I heartily recommend the works of China Mieville for those who want some mature urban fantasy/horror/steampunk. He's often seen as one of the leading authors of the New Weird trend of the last decade.

His books can be a bit of the bloated side but he's still one of my favourite authors around. His most recent novel, The City & The City, is a bit different to his other stuff - an existential noir police procedural that won huge critical acclaim from the mainstream press as well as in speculative fiction circles.

And he's a hotty:

Just found a cool site that lets you build a list of books and then get recommendations based on your list.

http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/

bfelczer wrote:

Amazing job! wow!

with your permission, I would like to put this in the next Times issue :)

Already gave you permission in vent, just also stating here and ANY guides I may do in the future, you always have my permission to be used in any way for the Fleet (News letter.. or any other way).

chichistarr wrote:

Great guide!!! I knew Pasty knew more than just fashion!

:laugh:

Great guide!!! I knew Pasty knew more than just fashion!

Amazing job! wow!

with your permission, I would like to put this in the next Times issue :)

This is really awesome! Thank you so much!!

Great writeup. Thank you for sharing.

I love this Jaesun, Thank you!

Beginners guide to Skills, Abilities and Skill Points

A common question I hear on the forums and or in chat is typically the Which Deflector Dish is better? Well the answer to that question is, What SKILLS are you using? So I decided to write up this guide to help people understand this better.

For the purposes of this guide I took some screen shots of a VERY OLD copy of Pats on Tribble. So please ignore my gimped skills and abilities. :p

Also I will be taking the angle of a beginning player on the KDF side at Lieutenant level. Since this level is basically the same Federation side, this will work fine for this guide. I also will basically be going over the Space side of this. Ground Skills and Abilities are slightly different, and an entire topic all together.

Part 1: Abilities and Skills

Since I am but a lowly KDF Lieutenant, I have decided that as I continue to PvP and do PvE missions, I want to select some Bridge Officer Skills that will help me further crush the Federation Targs. After doing a number of missions and PvP I finally have enough merits and bridge officer points to select the Bridge Officer skills that will help me achieve this.

I have decided these 3 Bridge Officer skills will help me crush the pathetic Federation:

Science: Science Team I (So that I can heal myself and my team mates).
Engineering: Engineering Team I (So that I can heal myself and my team mates).
Tactical: High Yield Torpedo I (So when the enemy Federation's ship shield is down, I can finish them off).

We could discuss a bazillion different Bridge Officer Skills to start with (such as if you are playing Federation side, Jam Sensors I might be more better for PvE), but just for the purposes of this guide and because Klingon side is all about team work, I'm going to stick with these.

We first need to define what Bridge Officer skills and Captain Abilities are. Each of your Bridge Officers have Skills you can select and level up in and use in combat. In this example my Bridge Officer Nutlel has the Science Team I and Hazard Emitters II skills on him for Space Combat:



And in space look like this:



Captain Abilities are abilities you get while leveling up your Captain. For example, since Pats is a Tactical Captain, and at BG5 level she has many Captain Abilities like Fire on My Mark:



Now your CAPTAIN SKILLS:



These are the skills you put points into as you level to HELP MAKE your Captain Abilities AND your Bridge Officer Skills more effective!

Part 2: Let's get more bang with our Captain Skill points

Since I will be PvP'ing a lot, I really want to make my Science Team I heal really help myself or a team mate when in battle. So how do I do that?

With the 1.1 update we now can easily go to our Captain Skill Screen and see EXACTLY what Captain Skills help our Bridge Officers Skills and Captain Abilities!

The Science Team Skill (I and II) all use these 3 Captain Skills to make them better:



So when leveling up, be sure to put points into these Captain Skills to help the Science Team skill work even better.

As a lowly Lieutenant, we only can put points into the Captain Skill Science Team Leader. But as we continue to level we can put points into the others later on.

As pictured above, the Science Team Bridge Officer skill use Science Team Leader, Starship Deflectors and Starship Deflector Field. Let's keep that in mind as we move onto....

Part 3: Ship Equipment and Consoles

Now that we are putting points into our Captain Skill, Science Team Leader, our Science Team I Bridge Officer Skill is good, but it can be even more better when a dishonorable Federation Targ is attacking one of my brothers and sisters and needs a heal!

As we PvP and do explore mission we have now acquired quite a few badges and can buy some Consoles and Ship Equipment! Heading over to the fabulous Ganalda Space Station I decide I want a Science console on my ship that will help my Science Team I Bridge Officer Skill.

