RadioActivitii (talk | contribs) (Forgot to add a reason for the earlier change, short version is: This guide has some very wrong information, so I removed it and added a Cleanup template. Will look at it later and fix it up.) |
User-11996984 (talk | contribs) (→Career Paths: Did the edits to clear up space role isnt tied to the career path. also removed unnessecary references to BOff space abilities.) Tag: Visual edit: Switched |
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== Career Paths == |
== Career Paths == |
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| − | In ''Star Trek Online'', there are '''three''' [[career path]]s players can take. They correspond to three main departments in [[Starfleet]]: [[Engineering]], [[Science]] and [[Tactical]]. Career paths in ''Star Trek Online'' are very much like classes in most other [[MMORPG]]s, except that they aren't as restrictive and rigidly defined. |
+ | In ''Star Trek Online'', there are '''three''' [[career path]]s players can take. They correspond to three main departments in [[Starfleet]]: [[Engineering]], [[Science]] and [[Tactical]]. During some missions there will be options that are corresponding to your path. Career paths in ''Star Trek Online'' are very much like classes in most other [[MMORPG]]s, except that they aren't as restrictive and rigidly defined. |
| + | |||
| + | '''A player of any career path can fly any type of starship and equip any [[body armor]] or [[weapon]].''' As a result, the career path choice has much more of an impact on ground while in space, since space combat is predominately defined by the players ship choice. |
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=== Comparison === |
=== Comparison === |
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| − | Each career path has a certain focus and can perform one or more group roles. |
+ | Each career path has a certain focus and can perform one or more group roles. While the space role is mostly tied to the ship, each class has a set of special abilities that slightly move it to one or the other role in combat. |
| − | *'''<span style="color:red">Tactical</span>''' |
+ | *'''<span style="color:red">Tactical</span>''': are most useful in the ''DPS'' (Damage Per Second) or ''[[Damage type|Damage]]'' roles; they do their best work while dealing damage to enemies in [[Ground combat|ground]] and [[space combat]]. |
| + | **'''Space''': Unique tactical abilities ([[Ability: Attack Pattern Alpha|Attack Pattern Alpha]], [[Ability:_Fire_on_my_Mark_(Space)|Fire on my Mark]] and [[Ability:_Tactical_Initiative_(Space)|Tactical Initiative] give them an edge in damage dealing. |
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| + | **'''Ground''' combat, tactical [[kit]]s give powers that allow the player to put out increased damage as well as spike damage (one-time concentrated bursts of firepower), ''AoE'' ([[Area of Effect]]) damage via [[Ability: Photon Grenade|grenades]], and abilities that [[buff|improve]] the damage output and staying power of allies. |
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| + | *'''<span style="color:yellow">Engineers</span>''': |
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| − | *'''<span style="color:yellow">Engineers</span>''' are best suited to the ''Healer'' and ''Tank'' roles. Tanks take the brunt of damage in battle and try to attract all enemies to themselves, while the ''DPS'' or ''[[Damage type|Damage]]'' players do the majority of the actual firing and damage. As healers, [[Engineering|Engineers]] are adept at healing [[hull]] damage, although they also have strong [[Ship Shields|shield]] healing. Their focus is primarily on survivability and resilience in [[space combat]], while supporting their [[Away Team]] in both space and [[ground combat]] with fixed-position automated weaponry, shield and [[Ability: Medical Generator Fabrication|medical generators]], technological [[buff]]s, and other repairs and improvements.<br>In ground combat, engineering [[kit]]s generally involve fabricating [[Ability: Turret Fabrication|turrets]] and [[Ability: Shield Generator Fabrication|shields]], supporting your team with weapon buffs and [[Ability: Seeker Drone Fabrication|seeker]] as well as [[Ability: Support Drone Fabrication|support drones]], and laying [[Ability: Chroniton Mine Barrier|mine barriers]] and [[Ability: Place Transphasic Bomb|bombs]]. |
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| + | **'''Space''': Engineers are slightly better ''Tanks'', due to their special abilities, such as [[Ability:_Rotate_Shield_Frequency|Rotate Shield Frequency] and [[Ability:_Miraculous_Repairs|Miraculous Repairs]]. |
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| + | **'''Ground''': Engineering [[kit]]s generally involve fabricating [[Ability: Turret Fabrication|turrets]], [[Ability: Medical Generator Fabrication|medical generators]] and [[Ability: Shield Generator Fabrication|shields]], supporting your team with weapon buffs and [[Ability: Seeker Drone Fabrication|seeker]] as well as [[Ability: Support Drone Fabrication|support drones]], and laying [[Ability: Chroniton Mine Barrier|mine barriers]] and [[Ability: Place Transphasic Bomb|bombs]]. |
