Season 6 Dev Blog #31
By PWE_BranFlakes @ October 9, 2012 at 11:00am
1000-Day Veteran Rewards
Regenerative Mode
Since Star Trek Online launched in February 2010, we have thanked our loyal subscribers and lifetime members through the Veteran’s Rewards program. We know you have many options in choosing where to spend your time, so it means so much to us that you choose to spend it here.
Starting tomorrow, October 10th, our first set of players will be reaching the 1000-day mark and are going to receive some awesome rewards:
Exclusive Veteran Starships
Chimera Heavy Destroyer
Sector Space Mode
Starfleet Corps of Engineers (SCE) has been working on a special new destroyer class starship, designed for high-level combat situations. The project was so secret that access to the Utopia Planitia shipyard was restricted for months while the project was completed. Now, Starfleet Command decided to offer the ships to its most experienced captains.
As a 1000-day Veteran, Starfleet has granted you command of this unique new starship — the Prototype Heavy Destroyer: Chimera Class.
The Chimera Heavy Destroyer is similar to an Escort, but has many qualities of Light Cruisers and Science Vessels. While in its innate Regenerative Mode, excess power is transferred to the Auxiliary System and you gain a bonus to Starship Shield Systems. It comes equipped with a prototype Dynamic Tactical System console (or DTS). This console allows you to transform your ship between Regenerative Mode and Tactical Mode. In Regenerative Mode, your Tachyon Inversion Beam is enabled, which can siphon shields from multiple targets. Activating Tactical Mode transfers power to your Weapon Systems, and increases your ships Starship Targeting Systems skill, granting an Accuracy bonus. In Tactical Mode, the DTS console enables a powerful multi-targeting Lotus, which is capable of piercing multiple targets. However, while in Tactical Mode, your Starship Shield Systems bonus, Auxiliary Power bonus and Tachyon Inversion Beam are disabled.
Tactical Mode
If eligible, this ship can be claimed from ‘Starship and Shuttle Requisitions’ at a shipyard. If you discharge this ship, speak to the ‘Starship and Shuttle Requisitions’ contact to receive another token to re-claim it.
(The Chimera Heavy Destroyer’s design was based off one of the ‘Design the Next Enterprise’ entries. Check out a note from the original designer below.)
Tactical Mode, Phaser Lotus
- Faction: Federation
- Minimum Rank: Vice Admiral
- Hull Strength: 34,500
- Shield Modifier: 0.9
- Crew: 750
- Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
- Device Slots: 3
- Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science, 1 Universal Ensign, 1 Universal Lieutenant Commander
- Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 2 Science
- Base Turn Rate: 14 degrees per second
- Impulse Modifier: 0.22
- Can equip Cannons
- Regenerative Mode (Innate): +5 Auxiliary Power, +30 Starship Shield Systems
- Console – Universal – Dynamic Tactical System: Tactical Mode (Disables Regenerative Mode, +5 Weapon power, +30 Starship Targeting Systems), Tachyon Inversion Beam (Requires Regenerative Mode), Phaser Lotus (Requires Tactical Mode)
- Advanced Quantum Slipstream Drive
Regenerative Mode, Tachyon Inversion Beam
Peghqu' Heavy Destroyer
Sector Space Mode
The SCE is not the only elite group working on new starships. An engineering team at the Empire Shipyards have designed a heavy ship with increased maneuverability that is nimble enough to outmaneuver a cruiser but strong enough to take a barrage from an escort. Only experienced ship commanders with the backing of the High Council will have the chance to fly this ship.
As a 1000-day Veteran, the Klingon Defense Force has granted you command of this unique new starship — the Prototype Heavy Destroyer: Peghqu' Class.
The Peghqu' Heavy Destroyer is similar to a Raptor, but it is much more versatile. While in its innate Regenerative Mode, excess power is transferred to the Auxiliary System and you gain a bonus to Starship Shield Systems. It comes equipped with a prototype Dynamic Tactical System console (or DTS). This console allows you to transform your ship between Regenerative Mode and Tactical Mode. In Regenerative Mode, your Tachyon Inversion Beam is enabled, which can siphon shields from multiple targets. Activating Tactical Mode transfers power to your Weapon Systems, and increases your ships Starship Targeting Systems skill, granting an Accuracy bonus. In Tactical Mode, the DTS console enables a powerful multi-targeting Lotus, which is capable of piercing multiple targets. However, while in Tactical Mode, your Starship Shield Systems bonus, Auxiliary Power bonus and Tachyon Inversion Beam are disabled.
Tactical Mode
If eligible, this ship can be claimed from ‘Starship and Shuttle Requisitions’ at a shipyard. If you discharge this ship, speak to the ‘Starship and Shuttle Requisitions’ contact to receive another token to re-claim it.
