New STO Patch and Trying to Respec

Last night I got the patch update all done and logged in a bit to see what was obviously new but mostly to try to play with the new option to skill respec to a new build. Found the Officer in the middle of Sol Spacedock being mobbed by everyone. Obviously respecing is big for allot of people.

However it was funny that it seems like every 5 seconds or so in zone chat someone would ask where to find the guy to respec and 10 seconds later it seems someone would say where the guy is and almost 5 seconds or so again later someone else would ask where the guy was. I just found that all funny.

Anyway I ended up playing with the option to respec for hours it seems….really did. You get a free token to respec and I had no problem using the option but seem like some people couldn’t figure it out dunno why. But you can see that you have the free Token option when you have the skill set screen open when next to the Officer in middle of Sol Spacestation for respecing. After you hit clear all for skills and attempt to respec you have to keep that screen open the entire length of time respecing and placing points till you reach the minimum lvl of rank of the current rank you are at currently then the accept button become active to lock in your new skill build.

If you close the screen you have to start all over again and that can really take along time to do trying to carefully place points. That happened to me a few times. I was playing with the online STO Builder as well on the web focusing on making a new build but by the time I switched back to the STO UI I was logged out for inactivity…..bummer.

Needless to say I spend a few hours working on a new spec build trying not to make any mistakes and trying to get it all right. I was able to do a new build for my Cruiser Tactical Officer up to the minimum lvl of Admiral and hit accept to lock in the build I had do far up to that lvl. I still had 8000 points to place but at least so far with what I had set for a new build I was able to lock that new build in. I can later place the rest of the points as I study where I best needed to place them. Overall I got a new and much better build than I had before. I couldn’t quite decide this time around Admiral Points in my Star Cruiser or Assault Cruiser. Though I tend to use my Star Cruiser much more plus i like the look as well more. But will see later when i eventually decide which to put points into.

However with all that time spent of respecing and today still studying my build a bit I still made a few mistakes. Not huge ones but made a few point allocation that was not as efficient and could of saved some the points to place elsewhere. To say the least trying to respec for skill points because of the share amount of points can take a while to do when taking into account what kind of skills your BO have, Ship kind and how your playing tactically.

For the new Ship Skills I went for best use of limited skill points:
Starship Attack Vectors (Teir 1) – 6/9
Starship Combat Maneuvers (Teir 2) – 7/9
Starship Battle Strategy (Teir 3) – 9/9

I’m glad for one that a Tactical Officer in a Cruiser or Science ship no longer have to place a few points into Escort Ships/Heavy Escort Ship like before to buff Tactical Skills. So points in the new 3 skills buff a Tactical Officers abilities no matter what ship they are in now as compared to before. As well if you open your skill book via “P” and mouse over any Tactical abilities you will see they now use all 3 new Skill set. So i’m happy at the moment with what I have in the new Skills.

Most of the skill points in the Teir 1-3 Skill Point groups I was happy with and I did mostly fine. Just a few skills in Teir 3 of Starship Operations Training block I miss allocated points due to thinking my BO had certain skills to use which they weren’t using and thus not really efficient in my build then to have the points allocated there vs somewhere else. It was kinda pain having to beam up to ship ckeck space combat skills and what buffed what then beam back down and head back to the respec Officer to work on the respec as well start all over again every time.

I ended up placing 9/9 points in Starship Sensor Array when in hindsight none my BO have any skills up to the LT lvl where its buffed by points in Starship Sensor Array. In a Starship Cruiser for a “Science Officer BO” the max skills that BO can use is up to the Lt lvl and none the skills my BO uses benefit from those skills since mine uses Science II, Polarize Hull I & Hazard Emitters I. All 3 of those skills benefit from skills branching from Starship Emitters and Deflectors none from Starship Sensor/Array. So the 9 points could have gone somewhere else for Teir 3. Also in same Starship Operations Teir 4 I placed 5 points into Starship Sensor Probes in a attempt to buff Viral Matrix ability which my BO has in the later teirs. OK sounds good. But then its useless when I realize that my Science BO can’t use any space abilities above Lt lvl. So the points in Teir 4 for Sensor Probes seems useless and again could have gone elsewhere to better use. You can learn from your mistakes though.

