[Arno12]

I do hope its a new Variant, kinda like what they did with the Assault Cruiser when they made the Command and Intel Variants, do the same for the Exploration Cruiser.

[Wallis]

I do hope its a new Variant, kinda like what they did with the Assault Cruiser when they made the Command and Intel Variants, do the same for the Exploration Cruiser.

Indeed. I have a good feeling it will be a Miracle Worker spec ship with decent BOFF layout. Would also be decent if it had the wingman mechanic of the Jem'Hadar Vanguards too. The new variant is being made for the Clear Skies RPG adventure which starts next Monday and Kael said on last nights TenForward weekly stream that we may have it soon after the crew of the Ross board the ship, which is on Monday. We may even get a reveal as early as next week. We shall see.

[JByb04]

Thomas does amazing work.

But in my honest opinion, new designs for an existing ship variant is getting a bit old. First we had the Venture Class, which was a favorite of mine, & then the Andromeda came out which I disliked at first but I eventually fell in love with the design. I felt it was a true successor to the Galaxy Class.

Now we're getting this Ross Class which to me makes little sense. The Andromeda Class in game time hasn't even been in space for a year, technically the Venture Class is in the same position.

I know its a game and in a game you have to toss logic out of the window at times. But Starfleet doesn't put R&D, testing, launching a pathfinder, and then bringing a class into service just to shelve it less than a "year" later.

Okay I'm off my soapbox now.

[Wallis]

Thomas does amazing work.

But in my honest opinion, new designs for an existing ship variant is getting a bit old. First we had the Venture Class, which was a favorite of mine, & then the Andromeda came out which I disliked at first but I eventually fell in love with the design. I felt it was a true successor to the Galaxy Class.

Now we're getting this Ross Class which to me makes little sense. The Andromeda Class in game time hasn't even been in space for a year, technically the Venture Class is in the same position.

I know its a game and in a game you have to toss logic out of the window at times. But Starfleet doesn't put R&D, testing, launching a pathfinder, and then bringing a class into service just to shelve it less than a "year" later.

Okay I'm off my soapbox now.

Kind of, as far as I'm aware the Andromeda has been in space for nearly 4 years as that's when the last Galaxy update/variant was released. Plus, since the release of the "Specialization" ships, a lot of players including myself, have wanted existing ships like the Excelsior, Defiant and Galaxy class updated with the likes of Miracle Worker, Command, Pilot specialization mechanic, and Cryptic have said before that the only way to really update older ships with these new Specs is to introduce another variant.

Being a big Galaxy class fan I of course are over the moon with the news of a new variant, but its also a good sign that she may not be the only "hero" ship that's being updated and we may get an updated Defiant with pilot maneuvers.

Anyhow, with the release of Clear Skies on Monday I'm going to assume that we may see the design of this new variant next week. Fingers crossed anyhow.

[JByb04]

Kind of, as far as I'm aware the Andromeda has been in space for nearly 4 years as that's when the last Galaxy update/variant was released. Plus, since the release of the "Specialization" ships, a lot of players including myself, have wanted existing ships like the Excelsior, Defiant and Galaxy class updated with the likes of Miracle Worker, Command, Pilot specialization mechanic, and Cryptic have said before that the only way to really update older ships with these new Specs is to introduce another variant.

Being a big Galaxy class fan I of course are over the moon with the news of a new variant, but its also a good sign that she may not be the only "hero" ship that's being updated and we may get an updated Defiant with pilot maneuvers.

Anyhow, with the release of Clear Skies on Monday I'm going to assume that we may see the design of this new variant next week. Fingers crossed anyhow.

In the Game Timeline we're still on 2410 and the Andromeda Class would've been launched either that year or 2409 even. I wish that they would progress the games time period in real time. But alas I don't see that particular change coming either. However, to your point, yes in real time the Andromeda Class is 4 years old. By this time in her life cycle you'd expect to see some systems enhancements and upgrades. Which could be a justification for the "Specialization Ships" to be brought in. In fact i'm sure its more cost effective to retain an existing design and retool the skills and BOFF Seating.

I'm all for updating the Galaxy Class Model and making it more screen accurate. But introducing a new Class of ship every 5 minutes just to promote a new skill is a cash grab.

