Trekkie fans and MMO players rejoice, as a massive update for Star Trek Online is now live. A release from developer Cryptic Studios summed up the story content for Season 9: A New Accord, which pits Captains in a face off against the looming Undine threat, but there's a lot more to it than just that. For example, fans of the Voyager series will no doubt be happy that Tim Russ continues in his role as Tuvok to help negotiate a coordinated response to the Undine.
Along with the new content, there's also a host of changes and other additions as well: the Earth Spacedock has been remodeled, Borg and Undine missions have been revamped with art and gameplay improvements, new queued events are available, and all PvP maps have been enabled for cross-faction play.
There's also a new space battlezone in the Solanae Dyson Sphere, a new 8472 Counter-Command Reputation, new system for Kits, and Trait and Reputation powers have been updated. There's also more customization options with new heads and tailor options.
You can see a trailer below teasing some of the additions, followed by the complete list of changes the update brings, courtesy of Arc Games:
NEW FEATURES
New Earth Space Dock:
* The interior of Earth Space Dock has been completely redesigned! - If you last logged out on the previous ESD, you will be automatically transported to the new ESD upon logging back in.
Kit Revamp:
* The Kit system has been overhauled! - New Kits now allow you to add Modules to them.
* Kits and Modules exist from Mark I to Mark XII and in Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare qualities.
* Kits can provide skill bonuses to either general Ground skills or career-specific Ground skills - Higher rarity kits provide a larger number of discrete bonuses, while Higher Mark kits provide a larger magnitude of skill with each bonus and contain more slots for Kit Modules
* Kit Modules are a new type of item, consisting of a single power. Each module belongs to a Career (Science, Engineering, or Tactical) and a Specialization.
- Science - Research Modules emphasize experimental new science-based control and damage effects
- Medic Modules focus on healing wounds and supporting teammates
- Engineering - Fabrications Modules allow Engineers to create temporary constructions. Mechanic Modules focus on using devices to enhance allies or impair foes
- Tactical - Assault Modules focus on direct damage and explosive effects. Strategic Modules emphasize the battlefield planning and control abilities of the user
* Modules of a given Specialization can only slot into Kits with an open slot of that Specialization type. For example, "Turret Fabrication" is a Fabrication-type Module. It can be slotted into Fabrication slots in any Engineering Kit, but cannot be slotted into Mechanic slots in any Engineering Kit.
* Basic Common-quality Kits and Modules are available from Ground vendors for Energy Credits
* All qualities of Kits and Modules drop from ground enemies as reward possibilities.
* Kits can no longer be constructed via Crafting.
* Quick Fix, Melorazine, Dylovene, and Focus Fire now clear ALL debuffs of all types on their target when used. These powers no longer continue to cleanse debuffs over time. This change makes cleanse powers more usable on ground, while making the choice of when to use them more important.
* Kit modules available in the Dilithium store are now Blue quality for Commander level modules and higher.
* Fleet Kits have been updated:
- Fleet Holding Kits have been updated to provide a Ultraviolet-quality Kit with a pre-slotted Ultravilet-quality Module of the power that was previously a "Mark IV" power.
- These are equivalent in power to their previous versions.
* Fleet Kit Frames and Fleet Kit Modules can now be purchased separately. Their combined cost is equal to the previous cost of a Fleet Kit.
* All Fleet Kits now provide 2 specialization stats and 2 general stats, rather than 4 general stats.
* All Tactical Fleet Kits now include 1 Tactical slot, allowing either a Strategic or Assault module to be slotted
* All Engineering Fleet Kits now include 1 Engineering slot, allowing either a Mechanic or a Fabrication module to be slotted
* All Science Fleet Kits now include 1 Science slot, allowing either a Research or a Medic module to be slotted - As a result of this update, the slotting on all fleet kits has been updated - All Fleet Kits should now be able to reconstruct their previous power setup, if a captain so desires.
