Over the course of the past year, we’ve talked a lot about the wonder that is Star Trek Online. We’ve examined the powerful stories that it has to tell, done week to week recaps on new episodes when they arrive, and we’ve also discussed some important tips in regard to how to make your player and ship stronger in combat. And of course, we’ve quite literally traveled to every corner of the galaxy, since I made a point to tour every single star system available in game and at least beam down to the planets that would allow me to do so during my jaunt around the Milky Way.
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Which makes it sounds as though there’s little left to accomplish or explore in this game, and for a time I truly thought that was the case and that I was reaching a long and extended hiatus for this blog. But whilst I was heading off to the Exchange at Earth Spacedock to get my hands on a different gun for my daily Endeavor Missions, I couldn’t help but notice the nice lady standing on the main rotunda in her tropical gear. Which is important, for if someone is standing there, some kind of event is going on, and seeing as to how I’ve had the Galactica out in deep space for weeks now on various patrols and whatever the Endeavor Missions call for, I totally missed the fact that an event was taking place on Risa, the kind that opened up my eyes to the fact that I’ve missed a few things in this game.

Because by beaming down and only getting a quick look at some of the planets I was allowed to explore during my tour of the galaxy, I never really got the proper opportunity to see what these various planets offer up to fans of this franchise. Which made the tour guide’s offer to swing by this celebration of all things Risa, all the more appealing. Because now was a wonderful opportunity to return to this iconic world and see more than the transporter pad and a quick glance of the beaches that I noticed during my last visit there and shortly after picking up my new gun and completing my missions for the day, I ordered the helm to take us to Risa to see exactly what I’ve been missing after all this time.

As it turns out, I really should have swung by this world sooner, because holy cow… Risa is outright gorgeous. For there are oceans as far as the eye can see, and tropical delights everywhere you turn and well, upon arriving, I have to admit I was a tad overwhelmed. After all, when you’re used to seeing the stars streak by and spend most of your time firing phasers on the ground and quantum torpedoes in space, you tend to forget about the little things that make the universe beautiful. But thankfully Risa reminds you, since it really is a little digital paradise and it is an oddly peaceful place to visit since it’s quiet and chill, and all you can hear as you explore the resorts or its various beaches is the gentle rustle of the wind or the crashing of the waves and this was, quite the nice break from the hustle and bustle of space combat.

Granted, I’ll be honest in saying that I didn’t really take part in the events happening on the planet. Because I really did just want to explore Risa and take in its beauty and it was so gorgeous that I found myself just staring off into the digital sunset, since the game did such a fine job of creating one that beautiful and that peaceful and well, my time here made something clear; I don’t spend enough time exploring the planets and places that are available to me in game. Which means that the time has come to do so quite frankly. For I’ve seen every last star that the galaxy has to offer, so it’s only right that I look at the various worlds the game has provided us with, since it’s clear they offer more than plot points to drive an episode along and I’m looking forward to seeing what these strange new worlds have to offer in the weeks to come. Until next time.  

Hello again, dear reader. It’s been a hot light year since we’ve settled in to discuss the wonder of Star Trek Online and there’s good reason for that. Because on one hand, there’s not a lot of new stuff happening within the game right now, and on the other hand, sometimes other commitments and assignments put your game time on back burner. But, it’s hailing frequencies open once again and the time has to come to talk about this lovely game once more because I have some burning topics and tips to discuss with all of you, and I’ve actually managed to uncover some places that I’ve never explored in detail before. So, on that note, let’s dive into some tips today, the kind that revolve around a little bit of self-care.
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Because your captain is important in this game, because… whatever gender or species you set your captain up as, is you, and you need to be at your best to command your vessel and this is something we need to go over, because I have neglected my own on screen persona, by not doing much when it comes to upgrades that are available for my character. And well, recently when I finally had some spare time and a boatload of cash and dilithium, I figured that maybe it was time to spend a little bit of my earnings and see what happens when you improve your character and let me tell you now, I am a fool for not doing this sooner. For time and time again, I had my 25th Century rump handed to me on a platter when it comes to ground missions, and that all changed with a little dedication.