We now know that the Science Team I, Bridge Officer skill use Science Team Leader, Starship Deflectors and Starship Deflector Field to make it a better skill.

While browsing the Console vendor I spot this console:



So this will add a +3.8 to my Starship Deflector Field, and guess what? Science Team I ALSO uses Starship Deflector Field! So this is now helping my Science Team I Bridge Officer Skill even more!

It's now time to pick a Deflector Dish for my Fabulous Bird of Prey. I've narrowed down my choices to 2. Let's go over them:



OK on this one, I am not using any skills or abilities that use Starship Sensors or Starship Emitters. It does add a +7.5 to Starship Deflectors, which Science Team I uses! But let's look at the other one:



I am not using any skills or abilities that use Deflector Dish, but wow! +9.4 to Starship Deflectors! So for me, this is the one I will be using on my Bird of Prey. Obviously +9.4 to Starship Deflectors is better than +7.5.

Part 4: Summing it all up

When selecting Consoles, Ship Equipment, and wondering what Captain Skills you should put points into, put them into the Bridge Officer Skills and Captain Abilities you are going to be using.

In the previous parts, I put Captain Skill points into Science Team Leader, I bought a Science Console that added +3.8 to my Starship Deflector Field, and a Deflector Dish that adds +9.4 to my Starship Deflectors.

All of this will now help My Science Team I ability to heal even better!

With the 1.1 update there are still a few missing Bridge Officer Skills and Captain Abilities that do not show on the drop-down list of your Captain Skills. If you want to know what Captain Skills points to put in for any ability or bridge officer skill, you can still see what captain skills use them. When in Space, press the “p” key and you can browse all your current Abilities and Bridge officer Skills:



As pictured above, to make my Captain Ability Attack Pattern Beta work even more fabulous, I need to keep putting Captain Skill points into Starship Attack Vectors, Starship Combat Maneuvers, and Starship Battle Strategy.

And there you have it!

Most of you already know this, but hopefully some new fleet members might find this handy.

Hope you enjoy, and comments or suggestions are welcome!

thanks!!

Made a bump.

((That's it for the 4th episode of Star Trek: Pandora! Stay tuned for the next episode, which will be the season finale!))

A chime sounded in Oren-De's ready room, causing him to look up from his terminal. "Come in."

Captain Amana entered and Oren-De stood to greet her. Amana motioned for him to be at ease with a small smile before taking a seat herself. "Thank you again for your cooperation last night. Thanks to you and Mr. Lok, we have gained some very valuable information about an organization that could potentially be a great threat to the Federation if left unchecked. However, before I get to that... how is Mr. Lok?"

Oren-De glanced at his terminal. "Still undergoing the Joining. Several of my senior staff are waiting at Starfleet Medical and told me they would notify me once the procedure was complete."

"You're not going to wait with them?"

"No," replied Oren-De with a shake of his head. "It is not a... scenario in which I would be of much use. I intend to visit Mr. Lok once he is out of the operating room."

Amana nodded. "I understand. In that case, let me move on to the matter at hand so that I don't take up any more of your time. Computer, display all information regarding the Gnostics, authorization code 'xephyr epsilon neutron omega'." In response, the computer chirped an affirmative and the large display on one of the room's walls began filling with images and text.

"Thanks to last night's captures and subsequent interrogation, we now know for certain that one organization was behind the attack on your first officer and the murder of Rear Admiral Sadda. It also gave strong evidence that this same group is responsible for the leak of information from Kinet IV to the Klingon Empire that resulted in the attack on the science outpost."

"I'm sorry, you said 'captures'?"

A smile crossed Amana's face. "Yes, I will get to that in a moment. First, when I debriefed Mr. Lok, he informed me that the man who attacked him had called himself 'Dr. Smith' and that he had said that Mr. Lok's death was a sacrifice for 'the Gnostics' and that they served 'the Nephilim'. While I was debriefing Mr. Lok, I had my team do a check on this 'Dr. Smith'. Surprisingly, the name he gave Mr. Lok wasn't a pseudonym. Mr. Lok was attacked by Dr. Ignacio Smith, who has been stationed at Starfleet Medical for five years and serves as an emergency surgeon."

Oren-De looked at Amana in stunned surprise. "This was all perpetrated by someone within Starfleet."