Now it would be different If I was using a high teir Science Vessel vs Cruiser where those points would be useful placed in Starship Sensors/Probes/Array. It would be useful since Science Vessels get various skills where they benefit from and your BO’s can use higher teir of skills. If you ask the question how should you spec for a build it really seems to depend on what Teir Ship you want to use, what BO skills you will be using and what kind of play style you will be playing. Playstyle can reflect maybe do you want a ship that can take allot of damage or give allot, Beam Energy Ship Build or Torpedo’s, Debuff Ship or Crowd Control heavy in Starship Operations skills. As whatever skill areas you put point into will buff your BO skills or ship in those areas to make you stronger at doing certain things vs other things. When a person ask in Zone Chat how do you spec or in Fleet Chat. Not really a easy answer as many factors to consider.

The other area where I somewhat made a few mistakes was in Starship Warp Core Training in Teir 4. Placed 1 point into Starship Engine Performance, I thinking I did it when I was testing to see if it would be beneficial but ended up locking in the point. However I’m unsure of exactly what benefit I get from the skill given the abilities of my Bridge Officers skill set. Placed 4 points into Subsystem Repair which I was unsure of placing them there, but it does help Hull Repair Rate and Engineering Team in some way as to increase hull repair speed. So I placed 4 points there as a benefit for my Cruiser hull. Ship repair rate which you find when you mouse over the area below your ship on your UI mine stands at 103.7% so i guess it affects that. However still a bit uncertain trying to place limited skill points carefully.

Again in Starship Warp Core Training i placed 0 points into Starship Auxillary Systems Maintenance since its not really using any systems which benefit from the ability that I’m directly not aware of. Quite a a few higher lvl science abilities benefit from Auxillary Systems Maintenance for Aux Power I believe and none my Science Officers use any high science abilities. Thus i put 0 points there. However still worried that something i’m unaware of might just benefit from that ability. Yet Another reason why some abilities are just not clear what benefits what. But as long as having 0 points there does not affect my ships turn rate via auxiliary power which is currently at 45/25 setting that’s fine.

As a Tactical Officer I did rework my ground combat skills a bit based on my playstyle and given how Ground Kits are set up. I went 6/9 for Assault Training in Teir 1 for assault weapons and various skills which seem obvious. Had a extra point so dropped it into Close Combat Skills 1/9 to complete the overall Teir group for Teir 1. And for ground combat i’m fine with that as I use other tactics when in close combat. In Teir 4 Tactical Officer Skills went with 4/9 in both Firearms and Grenades. Often I use a Fire Team Kit and both benefit the kit I often use as well as efficient points in Teir 3 for use of points. Not much more for ground combat skill points but I can be happy with that as it is vs loosing lots of points to space abilities at this point.

However all in all though made a few mistakes and still have yet to place over 7000+ points I’m still happier with my spec than before. I didn’t place any skill points into any exotic weapons other than Phaser Beams and Quantum Torpedo’s. In time will fix the mistakes i’ve made to my individual build based on my own playstyle. But trying to respec takes a bit of time to consider all your choices with limited skill points in mind, i know it did for me.

Holodeck Mission Accomplished…

Its been a bit of a distracting 2 weeks away from STO with daily marathons trying to complete my mission of watching Seven complete seasons of Star Trek Voyager. Its good to say that I’ve now completed that mission and its been really fun as well.

I could imagine that in the time spend over the last 2 weeks watching the complete DvD set I probably could of gotten my STO Lt Cmdr Science Officer to Admiral probably as well in the time it took. But that’s ok also. Seven seasons of Voyager was really fun to watch as well as insightful and learned quite a bit seeing differences between STO and the official Star Trek series.

Watching Seven seasons of Star Trek Voyager was about 131hrs of DvDs on a daily marathon which took me just about 2 weeks to complete. I’m sure if you spent that much time in STO in focus play you would no doubt have been Admiral or just about close to it as well. Because that’s allot of time and I never thought it would take me that long either as well quite a bit of sleep in between too.

Was kinda funny seeing Captain Kim in the very last series Episode “Endgame” in his own ship, its then i realized wait a min he’s in a Nova Class Science Ship and that’s the same ship as my STO Lt Cmdr. It also looked allot bigger than I thought since it looks so tiny in STO. But it was just fun to see and figure out. I did see a flaw of a sort over the course of the series.

One little flaw watching the DvD set was that for about the length of a entire season of Voyager 2-3 of the Astrometrics display computers never changed. They had the same pictures of the same nebular charts. I would imagine that star charts get updated or screens change very often when constantly looking at sensor data or have to run sensor scan especially traveling through distant space. Kinda wondered how they missed that on the show series. But did thought it was funny though.

