Thunderfoot's STO Screengrabs

[thunderfoot]

I am still working thru what process I should follow to make these pics worthy enough to be posted in the same place as things by Jetfreak and Dan1025. For now, I am going to use this thread as a way to demonstrate some of the things I do in STO. This first series is called, "How to successfully harvest a D'Deridex class Warbird." This one enemy gave me serious trouble for a very long time. To the point where I preferred taking on Cubes because at least against them I had a slight chance. I do not know if the techniques pictured will work or not with a ship which has no cloaking capability. I normally use the cloak only to avoid fights with ships escorting the D'Dex prior to engaging it. I have found that I have to maneuver to the side of the target opposite any ships nearby the Warbird since these have a nasty habit of piling on if they are within range. A D'Dex by herself can be formidable. A D'Dex and a Mogai together means Uncle Thunder gets grounded out, lol. I left the GUI stuff in place so people could see what I was doing. To cycle the GUI on and off, Press ALT-F12. I have also included a pic of the loadout I currently have aboard Fire Blade. These pics are not up to my preferred standards but they are clear enough to be useful, which is good enough for now.

Nuff chat. Time for pics.

 

[Starfox1701]

Nice pis man

 

[thunderfoot]

Had a lot of fun earlier today in a pick up 1v1 match against kjc733 and his USS Thrace. She is a formidable little ship and he handles her very well. He caught me unawares more than once and I had to work hard for the victory. If you desire a true test of your abilities as a warrior, ask him for a match. You'll not regret it. He'll probably be more than modest about his skills, but it was most enjoyable playing against him and I look forward to doing so again.

Qa'pla, Warrior!

 

[kjc733]

I enjoyed our match, although I suspect that (being 15 levels below) I had to work a tad harder staying un-blowed up than you did in blowing me up. First time I've engaged in a PvP space battle, a bit different to the computer generated opponents.

I was very impressed with the turning of the Fire Blade, caught me by surprise on more than one occasion quite how quick you could bring your weapons to bear. All I can say is thank God I sometimes found asteroids to hide behind. I thought I'd made the Thrace tough (upgrades now put my shield strength in the 6000s), but you were just ripping through it.

The use of the cloaking device was also a nasty surprise. Again, something the computer uses very badly, TF masterfully used it to sneak up on me and unload alpha strikes. Sometimes it'd kill me right there, other times I managed to get away. Unfortunately against something that well armed I was having to break the cardinal rule for escorts and turn my guns away to give my facing shields chance to recover. In a Defiant thats usually relatively easy, give it a few seconds then turn in again. Against something that turns as well as QulTag (with Uncle Thunder at the helm), it wasn't! And it didn't usually buy me much time either.

As for modesty - I'll just point out I didn't make a single kill (although I did scratch the paint a few times. I think my best run knocked 25% off your hull)

 

[thunderfoot]

Just played a 1v1 with Adm_Z. Game called early because he had to go. We had an absolute blast! I was enjoying myself so much, I didn't bother looking at the score. So I don't know which of us did better. I do know he shot me down three times. Once when I ran Fire Blade right into the side of a starbase and she stuck there. Guess my situational awareness needs some tweaking. How very embarrassing, lol. He has a complete fighter wing on his escort. They fly tiny little fighters to welcome you to Munchkin Land, lol. He also reminded me of why I dislike plasma torps so much. I swear I checked to see if I had some sort of magnet for them. I also forgot to get screen caps. Mostly. I have a couple and here they are. Good Game, Z! Enjoyed myself. We'll definitely do it again sometime.

 

[CABAL]

Finally, this thread loads! I may need to update my browser or something. Anyway, I like the pics, and the recounts of the battles make me wish I met the system requirements.

The use of the cloaking device was also a nasty surprise. Again, something the computer uses very badly, TF masterfully

used it to sneak up on me and unload alpha strikes.

