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About Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online takes place a century after *Strange New Worlds* and thirty years after *Nemesis*, when the Romulan Empire has fractured, the Federation and Klingon Empire are at war again, and ancient powers linger in the Delta and Gamma Quadrants. Players become captains tasked with navigating this turbulent galaxy.
The free‑to‑play MMO offers more than 160 story episodes, full controller support, and extensive customization for captains, ships, and crews. Players can join iconic characters voiced by the original actors and choose among four factions, each with its own ships and gear.
01 / THE GUIDE
Captain and Species Customization
The game lets you create a captain from any species in the galaxy, selecting appearance and background before entering missions. This customization is independent of faction choice and provides a personal visual identity for each player.
Customization options include a range of visual elements that can be changed at any time, allowing captains to update their look as they progress through the game.
- Experiment with several species to find a visual style you enjoy.
- Revisit the customization screen after major milestones to refresh your captain’s appearance.
02 / THE GUIDE
Ship Variety and Selection
Star Trek Online provides hundreds of ships that players can select to match their preferred play style. Ships differ in size, role, and visual design, giving captains many tactical options for space combat and exploration.
Because the catalog is large, players can switch between ships as they acquire new ones, allowing experimentation with different vessel types throughout their career.
- Try a few ship classes early to see which feels comfortable in combat.
- Consider the visual design of a ship when choosing, as each faction’s ships have distinct aesthetics.
03 / THE GUIDE
Choosing a Faction
Players can align with one of four major factions: the Federation, Romulan Republic, Klingon Empire, or the Dominion. Each faction supplies its own ships, crew gear, and narrative perspective within the game.
Faction selection influences the visual style of ships and gear available to the player, offering distinct play‑style flavors without requiring additional purchases.
- Read the brief faction descriptions to see which visual theme appeals to you.
- Pick a faction whose ship designs you find most interesting.
04 / THE GUIDE
Story Episodes and Arcs
The game contains more than 160 episodes spread across multiple story arcs, covering events after *Strange New Worlds* and *Nemesis*. Episodes guide players through diplomatic, combat, and exploration challenges.
Progressing through episodes unlocks new content and expands the galaxy’s narrative, letting captains experience the evolving conflict among factions and ancient threats.
- Follow the episode order to experience the story as intended.
- Join co‑op missions when available to share episode progress with other players.
05 / THE GUIDE
Full Controller Support
Star Trek Online includes full controller support, enabling navigation of menus, piloting of ships, and command of away teams without a keyboard. This feature makes the MMO accessible on a variety of hardware setups.
Controller input works alongside the game's MMO systems, allowing players to engage in space combat and exploration using familiar gamepad layouts.
- Use a controller if you prefer gamepad ergonomics.
- Combine controller play with a mouse for precise targeting when needed.
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