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On Cats in the Cold

ambassadorkael#6946 ambassadorkael Member, Administrator Posts: 2,674 Community Manager
Update on the Cat Charm and the Winter Event: The patch notes were in error yesterday, the ability to use the cat was not removed from the Winter Event, just its speed boost. This decision may change for next year's event, more conversations need to be had internally.

"But how does this relate to every other speed boost?" That's a great question. The answer is: we're gathering a list of all the potential speed boosts you could equip in Q's WW. The decision whether to allow speed boosts at all in the event will happen in 2023. Further info here on the forums than was given on socials: My best guess is that we'll end up just allowing everything. We received a metric ton of complaints about the cat this year, and a decision was made based on that, but many of you have rightly said that if we're banning one speed increasing item, we have to ban them all, and we don't really want to take away a bunch of items you folks have worked for and earned.
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
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    foxman00foxman00 Member Posts: 1,481 Arc User
    Thank you for the heads up Kael. I look forward to what Cryptic decide.

    Personally, i feel it would be better with no speed boosts. Just have pure racing fun with craxy toon looks and captain skill :)
    pjxgwS8.jpg
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    g0delg0del Member Posts: 28 Arc User
    We received a metric ton of complaints about the cat this year, and a decision was made based on that, but many of you have rightly said that if we're banning one speed increasing item, we have to ban them all, and we don't really want to take away a bunch of items you folks have worked for and earned.
    The cat event was 2 months ago. I have a very hard time believing that a metric ton of new players started after the halloween event and are desperate to grind the winter race for epohhs. It sounds a lot more like sour grapes from players who chose to sit out the halloween event and are now upset that the silly item they skipped is actually useful.

    Personally, I'm in favor of all speed boosts being available in the race. The worst thing that happens if you lose the race is maybe you have to race a couple more times to get enough tags for an epohh. Let us use all the speed boosts we worked for.

    Official STARFLEET DENTAL Bug Hunter
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    captainkoltarcaptainkoltar Member Posts: 896 Arc User
    It always amazes me how many people on the internet are happy to accuse others of lying without a shred of evidence to back it up.

    Thanks for the info, Kael.
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    phoenixc#0738 phoenixc Member Posts: 5,504 Arc User
    I don't do the PvP race so I don't know if the cat is a problem there, but it is extremely handy for getting around map in general so if it is banned from the races could it at least function normally on the rest of the map?

    I do the PvE race btw, and in that one the extra speed helps in one way but complicates things in another, so it balances out. I suspect the same might be true of the competitive race too.
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    k20vteck20vtec Member Posts: 535 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    g0del wrote: »
    It sounds a lot more like sour grapes from players who chose to sit out the halloween event and are now upset that the silly item they skipped is actually useful.


    Honestly, thats what I feel too. Probably some whales as well, so Cryptic have to deal with the issue asap lest they lose the whales. There are so many bugsa nd unbalanced issues in the game, including the fleet donation issue, yet the cat gets the fix faster than you can say "nyah".
    Hast thou not gone against sincerity
    Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds
    Hast thou not lacked vigor
    Hast thou exerted all possible efforts
    Hast thou not become slothful
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    echattyechatty Member Posts: 5,914 Arc User
    Right now the rubberbanding and SNRs I've been getting for the last three days have made the PvE race almost unplayable. I had to run it around a dozen times today to finally 'win' it without getting slung off the track or flung backwards so many times that my 'opponent' was able to 'beat' me.

    The charm would have made things harder, I suspect. I don't use it anyway.
    Now a LTS and loving it.
    Just because you spend money on this game, it does not entitle you to be a jerk if things don't go your way.
    I have come to the conclusion that I have a memory like Etch-A-Sketch. I shake my head and forget everything. :D
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    rattler2rattler2 Member Posts: 58,018 Community Moderator
    k20vtec wrote: »
    There are so many bugsa nd unbalanced issues in the game, including the fleet donation issue, yet the cat gets the fix faster than you can say "nyah".