Which brings us to the tips in question, specifically, how does one upgrade their captain and turn them into a resilient fighter? Well first and foremost, you need to get your hands on some quality personal shields and some body armor, and once you’ve found some that offer up great resistance to weapons, you buy them and upgrade them to Mark XV, and by getting both of these items to cap out, you’ll hang longer in a firefight. In fact, you’ll straight up be able to go toe to toe when exchanging phaser blows and that, brings us to your weapons. Because much like the loadout on your vessel, you’ll find that there are a myriad of guns to choose from and well, once again, you want your hands on the ones that inflict the most damage and once you’ve upgraded those items to Mark XV, you’ll be damn near unstoppable.

Case and point, I’m a huge fan of Antiproton everything, and I managed to get my hands on an Antiproton beam gun that can actually drop a bad guy in two sustained shots. And being a Starfleet officer through and through, I also have my hands on a Mark XV Hand Phaser just because, it’s kind of cool to do some serious damage with a simple phaser in your hand. But of course, this begets the question, outside of my addiction to Antiproton beams, what other weapons out there can help me save the galaxy in swift and brutal fashion? Well the answer to that question is, whichever weapons you like. Because only you will know what feels right in your digital hands and what responds at a pace you prefer.

So, if anything, just buy up a bunch of guns, take them out to Nimbus III and test them in the desert. Which might sound crazy, and excessive, but it’s the only way to know what you like, and the good news is that unlike ship weapons, ground weapons tend to come cheap for lower Mark weapons, and whatever you don’t like, you can re-sell in the marketplace. Plus, don’t forget to have a little fun with your uniform as well. It’s all about making your captain your own and this is your chance to wear a uniform to your liking and that’s something I see often and admire in game, because folks get creative. But if you’re a duty guy like me, just find the right fit for your role. Which is why you’ll notice I changed my gear up because it didn’t seem right to wear Fleet Admiral black when I’m often in the field, so here is this lovely captain/admiral hybrid that gives me the best of both worlds. The bottom line is, let your nerdy flag fly, and have fun, because that’s really what this game is all about. Until next time. 

I suppose that if there is one great flaw when it comes to video games in general, it’s that, they have a tendency to play it safe storytelling wise. Because regardless of the odds, or the grandiose nature of the story, you always know deep down that everything is going to be okay. Sure, you might get dropped by a bad guy carrying a bigger gun than you, but you’ll be fine in about fifteen seconds when you re-spawn on the map and well, I understand why that sense of safety exists in gaming because it really is the ultimate escape. You can truly be anyone and get lost in the moment and play the hero with zero consequences and even my favorite game of all time, Star Trek Online, is no exception to this particular rule.
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Because if the U.S.S. Galactica is facing insurmountable odds in combat and taking a beating, everything will be just fine. For if she explodes with all hands lost, we will be back in fifteen seconds to fight the good fight once again, and if a Borg drone assimilates me because I was being careless, same rules apply. And that’s not to insult games by any means, because this is just how the industry operates and we are all fine with this status quo. But, obviously, there’s a reason behind making this a topic of discussion, because if and when a game takes the time to step away from the norm, it is a huge deal and well, it just so happens that STO took quite the risk with the next chapter in the ‘Rise of Discovery’ story arc, meaning that we need to celebrate the power and the majesty and the outright bravery of ‘Impossibility of Reason’, since it removed the safety net in question, and operated heavily in some dark places.

Granted, I knew that this one was going to go dark anyways since Captain Lorca let all of us know in Star Trek: Discovery, that the U.S.S. Buran was destroyed in battle well before he took over the U.S.S. Discovery, and taking that into consideration, along with the fact that the prior episode ended with us racing back to Priors World to give the Buran an assist, I knew full well we would witness her destruction. But what I was not prepared for was the sheer emotion present in that moment since it damn near broke Commander Landry and well, what came next after that sobering segment is what truly impressed, since this is where the safety net completely disappeared.

For it wasn’t long before myself and some of my crew, found ourselves stranded on an icy moon near Priors World, wherein survival was key and well, the foreign nature of this moon, and the lack of supplies and abundance of unknown threats, combined with the fact that help wouldn’t arrive until we built an array to send for it, only enhanced the uncomfortable nature of this tale. Because we were truly on our own and that was just incredible because I’ve never seen this in STO, and adding days to the mission only enhanced the experience further, and while that’s all harrowing in its own right, what happened when we activated the distress beacon is what sunk the sense of danger into my bones.

