Star Trek - The Final Frontier (Beta 1.0)

[rjord2021]

ORIGINAL: Wolf825

Being a really knowledgeable Star Trek fan, I am truly amazed at the amount of work and accuracy that has gone into this mod.
I very recently bought Distant Worlds: Universe, but have yet to play a game. Coming from MOO, MOO 2, Spaceward Ho! IV, Armada 2525, and the Galactic Civilizations series, I've heard really good things about this game. Your mod is at the top of my 'must have mods' list! Very impressive!

I have several questions (and forgive me if these have been answered previously):

1) Will you be able to do anything dramatic, or universe-changing with the Guardian, the Organians, or similar powerful entities?
2) Does Q make an appearance?
3) Can you make an alliance with the Tholians? If so, can you employ their web technology?
4) Can you ally with the Romulans?
5) Can the Enterprise or other Federation vessels employ a cloaking device, as seen in Balance Of Terror?
6) Will the refit Enterprise-class Enterprise be available (as seen in the movies, such as the 1701-A)?
7) Will we have the Excelsior at our command, or the Dreadnought-class (as pictured in the Star Trek Tech Manual, a warship with a 3rd warp nacelle and advanced weaponry)?
8) Are any elements from the Star Trek Animated series present - like the Caitian race (which was also briefly pictured in the movies) or the Edoans?
9) Does the planet killer from the Doomsday Machine make an appearance?

P.S. - I would take Spock's Brain over that hippie episode any day!

Thank you in advance for your time and this amazing mod!

Thanks for your questions and great things you have said about this upcoming mod. I have been watching star trek since around 1970 when I was just a little kid and in the last 30 years I have purchased every novel and comic regarding Star Trek and buy each novel and comic as they are published.

All of these books and comics are in strict chronological order and are the source material I am using to add stories to this mod. In the last month I have being adding the stories together in strict timeline order starting from the comic No Win Scenario set in the year 2260 introducing Kirk, Gary Mitchll and Carol Marcus to the mod. In the Trek Timeline Carol Marcus leaves starfleet before the pilot episode which is why she is not seen in the tv series. Gary Mitchell is killed in the pilot episode. In the mod these characters will stay in a different storyline aboard the Enterprise.

In my sorting of the comics and Novels I am currently working on storylines set in 2290.....
In 2290 I am adding 38 stories to the mod.
In 2291 there are 6 stories to be added.
In 2292 there is just one story being added
2293 adds 22 stories starting with events of The Undiscovered Country followed later in the year by the events of Generations in the first 10 minutes of the movie.

This means that I have 599 stories that are likely to appear in the mod in one way or another.

To answer your questions

1. In this Distant Worlds mod you will face the powerful entities such as the Organians and others that appeared in the tv series or movies. The entities seen in the tvseries up to the time of the motion picture will be in the first part of the mod.
Events from the motion picture to the very beginning of Generations will be in part 2 with Kirk not been taken by the Nexus. You get to tell what happened if the Nexus never took Kirk.
Part 3 will be set in the timeline beforethe next gen episodes

2. Yes Q may make an appearance..... still working on the storyline.

3 and 4. If in Distant Worlds you make an alliance with the Tholians or Romulans this will change how events occour in the mod. If for example the Vulcans go to war with Earth this will have major impacts such as what happensto Spock on the Enterprise.

5. Only the Romulans and Klingons have cloaking devices. The Romulan war birds are already in the mod with cloaking and it is diffacult to see where they are.

6. Yes they will.... each of the 3 parts of the mod will have the refits according to the time period. Part 2 forinstance starts with the Enterprise from The Motion Picture.

7. Still deciding on this but most likely yes.

8. The episodes from TAS are in the mod and characters and races are being created in photoshop so they are non cartoon and would be as they appear in the normal tv series or movies.

9. Yes the planet killers are already in the mod as well as the Guardian of Forever, Vger and the Probe just to name a few. One of the stories with the Probe will involve the 2 whales George and Gracie.

There is much more in this mod and happy to answer any more questions you have.

Roy

[rjord2021]

To get this mod out sooner I am contemplating the idea of using random maps as seen in the Civilization games series.

This would have the following effects on the mod.

- If the systems are as they appear in the official star trek maps then you will always know where to find the Vulcans , Klingons or Romulans and can just send your ships out in that direction. Random placement would mean systems could be next door to Sol or clear on the other side of the Quadrant.

- if you do not ally with Vulcan to later in the game then this determines when Spock appears on the Enterprise. If he is not on the Enterprise then eho is Kirks first officer?