    It was easy to address quickly.
    The bugs, it depends on how long it takes to track it down and even recreate it before they can work on fixing it. The balance issues have a LOT more that has to be taken into account other than just the one thing because it could affect a whole chain of other things...
    db80k0m-89201ed8-eadb-45d3-830f-bb2f0d4c0fe7.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ExOGQ4ZWM2LTUyZjQtNDdiMS05YTI1LTVlYmZkYmJkOGM3N1wvZGI4MGswbS04OTIwMWVkOC1lYWRiLTQ1ZDMtODMwZi1iYjJmMGQ0YzBmZTcucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.8G-Pg35Qi8qxiKLjAofaKRH6fmNH3qAAEI628gW0eXc
    I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
    The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
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    mikewallace#2209 mikewallace Member Posts: 106 Arc User
    A CHEAT is a cheat NO matter what you call it.

    There is an unfair advantage to those who have it as opposed to those who don't. Like others said. ALL similar cheats/hacks should not be allowed in PVE or either events like Winter event, Summer or any queues.

    What makes it a cheat is that is not available at the same for anyone else to have it at the same time. For instance frost boots are available to anyone during winter event so it should be used for winter event times. So follows the sufrboard with speedboost that are available during summer event time for all.

    The cat's boost is out of sequence with winter/summer event and should only be allowed in ESD or during halloween events.
    Only allowed it on social places not on PVE races or where a competition comes out.

    Just my 2 cents on the matter.
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    alonaralonar Member Posts: 280 Arc User
    I'll never understand the complaint about the cat when my main with nearly max ground speed endevor plus disco rep set speed boost can go as fast w/o even sprinting, and with sprinting can go as fast as the ice boots. I would rather the cat grip better than run faster, lol.
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    moridin707#8053 moridin707 Member Posts: 13 Arc User
    If the race reward were someone besides EPOHH TAGS it may be a valid complaint. As is, this has to be the most absurd complaint yet.

    You seem to have the just of the issue though: All or nothing. I dont enjoy a bunch of Jem Hadar with gear and perks smoking me every race. The cat was a chance to ever the odds. Either way it doesnt reallu affect anything important.
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    moridin707#8053 moridin707 Member Posts: 13 Arc User
    A CHEAT is a cheat NO matter what you call it.

    Utilizing items which boost in game speed mechanic is not a "cheat." That is as absurd as a "metric ton of complaints" over a cat charm that only affects a rare rewarding EPOHH TAGS.
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    leemwatsonleemwatson Member Posts: 5,344 Arc User
    alonar wrote: »
    I'll never understand the complaint about the cat when my main with nearly max ground speed endevor plus disco rep set speed boost can go as fast w/o even sprinting, and with sprinting can go as fast as the ice boots. I would rather the cat grip better than run faster, lol.

    You've clearly never seen our 4 legged friends on shear ice before....it's freaking hilarous!
    "You don't want to patrol!? You don't want to escort!? You don't want to defend the Federation's Starbases!? Then why are you flying my Starships!? If you were a Klingon you'd be killed on the spot, but lucky for you.....you WERE in Starfleet. Let's see how New Zealand Penal Colony suits you." Adm A. Necheyev.
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    qultuqqultuq Member Posts: 988 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    > @valoreah said:
    > This is just a symptom of the overall larger problem of power creep in the game. Items like the charm keep getting added in seemingly without much thought on their overall impact, then there is a mad scramble to code a temporary band aid fix.

    Well if the developers read the forum more often they would be aware of the problem faster. As soon as the charm was announced, the player base was speculating about how it would effect the winter races. I doubt that no one thought about it at Cryptic until now. And if they really didn’t think about it, then they should have asked the players, first.

    This isn’t a development problem, just another symptom of a dysfunctional public relations system.
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    arnonmorarnonmor Member Posts: 3 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    (Flaming, ranting comments moderated out. - BMR)
    Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
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    baddmoonrizinbaddmoonrizin Member Posts: 10,319 Community Moderator
    Ok, I'm going to ask y'all to stop with the accusatory rhetoric. Obviously, enough players complained enough about this for a currently running event, and it was an "easy" enough "fix", that they went ahead and addressed it. Additional boosts will have to wait to be addressed in the future. Throwing shade at the devs or other players over this change, though, is unnecessary and won't be tolerated per forum rules, so let's keep the discussion civil. Thank you.
    GrWzQke.png
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    baddmoonrizinbaddmoonrizin Member Posts: 10,319 Community Moderator
    With that out of the way, the devs had the option and didn't remove it from or completely disable it for QWW, which means it was intended to be allowed in QWW.

