Star Trek Online....

While there may be time constraints of a sort neither my wife or I have resubbed to WoW. The expansion is good, we just don't have the immediate need to play it full on. I'm sure that will change in the post winter holidays and new year. What hasn't been paused is STO! At least for me. My wife is just about doing the daily; Where for me the game is now my main MMO focus. 

That friend I spoke of is indeed 'into' the game. I'm glad he likes it. For the most part. He like me is less approving of most of the last decade of 'Nu trek'. I keep saying that at least in the game it has more 'leeway'. He gets that but is more of a purist than I ever was. Each to their own. 

It's been refreshing to have a new players perspective. A new new, really new new new players view. "How does this work", "What does that do", "What should I use"/"fit".... Talk of ships, mission, STO quirkiness etc etc etc.

I've played more of my Jem'Hadar Breen cosplay/themed character. Nothing special or amazing but a capable charecter.

Fitting out the Bridge officers was also 'interesting'. The armour and colour schemes done thanks to a handy guide on reddit.

If there is a down side due to the STO 'quirkiness' the setup and custom officers on the main login screen seem to default to 'generic' colours. I've tried swapping them around but if a Boff is in a Breen uniform it seems to get reset for me on the login. 

I've no idea why the visors are blue. My own character in the uniform was for the longest time a green (normal) visor colour and it was with luck and redoing the same actions of applying the outfit that it finally changed to the white I wanted(re that guide and personal interpretation)....

That's the thing with doing a theme. Some things don't work out and the next thing you know your 14 other decisions of compromise down a rabbit hole that leaves you in a place you never expected but are 'happy' with. Or at least 'happy enough'!

I do like the Reman Prototype shield look on the Breen Heavy Raider. The ship I've been surprised with given I've previously ignored it.

With both of the Breen sets on (winter event vendor and Cold War trio of mission rewards), the ship is in retrospect maybe even above average. Capable and very capable in certain situations. If it can get through an advanced Gravity Kills(and it did) I'll accept it as all good.

Mission rewards and event vendor gear have all been upgraded. Again not a min/maxed fit but one I'm happy in. 

Doing the missions to get the Reman shield was not just for the reward but to fill time. A Jem Hadar needs to be 65(+) with 20 hours of gameplay time logged to be able to claim the agent account unlocked rewards. While I did TFO's and tested the ship/fit I did 'cheese' the time; Having him stand at the bank while I alt-tabbed out to do something else. Worth it as the amount of rewards is Christmas for a character.

The mistakenly released duty officer changes are interesting. At least when it was put in game they kept it there. Donating officers to fleet is an area I've avoided as I never could tell which ones I could really get rid off. The ui now are least will allow a player to go through the roster and mark ones to keep.

Right click set to protect and a shield with a tick mark is visible.

I just need the motivation to go through each characters roster to then mark officers as 'locked'. I'm glad for the change but the motivation to donate is not really increased(for me). Those that have used the old methods are going to continue that way and those who have not will only be marginally incentivized to bulk flood fleet projects with doff's. Time will tell. Either way it's a good QoL improvement.

The winter event is a little lack luster for me this year. I'm sure that's a me thing as December and the real world Christmas season seems to have jumped out of nowhere. Decorations may be up and shops may be all lights and glitter but it doesn't 'feel' like it. I've heard a lot of people say the same. 

The in game event is still as it was and the daily is the daily. 

A Casual Carebear Gamer

I'm still running the Fastest Game on Ice as the daily of choice. On both PC and Xbox. I'm still in favour of the corner jump method on both platforms. A personal choice. On my friends first race he was a full on advocate of the roll method.

Speaking of themed characters, I saw the Devil in the shipyard over Qo'noS....