"Correct... except that it wasn't just one person. The check on Dr. Smith involved going through all communications he received, which led us to Lieutenant Sally Chan, a security officer stationed at the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. She sent one of several encrypted transmissions that Dr. Smith received. The others were sent from sources that we're still pinning down. Interrogation of Dr. Smith and Lieutenant Chan have revealed that they are both members of an organization that calls itself 'the Gnostics' and confirmed the Gnostics serve some other group called 'the Nephilim'. Unfortunately, interrogation and investigation has yet to provide any additional information about the Gnostics or who the Nephilim are, exactly. However, Chan did admit to sabotaging the lift that killed Rear Admiral Sadda as well as sealing the door to Mr. Lok's quarters, and did so surprisingly quickly."

"Captain Amana, I'm unfamiliar with the terms 'Gnostic' and 'Nephilim'."

"They're terms from Human religious mythology and originate from two of its oldest recorded religions; Judaism and Christianity. From what I've read, 'Gnostic' is used to describe those who experience or possess divine knowledge, while 'Nephilim' were a group of angels that had fallen to Earth from the heavens."

Oren-De frowned. "I'm afraid I don't understand. There hasn't been an active religion in Enhasan society for nearly a millennium."

"Interesting. Well, as someone who not only comes from a deeply spiritual culture, but who also has studied groups like this as an intelligence officer, I can tell you we are most likely dealing with a clandestine cult; one that is proving to be possibly quite dangerous. They have already demonstrated a dogmatic zeal that makes them blind to the personal consequences of their actions. Additionally, we discovered that Dr. Smith and Lieutenant Chan have never met in person. Ever. Lie detection was quite clear on that point."

The frown on Oren-De's face deepened. "Someone else has not only succeeded in getting to Starfleet members and turning them, but has done so in a way such that it's highly decentralized. If they were able to get to officers on Earth, it is possible they've gotten to officers throughout the Federation."

"And possibly beyond, if the Undine are any indication of the possibility of conducting espionage within all the major galactic powers. Regardless, it is clear that the Gnostics have the potential to do great damage to Starfleet and the Federation. We need more information in order to neutralize the threat they pose. At the same time, Starfleet wishes to contain knowledge of this organization for now. With that in mind, I have been authorized to... augment... your standing mission, Commander."

Oren-De's eyebrow popped up quizzically. "Indeed?"

"The Pandora will still return to the Klingon front and its primary mission will still be to assist in all efforts to stymie aggressive moves by the Klingon Defense Force. However, you are now being given a secondary standing mission: to investigate any leads you may find regarding the Gnostics and the Nephilim. Starfleet is assigning a small number of ships across Federation space to this task, and the Pandora will cover the Klingon front. You are authorized to brief your senior staff. All others are on a need-to-know basis."

"Understood, Captain," Oren-De acknowledged with a nod. As he did, his combadge chirped to life. "Roberts to Captain Oren-De. I thought you might like to know that Mr. Lok's procedure is finished. The doctors inform us that it was a success, but he needs to remain at Starfleet Medical for a few days for recovery, monitoring, and testing."

"Understood, Ms. Roberts."

Amana stood and gave Oren-De a smile. "I'm glad to hear that. Please tell Mr. Lok that I greatly appreciate his service."

"I will, Captain," Oren-De said as he stood. Amana turned to leave and Oren-De looked at the display on his wall. Staring back at him were the faces of the two Gnostic Starfleet officers that had tried to kill his first officer. The Federation, and possibly his crew, now had one more enemy to deal with. It didn't help that something about the word 'Nephilim' gave him a very ill feeling.

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"

" A compromise is an agreement where poth parties get what neither of them wanted."

"When everything is coming your way, get back into the correct lane"

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift, that's why it's called the present"

Lt. Suarez entered the conference room flustered, which annoyed her more that Lt. Calvin was expecting this. Cmdr. Malek smirked and offered her a seat. “Has your client decided to confess for a plea? I'm still willing to offer 2 years confinement for his actions.”

“Lieutenant, we both know you have nothing to provide for inevitable discovery, and you have no case. Let's end this farce and drop the charges.” Cmdr. Malek retaliated, prompting Elizabeth to shift hastily in her seat.

“That won't happen. It's well defined from numerous sources that he wrote the virus. That still accounts for his treason and terrorism charges...”

“You know that's bullshit.” Eddie shot quickly to the prosecutor.