You know, I always wondered why the Romulans never switched their cloak on and off in battle on the shows. It always seemed like if you had to uncloak to fire, then the best thing to do would be fire, cloak, retreat, come around for another pass, then repeat until the enemy is reduced to a pretty fireball. Sounds like Thunder knows how to use the cloak better than the Romulans, lol.

I also forgot to get screen caps. Mostly. I have a couple and here they are.

So much fun you forgot to take pics, eh? You might be able to set up a program to take pictures every few seconds. I'm not really sure what a good program for that would be, though.

 

[thunderfoot]

I have an older version of FRAPs which does take pictures automatically. However, these always include the GUI. I am not yet a good enough player I can function without it. It also introduces some lag.
Which is bad and must be avoided. Not sure who I heard this last from. But it seems to be good advice

 

[Adm_Z]

Yep, I had lots of fun as well. The score was like 4-9 Thunderfoot winning of course. Just so you all know, he plays like a Romulan, sneaking around just waiting to ambush you, then cloaking when his shields get low. I took a couple pics of my own, but I also didn't get many. This is the only good one



We will meet again in battle for sure T. but next time, I will have secret weapon that should...take care... of your cloak.

[Console - Universal - Ionized Gas Sensor]


During the match, I learned the importance of keeping your strongest shields towards your enemy, and trying to predict where they will uncloak. My best attacks are definitely head-on strafing runs, but they are barely a match for Thunders surprise attack right out of cloak.

 

[thunderfoot]

Just so you all know, he plays like a Romulan, sneaking around just waiting to ambush you, then cloaking when his shields get low.

Well, you showed up with an escort and an entire wing of fighters. Didn't know you were going to turn our little 1v1 into myself vs all of StarFleet. Left this part out of your report, did ya? Of course, I understand the "quaking in your boots" thing knowing you face tlhIngan warriors. So I can clearly see where you'd desperately desire all the backup you could yell for. Next time, we'll fight right outside ESD. So your reinforcements will be handy. I'll pack a lunch. Since it could take awhile wading thru the whole of Home Fleet to get to you, Z. rofl

We will meet again in battle for sure T. but next time, I will have a secret weapon that should...take care... of your cloak.

Console - Universal - Ionized Gas Sensor

It isn't a secret anymore, is it? Wasn't going to use the cloak at all until your emergency reserve backup navy showed up. Did I mention you got shot down just as quickly with them there as when you didn't have them around? rofl. As I stated previously, when I am using my cloak tactics I am thinking like a submarine skipper. Line up the best shot I can make, drop cloak and take the shot, and move off in a radical direction while trying to recloak. I, too, will have some new things to show you next time.

Yep, I had lots of fun as well. The score was like 4-9 Thunderfoot winning of course.

Actually just went back and looked. Score was as follows: TF-12 Adm_Z-3.
I present this here purely in the interest of accuracy, lol.​

During the match, I learned the importance of keeping your strongest shields towards your enemy, and trying to predict where they will uncloak. My best attacks are definitely head-on strafing runs, but they are barely a match for Thunder's surprise attack right out of cloak.

Noticed you fly at maximum speed constantly. Same as kjc733. How do you guys keep a target in the correct firing arc like this? I couldn't do it. I decided to try to control the rhythm and timing of the match, since I did not have the raw speed to keep up with you in a dogfight. Might want to consider making those firing passes from a flank or the rear of your target. Then, escape and evade from the target's firing envelope to set up another firing pass. Using the Jam Sensors buff while exiting the target's firing envelope would probably work well here. Set up the next pass on a completely different vector, preferably against a previously weakened shield. Once I figured out you were going to try to turn inside of me for a second Alpha Strike, rather than move off and come in from a different angle, it was simple to keep my speed low enough I could turn inside of you to keep you in my forward firing arc. We'll definitely do this again. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Haven't had this much fun with a Star Trek based game in many a year. It is almost like playing SFC I most days. With a better game engine and far superior graphics. BTW, Z, the trash talk is all in fun. If I've offended, I apologize and I will not do it again.