* Added a Kit Trade-In Tab on both Spire and Embassy Fleet Kit stores - Captains will only be able to view this store if they already own one of the old pre-revamp Fleet Kits. Captains can choose to "sell" their pre-Revamp Fleet Kits in return for an updated version.
Revamped Trait and Reputation Powers System:
* All owned traits now appear in a single list. This allows players to select the desired traits up to the available limit. This number depends on what level their captain is.
* The Traits window now also includes all powers earned in the personal reputation system. This is broken into 3 categories: Space Reputation, Ground Reputation, and Active Reputation. When clicking on each section, all earned powers of that type will appear on the right side of the window. Players may choose up to 4 space reputation powers, 4 ground reputation powers, and 4 active reputation powers for a total of 12 powers. Players may activate or deactivate any of these earned powers on any social or noncombat map. Respect tokens for Reputation and Trait powers are no longer needed.
* Reputation Traits:
- Species Traits have been updated to use the same slotting rules as Reputation Traits.
- Species Traits no longer require respec tokens to change, and can be swapped between any unlocked traits while out of combat.
- All Species and Reputation Traits are now limited to being changed while in Sector Space or on Social ground maps. This prevents aberrant gameplay with battlecloak while still providing all players with increased strategic flexibility.
* Sensor Targeting Assault:
- Now applies a 4-second grace period to the target upon expiration, preventing further activations of this Trait on the target from any source. This guarantees that the absolute maximum uptime on a target is 50%, and even then only under extremely odds-defying circumstances.
- If you Crit a target with this buff active, and the target is within their grace period, the Buff will not be consumed.
* Hull-Repairing Nanites - Now applies the correct Regeneration bonus both in and out of combat.
* Lethality and Precision: Critical Chance reduced from 5% to 4%.
* Deadly Aim and Advanced Targeting Systems: Critical Severity reduced from 20% to 16%.
* Omega Weapon Proficiency - Now grants an additional 10% Bonus Damage for Melee
* Omega Weapon Training - Reduced Energy Weapon bonus damage from 10% to 5%, Kinetic bonus damage now only affects Projectiles, magnitude unchanged at 10%
* Omega Graviton Pulse Generator has been granted the additional effects of slowing down Borg adaptation during Ground Combat. This is exactly the same as the old Reputation Trait, just rolled into the new functionality.
* Omega Weapons Training has been replaced with a new reputation trait, Omega Kinetic Shearing, which causes all of your Mine and Torpedo attacks to deal 40% extra damage over a 6 second period. This DoT is based off the damage that reaches the target's hull from the initial impact. Damage dealt to shields is not used in the calculation. The DoT from Omega Kinetic Shearing deals 100% Shield Penetrating Kinetic damage, and can stack up to 3 times from any given user. Each DoT's value will be calculated based on the projectile that triggered it. The DoT from Omega Kinetic Shearing is counted both as a Hazard and as a Science-type debuff.
* Traits have been removed from the passives list on the Captain status page. The Deprogrammed and Well Travelled passive abilities are now displayed on the traits page in the Other section.
8472 Counter-Command Reputation:
* 8472 Counter-Command is a cross-faction task force dedicated to stopping the Undine threat in normal space.
* Features two progression tokens, each with a specific purpose:
- Undine Marks: This mark is earned by completing repeatable content in the Viscous Cycle, Undine Assault, Undine Infiltration and Dyson Sphere Space Battlezone. These marks are used for equipment projects that award very high quality pieces of equipment, and used in projects that earn you Reputation XP with 8472 Counter-Command.
- Isomorphic Injections: These tokens are earned by completing elite events in the Viscous Cycle, Undine Assault, Undine Infiltration, defeating Planet Killers and earning a high score in the bonus stage in the Dyson Sphere Space Battlezone. Isomorphic Injections are used to complete equipment projects for very high quality ground and space set items. Additionally, these tokens can be used to complete a project that awards a large amount of Dilithium Ore
* A new store will be unlocked automatically each time a Tier within the reputation is completed.
