Star Trek Online....

While not Star Trek Online related Death Stranding has practically taken over all my game time over the last few weeks. I've been consumed by it. That said I've still found some time for Star Trek Online. On both PC and Xbox. Mainly in regard to events and getting the daily for them done. So this post is going to be a mashup of my activities in both versions.

On PC I've maintained gameplay on my latest alt; A new Temporal recruit/agent. My wife's similar alt seems to have been added to her longer list of alts not fully leveled up but a longer term 'project'. I do tend to level up alts with greater gusto. She likes to take her time with missions etc. I like to skip a lot of missions, cherry picking rewards and running an alt with a theme.

Along with the latest new episode there was a free gift. The latest game mechanic addition. A token to add extra slots to bridge officers akin to the same for player characters. While I'll take the free token and apply it to my mains first officer; I can't see my use of them. I already find the Kuumaarke Visionary set on my away teams to be overpowered(not as powerful today as pre recent patch; I'm sure it's been 'nerfed'). That's just my hearsay, I've not ready patch notes. But all in all the new token is overkill for my needs. That said the Kuumaarke set has made allowed me 'do' more ground missions, or at least make them more palatable for me; Especially when playing co-op. I'm no longer the last option for co-op ground missions(I no longer voice complaint, it's a start).

Anyway since last time I've taken my main into the new content. 

The motion picture setting is a great one. In space with the visuals and sounds. It 'does it' for me. It feels epic.

I'm not even as opposed to Wil Wheaton's appearance as Terran Emperor. Maybe because it was brief enough.

Which all plays out fairly well. Again thanks to the setting. Even if it is the Terran Empire mirror universe version. The patch to 'fix' the ground mission invisible wall/pathing issues was fairly quickly(as are all post patch issues in the game, usually). 

Back on that new alt, picking and choosing rewards; I did do some repeat missions to gain the Bajoran space set which my wife also wanted. A set I really like.

I've also stuck with a ship that's not 'great' but it 'feels' good on the character. Given the alts lean on the TOS theme. Adding in an -X experimental upgrade as well as some easy gear up options from mission; It's been an enjoyable ship to fly. With some additions from the current Phoenix prize event to sweeten the deal.

While I've equipped the Bajoran set I've also gone with the Preserver Resonant Technologies Set as a weapons base. A more unique set not often seen in action(that I've seen). Equipped for no other reason than I really like the torpedo visual and sound on launch. It's been on my 'I need to use these at some stage' list for a while. All said and done it's still a Frankenstein's monster mix of a fit; But it works for me.

In group activities, advanced TFO's, with pug's I'm still noticing that players in larger more meta fit ships tend to think I'm the weaker link..... When in a smaller and free ship. Till I start to do decent damage(for an advanced pug). Then again knowing the TFO mechanics helps just as much. It's been an interesting observation though. One that makes me chuckle at times. As a newer character with mission reward gear doing better that 'I should'. I'm also continually entertained with the Zen/meta ship/geared up players who lack the dps and TFO accumine, to be as effective as they think they are. Lil ol me in a lil ol ship showing them up... Not that they see it that way....  

Take the Iuppiter Iratus TFO; A TFO that has been out a while now. A TFO that has featured as a choice in multiple events never mind it's own mission. Yet the amount of players that do not kill the ships with the TFO target markers on them has been crazy. Kill the NPC ships.... Anyway I've complained about that before. It's still a thing... Pugs are pugs, I guess.

Again a lot of internet talk is always putting STO visuals down. But there have been so many updates and improvements. Not saying there aren't things that could be done but to me it's still a photogenic game in it's own right for what it is. I'd rather play this than Star Citizen.

Back to the prize pack 'event' I also took some spare tokens to buy my new alt and her bridge officers the TOS era environment suits. Another thing I've wanted to do and this was the character and the opportunity. 

And went and claimed the pet Mugato(from lifetime sub) as well. Also TOS apt.

Both on PC and Xbox the game events are ever ongoing. One after another with rewards that vary from meh to good. So much of a mixed bag these days that the 'special' feel of a reward is no longer such a 'special' feeling. Not to say I'll not do them and get the rewards ... It's the 'I might miss something' feel and habit that make it doable. Maybe more habit now than need.

Habit, rewards and Dilithium.... Potent combinations for some. It is for me.

I've also been doing some left over recruit transponder activities on Xbox. On a Delta Romulan alt for the account unlock rewards. I've noticed more and more that my Xbox main was lacking what was unlocked on my PC main. So I've been pottering away with that.

It seems that not many make the effort to do the required episodes/missions never mind do it for a Delta transponder. Given my next and last step of the unlock process is the Kobali front it may take a while for me to wade through that episode/missions. It's a quirky, off putting mash of game mechanics that's got both good and bad in it. Never mind the Harry Kim storyline which is annoying... His clone is peek Harry. Some of the ground puzzles are 'ok' like the maze (at least for me) while the electric floor and force field bridge stuff is somewhat annoying when my timing is off. Or the games own quirky awkwardness gets in the way(character roll). Six of one, half a dozen of the other. 

Part of the Iconian saga brought me to the spacewalk section of a mission. The free EVE suit looks good but on Xbox it wouldn't auto activate on entry into open space. That meant the space damage was killing me in the split second before the suit would activate.... I was stumped for a mo as I'm way more used to the PC version(click button to activate suit). But opening my eyes rather than get too frustrated I noticed there was an EV suit toggle on the captain gear screen. Which made me feel stupid for running through a force-field three times expecting the suit to auto activate.

Also an episode where I found the event reward Sompek 'thing' somewhat useful in killing waves of oncoming NPC's.

The latest freebie with the anniversary of TNG's release is a Worf set which I find hilarious. It's good for the in-game cosplayers options but for all others who the heck is going to use them... Ah I know I shouldn't go hard on it.  Free is free. But to me it looks like a cheap Halloween costume set and I can't not think of it that way. Fun and games for sure. I'm surprised that there aren't a thousand 'bad' cosplay bobble-head Worf's on Earth space-dock.