Star Clusters

Okay, I know I was supposed to do DS9, but I scrapped it in favor of something to replace the now lost Exploration Clusters. Pics will be limited, as I had to run around in game to find things that kinda sorta match what I'm talking about. I also wanted it to be relevant to current content, rather than using the old/outdated/gone forever stuff.

SO to start, I feel like Star Trek has always had an emphasis on exploration as a whole. Captain Kirk started it when he said he was on a mission to "explore strange new worlds." That statement was later repeated by CPT Picard and CPT Archer. Also, CPT Janeway might have done the most in the way of exploring compared to any other captain, all things considered. So the removal of exploration comes as a reminder of how far STO has strayed from its core influence. My goal for this post is to return exploration to the game in a way that works mechanically and (kinda) makes sense.

So first, where should the game play host to this "Exploration" thing?

The most obvious place to put exploration missions would be on the other side of the wormhole. Even the post-DS9 timeline sees the Gamma Quadrant as the great unknown. Remember also that the end of DS9 gave us a treaty that ended the war with the Dominion. Meaning they (and other Gamma Quadrant species) aren't likely to shoot Federation ships on sight. So why not start there? They're all cut scene happy these days, so I think they could throw in a few cool effects and adjustments while inside. Then when we get there we'll be ready to start running around. It could be as simple as keeping the planets that already exist and just accessing them from the wormhole and calling it the Gamma Quadrant. Hell, they could put anything from listening posts to holographic Bugships in there to mess with us. The most important thing is that there are random unknown planets and systems. That would be the incentive needed to go look at them. Rewards here can be the same as previously, or just XP and appropriate special XP. They could also put in unique DOff missions like in Dyson space. Seems possible.

Exploration areas (clusters, planets, etc.) Could also be sprinkled around like the old patrol planets. When approached, they would be entered as any other mission-based system. But instead of traditional patrols, I would break them into two different categories:

• First, space exploration. This would be along the lines of scanning stuff, but more interesting. It would involve the Stellar Cartography and Astrometrics departments. The main goal would be to chart and identify stellar objects and phenomena in the area. Discoveries would be simple, like types and ages of stars, types of energy being released by said stars, types and sizes of planets and whether they can support life (if so on what order), other random things, like comets, moons, previously undiscovered materials, and other spacey things. I would even go further and make it possible to study black holes, but not get too close. Maybe even throw a nod to Dr. Stephen Hawking and separate the event horizon from the apparent horizon. The possibilities here are literally limitless.

• Second, obviously, away teams. First the planet is identified as whatever class and precautions are taken as needed (EV suits or jackets or what have). Upon beaming down, again we'd mostly be scanning. But there would be more to it than exiting windows. There would be caves like Risa with interactive plants and animals to fight and identify. The weather would vary like the old patrol planets, and rain or heat or snow would actually influence the mission (like if it's snowing we'd have to find shelter in a cave). Medicinal plants (and drugs) could be gathered from the surface and converted into hypos or commodities. In the case of EV suit planets samples of things can be taken for study, much as they are for New Romulus. Again, the possibilities are infinite.

The end of this mission (or set of mini-missions, or what have) would be about what an accomplished scientist the captain is and whatnot. The actual reward would really depend on how it is set up. If it's just random planets (like the old mission) I would settle for XP and skill points, with a daily or one time DIL reward. If it's a big mission with and entire sector block or the universe as we know it, I would imagine a large one time DIL reward and a unique console would be great. The console, of course, would give something like a bonus to perception in combat, or extend the range of sensors.

Notice how none of the above involved sentient life? I did that on purpose. The majority of exploration we have and had in this game is/was based on first contact, or killing enemy aliens. I've always thought that we need something more close to home, like NASA today. They haven't yet found life outside Earth, but that doesn't mean they never will. Similarly I feel like we should explore planets that either can't support life, or are teaming with non-sentient life. We shouldn't assume we can communicate with the native species of every planet we encounter, or that every planet has life forms we can interact with.

• Going out of Left Field for a moment. But what if we had a mission where the new life form we encounter is a virus? It would force us to take sides on a moral issue--kill it and save the infected host, or let it live and sacrifice the host to science. Such viruses (or microbes, if you prefer) have existed in Trek -- most notably infecting LaForge and Archer, respectively. Granted, the one in game wouldn't need to have a transformative nature. But the idea is the same. Do you save an entire species, or cause its extinction? It would be fascinating if we had both options in game and a different outcome for each.

The other obvious option for location for exploration would be to simply create a massive expanse. Defera has its own sector block, so why not make one of a bunch of random star systems? It actually worked well for ENT (I mean in diversity and options). Just one section of the map for all the associated missions (much like the wormhole idea above). We have seen the Xindi in one form or another. It would be great if we had access to their now-obliterated homeworld (like Hobus) and some various planets they inhabit. We could even have a chain of missions that involve making contact with each of the Xindi species and a mention of the Avians.

Speaking of Content...

I understand that any revamp of exploration will have to go by the template of the old system. So I took it upon myself to take the older methods and expand upon them. Hopefully these will make sense as I go through them.

Personally, I never liked how the actual missions were randomized. Different planets should have different purposes. For example, M-Class planets host sentient life and can be limited to Aid the Planet missions, First Contact, or other types of diplomacy. Planets that don't support life would be specific to research, or possibly battle if it is found to be in a strategic location. I know, however, the devs aren't concerned with that. IF they ever redo exploration, it will likely be VERY similar to the original. So the following list is based heavily on that system.

• Option 1: scientific research, including scanning in space, looking or things on ground, identifying substances with shipboard doohickeys, and the like. This would be all about dry sciences and focus primarily on mouse clicks and window prompts.

• Option 2: humanitarian aid, like providing commodities, scanning people for diseases, administering medicine, and creating antigens. All of these exist in game already.

• Option 3: BATTLE! Or, more specifically, taking Federation territories back from enemies, assisting Federation-aligned species in defending (or retaking) their own planet, and retrieving Federation technology from hostile species. (Or maybe even stealing the original Delta Flyer...)

• Option 4: Diplomacy in the form of first contact, negotiating peace treaties, and similar things that involve sitting at a table and talking about stuff. More mouse clicks and window prompts.

• Other options I'd like to see: black holes, super novas, the Nexus, the Galactic Core that blocked the path to Shangrala, the unknown 2-D beings, the planet created by Q (complete with the never-identified soldier aliens), The creature that emerged from the Enterprise-D, the Gekli, the jellyfish, Boreth (and lots of caves to go with it), Kataan (or what's left of it), and the planet the archive came from. These just came off the top of my head. I'm bound to come up with others.

So there you have it. My take on the loss of Exploration Clusters. I hope it didn't suck.