And to prove I do not fight like one of those Rihannsu petaQ', I've been so rudely and unfairly compared to, I present the following:

 

[Adm_Z]

BTW, Z, the trash talk is all in fun. If I've offended, I apologize and I will not do it again.

Pssh, the mere thought that you, my friend, could offend me is offensive! Oh wait...

Anyway, I am almost done hacking away at my consoles. We will have to see if it improves my game or hurts it.

 

[kjc733]

INoticed you fly at maximum speed constantly. Same as kjc733. How do you guys keep a target in the correct firing arc like this? I couldn't do it.

It's not easy, and I try to fly at the speed which gives my best rate of turn. In the Daring and the Wildcat it seemed around three quarters speed, so that's what I stuck to - used to give me options, slow enough to turn in, keep the opponent in the arcs longer, something to accelerate away with. With the Thrace she seems to turn better flat out. Which sometimes is an advantage, but often isn't for the reasons you stated.

As for fighters... How'd you get fighters!?

 

[Adm_Z]

It's not easy, and I try to fly at the speed which gives my best rate of turn. In the Daring and the Wildcat it seemed around three quarters speed, so that's what I stuck to - used to give me options, slow enough to turn in, keep the opponent in the arcs longer, something to accelerate away with. With the Thrace she seems to turn better flat out. Which sometimes is an advantage, but often isn't for the reasons you stated.

As for fighters... How'd you get fighters!?

They are Scorpion fighters from one of the reman missions. It gives you 50 wings of fighters. you hit the button and it launches 3 at a time and they fly around and shoot your target or maybe even oncoming projectiles, as long as they and you stay alive. Lots of fun, and they make really good distractions for people who can only fire at one target. I keep a "Fire at Will" active for my rear phaser so it can take out things like drones, fighters and heavy ordinance.

 

[thunderfoot]

STO is full to bursting with eye candy, lol. Only makes sense since the dev team had all of that stuff from BCFiles, SciFiMeshes, Dan and Jetfreak's pics, and so on to draw from (no pun intended) before they did their own take on things we all know and love. Some of you have commented from time to time that my stuff is okay as well, hah! I do try, though. I have been trying to apply the things I've learned from Jet and others to the pics I take from STO. So far, I've been unable to successfully grab a decent combat shot which contains all the elements in it I think make up a good one. So I've concentrated on doing 'glamour' shots thus far. No secret how I feel about being tlhIngan and being the Captain of Fire Blade. Here is my other ship, I.K.S GhondoQ(Sabre) in a flyby glamour shot.

EDIT: Forgot to add in the combat shot I have done. I haven't had a lot of good combat shots to start work from, but this one isn't too bad.

 

[Adm_Z]

She's a gorgeous ship man, probably one of the only ones in the klingon fleet I like.

I can't wait to face her in battle, or fight beside her on STF's.

 

[thunderfoot]

Thanks, Z. Much appreciated. Decided to change my avatar as well. It took an hour and about forty or so screengrabs to get just exactly the look I wanted on Crell's face and to get him where he was looking at the Fourth Wall, lol. Also decided to update my sigbanner with a better pic of Qul'Taj. I have the pics added to this post.

 

[thunderfoot]

Arise, Necrothread! Come forth!

Some combat shots of Qul'Taj whipping up on somebody driving a Galaxy class. They're not up to where I want them to be but they are getting better. Not the usual PvP map and I wasn't going to accept the challenge at first, but this guy simply would not leave it alone. I don't remember the name of his ship exactly but it was something like USS Twilight Death Dealer or such. I was cloaked at first. He kept whining about it. So I turned off the cloak. Then, he kept charging me to try and tractor Qul'Taj. I've no idea why he was doing so. After about ten minutes and him dying about twelve or so times, he rage quit. I've not seen him since, lol

 

[thunderfoot]

Terradhyne is now part of the Fed MSFC fleet. Because I usually do so, I gifted him with a Mk XI Bat'leth which I crafted. I do not expect nor require a gift in return. Most of the players I have done this for are lower in level than Sa'Sogh Crell, so my motivation and reward for doing this is simply to be nice to someone and enjoy watching them use it. The melee part of STO ground combat needs a little work, lol. The poor Feds only seem to have that awful lirpa for melee. IDK about you, but using a melee weapon made by a bunch of people dedicated to peace and nonviolence just seems so wrong on so many different levels(no pun intended), rofl.


