I've been playing it a little (got to level 8 which didn't take long) and .. I think I'm probably done.

It feels really old-school with a very clunky engine and combat system which requires a weird mix of clicking and ability activating (with long cool-downs). It's very boring for what should be a very fluid martial-art styled fighting.

There is an active combat system which I tried to use first but the reticle is badly placed and makes combat almost impossible (it almost becomes a whack a mole with you trying to position to reticle for every click).

The graphics aren't ugly they just look about 10 years old, which is fine if graphics aren't a big pull for you but they are for me.

The questing seems entirely story based so far with quests alternating from simple "talk to" objectives then "kill so many" objectives and then eventually (and quite often) a story instance which plays out in long cutscenes and very little action. The nice thing is that the quests seem to be one-at-a-time and not big quest hubs.

It almost plays like a point and click adventure story with the quest log activating as your guide. The quests will have highlighted objectives with an underlined word or phrase which upon clicking will send your character automatically moving to the objective. It was actually nice but takes away any feeling of adventure or exploration.

I have a big problem with the cutscenes I mentioned earlier (and I have to stress, I'm only level 8. This could improve with time). All the best action takes place in these pre-scripted animations of which you have no control. For example, an early quest saw me chase down a baddie. He proceded to do some Crounching-Tiger esk jumps across building tops. The game give me back control and I proceeded to move my character onto a little blue spot and the game took control from me and I watched as my character did similar impressive jumps to chase my enemy.

Why couldn't I have done this myself? It would have been an awesome gameplay mechanic to have, almost like having a bit of a platform game in my MMO (like GW2's jumping puzzles or Tomb Raiders platforming). But instead I was given control to point and click and use the terrible combat system.

It's a shame because you could do some cool things with this type of IP but this just isn't thinking outside the box in any way.

I'm somewhat interested, but not enough to give up on STO. The Armada 3 mod for Sins of a Solar Empire fulfils my need to command vast fleets over many star systems, so between that and STO, all my Star Trek fantasies are already fulfilled.

Okay, I've been playing some more this morning and am getting into it more. The HUD/UI threw me off at first, because it's more in the Everquest/WoW mould that usually melts my brain. But it's more streamlined in Swordsman and I'm adapting to it better. I think part of my problem with the dialogue is translation. Like, I don't see folks running around early China saying "cool", for instance. I just chose my school for my first character, so once I get different schools on all three, I think I'll have a better feel for what's going on.

They just opened closed-beta for Swordsman last night. For those of us who have been awaiting the game because a persistent bug keeps a LOT of us from being able to download Age of Wushu, this is exciting.

The thing you have to bear in mind is that this is a game designed for the Chinese market. The source material is the 1967 novel Xiao ao jiang hu, which is hugely popular in China and has been adapted to various media over the years. Bearing this in mind, they've designed this game with the Chinese market in mind.

Which means it has some of the features common to Chinese games that may strike the Western mind (like my own) as a bit off. First off, the UI is driving me nuts. Now, it should be said that at the very beginning of the game, it offers you a menu to choose what kind of control you're using. Not having any sort of joystick, I chose the keyboard option. But it's kind of janky. When I go "back", I want to turn around, but instead I'm essentially moonwalking. To target an enemy, you have to aim your cursor at them and left-click. This is terribly awkward when you're getting swarmed, and hard to remember when you're so used to pounding away at the Tab key. I haven't seen yet whether I can change my hotkeys or anything, I'll check later.

You also have to bear in mind that this game abides by the Chinese gaming aesthetic. The HUD reminds me vaguely of Everquest, in that a lot of the options aren't really visible or straightforward. And the story isn't really progressed through dialogue, which is curt, corny, and reminds me a LOT of early Legend of Zelda. The map is also very much in the Chinese aesthetic--simplified, with huge text.

There are some things I love about this game. The character customisation is unbelievably flexible, although it's not obvious unless you click the Advanced menu. Those who appreciate Cryptic's character customisation (minus the bugs) will feel right at home. What's weird, though, is that your customisation doesn't affect your character portrait. In the character-creation menu, you have a set of eight standard portraits to choose from. This struck me as odd, especially given that the range of these portraits is very narrow compared to what you can do with the tailor. The set design of this game is gorgeous, and I'm eager to explore it more.

