Because of this, I've decided to switch over to modding Fleet Ops instead, but based on some of the guides I've skimmed over, Fleet Ops is almost completely different in the means in which you mod it. Despite this, I still plan on going through and attempting to make the mod I've always dreamed of making for Star Trek.
I have a big taste for historical-style RTS games. Age of Empires III and Rise of Nations are big favorites of mine. In each game, there are several "ages" representing major periods in history that you research and use to upgrade and get new kinds of troops. Essentially, what I want to do, is create a "Star Trek" Rise of Nations in space.
I've always taken enjoyment in taking an interest in all the different designs in Star Trek ship linage. I remember there being set eras in Star Trek - Legacy, but I never felt that the progression of technology, from ENT ships, to TOS/TMP ships, to TNG ships was exponential enough. The Galaxy class felt like the Excelsior class, only slightly stronger. Plus, it didn't help that this notion of separate eras was in a less than stellar game. The game mechanics felt ridiculously straight forward and the main strategy was to hold down the phaser/cannon button until your enemies' shields were down, then spam torpedoes.
I think the greatest advantage to using Fleet Ops as a platform instead of Armada 1 is how the techtree seems to work. The tech in Armada 1, required that whatever was required to build something, literally needed to be physically in the map (i.e. research pods on research facilities). In Fleet Ops, things that are researched are stored as technology for the player, and don't actually physically exist on the map, just like other more modern RTS games (like RON and AOEIII).
Format:
Essentially there will be several ages or eras.
- Age I, ENT era: Everything prior to 2161; the run of ST:Enterprise plus the Romulan War
Age II, Post-ENT era: 2161-Early 2200s
Age III, Pre-TOS era: Early 2200s to 2245
Age IV, TOS era: 2245 to 2270; essentially the year the TOS Enterprise was build until the year it was refitted in TMP
Age V, TMP era: 2271 to 2290, or TMP to around TVH or TFF
Age VI, Post-TMP era: 2293 to first quarter of 2300s, when the Excelsior reigns supreme
Age VII, Pre-TNG era: 2325ish to 2350ish: age of the USS Stargazer
Age VIII, TNG era: 2350s to 2370: Enterprise-D and stuff
Age IX, Post-TNG era: 2371 and beyond: Defiant, Voyager, Enterprise-E in a post Wolf 359 world
Major Factions
- Federation
Klingon Empire
Romulan Star Empire
In the game, there will be handful of Major Factions, or factions that will be playable. These will include the Federation (and Earth Starfleet prior to Age II), the Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Star Empire. I will add more factions as I find races that properly fit the bill for an ages mod.
So far I've ruled out the Borg, because the Borg only work in the TNG era and after. It'd be awkward fighting the Born in the ENT and TOS eras because the Borg are overpowered already in the TNG era, and thus poses balancing problems. Essentially this is the same reason I am against the Dominion being a major faction as well. Since they were only seen in the Post-TNG era, and they were already a handful for the combined entirety of the alpha/beta quadrant powers, they feel just as overpowered as the Borg (albeit not as much).
The other race I considered for being a Major Faction, was the Cardassians. I once again ruled against this, because across all of Star Trek, they have only been seen in the TNG era, and beyond. Opposite of the Borg and Dominion, Cardassians actually tend to have under-powered ships and technology, despite their heavy emphasis on their military. So I'd have similar balancing/progression problems incorporating them into the mod.
