Age of Discovery is a series of content updates in 2018 and 2019 focusing on Star Trek: Discovery content. It was released in three parts, each analogous but not marketed as Seasons.
Part 1 (Age of Discovery)
Part 1, Age of Discovery was released on October 9, 2018 for PC and set to release in November 13, 2018 for Consoles. The release included content from Star Trek: Discovery, as well as improvements on the New Player Experience and streamlining of several game systems.
Discovery Starting Experience
A new Discovery-era Starfleet faction was introduced, including a new tutorial, featuring Sylvia Tilly, set in 2256. Like the TOS Starfleet faction, this faction merged with the 25th century Starfleet faction after its period arc (which can also be played by other factions as a simulation).
Reputation Changes
With Age of Discovery, the reputation system was expanded to include an extra tier[1] which included;
- Improved Effectiveness of Reputation Traits
- Improved Set Weapon Damage
- Cosmetic Social Zone Ability
Alongside additional projects upon hitting Tier 6 for the following:
- Account Wide Discount for Reputation Gear Projects
- Alternate Energy Types for Set Weapons (for example, a Phaser variant of the Terran Task Force Beam Array)
- Alternate Vanity Shield Visuals
- A Fleet Ship Module and Respec Token per reputation complete
In addition, upon hitting Tier V in a reputation it now sponsored that reputation for the entire account - replacing the previous Reputation Sponsorship system.
Task Force Operations
The moniker of “queue” was been retired for both PvE and PvP experiences. Instead, they are were rebranded “Task Force Operations”[2] (Task Force Ops, or TFOs).
With this change, a new feature to TFOs was added: Random Task Force Operations. Entering into a Random Task Force Operation is as easy as clicking a single button, located prominently within the PvE Group Content interface. Options exist to opt into Normal Difficulty or Advanced Difficulty content, allowing players some customization for the type of group content they want to opt into experiencing.
Players may participate in Random TFOs without any cooldown or lockout period, immediately re-entering a new one after the previous TFO is completed. Completing a TFO via the Random system granted bonus rewards, in addition to whatever the TFO itself rewards for completion. These rewards are granted immediately upon success, and there is no limit to the number of times that a player can receive them.
There was also a new Cross-Faction Task Force Operation releasing with Season 15:
New Episodes
Mission Journal Streamlining
The story progression was changed slightly[6], with some missions being polished, some being removed until they're polished, some arcs being changed into side content, and the addition of wrapper missions for several groups of queues.
Updated missions:
Removed missions:
- “Hide and Seek”
- “Stop the Signal”
- “The Kuvah'Magh”
- “Treasure Trading Station”
- “Task Force Hippocrates”
- “The Ultimate Klingon”
- “City on the Edge of Never”
- “Past Imperfect”
The arcs turned into side-content are:
Some of the new wrapper missions include:
- “Task Force Operations: Age of Discovery”
- “Task Force Operations: Romulan Imperial Minefield”
- “Task Force Operations: Romulan Mystery”
- “Task Force Operations: Cardassian Struggle”
- “Task Force Operations: Borg Advance”
- “Task Force Operations: New Romulus”
- “Task Force Operations: Solanae Dyson Sphere”
- “Task Force Operations: Delta Quadrant”
New Ships
- Malachowski Light Cruiser (T1)
- C-Store
- Prototype Light Exploration Cruiser (T4, Walker-class)
- Europa Heavy Battlecruiser (T6)
- Infinity Lock Box
- Mirror Escort Carrier (T6, Engle-class)
- Promotion! - Research & Development Pack
- Q's Winter Wonderland 2018
- Swarm Lock Box
Part 2 (Mirror of Discovery)
Part 2, titled Mirror of Discovery, released alongside the 9th Anniversary on 23 January 2019 on PC, and 5 March 2019 for consoles. It focuses on Discovery content from the Mirror universe.
Personal Endeavors
Personal Endeavors is a new system that allows you to unlock Account-wide stat bonuses by completing daily challenges.
New Episodes
New Task Force Operations
- Featured Task Force Operations
- “Pahvo Dissension” (February 21, 2019)
- “Peril Over Pahvo” (March 21, 2019)
- “Operation Riposte” (April 18, 2019)
New Ships
- 9 Year Anniversary Event
- Discovery Operations Pack
- Emperor's Lock Box
- Infinity Lock Box
- Lobi Crystal Consortium
- Tholian Iktomi (T6)
- Promotion! - Research & Development Pack
- Cross Faction Command Dreadnought Cruiser Bundle
Part 3 (Rise of Discovery)
The final part, titled Rise of Discovery was released on May 14, 2019 on PC, and in June 25, 2019 for consoles.
Tier 6 Level Scaling Ships
- All Tier 6 Ships will become "scaling starships" similar to, for example, the Styx Terran Dreadnought Cruiser.
New Episodes
Two new episodes involving the crew and fate of the U.S.S. Buran, featuring the voice talent of Rekha Sharma and Jason Isaacs as Ellen Landry and Gabriel Lorca.
Discovery Legends Reputation
A new reputation available for all factions, the Discovery Legends Expedition seeks to understand the pivotal events of the 2250s and the people those events revolved around. The consequences of this time continue to resonate through the galaxy today, and J’Ula has made it painfully clear that more secrets remain to be found. Separation of fact from myth is necessary. A mix of black market acquisitions, archeological expeditions, and defense industry research, this group seeks to catalogue and remember the facts of our history.
Marks for the reputation come from the returning TFOs Defense of Starbase One, Pahvo Dissension, Peril Over Pahvo, and Operation Riposte. The elite mark for this reputation are P.stellaviatori Spore Canisters, which come from Advanced and Elite versions of these TFOs.
The reputation adds the following new gear:
- Space Set: Stamets-Tilly Field Modifications
- Space Weapon Set: Lorca's Ambition
- Ground Set: Burnham's Resolve
- Ground Kit Modules:
New Ships
- Infinity Lock Box
- Voth Bastille-class Temporal Science Vessel (T6)
- Voth Rampart-class Command Flight-Deck Carrier (T6)
- Lohlunat Festival
- Promotion! - Research & Development Pack
- Section 31 Lock Box
- Temporal Warship Bundle
Notes
- The release of the Personal Endeavor system, a feature of Part 2 on PC, was delayed until after the release of Part 2 on console.
- The Foundry was retired on 11 April 2019, for more information see here.
External Links
- Developer Blog: Star Trek Online: Age of Discovery
- Developer Blog: Discover New Adventures This Fall
- Developer Blog: Welcome to the Age of Discovery
- Developer Blog: Star Trek Online's 2018/2019 Roadmap!
- Star Trek Online Spring and Summer Road Map!
- References:
- ↑ Developer Blog: Ascend to a New Level of Reputation!
- ↑ Developer Blog: Introducing: Random Task Force Operations!
- ↑ Developer Blog: The Defense of Starbase One!
- ↑ Developer Blog: Age of Discovery: Secrets
- ↑ Developer Blog: Age of Discovery: Downfall
- ↑ Developer Blog: Streamlining the Mission Journal
- ↑ Developer Blog: Mirror of Discovery: Para Pacem
- ↑ Developer Blog: Mirror of Discovery: Illusion of Communication
- ↑ Developer Blog: Rise of Discovery: The Plausibility of the Possible
- ↑ Developer Blog: Rise of Discovery: The Impossibility of Reason