Terradhyne sent me this as a reply to his bat'leth. Completely unexpected and not looked for. And quite nice. Thank you, Terradhyne! Much appreciated!

"Awwww! Who's Daddy's little monster? Who's a good guardbeast, now? What's that? You want your Caitian chewtoy back? Go kill the Drones! That's right! Go kill all the Drones! Good Girl! Daddy's Favorite Girl! Are you ready for Walkies, now?"

 

[thunderfoot]

For the past two weeks, I have been on a quest. A dangerous journey which was filled with many unexpected twists and turns. The hunt ended successfully in glory. She was thrown onto the rubbish pile of history after her Captain was slain in ritual combat by one who is far more fortunate than he is skilled. Her crew was scattered across the Empire and assigned tasks unworthy of even Federation 'warriors'. She was dishonoured by all who rewrite the lore of the Empire for their own purposes. The part she played in glorious victory over both the Dominion and the Cardassian Insurrection was unsung for ages. Grave injustices all of these are. But I, Sa'Sogh Crell, of the House of Jev, was determined her mighty deeds in service to the Empire would not be left in the dark and rendered insignificant. Martok's Negh'Var, Honour's Burden, serves the Empire once again! And as foe after foe falls before her grace and power in combat, I can hear the spirit of Martok, saying from Sto'Vo'Kor,

"It is indeed a very good day, to be - tlhIngan!"​

 

[Terradyhne]

Terradhyne is now part of the Fed MSFC fleet. Because I usually do so, I gifted him with a Mk XI Bat'leth which I crafted. I do not expect nor require a gift in return. Most of the players I have done this for are lower in level than Sa'Sogh Crell, so my motivation and reward for doing this is simply to be nice to someone and enjoy watching them use it. The melee part of STO ground combat needs a little work, lol. The poor Feds only seem to have that awful lirpa for melee. IDK about you, but using a melee weapon made by a bunch of people dedicated to peace and nonviolence just seems so wrong on so many different levels(no pun intended), rofl.


Terradhyne sent me this as a reply to his bat'leth. Completely unexpected and not looked for. And quite nice. Thank you, Terradhyne! Much appreciated!

"Awwww! Who's Daddy's little monster? Who's a good guardbeast, now? What's that? You want your Caitian chewtoy back? Go kill the Drones! That's right! Go kill all the Drones! Good Girl! Daddy's Favorite Girl! Are you ready for Walkies, now?"

ok its bit late for comment on this, but this is something more worthy for a Klingon than anny Fed

For the past two weeks, I have been on a quest. A dangerous journey which was filled with many unexpected twists and turns. The hunt ended successfully in glory. She was thrown onto the rubbish pile of history after her Captain was slain in ritual combat by one who is far more fortunate than he is skilled. Her crew was scattered across the Empire and assigned tasks unworthy of even Federation 'warriors'. She was dishonoured by all who rewrite the lore of the Empire for their own purposes. The part she played in glorious victory over both the Dominion and the Cardassian Insurrection was unsung for ages. Grave injustices all of these are. But I, Sa'Sogh Crell, of the House of Jev, was determined her mighty deeds in service to the Empire would not be left in the dark and rendered insignificant. Martok's Negh'Var, Honour's Burden, serves the Empire once again! And as foe after foe falls before her grace and power in combat, I can hear the spirit of Martok, saying from Sto'Vo'Kor,

"It is indeed a very good day, to be - tlhIngan!"​

Nice to see the Battlebeast back in action and there is a great captain in command on it, may the clorious days be endless for you and this honorable spaceweapon, my friend.