-The random maps can be explained by the theory of multiple universes and multiple time lines where there are an infinite number of different galaxies where for example Klingon and Romulan space are right next door to Sol space. By default the Romulans and Klingons will not trust the species from Sol so you could have a Klingon or Romulan war before you are ready for it.

- When you discover a Class M planet the role playing will ask you to scan for life forms. If you find life forms then the mod will ask you to add charaxters andspcies to that world using the Editor. This eill resolve an issue I have of how to assign civilzations to worlds you visit.

-this mod will have number of species that should be in the game such as Federstion, Klingons, Romulans , Vulcsns etc. When you encounter yhis species you will rename the system according to the mod guidelines once again via the editor. So playing the Federstion you will always rename the system as Sol.

- Missions given to you will be chsnged slightly as a mission to Vulcan will not exist if Vulcan has not been discovered. Missions assigned to a particulsr planet will still work however rather than being assigned to a planet name you may be directed to the 3rd planet in the system for example.

[rjord2021]

If you guys wouod prefer random map placement first to get this mod out sooner then my intention is to get the official maps version out and this will more than likely be designed for Distant Worlds 2...

[Wolf825]

I don't speak for everyone, but with all the accuracy that has gone into the mod, I would prefer to have the systems in a set location, as they would be in the Star Trek Universe.

Would you be able to make the mod available as a Star Trek universe without the role playing elements, as an option? For instance, just playing with the Star Trek map, races, and ships as a pure strategy game, like vanilla Distant Worlds? Like at the start of a new game to choose the role playing version or regular strategy version?

[rjord2021]

The next few posts will show how the mod will work with random maps .

I star the new game with the Federation based in a system called Torres which is where a Dominion shipyard was located on the planet Torres III in 2373. As the system Torres III is now renamed Sol any events for the Torres system will now not occur in this game.

The system is renamed Sol and \i add the planets in with the Federation based on the 3rd planet from the Sun...now Earth. Adding the planets I give them the correct image of each planet...so Earth looks like Earth and Saturn looks like Saturn with rings box ticked in the Editor.

Once this is done I set the system game speed to 0.25x... my preference.... and name the first Constitution class ship to be build as the Enterprise.

With this post I am not showing the role playing side of things but at this stage Kirk is the Captain of the Enterprise with characters Gary Mitchell and Carol Marcus on board. Vulcan has not been discovered so there is no Spock on board.

[rjord2021]

As the USS Enterprise begins construction at the orbital stock yards I will show how the Sun will appear in the mod.

[rjord2021]

Of course one of the first thing you need to do is to build your first base at which the Enterprise will be built.

[rjord2021]

The new ship yards completed in orbit around Earth....work now begins on the Enterprise with Montgomery Scott overseeing the ship's construction.

[rjord2021]

Disaster has just hit Starfleet with an unexpected attack by Orion Pirates.

Shortly after my last post the Earth Orbiting Starbase was attacked by Orion Pirates after Starfleet refused to provide the Orion Pirates with protection money after receiving a transmission from a passing Orion pirate ship.

In a rage the Orion Pirates promptly attacked the Earth ship yards and destroyed the orbiting ship yard and the new Constitution class starship being built. Starfleet did not have defenses in place and we were caught with our trousers down as some would state.

The role playing side of the mod required me to throw a dice to see what damage occurred from the attack by the Orion Pirates.

Sadly in addition to the complete destruction of the ship yard and the Constitution starship a total of 93 Starfleet construction crew were killed in the attack. Montgomery Scott did survive the attack thankfully.

As a result of the attack on Earth Starfleet has ordered an immediate investigation into the handling of the pirates and action to be taken the next time they meet. Construction of the Enterprise and the new ship yards is delayed until the investigation is over.



My notes added to Kirk's Captain's log.

"Captain's log. It was with great regret that I hear from Starfleet Command that my ship being constructed in the Earth orbital ship yards has been destroyed in an attack by Orion Pirates along with the destruction of the ship yards themselves. I understand that we also lost 93 construction crew in the attack as well. I have been summoned to attend the Starfleet meeting to provide any input I may have on how we deal with the Orions who will more than likely return in the near foreseeable future. With the delay in the construction of the Enterprise the first crew expected to be assigned to the ship have been assigned temporary posts elsewhere until the Enterprise has been built. This is a setback to our efforts to explore the system but we will soon be out there exploring where no man has gone before. I can only be thankful that my good friend Scotty was not injured in this cowardly attack by the Orion Pirates. "Bones" McCoy has expressed his reluctance to even leave Earth again after hearing of this attack and I will need to spend time with him to convince him that I need him on board the Enterprise as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer. It is with regret that our First contact with an alien race should be with the likes of the Orion Pirates."



