tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47042447406813065252024-03-14T19:03:08.010+00:00Some Kind of Star TrekThoughts, Views, Reviews, AnalysisSome Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.comBlogger1020125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-13784233226197424482024-02-10T14:10:00.004+00:002024-02-10T14:10:51.689+00:00Scotty’s Gaming Physics<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG_eBYaL7a2X8m5RmdYcCukl8iAotwnSC1kgCzOD2a2kfxg_oYDTC0dwH6KgdiDUzEwqItnmEshpTmgPsbupzL_7jSypdanlh-OqmKdsdI_scINagThcd5MlzXdzQUATJpo0vQPF2s0xbi3_A7qlrtHw5csgDR_51hwxlCeS95vRLI8KylpLbosTC1Sc/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.56.48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG_eBYaL7a2X8m5RmdYcCukl8iAotwnSC1kgCzOD2a2kfxg_oYDTC0dwH6KgdiDUzEwqItnmEshpTmgPsbupzL_7jSypdanlh-OqmKdsdI_scINagThcd5MlzXdzQUATJpo0vQPF2s0xbi3_A7qlrtHw5csgDR_51hwxlCeS95vRLI8KylpLbosTC1Sc/w640-h480/2024-02-03%2014.56.48.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The Chief Engineer of the <i>USS Enterprise</i> is famous for uttering the line "You canna change the laws of physics" but you <i>can</i> change the rules of the game.</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VJ6XjfHIvDcRSxez4XhnqBqQZhMid5MkuRAWQxxN4ctwIhgBFzi7w4FkY0BVhYyM8oG2nUYwYIn_ASRE79Onmcpm3perZPgLwhdgaofeXEdB89bB87NsMa5e8BG00TZQfgY53-5tEhN8Ts2lwlOIdotMsc_BzbOn2DBgHVFNuqHArEdCsxTCNzphst8/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.56.12.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VJ6XjfHIvDcRSxez4XhnqBqQZhMid5MkuRAWQxxN4ctwIhgBFzi7w4FkY0BVhYyM8oG2nUYwYIn_ASRE79Onmcpm3perZPgLwhdgaofeXEdB89bB87NsMa5e8BG00TZQfgY53-5tEhN8Ts2lwlOIdotMsc_BzbOn2DBgHVFNuqHArEdCsxTCNzphst8/s320/2024-02-03%2014.56.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">As we've already seen in the new Kirk Expansion Pack for Gale Force Nine's <i>Away Missions</i>, a new Beam Away feature has been introduced which can either be the greatest of gifts or a move that ends up with one less person on your crew.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Scotty also brings something different to the mix but first let's dive into the characters themselves and see what new dimensions this quartet add.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As the Commander in this set you would assume Scotty would pack the best Attack, Defence and Skill stats but that's not the case. He does have a triple advantage when it comes to his Engineering trait and with that heightened chance of success he could potentially add a Bonus Action to your team. That's a lot of firsts in one character so loading up your card deck will be a major skill in itself to take full advantage.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hikaru Sulu actually boasts the best basic stats in the team with three dice available for Attack and Defence. While he's still limited to stun, he does provide a re-roll to both himself and his opponent. Sulu also has a double Security trait again super useful for those skill tests and, more interesting is his ability to roll four Attack dice if you happen to have equipped him with an antique weapon - and yes, it's a definite homage to <i>The Naked Time</i>. That said, it means that choosing the Rapier for melee means he's got an advantage from a distance or close up.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl1CQL9ivlWiJRx5Jl5o8xwVxhqg3gLOzdcO4ee4aj7ecyMaPHugOXMyvoQYM7DnoAm65yqvmBuY3wHnKIeNFD-WljLyVklzEti9anRFezMPx7A7I8X1Z2PPlvm10ytYHsufGsSZDNRHBHPuSKokeCe4f7pyn2M7UWrWM7zo4JZgHNyE7TbqT8tEr_z0/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.54.16.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl1CQL9ivlWiJRx5Jl5o8xwVxhqg3gLOzdcO4ee4aj7ecyMaPHugOXMyvoQYM7DnoAm65yqvmBuY3wHnKIeNFD-WljLyVklzEti9anRFezMPx7A7I8X1Z2PPlvm10ytYHsufGsSZDNRHBHPuSKokeCe4f7pyn2M7UWrWM7zo4JZgHNyE7TbqT8tEr_z0/s320/2024-02-03%2014.54.16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Uhura might not have the highest Attack ability but her double rolling Communications trait and chance to reroll on Operations terminal tests will provide a twist as long as you've packed the right objectives from the set. Probably a character you'll need to keep under guard which is where the trait<i>less </i><span>Mr Leslie comes into play. indeed, that's precisely what his character is designed for, rolling more dice if you're backing up another team member and I can't see why this would ever NOT be Uhura. Ironically (or probably more likely by full intention, Mr Leslie is the perfect redshirt although that does mean this set is oddly lacking in any medical backup. Given the higher abilities of his colleagues, Leslie does add a sense of balance to the group however </span><i>Trek</i><span> fans will probably be wondering where Nurse Chapel has gone. In fact on a check of the deck there's only ONE card which will help restore any damage this team receives so deck build wisely!</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what of the rest of the pack? Well, there's lots to look at. There's more Beam Away tokens as we saw with Kirk (use that under advisement!!!) plus a rather cool little Tribble feature. Those fluffy annoyances can help players score more points if they've been deployed and started to spread but there are ways to remove them! Reading more into this, the Scotty team is ideal to deploy if you're up against a Klingon opponent as the Tribbles can give you some dice rolling advantages when coupled with the Beam Away feature. Again, it's worth digging into your cards to work out the best combination of Support/Mission to select. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFqpQ81aCzjpvUXM-2ssDXnafk_3NnIU5BjprgL6LOOdtUv5Rj1CqKTjBcn8EmFq2KntM5gGCaTlaRf-XrqI_g93BWa0sZs-wr0T_Z3cF2bTelsrHBZ_4iDiM2Af7dO-Yqvfs8a3ARoq_DucwgB1Uj-qkjULHx6drLhxpVqypiJO-NOqVFMKfc9FP6Aw/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.58.21.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFqpQ81aCzjpvUXM-2ssDXnafk_3NnIU5BjprgL6LOOdtUv5Rj1CqKTjBcn8EmFq2KntM5gGCaTlaRf-XrqI_g93BWa0sZs-wr0T_Z3cF2bTelsrHBZ_4iDiM2Af7dO-Yqvfs8a3ARoq_DucwgB1Uj-qkjULHx6drLhxpVqypiJO-NOqVFMKfc9FP6Aw/s320/2024-02-03%2014.58.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Out of the box there's that genius idea of a starter deck to get yourself acclimatised with the dynamics before mixing it up with the additional cards. In relation to the features of the set there are definitely a few sets of cards that players will want to have shuffled into the 20 cards available in each stack and there's absolutely room for customisation. However, I've yet to start mixing cards from each of the packs since they do seem tailored to each group straight out of the wrapper.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This pack also boasts a lot of cards with additional points bonuses as well as a hefty one if you're into stealing cloaking devices or Doomsday Machines. In these instances managing to complete other missions will greatly increase your tally but make sure you do them in the right order to make the most of it. A lot of the cards are similar to already released packs, relying on team members completing skill challenges at particular terminals with more emphasis on their innate abilities and higher scoring traits. Of the two new <i>Original Series </i>packs this is my go-to thanks to the Tribbles and also thanks to the interesting mix of characters on the team. It's fairly balanced when you look at it person to person rather than being an average spread of stats across all four. That may well direct your play to pair them off and back each other up in a way that's not really been evident with Picard or Riker's Federation squads.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's also a nice "easy" goal as a Core Mission in which players can gain ten points for simply keeping characters in play - that's a potential 40 points for keeping out of danger so make sure Leslie knows!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Commander Scotty Federation Expansion is now available to pre-order from your Away Missions stockist!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-51768372622013959142024-02-09T12:00:00.001+00:002024-02-09T12:00:00.243+00:00Kirk Goes Away<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wXdVeLHE8D7e3E0abXS3Tj1z7a7ch3M0_gNgksqtjcN-PZiw1WtAUfvTq94p0RjEpq0oSil8jhDFjcF_RrJ-hYpU02cdt5hv6nHAwyvb2p823IBb50A01FWCw1xQHjqKbIeX9fg42gQzOt6KME3m4gpjQJw-4l7Zkpr6DvhCBPipPwonWNr-ule2tp8/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.46.14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wXdVeLHE8D7e3E0abXS3Tj1z7a7ch3M0_gNgksqtjcN-PZiw1WtAUfvTq94p0RjEpq0oSil8jhDFjcF_RrJ-hYpU02cdt5hv6nHAwyvb2p823IBb50A01FWCw1xQHjqKbIeX9fg42gQzOt6KME3m4gpjQJw-4l7Zkpr6DvhCBPipPwonWNr-ule2tp8/w640-h480/2024-02-03%2014.46.14.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br />With Christmas out of the way, your gaming fund is absolutely -</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hold that thought because for fans of Gale Force Nine's <i>Away Missions</i>, there's a new pair of expansions about to drop that will no doubt catch your attention.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKzAWYrZjfQWGkxskjZKPPU8_6D94twgiOKLcaatYZT9GAEn-AEsMTF-GkUjRnTChJa56yWor4z6vtfZaItHVW63ft9sm01i6TvoTRoyLhlP-o39x3mFK1HkSChTSivahH-S-MbmB9G9Z6QYLeE_F58eS00MC54GN6-wfV0ts7qGbTMByNdok2xZhhsM/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.47.56.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKzAWYrZjfQWGkxskjZKPPU8_6D94twgiOKLcaatYZT9GAEn-AEsMTF-GkUjRnTChJa56yWor4z6vtfZaItHVW63ft9sm01i6TvoTRoyLhlP-o39x3mFK1HkSChTSivahH-S-MbmB9G9Z6QYLeE_F58eS00MC54GN6-wfV0ts7qGbTMByNdok2xZhhsM/s320/2024-02-03%2014.47.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">For the first time stepping outside of <i>The Next Generation</i>'s timeframe, <i>Away Missions </i>brings in <i>The Original Series</i> crew across two fabulous sets.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Assembled on the transporter pad for the first beam out are Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Chekov.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now this could be classed as the more "run of the mill" Federation pack but there's a new feature on the cards that will certainly mix things up... and did in my first trial of the set.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The figures are great. I know there's a very mixed bag of opinions out there around their styling but I think it really works and given their size the detail is pretty damn fine even down to the correct rank braiding on the shirt cuffs and dials on the teeny phasers. Some of the paint jobs we've seen on the previous sets are just phenomenal and I wish I had half the talent on display. Look forward to seeing these in all their glory!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So to the pack; Kirk is an oddly average team leader on first glance but the chance to pick up some easy points on skills challenges thanks to that Command trait helps a lot. So too does his ability to re-roll an additional die in attack, skill and defence. Plus he integrates a lovely close combat attack adding two dice to his assault. At cover value not so good but once you can get him into tight situations Kirk comes into his own.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HLov_cyd1opjo3jCEFiWt84WavebNzB7rca3fkY0H2D6keMb9LOuwwAoCl1ixPgfXe5zbJR4wGdP5aBd9dPNwHlOcxXi4dvWlrzseUZdg9Kl12dTxVxf4ksmd-H2XQmuzyVfrRchyphenhyphenp4MQ0uMlIyyrtSFkqr0sx10sms0fkx6Z-TSrA6UcrY5vOOEFaU/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.48.31.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HLov_cyd1opjo3jCEFiWt84WavebNzB7rca3fkY0H2D6keMb9LOuwwAoCl1ixPgfXe5zbJR4wGdP5aBd9dPNwHlOcxXi4dvWlrzseUZdg9Kl12dTxVxf4ksmd-H2XQmuzyVfrRchyphenhyphenp4MQ0uMlIyyrtSFkqr0sx10sms0fkx6Z-TSrA6UcrY5vOOEFaU/s320/2024-02-03%2014.48.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Spock is the go-to for skills challenges whether or not he has the trait since he rocks an impressive three dice out of the box. His nerve pinch is also a close quarters winner but will stun rather than kill. It's an advantage over his phaser, emphasising this pack as one that will need players to be prepared to get right up to their opponents for maximum effect.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">McCoy's healing abilities are useful but rely on you again being close to another character (namely your own!) to regain some health. One note here is that McCoy is a big advantage in terms of the health regain over the Scotty pack which we'll come back to in that article.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Crouching Chekov adds the muscle to the pack needs players to ditch Support Cards in order to take advantage of the re-roll Kirk gets for being Kirk. It's actually pretty balanced as a quartet with each character providing a different weight to the away team and potentially leading players to customise their cards to play to the higher stats of each one. That said, the fact that you're shuffling before dealing out five Support/Mission cards doesn't guarantee you'll be getting the right mix off the bat so think about packing in some easy wins just in case your combinations don't come to pass.