Minor Factions
- Xindi
Gorn Hegemony
Orion Syndicate
Ferengi Alliance
Terran Empire
Cardassian Union
Breen Confederacy
Kabal (Suliban)
Tholian Assembly
Remens
Hirogens (Maybe)
Kazon (Maybe)
List of Starships by Era
Federation/Earth Starfleet
Age I, ENT-era:
Age II, Post ENT-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Delta-class (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Neptune-class (Tier 3 - Destroyer)
NX-class (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
NX-class Mk.II (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
Yorktown-class (Tier 9 - Battleship)
If Coalition of Planets is Researched:
Kumari-class (Andorian ship) (Tier 4 - Light Cruiser)
Surak-class (Vulcan ship) (Tier 7 - Battlecruiser)
Age III, Pre TOS-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Discovery-class (Tier 1 - Scout)
Neptune-class Mk.II (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Poseidon-class (Tier 3 - Destroyer)
Kumari-class (Tier 4 - Light Cruiser)
NX-class Mk.III (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
Atlantis-class (Tier 5 - Advanced Cruiser)
Daedulus-class (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
D'Kyr-type (Tier 7 - Battlecruiser)
Yorktown-class Mk.II (Tier 8 - Dreadnought)
Confederation-class (Tier 9 - Battleship)
Age IV, TOS-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Einstein-class (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Atlantis-class Mk.II (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
Bonaventure-class (Tier 5 - Advanced Cruiser)
Daedulus-class (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
Continental-class (Tier 6 - Advanced Heavy Cruiser)
Yorktown-class Mk.III (Tier 8 - Dreadnought)
Proxima-class (Tier 10/11 - Juggernaut)
Age V, TMP-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Hermes-class (Tier 1 - Scout)
Einstein-class Mk.II (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Saladin-class (Tier 3 - Destroyer)
Miranda-class (Tier 4 - Light Cruiser)
Bonaventure-class (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
Constitution-class (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
Federation-class (Tier 8 - Dreadnought)
Proxima-class (Tier 10/11 - Juggernaught)
Ptolomy-class (Multi-purpose freighter with a module that can be separated in battle)
Age VI, Post TMP-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Hermes-class Mk.II (Tier 1 - Scout)
Essex-class (Tier 1 - Advanced Scout)
Einstein-class Mk.II (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Apollo-class (Tier 2 - Advanced Frigate)
Saladin-class Mk.II (Tier 3 - Destroyer)
Akula-class (Tier 3 - Advanced Destroyer)
Miranda-class Mk.II (Tier 4 - Light Cruiser)
Constitution-class (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
Constitution-class Mk.II (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
Federation-class Mk.II (Tier 8 - Dreadnought)
Proxima-class Mk.II (Tier 9 - Battleship)
Age VII, Pre TNG-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Essex-class (Tier 1 - Scout)
Oberth-class (Tier 2 - Frigate)
Akula-class (Tier 3 - Destroyer)
Miranda-class Mk.II (Tier 4 - Light Cruiser)
Constitution-class refit (Tier 5 - Cruiser)
Constellation-class (Tier 6 - Heavy Cruiser)
Federation-class Mk.II (Tier 8 - Dreadnought)
Excelsior-class (Tier 9 - Battleship)
Age VIII, TNG-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Freedom-class
Miranda-class refit
Centaur-class
Constellation-class
Niagra-class
Excelsior-class
Ambassador-class
Age IX, Post TNG-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
Freedom-class
Miranda-class refit
Centaur-class
Galaxy Kitbashes (Cheyanne, Springfield, Challenger, New Orleans)
Excelsior-class
Ambassador-class
Nebula-class
Galaxy-class
Klingon EmpireFederation/Earth Starfleet:
Freedom-class
Nova-class (succeeds Freedom as main scout)
Miranda-class refit
Saber-class (succeeds Miranda as main frigate)
Centaur-class
Norway-class (succeeds Centaur as main destroyer)
Intrepid-class
Cheyanne-class
New Orleans-class
Excelsior-class
Ambassador-class
Nebula-class
Akira-class
Galaxy-class
Defiant-class
Prometheus-class
Sovereign-class
Age I, ENT-era:
Age II, Post ENT-era:Klingon Empire:
Raptor-class
D5-class
D5 Tanker (Mining Freighter Varient, can jettison it's tanks and become a D5, like the Topmey class in Fleet Ops)
D4 Koro'T'inga-class (Unused design created by Robert Bonchune for Star Trek: Enterprise)
Bird of Prey
Age III, Pre TOS-era:Klingon Empire:
Raptor-class
D5-class
D5 Tanker (Mining Freighter Varient, can jettison it's tanks and become a D5, like the Topmey class in Fleet Ops)
D4 Koro'T'inga-class
Bird of Prey
Age IV, TOS-era:Klingon Empire:
Bird of Prey (22nd Century style)
D4 Koro'T'inga-class
Klingon "Warbird" (From Star Trek 2009)
Age V, TMP-era:Klingon Empire:
Bird of Prey (22nd Century style)
Klingon "Warbird"
D7 K'T'inga-class (TOS Klingon ships)
Ravenous-class (From ST:Legacy)
Age VI, Post TMP-era:Klingon Empire:
B'rel-class Bird of Prey
D7 K'T'inga-class (Refit, from ST:TMP)
Ravenous-class
Age VII, Pre TNG-era:Federation/Earth Starfleet:
B'rel-class Bird of Prey
Qud-class Bird of Prey (Insurrection-class from Star Trek Shattered Universe)
K'T'inga-class (Dropped D7 name, gains green engine glow like Kronos One)
Ravenous-class
Age VIII, TNG-era:Klingon Empire:
B'rel-class Bird of Prey
Qud-class Bird of Prey
K'T'inga-class
Ravenous-class
Qeh'Ral-class (From ST:Armada II)
Age IX, Post TNG-era:Klingon Empire:
B'rel-class Bird of Prey
Qud-class Bird of Prey
K'T'inga-class
K'Vort-class Bird of Prey
SuQ'jagh-class (Assault ship from ST:Armada)
Fek'lhr-class (Science ship from ST:Armada)
Vor'Cha-class
Qeh'Ral-class
Romulan Star EmpireKlingon Empire:
B'rel-class Bird of Prey
Qud-class Bird of Prey
K'T'inga-class
K'Vort-class Bird of Prey
SuQ'jagh-class (Assault ship from ST:Armada)
Fek'lhr-class (Science ship from ST:Armada)
Vor'Cha-class
Vup'Ta-class (Troopship from Fleet Ops, may replace SuQ'jagh)
Qeh'Ral-class
Negh'Var-class
I have no idea what the ships for the Romulans will be across all of the ages. I'll come up with more as time goes on.