For once that beacon was activated, the Klingons knew exactly where we were, which meant, it was either fight or die and well, it didn’t take long for things to de-evolve once those proud warriors began to beam down. Because one by one, good officers died right before my eyes, some in unexpected fashion, some in the most heroic ways imaginable, but the bottom line is that death was everywhere and that just took the wind right out of my sails. Because this is Starfleet, we save lives, not lose them. But this was war, with a merciless enemy that wanted the Federation to come to its end, and well, their fury allowed for the hits to just keep on coming, to the point where even Commander Landry lost someone she loved, and while we were indeed saved in the end, the power of this episode was not lost upon me. Because danger was everywhere in this tale, and despite it being a simulation, I honestly wasn’t sure if who exactly my character stood in for, was going to make it out alive.

Which at this point, I’m sure some folks are going to roll their eyes at this recap and review of this tale, due to the fact that, ‘it’s only a game, John’ and that’s fine. But I’m someone who loves an immersive story, and I don’t game all that often because of the fact that so many games keep things light and fluffy, so to see a game make an effort to tell a strong tale, one that moves you and feels like an interactive television episode, needs to be celebrated. Because this episode accomplished all those goals, and it really seems that as time goes on, this game is working hard to do things storytelling wise that other games simply are not, and as we barrel toward the conclusion of this Discovery-themed story arc, I have a feeling this was just a sample of things to come and that all important showdown with J’Ula is going to be epic and moving, and I’ll definitely be counting down the days to that powerhouse finale. Until next time.   

It’s always a wonderful thing when a particular story sinks into your bones and finds a way to truly excite you, and that’s precisely where I’m at with Star Trek Online these days. Because ever since ‘Victory is Life’ hit the mission log, unique and exciting stories have been pouring out of this game and the entire Star Trek: Discovery storyline is no exception to that rule since it’s allowed for us to experience some important moments in Federation and Starfleet history, and it’s even had a little fun along the way by letting us interact with characters from the Mirror Universe, and I won’t lie, the wait between these missions has been downright excruciating.
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But of all the mini ‘seasons’ that have come out in the past six months, the story arc that I’ve been anticipating the most has been ‘Rise of Discovery’. Because the trailer for this new chapter in the saga, promised us a chance to interact with Captain Gabriel Lorca and his trusty associate Commander Landry and well, that just sounded downright amazing, and thankfully, my long and painful wait for fresh content in STO came to an end at last, on Tuesday. For ‘Rise of Discovery’ is live on console now and I won’t lie, I rushed to my Xbox the instant it was available because I straight up needed my fix and let me tell you now, the first episode in this new set of stories is about as amazing as they come.

Because not only does ‘The Plausibility of the Possible’ look incredibly gorgeous, since it takes full advantage of all the new graphics engines available in game, it’s an epic freakin’ story. In fact, this particular tale outright feels as though it is a lost episode of Discovery. Because it runs about an hour, it has a sweeping story filled to the brim with beautiful cinematics and important character moments, and there’s some epic combat present that definitely gives you pause because…seeing twenty or so Klingons beam down, ready to thrown down, is a scary sight regardless of rank and experience and really, the wonder of this episode doesn’t end with its presentation and storytelling.

Because this one, is filled to the brim with some serious geek out moments. I mean come on, Jason Issacs is sublime as Captain Lorca, and it’s just a giddy experience to beam aboard the U.S.S. Buran and interact with him before bad things happen, and it’s equally as amazing to fight alongside him and while these kinds of interactions are nothing new in Star Trek Online, I will never be tired of them. Because, regardless of which of the shows you love, it’s every fan’s dream to fight alongside a Starfleet captain that’s appeared on screen and this story once again fulfills that dream and to top it all off…the best part about this episode? The fact that it ends on a tense cliffhanger.

