Bring in the waddle ! (Playable Tzenkethi and Tholians)

marcase2 · September 2019

Greetings and salutations sentients.

I'd like to promote an idea I had pitched before, and that is to introduce non-humanoid playable races, namely the Tzenkethi and Tholians.

There really is no excuse to claim that it is not possible due to any game-engine issues after the playable Tzenkethi episode. The same goes for Tholians - if it's available as an NPC in-game, that character file can be adapted to a playable one.

However, playing these larger, different races during regular episodes obviously bring limitations - which is actually the point.

Tzenkethi and Tholians cannot sit in the current chairs, or handle current Fed/KDF/Rom weapons or wear any of their uniforms. And that is awesome.

Why ? Well first it makes canon-sense, so there is no immediate need to make them fit - I'm sure there is a visual work-around possible for the episode cutscenes when absolutely required. But most importantly it forces us as players to look for a different approach to ordinary problems. Limitations breeds creativity, to steal a phrase.

Both Tzenkethi and Tholians have a current (build-in) weapon set and EV-like suits, so as a starting point that side is covered. Kits and kit-powers are not visually displayed so that's not an issue either.

Tzenkethi are slower, Tholians faster. Their playstyles can be adapted to take advantage of those traits and build-in certain balancing weaknesses as required.

I have no doubt that there will be another STO-recruitment event soon(tm), but many of us are already burned-out over leveling yet another humanoid alt(s).

Break the mold and do somethine new and radical !

Marcase

echatty · September 2019

They've already said that Tzenkethi can't be playable and why. Not sure about Tholians, but I'd bet they can't be playable either.

Personally, I wouldn't want to play either.

spiritborn · September 2019

Any playable characters outside the basic humanoid shape are high unlikely in any foreseeble future, the devs have explained that due the way the current outfits work they're really hard to be made workble on a non-humanoid shape and I doubt most players would be satisfied with species selection with just 1 outfit or at most a handful of preset outfits avaible to them ever due to all other outfits being unuseble on those models.

They can't even get digigrade feet for caitians/ferasans why would you think they'd get the gear to work on a totally different body sphape.

And having their own unique set of gear is a total no go since it would be way too much work, also both tholians and Tzenkethi can use normal weapons, they choose not to but they got the physical ability for it.

rattler2 · September 2019

They're not compatable with all the animations our humanoid characters.

spiritborn wrote: »

They can't even get digigrade feet for caitians/ferasans why would you think they'd get the gear to work on a totally different body sphape.

Caitians can have their paw like feet... if they go barefoot, which I believe is only available in Off Duty outfits.

thevampinator · September 2019

I would not mind if they added them as a hologram disguise though. Maybe one that breaks upon combat. It would be nice if they could do that at least as playble races I don't think they will ever do it. Given their models and the animations and everything. But it shouldn't stop them from making them like a disguse though. Game could totally use some latium store options. Tholians at least would be nice for that mold.

bubblegirl2015 · September 2019

marcase2 wrote: »

Greetings and salutations sentients.

I'd like to promote an idea I had pitched before, and that is to introduce non-humanoid playable races, namely the Tzenkethi and Tholians.

There really is no excuse to claim that it is not possible due to any game-engine issues after the playable Tzenkethi episode. The same goes for Tholians - if it's available as an NPC in-game, that character file can be adapted to a playable one.

However, playing these larger, different races during regular episodes obviously bring limitations - which is actually the point.

Tzenkethi and Tholians cannot sit in the current chairs, or handle current Fed/KDF/Rom weapons or wear any of their uniforms. And that is awesome.

Why ? Well first it makes canon-sense, so there is no immediate need to make them fit - I'm sure there is a visual work-around possible for the episode cutscenes when absolutely required. But most importantly it forces us as players to look for a different approach to ordinary problems. Limitations breeds creativity, to steal a phrase.

Both Tzenkethi and Tholians have a current (build-in) weapon set and EV-like suits, so as a starting point that side is covered. Kits and kit-powers are not visually displayed so that's not an issue either.

Tzenkethi are slower, Tholians faster. Their playstyles can be adapted to take advantage of those traits and build-in certain balancing weaknesses as required.

I have no doubt that there will be another STO-recruitment event soon(tm), but many of us are already burned-out over leveling yet another humanoid alt(s).

Break the mold and do somethine new and radical !

Marcase

Waiting for a playable full 100% BORG before this but hope they bring EVERYTHING on.

baddmoonrizin · September 2019

This has already been answered by the devs as a no. /Thread

Bring in the waddle ! (Playable Tzenkethi and Tholians)

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