Not anything I'm going to quit the game over. But after seeing the same pattern for 10 years. I wish Cryptic would take a different approach.

[Wallis]

In the Game Timeline we're still on 2410 and the Andromeda Class would've been launched either that year or 2409 even. I wish that they would progress the games time period in real time. But alas I don't see that particular change coming either. However, to your point, yes in real time the Andromeda Class is 4 years old. By this time in her life cycle you'd expect to see some systems enhancements and upgrades. Which could be a justification for the "Specialization Ships" to be brought in. In fact i'm sure its more cost effective to retain an existing design and retool the skills and BOFF Seating.

I'm all for updating the Galaxy Class Model and making it more screen accurate. But introducing a new Class of ship every 5 minutes just to promote a new skill is a cash grab.

Not anything I'm going to quit the game over. But after seeing the same pattern for 10 years. I wish Cryptic would take a different approach.

Yeah good point, in game timeline it would seem a bit to early for them to attempt another variant for sure. It's unfortunate we can't upgrade our T6 ships like we did with the T5 ships, and add an extra console slot etc to make use of the current T6 stats, but you are right when it comes to cash grabs and it does look like with this new Galaxy class, it's more than likely going to be a new Zen store ship.

[Petrarch]

The compressed timeline of STO is a pet peeve of mine, our characters have effectively seen and been at the forefront of more action in 2 years than every Enterprise that's ever flown. Why they didn't just progress the year as each one passed I've no idea.

As much as ships getting updates is a good thing, the thought of paying for the Galaxy class - yet again - is one that leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Yes, I know they're a business and need to stay in it, but I've now reached the point where there's way too much emphasis on new toys and such and not enough on progressing the story and content so I've ended up just doing the endeavours, I've not played a story mission in weeks if not months now.

It is nice to see new ships appear and compared to the early days, the Cryptic designs have been excellent variants (with a couple of exceptions) recently, but the game needs a big content injection to the storyline and knocking the events/sales/new shiny on the head for a while.

[Sorotia]

Wonder if any of this will affect the Gal-X much? I doubt they'd give a standard Galaxy class a hangar or that would make the X almost useless

[Arno12]

Wonder if any of this will affect the Gal-X much? I doubt they'd give a standard Galaxy class a hangar or that would make the X almost useless

......Not my Baby

[ForTheGamer]

The Ross is probably not going to include any tricks to it. If anything I could see them maybe giving out like a cool 4 piece through the mission, with 1 piece being always on the Ross (like say Shields), but I don't think we'll see a hanger on it.

[Wallis]

The Ross is probably not going to include any tricks to it. If anything I could see them maybe giving out like a cool 4 piece through the mission, with 1 piece being always on the Ross (like say Shields), but I don't think we'll see a hanger on it.

I agree. From what I gathered from the Clear Skies Q&A stream, she's a top of a line Starship with some new technology, so I'm guessing this could be a new console that comes with the ship.

I also reckon it will be a good way to update the current Galaxy class with Miracle Worker spec and possibly the wingman mechanic for the saucer separation. My big wish would be that the saucer sep will be baked into the ship without using a console, but I doubt it as it would make the current console useless unless you use it for the 3 piece. At least with MW spec I can use the Universal console slot for it.

No matter what the Ross looks like, I'm really happy that were finally getting a more screen accurate model update, and that will probably be my choice when it's in game. Clear Skies launches tomorrow and we should start seeing Anniversary blogs this week, so I have a funny feeling that the Ross class will be revealed tomorrow. We shall see.

[Arno12]

I'm kinda hoping now if this is a new Version of the Galaxy Class the Galaxy-X will get some love in the future too.

[ForTheGamer]

I'm going to assume that you might get lucky if it is a part of that 9 item pack that might be in the work. We need a destroyer class, so it would fit the bill.

[Solace]

Watching the Clear Skies RPG episode one, Ross class confirmed to be part of a bundle!

Also what the Ross class might look like: but WE know it will be Galaxy variant!

[Wallis]

Watching the Clear Skies RPG episode one, Ross class confirmed to be part of a bundle!

Also what the Ross class might look like: but WE know it will be Galaxy variant!

Yes, yes, yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!