A myriad of updates have been posted over at Star Trek Online this past week.  We get to see a brand new screenshot showing a bit of ground combat.  Then, Cryptic Studios answers some interesting questions on how, we as players, deal with said combat.  Also, there's a brand new Kobayashi Maru and audio interview with Craig Zinkievich on the Hailing Frequencies podcast.

Ask Cryptic - Ground Combat

Numerous: Can players beam anywhere on the planet, or only to specific places?

When you beam to a planet, you only beam to a specific location. This is to help retain the flow of our Episodes, which link missions between ground and space.

However, we’re looking into site-to-site transporter powers, which would allow you to “beam” across short distances for tactical purposes and allow you to get to places you couldn’t normally reach. But that’s still in the works.

Numerous: Will different places have different environmental conditions that some races are more capable of withstanding than others?

Currently, no, but that’s a great suggestion we’d like to look into. For instance, some cold environments where Andorians would get a bonus and other races would receive a penalty. We’re spending more time looking at racial bonuses right now, so it’s a good time for us to talk about it internally.

ExAstris: Will all ground missions be 5 individuals, or will some of the more epic things you encounter at "end game" require 10+ away team members?

The team size is always five. There are maps that require multiple teams to make your way through. Think of a front-line situation where numerous players bring down their away teams to work together with other players to fight against multiple teams of other players or NPCs. But your away team is always five members.

Shatterhand: Will these "kits" be supplied to your character automatically upon creation, or will there be a mission or procedure through which they'll be unlocked and ready for use/enhancement?

Kits are basically items that make special skills available, and you’ll be granted two Kits at character creation. So if you’re a Science officer, you’ll receive a Science Kit and a Medical Kit. If you’re an Engineer, you’ll receive a Shield Generator Kit and a Weapons Malfunction Kit. (The different Kits make different skills available, so you’ll be able to choose how you want to play your character from the very beginning.) We may increase the starting Kits to three, but it’s currently two. However, you’ll be able to acquire more Kits through missions and rewards. (source Star Trek Online)

Read the full article here.

Kobayashi Maru

You are an engineer aboard a ship that has survived an intense battle. Comms are offline, and there are power fluctuations across the grid.

You are in a section of the ship that has lost power. While trying to find your way out, you find a foreign device. You soon recognize it as being a high powered explosive, and further examination shows that there is not much time left before it detonates.

This bomb is highly complex, and you know that you may not have enough time to disarm it. There is also the possibility of there being more of these explosives. With the continuing power fluctuations, the internal sensors may not have detected them yet. You have no way of contacting anyone from your location. You can try to get out of the area and get the word out, but due to all of the obstacles such as closed doors that need to be forced open and rubble everywhere, the chances of getting to anyone in time are slim to none.

The bomb is designed to detonate if it's moved.

In the opposite direction is an escape pod. You can get to it and escape the explosion if you immediately launch after getting in. There would be no time to send a message. Your only hope then would be is that there is only one bomb, and the ship's damaged structural integrity is strong enough to take it. If there are more, there is no hope for survivors.

Do you try to disarm the bomb, try to warn the crew although there probably won't be enough time to escape or do you save yourself and hope for the best? (source Star Trek Online)

Read the article here.