Star Trek Online: The Continuing Languish Mission

[Barrister]

Now I'm hoping to see new updates to the Mac Pro, along with new supported graphics cards in the next month or so...

Interesting.  My (non-Crapple) PC's graphic card is totally silent, even while under heavy load.

I'm running a 8800GT - it's a completely standard PC graphics card, in a Mac.
But I still wonder if STO isn't all that well optimized or something - it taxes the graphics card like no other game.

But still - the best available upgrade right now is a 4870, but that's as of a year ago, which is what makes me think Apple will come out with a new Mac Pro sometime, with a new graphics card...

[DontSayBanana]

I'm running a 8800GT - it's a completely standard PC graphics card, in a Mac.
But I still wonder if STO isn't all that well optimized or something - it taxes the graphics card like no other game.

But still - the best available upgrade right now is a 4870, but that's as of a year ago, which is what makes me think Apple will come out with a new Mac Pro sometime, with a new graphics card...

It's one of the few floating around that was actually optimized for ATI.  I remember the day in Open Beta that they rolled that out.  I'm just running a Radeon 3100 IGP, and even I can run at full-res in sector space or non-combat maps.  In fact, it's one of the best-optimized games I've seen in a while, but I believe that's because they made use of the full D3D10/11 specification.

[Barrister]

I'm running a 8800GT - it's a completely standard PC graphics card, in a Mac.
But I still wonder if STO isn't all that well optimized or something - it taxes the graphics card like no other game.

But still - the best available upgrade right now is a 4870, but that's as of a year ago, which is what makes me think Apple will come out with a new Mac Pro sometime, with a new graphics card...

It's one of the few floating around that was actually optimized for ATI.  I remember the day in Open Beta that they rolled that out.  I'm just running a Radeon 3100 IGP, and even I can run at full-res in sector space or non-combat maps.  In fact, it's one of the best-optimized games I've seen in a while, but I believe that's because they made use of the full D3D10/11 specification.

DOn't get me wrong - I run with max resolution with many of the graphical goodies turned on.  I didn't say it doesn't look great - just that it's loud while doing it.

I wonder if DX10/11 would make a difference (still running on XP).

[Barrister]

I'm sad - hit Cpt 9 last night, and it won't be long before I hit max level. 

I am starting to feel the itch to roll a Klingon, but I doubt I'd have the patience to level up all the way with no juicy episodes to run.

[DontSayBanana]

Well, I just finished State of Q.  Gotta say, that was definitely one of the better plotlines.  Not sure it was worth holding in reserve until RA5, though.

[Barrister]

I'm at RA3 now.  Mex level is just around the corner.

I do have to say that with all the science consoles, a Tier V Science Vessel is a fearsome weapon.  Between Viral matrix and tractor beams, opponents can be hard pressed to move.  With a couple tachyon blasts they have no shields.  It becomes the space equivalent to putting your opponent in the corner and pummeling him with body blows he can't defend himself from until he collapses.

But I'm thinking of training up a new science officer or two and try my hand at PvP.  Should I load up on my own cloaking skills?  Load up on anti-cloaking skills?  Or just stay as-is, figuring that Klingons need to appear eventually...

[DontSayBanana]

I'm at RA3 now.  Mex level is just around the corner.

I do have to say that with all the science consoles, a Tier V Science Vessel is a fearsome weapon.  Between Viral matrix and tractor beams, opponents can be hard pressed to move.  With a couple tachyon blasts they have no shields.  It becomes the space equivalent to putting your opponent in the corner and pummeling him with body blows he can't defend himself from until he collapses.

But I'm thinking of training up a new science officer or two and try my hand at PvP.  Should I load up on my own cloaking skills?  Load up on anti-cloaking skills?  Or just stay as-is, figuring that Klingons need to appear eventually...

Depends who you're playing with.  Personally, I've got a Gryphon set up for full-frontal assault with a couple nasty surprises (X Quantum Mines and torps) once I've passed on my initial strafe.  When I do that, I'm space dust unless I come in alongside a star cruiser set up with some defensive abilities.

I'm looking forward to doing dailies tonight and working toward picking up a Covariant Shield Array Mk X (Cap)x3.   Just a touch over 11,000 HP when fitted on a star cruiser.

[Barrister]

Well I dunno - I've only PvPed maybe twice.