If you're looking to get your Age of Wushu fix through this game, this will not do. But if you're comfortable with Chinese-style games, want to engage in a famous-but-not-to-you IP, and want to explore a beautiful gaming world, this will work for you.

Closed beta is only running for two weeks, so I'm not sure how much player feedback is going to influence the game. On the one hand, as I said before, this game is clearly designed for the Chinese market, so I don't think there are going to be any big changes to Westernise it. On the other hand, the folks I saw in chat seemed to be native English speakers; however, it's likely that they are already accustomed to this gaming aesthetic.

My beta characters are named Zhuangzhi, Xinhuang, and Gudai. But all beta characters will be wiped on launch.

I'll play around with the game a little more for now, but at the moment I'm really sunk into SW:TOR, so we'll see how involved I get.

Honestly that press release has me going meh a lot. Not unlike the early reviews etc for STO though.

Sounds very much like they are ignoring most of the ip/canon as well.

Firstly mentioning having Constittion and D7 alongside Defiant etc. Yes I know STO has them as well. But with the basics limited to the lowest tier much to some players annoyance.

Plus skipping over the events towards the end of DS9 with Fed/Klingons allied once more. Using this new "potential unlimited power" as a wedge to split them again.

"defeating weird and wonderful monsters, attacking enemy planets and intercepting plunder ships. A good starship captain is a must!" so no first contact and trying to ally? Not to mention that Kess said 8472 had eliminated all life except their own in fluidic space. And that was their goal for non fluidic space now. So where were these monsters etc that 8472 did not destroy as being weaker?

And Feds should not be attacking planets and attacking plunder ships full stop. Klingons sure, but not Feds.

Small niggles maybe and I can think of plenty of games that do see you attacking planets. Although mods for Sins of a Solar Empire are using its mechanics. Armada saw you doing so as well. But I always felt the cultural influence takeover was a far more Federation style takeover...

I will keep an eye open for this and will most likely take a look. But the press release does not fill me with much hope really.

Distinct lack of info on actual game mechanics as well. Talk of building/commanding fleets. So seems closer to an RTS than a MMORPG...

Hey, all. Hope you're enjoying the new installments. It's occurred to me that maybe we could use a break.

So enjoy this brief interlude, from a long time ago, in a Quadrant far, far away.

Interlude 1: Galvanis VII

Vorta Field Supervisor's Report. Agent Semil aboard Battle Cruiser 31185.

We are on approach to Galvanis VII. Embedded operatives have reported regime change in the embattled Galvanian government that may be more amenable to our agenda in this administrative block. We have been dispatched to entreaty the new government to cease attempts at resistance. They could hardly do worse than their predecessors.



The reception hall was in greater disrepair than the dossier reports had prepared Semil for when he beamed down. Plaster had crumbled away from the arches and ceiling in wild abandon. The hastily boarded and reinforced windows had done little to prevent their shattering. Shards of fluorstained glass littered the floor.

Pity, Semil had it on good authority that those things were vaguely pleasing to even Vorta eyes.

The Galvanian welcoming party at the far end of the hall was clearly a ragtag bunch. A lone cloaked figure stepped forward from the beleagured crew, his arm in a sling.

"I am Golonk the Third. Newly appointed Archduke of Galvanis VII. Thank you for agreeing to parlay." The man put in clear effort to emanate an uncomplicated, facile pride and stoicism despite his shoddy surroundings and compatriots. A feint that Semil or anyone could see through. Still, Vorta training meant keeping up appearances of graciousness.

"A pleasure, Archduke! An immense pleasure, indeed." In striding across the room well ahead of his well-heeled Jem'Hadar guard, Semil demonstrated for the assemblage what truly politic gregariousness and confidence looked like.

"My name is Semil, on behalf of the Dominion." Semil always enjoyed flourishing his speech when introducing himself in such a manner. He had always felt that the dramatic flair underscored the grandiosity of an institution as august as the Dominion.

"And may I be the first to offer condolences on the loss of your brother, Archduke Sellundis. Well, the first from the Dominion, at any rate." He smiled in that Vorta way that any other species would view as obsequy.

"It was your shocktroops that killed him."