After this disastrous start to the game I will use the role playing dice to determine when the Starfleet meetings are over at which stage the new orbiting ship yards will be built and then construction of the Enterprise begins again.

To be continued.....

[rjord2021]

"Captain's Additional log.....

Unless I am successful with changing the mind of Bones Mccoy I may be forced to choose Starfleet medical officer Philip Boyce as Chief Medical Officer in place of McCoy. McCoy has a stubborn side to him and his reluctance to serve on starships is well known in his brief time with starfleet. I could of course resort to drafting McCoy but am reluctant to do that to my friend."


With the attack by the Orions this may result in McCoy not joining the Enterprise at this stage and instead Dr Philip Boyce being added. This will be decided in the role playing side of this game and if Boyce joins the Enterprise he will eventually be replaced by McCoy later.

[rjord2021]

"Captains Log.....A few hours into the Starfleet meeting and we are interrupted by a transmission coming from near our moon from an Orion Pirate Captain called Devna.

The transmission has been re-transmitted to the meeting halls viewer screen where heads of Starfleet , admirals and ship captains see for the first time the face of their first Contact with an alien life form. Due to the initial attack on Starfleet our comms signal is degraded but we are getting our first view of an Orion Pirate... our First Contact with an alien life form."



Orion Captain Devna is back and asking Sol for protection money to stop any further attacks on Earth.

As if this game has not started badly enough now the Orions are back asking for protection money.

Does Starfleet pay the money or once again deny the Orions?

This is not up to you and the results are determined by the Role Playing game and a throw of the dice.



Below is the poor quality transmission received by Starfleet Headquarters after the initial attack damaged comms systems. Picture created in photoshop.

[rjord2021]

ORIGINAL: Wolf825

I don't speak for everyone, but with all the accuracy that has gone into the mod, I would prefer to have the systems in a set location, as they would be in the Star Trek Universe.

Would you be able to make the mod available as a Star Trek universe without the role playing elements, as an option? For instance, just playing with the Star Trek map, races, and ships as a pure strategy game, like vanilla Distant Worlds? Like at the start of a new game to choose the role playing version or regular strategy version?

The mod is designed so you can play it any way you choose. If you want to play without role playing involved you just simply play in the Distant Worlds environment.

I am foremost designing this game for myself with Role Play in mind but this game will be made available to others here to play as you like.

[rjord2021]

The Planet Earth has been in a State of Emergency for several days as we have come under repeated attacks from the Orion pirates. Thankfully our recent negotiation efforts via Captain James T Kirk have stalled any more attacks today and we have finally launched the Enterprise whose crew have reported to their stations and the ship has now left the ship yards. The Enterprise has been put on Yellow Alert as Kirk's first mission is to provide defense against the Orion Pirates when they next attack Earth Defences. Additional ships are being constructed to support the Enterprise and the new ships will be assigned permanently to Earth Defenses.

Starfleet Out




The picture below shows the USS Enterprise under the new design Constitution Class. In the actual mod the Constitution Class ships are twice as large but I forgot to specify this prior to showing this demo of the mod.

The picture shows that the Enterprise has no hyperdrive installed. I am changing the terminology so that hyperdrive will be called Warp Drive in this mod. Shortly after this picture was taken Starfleet announced that Warp Drive Engine technology has been researched and the Enterprise has just gone under a refit to become a warp speed capable ship.

You will also notice a difference between this picture and that shown in post 367. There are now fewer stars showing on the screen and it now looks more realistic.

In the box shown in the bottom left of the picture you can see the Federation referred to an Empire. While the Klingons are referred to as the Klingon Empire and the Romulans as the Romulan Empire the only Empire the Federation was known for was the Terran Empire in the Mirror Universe.

The words Empire will be replaced with a more appropriate term for this mod.

[rjord2021]

I have gone into the file GameText.txt and removed all references to hyperdrive and replaced the term with warp drive, warp drive technology or warp drive engines as required. Now I feel like I am in the Star Trek universe and not the Star Wars universe.

This is seen in the picture below showing the USS Enterprise with no Warp Drive prior to it being refitted with Warp Engine Technology.

It is 3:20 am.... time to stop development on the mod and get a few hours sleep.

[rjord2021]

The picture below shows the USS Enterprise at its size as it is currently seen in the mod. With the development of this mod I am making sure there is a priority towards performance as it would be pointless to design a mod that only someone with a supercomputer could play.