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All are able to make a move of four spaces to get around the board and that makes using turbolifts a lot easier in this gamer's opinion. They did come in useful to bounce around the boards and complete a few goals in round two.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Packed into the box to help boost the abilities of the team we have additional bonus point tokens as well as counters for the new Beam Away move and Mind Meld.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Taking your character out of play as part of a Mission Card direction, your character then only completes the directions on the card when you come to activate your following character. In the first run through I got to use this move twice and both failed spectacularly resulting in both Kirk and Spock being Neutralised during the second of the three rounds. Good luck to McCoy and Chekov for round three.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNluat347rbEjxBT2Y7MoF_wIez2GIxi3qxz4TMMNVFsmQq_GSXuepTQO-uAF23cSzzxOZUpMQydDoix2lK5Xkdv_hkufiFV4KXIYY9fo1deR1oe8ZM8XH5CqgS9_L14wACo8FJBnQRsyWCO7cXUSlEiYAeawO4mEo2V7GJJ5XZIc6mll_18ai1csoe8w/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.49.33.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNluat347rbEjxBT2Y7MoF_wIez2GIxi3qxz4TMMNVFsmQq_GSXuepTQO-uAF23cSzzxOZUpMQydDoix2lK5Xkdv_hkufiFV4KXIYY9fo1deR1oe8ZM8XH5CqgS9_L14wACo8FJBnQRsyWCO7cXUSlEiYAeawO4mEo2V7GJJ5XZIc6mll_18ai1csoe8w/s320/2024-02-03%2014.49.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In the box players also receive a new deck of cards. What I think is a fantastic idea here is that for the initial few run throughs there is a set 20 Mission and 20 Support card deck pre-built before adding in another set to customise your loadouts. This stops any horrible surprises but also means players can get to grips with that new Beam Away dynamic that <i>can</i> get your characters out of a sticky situation. For example, I had Spock cornered by Lursa and used it to drag him out of danger in the hopes that his return would mean I could beam him back to the transporter pad. Needless to say it didn't in this case. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some cards will provide the usual skill tests at a certain terminal on the board while others play to whether or not opponents are neutralised. Some do allow for additional bonus too including searching for specific cards to help your team or even require others on our crew to complete skills tests for the points that round. Nicely there are a couple (Hortas take note) that combo up your points should you have other missions already scoring.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HBdJZL-CMGw2LIA6EoCfmFE_uiEUb_c97qUFh_vnK-60HadDbAg_o9M0MWSludqhmPESOYmvL0UorlmyJItwdweq_5nVUGckzdyyILhtT-YpS43p2olx6OOw9VPD-dgF-O4QD8PkWOII2RlU8z0Kwj1YFF9LHbvuePcaKVOpKNuzyNPqJGujvIqcNfU/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.51.12.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HBdJZL-CMGw2LIA6EoCfmFE_uiEUb_c97qUFh_vnK-60HadDbAg_o9M0MWSludqhmPESOYmvL0UorlmyJItwdweq_5nVUGckzdyyILhtT-YpS43p2olx6OOw9VPD-dgF-O4QD8PkWOII2RlU8z0Kwj1YFF9LHbvuePcaKVOpKNuzyNPqJGujvIqcNfU/s320/2024-02-03%2014.51.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The theming of the deck is absolutely on spec too. Working in classic themes and episode titles, the Support and Mission decks offer a breadth of equipment, tactics and game changing interruption moves that will have you racking up points and hopefully keeping your opponent on their toes for the duration of those three critical rounds of play.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are joyously several focusing on Kirk's legendary fighting skills to give the captain even more of an advantage as well as gains in medical equipment and phaser lethality. That last one's a big winner since Federation characters can only stun! Vulcan Nerve Pinch is another good one you hope pops up since it can incapacitate an opponent in one go - very useful for a cornered Vulcan. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mind Meld is also Spock specific with the chance to use an adjacent character's trait for a Skill test - so just make sure you know who you're next to when it matters because it might be to your advantage.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As said, Kirk and Spock are much more useful right up close leaving McCoy and Chekov to do some distance shooting although you will need to unify the team to get different challenges completed over the course of the two rounds.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgPNAXeUg63nSgL5YCOUZcms15Dx2jbtEb4FXnV9yEdzdEsI_IJdSxUuX0pIZIThZNQRDYjgxbvu4MwidoDsvp56O7_EnTus7qV6z6aE4X62ZtC29Lxnj-HWDgo11f1slLQyF1CjatJ2ERP09gm7z1TJ0cL2rpZKwBkGf_fRME-ofOrbp3mJNTYRy2vs/s4032/2024-02-03%2014.47.26.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgPNAXeUg63nSgL5YCOUZcms15Dx2jbtEb4FXnV9yEdzdEsI_IJdSxUuX0pIZIThZNQRDYjgxbvu4MwidoDsvp56O7_EnTus7qV6z6aE4X62ZtC29Lxnj-HWDgo11f1slLQyF1CjatJ2ERP09gm7z1TJ0cL2rpZKwBkGf_fRME-ofOrbp3mJNTYRy2vs/s320/2024-02-03%2014.47.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I do like this set and it's already seen more action than Picard but that's only because I've not unboxed Scotty just yet. In fact both of these sets are currently a bit of an "anomaly" since there are no classic villain sets to counter them and for timeline purists dropping Kirk and co onto a 24th Century ship against the Borg (for example) could almost be seen as franchise sacrilege. We can only hope GFN have some suitable baddies lined up in the wings... am I hearing calls for a certain Khan? Kor? The Gorn? Now there's a pack...</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Beam Away function is one to use wisely but it's not the only new twist that's introduced in these expansions. Scotty's set has some interesting new bits I can't wait to try and I think the Chief Engineer himself might be a real dark horse of a character as the Mission Commander. But we'll come to that one next...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Captain Kirk Federation Expansion pack is now available from your <i>Away Missions</i> stockist!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-50766467725317058402023-11-11T19:00:00.003+00:002023-11-11T19:00:00.133+00:00Clandestine to the Core: Section 31 Starbase; Eaglemoss Official Discovery Starships Collection<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvGMX2NJbiKcIxZOJjPFkFD70jzJJdcSDnqRD7bIf_TVCLfwWbqpolO_kApS6NEu_p-foViRyDJ8VUqwZiMZY7pjlI0N-GpgsnID_PUdCLJtgVZVSSEJHVp9IyDQdpDGyxWGFeib2YHplr10np-U5-5cqXOFlr0MD5bFkH_NPyTN7EmIFVpDdpNE9FT4/s3024/2022-09-20%2013.50.37%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="3024" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvGMX2NJbiKcIxZOJjPFkFD70jzJJdcSDnqRD7bIf_TVCLfwWbqpolO_kApS6NEu_p-foViRyDJ8VUqwZiMZY7pjlI0N-GpgsnID_PUdCLJtgVZVSSEJHVp9IyDQdpDGyxWGFeib2YHplr10np-U5-5cqXOFlr0MD5bFkH_NPyTN7EmIFVpDdpNE9FT4/w640-h450/2022-09-20%2013.50.37%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The home of the secretive Section 31, the former penal facility's origins fitted right in with its use in <i>Discovery</i>.</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20TxZ1vq0NaaYR_eb6LXQvb9TY7_0SzXwRO-1wUfSZWd_gfgkdeIOhzSt4su12Tiaqgd6nK3fp1HnrdcdRwX26w7fwYXJ-_7j0GYdqvrTTDxjA3rFEOtkHUwOqKJZ4QdbdZSVa71DnMUesPz0xSCX58Kw-Oi1x1H3mtbVdUo61m1JmjgqZBqmIvuG1GE/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.50.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20TxZ1vq0NaaYR_eb6LXQvb9TY7_0SzXwRO-1wUfSZWd_gfgkdeIOhzSt4su12Tiaqgd6nK3fp1HnrdcdRwX26w7fwYXJ-_7j0GYdqvrTTDxjA3rFEOtkHUwOqKJZ4QdbdZSVa71DnMUesPz0xSCX58Kw-Oi1x1H3mtbVdUo61m1JmjgqZBqmIvuG1GE/s320/2022-09-20%2013.50.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A little more squat than the spired Starbase One, this was another of the structures featured in <i>Discovery</i>'s heralded second season and featured heavily in the conflict with Control.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Following a similar construction trend to the Starbase the lower base and the underside of the landing platforms are metal in construction adding a good bit of weight and stability to the model.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That said, it's actually a much more intricate piece than the Starbase. The lower section has an open area as a docking bay with a substantial weathering effect, rising up through a scaffold-esque structure into the main body of the station. The wear and tear effect on the model surface is even better than that on Starbase 1 hammering home that this is a really old piece of technology left out in space. The unevenness of the finish on that lower connecting stump is impressive too given how it forms around the supporting framework. You can see the rust and degradation almost as if its real.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The stand actually holds the station on the underneath of the two asymmetrical landing pads (which, as is noted in the magazine don't actually make much sense!). They do add an element of functionality to the tower and are just as weathered and battered as the pieces that lie directly beneath them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxUualYcMRQQFnGOdDLq92R7qwUtGVE3WdqVOnnDxhRjkkaxPvMeOb2aGed817fGruiGHsLlf64sC5b1IHbU0CzgdZNfNN1_z2ZWzaPR4MWg__AwtNXSnFdQfwhoCfqCbNVjnD9a8z72rqK8ZNzNrLsozZkT4Yu5rvKJGSYS5UiPLafiO_VT3dld9Yzw/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.51.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxUualYcMRQQFnGOdDLq92R7qwUtGVE3WdqVOnnDxhRjkkaxPvMeOb2aGed817fGruiGHsLlf64sC5b1IHbU0CzgdZNfNN1_z2ZWzaPR4MWg__AwtNXSnFdQfwhoCfqCbNVjnD9a8z72rqK8ZNzNrLsozZkT4Yu5rvKJGSYS5UiPLafiO_VT3dld9Yzw/s320/2022-09-20%2013.51.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The rib cage elements that then encase the central core seem to be slotted as a single piece down onto the body and there's a certain fragility to their form even though there's never a doubt to their sturdiness. These are again beautifully rendered with a fantastic ridged detail and markings which were almost indistinguishable onscreen but help bring this piece to life immediately. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The central core continues the worn grid pattern that defined the lower support section rising up to another, smaller rib cage that circles the top, seeming to protect what you would assume is the command unit. There's also a piping element that sits to the rear and runs vertically almost mirroring a spine holding the ribs of the Section 31 base in place. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's a most unusual structure, emanating feelings of brutalism and a stark contrast to the more impressive and perhaps positive showmanship of the Starbase 1 spire. If I'm absolutely honest I'm not a huge fan of these two as starbase models and the designs leave me a little cold when compared to the classic nature of Spacedock or Regula One for example. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIiIQ-rtsF1u0X52yFPBXIEdf_PDNqEJdu189ZhagEd8nSs6ZzgJ3DctZW66OC1ZB75O3LR8SAu7Aw0Pd19PoUyNwvYpB4wvL2-6EVVp_M1LimUdwrNKwCpCU3M32KcGtiSg-qiXt00ACF1FX8jayCu47Gcodo7MxAIlf_xz0uGb8iruIl985hoSDlIg/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.50.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIiIQ-rtsF1u0X52yFPBXIEdf_PDNqEJdu189ZhagEd8nSs6ZzgJ3DctZW66OC1ZB75O3LR8SAu7Aw0Pd19PoUyNwvYpB4wvL2-6EVVp_M1LimUdwrNKwCpCU3M32KcGtiSg-qiXt00ACF1FX8jayCu47Gcodo7MxAIlf_xz0uGb8iruIl985hoSDlIg/s320/2022-09-20%2013.50.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">However this is a striking, well presented and superbly finished replica that does just about Feverything right from the colours and subdued three tone hues that add to its ominous nature right to the way in which it is finely balanced both in terms of weight and plastic/metal ratio. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I also love that asymmetrical nature which is almost never present in starbase design. There are lumps and bumps, structures that dominate to one side and give it a real one-off look. Its repurposed nature is something only seen here and this also marks a rare opportunity to look at what the Federation's prison system may have looked like. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The magazine covers a very brief review of Control's actions in the season including its takeover of this very station before we embark on a good run of diagrams and drawings about its concept. This was a strangely long process but one that seems to have been very satisfying by its end even if the station would eventually be destroyed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A completists model if ever and definitely one that will appeal to <i>Discovery</i> fans because of its utter uniqueness. Not one I would choose to stick out on display but one that would create a few talking points in a <i>Star Trek</i> conversation if nothing else.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-18189768789011329112023-11-10T18:00:00.004+00:002023-11-10T18:00:00.135+00:00All About the Base - Starbase 1; Eaglemoss Official Discovery Starships Collection<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDfdDLkePWbvzRNabCStdBZSStyixismnEBFA3omNHePW-oRtqDBrhEkI3nUzeAPX09zdrNYJyiVpRyQ2zUF3qkQiNCIugtTw7PRyz7FnHzoeeAlZXdJ5OY5NvWjgkXkweKNWZBMxGzCH-s2kEvZwYtMd2kMjkZF1-eTyOMF9yzLUi-hpUK3HLdakH30/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.42.03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDfdDLkePWbvzRNabCStdBZSStyixismnEBFA3omNHePW-oRtqDBrhEkI3nUzeAPX09zdrNYJyiVpRyQ2zUF3qkQiNCIugtTw7PRyz7FnHzoeeAlZXdJ5OY5NvWjgkXkweKNWZBMxGzCH-s2kEvZwYtMd2kMjkZF1-eTyOMF9yzLUi-hpUK3HLdakH30/w640-h480/2022-09-20%2013.42.