"And I'm certain they didn't do you the courtesy of offering condolences. The brutes." Semil gestured off-handedly at his Jem'Hadar guards, who paid precisely no mind to the proceedings.

"If you're done with the... pleasantry -- perhaps we could engage in the matter for which I've summoned you here today." Golonk motioned to the hastily arranged conference table, its hodgepodge of chairs communicating a certain desparation that Semil found charming.

Semil let himself be led to a particularly comfortable-looking, unscorched seat. "I have every appreciation for a negotiator unafraid of directness."

The Archduke sat opposite, in a clearly less comfortable, but substantially more imposing, regal, though battle-worn chair. "Let me get to the point. For centuries, Galvanis has been happy to accede to every demand--" Golonk caught himself "...every offer the Dominion has brought to us. This uprising was started by my brother. Now I can't atone for the choices Sellundis made. But he's gone now. And with him any resistance Galvanis would mount."

From practice negotiations in training, Semil was finding it terribly useful to "listen with his eyes" in situations like these. He had scored perfect marks for his eye listening skills.

"Archduke, if I may be so blunt - even with your brother deposed. Decomposed. Deposed. I can never keep the two straight -- but I disgress. Sellundis did not wage his rebellion alone. Surely, there must be other Galvanians..."

It was clear that Golonk had prepared for this. "A small, dedicated coterie surrounding my brother's regime. We are prepared to bring the conspirators to justice for their part in bringing such... misery." Golonk gestured out the boarded windows. "You must believe me when I say that the heart of Galvanis has always and truly remained with the Dominion."

Semil assessed the Archduke cooly through his unwavering smile.

"Your Highness, it would bring me no greater pleasure to see you and your world restored to their rightful place within the Dominion." Semil made an outstretched arm gesture that he always thought looked great in broadcast. "After all, what is the Dominion without inclusion? And what is inclusion, forbearing forgiveness?"

The other Agents were going to eat this up in the after action report.



Vorta Field Supervisor's Report. Agent Semil aboard Battle Cruiser 31185.

In orbit of Galvanis VII. I am pleased to report that the new Galvanian regime gives every assurance of their full capitulation and cooperation in resolving this crisis.

It is unfortunate that the Archduke's presentation of events so clearly contradicts our operative reports. A "small, dedicated coterie" could never sustain months of open insurrection without broad, popular support.

I can't decide whether I am more galled by the Galvanians' cowardice, or Archduke Golonk for believing we would ever even remotely believe such a blatant fabrication. I can hardly blame a leader for wishing to protect his constituents, or himself to be more direct - but for Founders' sake, man - at least put some basic effort into it. This is your planet's life at stake here.

I am proceeding immediately with extreme pacification.

Borath, please inform the Founders they were right - as they always are, in all things.

They're great, Starfish1! You'll always have fans here keeping up with your work!

The prospect of building and commanding large fleets of ships appeals to the Strategy gamer in me but I doubt this game will hold a candle to the immersive world STO.

Hrmm, well this is interesting. I did some digging through some of the other NGames game line-up, and have found that as you said, they appear to be largely browser based, and while the graphics are good for a browser level game, I don't think it will really compare in complexity to Star Trek Online.

For those interested, NGames library can be found here, and you can view screenshots of their other works:



After the Star Trek: Infinite Space browser based game was cancelled, I think it left an opening in the market for something similar, which is probably what this is going to shoot for. While I was excited for Infinite Space, and would've played it on my tablet as a supplement to STO, rather than a replacement, I'm not sure that this will live up to the hype that Infinite Space generated, unless this new developer acquired the game, sort of like the Perpetual / Cryptic arrangement.

Will be interesting either way! I doubt that STO will see much of an impact on their player base as you said... I think the game is in a different ball park entirely, but I could see myself playing it casually!

For those who haven't seen it, the cancelled project: Infinite Space had some cool gameplay, for a browser.. in some ways cooler than STO. YouTube link below! Hopefully this new game will pick-up where they left off!

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/ngames-teases-new-star-trek-mmo/

it looks like the battle between the Federation and the Klingon Empire will continue in fluidic space. Read the article above for the full article. Apparently this new iteration will be heavily influenced by combat, and Massively is speculating that it's going to be browser based.

So what is your feeling on this? Think it will hurt STO? Will you play it?

