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.

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.

Full Impulse Ahead…

Been a bit busy working. Some of us do have read working jobs that keep us busy vs full-time gaming like the guy in his mom’s basement thats seems to play 24/7. Anyway I play a bit here and there so I’m slowly moving forward and currently at Captain grade 5.

I’ve stopped just a bit to update the blog, as sometime you can get a bit focused on playing a game when you are that you forget to update a blog thing. It happens to the best of us all.

I’m currently enjoying the game leveling, though leveling is easy enoughl. At the same time I’m well aware of the state of the game with many bored Admirals at the end of the game with not much or nothing to do or some that are in the process of leaving the game due to boredom or disappointment. It happens.

But as of right now I’m still playing for my enjoyment and besides I’m no Admiral yet either, so i’m not done with the game and so my Trek across interstellar space continues at Full Impulse.

Currently patrolling and exploring Beta Ursae Sector Block with a log full of missions to do. For a bit of that time in sector block i’ve spend that time just exploring the Rolor Nebular region of unexplored space and accumulating Exploration Badges. The funny thing for exploring unexplored space or solar systems every species already seem to be well aware of the Federation and thats like every unexplored region before as well. I don’t think i’ve ever met a civilization on first contact on exploration missions. You would think if your exploring unexplored space you find some random new civilization on first contact right?

I did figure one thing about doing Exploration missions and did some time ago. You level fast doing exploration missions, they are easier than most. But make sure you have the mission quest from Starfleet before you do so to get the full credit with Skill Points, Merits and Exploration Badges for doing so. But if you do allot of exploration missions they go by fast and fairly easy and the exploration badges adds up allot. I probably say if you just made it to a new rank like from Lieutenant to Lt Commander or any new rank its a great thing to go do exploration missions and get the badges for your Teir rank to get you some nice green & blue gear to pimp out your new ship you just picked up.

Since I went like from Captain 3 to Captain 5 all doing exploration missions to get mostly Expedition Badges for the most part, I was able to totally load out my Galaxy Cruiser in green badge gear back at Starbase from the Badge Vendor. I spend all my 4th Exploration Badges. Then after went to the exchange and picked up a few other nice pieces of green at bargain deals. I just had enough Energy Credits that i had to spend some.

For the most part I don’t buy much at the exchange, but i’ve figured out well how to use the exchange to search for what i want and to find good deals on the specific item i’m looking for. Sometime you cant find a item, sometime prices are at cosmic level pricing. Once you know what your looking for in the exchange you can easily after that narrow your search to the specific item to reduce the list to look at and find much better deals. I remember picking up a green Deflector Dish with a energy price listed on item at around 49k picked it up narrowing the search for 22k. Thats a huge bargain deal and was fun to save me a bit of money.

Of course i’m sitting on like 1.6 million Energy Credits just because i don’t spend much buying anything at the exchange, but i do sell stuff there. Yet its still good not to waste my Energy Credits and find a good deal. I’m not sure what I will do with all that Energy Credits at this point in the game. I can surely buy any ship i want with that much money, but for me its fun watching it pile up while going just throttling along at Full Impulse.

The game needs allot of work and polish. Can only hope Cryptic works hard enough to honestly improve the game drastically, it just wont be good if they don’t.

Captain on Deck

First view on deck on my new Command a Galaxy Class Exploration Cruiser.

Stardate: 87744.12
Received Promotion to Captain and took command of a new Galaxy Class Exploration Cruiser now renamed the U.S.S Neutrino.

Captain on the Bridge. Wish it was more interactive there.

Its been a very busy weekend and havent had much time to do a real post, so just doing a quick post to update things. Will have to re-edit this tomorrow after working nights.

Also with managing to reach Captain as well managed to reach over 1 Million Energy Credits without selling a single Blue, Green, White Item on the Exchange. Im not sure if thats allot of Energy Credits, but it sure was a allot not too long ago not having even 500 Energy Credits to buy anything from a vendor.

STO Sever Maintenance Again…

I just got in from night shift so it be limited very playtime this weekend. Instead of heading to take me a long nap I was eager to log on to STO and knock out the last remaining 400 skill point or so that I needed to finish my promotion to Captain. As I looked at the STO launcher saw that STO server was down again for maintenance. Bummer!

I’m really hoping that at some point Cryptic Studios can start performing maintenance at a more regular set schedule than the numerous amount of time they keep bringing the server down early in the morning for what can seem like daily maintenance at this point. I know they have numerous bugs and stuff to fix, but be really good if they can move server maintenance to a more limited down time on a weekly basis at some point soon.

Guess I’ll have to wait till later to maybe log on and complete one or two quests to make my promotion to Captain as well as get to finally command a new Teir 4 level Cruiser ship the Exploration Class Cruiser. Getting assigned to a new ship is a really exciting event to look forward to, and so far I’m always looking forward to it thus far.

Just wish for less planned maintenance downtime.

Commander

Stargazer Class Heavy Cruiser

Well like everyone else been somewhat busy playing STO and a bit busy trying to level up as well while learning things. Good news is that I’ve been promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander and currently at rank Commander 5. So 5 more levels to go to make it to Captain hopefully soon.

With the promotion I was awarded a new ship and as a choice as a Tactical Officer. I decided to continue on with picking up a Cruiser Class vs going with the Escort Class. A Tactical Officers skills are most potent in a full tactical ship for DPS which is the Escort Class of ship in STO. But I’m not going with the Escort Class as a Tactical Officer for various reasons and aware also of the minor dps loss and tactical effectiveness not doing so not commanding an Escort Ship. Reading the STO Tactical & Cruiser Forums quite many people seem to also find the option viable as well.

I prefer to be a Tactical Officer in a Cruiser and I think a Tactical Officer in a Cruiser is a different option in a Fleet of ships. And I lean to the side of Assault Cruiser DPS with capability to do decent dps though not as effectively as an Escort Class but have the survivability of a Cruiser Class, though not as resilient as an Engineering Officer at the helm in a Cruiser for survivability or Tanking. I think that’s very viable especially with as much customization as you can do with Ship Class and Bridge Officer Skills as well as your own skill set. I’m pretty much aiming to be a Tactical Officer in an Assault Cruiser Class ship and so far i’ve enjoyed the Cruiser Class, the added survivability has worked out quite well. Last I checked Picard wore a Red Officers uniform as Captain not a Yellow one.

Will see how it all works out. Hopefully we can get respec options in game sometime soon as well. Think everyone is waiting for that as well.

Pics of the Day: Doomsday

Doomsday Machine