If you're any kind of TOS fan the new mishes are kinda a must. Shame on me for skipping them until now! In my defense... I really did not like one of the first mishes I ran that had me crawling all over the place with a flashlight and a pinpoint of light, lost... Kinda not as thrilling as Space Battle..
The character 3d models and lighting seem better now, too - this was the first and only letdown about STO for me, was their 3d character models. And they didn't raise PC requirements to make the improvements.
I'm in my first Cruiser past the newbie one and I have to say... yay! I like cruising. Little broadside action... Maybe toss in a couple torpedoes.. I fly my cruiser totally different than my Escort, have almost completely different Boff skills, use some different gear, I do pretty decent dps and am stealing agro in earlier levels than I did in my Escort and I also blow up less..
I saw someone's reaction to first finding out there is an AUTOFIRE in the game and I have to say I have had a similar reaction. WHY oh WHY did no one tell me..
Save yourself some keyboard/mouse wear, newbs, and learn about Autofire..
You may also want to learn about Keybinds at the same time.. They work similarly to how they work in CO, so far, to me. They can be handy things to use while you are..... autofiring..
While we're on the subject of newb tips. Remember we were talking awhile back about not knowing the front of our own ship from the back, in battle? Here's a couple newb tips.
1) If it fits your build, get you an Autoturret... Use it on the bad guy you want to fire your space ray guns at. Line up your ship with the line coming from your turret, leading to your target...FIRE!
2.) Hotkey "Reset Camera' in 'Movement and Camera'... Whenever you get disoriented... hit this button and it will line the camera up so that you are facing your target. For the most part.. You can keep tapping it as often as you like, by the way..
SMITTY!
I have to work a little on his round belly and his face/head ... and maybe his hair color, but, I am pleased with this start : )
Oh, and how cool is it that you can rename Boffs? Smitty is flying with John, Will, and Judy...and the blue girl that I can't rename who will become Don or Maurine or Penny at some point.
~~~ Moar Smitty - note the exquisitely narrow shoulders, pursed lips, receding hairline.. and kinda flared eye thing. I could get his nose and chin and head shape just right if I stared at a picture and the costume creator at the same time for long enough. It's not so bad, the costume creator, really.