As you can see by the Design Box at the bottom of the picture the Enterprise is scaled to 200..... ideally I want to bring that up to 250 so the details of the ships are highly visible during game play. However I will only do this at the end of development after I have tested the performance of the mod with all races present in the game having all ships of equal size.

With Explorer ships by default the design screen has all explorers fleeing when they encounter enemy ships. In Star Trek , the explorer ships are the Constitution Class vessels such as the Enterprise which is the flagship of Starfleet and the Enterprise would certainly not flee when encountering Romulans, Klingons or Tholians for example.

I have changed the settings for the Constitution class vessels to Standoff for the time being when encountering enemy vessels and as you can see in the picture I still have the setting "Flee when Attacked" which is something James T Kirk would never do. This has been changed.

[rjord2021]

ORIGINAL: Wolf825

I don't speak for everyone, but with all the accuracy that has gone into the mod, I would prefer to have the systems in a set location, as they would be in the Star Trek Universe.

Would you be able to make the mod available as a Star Trek universe without the role playing elements, as an option? For instance, just playing with the Star Trek map, races, and ships as a pure strategy game, like vanilla Distant Worlds? Like at the start of a new game to choose the role playing version or regular strategy version?

Hi Wolf825

I Just want to make sure you were aware of the Star Trek Picard era mod that is out for Distant Worlds Universe. I highly recommend trying this mod while my mod is in development and it is a good way to get your feet wet in Distant worlds Universe and learn how the game plays.

You can find it here

Version 1.0
tm.asp?m=3668367

Version 2 latest version here
tm.asp?m=3668367



Roy

[Kull]

Consider revisiting the size of the Space Dock and it's orientation. It's pretty large in comparison to the planet size, and given that presumably this is the "small" port, the others are gonna be pretty big. Also not a fan of space ports that cover most of the planet's surface, although maybe that's just me. On the orientation, at first glance it almost looks like a skyscraper rising up from the surface, so some added tilt might help.

Overall, I love the concept and implementation shown so far, so don't take the criticism as a reflection on the whole effort.

[rjord2021]

ORIGINAL: Kull

Consider revisiting the size of the Space Dock and it's orientation. It's pretty large in comparison to the planet size, and given that presumably this is the "small" port, the others are gonna be pretty big. Also not a fan of space ports that cover most of the planet's surface, although maybe that's just me. On the orientation, at first glance it almost looks like a skyscraper rising up from the surface, so some added tilt might help.

Overall, I love the concept and implementation shown so far, so don't take the criticism as a reflection on the whole effort.

Hi Kull

Thanks for the feedback. Always great to hear comments from others in regard to this mod.

The port seen here for the ship yards is the medium spaceport so the issue would be with the size of the larger port. Sizes for ships and bases will be adjusted during the development of this mod based on game play testing.

Unfortunately the tilt is out of my control as it is controlled by Distant Worlds Universe when the base is built.

The size of the medium spaceport is at its current setting to have the roughly same size comparison to the Enterprise...a smaller ship yard and a larger Enterprise did not look good.

The mod will have instructions on how you as the player can change the sizes of bases and ships to your preference when designing the class of ship or base that is about to be built..... will explain how this works later.

please feel free to ask more questions.....

Roy

[Wolf825]

I agree 'Empire' is not suitable for this mod. Might I humbly suggest:

Affiliation: ?

Are full names able to fit under the 'Empire' designation, like United Federation Of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, Tholian Assembly? Rather than just Federation, Klingon, etc.

[rjord2021]

ORIGINAL: Wolf825

I agree 'Empire' is not suitable for this mod. Might I humbly suggest:

Affiliation: ?

Are full names able to fit under the 'Empire' designation, like United Federation Of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, Tholian Assembly? Rather than just Federation, Klingon, etc.

I have gone with substituting the word Race instead of Empire.

When reading through the text that appears in Distant Worlds it actually made more sense to use the term Race than anything else.

Distant Worlds Universe also has the 4 different text files bearing the word race and each of these files define how the Federation, Klingons, Romulans and other alien life forms relate to each other and other civilizations.

As for the names I will look at what works best for the mod.

The coding behind the mod will have the shorter names to keep the code simple..... the screens you see while playing the mod will refer to the races in different ways. Some messages you will see will make more sense if they refer to Romulans rather than Romulan Star Empire...and the same can be said the other way.

Just changing the word Empire to Race and empire to race being case sensitive also may require some changes in the sentence if the sentence makes more sense with the word Empire and not the word Race.

Sentences will also be changed in some areas to make them more suitable for Star Trek worlds.

Roy