certain I didn't touch any of that content. As so much time has passed I'm kind of nervous about jumping back into things. I want to because I really enjoyed the game, but it seems like a lot has changed and I'm not sure where to begin. Should I start over? I had an endgame character and ships that was geared to do STFs. I was by no means a top of the line, fully equipped endgame player, but I was getting there. Now it feels like if I were to get back into things I would be even worse off than before because I would have so much new stuff to learn plus I wasn't completely situated even when I did know all the intricacies of the game. So I have two big questions: is this a good time to get back in the game or should I wait? Second, where do I start? Is there any guide for returning players that might be helpful? Should I just do all the story content? Any help would be appreciated as right now I feel more lost than a redshirted Maquis stuck on Voyager.
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PS: I know creating a new Rom and KDF character may sound like a lot, but try to view it less like work you have to do and more like a Trek TV show that you are a couple of seasons behind on. Now you get to enjoy catching up on the episodes you haven't seen yet
The-Grand-Nagus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Yes, I would recommend resubbing while you level. One of the big benefits is that if you are a subscriber you get a free ship token at every new rank, whereas if you are a free player you have to purchase a new ship with in game currency. Also, I know you mentioned you had max inventory, but that would only be on the specific character you purchased that on. By subbing you will have a large inventory for *every* new character you create, and I *believe* you will get to keep that inventory size on those characters even if you cancel your sub later.
The-Grand-Nagus
Join Date: Sep 2008
That could be worth a lot, save your respecs until the new skill system appears.
I started my Fed characters years ago before the Earth Spacedock redo, etc. so I have yet to experience all the "reworks" to the episode system, however, I've contemplated it. I already have one of each (Tac/Eng/Sci) so I'm not really motivated to start from the beginning, however.
Replays allow you to experience the episodes again, but the challenge factor isn't quite the same from Fleet Admiral level versus leveling a new officer from the beginning- you already have plenty of skills, boffs and gear set up, after all.
After leveling a Rommie officer to Admiral, I'm rounding out the experience on the Klingon end of things now, to give myself a different experience/perspective. Getting used to the ship/arrangement differences is the biggest thing for me, as I was used to flying Escorts/Cruisers so Battlecruisers and Raptors are a bit different in many respects. Not quite as "standardized" as Fed ships (more of a hybrid sort of playstyle) and there's cloak, etc that you have to use more frequently.
Always something to experience in the game- especially when you don't think of leveling as "grinding". I've always enjoyed it personally, and "end game" gets quite boring once you get there, as it's the same old wash, rinse and repeat of raids, etc. Quite the same experience in almost every game I've played so it's difficult for me to understand why most are in a hurry to get there.
Being critical doesn't take skill. Being constructively critical- which is providing alternative solutions or suggestions to a demonstrated problem, however, does.
Just be aware that the KDF faction and the Romulan Republic (RR) faction are limited compared to the Fed faction when you look at ship options. Both KDF and RR factions are missing science ships from their lineup. Combining both factions, you can count the number of T5 and T6 science ships both of the factions have with only one hand.
The KDF and RR factions have story missions that are unique to them. But once you start the Cardassian Struggle story arc all factions will play the same missions in the same order.
Be aware that the RR faction is a "half faction". At around level 10 you will be playing a story mission that basically forces you to choose between aligning with the KDF or the Federation. It cannot be skipped and you can not fly to sectors that are outside the RR control until you make that decision. On the plus side you can purchase T1 - T4 starships of the faction you decide o side with. On the downside, you cannot fly any of the T5 Mirror Universe star ships that comes from lock boxes since none of them are specific to the Romulans.
Another thing to be aware of is the fact that Singularity Cores will only give you 160 power to distribute to your subsystems as opposed to 200 power for Warp Cores (cannot be used on RR ships). That's because RR star ships have singularity abilities.
Along with the "privilege" of having fewer ships compared to the Fed faction, the KDF enjoys a pretty easy way to get dilithium (even before the recently added admiralty system). The KDF have much more Doff missions that rewards contraband and raw dilithium compared to the Fed. So much so that some people refer to the KDF as "Klingon Dilithium Farmer".
Back to that jab about starships, I believe there was a period of time before Delta Rising when STO was under "old management" where there were no new KDF T5 starships for at least 18 months even when the Fed continued to receive T5 starships. That basically changed after Delta Rising was released because... well... Cryptic had no choice. No one had T6 starships. However, there are still a good number of players that want a RR and/or KDF faction T6 science ship... you know... for their science captains.
The KDF and RR factions does add some unique story elements to the STO universe. But as I stated before, once you get into the Cardassian Struggle story arc all factions progress through the main story the same way.