“Ed, shut up.” Rohan snapped as he brushed his client to the side looking back at a now smirking officer. “Liz, we both know you have nothing on the charges of insubordination disorderly conduct or attempted perjury. Let's drop those at least.”

Liz looked between the two men, feeling somewhat double-teamed through this. She scowled knowing that Rohan was right. “I will drop the charges on the condition that Lt. Calvin pleads guilty to the treason and terrorism charges.”

“Drop them to insubordination, different from the current insubordination charge, no time, and you have a deal.” Rohan said.

“Insubordination is too trivial for what he's done. You're lucky I decided to not go for reckless operation or murder with how he acted.”

Eddie shot to his feet ready to tackle Liz for her audacity. Rohan was just as quick to push him back to his seat. “Liz, don't be unreasonable about this.”

“I'm not being unreasonable about anything. He can end this trial with a change of plea and I'll advise for minimal punishment.” Liz began.

“I've done nothing wrong, and you will not coerce me into submission.” Eddie moved towards the door. “So if you want to drag me tooth and nail to the galley, you've got your work cut out for you.”

---

Lt. Suarez moved hastily up the steps to the prosecutor's bench. The admirals had been waiting for her arrival for a few minutes past the expected time. “My apologies, Admirals.”

Hollis spoke for Giovanni. “Lt. Suarez, were you able to find an alternative means of discovery for the information in Lt. Matoya's testimony?”

“No, I was not.” Liz confessed as she shook her head.

“Does the prosecution have any more witnesses or evidence to provide?” Admiral Zelle pressed. Lt. Suarez shook her head again. Zelle sighed in frustration. “Then the defense may call it's first witness.”

Rohan stood, eager to get rolling on the defense, starting with the biggest name he could for an opening act. “The defense calls Ensign Solek to the stand.”

Solek moved calmly across the room and took a seat at the chair. “Ensign Solek, what was your role in the Vega Colony Battle?”

“I was previously assigned to the Khittomer as a science officer.”

“And what was your specialty?”

“Cybernetics.”

“When did you first encounter the defendant during the crisis?”

Solek flinched a sign of weakness that T'nae and Liz caught at the question. “The Khittomer had been boarded, but Commander Davis was just retaking the ship. He ordered me to Transporter Room 3 to assist the 'cowboy' that helped his crew retake the ship. It was not until he arrived at the transporter room as well that I met him.”

Liz started mashing furiously into her P.A.D.D. for some information as Rohan continued his questions. “What happened next, Ensign?”

“We beamed back aboard the New Orleans to discover that the senior staff had been either taken or killed in combat. Ed..gar was the highest ranking bridge officer at the time and thus acting captain.”

“On the colony surface, did you see Lt. Calvin do anything unusual?”

Solek paused. “I would interpret it as creative.”

T'nae's vulcan scoff echoed in the silence. Rohan pressed the point. “Can you elaborate?”

“Lt. Calvin had what he called a replicator virus. He installed it to an uplink tower that had been established on the ground. It was extremely effective at disabling a large number of drones that ultimately helped retake the colony. While I didn't witness any event, it is logical to assume this disabling also saved countless colonists and officers from assimilation.”

“Thank you, Mr. Solek. I have no further questions.”

Elizabeth stood, almost smirking. “Mr. Solek, please explain the term V'tosh ka'tur.”

Among the murmors from the audience, the glares from T'nae and Zelle, the stunned audible from Commander Malek, Eddie's jaw dropped only at Solek taking a gulp at the question.

Thanks for the offer for the code, but i now have the game :). I just need to get out of the damn tutorial and i'm happy :).

I'll come on vent sometime mate.

But i'm doing good. What about you?

bfelczer wrote:

:bow: :bow: :bow:

Amazing write-up!!!!! Thank you :)

Just to clarify I DID NOT WRITE THIS, just thought it would be very useful fleet guide. :)

:bow: :bow: :bow:

Amazing write-up!!!!! Thank you :)

OMG!!! I was wondering where you were! :) You and I played quite a bit in Beta together. How are you?!

The fleet is doing awesome. Vent is almost always active and people are always chatting up a storm in-game.

The game is awesome! It has gotten really exciting with the new dificulty slider and radisodes.

If you would like, I still have a 10 day buddy code avaliable from my collector's edition so you can try out the game. PM me if you want a code :)

B

I've actually never cancelled my subscription so I'll have to check with Play NC cuz I still can only get CoV on my acct.