But it sure was fun and insightful to watch over all the seasons.

This Week In Star Trek and STO

Not really too much to talk about or really make a post about. My Mission since late last week was and still is to completely watch seven complete seasons of Star Trek Voyager for more insight, awareness and casual research. So far I’ve managed to watch four complete seasons of Voyager with much interest viewing quite many episodes i’ve never seen before.

Some time ago i had created a Science Officer that i never got around to playing. But I did manage to play him a little here and there while watching my DvD set, though it has been slow due to split focus obviously mainly focused on watching Voyager. So my Science Officer is now up to Lt Cmdr 7 without much focus of play and i’ve found a Science Officer quite enjoyable as well. Just not much i’ve really focused on to say the least in STO this week as a result.

Watching the Star Trek Voyager series set have given me allot of time to think about the series set and comparing it to doing missions and episodes in STO. Mostly its just time to think and ponder while i watch one DVD after another in sequence. Its amazing how much of Star Trek actually takes place on board ship and how many people in STO has been asking for the option in STO for more shipboard functionality and function. I can only see that as a possibly good thing for more options in STO for more engaging mission stories and episodes.

I was watching the recent episode “One” in season the last part of season four when the crew had to attempt to cross a vast Nebula expanse at its shortest point to point to cross. The entire crew was in complete stasis to counter radiation from the Nebula with the only exception seven and the doctor. That journey at the closest point to point took over a month time at high warp to complete. It takes a long time in space for point to point travel, everything else happens in between. How often in STO do you complain for a few mins travel time on the sector grid with haste to get to your next mission? Im sure you hear others complain on zone chat about that, yet a single Nebular can take take a vast amount of time to chart a course. However what i thought about most in that particular episode was how many ships system was actually failing due to lack of routine maintenance and upkeep. It was allot of systems failure that one crew member had to try to fix, bypass or do what it took just to complete the journey. In that instant that made me think about mission stories, writing, and engaging episodes in STO.

But think about it, when was the last as Captain of your ship did you have to deal with just “One” system failure let alone multiple system failure just on a routine or “random” basis? When was the last time you had a warp core breech while going from one star system or sector space? Its not uncommon in every few episode that something goes wrong or in the middle of combat that you have to have to deal with multiple problems at same time or wrestle with a loss of antimatter containment or a possible warp core breech/shutdown or even a possible core dump. And at time as well engaged in combat just to make it all interesting. Wouldn’t it be more interesting while on a assigned mission to have random system failure that you have to attend to or accompany one your BO’s to to save or recover from a system failure while in middle of mission or combat? That in itself lends itself to allot of RP factor in game. But all that came to mind just watching and thinking about just one episode of Voyager.

If the history of STO missions are correct and I have never seen any missions as such or as yet up to this point. Then you my friend as Captain of your vessel has had a perfect systems record of system failures and perfect engineering maintenance and have never had to deal with for example possible loosing your warp core. Your Chief Engineer BO then is a better engineer that LT Torres lol.

The point of it all i guess is engaging story writing for missions and making them interesting or just being creative in STO for more interesting game play. At this point i’m almost half way through season 5. Will be a little while before i can get back fully into STO, but im having a good time reflecting and thinking about both the game and Star Trek IP.

Voyager on My Holodeck

I’m getting in touch with my in Star Trek lol. I been meaning to watch the entire season of Voyager. I saw a lot of Voyager but no where the entire season. I saw most of SNG but never all the seasons either. So a Friday I ordered the entire Seven Seasons Set of Star Trek Voyager.

I got my seasons set on Saturday by FedEX, needed it as Warp Speed. So I been busy on my Holodeck doing watching, researching and reliving Voyagers journeys over the first season. I miss watching Star Trek, kinda wish they was a new series Trek to watch something new. And so much fun it was just to watch my new Voyager DvD set. Its funny as well how you pick up some interesting references that makes more sense in STO just watching the DvD set.

On the first episode of Voyager they ended up having to destroy the Caretakers Array with a special weapons device. It was a TriCobalt Device. Very high explosive yield and a very big bang! Its funny what I was watching it and at the later end of STO their are such devices. Funny how it made more sense being aware of devices like that and understanding in the context of how you use such devices and for what purpose. For me it was really just more awareness of things playing STO.