Tactical Mode, Disruptor Lotus
- Faction: Klingon
- Minimum Rank: Lieutenant General
- Hull Strength: 34,500
- Shield Modifier: 0.833
- Crew: 750
- Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
- Device Slots: 3
- Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science, 1 Universal Ensign, 1 Universal Lieutenant Commander
- Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 2 Science
- Base Turn Rate: 14 degrees per second
- Impulse Modifier: 0.22
- Can equip Cannons
- Regenerative Mode (Innate): +5 Auxiliary Power, +30 Starship Shield Systems
- Console – Universal – Dynamic Tactical System: Tactical Mode (Disables Regenerative Mode, +5 Weapon power, +30 Starship Targeting Systems), Tachyon Inversion Beam (Requires Regenerative Mode), Disruptor Lotus (Requires Tactical Mode)
- Advanced Quantum Slipstream Drive
- Battle Cloak
Regenerative Mode, Tachyon Inversion Beam
NOTE: The above stats for both ships are subject to change.
Other Rewards
Starfleet Veteran (Fed) and Empire Veteran (KDF) Title
This in-game title can be set through the Character Status screen. If you have the default keybinds set, press “U” to bring up this menu. From there, double-check that your character is chosen from the left column, and then click the “Edit Record” button towards the bottom to change your title.
FREE Starship Slot
Your Federation and Klingon characters will gain access to an extra starship slot. Visit a shipyard and speak to the “Select Your Ship” contact to see your available slots.
Exclusive Forum Titles
Two new titles are available to 1000-Day Veterans: Starfleet Veteran and Empire Veteran. Forum titles can be set through the “Edit your Avatar” section of the forums when signed in, towards the top-left. To set the title of your choice, scroll down below the default selection of avatars to see the titles available to you, choose the radio button next to the one you’d like to display, and click “Submit Title” to confirm.
A Note from the Original Designer of the Chimera Heavy Destroyer
I’ve been a huge Star Trek fan ever since I was a kid and I started designing my own Trek ships about the time I first discovered crayons, so when I heard Cryptic Studios was holding a contest to design the next starship Enterprise for Star Trek Online, I couldn’t break out my digital tablet fast enough. I’ve been working hard for the last couple of years to improve my skills as a digital artist with the hope of one day breaking into the industry, and this was too good an opportunity to pass up, in addition to being a Trek fan’s labor of love.
I started sketching concepts and zeroed in on my final design very quickly. I’d been tinkering with the basic look for several years, an elongated primary hull with a set of compact but powerful looking warp nacelles. I didn’t give much thought at the time to conventional expectations of what a ship named Enterprise should look like. It had to belong in the Trek universe and match with the STO aesthetic but I didn’t want to simply reinvent the wheel, I wanted something that would set itself apart from its predecessors and from the field of competition for the contest. One of the ways I chose to do that, perhaps unwisely in retrospect, was to go with four nacelles. Normally this is one of the surest ways to turn your design into a fanboy monstrosity but I took it as a challenge to find a way to make it work and make it look cool. It was probably the wrong choice for a new Enterprise, as reflected in the outcome of the contest, but I think it succeeded on its own merits and may have paid off in the end.
So now, a year and a half later, my ship has made it into the game after all, not as the Enterprise but as an all-new ship sub-type called the Chimera class, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I’m frankly amazed at how faithfully they reproduced my original design while managing to make it even more badass with two alternate configuration modes. The Cryptic design team really took it to the next level, doubling down on unusual elements like the quad nacelles and the stacked primary hull to create something even more unique and dynamically awesome. This ship is definitely going to stand out and I can hardly wait to see how the game community reacts to it.
Speaking as an artist and a Trek fan, contest prizes are all well and good, but seeing your hard work realized in such a satisfying way is the best reward by far. I want to thank the people at Cryptic Studios for bringing this little piece of my imagination to life and I hope everyone has a lot of fun with it.
Jason “Vektor” Lee
www.vektorvisual.com
———-
Again, thank you to all of our longtime Veterans, and we’ll see you in-game!
goolash761 @ Mar 29th, 2013 10:00PM
An awesome looking and performing ship. The -only- thing I would change is the main deflector. I happen to be a fan of the P-47 thunderbolt, however, with no option to add shark teeth to the paint job, the oversized deflector just seems a bit awkward. I think a more Excelsior-style dish, or perhaps something like the Enterprise-E or -F would flow better with the rest of the design.
adamma1701 @ Feb 5th, 2013 6:01PM
These ships are freaking awesome!
hitjake13 @ Nov 21st, 2012 5:26PM
where can we can buy it ???