So, if it isn’t obvious by now, I was super impressed with this particular tale, and I also loved the little Section 31 nuggets they threw into this one too, and well at this point, I haven’t played the next episode in this segment, simply because, I honestly want to bask in the wonder of this one a little longer and replay it a couple more times to pick up on anything else I might have missed. For this one was an enriching experience, one that sadly sets the stage for an ugly finale since the fate of the Buran and her crew isn’t a pleasant one. But, to quote/paraphrase Jim Kirk, risk if part of the game if you want to sit in that chair, which means that once I’ve had my fill of the wonder of this particular chapter, it’s off to the next one to face the battle and the darkness that awaits. Until next time. 

Well hello again dear reader. It’s been a little while since we sat down to discuss the wonders of Star Trek Online and I do apologize for the delay. But, sometimes you get buried in other projects and tasks, or in this case, a convention and well, when all is said and done, I suppose the timing of an impromptu vacation from writing about STO worked out in its own right, because a special time has arrived for fans of the game on console. For we are but a few days away from the debut of ‘Rise of Discovery’, an event that will provide Captains and Admirals with new storylines involving Captain Lorca and Commander Landry, seemingly before they board the featured ship in the latest chapter in this storied franchise, Star Trek: Discovery.
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But before those new missions arrive on the 25th, we do need to take a moment and discuss one a little surprise that quietly arrived on console, a TFO known as Operation: Riposte. Because if there’s one thing I love about this game, it’s the fact that it works hard to offer fans of the franchise and the game itself as rich an experience as possible, and this TFO just so happens to meet that criteria. For this particular mission, takes us to one of the most important offenses of the First Klingon/Federation War, wherein Starfleet saw an opportunity to go on the offensive at last by liberating a planet known as Priors World from the Klingons and this, might be one of the game’s finest TFO’s to date.

For starters, it’s pretty darn epic in scope, since it features plenty of Klingons to fight through as you work to free this planet from the Empire’s firm grip, meaning that every single second of the battle is intense and if by chance you get a break, you can see the next wave of ships amassing to defend their position against you, prompting you to take a quick breath before opening fire once again, and perhaps the most intense segment of the mission for me, is the moment when you’re asked to defend troop transports from inbound missiles because damnit, this was a tough task to say the least. Because speed is always a wonderful way to evade a starship’s weapons and despite all of Galactica’s top tier weapons, sometimes those missiles would just fly right by my massive Odyssey class vessel, prompting my heart to drop as a rouge warhead barreled toward a transport.

Yet while the battle itself is epic in its own right, as is always the case in the game, the story is what truly makes the experience worthwhile, since this mission finds a way to truly immerse you in the moment and this time around, it’s the voice acting that makes that happen. For this is Rekha Sharma’s first appearance in the game as Commander Landry, and her exhausted yet determined portrayal of a commander who has seen horrors but needs to project confidence for the sake of the battle, only motivates you to fight harder and work harder to complete your goals and really, every element we’ve discussed is what made this TFO worth my while and I see it is enthralling others, since the game has no trouble assembling a task force when I join the queue.

But what matters most when it comes to this mission, is that it stays true to Star Trek Online’s mission of creating a game where every bit of Starfleet history is brought to life in some magical way, and it really is cool that they took the time to assemble a mission that had major implications on the war, while at the same time, provide with us something that helps to build the buzz for ‘Rise of Discovery’, and it is this loving care that keeps me coming back on a daily basis to either play this mission again or complete my Endeavor missions and well, I won’t lie. This mission really did achieve what it was supposed to, since it got the ol’ blood pumping for the latest entry in this story arc, and I’ll be counting down the minutes and the days to Lorca’s arrival in STO and of course, we’ll be talking about the first mission in this new arc, shortly after it goes live. Until next time. 

There are a great many reasons as to why Star Trek Online is such a magnificent game to play. For the stories are powerful and engrossing, the combat is a blast to take part in and of course, by signing up you’re taking part in a universe/franchise that’s captivated so many for over fifty years. But, while all of those reasons are awesome and important, there’s one last element of this game that makes it an utter blast to play, and that’s the user’s ability to get their hands on whatever starship they wish to fly, allowing for nerdy dreams to come true when the player gets to take their new Galaxy Glass vessel out for a spin, or the player gets the chance to instill fear into the hearts of their enemies when they take command of a ship that can lay waste to entire fleets with the mere press of a button. 
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But, let’s be honest, the number of starships present in this game can be a bit daunting at times because there are so many to choose from. In fact, it doesn’t matter which faction you chose, there are six tiers of ships with multiple variants to take out into the galaxy so really, which is the best one to choose in order to make your spacefaring experience worthwhile? Well unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a solid answer for that because every ship has its strengths and its weaknesses. Instead, I think it’s best we look at some key features that will help you succeed in this game, based upon what you’re looking to accomplish when you log on. Because everyone has their own idea of what they want out of STO, and for some, that involves becoming a true master of interstellar combat.