In that same episode or the next one after with one the new races that they were about to encounter that ships had Regenerative Shields and that they may want to avoid them something along that line. I was aware from playing STO that such shields have the highest Regen rate based on quest mission rewards playing STO. I’m sure you have seen the name reference as well as many other Shields. Again the point being it was just more awareness of finding STO references of things, devices, tactics, and whatever else from actually watching Star Trek and in this case having just watched the entire Season 1 of Star Trek Voyager.

Well I got 6 more Seasons to go so having been playing all that much STO this weekend. Obviously i’m busy Trek on my Holodeck.

What was most interesting watching Voyager was hearing them at times refer to Night and Day. When you think of it there is no night or day to say in Space. There is only really a sense of time or personal time which can be Night or Day I would guess.

Well about to watch the entire Season 2 of Star Trek Voyager.

First STO Raid – “Infection”. Resistance Really is Futile

Infection Raid at Starbase 82. Resistance is somewhat Futile!

Stardate: 87783.

Mission: Infection Raid – (5 man Team)

Star Trek Online (STO) just last week added their first of several to come called “Special Task Force” (STF) Raids for Admirals at endgame. First up is “Infection“. Starfleet has lost all contact with Starbase 82 located in the Sibiran System. The Borg has now taken control of the Sibiran System and Starbase 82 while Infecting and assimilating everyone that’s resisting them there. You are tasked with investigating reason for loss communications.

Due to the time I heard it took to complete the entire raid I put it off till the weekend since I wanted to have enough time to see the whole thing. In the Gamma Orionis zone I  almost though I was playing WoW with all the LFG Tac/Sci/Eng for Infection, LFG Fed Tac/Cruiser/Escort/Science for Infection. Or even better yet “LFG for Infection have all Epic Gear, must have Experience” and LFG for Infection must have X Kit gear, Experience and must have Vent. Reminds me somewhat of another game I play…… WoW.

Not many Admirals was on in my Fleet at the Admiral lvl at the time so just went and PuG it. It actually took me a while to get into a PuG group but eventually did and we had a 5 man team of 2 Cruiser, 2 Escort, 1 Science Vessel. As far as Admiral Officer makeup I can’t for sure remember exactly. But I think we had 2 Science Officers, 2 Tactical and 1 Engineer. Myself being a Tactical Officer.

The Raid started off having a Space phase where you had to try and destroy a large Transwarp Conduit that the Borg uses to Transwarp to the Star System and while at it engaging many Borg Spheres and several Borg Tactical Cubes. The space fight was really awesome. But engaging the Borg was not easy as I can’t remember just how many time I lost my Star Cruiser. Shields against the Borg just doesn’t seem to work! You will lose then instantly! Having Engineering Team and other ship Hull repair and regen ability really helps for hull repairs to be able to sustain damage and not loose your ship.

Overall the space part was fun and you also picked up a lot of green gear as well. At times it can get really annoying to try to loot gear while trying desperately to survive a Tactical Cube and all you can do fast is just hit greed on gear whatever it may be. I remember  a Blue gear dropped and barely even had time to see what it was and one person only needed it the team leader. But i’m sure it was usable by everyone. That Phase lasted about 10-15 mins or so of the Raid then you had to beam down to Starbase 82.

The ground phase was immediate with some resistance of space station crew putting up resistance to the Borg and having to beat the Borg back. And I mean they were ALLOT of Borg Drones: Tactical Borg, Heavy Tactical Drones, Medical Drones. Though we didn’t wipe as a 5 man team we died ALLOT! More deaths than I can remember doing anything in STO up to Admiral lvl. As a matter of fact I probably died more in that raid than I did in all of STO leveling together. If you had to count how many times we each died that in itself was just FUTILE!

There were Borg Drones Everywhere! They can be in front of you advancing as well as materialize right behind you to flank you. It was nuts! We figured out eventually that we needed to find and take out the Interlink Distribution Nodes that keep resupplying new Borg Drones. That helped allot, but trying to find them wasn’t as easy either as the Interlink Distribution Nodes were well hidden from plain view and you almost probably aggro the Borg Drones before you can spot the Interlink Distribution Nodes.