bugspatteredjack @ Nov 21st, 2012 2:52PM
I am not a 'gamer' by definition but having grown up on Star Trek as a kid and having seen each and every movie ever made in theaters I found myself enamored with Star Trek: Starfleet Command and subsequent versions of this game. I was just saying not so long ago how I wished there was an ST game that gave you the feeling of never ending play and exploration; so when I found Star Trek online I was genuinely surprised and amazed; not least of all because it was F2P but because of the sheer quality of the game itself!! I decided to go gold when I made it to Vice Admiral and have just started a Klingon character. The fact that it is free to play still amazes me considering I spent around $75.00 for the above mentioned game when they came out in the 1990's....and computers may as well have been cinder blocks with a telephone jack hooked up to it back then! The point I am trying to make is that I agree with the many people who have pointed out how wrong it is for F2P to complain at all. It's a gimme gimme society we live in now and its disgusting frankly. I decided to go gold and plan to go Lifer when I can afford to because its the least I can do to help support not only the people responsible for developing and up-grading this game on a continuous basis but most importantly, because as one member pointed out there is nothing else for Star Trek fans of this nature that is truly interactive and plants you squarely in the captain's seat. Not everyone is going to be 100% happy with any given product but given the exceptional quality of this game and the fact that fans themselves are being given an opportunity to design a starship for the game, what more could you possibly ask for?!? Frankly, if you think you can do better than go ahead and make your own game. A special congrats to Jason Lee for having his work published in such a unique way... and to cryptic for allowing us all to live in the Trek universe if even to the detriment of our day to day responsibilities! ;-) For the first time in years I feel like a kid again and this time I don't have to be disappointed with the inevitable end is nigh routine as this game just keeps on boldly going where no one has gone before.... (eck, corny, I know...but appropriate nevertheless).
crazycanadian24 @ Oct 19th, 2012 6:50PM
$200 just for a ship? At that price, PW can blow it out their ass for all I care. I'd rather give them my index finger.
stomperx99
Ima planing on buying it. (I hope)
johnacher @ Oct 18th, 2012 1:10PM
great looking ship but i would like to know why the console is a Universal but cant go on any other ships be would be nice to be able to say put that console on my interpid refit
araknix1
Would you plug your toaster into the kitchen faucet? its basically the same thing. The console isnt designed for other ships therefore it wouldnt work.
asardetemplari
You mean you aren't supposed to plug your toaster up to that? No wonder why I can't get it to work!
lordgabe @ Oct 13th, 2012 9:19PM
Love the ships will get time to play around with them soon, but am a little sad that after a thousand days of play a ship i had to 'earn the hard way' now is free to anyone who wants to pay for a lifetime sub. 1000 days of loyaly vs a quick buck seems a little dumb but I guess the excuse is you can't just make a ship to exclusive but never mind thank anyhow i'll enjoy in none the less.
shrapne11 @ Oct 13th, 2012 9:38AM
Holy cow! Finally a good veteran reward!
stomperx99
i hate you XD
badgerpants999 @ Oct 12th, 2012 5:17AM
I have to say I'm loving these ships. The ships are wonderfull to use! such a surprize to find a good tactical ship from the cruiser loving dev's! Thankyou!
stargazerjmb @ Oct 11th, 2012 11:22AM
The ships looks great, however I agree with what others have said. If anyone can buy a 1000 day reward then there really is no point to it all. Complete fail. As much as this game improving in some area I find the total lack of respect for long term subscribers to be driving me away.
araknix1
AKA we'll find something to complain about no matter what you do.
chelmsford123 @ Oct 11th, 2012 12:13AM
Looks quite good. Having 3 fed and 2 kdf it will be interesting to see how each plays. Just a shame that my sub lapsed twice without me being notified and I have to wait another month to get them - if only I had £200 lying around. And 1000 days being such a landmark, would have liked to see some other rewards in there too, but I guess they are holding them back for 1100, 1500 etc.
anoid2 @ Oct 10th, 2012 10:30PM
All I have to say is "meh" a $200.00 ship I had to pay $250.00 for a thousand days ago.
amishrevolution @ Oct 10th, 2012 8:00PM
I really do like the ship design but I was slightly disappointed in that there is no unique interior and that it isn't really a 1000 day vet reward if anyone can buy a lifetime sub and have access to it instantly, with no waiting. Minor complaints but still valid as I purchased my LTS at release and now anyone can buy an LTS and have everything I had to wait for three years for instantly. I do realize that is something a lot of people have asked for since release though using the 1000 day vet reward as a marketing ploy could have waited a few months for those of us who actually had to wait to have something unique for a while.
bludagger
well *shrug* I do not know what to tell you neighbor other then to point out that 1. You expect them to care? Because 2. they already have your LTS money, so going back over history speaks for itself. I do not have to point it out, just go look for yourself. It is quite clear and speaks volumes
panicswitched
Well from the lifetime sub you got a full 1000 days of play even when the game cost money monthly. Now you get a monthly stipend (which you have been accruing for a while). So for day 1 folk, the sub has paid itself off on just monthly fees and other things provided.
