STO for beginners?

[chappaai]

I just started playing STO yesterday, and I'm a little lost. I've never play an MMORPG before. The tutorial was somewhat helpful, but there's a whole bunch of stuff that I don't understand. For one, I'm confused about what all the different buttons do on my ship. I understand how to move and fire, but that's it. I've tried looking for control guides, but they all seem geared towards PC players and I'm on a PS4.

I kinda messed up in one of my first missions (beamed up when I still have stuff to do on the planet). How do I beam back down?

I don't have a PC, so I'm stuck on PS4. Kinda don't think my Windows 98 PC would cut it.

 

[MacLeod]

If you haven't finished the mission, you should get a mimessage to continue mission when in orbit of the planet. Otherwise there is an option to reply the mission in the mission journal. (At least on Xbox can't see why PS4 would be any different). Highlight the mission you want to replay and from memory there is an option for something like more options and the replay option is in there.

 

[chappaai]

Thanks @MacLeod, that helps. I also found a video that helped too. I had a pretty good day playing today.

I'm having an issue...not sure if I'm doing something wrong or its a bug. I get stuck in space combat. I can't move forward or backwards, but I can rotate and fire. Then it somehow fixes itself, and I can move. My engines are on.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Thanks @MacLeod, that helps. I also found a video that helped too. I had a pretty good day playing today.

I'm having an issue...not sure if I'm doing something wrong or its a bug. I get stuck in space combat. I can't move forward or backwards, but I can rotate and fire. Then it somehow fixes itself, and I can move. My engines are on.

Hmm, sounds like whoever you're fighting is shutting down your engines.

 

[chappaai]

Hmm, sounds like whoever you're fighting is shutting down your engines.

Didn't know that was even possible. I haven't seen any warnings that was happening. It just happened again on a mission in the Argelius system. I was scanning ships for contraband, and I couldn't get my ship to move. Then it just got stuck in space when I wasn't fighting another ship.

I'm also quite confused by this Anniversary event. I have red, blue and yellow omega particles. Now I don't know what to do with them.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Didn't know that was even possible. I haven't seen any warnings that was happening. It just happened again on a mission in the Argelius system. I was scanning ships for contraband, and I couldn't get my ship to move. Then it just got stuck in space when I wasn't fighting another ship.

I'm also quite confused by this Anniversary event. I have red, blue and yellow omega particles. Now I don't know what to do with them.

Yeah, I think it's an engineering thing. Sometimes it's part of a larger move, like a boarding party that will gradually shut down several systems. You can do it to other ships yourself, but personally I don't find it terribly useful in most cases since I prefer science ships and keep moving. I like the Tachyon Beam as a go-to, which drops shields.

 

[TheSublimeGoose]

Didn't know that was even possible. I haven't seen any warnings that was happening. It just happened again on a mission in the Argelius system. I was scanning ships for contraband, and I couldn't get my ship to move. Then it just got stuck in space when I wasn't fighting another ship.

I'm also quite confused by this Anniversary event. I have red, blue and yellow omega particles. Now I don't know what to do with them.

STO, like most MMORPGs, is... well, massively confusing. At least at the start. Perhaps 'overwhelming' is a better term.

Just take your time, and remember- it's a game, just like any other. It's meant to be enjoyed. Hit up some tutorial videos on YouTube, they helped me out quite a lot when I first started STO.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

STO, like most MMORPGs, is... well, massively confusing. At least at the start. Perhaps 'overwhelming' is a better term.

Just take your time, and remember- it's a game, just like any other. It's meant to be enjoyed. Hit up some tutorial videos on YouTube, they helped me out quite a lot when I first started STO.

Totally agree with this. When I first started playing STO I was utterly confused and lost. I got through that by hours of trial and error, and doing a lot of reading on the STO wiki. The game is awful at explaining itself. You really just have to jump and start flapping your arms.

 

[TheSublimeGoose]

Totally agree with this. When I first started playing STO I was utterly confused and lost. I got through that by hours of trial and error, and doing a lot of reading on the STO wiki. The game is awful at explaining itself. You really just have to jump and start flapping your arms.

I agree. Although, I think it explains the most essential basics fairly well. Basic controls, simple combat, controlling your ship (to an extent)- all seemed decently explained, IMO.