Which in that case, you’re going to want a starship that is quick and nimble, but also powerful which means there are a few key elements to look out for. First and foremost, it needs to have solid weapons capabilities, so the more slots available to load up your beams and torpedoes of choice is a good thing, because that helps to make the ship a predator in its own right. But at the same time, it also needs to have solid speed and handling, so look for a ship that boasts a wonderful turn rate and can handle a strong impulse engine. But most importantly, look for one that also features a strong hull. Which isn’t always easy when you’re looking at lighter ships, but there are faster vessels out there that can take a beating when their shields go down and that’s supremely helpful in the heat of combat.

However, if you’re not concerned about quick strike capability and you want an alien species to stare at your ship with their jaw on the deck, fleet starships and capital ships in the higher tiers are the ones that are worth your while. Because these monsters can handle all kinds of punishment thanks to their massive hull rating, and they have plenty of weapons to boot, they’re just slow and methodical in combat and that’s not a bad thing either since there’s something to be said about being able to just fire at will and monitor the battle from afar. But personally, I’m a big fan of ships that offer balance and that’s why I’ve stuck with the Odyssey Class for so long. Because while it might not be the fastest ship in the fleet, it’s quick enough to make a difference in combat, and its weapons systems will still punish lighter class vessels as they try to pull an end around on me and most importantly, they take quite a beating.

But in the end, while it is important to pick a ship that meets your combat needs, one cannot forget that the big key to this game is having as much fun as possible. So, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like to fly a Defiant Class starship and test her mettle in combat, do it, why not? Or if you’re like me and always wanted to fly the ships you’ve seen in the various shows, then enjoy the wonder of the Constitution Class, for there’s no shame in geeking out. The bottom line is, just do a little studying when it comes to ship stats and abilities, because that allows for you to make an informed decision on what ships will offer you precisely what you want and trust me, you’ll know when you’ve found the right one because everything feels fluid when that perfect ship arrives, and last but certainly not least, always be sure to follow the late Admiral McCoy’s advice when the time comes to take that shiny new vessel out for a spin. 

Sometimes a new idea when it comes to creative writing can be a tad overwhelming. Especially when the topic at hand encompasses so many ideas and details and well, I won’t lie, this whole notion of me offering up tips and tricks when it comes to Star Trek Online, kind of gave me pause. Because I don’t consider myself to be an expert in the slightest when it comes to the game, hell I basically learned on the fly when I first started playing, and it took me a freakin’ year to even remotely dive into how to upgrade one’s gear and improve one’s ship, so what the heck would I know about helping others who are just starting out in this game?
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But I digress, because everyone has their specialty, and any advice one can offer in a game this sweeping is never a bad thing, and as it turns out, I do have my own niche in this game, and that would be starship combat. Because I really do enjoy the finer points of battling it out with other starships, and while the Galactica may sometimes have a sickbay full of officers when a battle is done, and while I may not have the kinds of weapons that rip an opponent to shreds in a matter of seconds (seriously though, what’s the fun in that?), she gets the job done time and time again, and I am proud to say I rarely lose when I go toe to toe with a battleship or a group of ships and that’s thanks in large part to my weapons and shields loadout.

