Massively has put out another weekly Q&A for Star Trek Online and Week Two’s subject is Space Combat and I have a feeling this is the subject everyone has been waiting for, me included. Answers were given by Al Revera, senior game designer on Star Trek Online
The first thing that caught my eye was from the Question :
Drexel-: How will the use of our weapon systems and abilities be limited during combat?
In the answer Al mentions 4 possible weapons slots
- Beam arrays
- Cannons
- Torpedos
- Mines
This is the first mention of Mines which is good but there is nothing about Drones or Drone Racks and these are very effective in keeping an enemy at a distance if you’re trying to make an escape or trying to drain their weapons power I’m keeping my fingers crossed it comes up later like when I mentioned Shuttles and Boarding Parties and the nest day what does Ship Tactics Part II show use, that very subject. Cool Down Rates along with Limited Power will insure you have to think about what you’re doing and not just blast away like some crazed Khan
I like Al’s Answer the Fanboy’s question :
FanBoy: What will happen when you “die”?
In the answer Al shows some humor to a very serious question that every gamer, especially in MMO’s needs to know. What is the penalty for death? there is a five balance between being a good death and a throw your arms up in the air and walk away death. If it is to high then the player will get frustrated and lose interest in the game if it’s to light then this encourages reckless play and other players get pissed off, Games these days have gotten a lot more forgiving on the death penalty, partly because we do so much of it and mainly because only the hardcore players would put up with the great loss of time invested with a high penalty. That is a sure way to lose your subscriber base
Al’s answer to Grandpotato’s question is not exactly an answer
GrandPotato, eddie: Will there be boarding parties? If so, can you capture vessels, or does that just disable them or something?
We know there will be Boarding Parties but will they be able to take control of an opponents ship before he can Self Destruct. My answer would be NO. How would you feel it someone boarded your ship and took it from you after you’ve spent 10′s maybe 100′s of hours building it up. I would not be pleased and probably quit right there and if I did not quit I sure wouldn’t get into any fights unless I knew for sure 100% I was going to win. That being said PvE would be different…..?
There also a good question on Science ships and how they affect other ships. you can read the full Q$A at Massively and stay tuned for the third round of Q%A sometime in the near future I’m not even sure what the subject will be maybe Ground Combat if you have any ideas let them know
