It has the most visual customisation options available in the game and hence you can create an avatar that looks Human, Vulcan, Andorian etc. If you cannot make up your mind or because of your choice cannot access a specific species, then consider picking “alien” as a race. TOS Starfleet: Andorian, Human, Tellarite, Vulcan.ĭominion: Jem’Hadar, Jem’Hadar Vanguard*. Romulan Republic: Romulan, Reman, Liberated Borg**, Alien Klingon Defense Force: Cardassian*, Ferasan*, Gorn, Klingon, Lethean, Liberated Borg**, Nausicaan, Orion, Talaxian**, Trill (Joined)*, Alien. Starfleet: Andorian, Bajoran, Benzite, Betazoid, Bolian, Caitian*, Cardassian*, Ferengi, Human, Klingon*, Liberated Borg**, Pakled, Rigelian, Saurian, Talaxian**, Tellarite, Trill, Trill (Joined)*, Vulcan, Alien. At present the following species are available to the following factions. Lore dictates that certain races cannot be accessed by certain factions but Cryptic have been quite inventive with regard to fudging this to a degree. Each faction has a variety of races available. But as I previously mentioned, there are many other factors that affect your build and its viability, so it is ultimately a matter of choice. Plus there are some unique crossfaction vessels.Ī: Again, there is no single species that has a definite advantage over others in STO, although some have desirable unique traits. However, the allegiance system has addressed this. There are not quite as many vessels available for some factions. It should also be noted that developers Cryptic have been pragmatic and created the most ships for the most popular faction in the game, which is Starfleet. It can be argued that the Dominion faction and DSC Starfleet faction storylines are a little shorter than others but such brevity may suit some players. Remember that STO has a wealth of voice acting from original cast members which greatly adds to the game’s ambience. If you love Klingon culture then the KDF faction is an ideal choice. I was raised on reruns of Star Trek TOS, so the TOS Starfleet faction certainly provided a great “fan service”. I think most players choose a faction based upon their personal relationship with Star Trek. All have been overhauled over the years and are now very well realised. Personally, I don’t think any faction has a superior story arc. The latter is an important consideration. However, at this point, as the story is the same to all factions, the only major differences are the NPCs who bestow missions and more importantly what vessels you have access to. Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed. At this juncture, Dominion faction players and Romulan Republic players must decide whether to ally themselves with either Starfleet or the KDF. There then comes a point when certain missions are completed, the main story becomes centralised and applicable to all factions. Each faction has bespoke traits and offer an initially unique storyline for approximately a third of the game. TOS Starfleet (the 23rd century Federation faction).ĭSC Starfleet (the 23rd century Federation faction, Discovery era and pre-TOS).Īll of which offer levelling from 1 to 65 (the present level cap) apart from the Dominion which starts at 60 and extends to 65. Starfleet (the 25th century Federation faction). IE an Engineer using a heavy cruiser to tank, or a Science Captain focusing on healing while using a fast tactical escort.Ī: At present there are six factions in Star Trek Online. And this is where the enjoyment lies creating your own hybrid build. However, these can be tempered by your choice of traits, skills, ground and space gear and ship. All three careers have their own strengths and weaknesses. A Tactical Captain deals damage, an Engineering Captain is designed to absorb damage and is thus a tank and a Science Captain focuses on buffs, debuffs, energy drain, hold and heals. So to begin with there are three career paths in STO. Having the so-called “best” doesn’t mean you’ll perform in a comparable fashion. Yes some builds can deliver higher DPS but game skill also plays a part. In this instalment, I shall be writing about career paths, factions and species.Ī: The answer to this conundrum really comes down to playstyle and personal choice. Ultimately it comes down to each player how they wish to play. Like a lot of advice, it can be subjective. So I’ll be doing my best to cover a selection of these in each post and try and provide a broad overview. The game features a lot of systems and mechanics that are not always immediately intuitive to grasp. I’ve been playing STO since its launch in 2010 and this MMO has seen a lot of changes. Just a few basic tips that may help orientate the new player.
I thought it may be useful to write a series of posts, offering practical information for those who are just starting out in STO. Welcome to the second part of my Star Trek Online: Beginners Guide.