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| + | *'''<span style="color:turquoise">Science</span>''' officers |
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| − | *'''<span style="color:turquoise">Science</span>''' officers are most useful in the ''Healer'' and "[[Buff]]er/[[Debuff]]er" roles, where they provide healing and buffs for allies (and themselves), as well as powers that weaken and disable enemy NPCs.<br>In [[ground combat]], science [[kit]]s offer team healing and ''AoE'' ([[Area of Effect]]) damage, but can also grant abilities that control or debuff enemy resiliency, [[Damage type|damage]] and movement. |
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| + | **'''Space''': Science officers have a slight edge as "[[Buff]]er/[[Debuff]]er" roles, due to their unique abilities, such as [[Ability:_Sensor_Scan|Sensor Scan]], [[Ability:_Subnucleonic_Beam|Subnucleonic Beam]] and [[Ability:_Dampening_Field|Dampening Field]]. |
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| + | **'''Ground''': Science [[kit]]s offer team healing and ''AoE'' ([[Area of Effect]]) damage, but can also grant abilities that control or debuff enemy resiliency, [[Damage type|damage]] and movement. |
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== Races == |
== Races == |
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Revision as of 15:15, 15 April 2018
Welcome, cadet...
Welcome to the beginner's Basics Guide, the first of many guides for players of Star Trek Online (STO). This guide shall serve as a launching pad for all players who are new to the game or just want to know more about the basics of STO.
Factions
On the character creation screen you can choose your faction & race (left) as well as your career path (right).
Before character creation, you must choose a faction. You are able to play as the Federation, Klingon Empire, Romulan Republic[1] or the TOS Federation[2]. Each faction presents you with its own storyline, own set of playable species and ships, as well as faction-specific social hubs. During the early game, Romulan Republic characters have to side either with the Federation or the Klingon Empire, a choice that allows access to that faction's ships and social hubs.
Career Paths
In Star Trek Online, there are three career paths players can take. They correspond to three main departments in Starfleet: Engineering, Science and Tactical. During some missions there will be options that are corresponding to your path. Career paths in Star Trek Online are very much like classes in most other MMORPGs, except that they aren't as restrictive and rigidly defined.
A player of any career path can fly any type of starship and equip any body armor or weapon. As a result, the career path choice has much more of an impact on ground while in space, since space combat is predominately defined by the players ship choice.
Comparison
Each career path has a certain focus and can perform one or more group roles. While the space role is mostly tied to the ship, each class has a set of special abilities that slightly move it to one or the other role in combat.
- Tactical: are most useful in the DPS (Damage Per Second) or Damage roles; they do their best work while dealing damage to enemies in ground and space combat.
- Space: Unique tactical abilities (Attack Pattern Alpha, Fire on my Mark and [[Ability:_Tactical_Initiative_(Space)|Tactical Initiative] give them an edge in damage dealing.
- Ground combat, tactical kits give powers that allow the player to put out increased damage as well as spike damage (one-time concentrated bursts of firepower), AoE (Area of Effect) damage via grenades, and abilities that improve the damage output and staying power of allies.
- Engineers:
- Space: Engineers are slightly better Tanks, due to their special abilities, such as [[Ability:_Rotate_Shield_Frequency|Rotate Shield Frequency] and Miraculous Repairs.
- Ground: Engineering kits generally involve fabricating turrets, medical generators and shields, supporting your team with weapon buffs and seeker as well as support drones, and laying mine barriers and bombs.
- Science officers
- Space: Science officers have a slight edge as "Buffer/Debuffer" roles, due to their unique abilities, such as Sensor Scan, Subnucleonic Beam and Dampening Field.
- Ground: Science kits offer team healing and AoE (Area of Effect) damage, but can also grant abilities that control or debuff enemy resiliency, damage and movement.
Races
- See also our guides on custom-built canon-aliens & canon-uniforms.
Each faction has its own collection of playable races, each coming with a specific, fixed racial trait. The important thing to remember is that there are no "Uber"-races. Go with what you feel comfortable with.
Traits
Your traits can be re-viewed and -selected in the traits menu at any time during the game.
