You've read about it - and soon it will be time to play it - but now, we think, it's time for you to see The Final Frontier for yourselves.
Ambarenya, Bane and Gul-Dukat have teamed together to form a Triumvirate of insight and discussion, and to offer you a brief glimpse at The Final Frontier in the form of a full-fledged Dev Diary - the first in quite a while. And yes, I know the video is just over an hour long, but trust me - considering the scale of TFF, this still counts as a brief look.
The video also contains a rarely seen battle between two of the deadliest random events in the game - place your bets!
For the time-poor among you, the Intrepid Trio go over many of the features you can expect in The Final frontier, including:
An extensive new planetary system
The Trinity discusses the new planetary system being utilised by The Final Frontier. Using a combination of real science and lore-friendly planetary designation, a vast array of planets now await discovery. Combined with a list of hundreds of possible planetary bonuses, it will be rare indeed to have two planets of the same kind appear even on large maps.
New gravity wells
Hear the Ternion describe how gravity wells now contain more than just planets, moons and asteroids. What else awaits in the vast expanse of space? Economic sectors to boost your economy? Abandoned shipyards giving you access to other species' technology? A long-range telescope letting you spy on enemy movements? Empty space offering you diddly squat? The only way to find out is to explore.
New abilities and ship functionality
The Triptych go over how The Final frontier addresses some concerns we had over how some ships are often overlooked for their limited usefulness, especially flak frigates and strike carriers. Flak frigates will gain a boost in performance that will increase the more enemy fighters are nearby, and have received an overall increase in their endurance. Strike carriers now carry compliments of marines, allowing them to board not only neutral stations and derelict vessels, but enemy ships as well, making them a useful asset to include in your fleet.
A growing list of diverse random events
The Troika describe how we're making The Final Frontier feel like it's set in a living galaxy by adding an extensive list of new random events. And not all of them will be harmful, either. You'll come across random groups of traders or humanitarian convoys, as well as Hirogen hunting parties looking to display your intestines as trophies. Fun times.
Beta-testers needed!
Those of us who have been a part of The Final Frontier from the beginning have experienced the changes from CTA incrementally over a period of time. Basically, we've become acclimatised to it and we feel that fresh eyes are needed to test the mod. You can help us out a great deal by joining our new beta-testing team.
You don't need any particular computer skills to qualify, but places are limited. Also, on a more serious note, be advised that you won't simply be playing the mod and letting us know what you think - it's not that simple. We need people who can be observant, objective and can communicate frequently with the dev team. It would also be best if you're willing to devote a good portion of your free time to testing the mod and discussing your views with the dev team. We don't want our beta-testers to be a detached group - we want you to be invested and involved in the project as a whole. Keep that in mind before applying.
Overall, the Final Frontier is coming together nicely. Every day brings us closer to completion and we are, as always, so thankful for your ongoing support. The STA3 team has been blessed with some of the best supporters in the modding community. Thanks for sticking with us.
'Til next time, stay classy. Or don't.
-OrionSlaver
Not enough AFT is in the mod. will that be fixed in this version?
There can never be enough AFT.
I'd be happy to help out with the beta. I did similar stuff with Jedi back when he was still running Warlords for Sins. I'm fully aware of what it would take.
If you would like help with the beta, I would be willing to help. If it would mean devoting all of my free time, so be it.
I'm currently on the beta team for the SW: Ascendancy mod, and have tested previous versions of ICW for Empire at War, so I would love to help y'all with the testing if the need be.
ill throw some open beta details up soon for you all to look at :)
You guys already know I've been frothing since this mod has been first announced. I have nothing else to do right now but waste time, so if you need any help with the beta let me know!
surly the Excalibur-class is big enough for more sqadrons
I can't read the title of this post without it being in song, and the whole title sequence of Enterprise playing through my head...
ya had to pick the WORST theme song huh
It's been a long time...since I heard it, actually.
The planets are amazing. Excellent attention to detail. Thanks guys, you really go above and beyond to make things perfect or as close to it.
While I was watching the video I was dying to get a close up of the Fed Nova Class :-) but some surprises are worth waiting for.
Look forward to seeing more.
Thar she blows!
Moddb.com
Ooooh,
;-)
Orion,
Were any Klingons redone or was the retexturing and remodeling for Feds/Rom only.
A few Klingon models have been touched up that we were unsatisfied with - specifically the K'vek heavy cruiser: Moddb.com
The Kareli strike carrier has also been rescaled to fit its advanced age. And we intend to make some changes to the functions of some ships to make often neglected ships like the K'vort more appealing.