Personally, it sounds like too different of a game to even put a dent in STO. I'll probably give it a whirl, but it's all the other aspects of an MMO that make me like it; combat is pretty far down on the list.

I absolutely love them! I only wish that I still had the oversize color printed so I could print them out and bask in their fantastic glory!

Sorry, just seen this thread.

I hope they're of continued use to people. I often wonder if it's worth continuing to update the charts, so I'm pleased to see this thread. :)

Chapter XVIII: Working Knowledge

K'vot quietly entered the mess hall, empty save the lone Vorta seated, reading a PADD.

"I can hear you, you know." Semil turned slightly to face the Colonel, without interrupting his gaze on the text he was reading. "Good ears."

"We have new orders. I have ordered Conn to divert to Beta Lankal."

Semil nodded wordlessly, still engrossed in his reading. Finishing with a passage, he turned to fully face K'vot, who was pouring himself a raktajino.

K'vot joined Semil at the small banquette, gesturing with his chin towards the PADD. "And what is it that has you so captivated?"

"Oh, this? Just working my way through that pile of Alpha Quadrant histories you left for me upon embarkation. This one is 'Romulan Imperial Ambitions of the 24th Century'. I'm up to the assassination of Praetor Tal'aura. Heady stuff."

K'vot smirked through a sip of raktajino, not wanting to spoil the Vorta for the literally world-shattering events to come.

Semil continued. "I've always admired the Romulan people for their ability to adapt to shifting power structures. Our analysts concluded it would make the general populace more amenable to Dominion rule once we'd reached a critical mass of capitulation."

"Then you haven't been concerning yourself with the failure of our mission."

"Our mission? I was under the impression it was my assignment. Just what did the General task you to find from the Lethean, anyways?"

"That is not your concern. Your only task was to the deliver the Lethean."

"Oh, but I think I did one better, yes?"

"You very well know the General wanted you to deliver him alive. Not -- dismembered like some school science project."

"I disagree. Respectfully, of course." Semil turned to face K'vot more directly. "I'm certain you know the General far better than me. But why separate the interrogator from the acquisition? If he wanted you to make sure I delivered him, why not send you to the planet with me? It's clear it was a test of sorts, but..."

K'vot grunted into his mug. "You make too much of such things. The General does not hide his agenda. It's what makes him such an effective..." K'vot caught himself "..warrior."

Semil openly stared at K'vot, unflinchingly. "I know you are both Klingon Intelligence."

K'vot continued to drink, unimpressed, not returning the Vorta's eye contact. "I'm sure I don't know of what you speak."

"The base encryption lockout on all this ship's systems? Far more extensive than anything the rest of the KDF fleet bothers to operate with. And the General? It's clear his status within the Klingon hierarchy is greatly diminished. And yet he is still allowed some resources, your loyalty? Only former operatives wth signficant operational knowledge would be afforded such a luxury, without the dishonor of forced exile..."

K'vot looked up from his mug, to squarely assess Semil cooly in the eye. "I knew from the moment the General handed me your clone canister that you would be our undoing. That there would be no way a sniveling Vorta pe'taq could possibly..."

"Wait." Semil held up a hand. "He only handed you the one clone container. Only mine."

K'vot typically did not stand for interruptions, but was taken aback enough by surprise to stammer out, "Only one, only yours."

Semil paused, lost in thought. "The General never intended for you to interrogte the Lethean."

K'vot was now speechless, failing to comprehend.

"Don't you see? The General's instructions - he wanted you to ask the Lethean about the first time they met." Semil continued, excitedly. "He meant for me to see it, to see the clone cache. He needed you to lead me into the correct memory of the Lethean's."

K'vot glared, still unable to understand.

"He wants us to find the other clones."

Chapter XVII: Otherwise Blank

"This way." The Lethean was easy to keep track of, standing out in his simple prison tunic amidst his armored warrior escorts.

He had led the party to a nondescript back alley, remarkable only for being relatively unperturbed amidst the devastation of the Cardassian capitol. The district appeared largely abandoned and declined, perhaps explaining why Jem'Hadar had not seen reason to raze it. Even Cardassians fleeing for their lives thought they could do better.

Semil and K'vot trailed behind, unseen phantasms intruding upon this recovered memory.