Traits are mostly passive bonuses that can be activated by assigning them to slots. Picking your race (or choosing to create your own custom race) automatically means picking one specific non-customizable racial trait (or creating one for your custom alien). Also, three additional race-typical traits are assigned to each preset race, however, these can be customized once you are in-game (see image on the right). As you level your character up, two additional personal trait slots (1 space, 1 ground) become available every 10 levels, so each player has a total of 18 (9 ground, 9 space) customizable personal traits and one fixed racial trait at level 60 (the Reputation System grants further traits from level 50 onwards; more information on the trait-article).
Levels & Ranks
Star Trek Online lets your character progress through different levels by accumulating Experience Points, just like many other MMORPGs. In STO, however, each bracket of 10 levels also comprises a rank (Ensign & Lieutenant counted as one rank). At each level, character gains level rewards and Skill points (explained below). Furthermore, new tiers of starships are opened up to each new rank.
| Levels | Starship Tier | Gear Mark | Rank   |
Rank  |
Rank  |
Rank  |
Rank  [1] |
Experience points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Tier 1 | Standard Issue | Cadet | Lieutenant Junior Grade | Warrior | Citizen | Fifth | 0 |
| 1 | Tier 1 Tier 6[2] Tier 4[3] |
Mark I-II | Lieutenant | Fourth | 6,500 | |||
| 10 | Tier 2 | Mark III-IV | Lieutenant Commander | Centurion | Third | 33,500 | ||
| 20 | Tier 3 | Mark V-VI | Commander | Subcommander | Second | 93,500 | ||
| 30 | Tier 4 | Mark VII-VIII | Captain | Commander | First | 173,500 | ||
| 40 | Tier 5 | Mark IX-X | Rear Admiral, Lower Half | Brigadier General | Subadmiral I | Master First | 263,500 | |
| 45 | Mark XI-XII | Rear Admiral, Upper Half | Major General | Subadmiral II | Senior First | 313,500 | ||
| 50 | Tier 5-U Tier 6 |
Mark XIII-XIV | Vice Admiral | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Elite First | 366,000 | |
| 55 | Admiral | General | Admiral | Revered First | 428,500 | |||
| 60 | Mark XV | Fleet Admiral | Dahar Master | Fleet Admiral | Honored First | 491,000 | ||
| 65 | 578,500 | |||||||
| Spec.[4] | 155,872[4] | |||||||
- ↑ Jem'Hadar captains begin at level 60. NPCs and Bridge Officers use these rank names, and they appear in the rank progression reward list.
- ↑ Since Rise of Discovery, All Tier 6 ships have become Scaling ships and are now available to all players after finishing their faction's tutorial.
- ↑ The Prototype Walker Light Exploration Cruiser, Kobayashi Maru Freighter, and Tong'Duj Freighter are all Tier 4 level scaling starships
- ↑ Each subsequent specialization level after reaching level 65.
Note: Additionally and independently from your military rank you can gain commendation ranks as part of the Duty officer system.
Abilities
Abilities are the actions that you and your bridge officers can take in combat. There are both space and ground abilities. You gain access to abilities in various ways:
- Players will learn a few new abilities as they rank up. The majority of ground abilities available to players, however, will be based on the kit modules you have equipped.
- Your starship's abilities are determined by your bridge officers - their space abilities and the rank of the station you assigned to them. A Commander-rank bridge officer at an Ensign station will only be able to use his/her Ensign ability, regardless of the officer's actual rank.
- Bridge officers can learn new abilities using the Training Manuals sold by the Bridge Officer Trainers.
Cooldowns
In addition to their normal recharge time, abilities that are linked to the same subsystem (e.g. if they have "System: Batteries" in their descriptions) share an additional cooldown time during which no other abilities of the same subsystem may be used. For example, the Emergency Power to Weapons I ability triggers a 20-second cooldown on your ship's Batteries subsystem, during which time no other "System: Batteries" Ability (such as Emergency Power to Shields) may be used.
Bridge Officers
- See main article: Bridge Officer
In Star Trek Online, your character can be assisted in ground combat by an away team of up to four computer-controlled Bridge Officers (comparable to "pets" of other games and with up to four ground-abilities per officer). In space combat, Bridge Officers (or "BOffs") bring with them most of the abilities you can use (up to four space abilities per officer).
Skills & Specializations
Skills in Star Trek Online are comparable to "talents" in other games and are distributed as your character gains skill points while leveling up.
Skills (comparable to "talents" in other games) are unlocked at level 5 and increase the effectiveness of abilities and/or improve certain base stats, e.g., critical hit chance or hit points.