* Completing projects that award reputation XP will immediately also grant a Counter-Command Equipment Requisition box. These boxes contain a random item that is normal only available from the stores mentioned above. There are no equipment projects for Mk X or Mk XI items. Only the highest quality of items are awarded from these equipment projects. These high quality equipment projects are available at all tiers of the reputation. All Equipment Projects found in the 8472 Counter-Command reputation award Mk XII Very Rare items.
* This new reputation is available in your Reputations panel of your character status window.
* The Reputation system unlocks at level 50. At each tier, you earn new ground and space passive powers as well as 1 active power with all tiers unlocked.
Dyson Sphere Undine Battlezone:
* The Space Battlezone can be accessed from the edge of the Contested Zone, or from the first area where you arrive in the Allied Zone. This is a persistent space battlezone for level 50 Captains.
* The Undine have arrived in the Dyson Sphere and are beginning to open rifts and lay waste to all in the area. Reports from various intelligence officers indicate the Undine assaulted the Voth who previously occupied the area with a massive fleet and three large planet killers. There are barely any signs left of the Voth, and now the Undine seek to tear apart the Dyson Sphere. Players must regain control of the area from the Undine and bring down the planet killers that were used to assault the Voth fleet. The Federation, Klingons, and Romulans have all created methods to close Undine rifts. It's up to captains to use these methods to close the Rifts.
Undine Assault Queued Event:
* Mixed faction queued mission for level 50 Captains. This queue takes 15-20 minutes and comes in both Normal and Elite Versions.
* The Undine are attacking!
- Planets from the Alpha and Beta quadrants are under attack and you've been called on to defend them. Queuing up for this mission will send the player to one of four locations: Gornar, Andor, Cardassia, or Ferenginar. There you will face the Undine who have implanted a fully grown planet killer in extreme orbit. The player with the aid of local forces will need to push through waves of Undine ships in order to close the fluidic rifts that are reinforcing the Planet Killers defenses. Once the defenses have been weakened, players can either take on the Planet Killer by themselves or defeat the rest of the defenses to gain the aid of the local forces in confronting the Planet Killer.
Undine Infiltration:
* This is a 5 man mixed faction ground queued mission for level 50 Captains.
* This queue takes 15-20 minutes and is available in both Normal and Elite versions. The Undine have taken the forms and identities of local residents on Bajor. Captains will investigate locals suspected of being Undine. They will do this by asking a series of questions. Based on the answers they'll decide whether the suspect is an Undine and in need of quarantine, or innocent and cleared of suspicion. Finding out what the Undine are up will lead to confrontations that will explain what is happening on Bajor.
Viscous Cycle:
* This is a 5 man mixed faction space queued mission for level 50 Captains. Teams will need to go to Fluidic Space to destroy Undine Planet Killers which are being constructed. Since this is in Fluidic Space, the tidal forces will be exerted upon your ship throughout the event.
* These Proto-Planet Killers are in three locations designated Alpha, Beta, and Gamma and are contained in protective maws. Captains must find a way to break through the maws and destroy the Proto-Planet Killers within. Look for optional objectives throughout the event as you will earn bonus rewards.
* Rewards for this event are a choice of Fleet Marks or Undine Marks.
Revamped Borg and Undine Episodes:
* The Borg Collective and Undine Advance episode stories have been combined and reimagined to create the new Borg Advance episode collection.
* The episodes Collateral Damage, Asset Recovery, Assimilation, The Return, Fluid Dynamics, and A Light in the Dark have been revamped and merged create the new string of episodes: Where Angels Fear to Tread, A Gathering Darkness, Assimilation, and Fluid Dynamics.
* The episode "State of Q" has been removed from episode progression.
* These episodes are placed right before the Solanae Dyson Sphere set of episodes. The level range will be between 45-46.