"Here. This doorway." The Lethean led the party of Klingons inside. Semil gestured for K'vot to follow.

They followed the Klingons down a flight of steps into a dark basement, untouched by the Jem'Hadar extermination squads.

At the end of the room, the Lethean scurried to slide a bookcase along the dusty floor, revealing a heavily reinforced door. The Lethean beckoned the younger General to inspect the threshold. "Careful."

The General assessed the locking mechanism on the doorjamb, calling out for assistance, "Demolitions."

With the break in their journey, an opportunity presented itself for K'vot to needle Semil. "This is a failure. Why would the General wish us to interrogate the Lethean for events that he himself was party to?"

"Some detail the General missed the first time around, perhaps? Maybe he grows senile and forgot..."

"You will keep your life only because I have chosen to ignore your last statement," K'vot growled.

Summarily humbled, Semil changed tack. "This is why we didn't need the Lethean alive. Dominion mind probes are exceptionally effective at recovering memories from cadaveric brain tissue. In some ways, it's more efficient without the subject actively trying to shape his own recollections, participate in his own memories."

K'vot grunted, unimpressed by the Vorta's attempt to assuage him.

"My point is, as the interrogator, its your input, your mental imprinting of your question that led his brain to bring us here - to this memory, to this moment."

"We shall see. For the sake of your neck, perhaps you might let your head think first before acting if you live through this day."

Semil considered what he thought to be the most convoluted Klingon threat he had ever heard when the doorway erupted in a loud pop of fireworks.

Klingon warriors rushed into the smoking threshold, rifles drawn, followed by the General and the Lethean.

Following, Semil and K'vot entered the doorway, through a dark, cramped foyer.
In the next room, K'vot beheld a cavernous space, bathed in the cool, sterile violet light of a Dominion installation.

Around the room, warriors were canvassing, scanning for signs of non-existent Jem'Hadar resistance.

K'vot and Semil sidled over to the Lethean, who was leading the General about on a hushed tour of the facility. He would point at items on the numerous shelves, or larger pieces of equipment, make quiet remarks to the General, who would nod and move on to the next item.

From his own experience, Semil knew K'vot could recognize at least some of the Dominion technology surrounding them. An engrammatic interface processor. A barely used cloning vat.

In a quiet, undisturbed corner of the room, the Lethean had led the General - and unknowingly, the mental phantasms of Semil and K'vot - to a large wall rack. Innumerable stacks of cylindrical vessels filled the rack, each within a perfectly fitting slot, inscribed with status displays in Dominionese.

As the Lethean and the General were lingering, this destination clearly being of import, Semil looked at K'vot, trying to read his countenance - trying to ascertain whether the Colonel comprehended what he was seeing.

"What is it?" K'vot squinted, Semil couldn't tell from being unable to see or recognize the object.

Semil pointed at one of the cylinders. "That is a Mid-Managerial Vorta Grade 4G. Next to it, Diplomatic Attache Grade 3B." Semil went down the line. "Cloning technician, Ketracel engineer, Intelligence analyst..." He trailed off.

"This is what then? A cloning bank?"

"More of an cryonic backup. One of several scattered around the city. In case the capitol was ever cut off from the larger outlying cloning facilities. We could have backup reinforcements ready and out on the streets within weeks."

Semil gestured at a larger bank of more densely packed cylinders. "The Jem'Hadar lines are over there. A limited passage batch, too, by the looks of it. Emergency reserves that the F--" Semil caught himself. "That the Dominion never had the opportunity to activate."

Not far away, the Lethean and K'vot were closely inspecting a cylinder that they had ejected from its slot on the wall. The General gripped the cylinder with a reverent gentleness that K'vot had not recognized in him ever before, or ever since.

"And that. That cylinder he is holding there. What is that one?" K'vot pointed.
Semil squinted to see, his face otherwise blank. "That's me."

---

B U M P !
Just a reminder that this fantastic day at the beach is next Saturday! Raise your most exotic pets, choose a date for the Lu-au, and get ready to have a fantastic day in the sun!

See you all there!

EEEEE EPIC!!!!