    The Cat Charm is not a cheat. It's a legitimately earned item. As are all other equipment, weapons, Perks, etc. that a player has acquired. IMHO, they should all be allowed, and the Cat Charm boost restored. Are other players, who are without these items, at a disadvantage? Yes. But thems the breaks. 🤷🏼‍♀️

    What's the point in doing these events, TFOs, acquiring/crafting/upgrading equipment to improve performance, if it all gets restricted/nerfed, because someone complains that it's "unfair" because they don't have the same?

    To be honest, EVERYONE has a chance to win at The Fast and the Flurrious race, because of the nature of the slippery track. Someone with all those speed boosts could easily slide off the track and DQ themselves or slide past the finishing flag. I've actually seen people in last place throughout the entire race grab the first place flag due to just such a thing. So, it's truly anyone's game. Perhaps the race should be renamed to "Fate of the Flurrious". 😏
    GrWzQke.png
    Star Trek Online Volunteer Community Moderator and Resident She-Wolf
    Community Moderators are Unpaid Volunteers and NOT Employees of Gearbox/Cryptic
    Views and Opinions May Not Reflect the Views and Opinions of Gearbox/Cryptic
    ----> Contact Customer Support <----
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    rattler2rattler2 Member Posts: 58,018 Community Moderator
    A CHEAT is a cheat NO matter what you call it.

    There is an unfair advantage to those who have it as opposed to those who don't. Like others said. ALL similar cheats/hacks should not be allowed in PVE or either events like Winter event, Summer or any queues.

    What makes it a cheat is that is not available at the same for anyone else to have it at the same time. For instance frost boots are available to anyone during winter event so it should be used for winter event times. So follows the sufrboard with speedboost that are available during summer event time for all.

    The cat's boost is out of sequence with winter/summer event and should only be allowed in ESD or during halloween events.
    Only allowed it on social places not on PVE races or where a competition comes out.

    Just my 2 cents on the matter.

    By that logic... EVERYTHING in this game short of base lv 1 stats and base white quality items is a cheat because it is an improvement over baseline stats. A fresh lv 1 player just starting the game doesn't have the same things as a lv 65 that had been playing for years. I know you're trying to limit that logic to events, but that is how it can snowball. Starts with one thing, then grows to include another, and another, and another, until its a massive landslide. And your tone is rather harsh, which could be a catalyst for the snowball to begin.

    To claim that ALL earned stat bonuses are cheats/hacks is advocating for the complete removal of what makes this game an RPG. Stat growth. Basically saying that the ONLY way for this game to be fair and balanced, is if EVERYONE has nothing. Base stats. No development of a character to a player's preferred playstyle. All you get is what is given to you and you cannot have anything else or you are a cheater. A rather harsh stance to take on an RPG game. Thats kinda like saying you can't level your starter Pokemon, or catch any other Pokemon, and expect to be able to challenge the Elite Four, or even play the game at all because its cheating to progress.
    db80k0m-89201ed8-eadb-45d3-830f-bb2f0d4c0fe7.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ExOGQ4ZWM2LTUyZjQtNDdiMS05YTI1LTVlYmZkYmJkOGM3N1wvZGI4MGswbS04OTIwMWVkOC1lYWRiLTQ1ZDMtODMwZi1iYjJmMGQ0YzBmZTcucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.8G-Pg35Qi8qxiKLjAofaKRH6fmNH3qAAEI628gW0eXc
    I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
    The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
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    moridin707#8053 moridin707 Member Posts: 13 Arc User
    Well said BMR.

    Personally, the biggest issue is caving in to those who complain without consideration for those who do not. It really sets a bad precedent, and ultimately, discourages players from sticking around if their effort is not rewarded.
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    phoenixc#0738 phoenixc Member Posts: 5,504 Arc User
    Defiance had that problem, every time something new came out some vocal group or another would complain about it until it got nerfed to the point where it was worse than existing gear because the mechanics originally meant to balance it would overwhelm the nerfed-to-death main effect.