Perfect, thanks for getting back to me. That K'vek is so much better. Kudos.
I think that the video mentions that the Norin will have the capture ability for the Cardassians, but will that class remain only available for those that choose Cardassian specialisation? If yes, what would be the Dominion-specialised capturing class?
I believe I mentioned the Tresh Gar
Indeed you did! My apologies
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Though, I must say, one of the issues I've had with your mod is that its hard to see ships. They're simply too dark, and I have a hard time of selecting them because I can't see the model's borders.
Try changing the skybox to something with better lighting.
Hello again (again again) Team ''Star Trek Armada 3 Mod'' for Sins of a Solar Empire.
Yet again: Thanks a L O T for Your "Star Trek Armada 3 Mod" Release. It's only getting better and better for each new release(s).
And yet again: A 1 0 0 0 Thanks for Your ''Star Trek Armada 3 Mod'' Project in the First place. What You have done so far looks G R E A T. Personally I’m blown away every time You show us what Now it possible in Your latest Dev Diary Video(s).
Trust me: I still have No words for How blown away I am for Your ''Star Trek Armada 3 Mod'' Project.
And also A 1000 Thanks for making support for the GOG.com version of Sins of a Solar Empire. Personally I now own the GOG.com version of Sins of a Solar Empire. Earlier I have played Your Mod(s) for Sins of a Solar Empire on my brother’s computer (with my brother’s permission) because he (my brother) owns the Steam version of Sins of a Solar Empire.
(* Hand on my heart, Bows nicely for You *)
When it comes to the ship’s then - in the beginning - I ONLY used the ship(s) I knew from the show(s). Today I’m now using All the ships this mod has to offer, because now I know All the ships there is in this mod.
Now that I have become Unemployed because of my seventh workplace / job has been destroyed by Financial cut-downs here in Denmark, then I would be more that happy to be a Beta-tester of Your upcoming Mod(s) for Sins of a Solar Empire. Mostly so I have something to do in my now expanded / extended spare time.
Some wishes to a future Version:
- Please also Join Forces with All the other Mod Teams for Sins of a Solar Empire, so that You (All the Mod Teams for Sins of a Solar Empire) – in co-operation(s) - can do / create Your own “Sins of a Solar Empire 2” and / or Your own “Sins of a Galaxy Empire” with Your own Game-Engine, so that You can get rid of the limitations from the present Iron Engine of Sins of a Solar Empire.
My reason for mention this is that I know that The People behind Fleet Operations now also is in process of making Their own Game-Engine (the ezEngine) because They (the people of Fleet Operations) has grown tired of the limitations from the original “Star Trek Armada x” game-engine.
Ezengine.net
Another reason for mention this is that I also know that The Fans / People (most Modders) of “Star Trek Bridge Commander” also is in process of making Their own “Bridge Commander 2” with Their own Game-Engine. Probably because They (the modders of the original Star Trek Bridge Commander) also have grown tired of the limitations from the original “Star Trek Bridge Commander” game-engine !!!!!
A Third reason for mention this is so You also can make it possible to:
-: Update / upgrade Your Outpost(s) to a full Starbase after you have researched The Starbase (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Upgrade / update Your Starbase(s) to The Unity Station after you have researched The Unity Station when you play as either The Federation or as The Klingons (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Also having Deep Space Nice as an Outpost when playing as The Federation. Also in Federation Colours instead of Cardassian Colours when playing as The Federation (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Have up to 3 Starbase(s) or Outpost(s) in your planet's gravity well for A L L play-able factions / races via The Research Tree (with Your own Game-Engine). Just like this:
Nexusmods.com?
-: Make it possibly to give The Starbase(s) 99 Slots each, so that The Starbase(s) can become The Fear of / in The Galaxy (i.e. The Ultimade Defence & Economy for A L L play-able races / factions) with Your own Game-Engine. Just like this:
Nexusmods.com?
-: Make it possible to have up to 8 or more different factions / races instead of keeping Yourself limited to 4 or 5 races / factions only (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Make it possible to simulate A L L The Battles (read: The BIG Battles) from the show(s) with Your own Game-Engine.
-: Make it possible for Neutrals to also fight Each Other (i.e. make Neutrals able to also fight The Pirates) aswell (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Make The Pirates able to also take world(s) / planet(s) (i.e. colonize world(s) / planet(s)) from player(s), instead of “Only” destroying player(s) planet(s) / world(s) aswell with Your own Game-Engine.