So our PuG ground phase kinda went like this: We advance, retreat, advance hallways, kill Interlink Nodes, advance, retreat, lots of death in between, but as long as everyone don’t die and one person still alive it’s not a wipe. Lots of and retreating taking corridors of the Starbase but when we couldn’t find the Interlink Nodes we got too over run with Borg Drones and had to do a lot of retreating due to just too many Borg Drones that keep spawning. Borg Drones even had resistance to certain weapon damage or adapted and used shields which I fount totally amusing.

Key was finding the well hidden Interlink Distribution Nodes and take them out quick and fast, that’s if you can spot the Nodes before you aggo the Borg Drones. I can tell you on my first Raid here we really died allot, that was no joke! Currently there is no Death Penalty in STO, but soon their will be. If there was one in-game it would be rough depending on the penalty. If this was a WoW repair bill it would be brutal on your gold chest.

Starbase 82 Map.

We only made it to through maybe up to the first half of retaking the Starbase as in the map above where it shows the red dots for the Borg Drones in the next section. One guy the group leader who formed the group kept asking how long it’s going to take. I couldn’t help but start laughing based on our current progress and knowing how raids go. But on very the next death of the group leader bailed! Not too soon after that other person in the group of remaining 4 quit. Why do people always quit a group like that as a excuse? His was had to go help a friend lvl. Lamest excuse I hear all the time even in WoW. Just quit and say I don’t have any more guts to continue. Now that I can respect for someone quitting. But don’t give a lame ass excuse.

We were left with just 3 in group including the one person that was there before who kinda knew what to do and the one finding all the Interlink Distribution Nodes. We figured with lots of common sense there was no way we were going to advance with just 3 people in group. The 3 of us just kinda chatted briefly before the 2 of them left. We were at it for about two hours or so at this point in the Infection Raid.

Spotting the Interlink Distribution Nodes - Under the console of the 2nd Borg (Its highlighted)

There is something about quitting that I just can’t take that other people find easier to do. I fight, I learn and I adapt. Thats what I do once I figure out something. But anyway at a certain point resistance can be futile too with any PuG group. So I just kinda stuck around on Starbase 82 alone just checking thing out to see if I can learn something for the next time I’m there for a raid and that I know something to my advantage. Figured out you can use the Star Map with the area map of base to spot all the Borg location as well spot the Interlink Distribution Nodes. Once you have a rough idea where and how many of the Nodes there are it’s easier to look for them in that vicinity as they are well hidden from plain view. They spawn ALLOT of Borg Drones so take them out fast. Which is good to know on your next visit to Starbase 82 on the Infection Raid.

But that’s how my first Raid went in STO as a Admiral. It was fun, got our ass kicked good. We had a few quitters that killed any further progress but it was still fun. Balanced raid Borg Drones vs us? I can’t say it really even was. It was like fighting overwhelming force.

Seems also like there was a mini patch earlier today that had some new changes to the “Infection” Raid. From reading some the changes seem like the raid will be even more difficult at the beginning with the Borg Tactical Tactical Cubes at at the end of the Ground Phase with the Virus upload. Fun times I guess, or maybe futile times as well trying to get there.

Pic of the Day – Q

Borg Tactical Cubes

One Tactical Cube is hard enough to fight. This is not very good odds. This was from the mission with “Q” and a enjoyable one as well.

Screenshots: Assault Cruiser

Assault Cruiser - Sovereign Class (Modified)

Just a few screenshots of the Assault Cruiser – Sovereign Class in its environment. Just a few of its hull parts was customized from what I was issued originally like the nacelles and pylons can’t remember what else.

Assault Cruiser - Sovereign Class (Modified)

Assault Cruiser - Sovereign Class (Modified)

Gamma Orionis Sector – First Contact Borg!

Borg Tactical Cube...... um Runnnn!

Stardate: 87775.30

Earned promoted to Rear Admiral 5, final rank. At Starfleet request the U.S.S. Omicron has been assigned to meet up with the Battle Group in the Gamma Orionis Sector – Borg territory. First contact with the Borg on patrol ran into several Borg Spheres, not too bad they were. Then ran into a large Borg Tactical Cube and was struck with terror.

Never one to run from any fight, engage the Borg!

Load “ALL” Torpedoes, engage the Borg Tactical Cube. Shields Up! OMG, where did my Deflector Shields go? What the hell happen to my Shields! We have No Shields!! What the Hell! Cmdr Kort Emergency Power to Shields. Wait a min, what the hell is happening to my Hull i’m loosing my hull right from under me and i barely got shields up. What the hell is that, Borg Cube got us in Tractor Beam. Resistance is Futile! I barely got shields, no wait shields gone….. hulls on fire from massive Plasma damage. OMG the Borg is going to get us.