    I suspect the problem with the cat is not that it has the speed boost per se, but rather that is very obvious (way more than the frost boots even) when it is in use, unlike the horneytoad and other speed boosts which have more subtle tells (if any at all), so it makes an easy target for accusations of "cheating".
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    realdarklordrealdarklord Member Posts: 99 Arc User

    What's the point in doing these events, TFOs, acquiring/crafting/upgrading equipment to improve performance, if it all gets restricted/nerfed, because someone complains that it's "unfair" because they don't have the same?

    100% agreed.
    It is an earned event-reward we have worked for. The Halloween event was tedious. Every day I got teamed up with a Genius who kited the skeletons out of the light I thought about quitting and skipping the event - but I didn't.
    Banning this from a PvP-race is like banning D.O.M.I.N.O. from Space-PvP.

    I've saied this before in another thread:
    The only reason for the flood of complaints is that the cat-charm is clearly visible, while speedboosts from Endeavours and Gear are invisible, so you never really know why the other guy was that fast.
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    chastity1337chastity1337 Member Posts: 1,606 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    If it will help, here's a list of the speed-boosting things I know about (no doubt there are more) other than the cat

    For the "Fast & Flurrious" PVP race, there are some things make you go faster -

    1) Traits from Terran rep (tier 1, Close Quarters Combatant), and Delta rep (tier 1, Physical Conditioning)
    2) Counter-Command rep armor (+25% runspeed for 3 seconds after performing a roll)
    3) [run] mod on ground weapons
    4) The Command Specialisation, (not Commando), Tier 1, top of the left tree, Forward March
    5) Delta Alliance Elite ground set (two-piece bonus +5% Run Speed)
    6) Maquis Guile ground trait
    7) Burnham's CQC armor +10%
    8) "research lab make sure to have combat boost activated"

    The first seven I can personally attest to, but #8 is hearsay, and I don't know what it means.

    While I'm posting, I have three comments-
    A ) This event is sponsored by Q. Why would anyone expect it to be fair?
    B ) The actual running is only half the event. The other half is grabbing the flags, which is a whole 'nother ballgame. This also applies to both the surfboard race and the Biathlon at the Summer Risa event.
    C ) It is a crying shame that some folks have to get all hot and angry over what is supposed to be a fun holiday event. Why have we become so unkind to each other? Especially at Christmas. You know, peace on Earth, goodwill to men*.


    *obviously, women also.
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    realdarklordrealdarklord Member Posts: 99 Arc User
    8) "research lab make sure to have combat boost activated"

    The first seven I can personally attest to, but #8 is hearsay, and I don't know what it means.

    "Combat Performance Boost" is one of the Weekly Projects from the Fleet Research Lab. +4% Runspeed

    You also missed
    9) Endeavours: +1% per Endeavour-point in "Sprint Speed"
    10) Ketracel (Jem'Hadar only) +25%
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    chanfron66chanfron66 Member Posts: 117 Arc User
    11) Black Alert Tribble: +2% run speed
    12) Mycelium Tribble: +3% run speed, +100% Bonus movement speed ( did not know this even existed till I looked up black alert one on wiki)
    • Soft Tribble Warm Tribble, Little ball of fur, Happy Tribble, Sleepy Tribble, Purr Purr Purr
    • Hard Gorny, Cold Gorny, Big Ball of Scales, Angry Gorny, Fighty Gorny, Hiss, Hiss Hisssss
    • History will never forget the name "InvalidEntityName"
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    bubblegirl2015bubblegirl2015 Member Posts: 830 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    Is it still Halloween? why are they still talking about black cats on winter event?
    rattler2 wrote: »
    A CHEAT is a cheat NO matter what you call it.

    There is an unfair advantage to those who have it as opposed to those who don't. Like others said. ALL similar cheats/hacks should not be allowed in PVE or either events like Winter event, Summer or any queues.

    What makes it a cheat is that is not available at the same for anyone else to have it at the same time. For instance frost boots are available to anyone during winter event so it should be used for winter event times. So follows the sufrboard with speedboost that are available during summer event time for all.