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />An absolute behemoth of a model, Starbase One needs a tall shelf.</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A stunning construction, the circular base and spire mark a truly amazing piece of design work that, even in this very small scale, is conveyed exceptionally. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i43x9YiLNc7PsZSUv2huClfh1_z4oe0h4mNzRsztgfTpGisPeUuvZTVxFyX7s2wGo_y2NMTE0_1js2aQOpy2d5o5NCkDDrDNWYhkVOSicZRXP9Vpd485BHFtS6tgUDZl3xjKZQbsRyvoITjCsqYc6nQDwU5pHqV0YuigiRbeEf17pR3CaPZcI_Sf8Ps/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.43.54.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i43x9YiLNc7PsZSUv2huClfh1_z4oe0h4mNzRsztgfTpGisPeUuvZTVxFyX7s2wGo_y2NMTE0_1js2aQOpy2d5o5NCkDDrDNWYhkVOSicZRXP9Vpd485BHFtS6tgUDZl3xjKZQbsRyvoITjCsqYc6nQDwU5pHqV0YuigiRbeEf17pR3CaPZcI_Sf8Ps/s320/2022-09-20%2013.43.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Perfectly docked in the cup-like stand, this is impressively stable and at every point the detail is just extraordinary. The whole structure is covered in white dots denoting windows and providing that essential concept of scale. In-universe this dwarfs just about everything and was featured in <i>Discovery</i>'s superb second season before it made the 1000 year jump.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Every piece has a layered feel to it with the lower elements jutting out past the hold of the stand. There's some lovely weathered/hatched effect work on the hull detail here which only appears at this lower point. Above this, the structure widens out into the larger docking ring marked with a series of eight arms to welcome ships. Again the edges of the ring are dotted with clusters of windows and an excellent, textured upper surface that not only provides a three-dimensional feel to the ring but also has some very well created weathering. This worn effect adds to the aging on the towering station.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The docking ring and lower section add even more stability to the structure here as the large metal elements to which the plastic buttresses and tower are then attached. That choice makes the model atouch better since the ring section has that ridged effect in play.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Visually it's one of the most striking of all the starbase/station products that Eaglemoss made. That huge spire section, which dominates two thirds of the model, is just as well weathered as the upper portion of the docking ring and fortunately it's not just a simple copy and repeat pattern as you take a look around the structure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpM-Cc7vcb9D-Ml6eYBWaKFw__lEQyrpKOT7YOkZgBHBVY6ezOBDQeR2QJCBkOciMjJKc6I2x8dODgl6kI-EfJQXoKqYTB75cZm1M4eo5U_i5fwzyin-0UbvwLAxf5lbt0Zo5gtMOk94Nd2WiYCXbkpJwHANWij9671HppPyLhUkU3PuSpdfZmquKrvI/s4032/2022-09-20%2013.41.56.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpM-Cc7vcb9D-Ml6eYBWaKFw__lEQyrpKOT7YOkZgBHBVY6ezOBDQeR2QJCBkOciMjJKc6I2x8dODgl6kI-EfJQXoKqYTB75cZm1M4eo5U_i5fwzyin-0UbvwLAxf5lbt0Zo5gtMOk94Nd2WiYCXbkpJwHANWij9671HppPyLhUkU3PuSpdfZmquKrvI/s320/2022-09-20%2013.41.56.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The striking tower leads up to what can only be described as a mast marking its highest point. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The pictures and images of the base from </span><i>Discovery</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> don't really allow for an indepth look at the structure although it does give an idea of the scale thanks to the array of docked starships we see there. Even then the size of this as a model is pretty overwhelming and there are only a few other pieces in the collection that come anywhere near. Those are probably the Sarcophagus Ship and the Section 31 starbase. Potentially the Jupiter Station creeps into this "supersize" category but nothing seems to do it quite so eye-catchingly as Starbase One.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Build quality is also pretty decent. There are some evident seams around the edges of the docking ring but those are fairly minor. The central core of the station appears almost one single element although on a closer inspection you can make out the odd joint line and in some places a touch of digital decal sticking.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It really is an impressive piece that might actually be too big to sit on some shelves due to its radius and height. At best this has to be about a foot from mast top to the bottom and then there's the additional height of the stand to contend with. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the box we also have the standard <i>Discovery </i>magazine which, in this case, directs readers attention to the design of Starbase One as well as its role within the second season of the show. The magazine contains a series of excellent concept work on what the exterior and interior could have looked like including the multiple environments that would have been contained given its gigantic proportions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-7668861073657603382023-11-08T19:00:00.001+00:002023-11-08T19:00:00.138+00:00Go It Alone: Modiphius' Captain's Log<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnFXNX-Dwn_1sbn3irtwBO5nAg4pOktqDwCxkMQS9jNRLO7CMCmtcaidgQhNf3vx7N5a6f2ZB1tsW5vEtbf_nK5KUxiAwU987S13INYeJ1QaSKD4O1oGJobpNwhuHeixX9xqrnZxGBhz954Q7QkEYbOrHT9cb6r0RVMHukTdBScbUcWC24tM7RGXnVx8/s3160/2023-07-30%2013.57.25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1730" data-original-width="3160" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnFXNX-Dwn_1sbn3irtwBO5nAg4pOktqDwCxkMQS9jNRLO7CMCmtcaidgQhNf3vx7N5a6f2ZB1tsW5vEtbf_nK5KUxiAwU987S13INYeJ1QaSKD4O1oGJobpNwhuHeixX9xqrnZxGBhz954Q7QkEYbOrHT9cb6r0RVMHukTdBScbUcWC24tM7RGXnVx8/w640-h350/2023-07-30%2013.57.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The RPG has had a resurgence of huge proportions in the last decade with multiple franchises taking it away from the original <i>Dungeons and Dragons</i> concept.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Modiphius themselves launched the <i>Star Trek Adventures</i> version several years ago, expanding it with different quadrants of the galaxy, starship handbooks, campaigns and even a <i>Lower Decks</i> sourcebook. However, finding a group to explore the universe of <i>Star Trek</i> with is not always the easiest as I can attest myself.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which is where <i>Captain</i>'s <i>Log</i> fills conspicuous gap. Designed from the ground upwards as a single player game, the newest volume on the ever-expanding Modiphius shelf (probably need a second one) provides that single player model with a full walkthrough of just how to bring solo <i>Trek </i>to life.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MU41ECZv2EuYGjDd01pl0VcaMuOZl7LKg_s9O5TloQToedFw2YqncGGJuR5uoNdKf-rlE31zQGe-DF7aN0KQzDm5OB4lNmCo-B0s-6CByITbuM6495Q6GmnS-IGHfnR6ZGjikbh1JHw3Ae9RYoOTkivgBAd2gmzLnarxX24lSqr6ylJcWWjsUPu36F0/s681/Screenshot%202023-07-22%20092640.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MU41ECZv2EuYGjDd01pl0VcaMuOZl7LKg_s9O5TloQToedFw2YqncGGJuR5uoNdKf-rlE31zQGe-DF7aN0KQzDm5OB4lNmCo-B0s-6CByITbuM6495Q6GmnS-IGHfnR6ZGjikbh1JHw3Ae9RYoOTkivgBAd2gmzLnarxX24lSqr6ylJcWWjsUPu36F0/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-22%20092640.png" width="226" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hardbacked with your choice of generational covers from <i>TOS</i> to <i>Voyager </i>and through to <i>Discovery</i>, <i>Captain's Log</i> starts with the basics and work upwards. If you've never RPG'd before then don't worry because everything is accounted for as you enter this new adventure.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At 300+ pages that might seem daunting but I decided to go from that opening page right through and work it as a true newbie. It was a great decision because a lot of things became very clear very quickly.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you are familiar with <i>Adventures</i> then there might seem to be a lot of repetition at the start covering the galaxy and just how <i>Star Trek</i> itself works. It's an entertaining read but you have to ask who would be reading this and attempting missions if they were not already fairly familiar with the workings of the Gene Roddenberry sandbox. In some respects this does help to put a stamp on just what universe you are playing in and how to proceed in character. For example, it wouldn't be fitting for Starfleet to jump into a situation all phasers blazing. Instead you're more inclined to try a calmer approach but what that is can be up to you or guided through the step by steps of <i>Captain</i>'s <i>Log</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I dived further into the workings of the game it became more apparent that while <i>Adventures</i> builds conversation and the group experience of completing missions, <i>Captain's Log</i> works incredibly differently. The easiest way to explain it is that by the end of each story you have effectively written an episode of <i>Star Trek</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Captain's Log</i> travels a path more aligned to personal creative writing. Initially you can use the' various matrices contained in the book to build a character and provide the details to mould the concept for an episode. You will still be left to fill in a lot of the actual narrative detail yourself and that's more than half the fun. <i>Captain's Log</i> is there to inspire and drive the imagination in new directions that might be well outside your creative zone. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The book does offer two choices in setting up your playing character: either fully developed or with a lot to fill in as the voyages continue. Neither is a "preferred" route and that's down to where you want to start and see the narrative branch. Some features are defined by the race but again you can expand and develop these as you go. In regards to starships, there's a vast range to choose from just in the book with every time period of <i>Star Trek</i> history covered and each class having its own nuances.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The book ultimately offers structure and a way to record missions (PDF is great as you can download and print but a notebook will also suffice) which are key especially if you've never really written anything before. <i>Captain's Log</i> suggests a three act structure to your story with buid up, a peak and then a finale with each split into scenes which you can then track through logs. It also provides a good way to develop character abilities and divert the narrative off in ways that you might not consider. In a story you might just resolve an issue straight away or have a clear plan of where an event will go but with <i>Captain's Log</i> there is a huge element of the unpredictable. What if you roll on your piloting skill and a manoeuvre <i>doesn't</i> work? What if you choose to test your character in a diplomatic setting and they aren't able to settle a dispute between two warring races?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Captain's Log</i> makes you think outside your storytelling comfort zone. The chapters provide guides and examples of how to weave together the story and will even point players towards die rolls and options that can add more spark to the story. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Success can also build Momentum which helps to develop stats and upgrade your character so they become more qualified in skill areas. The game truly is about individual development and I've found this useful in two ways while utilising the features it explains. One was that this offered something where I would be forced to look for a resolution and try it. If that didn't work then I might have to rely on another facet of my created character to succeed. Secondly while writing <i>Trek</i> stories it's prodded me to attempt different things and even turn to the book and its appendices to spin the tale in a different and unexpected way.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The fact that <i>Captain's Log</i> has provided that kind of dual flexibility in my writing has actually made it a useful investment. Just rolling a d20 die on a choice might not be the finite decision but it has pointed me into other opportunities while in the game itself I've found that sticking with the rolls has forced my hand at several junctures.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The detail and thinking here is phenomenal. A lot of it is based on the original <i>Adventures</i> but there really is a page to turn to if you need some assistance. Want to make a planet or a new race? There's a matrix to create their names. Need a non-playing character or a space-borne entity? That's in there too. Whatever help you need to start building your own narrative, it's right in there.