Also Gary Graham reprising his role as Soval from Enterprise, Tony Todd (Worf's brother) playing Admiral Ramirez, Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh from BSG) as Captain Robert April, Richard Hatch (Apollo from the original, better Battlestar Galactica) as Klingon General Kharn, and Kate Vernon (BSG Ellen Tigh).

I love the idea that Michael Hogan and Kate Vernon are a part of this and both playing Star Trek captains. Can't wait to see more!

Chapter XVI: Fuming Remains

K'vot opened his eyes.

The dimness around him did little but add to the disorienting floating feeling of his being. His consciousness buzzed as he looked around, trying to get his bearings.

"Easy, Colonel. It won't do you any good to fight it. Just ease into it; you'll become accustomed shortly."

K'vot recognized Semil's voice, and slowly turned his head and squinted to see the Vorta at his side.

"As you stop resisting it, your brain will accomodate the sensory inputs more readily."

"I will let you tell me what I may choose to resist the day after I break your skull open with my bare..."

"I've done this hundreds of times, General. I'm just informing you it's far more productive if you're not distracted by your own disorientation."

Orientation, right. K'vot slowly spiraled his neck around to get a better look at the rest of the room -- no, it was a corridor. The emergency lighting had largely failed.

There was a clear acrid stench of smoke in the air - K'vot was surprised at the vivid lucidity of the smell and almost felt the urge to cough. "Remarkable. No simulation has ever felt this real to me."

"That's because it's not a simulation. It's real - well, a real memory, at least."

A shower of sparks to their left lit the hallway, before erupting in a hail of fireball and shrapnel. K'vot instinctively raised his arms to shield himself before realizing he wasn't actually there. The sensation of heat and blast passed through him.

He recognized yelling in Klingon, as a column of warriors advanced through the now open door, illuminating the hazy hallway from the light beacons affixed to their rifles.

The warriors spread down the corridor in an efficient fashion, clearing as they went, noticing neither Semil or K'vot. Apparently, their interactions with this memory would be limited. K'vot could see with the light that it was some sort of prison block, from the heavily secured doors leading off the main passage.

A lieutenant bellowed, "be'Huv!" giving the all-clear.

An important ranking figure strode confidently into the hallway, followed by his personal guard. He made his way past Semil and K'vot, to a cell door that K'vot just noticed had been forced ajar. "You, thief. You will come with us."

K'vot recognized the voice, no matter the passage of thirty years time. It was the General. Younger, but still a refined distinguished warrior, cutting an imposing figure in the fur-lined cloak of his position.

A small, though deep voice resonated from inside the darkened cell. "Tell me why I should."

"Because I will behead you where you stand if you resist."

From inside the darkened room, K'vot could make out the glowing eyes of its occupant. It was the Lethean.

"I think I know what you want - what you're looking for. And I'll take you there."



Semil and K'vot followed the party out the corridor, through the smoldering building, and into a soft hazy daylight.

K'vot was surprised that he felt the need to squint, his eyes adjusting to take in his surroundings. He recognized the brutalist architecture, replete with weighty buttresses and columns.

Semil intoned knowledgeably. "Cardassia Prime. I spent some time here."

As the party started its way along the elevated roadway, Semil gestured across at the view - across the Golhonorr River, past the fuming remains of the First Republic Bridge, towards a large blast crater where Alnetepp Plaza should have been. "Not quite how I remember it."

Now that K'vot could tell where they were, he could piece together when. At end of the War. Klingon, Starfleet, and Romulan forces just establishing a beachhead in the Cardassian capitol after the capitulation of the Dominion. Beaming down to find the proud cities of the Cardassians reduced to piles of still-hot rubble; to find Cardassian children gunned down in their mothers' arms.

At the time, K'vot was just a schoolboy. Training for his 3A bat'leth proficiencies, watching the newsfeed holovids of the devastation of Cardassia. Feeling pride at the warriors who defeated the awful cowards who could inflict such mindless atrocity, even on a race as honorless as the Cardassians.

"We need to keep up. This is his memory; there isn't anything here past what he can see."

K'vot and Semil jogged lightly to keep up with the squadron and their prisoner, past rows of Cardassian corpses, decaying where they had been slain.

I find some ships seem like they can't be killed in pvp. What insights do you have in creating these ultra survivable ships?

I've played it on my PC a few times, even my iPad and PS3. Planning to get it for PS4 though.