So, that’s the kind of advice I’m going to offer up today, starting with what kind of shields are worth your while. Now in STO, there are basically four types of shields to choose from. There’s the standard shield array, which is what comes with any vessel in Starfleet, but one can switch it up to either Covariant Shields, Regenerative or Resilient emitters as the game rolls on and really, I cannot say that there is a ‘best one’ since they all bring something special to the table. Covariant for example, can handle the most damage before starting to buckle, but their regeneration rate takes forever, and Regenerative shields definitely bounce back quickly but don’t have the strength of some of their counterparts. So, if your ship has a great hull rating and you’re okay with it taking a beating, Covariant might come in handy, since it will delay hull damage for a bit, and if you’re flying something small and powerful, Regenerative might be the way to go since that can allow for you to hit and run and take minimal damage.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the Resilient shield series, and that’s what I have loaded up on the Galactica, simply because this particular shield only allows for a 5% damage bleedthrough when it takes a hit, as opposed to the standard 10% and that comes in super handy during combat, since you are taking a little less damage and that’s critical in the middle of a big fight because a little bit of shields can be what keeps your ship in one piece. Case and point, the other day I was wrapping up an Endeavor Mission that required me to drop 30 Voth ships and well, since I was playing in the middle of the day, when no one is on, I had to take on a dozen frigates and cruisers by myself, and while I took a beating, I pulled it off, because those shields held, with a little help from my chief engineer of course. And, those shields helped keep me in the fight during the new Peril Over Pahvo TFO (pictured above) since they held long enough to get me through an initial wave of Klingon ships.

But, while shields are important, what you hit your enemy with is equally as important because who cares about shields if you cannot do damage on your own and well, this is definitely a tough decision for any player, because let’s be honest, there are a billion energy weapons to choose from in this game. So, we won’t go over every single one because no one has that kind of time, but I will offer up some advice on what to look for energy weapons wise and basically, keep a close eye on what kind of damage these weapons inflict, and go with the strongest. As to whether or not it should be beam or pulse or anything in between, well that is up to you. Because beam weapons, while effective, take a little longer to damage an enemy whereas say, a Mark VX pulse phaser system would punish shields. Personally, I prefer beam because they allow for better coverage and versatility, and they definitely punish shields and hulls when you master how to use them during combat, and they absolutely serve as a wonderful setup to a torpedo finishing move.

Speaking of torpedoes, those are also essential to combat since they do the most kinetic damage when it comes to ship to ship combat and really, the two most powerful ones that I’ve seen are Quantum Torpedoes and Plasma Torpedoes. Tri Cobalt seems to do some serious damage as well, but personally, I’m not a fan of how long they take to deploy. So, I tend to stick with the Quantum variety since they load quickly and do some serious damage when a ship’s shields are down and when used in combination with the Anti Proton beams the Galactica is equipped with, I’ve seen ships blow to pieces before they get within five kilometers of my vessel. If anything, the key here, is to have fun with the weapons present in the game since you’ll get your hands on just about all of them as you traverse the stars. So, try them out, see what you think, and if you don’t like them, no worries, just change your loadout and sell them on the marketplace and really, I hope this offers some kind of help to those of you starting out, or offers new insight to veterans who haven’t dug in yet and now that we’ve talked about weapons, we will move onto ships come next week. Until then. 

It’s funny how sometimes a single moment can suddenly remind you of the bigger picture, and while that’s a broad and philosophical statement that tends to apply to greater concepts in life, it’s something that also has weight when it comes to video games. Because from time to time, a single moment in a grand and sweeping game can remind you that you’re part of something bigger, like say a United Federation of Planets if you will, and that hint should clue you into the fact that I had that exact epiphany the other day while I was playing Star Trek Online and this lovely moment came about in the most unexpected way imaginable.
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Because the particular run I was on seemed pretty run of the mill by my standards. I was doing my standard patrol route, picking up dilithium and energy credits as I went along and as the Galactica was making its way toward the final stops on my route, I noticed a Deep Space Encounter had just popped up and felt the need to join it and well, that’s when that moment arrived. Because I warped into this combat zone with a junior player, one who was clearly a Lieutenant Commander since they were flying a Constitution Class starship and well, they clearly needed a hand with combat, so I handled the tough stuff while they held their own and while that sounds pretty innocuous, what happened after these Klingon Rebels were defeated is what gave me pause.