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Captain's Log</i> is a game both for seasoned adventurers and newcomers thanks to its extensive introduction and universe coverage. If you're not able to get out for that group meet or just fancy an evening of personal career advancement then there's something in here for you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-3365304611350363052023-11-05T18:00:00.001+00:002023-11-05T18:00:00.139+00:00Very Short Treks: Very Short Patience?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlzJap35FgOONzweZ0cHc0_ODE5_zUQea7sr4mapjFQHnqRxfZxB85QCmr6MsV6pjVQAUR_vvpBtzKKGYKnC5Y7lBhJSiooPPs8DgHxbb_xiHWgZbH1gQ1_JJl_3LP6GqE4egQOBTx29iRqaRdJVAmo9jA0G_sps-B721kjSyX0oCAruzg6RbzId-rGs/s2532/2023-09-20%2018.50.50.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlzJap35FgOONzweZ0cHc0_ODE5_zUQea7sr4mapjFQHnqRxfZxB85QCmr6MsV6pjVQAUR_vvpBtzKKGYKnC5Y7lBhJSiooPPs8DgHxbb_xiHWgZbH1gQ1_JJl_3LP6GqE4egQOBTx29iRqaRdJVAmo9jA0G_sps-B721kjSyX0oCAruzg6RbzId-rGs/w640-h296/2023-09-20%2018.50.50.png" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The 50th anniversary of <i>Star Trek</i>'s original <i>Animated Series </i>should be a time for celebration.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was the first spin off from <i>Star Trek</i>, coming four years after the cancellation of the show and return the majority of the classic cast to their roles albeit vocally.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkFHAh9VWMLQAIy2mz_5gHUBl4tBykmvDmMAZqZC-wwh-pUUi3N_kD1QXFhBDeQprOr32aYLwwq8TPQnU-RJGkWNrpnPpHXPzGRVzlfS8I7qJmhenFP140QxB1_fC8loVyWsJ3XxD1SaJHqN5_PoR1z0-U-y4gU7aLXTH6jF8ciwZjdw1EKiyNboTTkM/s2532/2023-09-13%2019.13.55.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkFHAh9VWMLQAIy2mz_5gHUBl4tBykmvDmMAZqZC-wwh-pUUi3N_kD1QXFhBDeQprOr32aYLwwq8TPQnU-RJGkWNrpnPpHXPzGRVzlfS8I7qJmhenFP140QxB1_fC8loVyWsJ3XxD1SaJHqN5_PoR1z0-U-y4gU7aLXTH6jF8ciwZjdw1EKiyNboTTkM/s320/2023-09-13%2019.13.55.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">So what better way to honour those memories with the arrival of five mini-episodes in the same visual style as the Filmation series. Not only that but <i>Trek</i> alumni including Doug Jones, Ethan Peck, Gates McFadden and Jonathan Frakes have lent their voices to the shorts.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Imagined from the mind of Casper Kelly, the non-canon stories are shall we say <i>distinct </i>in their vision. Opening with <i>Skin a Cat</i>, the story here openly tackles the limits of political correctness, <i>Holiday Party</i> has Spock introducing a cringe-worthy blooper reel aboard Pike's <i>Strange New Worlds USS Enterprise</i> and <i>Worst Contact</i> places Riker and Dr Crusher into a rather sickly encounter with a recently warp capable race.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZErsQp4vgb4B3VKioSwtKuFOy3FBWqSkvY09Ar1hPFmu9eQbu-qVnAymmivozm90bO1suQNuNdJe3Q4SFU06F40dckJ4hQ1nqw4TeNhKPcxSfMwkk8im69HdyJF2EJGAO16ZH22rPzrLrW6NTX0vWBLqImrbalJPotTme05E2K2LTIbUcvN7OpQjSlc/s2532/2023-09-23%2008.23.22.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZErsQp4vgb4B3VKioSwtKuFOy3FBWqSkvY09Ar1hPFmu9eQbu-qVnAymmivozm90bO1suQNuNdJe3Q4SFU06F40dckJ4hQ1nqw4TeNhKPcxSfMwkk8im69HdyJF2EJGAO16ZH22rPzrLrW6NTX0vWBLqImrbalJPotTme05E2K2LTIbUcvN7OpQjSlc/s320/2023-09-23%2008.23.22.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sounds good? In principle the idea of these <i>Very Short Treks</i> seemed perfect but each week has brought disappointment and dismay. Each has utterly missed the mark and thank goodness for the non-canon safety net.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take <i>Skin a Cat</i>. Including the vocals of Ethan Peck as Spock, everything the captain says manages to offend someone on the bridge and creates a new and (even for <i>Star Trek</i>) far-fetched bats-arse alien race purely as a punchline. Initially the "cat" reference offends the (brilliant to see) M'Ress before each line angers the Ass Face, Screwhead and Knickersonian bridge crew. Yes, seriously. It's that kind of comedy level.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqNpbEz5jZcpDkRLbiHISyYcMUNsnCkIJsGrmLrYKCw1Hg1C7bQqJxp49l8thQecWz2IL46VOuD9dFMfYGApAEMS61aEQgmGEy8Xr3WHkHfjvl-8BD3YnZ9X3yrBBz8KrnawualR470BtLQ84qHwFJ2yiJ0mZGifwPEzO3VC6s-H0YsRg2mydi4A7I7E/s2532/2023-09-23%2008.23.48.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqNpbEz5jZcpDkRLbiHISyYcMUNsnCkIJsGrmLrYKCw1Hg1C7bQqJxp49l8thQecWz2IL46VOuD9dFMfYGApAEMS61aEQgmGEy8Xr3WHkHfjvl-8BD3YnZ9X3yrBBz8KrnawualR470BtLQ84qHwFJ2yiJ0mZGifwPEzO3VC6s-H0YsRg2mydi4A7I7E/s320/2023-09-23%2008.23.48.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Those things might be dealt with in the first 90 seconds before the ship captain realises a politically correct way to save his vessel from Klingon attack but these totally override the twist completely. I had to rewatch it just to be reminded of what happened for the closing 90 seconds for that reason.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Holiday Party</i> is a slight improvement with at least the imagining of the <i>SNW</i> crew in this 70s animation style as well as Bruce Horak taking a turn as Hemmer and Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura. Spock's misunderstanding of humour and the probably outdated concept of a blooper make for uneasy and uneven viewing. Spock saying "fart"? Why not here. More accurately... <i>why</i>? This isn't the way to nod to the past and at just over three minutes it's still too long.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE66AdDD_acfWUjXEoKTK-I8Qcy_BR5lqSN-wAVmDTPnDes9qOfbEQILPJjtVvWk1fz1w-GVXm_d-iCjAebM3TJbwlHVvMuYKArQ8PV9nAjzPa8xBDox9uDqEEdZDx66cKuP68bIeepCJmhedUtYBHKfgBRYXunBUfKpIzbDHcQAZKlj6LaX5baI4iO0/s2532/2023-09-13%2019.14.38.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE66AdDD_acfWUjXEoKTK-I8Qcy_BR5lqSN-wAVmDTPnDes9qOfbEQILPJjtVvWk1fz1w-GVXm_d-iCjAebM3TJbwlHVvMuYKArQ8PV9nAjzPa8xBDox9uDqEEdZDx66cKuP68bIeepCJmhedUtYBHKfgBRYXunBUfKpIzbDHcQAZKlj6LaX5baI4iO0/s320/2023-09-13%2019.14.38.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The bloopers chosen are themselves somewhat grim with disembowelling to ice that proverbial cake. <i>Worst Contact</i> draws level with the snotty, hygiene unaware species coming off as annoying clown parodies. McFadden and Frakes deliver the dialogue as best they can and easily have the stronger lines and verbal relationship but the jokes just fall flat and firmly in the territory of "gross". Walls covered with boogers, microwaved rotting fish and eyeball licking are the orders of business for these aliens and certainly not for Starfleet.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteE4ROU59MdhZm5ET4rFqa0Zhov8ra1BUUr09iFnJ23coqDRQ-ijGdaS7LZxI5afRLMpA-UXgpsbtcMcX9VQcz0pPkR7kFsplyuI-78qzOhwLuqx0gCFpnyCoWVN5zZ1IPHUzpmcT_SskHVloW6lLaZzsmn86eNL0rxRpDzX3ujCmxXbdTW_a17XuDo0/s2532/2023-09-20%2018.48.29.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteE4ROU59MdhZm5ET4rFqa0Zhov8ra1BUUr09iFnJ23coqDRQ-ijGdaS7LZxI5afRLMpA-UXgpsbtcMcX9VQcz0pPkR7kFsplyuI-78qzOhwLuqx0gCFpnyCoWVN5zZ1IPHUzpmcT_SskHVloW6lLaZzsmn86eNL0rxRpDzX3ujCmxXbdTW_a17XuDo0/s320/2023-09-20%2018.48.29.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, so there are underlying "serious" issues in here. Political correctness, appreciation of humour and acceptance and understanding of different peoples and customs but they get lost under the bizarre way in which the animated skits have been written. I find American humour an acquired taste and for me a lot of <i>Trek</i>'s humour can be miss rather than hit however this has gone very far of the mark in almost every sense.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The visuals and music cues are perfect however and truly reflect the nature of that series' style and essence. At times the <i>Animated Series</i> could be off the wall but it felt right for the show and the time as well as pushing the limits of <i>Star Trek</i> as restricted by a live action budget and era.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jjtnUP7_4HK4v0310sEGe_tpWTzBdguMcK6kwcdI2IkIqh8_oOHPnsNWuLK3KMYRzbcRgVqWF4V9o5V5YawyvlPzRZcqT5P8vJCUi-NNwzF-ED2vm7_5AzPHO7uq02Zm_WP9sM2wKPsb0Xu0C_jSpJbbvnrOlZHVgEng2F5yK-s3daGmbdg0t2lXfkU/s2532/2023-09-13%2019.12.59.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jjtnUP7_4HK4v0310sEGe_tpWTzBdguMcK6kwcdI2IkIqh8_oOHPnsNWuLK3KMYRzbcRgVqWF4V9o5V5YawyvlPzRZcqT5P8vJCUi-NNwzF-ED2vm7_5AzPHO7uq02Zm_WP9sM2wKPsb0Xu0C_jSpJbbvnrOlZHVgEng2F5yK-s3daGmbdg0t2lXfkU/s320/2023-09-13%2019.12.59.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The shots of the <i>SNW </i>and <i>TNG Enterprises </i>are lovingly created as are the visuals of characters such as Riker, Saru and Spock but the parts are far off making a greater sum. We still have <i>Holograms, All the Way Down </i>and <i>Walk, Don't Run</i> still to go and I'm not holding out for a massive change in tone. These are shorts worth checking out for the visual style and then probably only the once. The tragedy is they just emphasise how great a loss it is that <i>Prodigy</i> failed to get its second season on Paramount.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlv-RyhMreecVQ49F-DqhFM9-XnqkCF2Nxce0AAKaCzffPkpHTwVIIhM-csABhZC152OkdCWWN1Qtx4n9RP8vCOMK8rQgGg2hXTtGeclEVRZf8iMssnyXa9N_wPBAz9HC3ffa1Rr-0yKMo0FuyZMj9he8ujHEtesOpOxAhxrERVFeV0cXpjj9aTiDM0U/s2532/2023-09-23%2008.22.26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlv-RyhMreecVQ49F-DqhFM9-XnqkCF2Nxce0AAKaCzffPkpHTwVIIhM-csABhZC152OkdCWWN1Qtx4n9RP8vCOMK8rQgGg2hXTtGeclEVRZf8iMssnyXa9N_wPBAz9HC3ffa1Rr-0yKMo0FuyZMj9he8ujHEtesOpOxAhxrERVFeV0cXpjj9aTiDM0U/w640-h296/2023-09-23%2008.22.26.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-9997438719262762272023-11-03T09:20:00.005+00:002024-02-03T18:46:01.246+00:00Away Once More<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGMtIExjuNdv-ngLAX7Abtw9LwKQ3aubqW7qJz-9009iDNplsLEeNA4FOr0h1qAcmrUu97d0L5PdvrtRX55h21WKgHtuQAFKjIGiawfUbrkLNtNZE-fv6fD-5vGtunkR7LH-l1LBvo1sB768RXQ9sMv5B6G8IqlE9zbmieaHioBNJDaoGN1m8oKmn3p8/s4032/2023-10-15%2012.51.25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGMtIExjuNdv-ngLAX7Abtw9LwKQ3aubqW7qJz-9009iDNplsLEeNA4FOr0h1qAcmrUu97d0L5PdvrtRX55h21WKgHtuQAFKjIGiawfUbrkLNtNZE-fv6fD-5vGtunkR7LH-l1LBvo1sB768RXQ9sMv5B6G8IqlE9zbmieaHioBNJDaoGN1m8oKmn3p8/w640-h480/2023-10-15%2012.51.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br />Away Missions has been a bit of a hit with me personally. </b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV2ybvpw4dRDSwmGO3wvYS7ySp_3ciXnN8TvQc_P5JLzd4BlgiayKg-upSJovjBnll-ZQeXE3Ok6zEfCLZa-qcnocrB1dyyQEriiAhuj9kgPyTtK_XQbigP_FwWZ6ee9sS_wwi6qFTQd2jzCG2gEzzEdUlORs3iaLgujSOyzll_RIQBYW691t-ljAhDI/s4032/2023-10-15%2012.48.44.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV2ybvpw4dRDSwmGO3wvYS7ySp_3ciXnN8TvQc_P5JLzd4BlgiayKg-upSJovjBnll-ZQeXE3Ok6zEfCLZa-qcnocrB1dyyQEriiAhuj9kgPyTtK_XQbigP_FwWZ6ee9sS_wwi6qFTQd2jzCG2gEzzEdUlORs3iaLgujSOyzll_RIQBYW691t-ljAhDI/s320/2023-10-15%2012.48.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Opening that core set and then trying out the Borg and Federation packs was one thing before twisting Dad’s arm to dip into the Romulan and Klingon expansions. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They were a big success and the great thing is that they aren’t a one off. November will see the introduction of ten more characters spread across two new packs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Opening up some Federation options is the Captain Picard set which also includes Beverly, Geordi, Deanna and Wesley. Produced in GFN's unique sculpted style, each of these characters also brings a unique action which might determine just who is on your team. There’s also nothing to limit the size of your party apart from the cramped quarters of the board so why not mix and match a four or five person team from the selection available across this and the core box? For example, Shelby provides more of an advantage against the Borg but against the Romulans or Klingons you might want to swap her out for La Forge or Picard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMG5Fj-RIe_ai3LhV4R-6YP3_x-CbL8fh2krC1wjA6I2-Et3OuOr5syAHutlzjcItQyPkS2APbXKPTrBvWgf335eE22dCyFIhYuEilu5LJiMelmMemH_3GQSoxjCZlfE4AZRacYI1yOrwY6XTD3wS-3VC09tVbA6EHhRn5D73sQQjMBulwsKWPuqE1Hs/s4032/2023-10-15%2012.46.04.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMG5Fj-RIe_ai3LhV4R-6YP3_x-CbL8fh2krC1wjA6I2-Et3OuOr5syAHutlzjcItQyPkS2APbXKPTrBvWgf335eE22dCyFIhYuEilu5LJiMelmMemH_3GQSoxjCZlfE4AZRacYI1yOrwY6XTD3wS-3VC09tVbA6EHhRn5D73sQQjMBulwsKWPuqE1Hs/s320/2023-10-15%2012.46.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In terms of the captain he does have the bonus plus that his specialisations have a "+2" feature doubling the amount of additional dice that can be used on skill tests that suit his abilities. So far this is the only character that has that feature and was hinted at in the core rule book.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Certainly the pack allows for a lot more breathing room and different ways to aim for that points victory. The box includes a ‘starter’ deck of Mission and Support cards as well as a further expansion on those once players are comfortable with the new setup and two new Core Missions. Those card sets are tweaked more to the five characters in the pack but through mix and match your team will be unique and aligned to maximise on those points. One thing that<i> </i>Attack Wing does that this <i>doesn't</i> and in some regards <i>should</i> is to stop factions fielding the same character. For example, should Federation players be allowed to play Picard if Locutus is in play? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ok, minor point but one of those challenges that other games avoid and thus remain as near to canon as gamingly possible. More on that in a sec.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX-58cKiMMr5mkyO75gNmv-MoO3lOPdjdMSHSSSN4z3cUIwhRDSRmfHWxo1_r6VQH66uYDXEsFX8buPHKyxwfLJ49AjWPaef8JB5IJY4J5kswrfnbTpv6eSx_WB8W6ajlZL2czjbiMhIKOsRuCpEr08YgIWgBcxRtc1jE-7g982_szDKjLuRI7RlzZAo/s4032/2023-10-15%2012.37.32.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX-58cKiMMr5mkyO75gNmv-MoO3lOPdjdMSHSSSN4z3cUIwhRDSRmfHWxo1_r6VQH66uYDXEsFX8buPHKyxwfLJ49AjWPaef8JB5IJY4J5kswrfnbTpv6eSx_WB8W6ajlZL2czjbiMhIKOsRuCpEr08YgIWgBcxRtc1jE-7g982_szDKjLuRI7RlzZAo/s320/2023-10-15%2012.37.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The House of Duras set which brings into play the infamous sisters and oft forgotten Toral alongside two additional guards. As with the Captain Picard set, this Klingon crew pack in a series of unique features and cards to stretch their muscles as well as new Poisoned, Illicit Explosives and Intel tokens. The leaning of the Klingons is still more towards Honourable Combat but the House if Duras does include some slight nods towards their more duplicitous nature and Romulan associations. Indeed, one of the guards is actually unable to acquire Honour.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Again there's the chance to mix this pack up with the Gowron pack from Wave 1 although whether you'd want to place the Klingon Chancellor in the same team as his mortal enemies is another matter for players and fans to muse over. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMirux9UBLur_5KIAedyuGAQ7bM5ivuommDyZVm1xk5JAulIlVsNMtaEdx0izIPA-Ok_qx_0JHpHpziilhSAcm7kwgS8k5ozVTJM5TSSbTIU8G1uvnDTJUrJHyr_Dou1c4m4RMTWixtwvU-jUlOe2QdfTpkW1rwbQ9eWFhGbclB1ra-LBVSkSUsq66do/s4032/2023-10-15%2012.35.32.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMirux9UBLur_5KIAedyuGAQ7bM5ivuommDyZVm1xk5JAulIlVsNMtaEdx0izIPA-Ok_qx_0JHpHpziilhSAcm7kwgS8k5ozVTJM5TSSbTIU8G1uvnDTJUrJHyr_Dou1c4m4RMTWixtwvU-jUlOe2QdfTpkW1rwbQ9eWFhGbclB1ra-LBVSkSUsq66do/s320/2023-10-15%2012.35.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The original Klingon pack emphasised the more cutthroat aspects of the Empire and here</div><div style="text-align: justify;">there seems to be more skullduggery at play. Indeed, the cards include features specific to the Duras sisters, additional attack abilities and also some that are reliant on the new Treachery skill which is present in four of the five Klingons here. If you read into the pack it's an interesting twist in that some of the goals will point this crew towards (re)gaining Honour versus the use of aforementioned Treachery. It's also a nice mirror to the more "pure" Klingons of the Gowron set and linking parts of those two together could play out a rather mixed faction.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Over all, a cracking pair of additions for players and it just leaves you wanting to see more expansions, more twists to the dynamics of the characters. Personally I'm holding out for a <i>DS9 </i>pack. I would suggest it just being Sisko with the skills of "Badass" and "Prophet". What else would you need?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-75290097780072889482023-10-24T19:00:00.002+01:002023-11-03T09:19:55.189+00:00Infinite Possibilities<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9HouXHqPA4I557Rck5Yk0hekbdh7b7MSXdbZlbeoY6Olt0MusBX3wZvNaxyHLeC2JjnOTYFuygu64aiJ9N5LMlI_uXc4aFU-pMseoYt79kpsOsu_5JICn8xim9QkhHCd7vwr7Z9apSzTztCsUWegFCQMg1RDqblP_RdXCKTKDp14bxCL2QxiK3YPDQk/s1438/star-trek-infinite-is-a-new-grand-strategy-game-from-paradox_hxrm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1438" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9HouXHqPA4I557Rck5Yk0hekbdh7b7MSXdbZlbeoY6Olt0MusBX3wZvNaxyHLeC2JjnOTYFuygu64aiJ9N5LMlI_uXc4aFU-pMseoYt79kpsOsu_5JICn8xim9QkhHCd7vwr7Z9apSzTztCsUWegFCQMg1RDqblP_RdXCKTKDp14bxCL2QxiK3YPDQk/w640-h360/star-trek-infinite-is-a-new-grand-strategy-game-from-paradox_hxrm.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Paradox Interactive have an illustrious history when it comes to simulation management with winners such as <i>Cities: Skylines</i> and <i>Stellaris</i> under their belt.</span></b></div></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2023 adds one more to their repertoire with <i>Star Trek: Infinite</i>. <i>Stellaris</i> fans will recognise it instantly since it is, for the most part, a reskin of that well-played PC game.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Platers choose their initial power from the Federation, Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians before embarking on a galactic expansion. The ultimate aim is to either win on a points victory by the mid-27th Century or manage to absorb different civilisations through diplomacy or conquest. If you're also familiar with the long-running mobile game <i>Fleet Command</i> then this is similar but on steroids and without the need to wait days to complete upgrades or fork out continuously for more parts. Ok, there may not (at launch date) be as many ship or recognisable character options available but I suspect there's more satisfying results in the gameplay.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMuomfyBRS4GYP_x21ZRYJZdZshWMf6XDAcXjysw9Y8YSx7-vJGDZnHoc4xrTL4gzUiwDABMLkCvfP3_6wULhNN198TIkU7DRlhduRO1cjL5AjKe9WWP_WlpeRIPrzUuNRDUGWrHlzDQgMT3VHDhuODrAU9Bw42jPOghNUYcu-acvRw_3c5cUYIBlGYs/s1920/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20191848.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1920" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMuomfyBRS4GYP_x21ZRYJZdZshWMf6XDAcXjysw9Y8YSx7-vJGDZnHoc4xrTL4gzUiwDABMLkCvfP3_6wULhNN198TIkU7DRlhduRO1cjL5AjKe9WWP_WlpeRIPrzUuNRDUGWrHlzDQgMT3VHDhuODrAU9Bw42jPOghNUYcu-acvRw_3c5cUYIBlGYs/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20191848.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Just to take the Federation as the example here, players start off with a series of worlds and can then expand through exploring with science vessels and building starbases, mining stations, observation posts and research facilities to build up abilities and resources. Starbases allow for the building of fleets and through research paths you can be commanding fleets of <i>Galaxy</i> Class vessels to defend your borders.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So as you make your way into the game it’s important to build up those resources be they minerals, energy, dilithium or even experience to help progress a growing civilisation. Players can send out colony ships to settle new worlds but be careful what you find as some of them may be more inclined to join with an opposing power than settle for the welcoming arms of the Federation. Don't get hung up on the map being canon-accurate either as it will naturally change <i>a lot </i>over the course of the game and races will not necessarily spawn their societies in the same parts of the galaxy as they did in a previous game. It does mean you can't anticipate where to head out and survey and adds back in the mystery with every new game.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Players will also be joined by a series of familiar faces including Picard, Riker, Sloan, Data and Janeway but these are little more than images of the characters with them adding little to the gameplay. Indeed, the only two that do offer some additional features are Picard and Janeway who are essential to the completion of the Borg mission strand.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwO-9lFf078vWrjAgaWGhUDnTvNpwCVX2AoQhJXEXPTAt7uKAicmu8VNJnuDTW2WYmFVYpY0sICuruKMqORUGLBYL59LAr_wGbxhs3C-zGIiKtVnz6ZJNvsgAHKSnJZ8ZsCESCTcRQSo3P2aI4AAC9oGWVNWFQjZ2FZKnyyPZCMA_QYI-zf8lWJO9osw/s1915/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20190830.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1915" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwO-9lFf078vWrjAgaWGhUDnTvNpwCVX2AoQhJXEXPTAt7uKAicmu8VNJnuDTW2WYmFVYpY0sICuruKMqORUGLBYL59LAr_wGbxhs3C-zGIiKtVnz6ZJNvsgAHKSnJZ8ZsCESCTcRQSo3P2aI4AAC9oGWVNWFQjZ2FZKnyyPZCMA_QYI-zf8lWJO9osw/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20190830.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The main Mission Tree does divert your empire off into different paths and the benefit of repeat playing is finding out just where these can take you. Do you track a journey where the actions of Section 31 are prioritised or do you tread a more peaceful and open adventure? The choice is yours. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One of the benefits of the Federation Mission Tree is ticking off the tasks to unlock the <i>USS Enterprise</i>-D and her crew which in turn leads to the <i>Enterprise</i>-E. <i>Deep Space Nine</i> can be acquired if players can bring Bajor into the Federation too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s definitely a game that takes a lot of trial and error with some goals becoming out of reach if certain characters die or territory is lost. Take too long on searching the galaxy for example and Picard may have aged himself out of contention to encounter the Borg. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoFGjl02fJwPaQZVAIXx9RZMYEv4umAYA8Ovnb8ZCx1D-bIqepb5131sg9WZ7JL4tAYDUo9P6jmtpMBalyIWFjxQkVelOdGqIv3VWITQEWAskUQ0TsxqZxgu2SncHPHWvZYeuZiEMHbTszEvFseE6b-EB2SXFqV3IJt8prKPS_J7mR4fSN9EmORbxkg/s1911/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20190202.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1911" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoFGjl02fJwPaQZVAIXx9RZMYEv4umAYA8Ovnb8ZCx1D-bIqepb5131sg9WZ7JL4tAYDUo9P6jmtpMBalyIWFjxQkVelOdGqIv3VWITQEWAskUQ0TsxqZxgu2SncHPHWvZYeuZiEMHbTszEvFseE6b-EB2SXFqV3IJt8prKPS_J7mR4fSN9EmORbxkg/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20190202.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The space combat sequences are very basic if truth be told and more of the gameplay is to be found in scrolling through your planets for potential upgrades of populace resettlement to a more successful colony. Keeping your people happy and occupied makes for a more content Federation and at the same time assists in helping you look like a good place to live. Be careful not to overexpand though as it will stretch resources so players might want to wait before adding another couple of starbase. Perhaps open dialogue with the Bolians or Trill and bring them aboard to stabilise your stats otherwise the Cardassians or Klingons might see territory ripe for the invading.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you’re looking for a first person, action adventure <i>Trek</i> then this is absolutely not going to tick a single box. This is all about planning, patience and tactics. When to expand and where, what travel lines you can open up and how you can link the different parts of the Federation together for the benefit and security of all. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qPUNEys10FUlCPD2xyecm69LPc3UQuLItbB2TBBPwnRZfELDbgMOR-KgsQA3vzhpXJDJ8Rup2Uoxbp0xlSP1FKfsmTXvUlFv2yH1BJpH-hEYjRbBxGYf38fjXzA2ZiAp82utAu8eyGmbuN_ePBQT6_Vs084dd7srdI5YanF0OluvsP5at1p6xH6TmqM/s1911/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20185925.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1911" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qPUNEys10FUlCPD2xyecm69LPc3UQuLItbB2TBBPwnRZfELDbgMOR-KgsQA3vzhpXJDJ8Rup2Uoxbp0xlSP1FKfsmTXvUlFv2yH1BJpH-hEYjRbBxGYf38fjXzA2ZiAp82utAu8eyGmbuN_ePBQT6_Vs084dd7srdI5YanF0OluvsP5at1p6xH6TmqM/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-12%20185925.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I can guarantee that if you are into that management style game then be prepared to sink a fair few hours into it. Yes, there are ‘issues’ with the timeline in that uniforms don’t change depending on the century or that you could be using <i>Excelsior</i> class when you'd be lucky not to be retiring a <i>Constitution III</i> Class. Really the size of the ship is more of a guide to how advanced your civilisation has become and the calendar sort of becomes irrelevant in terms of "factual" <i>Star Trek</i> history. It actually becomes more of a reminder of just how long you have until that peace accord wears off and you can get attacked again. You will inevitably go through a lot of planetary governors, scientists, admirals, spies and generals all of which cost resources to purchase. Repeated plays (and regular saves!) will help you hone skills and also utilise parts of the game you may never have touched before. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you've never played <i>Stellaris</i> then <i>Infinite</i> might seem overwhelming initially and the tour at the start is frankly atrocious. I dived in, paddled a bit and took some risks on my first game just to see how the whole thing worked. It was well worth it and on the restart I scored a win with the Federation although slightly hollow as the Cardassians invaded Earth and Vulcan at the exact same time I integrated the final society.