* There are new rewards for the first play of each of these episodes, including a set piece for the Species 8472 Counter Command Reputation
* Updated rewards for all four of the newly-revamped Borg Advance episodes - Each now includes a Purple Mk X (for levels 40-49) or Mk XI (for level 50) piece of gear as a reward option.
* The first time a player completes "Assimilation" they will have a choice of one Borg Prosthetic Arm assault weapon. Additional weapons of this type can be found in the Omega Reputation.
* The first time a player completes "Fluid Dynamics" they will receive: 15 Omega Marks, and a unique "Adaptive Transphasic Torpedo Mk XII [Dmg]x3 [Borg]" which deals additional damage to enemy Borg.
Reputation Revamp:
* Earning XP for all reputation systems has been streamlined. Each reputation system now has an hourly XP project. All Hourly XP Projects now go into a Cooldown Period after being run 3 times within a 20 hour period. During this Cooldown period, additional Hourly XP Projects cannot be slotted within that Reputation. This cooldown is unique for each Reputation. This cooldown is calculated from the time that the last input was filled on the first project within a 20-hour period. If you do fewer than 3 Hourly XP Projects within a 20 hour period, you will not experience any Cooldowns. Once you have completed 3 hourly projects that grant XP for the reputation it's part of, a new hourly project will unlock. This will reward no XP but instead, a larger amount of dilithium as well as the standard rewardpack. Once the cooldown period is over, the XP hourly project will unlock again while the other will be locked again.
* Added a project that allows you to convert the now obsolete Dyson Joint Command Commendations into Dyson Sphere Marks.
* In an effort to make chosen slotted Reputation powers, now called Reputation Traits, more meaningful, they have gone through an overhaul. Many have been made significantly more powerful as a result.
General:
* Winners of the forums loading screen screenshot contest have had their submissions added to the game!
* Many old loading screens have been cycled out.
* The "What's New" text has been updated to include Season 9 information.
* The Undine have had many updates and additions to their powers, animation, and FX.
* Pressing the spacebar no longer skips cutscenes. This change was made in order to stop accidently skipping cutscenes which play in the middle of space combat. Pressing the Esc button will still skip cutscenes.
* Player, Ship, and Bridge Officer costumes no longer cost Energy Credits to customize.
* Removed the free costume change token from all player starships.
* All Costume changes are now free.
* All costume pieces found in the C-Store are still required to be purchased in order to be used.
* Resolved an issue which would occasionally warp players into completed maps for: Deep Space Encounters, Borg Red Alerts, and Tholian Red Alert
* Three new head shapes and three new complexions have been unlocked for players in the costume creator and the tailor. These work for all human-like species, and allows for more effective ethnic diversity, as well as all-around general face variety. All head shapes and complexions are completely interchangeable with each other as well as all existing head shapes and complexions. Additionally, two new short and curly hairstyles for male and female have been added. These have slight transparency and look more realistic than previous versions.
* There are now new player preset faces for Andorian, Orion, and Human.
* It is now possible to get much whiter hair for most hairdos but is limited by species color options.
* Resolved an issue which locked out the doors to the rest of the ship for the Odyssey.
* The "Kill 1000 Voth on Ground" accolade now rewards the correct Title of "Iconoclast"
* Resolved an issue where common (Unfactioned) Romulan Aliengen Female characters had too high of a height limit. They now match the than factioned Romulan Aliengen Female character height of 6 foot 4.
* Loading screens now stretch better to fill its frame most notably on high resolution monitors.
Content:
* Klingon Scout Force - Klingon ship reinforcements will now arrive much faster during this event. There should be much less time spent waiting for the Klingons to show up to the battle!
* "Friend of My Enemy" mission - On Rashana ground, there is now a waypoint to the lab where you must go to refine samples. Addressed an issue that could potentially kick players from the Rashana ground exterior map.
* Addressed an issue that would sometimes cause the wrong name to appear with the bridge officer giving status reports at the start and end of the Fleet Alert queued event.
