Starting Point

Your Starting Point

The game as it stands at the present (2021) has 6 "factions" or starting points for the main story. There are really only 2 sides to the PvE story overall. That being the Federation and the Klingon Empire.  The 6 "Factions" are:

Federation Aligned:

Starfleet 2409 (Current story era)

Starfleet TOS (The Original Series era)

Starfleet Discovery (Discovery era)

Romulan Republic

Dominion

Klingon Empire Aligned:

Klingon Defense Force (KDF)

Romulan Republic

Dominion

As you can see, the Romulan Republic and Dominion are in both lists. That's because while they both have a unique set of story missions, ultimately you will be asked to pick a side in the conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The Romulan Republic unique/flavored missions are lengthy and can extend even to the higher levels of the game. However, after those missions are done, the game defaults to the assumption that you are either Federation or Klingon Empire aligned. There is no 3rd faction in the truest sense. As well, you will see that Starfleet has 3 entries in the list. These are not true factions. They represent where you start in the timeline. The current time in the game universe is approximately 2409 which is some 20+ years after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the era in which the game is mostly played. However, starting a character in the other two Starfleet factions, TOS and Discovery, starts you in those eras. In TOS you start out as an officer in the era of the Original Series and will have the aesthetics of that era. The same is true of starting in the Discovery era.  Lastly the Dominion start, has you playing a fully levelled character and it is advised to be for experienced players only, as you will have many abilities and options that are only unlocked as you progress with the other starting points. Like the Romulans, the Dominion player will have to make a choice as to which faction they will align with. Unlike Romulan players, the number of unique Dominion missions are very limited and serve only as an introduction to the conflict that you will picking sides on.

Faction Details

What Class/Captain should you be?

The age old question. What sort of character should I be? In most games there are a lot of choices. Some of them straightforward and narrow in focus, and others more broad and a hybrid of several classes or roles. In Star Trek Online the game has you choose from 3 different types of Captains. 1. Tactical, 2. Science, and 3. Engineering.

1. Tactical Captains: Tactical Captains are aggressive damage dealers. The type that charges headlong into combat and is considered to the point of the spear. Many Tactical Captains will prefer fast nimble ships that are capable of striking hard and fast at their enemies. The Tactical Captain needs to strike hard as their ships tend to be light on hull points, a trade off for the damage they can do with their abilities. On the ground the Tactical captain has many special kit abilities that revolve around the same. The Tactical Captain has access to several types of grenades, stealth modules and other combat enhancing techniques, including summoning security teams.

2. Science Captains: These Captains are the support class of Captains. Think of them as the wizard and or mage of the game. They are capable to buffing and debuffing friends and foes. Healing friends and damaging foes with shield extensions and singularities or space/time rifts. These Captains will want to pilot ships with a secondary deflector to give them the best chance to generate the exotic particles and use control and drain abilities effectively. On the ground, much like in space, the Science Captain can use a variety of hyposprays to heal and buff themselves and teammates, as well as use various scans and abilities to irradiate foes (DoT attacks) and place them in stasis fields (control effects).

3. Engineering Captains: Engineers by definition make and fix things, and the Engineer Captain is no different. The Engineer Captain is considered to be the Tank of the 3 types, able to heal large amounts of Hull Damage and more resilient to damage. Whereas the Tactical Captain is flying around dealing damage, the Engineer Captain is in the middle soaking up damage and hitting back with their own strikes. This isn't to say the Engineer Captain cannot fight, they certainly can, especially against many smaller opponents, the Engineer will keep their ship working until the tide is turned. In ground combat, the Engineer can summon a variety of dangerous weapons like turrets, orbital bombardments, probes and drones, as well as defensive items like shield and medical generators.

So what looks to be your cup of tea? Well to make it clearer, compare below what other games classes are, and then decide from those, what Captain fits your playstyle.

WoW --> STO: SWTOR --> STO

1. Warrior --> Engineer 1. Juggernaut/Guardian --> Engineer

2. Rogue --> Tactical (especially Klingon/Romulan) 2. Marauder/Sentinel --> Tactical

3. Mage --> Science 3. Sage/Sorcerer --> Science

4. Paladin --> Engineer 4. Shadow/Assassin --> Tactical (especially Klingon/Romulan)

5. Hunter --> Tactical (especially Klingon/Romulan) 5. Mercenary/Commando --> Tactical/Science

6. Priest --> Science 6. PowerTech/Vanguard --> Engineer

7. Shaman --> Engineer 7. Gunslinger/Sniper --> Tactical

8. Warlock --> Science 8. Scoundrel/Operative --> Science

Note that these are rough approximations. Many of these classes are or can be hybrid and specialize in different roles within their ranges. However, I hope that this will provide some guidance to a Captain that suits your playstyle.

Your Character Screen

Screen details:

01: Transporter button: Normally you can beam to your ship from any location on most maps. However, some locations are only available from transporter room facilities at bases and stations. 

02: Transwarp button: This button is primarily used in space. It allows a player to "transwarp" or fast travel to set points in the game galaxy. This is much like a hearthstone or fleet pass in other games to allow you to return to a home base.

03: Scan Area (also you can use the V key to trigger): This scans the space or ground environment to show you mission objective locations and also resource nodes. Priority it given to mission objectives and is sometimes limited in range. You may have to scan a few times in different areas to find all objectives and resources.

04: Mission Journal: This screen contains your existing and previous missions. It allows you to look at the current episodes/chapters of the story and gives you more details on objectives and lore. Very handy in planning and allows you to skip or go back to content you may have completed.

05: Zen store button: This opens the interface that will allow for purchase of items from the real money cash shop.

06: Dilithium Store: This opens the interface that will allow for purchases of items using Dilithium which is an earned in game currency. Missions, Duty Officer tasks and other in game mini-games all can provide Dilithium to be used in the store, and with other in game vendors.

07: Duty Officer/Admiralty screen: This screen (which is not available until you reach level/rank 15) opens the Duty Officer, Admiralty (available at level 52), and research and development screens. These areas allow you to send out your Duty Officers and Admiralty ships to perform various tasks to bring back rewards and experience in various categories. Research and Development is the crafting section of the game and allows you to make and upgrade items for your character.

08: Task Force button: This opens the list of group content that is either space or ground based combat.

09: Fleet Button (fleets are effectively guilds): This button opens up the Fleet's holdings and projects.

10: More Button: This button is slightly hidden but very important. It offers the options to link a music player to your game and also allow you to view the inside of your ship. This has mission importance as well, as you will be asked to use some bridge or Captain's quarters location to complete some objectives. 

11: Help button: This brings up the help screen where you can make file tickets and other topics to assist you.

12: Game Menu: This opens up setting to tweak the settings in the game. This ranges from video and audio options and chat details.

13: Social/Friends: Shows your list of friends and opens the social options.

14: Mail button: This opens the in-game mail button. Allows you to review your mail.

15: Inventory button (also can use the I key): Opens your inventory to view items you have, as well as your currency and materials gathered.

16: Character Screen (also can use the U key): Opens your Character screen that allows you to see your stats, your equipped gear, crew details and equipped gear, and your readied ship status and items.

17: Map button: This opens a larger version of the map that you are currently in.

18: Map name and instance: This shows your location at present. The number is the instance you are in. This is relevant in group activities.

19: Real-Time Clock: This is the time in the real world.

20: Mini-Map: The main section of the display. It shows your present location in the current map.