Survived first contact with the Borg ......barely.

Cmdr Kort give me everything you got in Engineering. Lt Inlea Polarize that damn hull. Ens Earnest I need that Hazard Emitters back on-line NOW! Fire EVERYTHING!!

Somehow we broke that Borg Tactical Cube and prevailed. Resistance aren’t that Futile afterall. Taking on a Borg Tactical Cube alone can be real Tough!

In other news Cryptic added the the first new raid earlier in a new patch “Infection”. One of our Fleet teams managed to down the new Boss. I wont have time to do it till later on friday due to the time it takes to do it. Looking forward to it as it seems challenging due to all the people crying its too hard already.

Exploration & Upgrading of MK Equipment

Stardate: 87773.62

Admiral Supplemental Log.

Earned Promotion to Rear Admiral 3 Stardate 87773.62. The U.S.S. Omicron has been on shakedown cruise operation conducting Exploration in the Alpha Quadrant – Zeta Andromedae Sector Block, Zenas Expanse.

Tactical Operation and combat exercise of the Omicron Star Cruiser has been going well and the Crew seem to be getting up to operational efficiency getting used to their new command since leaving Earth Spacedock. Though it has taken some time to get used to the new and improved combat systems and maneuvering of the ship in combat things have been going very well with the Bridge Officers and Crew of the Omicron. As well we have logged numerous mission exploring uncharted regions and systems in the Zenas Expanse. For our effort Starfleet has awarded us numerous Marks of Exploration Awards of the 5th Order for our mission to explore new and uncharted star systems conducting scientific research, aid missions and engaging hostile enemy in federation outpost regions of space.

We have encountered a numerous amount of ground missions on systems visit compared to space missions. In the process the Bridge Officers have picked up quite a number of new usable upgrade equipment to use as well during ground operations. Investigation of many research facility at outpost and underground on new planets was found to be abandoned with minimal occupation of facilities for various reasons. The use of having a solid Expose & Exploit equip weapon both during ground operations is a valued tactic! Exposing the enemy during hostile combat operations and on proc Exploiting on immediate weapons switch (Z) using ability when not on cooldown has been found a great way to quickly nullify the enemy during combat operations and a good tactic.

Overall initial assessment of shipboard combat systems and capability performed well during enemy engagement. Starfleet has notified us that some new MK upgrades are available and we should immediately make way to Spacebase for the latest system upgrades. The crew is in need of some R&R as well and a good time to head to the nearest Starbase.

Ship Upgrades

At Starbase we had requisition for some new retrofit upgrades for weapons & consoles via 5th Order Marks of Exploration.

Weapons:

• Upgraded the Fwd Phaser Banks from Phaser Beam Array MK VIII installing 2 new Phaser Beam Array MK X.
• Retrofitted one of the normally 2 Fwd Torpedo Bank from a existing Photon Bank to a Dual Phaser Beam Array MK X.
• Upgraded the existing Fwd Torpedo Bank to a Quantum Torpedo Launcher MK X.
• Upgraded the Aft Phaser Banks from Phaser Bean Array MK VIII installing 2 new Phaser Beam Array MK X.
• Upgraded 1 of 2 existing Aft Torpedo Banks from Photon Torpedo Launcher MK VIII to a Quantum Torpedo Launcher MK X.
• Upgraded the 2nd existing Aft Torpedo Bank from a Photon Torpedo Launcher MK VIII to a Transphasic Torpedo Launcher MK X for evaluation and testing.

Consoles

• Tactical Console: Upgraded 2 of 2 Tactical Consoles from Phaser Relay MK VIII (+25 Starship Phaser Weapons) to Phaser Relay MK X (+30 Starship Phaser Weapons).
• Science Console: Changed and upgraded 1 Collimator MK VIII (+25 Star Ship Deflector Dish) to a Induction Stabilizer VIII (+25 Star Ship Deflector Field). Purpose: To Boost Science Team output for defensive purposes which also in turn boost Polarize Hull II ability during combat.
• Engineering Console: Upgraded 1 of 2 EPS Flow Regulator MK VIII (+2.5 Power Transfer Rate) to EPS Flow Regulator MK X (+3 Power Transfer Rate). Both EPS Flow Regulator (2 of 2) are now +3.0 Power Transfer Rate.