-: Make The Pirates able to have Their own Outpost(s), Starbase(s), Capital ship(s) & Dreadnought(s) / Titan(s) too (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Make The Pirates able to attack in large(r) group(s) / number(s) too (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Make the Star(s) change from the young star(s) it is in the beginning …. and then – later – into a Red Giant …. and then – later – into a White Dwarf …. and then – later – explode into either a Pulsar or into a Black Hole (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Make the Planet(s) even more Unique (with Your own Game-Engine) than You can do with the present Iron Engine of Sins of a Solar Empire.
-: Make The Borg 110% as they are in the show(s) with Your own Game-Engine.
-: Expand Your planet's gravity well(s) up to the double size for A L L play-able factions / races via The Research Tree (with Your own Game-Engine).
-.: Have The Ferengi as a Neutral faction / race you can't fight & only can do trading with when you play as The Federation, The Klingons, The Romulans, The Cardassians or as The Dominion (with Your own Game-Engine).
-: Have even more ”Random Events” with Your own Game-Engine than You can have with the present Iron Engine of Sins of a Solar Empire.
-: Add The Dominion as an independent playable faction / race too without The Cardassians.
Personally I find The Cardassians to be the Weakest race / faction You have done / created so far.
- Add ”Species 8, 4 , 7, 2” as a race / faction you can play.
It could be Fun to be ”Species 8, 4 , 7, 2” vs The Borg, since The Borg can't assimilate ”Species 8, 4 , 7, 2”.
-: Get both nVidia & AMD to create a profile for Your own “Sins of a Galaxy Empire” or / and Your own “Sins of a Solar Empire 2” with Your own Game-Engine.
In other words: You can make Your "Star Trek Armada 3 Mod" for Sins of a Solar Empire even more “Custom Made” or even more Unique with Your own Game-Engine in a Future version of Your "Star Trek Armada 3 Mod". Also without to many “Tricks” & “Work-arounds” as You are forced to make use of with the present Iron Engine of Sins of a Solar Empire.
If You haven’t already done it, then please also ”join forces” with The People behind Fleet Operations & The People behind ”Bridge Commander 2” so that You can exchange both Knowledge, Experiences & Materials with each other. If You ALL have “Joined Forces” with Each Other, then please make it Official.
Please also take the time You need to make things work Properly instead of hurrying an only half-working release – as Microsoft did with both Windows ME & Windows Vista.
Personally I have now passed the age of 40, so I – personally - no longer expect things to appear “magically”, “In a hurry” or “over night”.
Please Consider my suggestions / wishes before throwing them away.
A L L the above is My opinion(s) of what You can do “Better” or what You can do “Different” sometime in the future.
Yes: I’m also building Starbases with all my planets.
Yes: You have guessed right: I want this Mod / Game to be as Wild as possible !!!
Yes: You have guessed right again: I’m also a Hard Core Fan of Mod(s) to / of existing Game(s).
Anyway: Please keep up A L L Your good work at Your ”Star Trek Armada 3 Mod” Project in the future. Here I’m - personally – always looking forward to Your next Dev Diary Video. :-D
Greetings from Arling from a city called Herning in Denmark.
P.S.: I'm Sorry if I sound T O O demanding or T O O dominating: My head is S O O Full of “Crazy” ideas.
P.P.S.: Personally I'm playing Your ''Star Trek Armada 3 Mod'' for Sins of the Solar Empire while I'm waiting for The People behind Fleet Operations to release Their ''Version 4.x'' of Fleet Operations.
I0.kym-cdn.com
I'm so excited I fear I will get sick from it. Luv what u Guys are doin!
I completely enjoy playing CTA in its current state, and would absolutely love the opportunity to be a beta player for TFF. I watched the video all the way to the end, and can honestly say I play all the races and use all the ships as I need.
I look forward to being able to give good feed back on the beta if allowed to play it.
The hype is real!
Also, someone should totally make a mini-mod that retextures feddies into their true form. The Terran empire! I'm sure those Norways would look extra nice if you saw the symbols on the side showing they sure aren't bombing military targets!
OrionSlave, I would be happy to create an installer for you to simplify the installation process for the less technically minded. Let me know if you would be interested in that!
I have played most of the versions of the game and still absolutely hooked on it. Will get involved in beta testing and feedback pro`s and con`s. Video was a very interesting insight into the ideology behind the changes communicated so far and agree it reflects the star trek ethos more accurately. Can`t wait to see what variations there are in the maps and how it impacts the strategy and flow of the game.
I always felt the anti-fighter ships,K-32 for Klingons in particular was a ship I regularly never used as I never felt it made an impact in small or large battles with any other race, naturally used more of the frigates and light cruisers.
excellent work as always. Would love to see more lets plays as I enjoy watching them for strategy ideas and insight during gameplay .