Age I, ENT-era:
Age III, TOS-era:Romulan Star Empire:
Bird of Prey
Age IV, TMP-era:Romulan Star Empire:
Bird of Prey
Stormbird-class (Romulan D7/K't'inga)
Age VIII, TNG-era:Romulan Star Empire:
Bird of Prey (From ST: Shattered Universe)
Centurion-class (From ST: Shattered Universe)
Stormbird-class (Romulan D7/K'T'inga)
Hawk-class (From Starfleet Command III)
Age XI, Post TNG-era:Romulan Star Empire:
Talon/Falcon (From Starfleet Command III)
Shrike-class (From Starfleet Command III)
Raptor-class (From ST:Legacy)
D'deridex-class
Ship FunctionsRomulan Star Empire:
Talon/Falcon (From Starfleet Command III)
Strike-class (Shrike from ST:Armada)
Shrike-class (From Starfleet Command III)
Shadow-class (From ST:Armada)
Raptor-class
Raptor-class Refit (Raptor artillery ship from ST:Armada)
Kestrel-class (Battlecruiser from Starfleet Command III, also a troopship)
D'deridex-class
Norexan-class
I was also inspired by the idea of 3 different roles of ships from Star Trek Online. I have modified them for this mod idea.
There are, Tactical vessels (Escorts in STO), Explorers (Cruisers in STO), and Science vessels.
The projected way to use these ships is similar as it is in STO.
Tactical vessels would be nimble and deal lots of DPS. Their drawbacks would be that they have weaker hulls or shields, and the majority of their damage dealing weapons would be forward firing only.
Science vessels would be at the opposite side of the spectrum. They would deal significantly less DPS than Tactical vessels of a similar tier, and they would be much slower. Their advantages would be larger sensor ranges, and access to a handful of special weapons, where tactical vessels would have little to no special weapons.
Explorers would be a more "middle of the road" role between Science vessels and Tactical vessels. With more balanced DPS and sensor range. They would have bulkier hulls, and have at least one special weapon. Also, larger explorers may be equipped with tractor beams.
Science vessels would include:
Nova-class ships
Oberth-class ships
Nebula-class ships
Intrepid-class ships
Constellation-class ships (maybe)
Einstein-class ships
Daedulus-class ships
Tactical vessels would include:
Almost all Post Wolf 359 ships, save for maybe the Sovereign.
Defiant-class
Prometheus-class
Saladin-class
Explorers would include:
Yorktown-class
Confederation-class
Continental-class
Constitution-class
Excelsior-class
Ambassador-class
Galaxy-class
Sovereign-class
Potential Issues
In creating a mod with several ages, and several technologies and ships within each age, I'd obviously have to create separate construction ships for each age, with set stations for each age. The problem with this is that with so many new stations, players will have to do some decommissioning of facilities to replace stations with newer, upgraded stations. Based on what I've seen from Armada AI files, the means that computers build ships and stations is conducted in a checklist manner. If any of the stations are non existent at the beginning of the build list (whether they were destroyed or not build yet), the computer AI will prioritize their construction and complete that task prior to building anything else. In short, I don't think there is any way to make this ages mod usable with AI players.
Thoughts?
