What is Star Trek Online?
Star Trek® Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Star Trek universe. Star Trek Online will be developed for both console and PC formats. Game features will include customizable ships and characters from the Klingon Empire and United Federation of Planets, ground, space and shipboard gameplay and unique options for player-generated content.

What is an MMORPG?
MMORPG is an acronym for massively multiplayer online role-playing game. In an MMORPG, millions of players from around the world can interact with each other to socialize or achieve common goals.

Will a monthly fee be required to play?
We haven't decided on pricing plans yet.

What is Cryptic using from the previous development?
Star Trek Online is entirely based on Cryptic's design and built entirely using Cryptic Studios' technology and assets. The former studio that we acquired the Star Trek game rights from had a huge amount of concept art created for their game – much of that is applicable, and we are taking advantage of it. But Cryptic's engine, technology platform and content pipelines have become so mature that with a small team we can quickly ramp up a project.

Will there be PvP?
Yes. We plan for a faction vs. faction PvP ruleset, but there are also plans for a competitive PvE mechanic.

Will there be PvP, PvE and RP rule set servers?
There will not be separate servers for PvP and PvE rulesets. Open PvP will be restricted to designated sectors of space (far-off reaches of unclaimed territory). Consensual PvP and competitive PvE will occur between the realm borders (the Neutral Zone), where players will be competing over territory and resources with the option to PvP.

Will there be an economy?
Many of the details are still in the works, but yes, there will be an economy that makes sense in the Star Trek universe. Since the Federation has explicitly done away with money, expect bartering and trading of goods to be an important part of the economy. Less tangible forms of economics such as Reputation are also not out of the question.

What are the system requirements?
We haven't finalized this yet. Suffice to say, we want to make a game that looks great and can run well on a wide variety of systems.

Will you need to have to have an internet connection to play Star Trek Online?
Yes.

When does the game take place?
Approximately 30 years after the events in Star Trek Nemesis. The game starts in 2409. Technology has advanced and the galaxy is a much more volatile place.

What races will we be able to play?
The plan is Human, Vulcan, Andorian, Klingon, Orion, Gorn, and several others. You will also be able to create your own race with its own custom look and attributes.

Will everyone be the Captain of their own ship?
Yes, but you will have to earn the responsibility and skill to command larger and more powerful vessels. Remember, in Star Trek as well as naval tradition, whoever commands the ship is the "Captain," even if it is not your current rank.

Can I play something other than a Captain like a Doctor or an Engineer?
Everyone is a Captain, (remember, if you command a ship, you are automatically a Captain), and you will command a crew, but that does not limit your role. Your character will still be able to choose from a variety of career paths, such as Engineer, Tactical Officer, Doctor, Science Officer, etc. Your career path is your root, and will affect your skills, and how you command your crew. Consider Jean-Luc Picard, Beverly Crusher, Worf and Kathryn Janeway. Picard was an archeologist and diplomat, Crusher was a doctor, Worf a security/tactical officer, and Janeway was a scientist. Each eventually chose a career in command and became ship captains. This does not mean the game will limit your ship choices based on your profession – far from it. The examples are simply an example of how the game design was inspired.

Do I need to be well-versed in Star Trek lore in order to play Star Trek Online?
No, even the most casual Star Trek fan will enjoy and appreciate the world. For those not familiar with the Star Trek universe, Star Trek Online will be a new experience with as much depth as each individual is comfortable with exploring. However, the world will be rich with lore from every series and movie that will satisfy even the most devout Trek fan.

How will I be able to play with my friends?
In space, you can form teams and do missions together. Space battles will occur between multiple player and NPC vessels. When you do a ground mission, the mission owner can build an away team that consists of other players. Outside of combat, there will be numerous community building features, locations, hubs and events that will bring players together.

Will console and PC players be on the same servers?
We would like that to be the case. There is nothing technologically keeping us from making it so.

Will there be realistic travel times in space?
Travel times will be semi-realistic, with a focus on fun. Space is big, and it can take a very long time to travel great distances. That travel time can be impractically long. We will introduce transwarp conduit technology and worm holes to allow players to travel to distant sectors of the galaxy without needing days or weeks of gameplay to do so.