Because this junior officer shot me a message, letting me know they thought my weapons load-out was pretty cool, and I thanked them and offered up some tips and that’s when the solid reminder hit me. Every single warp signature I see in this game, and every ship I encounter has a person sitting in the captain’s chair, and while that seems silly to realize now, let’s be honest, we all get lost in our games and our own personal adventures sometimes, and we forget about the vast community we are a part of. And well, getting the opportunity to play Admiral in a unique way made me realize, that now is as good a time as any to give back to the community and digital galaxy that’s been so good to me, by offering up some tips to players who are starting out or looking to enhance their experience, so let’s kick off this Star Trek themed improvement blog with a quick look at how to get the most out of your Starfleet vessel.

Now obviously, the easiest way to get a stronger ship with better weapons and gear, is to level up, er…get promoted, because every new rank brings forth new ships with better goodies beneath their digital hood. But there will come a point when your toys will no longer improve upon their own, which is about the time you hit level 50. Because at that point, Mark XII is the game provided cap out point, which means if you want more oomph to your phaser banks, and torpedoes that collapse shields, it’s up to you to upgrade everything to Mark XV, and that means, you need to buckle up and prepare for some serious work because you’re going to need a lot of energy credits and dilithium and thankfully, the game has ways of providing you with what you need.

Because patrols are a wonderful way to earn both dilithium and energy credits, because combat yields items that you can sell on the marketplace, which will allow you to buy tech upgrades and the more you gather up of those, and the more dilithium you have, the faster you bring your gear to an elite level and honestly, since I started a couple of years ago, that’s how I ground it out. With days upon days of patrols and long hours of combat to get what I needed, but thankfully, there are wonderful new options for players looking to soup up their ships. For the Endeavor System offers up untold riches when it comes to energy credits and at times, some ridiculous dilithium hauls, to the point where I’ve actually received more of that precious crystal than I can refine in a single day and working that system, alongside the tips I just offered should help any player beef up their vessel.

But that begs a bigger question, what exactly should you be filling your ship up with? Well, that’s entirely up to the player. Me personally, I wanted the Galactica to be a predator, so I armed her with Anti-Proton Beams all around and Quantum Torpedoes and my console load-outs are filled with items that help to keep the shields and the hull stronger than usual, and they also add a boost to the weapons systems and really, that’s the beauty of this game. You can truly make the ship your own and enjoy a variety of load-outs and gear, so toy with what intrigues you and stick what works for you in combat because there’s no wrong way to arm a ship, what matters more is that your vessel and your crew make it back to Earth Spacedock in one piece.

However, while all that may sound daunting and exhausting since that’s quite the list for how to level your ship up, don’t forget to have fun while you do this, and remember that every mission you take on reflects your rank difficulty wise. So if you’re not ready to traverse the galaxy and battle flotillas of ships, just have fun with the stories, and let the mission tree guide you to new gear and new ships and new weapons, just make sure you study your new load-outs to start getting an idea for the future when you’re ready for the grind and well, that’s really all I have for you today when it comes to building a better vessel, and I’ll continue to try to offer up some useful tips for my fellow officers as we all patiently await the new story arc, ‘Rise of Discovery’. Until next time. 

The longer I’ve played the wondrous MMO/RPG that is Star Trek Online, the more I’ve heard a particular word associated with it, and any other game in that vein and that word is; grind. Because there seems to be quite the consensus that these games will wear you down the more that you dig into them, and for the first time ever, I honestly was wondering if there was truth and gravity to this particular word since the new Personal Endeavor System seemingly would add a heck of a workload to my nerdy Admiral’s plate. Because every single day would bring a variety of new missions, and there was a remote chance that it could potentially overwhelm me or worse, outright bore me.
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But, instead, I’ve come to realize, that the PES has done the opposite of my concerns. Rather than making me feel as though I’ve got impossible tasks in front of me or making me think I can find other and better ways to fill my time, I’m straight up addicted to the proverbial ‘grind’. I honestly cannot wait to log on and see what tasks await me, and if I’m not interested in them well, I feel the need to head out on patrol instead and get a little combat practice in, because who doesn’t like dominating a fight or taking on a flotilla of ships with Anti-Proton beams blazing? But the wonder of the grind goes far beyond merely getting the opportunity to just blow stuff up, this new Personal Endeavor is finding new ways to challenge me.

