CAPTAIN'S BLOG

The Iconian story line could literally go for a couple more seasons in the game before people start getting tired of it. The writers have done a good job of giving little glimpses and touches of "things unseen" in multiple places through the game. That's actually a nice hallmark for a good story. Keep the reader guessing until the last chapter.

But, it is time to begin ranging out to "strange new worlds" again. We've explored the Alpha and Delta quadrants fairly thoroughly at this point. The Gamma quadrant doesn't exactly want us around, so that leaves the Beta quadrant. I'd suggest a non-story line type exploration pattern. Start off on a path to a random generation star cluster and start snooping. Maybe you only find one planet with life out of every ten or so. Once a cluster is explored, you can return to the Alpha quadrant to pick up a new cluster mission.

I can dream.

Well, I do not think, that the Iconian Storyline is at an end yet. In "Surface Tension", the Iconians warned us not to attract their attention again. I'd say, that what we did in the Delta Quadrant surely qualifies as attracting their Attention.

Ever since Deep Space Nine and Voyager, we should exercise patience and trust that the Story eventually will come to an end.

As we already seen much of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, the next step should be into the Gamma Quadrant. I trust that the Dominion has become far more peaceful, ever since the Founders were healed by Odo. I wonder, if Rene Auberjonois would reprise his role. There is so much potential to really return to peaceful exploration or relief missions in the Gamma Quadrant. Maybe the Prophets themselves could return to us as may their Emissary.

The possibilities seem endless as we know little about the Gamma Quadrant. All Cryptic needs to do is use their imaginary to their fullest.

"The trial never ends" (makes me wonder if the whole thing was set up by Q as a test). The beauty of this game and of trek in general is that the "story" is ongoing. Also keeping the Iconians in the shadows as much as possible adds to their mystique. We know things are about to get crazy when they do decide to show up. Right now the game has a very DS9 like (serialized storytelling) vibe which is good. I also agree that we should head out to the Gamma Quadrant, but I've argued that it should happen earlier in the story alongside making the cardassians playable. I agree with TacPaddy that we do not know who else is in the GQ so story telling is endless.

I'd say when the Iconians are finally defeated, the devs transition us to more episodic storytelling akin to TOS/TNG/VOY. Though this is already going on in the Foundry. Perhaps future seasons will consist of Dev created episodes and selected foundry missions.

On final minor note on the story is that I think for the Romulan story they need to make the civil war have a definative ending. Unless they consider Brea III to be the last battle. Would be fun to take part in helping the Republic create a new government with classic Romulan and republican ideals.

I do not think the Iconians will go anywhere before Expansion 4 hits (more or less). Anyways, other major potential villains we have not yet seen (sufficiently) in STO would be the already mentioned Kelvans and the Sheliak. I do not think the Talarians, the Tzenkethi, the Dominion, or the Son'a have the potential/charisma to become "super-villains". I am also sceptical about villains from the future à la Temporal Cold War. Although the Sphere Builders and Nakuhl do have a certain appeal to them, I have my doubts Cryptic is going to majorly expand upon a theme whichw as already unpopular during the run of Star Trek: Enterprise (and was a main reason for its cancellation imo).

At the end of the Fek'Ihri missions for KDF players, there was a reference to the Hur'q. If I remember correctly, the Hur'q were from the Gamma Quadrant. That seemed like it was setting up for another potential "behind the scenes" villain race as well as establishing a reason for heading to the Gamma Quadrant. Hopefully, Cryptic decides to follow up on that setup. It would also be nice for the KDF to take the lead on a feature mission arc for a change with the Federation and Romulans helping out the Klingons.

I would like to see both Gamma quadrant stuff and a continuation of the delta rising season....

but if cryptic continue they trend the next season will be PvE stuff. I hope im wrong. I prefer the episode format stuff.

incidently can anyone tell me if the rank pins change for fleet admiral? i just made lvl 60 and cant change my rank to fleet admiral (5 pins) im stuck at 4 pins....

The Iconian Story can go on for eternity. Especially since they invaded Andromeda, and we know the kelvan empire wants to evacuate andromeda due to raising radiation levels (mmh, did some "bomb" go off or something like that?) I am quite sure we will either see the kelvans as enemies or friends in one of the next seasons or expansions, when we will use an Iconian gateway to invade Andromeda, and kill where no man has killed before.


If we get a next season or expansion, as Cryptic is really trying to crash STO.

You mention in another blog post about other stories for the future of STO, and in this one you elude to bringing all known friends and enemies together for one big push against the Iconians. What if as a future expansion, STO actually moved into the Gamma Quadrant, with the few known Gamma Quadrant races facing a power they don't understand (including the extinction of the founders). In the end, it's the Iconians, and it takes all races from all fronts to take them down. Then, as a show of good will, we are allowed to them explore the GQ.

We would end up with access to all four galactic quadrants, with plenty of room for exploration (i.e. including content from the foundry), which would slowly open up more sectors one by one...

Just a thought our two...

I think that the storyline should continue to follow the Iconians, as it could go on for at least another 4 seasons. And, even if the Kelvan Empire is not added, we still have the Nacene (The Caretaker's species) that seem to be similar in ideals to the Federation, so the storyline could continue potentially indefinately. This sounds like DS9 right before the war started... but when the sh*t hits the fan, I will be there shooting Iconians from the skies.

P.S-Star Wars takes place in Andromeda, but aproxametely 2,000,000 (2 million) years before Iconians knew how to start a fire.