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Expansions seem to be a possibility too and even with the initial game there are two options, the slightly more expensive offering a Klingon voice pack and the <i>California</i> Class among other titillating extras. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not a huge PC gamer and have only <i>Cities: Skylines</i> as experience when it comes to Paradox Interactive but in terms of this one I'm hooked in if only to try all of the scenarios and outcomes. I'm even invested in seeing where I can shave down time or put more effort into one direction than another just to see if the end result is more favourable. If you want something that will make you think, has decent enough graphics and sets itself in the <i>Star Trek</i> universe then this is well worth the price at under £30 and will provide hours of thought and gameplay. Just be prepared for the mental onslaught at the beginning and you'll be fine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-18997342360999484432023-10-20T22:11:00.001+01:002023-10-20T22:11:29.798+01:00Shuttle Run: Lower Decks Yosemite<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NuohfY1DeyFUz222zNrcGNBx6WtbIilJFH9Wvy859Jz499xqjJnmsF8VSpSUNYedpUByjuuixNwHQ3RmwmS0RdwLnAu-p12YF9tq0p4or11mrH7j7PpNEDMQIbSlngFRbASDPlOvhRyi6fanCXdUtaATjr5bhyphenhyphenoWaoZpu4z-ICgVWnbbk8W2yAEoRno/s4032/2023-09-26%2014.19.31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NuohfY1DeyFUz222zNrcGNBx6WtbIilJFH9Wvy859Jz499xqjJnmsF8VSpSUNYedpUByjuuixNwHQ3RmwmS0RdwLnAu-p12YF9tq0p4or11mrH7j7PpNEDMQIbSlngFRbASDPlOvhRyi6fanCXdUtaATjr5bhyphenhyphenoWaoZpu4z-ICgVWnbbk8W2yAEoRno/w640-h480/2023-09-26%2014.19.31.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The go-to shuttle for <i>Lower Decks</i>, the <i>Yosemite</i> is yet ANOTHER of the lost models Eaglemoss teased but never released.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now in the hands - and warehouses - of Master Replicas this is only the fourth craft to be boxed and shipped (four as both the <i>Titan</i> and <i>Cerritos</i> received mid and XL editions).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoKuL0lwgsUewodWJ146H8bA40ByHnhHPYoTjp_a5seNE-t5zCZ18bdcNsjLsGAyoqFcGrLNQ6sf9BmzXlmahAsz1RdxT9vzVX9oZGVeNX4LTkxYxvnNOb_JMmZdq0pjEkhkeSWcE-IJccBhY1IeX198nCib_UVcMx_GocH7jkne0isfGhFxxDOydSLc/s4032/2023-09-26%2014.19.50.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoKuL0lwgsUewodWJ146H8bA40ByHnhHPYoTjp_a5seNE-t5zCZ18bdcNsjLsGAyoqFcGrLNQ6sf9BmzXlmahAsz1RdxT9vzVX9oZGVeNX4LTkxYxvnNOb_JMmZdq0pjEkhkeSWcE-IJccBhY1IeX198nCib_UVcMx_GocH7jkne0isfGhFxxDOydSLc/s320/2023-09-26%2014.19.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A classic boxy design, there are immediate echoes of the <i>Galileo</i> from <i>The Original Series </i>which are much more evident when you get to see this one up close. There's also the callback to the <i>TNG</i> shuttle windows with the drop edge around the name, that lovely drop forward window but sadly no blast shield!</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is tragically one huge, almost gut-wrenching error on this one. Possibly the biggest mistake in Eaglemoss history and you have to wonder if this is one of the reasons it never made it to the website. The registry is wrong. Apparently - and I can’t confirm this - there are two versions. One with the 75567 number and this one with 77567. However, if we move past a decal which can be corrected, this is still a pretty fine model from <i>Lower Decks</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3yNE3igQ8k3UekwX5hqemYnYwq-Ma5KpL74Le-A998kc55YetG000iexqIxJkwTfXzuharCaCWJiOvZzslTRekroG_IzLVbrYrTOqdZmjpgTIyvbD_s66-ISJP-seXdvQdMmrpDj3Ovqas9PQh3DksbtcuJH_4dOtPRti15jltgJDRsH6l5waAgGMpU/s4032/2023-09-26%2014.19.41.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3yNE3igQ8k3UekwX5hqemYnYwq-Ma5KpL74Le-A998kc55YetG000iexqIxJkwTfXzuharCaCWJiOvZzslTRekroG_IzLVbrYrTOqdZmjpgTIyvbD_s66-ISJP-seXdvQdMmrpDj3Ovqas9PQh3DksbtcuJH_4dOtPRti15jltgJDRsH6l5waAgGMpU/s320/2023-09-26%2014.19.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The <i>Yosemite </i>is superbly detailed aside from this with prominent yet simple panelling across its hull. Minus point though since the panel lines are decals and when you’re up close it’s very evident that not all of them fully line up with the recesses in the bodywork. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s also in a plain white colour, avoiding the standard live action aztecing which potentially adds to that visual blockiness. The windows are indeed blacked out to avoid having to detail the interior and Eaglemoss have finished it off with a simple yellow stripe and bold, blocked colour again for the impulse engines and bay door to the rear. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRO2RVK6Jb9M_Kc4yTxBe45mRLo0VPEeoun8_srHAZxlS0rMd25SgN4_8azKqIEwhzjW43O_YfgbE_8dqbU-OiR1mF-XwBN9_kd_QFFFom8IcYBsXC6aDxkR_l0Db5ohJ0J6woDT6qEq4nanf_G5g9PRDn5dde9_OJQAl3NZSlJ-GF8Zs3hUvn1sEgv0/s4032/2023-09-26%2014.20.18.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRO2RVK6Jb9M_Kc4yTxBe45mRLo0VPEeoun8_srHAZxlS0rMd25SgN4_8azKqIEwhzjW43O_YfgbE_8dqbU-OiR1mF-XwBN9_kd_QFFFom8IcYBsXC6aDxkR_l0Db5ohJ0J6woDT6qEq4nanf_G5g9PRDn5dde9_OJQAl3NZSlJ-GF8Zs3hUvn1sEgv0/s320/2023-09-26%2014.20.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">For the engines the bussard collectors and end tips are coloured plastic although there are translucent elements for the warp grilles and a further stripe of yellow to finish off. Simplicity works perfectly here with the <i>Yosemite</i> coming out as a real winner thanks to the minimalistic animated realisation. Ok, the registry is annoying but I have to let it go given the circumstances of its release however the fact that these models have been found and made available more than counters it.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stand positioning is very stable with the <i>Yosemite</i> sitting on a flat clear plastic "holder" plugged into the standard black base. As one of the few main line shuttles it is massively off scale from every other ship yet it's just one of those that deserves to be out on a shelf thanks to its rare nature.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-65929040718923714732023-09-23T07:43:00.004+01:002023-10-20T22:11:21.176+01:00Mid-Sized then SUPERSIZED: The XL USS Cerritos NCC-75567<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-2SPseYC882QFOV3-1cpcWrooi7AsqLnK6-yk2tP1sh0mQ2EtnQioi31oZmDa6P_vd0jJs4mCw1jXy8YFhRkj637k51ROtB9k9CNlT10RNETefpfXKaxT5DYix9IrC3LBcYuBFCPXpvBrgj479V-SULvDOh3ehJsloYEvYJWbTwIynLyhah3fNO63o4/s4032/2023-09-01%2011.58.49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-2SPseYC882QFOV3-1cpcWrooi7AsqLnK6-yk2tP1sh0mQ2EtnQioi31oZmDa6P_vd0jJs4mCw1jXy8YFhRkj637k51ROtB9k9CNlT10RNETefpfXKaxT5DYix9IrC3LBcYuBFCPXpvBrgj479V-SULvDOh3ehJsloYEvYJWbTwIynLyhah3fNO63o4/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2011.58.49.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><b>This could well be the shortest review ever. </b></b></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To understand the details of the XL it’s actually easier just to head over to my review of the midsize. Seriously, the only differences between the two are size and also a slight colour change on the deflector dish. Even the price was inexplicably the same.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHLQbKSy230aFuKB052xrvE_ofCgnUPQhGnbbaIkIubMZOi3T3n24766_gMRN15LdWPAfgdGxuOy10cLY4IAaNArgDF78rerSYflURC-L2kbYFNdv-NTjWTtAf0LWLMbDXUFpkkfwjf0PLoiu8E5misaVBxNMdbmpB2b36kuNSj6Jq_YJcFugJx6mk4w/s4032/2023-09-01%2011.58.44.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHLQbKSy230aFuKB052xrvE_ofCgnUPQhGnbbaIkIubMZOi3T3n24766_gMRN15LdWPAfgdGxuOy10cLY4IAaNArgDF78rerSYflURC-L2kbYFNdv-NTjWTtAf0LWLMbDXUFpkkfwjf0PLoiu8E5misaVBxNMdbmpB2b36kuNSj6Jq_YJcFugJx6mk4w/s320/2023-09-01%2011.58.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I suppose if we were to be more critical, the issue would be that only the season one version of the <i>USS Cerritos</i> exists and it never had the chance to be upgraded to the more finessed season two version from the show.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Really, that’s it. I’m struggling here to justify actually writing a ton because it’s already been said. Admittedly I do prefer the XL but that’s only down to the size which does just enhance the details. Oddly of course this was the first version released with the mid-size edition only recently unlocked from Eaglemoss' storage.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At least one thing was accurate... this <i>is</i> the shortest review ever.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So in the place of excessive words, here are some further images of the <i>USS Cerritos</i> as an XL!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxPmie70C6IIO_4f3BGTtePELuXRntb04dRRNfg7SkmGkf9B9JmKYjzO-lJi-aOpmSWkMa5_DkgmX_ZsEAoqixRV9mmlnOBykOTQdRehEn9jWcvZbkPmBnaLfZwBc_kXS7Pbq1WBySsCz_yKq3VIYYdSwu321f-Lyf4QEH74bzNf56eEqWtg_frO4lTI/s4032/2023-09-01%2011.59.06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxPmie70C6IIO_4f3BGTtePELuXRntb04dRRNfg7SkmGkf9B9JmKYjzO-lJi-aOpmSWkMa5_DkgmX_ZsEAoqixRV9mmlnOBykOTQdRehEn9jWcvZbkPmBnaLfZwBc_kXS7Pbq1WBySsCz_yKq3VIYYdSwu321f-Lyf4QEH74bzNf56eEqWtg_frO4lTI/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2011.59.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUqnWOrSiWXRPEweO9NAPTzLXwm3z-0a4UFWYfe6Q1hKTKcLTwe2hnWAKh2EuMRA2ApACLlKqTtdGJxsGX-SdmfKyH-kQMNi5Ci89Q7kOoyaKOBzlocLI0pmovwisN6BLxXklqmrjR1uM7726JTDGN1uGA__hJRbEleeiBXLd_TSufUJHBlShumUBQ2U/s4032/2023-09-01%2011.59.24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUqnWOrSiWXRPEweO9NAPTzLXwm3z-0a4UFWYfe6Q1hKTKcLTwe2hnWAKh2EuMRA2ApACLlKqTtdGJxsGX-SdmfKyH-kQMNi5Ci89Q7kOoyaKOBzlocLI0pmovwisN6BLxXklqmrjR1uM7726JTDGN1uGA__hJRbEleeiBXLd_TSufUJHBlShumUBQ2U/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2011.59.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_yHpxbqC6Q6krDiwdFDNZJgwuGmbTc3SXa7V8L2D91pVxuVtdkkd579k5GhmyKlIFUbvSpsTQGAPOWGGUz_2Y2FMpbA4m0kBI4-n0fG3L4wKxfPm6bfLir5KtW0vBJv1dZB1lQp1mfeSFQSAa54XbCAXcVJwBDM1o50ed_DbFPVwtyX8fDNmlCrWNWs/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.00.08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_yHpxbqC6Q6krDiwdFDNZJgwuGmbTc3SXa7V8L2D91pVxuVtdkkd579k5GhmyKlIFUbvSpsTQGAPOWGGUz_2Y2FMpbA4m0kBI4-n0fG3L4wKxfPm6bfLir5KtW0vBJv1dZB1lQp1mfeSFQSAa54XbCAXcVJwBDM1o50ed_DbFPVwtyX8fDNmlCrWNWs/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2012.00.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUMtG9dUCJKp_aKxcgKHn7wvi1mLSowfGAQ1UNNE-5Ix6ZadNMnPfhxVwT4tpDnyfbqdJzH7WEV4eGTrG6TmSjdCZKru2keJ5spOt_EwUqy0O0g2_BIgpFbtUg6SIZjZmbtBhN5wG9SX5l2NiossNUiJWwkmC4h77CZVVDiWrBAUs2PMcDRzvxVHpxa0/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.01.01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUMtG9dUCJKp_aKxcgKHn7wvi1mLSowfGAQ1UNNE-5Ix6ZadNMnPfhxVwT4tpDnyfbqdJzH7WEV4eGTrG6TmSjdCZKru2keJ5spOt_EwUqy0O0g2_BIgpFbtUg6SIZjZmbtBhN5wG9SX5l2NiossNUiJWwkmC4h77CZVVDiWrBAUs2PMcDRzvxVHpxa0/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2012.01.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK04SMRawm6TbWsoLh2yyyGraPwmL7PQ01EVtQYNuFRYKLOjsLlXXjxgAjp1bIFTo00vLQCDZIhXib0aw9KwAutJ2V78RAVhOaXYz3AYWKtt-AFQ5SVwFS002tFRjD9FurmBXS9XoG-jzKnSiIdp9al5WPVT0-sIcKM3gS3ZfKo4t-3jgkaF33uulQMc/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.01.47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK04SMRawm6TbWsoLh2yyyGraPwmL7PQ01EVtQYNuFRYKLOjsLlXXjxgAjp1bIFTo00vLQCDZIhXib0aw9KwAutJ2V78RAVhOaXYz3AYWKtt-AFQ5SVwFS002tFRjD9FurmBXS9XoG-jzKnSiIdp9al5WPVT0-sIcKM3gS3ZfKo4t-3jgkaF33uulQMc/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2012.01.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-56968793707578785272023-09-12T19:02:00.000+01:002023-09-12T19:02:07.784+01:00Reman Scorpion Attack Flier: Unreleased Eaglemoss<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbqk0qWKOP7MjUHmzldNYaA5NkJkiP4O3MxO4DpZZ2_dPSJXTtCloPvJUYn2RdK32Zewg03wTwrBjlkC5-cGgPiHLDNG_GZSIXLjhLzUHabZPKEXze9Cb9lbqAtZOSETHdJxGhk7oBBmAfZiTqBdxOfl7j4BvTZo9p3qFJpgWeWhFDb3CrjaC-pqJ4AM/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.03.05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbqk0qWKOP7MjUHmzldNYaA5NkJkiP4O3MxO4DpZZ2_dPSJXTtCloPvJUYn2RdK32Zewg03wTwrBjlkC5-cGgPiHLDNG_GZSIXLjhLzUHabZPKEXze9Cb9lbqAtZOSETHdJxGhk7oBBmAfZiTqBdxOfl7j4BvTZo9p3qFJpgWeWhFDb3CrjaC-pqJ4AM/w640-h480/2023-09-01%2012.03.05.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>One of the smallest craft to feature in <i>Star Trek</i> and the only ship from <i>Nemesis</i> never to be released in the original line, the Reman Scorpion Attack Flier was the penultimate bonus edition to be produced by Eaglemoss.</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOWnupShfHVv0ll__eUGFUgzjxZCxl_OdUMZzoS0LkS7wnrzG-8aNUEHznuYp04VOAA71fuAZJpQqIFtq2lfIQlY-RnfP8blIZ02Mr16X5kdrxjcBvCCH6g8vRZc215lzY7-qgDEpWbQO6qkplrim_o7atX-8jh6zk0x9MeOFg-6BRVUSP0MPkJGVdhU/s2532/2023-09-01%2012.45.09.