Skills are seperated into two major groups: Space & Ground. Space skills are subgrouped into "Tactical", "Engineering ", and "Science"; ground skills into "Weapon", "Health and Armor", "Personal Shields", and "Kit". Every player, regardless of the career path, can access any skill.
Space skills have five levels (Lieutenant, Lt. Commander, Commander, Captain, and Admiral), which require 0, 5, 15, 25, and 35 spent "space points" to be accessed, respectively. In total, there are 90 space skills and a level 50 player will have 46 space points to spend (one every level from 5-50). Ground skills have no such hierarchical order. In total, there are 20 ground skills and a level 50 player will have 10 ground points to spend (one every 2 levels from 5-50).
At level 50, the skill system is maxed out and players begin to earn points that can be spent in the Captain Specialization system. This is a very similar, talent tree-like system, but it is not capped at a certain maximum number of spent points, but instead allows players to keep earning specialization points indefinitely.
Controls
- See also: Guide: Keybinds
This is a very basic guide to the initial controls of the game, both in flight and ground modes, and also a couple of "tricks" to help you along the way.
Please Note The following key mappings are true for the Windows English keyboard layout. Other OSes or language layouts may vary.
The game has two basic playing modes:
Ground Mode
- See also: Ground combat
This is where your character is in person on the screen either in friendly territory such as a starbase or in enemy territory such as a ship or planet.
Basic Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W | Run Forward |
| Shift + W | Sprint Forward |
| S | Run Backward |
| A | Turn Left |
| D | Turn Right |
| Q | Strafe Left |
| E | Strafe Right |
| R | Toggle Auto Move Forward |
| F | Interact with an object near to you, such as a person, crate or turbolift |
Space Mode
- See also: Space combat
This is where you are guiding your ship through either open space or within a star system
Basic Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Q | Decrease flight speed |
| E | Increase flight speed |
| R | Toggle full speed |
| Shift+ R | Toggle Full Impulse |
| A | Bank Left |
| D | Bank Right |
| W | Nose down |
| S | Nose Up |
| F | Interact with an object near to you, such as an anomaly, or accept a prompt |
Player abilities
- See also: Player abilities
On the screen in either mode are controls for actions that your character can perform. In ground mode you will be shown your weapon's main action (normal "fire") and other possible actions such as "Exploit attacks". These each have a number to the top left of their control, and can be activated by pressing the corresponding key on your keyboard (1 through 0)
You can have up to four rows of controls on screen at any one time in both ground and space modes, to set these click the icon to the top right of the control module that looks like three stacked playing cards. This brings up a control that allows you to select between one and four rows of controls.
On the left hand end of these rows is a number between 1 and 10 with up and down arrows. These allow you to set up your own configurations and scroll between available controls.
What do A, C and Sh mean?
These are the methods of using that control on the keyboard
A = ALT, C = CTRL, Sh = Shift.
Bridge Officer abilities
- See also: Bridge Officer abilities
Each Bridge officer has training in different capabilities allowing them to vastly change the basic setup of your ship, be it by adding extra power to your next phaser shot or healing your shields mid-combat.
The initial play setup gives you a row of icons below your main ability section, showing the face and abilities of each of your bridge officers. When you start the game each officer will only have one ability, but as you progress through the game the number and class of abilities increase (you can also train your officers either through your own abilities, additional bridge officers or at certain starbases).
These action icons will generally have "A" and a number in their action boxes. To control with the keyboard hold the ALT key and press the appropriate number.
Remember, when purchasing a new ship, set the bridge officers! Also you might try to remember to keep them as trained and as promoted as possible to increase their additional abilities.
Moving Controls
The game has a funny habit of moving your controls around, especially when you gain new abilities, even as far as new weapons!
To stop your firing actions, heals, buffs and debuffs being all over the place you can move the controls around as you wish them to be. Just do this when not in a combat area to avoid some blushes and much muttering of "Where did my phasers go!?"
To move a control, drag it with the right mouse button from where it currently resides to your required location. This can be within or across action bar rows (see above). After you have your actions set up the way you want them, you can click a checkbox that locks your action bars to prevent your abilities from being moved around or from accidental removal altogether.
Advanced control setup
All of the key mappings and controls can be adjusted and moved around the screen using the controls in the option menu. To manually adjust the placement of monitor panels and controls, click the game options icon to the right of the minimap and select the top HUD option, then drag the corresponding green boxes to your convenience.
Luckily, they also have a reset function!