General Information
# Star Trek Online is set in 2409, roughly 30 years after the events of the 10th Star Trek film, “Star Trek Nemesis”. In the 30 years since the movie, many enemies have become friends, and some friends have become enemies. Specifically, the Federation and the Klingon Empire are at each other’s throats once more — as it should be.
# Anything considered canon in the Star Trek universe (i.e. live-action TV, films) will not be altered, but STO will take “inspiration” from some of the non-canonical Trek lore (i.e. novels, comics, etc.)
# There will only be two factions to play as at the game’s launch: The Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets. However, Cryptic has promised that other factions such as the Dominion and Romulan Empire will become playable in the future.
# There will not be separate servers for PvP, PvE and RP. PvP will be restricted to certain sectors (open PvP in unclaimed territories,consentual PvP in neutral zone, etc.).
# Competitive PvE will occur in the neutral zone, with both sides fighting over the same resources and territories. There will also be a PvP option for these instances.
# Guilds will be included. They will be referred to as “Fleets”, and as your Fleet grows in size and posterity, your Fleet will eventually be able to build their own shipyards.
# You won’t have to have a top of the line PC in order to play Star Trek Online (JW: But it’ll help).
# Unfortunately, no Mac or Linux support at this time. But they certainly made it sound like they would add it later on.
# As of now, Cryptic hasn’t decided on how much green we’re going to be charged each month.
# Cryptic Studios is working with former Star Trek writers to help pen some of the missions and events in the game.
# PC and Console gamers on the same servers? It’s a distinct possibility.
# We can expect to see Star Trek Online in “less than 3 years”.

Character & Ship Creation/Customization
# When you begin your game as a new Ship Captain, you won’t automatically be given the rank of Captain. You will have to earn your rank through play.
# Your first ship will be rather small, and as you play through the game and complete assignments, you will be able to obtain larger vessels.
# When you create your character, you will be able to select from a list of different species that include Humans (duh?), Vulcans, Bajorans, Ferengi, etc. If you want to try your hand at creating your own race for your character, you are able to.
# Customization translates over to your ship, as well. As you complete missions and build up the skills of your character and crew, you will be able to customize aspects of your ship that include the ship’s nacelles and saucer, amongst other things.
# Every Ship Captain (aka your character) will have a specialty, much like games like WoW have character classes. You will be able to specialize in things such as “Medical”, “Diplomacy”, “Navigation”, “Combat”, etc. (this is something I in particular was hoping for -jabba)
# STO will not be a level-based MMO that will take hours upon hours of mindless, pointless grinding that would go against everything Star Trek stands for.
# When you get your first ship, you will have to recruit your bridge crew. Your bridge crew plays a lot like pets play in other MMOs. They will be AI controlled, and as you play with them, you will have to increase their skill sets.
# You will also be given a general crew which will be made up of several species. Depending on the race and position of certain crew members, you will get small bonuses towards your ship (i.e. smart races as engineers, strong races as security).

Exploration
# You won’t be confined to the already discovered universe. With Cryptic’s “Infinite Exploration”, you will actually be able to discover never-before-seen races and make first contact.
# As you discover more races, you will get the opportunity to recruit them to your crew. Once they are a member of your crew, they could potentially “buff” your ship with upgrades to your shields, weapons, etc.
# When you beam down to the planet’s surface, you will have to select which members of your bridge crew to take with you. Depending on the members of your Away Team, your mission will either go smoothly or be a terrible pain in the ass.
# No word on whether the Prime Directive will come into play.

Combat
# STO will have you fighting in space, on the surfaces of planets, and possibly on-board ships.
# The space battles will be much more tactical than the MMO standard. You will be able to issue orders and target specific ship systems to disable the enemy vessel.
# Ground combat will be much more fast-paced, playing like a third-person shooter.
# PvP? Hells yes!
# The game will be designed so that those of us with lives will be able to hold our own against those sad, sorry individuals who sink 60+ hours a week into their MMO.
# “Outrageous death penalties” will be done away with. In other words, if you die or your ship is destroyed, you won’t go through hell and high water solely to get back to where you started.
# Certain actions in the game may trigger dynamic events. In short, expect random events like a Borg invasion, or an outbreak of plague, or… something.