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOWnupShfHVv0ll__eUGFUgzjxZCxl_OdUMZzoS0LkS7wnrzG-8aNUEHznuYp04VOAA71fuAZJpQqIFtq2lfIQlY-RnfP8blIZ02Mr16X5kdrxjcBvCCH6g8vRZc215lzY7-qgDEpWbQO6qkplrim_o7atX-8jh6zk0x9MeOFg-6BRVUSP0MPkJGVdhU/s320/2023-09-01%2012.45.09.png" width="148" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The small, two man craft was stored aboard Shinzon's <i>Scimitar</i> and used by Picard and Data to escape the Reman battleship. The Eaglemoss model, sold through Master Replicas is a beautiful, streamlined piece and well worth the wait.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the main hull itself in metal and only the side venting and top weapon pod added on in plastic, its got a bit of weight to it. At only 10cm long and a maximum of 5cm wide, it's also packed a lot in.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The paintwork on this one is particularly striking with an almost pearlescent effect right across the surface giving off grey or black tints depending how the light catches it. In some spots, especially at the front grilles, the paint job isn't right into the corners but overall the effect works and is highlighted with the blues of the engines at the rear wings and two emblems resembling the <i>Scimitar </i>on both rear winglets.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The panel design is very simple and there's noticeable difference in the height of the lines to the main sections. Detail too is perhaps at an appropriate minimum with only a few cut outs to break up the surface on top.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1QvsY5_GInhIFWha98539G9bcrkFzYv7U83iDQNu5pE45-cjVVuajx7x2aLOhmFfIlWL5s9ywoInKpWoYQtiZTvrOH5khwsErQ3TrjtlsfHTf8tTbN_lN4s3hyxjXfZUZ9NaQnmYO0JfnhfOP-MZLj0BgHBDYLpeZJtyDY143OMHLsLrKThIT6ENNMQ/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.03.51.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1QvsY5_GInhIFWha98539G9bcrkFzYv7U83iDQNu5pE45-cjVVuajx7x2aLOhmFfIlWL5s9ywoInKpWoYQtiZTvrOH5khwsErQ3TrjtlsfHTf8tTbN_lN4s3hyxjXfZUZ9NaQnmYO0JfnhfOP-MZLj0BgHBDYLpeZJtyDY143OMHLsLrKThIT6ENNMQ/s320/2023-09-01%2012.03.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On the underside it's a little different with an extensive segmented finish and what one would assume are exhaust ports facing to the rear. It also retains that singular pearlescent paint scheme. That certainly pair with the <i>Scimitar</i> and that sense of superior stealth/cloaking technology. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the rear is a four-segment engine which wouldn't look out of place on Michael Keaton's Batmobile, encased as it is in a conical shroud. It's also hugged by two plastic add on shoulder pieces which seem to be intakes. Sitting right on top there's a silver weapons pod which has an interesting sweeping design that arcs forward towards the front of the Scorpion. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's an incredibly slim design and the mould of this is pretty impressive since it appears that 90% of it is a single block. Perhaps the only downer is the lack of interior detail that's covered up with the smoked cockpit canopy. In the right light it's completely blacked out and absolutely adds to the menace but catch it in another way and you can see it's just a flat slab. Is it an issue? Not really given the scale and price - and the fact that none of the translucent shuttle canopies provided a view to a detailed interior.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hmhgvk5eHdD8lgBpXdk5L2waMM0shugPmlzSTp9CYct3U40Vfdhxhi5H2HlC90S1wdckU6paTqs5MGxtOJieeTDYWFHGRH122MrkKgXXmd560yJBpv6uGrEi0Zu-1thXJuhWFlGd2lmgC_2Bapzich2iEew8nK6KGjwut3Aw3qebAztb5YSxfwM9GDI/s4032/2023-09-01%2012.03.39.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hmhgvk5eHdD8lgBpXdk5L2waMM0shugPmlzSTp9CYct3U40Vfdhxhi5H2HlC90S1wdckU6paTqs5MGxtOJieeTDYWFHGRH122MrkKgXXmd560yJBpv6uGrEi0Zu-1thXJuhWFlGd2lmgC_2Bapzich2iEew8nK6KGjwut3Aw3qebAztb5YSxfwM9GDI/s320/2023-09-01%2012.03.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Minus points also for the placement of the clear clip stand that wraps right over part of the <i>Scimitar</i> emblem. Annoying and unavoidable.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tragically although the box waxes about the included magazine, Master Replicas have been unable to include them either because of warehousing issues or maybe because they were never actually printed. Either way, this is still a really nice model that offers some form of completion to the models of the movies pre-2009. Small and perfectly modelled, the Scorpion Attack Flier cuts an impressive </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">swansong for Eaglemoss.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-58281269326968530562023-09-02T19:14:00.002+01:002023-09-02T19:14:19.503+01:00J-Ride: The Official Starships Collection USS Voyager NCC-74656-J<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahR28V5b761JLRdugpM4Yi9mHqh1haEbqsSwsXSzepnOIFZgYFfNA1fyO_ju5LD7erJfGH7EHB14rfwWcgZwoFKc-Vukx7lDrA_m2UwRL9JmdhK6VPou9viIrQl8aJhSzi2XM0d9HBBG3-WOq_vTPdGbaYXwCJehdxBQQ8sr628tGki677LM0bVFJ5-Q/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.56.10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahR28V5b761JLRdugpM4Yi9mHqh1haEbqsSwsXSzepnOIFZgYFfNA1fyO_ju5LD7erJfGH7EHB14rfwWcgZwoFKc-Vukx7lDrA_m2UwRL9JmdhK6VPou9viIrQl8aJhSzi2XM0d9HBBG3-WOq_vTPdGbaYXwCJehdxBQQ8sr628tGki677LM0bVFJ5-Q/w640-h480/2023-08-26%2013.56.10.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>One of those ships that we only glimpsed, the <i>Voyager</i>-J was an instant hit with <i>Discovery</i> fans.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OIclXIPa-6kc5SAFzufrHqIOIlq3LvNjoD9zl0D0T25adWxWDbGHGy1e-QEPOg8ZnvTceErwdHBhBg7th1cqzFGBbXlry_j7wq4PrskFa6aPSq3FJIiEZPwZZ_6UKaZJUv73kK-lpA0RowexkC8bF3RoyUd3YI7Yn823eJXAwJGHS3d0AEfr37qrNN4/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.55.36.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OIclXIPa-6kc5SAFzufrHqIOIlq3LvNjoD9zl0D0T25adWxWDbGHGy1e-QEPOg8ZnvTceErwdHBhBg7th1cqzFGBbXlry_j7wq4PrskFa6aPSq3FJIiEZPwZZ_6UKaZJUv73kK-lpA0RowexkC8bF3RoyUd3YI7Yn823eJXAwJGHS3d0AEfr37qrNN4/s320/2023-08-26%2013.55.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Cutting straight into the <i>Discovery</i> line, the <i>Intrepid </i>Class successor employed the distinct features of the 32nd Century while managing to retain that instant recognition as a descendant of the original <i>USS Voyager</i>.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A mid-size model, this is comparable in size to the recently reviewed <i>USS Titan</i> and <i>USS Cerritos</i>. Coming in the standard Eaglemoss box, the <i>Voyager</i>-J also comes in bits. Now it's not because Royal Mail can't look after anything, it's due to the fact that the ship has that wonderful detached nacelles arrangement that pervades the 32nd Century and drives fans into the love or hate camp.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One thing that's immediately obvious from the start is that this iteration of its namesake is a lot sharper than before. The first <i>Voyager</i> wore some sweeping curves that matched the title music but here the J is all points and acute angles.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R4EACGGaN0dpwyXcfTTV_WJqy_scWxto3zTucr7QGDCqH7upyhz_pVN-xD7k4tNGXQWOmeWlM6eRKNon5d8LtB1Zeriquc1bMRXIihWdf-XTuQ8EqR0EVBXSvYu8h8fx47iOg5XHj6ZXbbW3hZpQCaqGyeJpaTnLNeEz1an_9ogNev-i41tP5148Pjs/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.56.32.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R4EACGGaN0dpwyXcfTTV_WJqy_scWxto3zTucr7QGDCqH7upyhz_pVN-xD7k4tNGXQWOmeWlM6eRKNon5d8LtB1Zeriquc1bMRXIihWdf-XTuQ8EqR0EVBXSvYu8h8fx47iOg5XHj6ZXbbW3hZpQCaqGyeJpaTnLNeEz1an_9ogNev-i41tP5148Pjs/s320/2023-08-26%2013.56.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">To say that the design has been simplified for the distant future would be an understatement and near insane. The hull is now almost a flat surface broken only with defence/panel lines. Even the bridge is part of the sweeping primary hull, tapering the near triangle back to the almost invisible neck piece.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The black striping around the hull now represents the windows and indicates just how big the J must be versus the classic edition. Aside from markings for a few sensor platforms and the burgundy RCS thrusters, the surface is incredibly plain and belies the jump in technology for <i>Discovery</i>'s third season onwards.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can but only surmise that the grey stripe behind the bridge is for the shuttlebay as there are very few indications of what anything might be. Not too much of a shock since the ship was barely seen in the show aside from the hull registry.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Build wise, the top of the primary hull only is in metal with the lower insert and the rest of the ship in plastic which does give it more weight to the front and at least feels fairly stable when she's slotted onto the classic Eaglemoss grip and black base.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNZx-gRWdLiNbYGKIwNFsAz39eAd3QtU7Ni4fwPjGPP2nHVbkT9SIFNYx2neLwmGxQRz51s7nnkYU2g0-kYZoYFKJkQHcxEn-Xebs2fPZ8mPSYZlMZOfa2JO8uR9wFtEZMiBJLJWWT25XhauerOYjEd_iYvbEdtI3uDJG-VfkjuR4q9LbwT9R_zfNWhg/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.56.46.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNZx-gRWdLiNbYGKIwNFsAz39eAd3QtU7Ni4fwPjGPP2nHVbkT9SIFNYx2neLwmGxQRz51s7nnkYU2g0-kYZoYFKJkQHcxEn-Xebs2fPZ8mPSYZlMZOfa2JO8uR9wFtEZMiBJLJWWT25XhauerOYjEd_iYvbEdtI3uDJG-VfkjuR4q9LbwT9R_zfNWhg/s320/2023-08-26%2013.56.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">There is something of a connection to the secondary hull although that's more to make it work as a display item than actually used onscreen since the two hulls are distinctly separated. That secondary hull is just as smooth and streamlined as the saucer with it's distinct "bottle opener" rear. That angular feel also continues and is especially strong if you do slide the original and the J side by side. The deflector here is much more deeply recessed and the hull almost comes to a point at its bottom. One might even suggest that the grey block right at the back is another shuttlebay. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The overall issue is that there is little to shout about because of the minimalistic nature of the <i>Voyager</i>-J. It's clean, basic and certainly no nonsense. Even the registry under the primary hull has a no frills feel in small and inconspicuous lettering. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The interesting bit comes in the form of the clear sling which slides over the main body of the ship and then allows the two warp engines to be slotted into holders providing the detached nacelles effect. As on <i>Discovery</i>-A, it's not the cleverest of arrangements but there isn't a lot of choice as to how these can be positioned given the 32nd Century evolution of warp drive.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eh3nF7zlCvSjKkLYrSAMyTLfaA0PJx7hFJBdTJ54qq5LOFKKHqPXgFEtWP0v6s6og-Qsqap3WT6CjC0ACm9-q8qGKNxNxMiiTQEV3UeF0YKgldv8Yi2fZ7QInyP8deHmWH-WGc7Ck1A9F6C1GGoPOQuNZYJRYh1zW095CDaBcdjcdt8H2Z_LKK3mGTE/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.53.40.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eh3nF7zlCvSjKkLYrSAMyTLfaA0PJx7hFJBdTJ54qq5LOFKKHqPXgFEtWP0v6s6og-Qsqap3WT6CjC0ACm9-q8qGKNxNxMiiTQEV3UeF0YKgldv8Yi2fZ7QInyP8deHmWH-WGc7Ck1A9F6C1GGoPOQuNZYJRYh1zW095CDaBcdjcdt8H2Z_LKK3mGTE/s320/2023-08-26%2013.53.40.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The engines themselves do feature a nice quartet of cutout sections to the rear as well as some silver detailing to the front with the bussard collectors also painted in silver. The warp grilles on the exterior edges are just painted in here given the slimline construction of the engines. They also feature the 32nd Century Starfleet pennants top and bottom with the registry only on the lower surface.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What else can you say?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ok, I was not that positive about this model when I knew it was on the way but I've been more than pleasantly surprised with the quality and look. It's a nice piece best displayed alongside that XL <i>USS Voyager</i> NCC-74656 and y'know I think it's one that will be out on the shelves for a while.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The magazine (which actually DID come with this one!) is exceptionally brief on the career of the J but does go into a decent bit of depth around the redesign of the iconic starship alongside some great concept art. Just for a kick there's also the "Coming Soon" featuring the never-released (maybe next year FanHome) 32nd Century <i>Constitution</i> Class. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Definitely a keeper here although it's now as scarce as dilithium in the 32nd Century and some of the eBay prices are going crazy. Well revamped, well made and well, one you'll be oddly impressed with.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-61649582327631113562023-08-27T08:47:00.000+01:002023-08-27T08:47:13.874+01:00Mid-Titan: More of Eaglemoss' Unreleased Treasure Trove<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-LKPseiDrq27GyhiPVp7Wz703Zp1cBMmkQ24I0n6OW9kIaL0EvlkZrAPlKKyw6VWFEmjHA2jLmehWYCVW_dkHlUTwKhpk_C2KP8SvVRik2pgLUSq0pynmEhTZMPItnmJtfQWNbaVVHLZLYqZIGPrPJwvp9Ts5vpvx7i3Ds2vqbblsyHuxqy4z4XkcAU/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.52.15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-LKPseiDrq27GyhiPVp7Wz703Zp1cBMmkQ24I0n6OW9kIaL0EvlkZrAPlKKyw6VWFEmjHA2jLmehWYCVW_dkHlUTwKhpk_C2KP8SvVRik2pgLUSq0pynmEhTZMPItnmJtfQWNbaVVHLZLYqZIGPrPJwvp9Ts5vpvx7i3Ds2vqbblsyHuxqy4z4XkcAU/w640-h480/2023-08-26%2013.52.