My setup right now is very much one of "crowd control".  Keep the enemy tied up so they can't move a muscle.  It works great 1 on 1, not so effective as part of a group.

I'm in a science vessel, so my damage will be less than an escort, and my survivability less than a cruiser.

[DontSayBanana]

Well I dunno - I've only PvPed maybe twice.

My setup right now is very much one of "crowd control".  Keep the enemy tied up so they can't move a muscle.  It works great 1 on 1, not so effective as part of a group.

I'm in a science vessel, so my damage will be less than an escort, and my survivability less than a cruiser.

Well, if you go in for PvP, you need to be prepared for group fighting.  The Klink players pretty much only PvP, so they've gotten good at pacing Feds and watching for somebody to break out of the wagon circle.

[Barrister]

HArumph.  For the first time I can recall in any MMO ever, a key power of mine is getting a major nerf.

From the test shard (Tribble):

•   Viral Matrix has been updated:
Instead of a hold, Viral Matrix now takes three subsystems offline in a staggered duration.
The best case duration for a subsystem being offline is approx 7.2, 9.6, and 12 seconds for versions I, II,III respectively.
The subsystems affected are Weapons, Engines, and Auxiliary.
The order that the subsystems go offline is determined randomly upon each use.
Engineering Team will repair subsystems that are offline.

[Barrister]

Holy crap - Borg ground enemies at RA level are a whole level of hurt.

Kind of fun - very difficult to defeat.

[DontSayBanana]

Holy crap - Borg ground enemies at RA level are a whole level of hurt.

Kind of fun - very difficult to defeat.

The trick is not to let them surround you.  I'm still learning that the hard way, getting surrounded by three drones and pumped full of nanoprobes.  TKO in seconds.

[Barrister]

What was catching me the first few times is not realizing there is a drone spawn node - if you don't knock that out you'll be overwhelmed.

[Barrister]

And coming soon to STO:

Here's our breakdown for death penalty and difficulty slider. We'd really appreciate your feedback on these new features so we can tweak them as they get closer to release.

Death Penalty
If a character is incapacitated, there is a chance of receiving one injury. If any injury occurs, the severity of the injury is determined by chance, modified by the existence of any existing injuries on that character. (The chance of receiving a Major or Critical Injury are increased if the player has already sustained injuries)
The types of Injuries are:
Minor – The negative effect of minor injuries is small and only several minor injuries would cause a player to notice a difference in performance
Major - Major injuries feel significant, but the character can continue to function at little performance difference. More than one major injury that modified the same stat would start to affect performance.
Critical - Critical injuries affect character performance. A character can continue and succeed with more than one critical injury, but each critical injury received is 'costly' to treat and will put the character a bit under the potency curve.
Injuries are removed by visiting contacts in the major social hubs or by using an Injury Pack item
Injury Packs come in two types; Regenerators (ground) and Components (space). Each type of pack has three versions, corresponding to the severity of the injury they remove; Minor, Major, Critical. Injury Packs are not available in replicators, but some are available at stores

Difficulty Slider
Players are now able to set their difficulty setting in the options screen or from the episodes tab of the journal UI. Your current difficulty level will also be displayed in various parts of the UI. (Mission tracker, team window, target window)
The available settings are:
Normal – STO's default and current setting. If you enjoy STO's difficulty as is continue to play on the Normal difficulty level.
Advanced – If you frequently play games and are looking for more of a challenge than STO's default setting choose this difficulty level.
Elite – If you are a STO veteran and you want the bragging rights of going against the hardest challenge that STO offers choose this difficulty level.
When teamed it is the Team Leader's difficulty level that is used to determine the difficulty of a map.
A player's Difficulty Setting will not affect open maps or persistant maps. (Fleet actions, pvp, ipvp, social maps or deepspace encounters)
A player will only be able to modify their difficulty level when they are on static maps, not on instanced maps. (social maps, sector space)
With greater risk come greater rewards. Playing on higher difficulty levels will grant more rewards from critters than the lower difficulty settings.

[Barrister]

I may have to put this to the side for the moment.  At RA5, about all I can do is grind out the daily explore mission, or try and find a group to run the 5-man STFs.  SInce I'm not sure when I'd be able to dedicate 2+ hrs to running a STF, and the grind is already boring, I may just wait until more content comes along.