    The cat's boost is out of sequence with winter/summer event and should only be allowed in ESD or during halloween events.
    Only allowed it on social places not on PVE races or where a competition comes out.

    Just my 2 cents on the matter.

    By that logic... EVERYTHING in this game short of base lv 1 stats and base white quality items is a cheat because it is an improvement over baseline stats. A fresh lv 1 player just starting the game doesn't have the same things as a lv 65 that had been playing for years. I know you're trying to limit that logic to events, but that is how it can snowball. Starts with one thing, then grows to include another, and another, and another, until its a massive landslide. And your tone is rather harsh, which could be a catalyst for the snowball to begin.

    To claim that ALL earned stat bonuses are cheats/hacks is advocating for the complete removal of what makes this game an RPG. Stat growth. Basically saying that the ONLY way for this game to be fair and balanced, is if EVERYONE has nothing. Base stats. No development of a character to a player's preferred playstyle. All you get is what is given to you and you cannot have anything else or you are a cheater. A rather harsh stance to take on an RPG game. Thats kinda like saying you can't level your starter Pokemon, or catch any other Pokemon, and expect to be able to challenge the Elite Four, or even play the game at all because its cheating to progress.

    Looks like some people have already made up their minds and that's Ok.

    This might be a case of we are right and you are wrong. So not trying to change anyone's mind here and just respectfully expressing my thoughts. This would be a boring world if ALL think the same or behave like lemmings into a rush to jump off a cliff.
    IMHO and I say firmly "YES" this is a cheat since someone else has an bonus advantage to another person. Again, if you use that ability in Halloween event that's fine since you should be able to get it during the event. This is a winter event and one cannot get it normally. Heck I do not use a surfboard to run in any of the races at the winter event. The utility component is questionable at best.
    Also, whatever happened to the real so called cheats already purged time and time again by STO...do I dare to say Plasmonic Leech among the other ton of stuff considered hack/cheats in the past? Who makes the item qualify as bonus or extra something...then a cheat or just leave out and bless your heart for using it? One cannot have it both ways (either a cheat or not)

    For those who are saying...well why are they listening to the nonsense of complainers. I dare to say the same applies to the opposite loud minority at the other end.
    I have been around this game since inception to see what has constituted a hack or a cheat. Most times these were taken out without even discussing it at any length like this page it is today. For what... a cat's ability in an STO world? For real?

    Respectfully, I don't intend to change anyone's mind (since already made up) but I do deserve to be taken into account and voice my opinion.

    Wiki editor http://sto.gamepedia.com
    Original STO beta tester.
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    annemarie30annemarie30 Member Posts: 2,600 Arc User
    has anyone tried a cat on a powerboard on Risa? May as well get a head of things
    We Want Vic Fontaine
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    rattler2rattler2 Member Posts: 58,018 Community Moderator
    has anyone tried a cat on a powerboard on Risa? May as well get a head of things

    That would be funny as hell to see.
    db80k0m-89201ed8-eadb-45d3-830f-bb2f0d4c0fe7.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ExOGQ4ZWM2LTUyZjQtNDdiMS05YTI1LTVlYmZkYmJkOGM3N1wvZGI4MGswbS04OTIwMWVkOC1lYWRiLTQ1ZDMtODMwZi1iYjJmMGQ0YzBmZTcucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.8G-Pg35Qi8qxiKLjAofaKRH6fmNH3qAAEI628gW0eXc
    I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
    The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
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    equinox976equinox976 Member Posts: 2,277 Arc User
    It always amazes me how many people on the internet are happy to accuse others of lying without a shred of evidence to back it up.

    Thanks for the info, Kael.

    I don't believe a word you say! You can't prove that it didn't happen!

    pp,840x830-pad,1000x1000,f8f8f8.jpg
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    realdarklordrealdarklord Member Posts: 99 Arc User
    edited December 2022
    ... a cat's ability in an STO world? For real?

    Considering that the item is directly inspired by the TOS Episode "Catspaw", it is 100% appropriate for STO.

    [edited: typo]
    Post edited by realdarklord on
This discussion has been closed.