xastirx @ Oct 10th, 2012 7:21PM
OH how i wish my job paid me well enough i could spare the money for life time status...
dharmalogic @ Oct 10th, 2012 6:05PM
I have to agree with others in this thread- it's not that the ship doesn't look great and all, and appreciating your long time customers is a great business ethic. But a tac ship? Reports coming in from all kinds of players that it really doesn't work for sci, and is partially effective for Eng. Why not make all the consoles universal? It is after all a special ship, and a special reward. If it's a universal ship, then all players can enjoy it. Right now it feels like all your saying is: If you're tac, here's your reward, the rest of you don't matter.
brackynews
Anyone who believes those 5 measly space abilities override the kind of ship you can successfully fly, is min/maxing the fun right out of their game. STO isn't that. And for the other point, if you've been playing for 1000 days and haven't made one Tactical captain, what are you even doing? You want all your toons to get their own reward? What if you have three of each in each faction... you want six new ships, or eighteen? C'mon. :/
luxandra
If you can't manage to figure out how to fly that ship as an engineer or science captain considering the LTC and Ensign universal BO stations then it's not an issue of the ship not being designed correctly for all three careers. The failing lies with the player itself. I can easily off the top of my head figure out multiple builds for that ship for each engineering tactical and science. It's not hard to do if you know what would be effective for what you can have access to. So I will simply say to you that your opinion while understood is flawed. That ship has a tactical orientation for the console layout and the commander Tacticla sure, but that doesn't mean you can't make it a viable sciene or engineering style ship when you have a LTC and Ensign station. Use your brain a little bit and you can easily figure out a decent build that would work.
dharmalogic
Neither of you seem to get my point. Further your hostility and close-minded attitude is a disservice to yourself and others. I'm not asking for multiple ships, and I'm not saying I can't see how Sci and Eng can, with sacrifice, use the vessel. I'm saying the ship has two versatile modes, is a reward to all long term players, and thus should be totally usable by all players. Having all the bridge officer stations be universal will not compromise your tac builds, it will allow ALL players to use ALL of their abilities while commanding the ship. Universal stations will not make the ship unfairly powerful, or tip the balance in any way. Both of your aggressive responses are indicative of reactionary thinking, rather then objective conceptualization. My opinion is not flawed simply because you do not share it. I don't expect Cryptic to just agree with me because I'm expressing it.
dgwynne2611 @ Oct 10th, 2012 5:23PM
Really great reward, and what a fantastic way to recognize an artist!
allarian210 @ Oct 10th, 2012 2:53PM
LOVE THESE SHIPS!!!! 'Nough said. . .
allarian210
well, I would like a fleet varient too, but these ships totally rock!
flyingdiesel @ Oct 10th, 2012 2:40PM
Just saw this ship in combat at Mirror Universe. Very nice!!
garr1976 @ Oct 10th, 2012 1:35PM
So looking forward to using this ship.
michaelsdst @ Oct 10th, 2012 12:54PM
Great news! While the ship won't be my favourite I am happy to have any options available.
michaelsdst
Oh, and still would like to have a playable Typhoon :)
skyecolyo @ Oct 10th, 2012 12:36PM
are you serious? non veterans will never get to use these awesome ships? what the heck is even the point of being a non subscribing cstore player?
lordmogra
Some people play games because they enjoy them. Others complain that the person who pays more money gets better things.
stomperx99 @ Oct 10th, 2012 11:41AM
im never going to get a chimera :'(
eristhevorta @ Oct 10th, 2012 11:40AM
Hopefully we're gunna see a fleet variant of those ships with a 10th cunsole slut and 10% extra shields (0.99 for feds, 0.92 for KDF - with battle cloak). I would pay 8 fleet ship modules for that on the Klingun side. :)
teuck @ Oct 10th, 2012 10:53AM
Both these ships are truly awesome thnx very much everyone involved in this,especially JVL,great work!!
azurianstar @ Oct 10th, 2012 10:34AM
Good Ship and like the BOFF slots can either give you a true Escort or more of a Tactical Cruiser. Don't like the Klingon Ship design (its pretty bad) and the Bass Mouth on the Chimera is just ridiculously large.
bludagger
yeah yeah, not yours is it? you would think you get over that already... you could learn from his example. Myself I think it is a great vision that got the recognition it deserved.
shpoks
I guess once again beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For me, the Peghqu' is the 3rd in the line of fantastic KDF designs I've seen in a period of a month, following the Korath and Krenn. Still holding the Bortasqu' as my No.1 ship design though ;)
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