* The Bio-Molecular Warhead rewarded by the Romulan mission "Infiltration" has been removed - In its place, this mission now rewards a Disruptive Photon Torpedo which is a standard Photon Torpedo enhanced to have a chance to apply a Disruptor-like debuff that lowers the target's damage resistance. This new weapon is retains it's green-tinted hue. Existing Bio-Molecular Warheads rewarded by this mission will not be altered or removed from players that have already earned it.
* Nimbus:
- Daily Missions - "Creatures of the Desert": resolved an issue where monsters would stop spawning around beacons if other captains were active around other beacons.
- Daily Missions - "Orion Contraband": Resolved an issue where one crate was not counting for progress, Waypoints for the specified crate will now go away when it is successfully interacted with, Teammates should now be able to click on crates, even if they do not have the mission, Removed the daily cooldown if you fail the mission.
* Waypoints have been updated to show the correct locations for the episodes "Frozen" and "The Chase".
Systems:
* Powers - Equipping an item with a rechargeable power will now trigger a thirty second cooldown on that power. This lockout period prevents unfair advantages gained by cycling multiple copies of a given item.
* Nanoprobe Infestation - Resolved an issue that was allowing Nanoprobe Infestation to sometimes re-spread back to targets that had already been affected by it. Resolved an issue in Nanoprobe Infestation 3 that was making applications after the first weaker than intended.
* Relativity Self-Targeting Rifle - Secondary Firing Mode - Damage inflicted has been increased by 60% per pulse. Reduced frequency of pulses from every 0.5 seconds to every 1 second. Reduced total number of pulses from 7 to 5. Reduced cooldown of from 14 seconds to 8 seconds. Resolved an FX issue that was causing extra beams to appear to fire with each pulse. Resolved an issue where Synchronic Proton Distortion Rifle's secondary fire would occasionally be unavailable.
* Sensor Analysis: This power has been redesigned to be more effective and useful! Sensor Analysis is now a Toggle power. Select any Friendly or Hostile target within 10k and activate the toggle to analyze that target. While the power is on and the target is in range, it gains 1 stack every 3 seconds, up to a maximum of 6 stacks. When used on enemies, Sensor Analysis increases the user's damage against the targeted foe by 5% for each stack. When used on friends, Sensor Analysis increases the user's healing and shield healing on the target by 5% for each stack. Now works even when the vessel is bumping directly against the target (at 0 range). Sensor Analysis no longer requires line of sight to the target to function. Updated the tooltip of Sensor Analysis to be more streamlined and readable. When used on enemies, Sensor Analysis now provides a 50% reduction to all healing on the targeted foe once it reaches 6 stacks. Now prevents the user from cloaking while activated.
* Smoke Grenade: baseline chance to generate an Expose effect has been substantially increased, from 2% up to 15-30% based on Rarity of module. This chance is computed separately from the Expose chance generated by the Situational Awareness trait. This allows them to stack for a ~50% chance to expose on Very Rare Smoke Grenade modules with Situational Awareness slotted.
- now provides a Dodge and Avoidance buff to all allies standing in the area. This buff improves with higher rarities and marks of Smoke Grenade modules. This Dodge and Avoidance buff does not stack with other Team-based (AoE) Dodge and Avoidance buffs.
* "Go Down Fighting" is no longer removed by debuff cleansing abilities, and will no longer persist through death.
* Resolved an issue where a combat pet would not be able to find a target and despawn.
* Force Field Dome and Overwatch now increase in duration as the mark of the Module used increases.
* Grace Under Fire: The buff indicating this power is able to be triggered is now categorized as "Status" instead of "Buff". This means it can no longer be dispelled by any abilities that remove buffs from targets, such as Subnucleonic Beam.
* Resolved an issue with the Diagnostic Engineer which allows your Weapons Malfunction to chain to additional targets. This was preventing the chained effect from lasting its intended duration. The resistance applied by the expiration of Weapons Malfunction now only lasts 30 seconds instead of 60 seconds.