However, a few hours/missions in, when the game begins to "reward" you by unlocking new features... it starts getting overwhelming. Especially duty officers, all those extra sort of tidbits.

The game literally expects you to figure out dozens of features on your own.

I feel like this is the type of game that would've had one of those novel-sized manuals if it had come out in the 90s. I miss those. 'Alpha Centauri' had at least a 2-300 page manual... good times.

[Edit- typo]

 

[GabyBee]

Finding a good fleet, and/or a good group of helpful friends in-game is often quite beneficial. Real-time assistance can often solve things that seem complicated at first, but once you figure it out, it's a cinch. The duty officer system would be a good example of this.

I play STO on PC, @GabyBee if the OP or anyone else would want to add me for assistance, feel free!

 

[chappaai]

Thanks so much everyone. I'm having a hard time finding tutorials/videos that help. Any recommendations?

@TheSublimeGoose yeah, the Alpha Centauri manual. I still have that, and the game.

The ship commands and officer abilities really have me stumped. I just upgraded to a new ship and all the commands are gone. L2 still has several abilities associated with it. Everything that was with circle, triangle & square is gone. And I have absolutely no clue how to give my bridge officers new abilities.

Thanks for the offer @GabyBee. I'm playing on PS4, and I don't think we can chat. Unless I'm wrong? My 'newest' PC is a Windows '98 machine...and I don't think that'll work.

How do I find a good fleet?

I'm recovering from a nasty hand injury. Typing is difficult with one hand. Still waiting for work accommodations, so I have a lot (too much?) time.

 

[Noname Given]

Try this link for a list of STO guides:
http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/s...on/987682/new-sto-game-info-and-academy-index

 

[Vorpal_Blade]

I just started playing the Klingons. During Space battles, when my shields go down, how do I get them to come back up?

 

[TheSublimeGoose]

I just started playing the Klingons. During Space battles, when my shields go down, how do I get them to come back up?

Well, for starters, make sure your power is routed mainly to shields, if you're having trouble with that. Additionally, you can "balance" your shields actively. Depending on what system you're on (on Xbox One you depress the left thumbstick) the keys will vary, obviously. Anyways, what this does, is takes shielding away from higher percentage areas, and gives it to damaged areas.

 

[Vorpal_Blade]

Thanks @TheSublimeGoose. I will try it!

 

[TheSublimeGoose]

Thanks @TheSublimeGoose. I will try it!

Also, just something to bear in mind- at least when I first started, the game seemed to vary wildly in difficulty, especially in space-battles. Most would be incredibly easy, then I'd have a mission where my shield would be wiped out in seconds, followed by my ship being destroyed. It evens out, but bear in mind said spikes in difficulty.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Also, just something to bear in mind- at least when I first started, the game seemed to vary wildly in difficulty, especially in space-battles. Most would be incredibly easy, then I'd have a mission where my shield would be wiped out in seconds, followed by my ship being destroyed. It evens out, but bear in mind said spikes in difficulty.

Ugh, god, there's a level where you have to fight a Borg cube by yourself and it took me like three days of trying over and over and rage quitting. That difficulty spike drove me nuts.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

When I started a few years ago, I found the wiki was helpful. But the game has changed a lot since then. Having friends and/or fleet mates to help you out with many aspects is a good idea. I craft items for friends, as it makes the game easier, by having better gear.

 

[TheSublimeGoose]

When I started a few years ago, I found the wiki was helpful. But the game has changed a lot since then. Having friends and/or fleet mates to help you out with many aspects is a good idea. I craft items for friends, as it makes the game easier, by having better gear.

Yeah, to be honest, I gave up on the game after I put a good 50/60 hours into it- which really isn't that much in a game like that.

It just changed too much, too often. And while it gives you a lot of nice customization options, they're all pretty costly.

I realize that this is a free game- but I prefer to spend my (actual) money on story/mission content.

.... plus I got hooked to Subnautica and Stardew Valley.

 

[chappaai]

Try this link for a list of STO guides:
http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/s...on/987682/new-sto-game-info-and-academy-index

Unfortunately a lot of the links are dead and just lead you back to the main page.