Since the announcement that Star Trek Fleet Command would be adding the TV properties last year, I think that it’s safe to think that this is one of the things that players were looking forward to the most. Well, it’s finally here. The series that a big chunk of players grew up with as “their Trek” is now in the game.
Of the two Trek Series we’ve had so far, they’ve been limited. There have only been three Kelvin movies. Just 42 episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and only 80 episodes and six films for Star Trek: The Original Series.
There were 176 episodes and four films of Star Trek: The Next Generation. There’s so much more content to mine here. We feel like we know these characters more comfortably even than the Original Series crew. This was the first Star Trek series to go a full run, and the first to go out on its own terms. It was the first one to do any sort of serialized content, and have multiple returning characters and story arcs.
It developed its characters more than The Original Series. And now STFC has a chance to step into that space.
So now TNG has come to STFC. There are no new refits or ships coming this month, you’ll have to wait for the Enterprise-D, but there’s plenty in this update. It’s clear that from a story and character standpoint, the Scopely team have done their homework.
Away Teams
New this month is an entirely new game mechanic. Away Teams.
First, you’ll need to construct a new building, the Shuttle Bay. Leveling up the Shuttle Bay will unlock more researches (see below,) service award cost efficiency for your research, and a weapon damage bonus.
These Away Teams missions will let you send officers on away missions. They’ll be unavailable to use on your ships until they return.
First, you’ll select the Away Team assignment you’d like to attempt by clicking on your Shuttle Bay, or on the exclamation point button on the bottom right of your normal screen. This will give you a list of assignments, and how long they’ll take to complete. You can unlock more assignment slots through research.
You’ll select your officers based on their stats. There will be a “key stat” that will determine the chance of success for your mission, as well as your “reward multiplier” that will increase the base rewards for the assignment. You’ll also have a chance for a “critical bonus” that will give you an extra reward.
Away Teams missions will give you various rewards, like officer shards, materials, resources, ship blueprints, faction credits, and more. You’ll also get “service awards” and “merits of honor” that you’ll use on the new research tree.
There are brand new speed-ups to allow you to complete your missions sooner. You’ll get new away mission opportunities every 12 hours, but there will be opportunities for you to do them more frequently.
You’ll be getting a gift bundle soon after launch, “Temba His Arms Open.” This will help you get started with your research.
The name of the bundle is a reference to the season five episode, Darmok, and the metaphorical language of the Tamarians.
The episode is a great two-hander between Patrick Stewart and the late, great Paul Winfield (who played Captain Terrell in Star Trek II.) I think I’m going to be telling you to watch all sorts of Next Generation episodes, but this one is a favorite. Even if you don’t think (as I don’t) that a language that’s based entirely on metaphor and reference is practical enough to allow a species to reach the stars, it is a fascinating exploration of communication.
And for fun, the great Memory Alpha has a great page for the Tamarian language. Here are some of the highlights. Try them with your friends. I’ve dropped a few on players in the game who were being… erm… difficult.
- “The beast at Tanagra” – a problem to be overcome
- “Chenza at court, the court of silence” – not listening
- “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” – cooperation
- “Darmok and Jalad on the ocean” – new friendship and understanding gained through a shared challenge
- “Darmok on the ocean” – Loneliness, isolation
- “Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel” – successful first contact between two alien cultures, or to work toward a common goal
- “Kadir beneath Mo Moteh” – failure to communicate/understand
- “Kiazi‘s children, their faces wet” – do not cry
- “Kiteo, his eyes closed” – refusal to understand
- “The river Temarc in winter” – be quiet/silence
- “Shaka, when the walls fell” – failure
- “Sokath, his eyes uncovered/opened” – understanding/realization
- “Temba, at rest” – when a gift being offered is declined. This can also be translated as a sign of peace or acceptance signifying that all is well.
- “Temba, his arms wide/open” – signifying a gift
A New Tech Tree
So with Away Teams, we’ve also got a brand new research tree. (Remember when there were only two?)
There are 48 regular nodes and 3 prime nodes. The primes start at ops 26, you’ll be able to unlock a research that will give you an extra assignment slot. At ops 30, research to give you a 100% material mining rate bonus will be available. At ops 41, it’s a 200% warp speed bonus, among many others.
The first 11 nodes for levels 8 to 29 focus on away team bonuses.
The main tree starts at level 30, and there’s a lot to like in there. Faster warp speeds, damage bonuses, mitigation bonuses, officer stat bonuses, protected cargo bonuses,
Probably the one I’ve been looking forward to the most is the cargo bonus techs – these are faction specific, so your faction miners will get a boost to their cargo. The drawback is that you’ll need to be level 41 to even unlock the first level, and it’s only 5% then, but it does max out at 60%.
By the way, there is a research event coming early in this arc, so you’ll want to wait for it to launch until you start working on the research tree. Also, I think it should go without saying that you’d be better off waiting for a research Daily Event before you start plowing through the new research.
Main New Officers
Leading off the Next Generation officers this month, we’ve got Data, Geordi La Forge, and Beverly Crusher. Data’s an epic officer. La Forge and Crusher are rares. Click on the links above for full write-ups on each. (Sorry, no Picard yet. Patience, mon capitain!)
They’re officers who are going to give you bonuses against armadas and hostiles. You’ll be able to get them this month through events and through some away missions.
The “Next Gen” Crew
For more established players, this won’t affect you as much, but players just starting the game will no longer get a rundown from the Kelvin universe with the Cadet crew, but a “Next Gen” crew from Season One of The Next Generation. Instead of Cadet Kirk, you’ll see NextGen Riker and NextGen Beverly instead of Cadet Bones. And they look amazing, with the authentic season one uniforms with the lines on the shoulders, and no beard on Riker.
Of course, since some of you are collectors, and you’ll doubtless want these officers, I have good news for you. If you’re level 20 or above, you’ll be awarded these new officers at a tier 2 level.
Chaos on the Bridge
The story of how The Next Generation was brought to the screen, and the turmoil that defined its first season was just as interesting as anything that showed up on the screen in season one. From writing conflicts, cast upheaval, and the odd involvement of Gene Roddenberry’s lawyer, it’s amazing the series got to its third season, let alone seven.
It’s odd that William Shatner of all people helped put this together, but it never comes off as mean-spirited. If you’re a fan of TNG, I highly recommend this intriguing documentary.
You can watch Chaos on the Bridge for free on Amazon with a Shout Factory trial.