All Shipboard Consoles slot are currently fitted with equipment or that was added at commissioning of ship and not previously listed from that time. Was unable to requisition a needed Biofunction Monitor MK VIII+ adequate for the science station to increase performance and output due to none being available from Starbase. Prices on the open market for Biofuction Monitor was cosmically higher than wish to purchase at price.

It was noted that during combat field testing that the Science Officer BO’s also performed quite well with their Science Team I and that while Science Team was active it actually increased the ability of the ships hull to Polarize at level II. Due to Science Team increasing the efficiency of Star Ship Operations this also benefit the ships ability to Polarize its hull and increase its Energy Damage Resistance. That benefit was most notable during combat operations for its increased benefit and ability to energy resist damage while both ability was active at the same time. Hazard Emitters also received the same benefit increase as Polarize Hull due to increase in Science Team ability when active. However due to cooldown its difficult to use both ability at exact same time.

End of Log.

Regions & Order Marks of Exploration Badges

Delta Volonis Cluster: 1st Order – MK I & MK II – Lieutenant

Arucanis Arm: 1st Order – MK I & MK II – Lieutenant

Hromi Cluster: 2nd Order – MK III & MK IV – Lieutenant Commander

Khazan Cluster: 2nd Order – MK III & MK IV Lieutenant Commander

Afehirr Nebular: 3rd Order – MK V & MK VI – Commander

Eridan Belt: 3rd Order – MK V & MK VI – Commander

Rokor Nebular: 4th Order – MK VII & MK VIII – Captain

Betreka Nebula: 4th Order – MK VII & MK VIII – Captain

Zenas Expanse: 5th Order – MK IX & MK X – Admiral

B’Tran Cluster: 5th Order – MK IX & MK X – Rear Admiral 3+

Getting Marks for Exploration are the easiest way to upgrade your gear especially when you get a new ship and need upgrade equipment. Just go explore regions on missions when you need to. Spend the Marks on to get gear at whatever level you are that you can equipt it to your ship from the vendor at Earth Starbase. Saves you lots of money at the exchange. Sometimes you can find a good deal at the exchange as well but less than often the case at this point in the game when everything is inflated in price. Do all your other missions as needed as well, but if you need to really upgrade your ship equipment go forth and explore…..

Welcome Rear Admiral

Taking the oath promotion to Rear Admiral.

Stardate: 87764.93 Pomotion to Admiral (Rear Admiral 1)

I made promotion to Rear Admiral on Saturday. Rear Admiral Al Galo. That was as much STO as I got to play all weekend since I spend the entire weekend working. So I wasn’t able to do much else or spend time logging on to do Admiral stuff. Think i spend more time watching a few Voyager Borg series on DvD’s.

So wasn’t till today was able to finally spend the time running around picking up my new Teir 5 Ship. I got the Star Cruiser for my promotion to Admiral free ship and at the exact same time I was getting my Star Cruiser I bought me the Assault Cruiser ship as well. I then went and spent a bit of time customizing my new ships.

Modified the Star Cruiser and picked the Emissary Class and did some modifications in the advance custom layout to the hull, pylons and nacelles and liked the look of my new Emissary Star Cruiser in the end. Then modified the Assault Cruiser to get the Sovereign Class model with just a few modifications as well. In the end I liked both my new Cruisers. The Star Cruiser does look better than the Assault Cruiser, but I liked both as I want them for tactical functionality.  Does seem the higher in Teir ships you go you also get more option for bridge layout as well.

Then had to give my new ships names to get rid of the generic name the new ships come with. So far I’ve named all my Ships after Star Trek energy particles. Named my new Star Cruiser the U.S.S. Omicron and the Assault Cruiser the U.S.S. Thalaron.

Then spent the rest of time getting new some equipment and consoles for my ship with Exploration Badges and one or two things from the Exchange at a good deal. That process really took quite a while.

STO Teir 5 Emissary Class Star Cruiser (Hull Modified) U.S.S Omicron

STO Teir 5 Emissary Class Star Cruiser (Hull Modified) U.S.S. Omicron

But after all that was able to take my new Star Ship for a spin as a new Admiral. Funny thing I really don’t feel like a Admiral. I feel more like a Captain flying around in my Ship. Admirals usually manage fleets of ships, push paper and manage fleet conflicts/politics and the big picture of fleet wars.

Cruising along to Rear Admiral 5.