* Maintained secondary firing modes that are "Exploit" attacks no longer consume the "Exposed" effect from the target until either they have: Reached their sixth activation pulse or their maximum, whichever is less. Any Primary firing mode that has the "Expose" functionality now has half the normal chance to expose the target that a Secondary firing mode would have. This also means that Traits/Items that increase Expose chance have half effect on Primary attack Exposes.
* Tachyon Beam now has 10 ticks, as the tooltip advertises, instead of only 9. Damage that originates from the target itself will no longer Flank. The Nicor Bioship Holo Emitter now changes your ship to resemble a Vila Heavy Bioship, instead of a Nicor Bioship. This affects existing versions of the item, and the ones for sale on GPL vendors.
* Omega Reputation: Costume Unlocks have been altered to account for the fact that T11 Sets will no longer be offered. Any player that has a T10 or T11 Set Accolade in progress will find their associated Accolade completed, and will be granted the appropriate Title upon logging in. These Accolades will no longer be accessible to new players, and will not appear in Accolade lists from this point forward. Obtaining any T12 Armor from Task Force Omega will automatically grant you the appropriate "Style 1" Costume Unlock free of charge. This will also work retroactively for captains that have earned a T12 Armor, even if they have discarded it.
* All three pieces of the MkXII Assimilated Space Set now require 3 Borg Neural Processors instead of 5.
* Nukara Reputation: Nukara Crystalline Resilient Shields Mk XII: Tetryon and Radiation Resistance reduced from 20% to 10%. Added 10% Resistance to All Energy.
* Dyson Reputation: Resolved an issue preventing the Reclaim store for the Voth Bridge Officer Candidate from functioning.
* Klingon Raiders have received a good amount of tuning and improvements across the board. All Tier 2 and above Klingon Raiders will receive a 10% boost to their base hull hit points. This should help off-set the risk of using cloak to ambush your enemies.
* Borg Space Set 2 pieces Bonus: Resolved an issue that was allowing the healing from this ability to scale disproportionately well on starships with high max Hull. Updated the tooltips to reflect the actual functionality of this proc.
* Replaced the non-functional Fleet Credit Bonus on certain rare KDF Consultant Doffs with a working Fleet Mark Boost instead. Created FED versions of the aforementioned Consultant, so that this duty officer is not faction-limited. Both FED and KDF versions remain extremely rare.
* Resolved an issue that would cause the Solanae Secondary Deflector to enhance powers other than: Tachyon Beam, Charged Particle Burst, Energy Siphon, Tyken's Rift or Viral Matrix.
* Resolved an issue where Bridge Officers using Stealth Module were not gaining a damage bonus upon exiting stealth.
* Updated the Specialization icon which displays near their Active Roster Ability, for many different officers that were using generic/placeholder icons.
* Resolved an issue that was preventing some NPC ships from benefiting correctly from innate turn rate increases.
* The tooltip for Plasma Lotus no longer indicates it uses disruptors. It deals Plasma damage.
* All Plasma Grenade ranks now use the metric system to describe their area of effect.
PVP:
* PvP Queues have been revamped to lower queue times for players of all factions. All public PvP queues are now "All vs. All", allowing mixed factions of players on each team.
* A new Space Arena queue has been added for "Solo or Duo Queue." No more than two players can queue for this mode together. This mode has been added to provide a more casual atmosphere where players do not have to worry about queueing into full premades.
UI:
* Video settings have been streamlined and broken into three sections - Display, Graphics, and Advanced. All three tabs are in the Options settings. Upon logging in for the first time after the season 9 update, you will see a message stating your settings have been reset.
* There is now an error message that appears when attempting to use loadouts or quick equip function when the captain's inventory is full.
* Powers granted by a space set are now remembered in the power tray when using the loadouts feature.
* Resolved an issue where occasionally the Mk label on items was incorrectly capitalized to MK.
* Resolved an issue where many Mk XII Quantum Torpedoes were incorrectly labeled as Mk XI.