Because those goals quickly get under your skin. Sure, at first blasting down thirty Borg ships sounds like a daunting task, until you’re in the thick of a Borg themed TFO, and you’ve suddenly brought down twenty and just like that, you’re outright determined to finish the job and achieve that respective goal and by ‘you’, I mean me, because that’s precisely what I was working on right before writing this article, and there was no way in hell that I was going to miss a goal when a few more minutes of play would finish the job. And what’s equally more impressive about this system, is that it goes beyond a mere psychological game of ‘challenge accepted’, I’m also discovering that the Personal Endeavor System motivates you think to outside of the box.

Because now, I ponder upon how to properly prioritize my missions in order to maximize my time and to get a better idea of how I pull that off, let’s examine how I handled the Endeavor set of missions that the game laid out for me before I started jotting down this blog. For I was supposed to defeat 10 Commanders or Captains, drop 5 Tzenkethi ships, deal 10,000 in Phaser damage and destroy the aforementioned 30 Borg ships and I was able to pull most of that off by technically making two trips on the map. A quick jaunt to New Romulus and its combat laden Mountain Pass helped me bring down the commanders in question, while also handling the Phaser goal with ease, and a hop, skip and a jump to the ‘northwest’ corner of the Alpha Quadrant allowed for the Tzenkethi to feel my wrath and since TFO’s can be entered from anywhere in space, two Borg missions helped handle that goal for me and just like that, the list was clear and I was able to Transwarp back to Earth Spacedock for a cup of joe while I poured over my rewards for an hour’s work.

But the bottom line, is that I am loving the game like never before. I can’t get enough of these challenges, and it’s fun to either pick and choose a quick mission to go on or settle in to finish the whole lot and well, I may legitimately have a problem at this point. Because as soon as I’m done with my daily life stuffs, I’m logging on to take the Galactica out for another spin. Which means at this point, the only thing that can likely break me away are new missions, but ‘Rise of Discovery’ won’t be here for some time, which means…it’s back to the most wonderful grind ever, to stock up on riches untold since this system hands out credits and crystals like they’re candy and well, I simply couldn’t be happier to have a new system in the game that is keeping everything fresh and fun and on that note, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear my Xbox calling, so…I’m off to the bridge to see what’s out there. Until next time. 

​Video game sequels often times have it easy. With advanced graphics over their predecessors, along with new features and fun additions to an old formula, it's easy for these types of games to succeed and satisfy fans everywhere in the process. But sometimes, the company behind the game feels the need to challenge their audience a little bit more.

From time to time a powerful and intricate story is introduced that sets up a grand and sweeping epic. The kind where plot threads need to be resolved, or old scores need to be settled and then the powers that be are faced with quite a challenge. Not only do they have to deliver a far more advanced game than the original, but one that manages to tie everything together neatly and satisfy the audience, as was attempted with Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. 

Those who played the original were treated to an incredible gaming experience where the city of Sin was under siege from a terrorist attack, eventually revealing the fact that (SPOILERS) one of their own team was behind it all in an effort to bring down Rainbow in epic fashion. How or why, we didn't quite know, that was to be saved for the sequel and in the story department, Vegas 2 absolutely delivers. In fact, this game serves as both prequel and sequel story wise, taking us deep into the motivations of our traitor Gabriel Nowak to better understand his wild actions, but alas the glamour and glitz of the game ends there.

While the graphics have definitely improved a great deal in this sequel, and while it's awesome to battle it out in parts of Las Vegas that are rarely covered when it comes to this city, the gameplay is merely okay at best. Some of the new A.I. advancements for your teammates don't quite work as they are supposed to, leaving you high and dry during an attack and at times the levels simply drag on for too long and one can feel a touch bored staying in the same location, simply waiting for the next wave of bad guys to arrive so you can mow them down with impunity.  

If anything, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is an imperfect follow up at best. While it is strong in its storytelling, it lacks greatly in the gameplay department and that's just a shame. Because the original was a powerhouse adventure that kept the action flowing and its ability to surprise you with its visuals and its gameplay allowed for it stand out on its own. Sadly, there's little of that to be found here and really, the sole reason to play this one is to see the story through to its completion. Don't get me wrong, it's not a terrible game, it's just missing the awe and wonder of the first...but it is nice to get some answers, and battle it out in Vegas, one last time...