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Designed for a book cover in the mid-2000s, the <i>USS Titan</i> has since gone on to become almost as iconic a starship as the lead vessels in each <i>Star Trek</i> series.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjcYrPtkirOsULYflEr4iIcMyLcvb4JHf8TYqVo4cVPSdmew4wofetlqNVxvoxxN4EMOE0B_GG8DboRs0tFCjnfghQ_p1nBndyclwduvXFrz-VCSZrfY66YIUm3224jjssnd_mpQwa1kzLAw1dsmQQqF6Km3SFtkddg2GxmEtKyitVktiOo7yYV4kc78/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.50.31.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjcYrPtkirOsULYflEr4iIcMyLcvb4JHf8TYqVo4cVPSdmew4wofetlqNVxvoxxN4EMOE0B_GG8DboRs0tFCjnfghQ_p1nBndyclwduvXFrz-VCSZrfY66YIUm3224jjssnd_mpQwa1kzLAw1dsmQQqF6Km3SFtkddg2GxmEtKyitVktiOo7yYV4kc78/s320/2023-08-26%2013.50.31.heic" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Eaglemoss did produce a <a href="http://trekclivos79.blogspot.com/2017/09/rikers-ride-official-starships.html" target="_blank">smaller bonus model</a> in line with their regular collection back in 2017 which reflected the original Sean Tourangeau design (2005) for the Pocket Books competition which led to the book cover for <i>Sword of Damocles</i>. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While <i>Star Trek Online</i> would enthusiastically include the <i>Titan</i> and therefore the <i>Luna</i> Class in its digital universe, the ship would only gain its first onscreen, canon, appearance in <i>Lower Decks</i>' season one finale, <i>No Small Parts</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Featuring a radical new paint scheme and some other alterations for the animated series, the <i>Titan</i> made a big impression, receiving an XL model as part of the Eaglemoss collection. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But there was more because along with the <i>USS Cerritos</i> and <i>USS Vancouver</i> (and apparently the <i>Yosemite</i> shuttle!), the <i>Titan</i> was to be featured in the <i>Star Trek Universe</i> series of mid-sized starships. This has now been dropped to the world thanks to Master Replicas finding a load of them in one of Eaglemoss' multiple warehouses and it's a blinder.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7R1BNZTE-AE0gKdQGb1cgijJA9-NqM3GdNHbMF7E5hqQxo5EDeN1Rhrx6ySYtL5mJdzjtorQz3_fB9BT1RUEalaPMpevZIQq0-D_nsmbS1vFu7Tm951uc8APL85NYZbnAkBQEfF1J21QUHYQCT0ZlAkGLlN2EA-2Dp60UJl3IiKXBuQ3x0bBTy2fmTGQ/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.52.55.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7R1BNZTE-AE0gKdQGb1cgijJA9-NqM3GdNHbMF7E5hqQxo5EDeN1Rhrx6ySYtL5mJdzjtorQz3_fB9BT1RUEalaPMpevZIQq0-D_nsmbS1vFu7Tm951uc8APL85NYZbnAkBQEfF1J21QUHYQCT0ZlAkGLlN2EA-2Dp60UJl3IiKXBuQ3x0bBTy2fmTGQ/s320/2023-08-26%2013.52.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Doing away with the two tone flat grey colour scheme of the original model, the <i>Lower Decks</i> <i>USS Titan</i> explodes with colour. It retains the darker grey base coat but has the phaser bank arc in a striking blue with the recessed sections of the hull in a light purple/lilac that draws out the detail on the hull.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Comparing the two, the basic primary hull panelling is near identical although the lifeboat hatches are more defined. The paint scheme is the big winner in really bringing this model to life. Reflecting on the original, it might have been accurate but it was incredibly bland. The siing up has meant that lines have been crisped up and the markings especially behind the bridge just sit more prominently.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The number and alignment of windows has also been changed with those at the outer edge of the saucer moved closer to the lip and a second set now added inside the phaser ring where there was only one previously.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp9i-Pu0w_ixzLAJ41Lr6szE8d6mPN55gQzysp8c82k-6-3Kd0GS50fgSfx0CA3roZaWpC6AZd6qdO1TZ1QgtiCRaiXnruEBvW98vTtcQgu2jvocCh29O5l-wvcU39FVik_-o5BopIf_j5H2Qq2zz3qEyXjaY79NVeQ89mu-9_W2b7K_PBe7rWWqE9PA/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.53.02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp9i-Pu0w_ixzLAJ41Lr6szE8d6mPN55gQzysp8c82k-6-3Kd0GS50fgSfx0CA3roZaWpC6AZd6qdO1TZ1QgtiCRaiXnruEBvW98vTtcQgu2jvocCh29O5l-wvcU39FVik_-o5BopIf_j5H2Qq2zz3qEyXjaY79NVeQ89mu-9_W2b7K_PBe7rWWqE9PA/s320/2023-08-26%2013.53.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Note too that the registry is a more realistic size and less crammed into a tiny space between the phaser bank and the recessed hull detail. Even the NCC code has an added red border which was conspicuous by its absence on the original. Even the navigation lights have been added to the front, port and starboard positions on the saucer making this a superior replica at every step.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ok, so this is the animated version so it is brighter and perhaps not the way it would be portrayed in a live action series but Eaglemoss have produced one of the most exciting and vibrant ships in their collection with the <i>Titan</i>. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The pod sitting atop the saucer seems to be a little longer on this edition and has equally received a repainting with the recesses in blue rather than the inset squares. This did bear the navigation lights but only as painted on features while the mid-size version has them as raised elements. It has also gained an upgraded paint job with the panelling itself remaining unchanged in layout.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Moving back along the <i>Titan</i>, the lilac/grey split colouring continues and draws the rear lifeboats and shuttlebay doors out. Eaglemoss have added landing strip detail here as well which was absent previously. The pylons now bear more lilac than grey and this is where the most updates seem to have occurred. The ridging on the pylons is now painted up and navigation lights added to the tops of the engines.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hy9v6SAGf_K3UCxM_ShHVj-PioQDJm3vU4tmelgsAutodRbsJCGcNYjjBMUgHGRPKAYYndGwCpu-Nbs-8l18NqgoOxpFHnBCfFN8pC_9mywKMK7fA0M9_i3gVTssSOz2ln_LlckmGY2dUpbpJsveLRAheS273X220O1dmh1qSry6hAOeg994SVtLgyA/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.58.47.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hy9v6SAGf_K3UCxM_ShHVj-PioQDJm3vU4tmelgsAutodRbsJCGcNYjjBMUgHGRPKAYYndGwCpu-Nbs-8l18NqgoOxpFHnBCfFN8pC_9mywKMK7fA0M9_i3gVTssSOz2ln_LlckmGY2dUpbpJsveLRAheS273X220O1dmh1qSry6hAOeg994SVtLgyA/s320/2023-08-26%2013.58.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Eaglemoss retained the painted in warp engine grilles but the front of the nacelles have had a massive revamp as evident on screen. The tips are now slimmer and have lost the split casing in favour of much rounder sections connecting to the translucent bussard collectors.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the pennants, the wording is more in line with the scale and "Starship" has been added before </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">USS Titan</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> with the red striping extending to the halfway mark. The registry to the rear is now in a more suitable font (as per main hull) with the red edging in place. In every sense it's a big upgrade that sings of better precision and maybe half a decade of learnings from the series as a whole. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you think you can't love it any more, take a look underneath. The underside of the saucer is alive with colour and more rows of windows painted onto the raised panelling. The features once more mirror the original down to the number of lifeboat hatches and the lower sensor platform at the centre. The colours just work here even though there's probably no difference in the way that the panel levels are defined against the original. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurIBjWFUf8rqEcp5XAgfC9h4ftLoc1cZ-6ZQEAuW524K5IDLg4329XqyLTC8ARan8Ea_fyP3rlC_rwbxr3rF8gv2o7pr3Qf-YxY5Pk0I5wMXsSS0abzGV_5VrGz-NEYX_6Y6JBQTvi3WWYipfT9AScy5Ag54IR80QYJhPJNqdpVFppxCYKhm8yRikVys/s4032/2023-08-26%2013.52.39.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurIBjWFUf8rqEcp5XAgfC9h4ftLoc1cZ-6ZQEAuW524K5IDLg4329XqyLTC8ARan8Ea_fyP3rlC_rwbxr3rF8gv2o7pr3Qf-YxY5Pk0I5wMXsSS0abzGV_5VrGz-NEYX_6Y6JBQTvi3WWYipfT9AScy5Ag54IR80QYJhPJNqdpVFppxCYKhm8yRikVys/s320/2023-08-26%2013.52.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On the smaller version the paint wasn't too heavy so the detail wasn't lost as it had been on the issue six <i>Voyager</i> and it's just built on here. Importantly and something that is new is the separate piece used for the deflector dish. Not just a painted (poorly) circle now, the deflector is an individual section slotted into the front of the hull and the colour seems much more suitable. It's even in a translucent blue just to drive home the point.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The build overall is very solid with the main hull in metal linked to the plastic secondary hull, pod and engines. There don't seem to be any evident gaps or dodgy seams either which is very reassuring but also a gut punch since this was to have been one of the later models released. It showed a lot of love for <i>Lower Decks</i> and one of <i>Star Trek</i>'s most interesting designs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As with the engines, the pennants along the sides of the small secondary hull have been reworked and refined to a better scale. Yes, the original was constrictive when it came to the script but lessons have been learned and scale increased to produce one of my favourite models from the whole collection.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, even I'm shocked I've gone that far but it truly is just exciting to look at from every angle and adds that "ping" that a shelf of grey starships might just need sometimes. If you can find one, get it, you won't regret it.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-22141174412441608842023-08-26T14:48:00.000+01:002023-08-26T14:48:58.129+01:00Wings: Discovery's Klingon Bird of Prey<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWIzjEQMcQsC1IT6ZiX7F-R2Zv0YFY3jKgFoe-XdCuMWWDMpYR8IMhubU2Glz8du2QB4bDwCGa5Licm3gm6QebpmqCXHeb5lBcQq7PWspgo9K1BAgOrGndvbozzvQh4a6cbUj-kluspSWb1MUXHekIRYsiS-LGH-uQgc-ms8jtSRbCqZR9nIG_Ot9qGM/s4032/2022-07-02%2019.31.52.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWIzjEQMcQsC1IT6ZiX7F-R2Zv0YFY3jKgFoe-XdCuMWWDMpYR8IMhubU2Glz8du2QB4bDwCGa5Licm3gm6QebpmqCXHeb5lBcQq7PWspgo9K1BAgOrGndvbozzvQh4a6cbUj-kluspSWb1MUXHekIRYsiS-LGH-uQgc-ms8jtSRbCqZR9nIG_Ot9qGM/w640-h480/2022-07-02%2019.31.52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Ah <i>Discovery</i>. Remember seasons one and two when it all went down? </b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yep, me too and I hope that in season five we'll get back to some of the quality that the first two batches of episodes provided.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the time being though I can still gaze longingly at some of the models that were produced by the now-extinct Eaglemoss as I round out the last splatterings left in the "IN" pile. Oddly though it seems the right moment to look back since several sites are not selling these editions plus we have masterreplicas.com promising more on the way.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now these are going to be older models that most people who followed the collection will have but for the sakes of my own completism and desire to ensure that everything from them I've got is documented, here are the last of the regular series <i>Discovery</i> ships I have.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFmwSKErmkzatYlFMbqgjlzlORvb9Hk6CiCRJfBmUuL3UK1xPxi9Zc1RHVIIK_TNC-eu-h66I3lHq_mF-WsvpWfArI26Q2Bl1GfJoffy8vwoXTsq6Sq9TFCSqhTYrlwfm_ih9ZC2zkfjZ_ZNNsAUtROpx4_KzZQLROqIN8_AlrswnLIB_cLEHXQOP2U8/s4032/2022-07-02%2019.31.12.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFmwSKErmkzatYlFMbqgjlzlORvb9Hk6CiCRJfBmUuL3UK1xPxi9Zc1RHVIIK_TNC-eu-h66I3lHq_mF-WsvpWfArI26Q2Bl1GfJoffy8vwoXTsq6Sq9TFCSqhTYrlwfm_ih9ZC2zkfjZ_ZNNsAUtROpx4_KzZQLROqIN8_AlrswnLIB_cLEHXQOP2U8/s320/2022-07-02%2019.31.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">These were actually purchased in that last gasp for breath sale the week before it all went Pete Tong and I had to pick quickly!</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First up there's the rather impressive if unwieldy Bird of Prey. One of the things levelled against it is that it looks nothing like the classic design nor does it even come close to anything that's been seen since <i>The Search for Spock</i>, even in <i>Enterprise</i>. Still, it fits with the rest of the fleet - as it was designed to and that's what counts. After all we're not reviewing the model design, more the model itself as a replica of what was on screen in both detail and construction quality.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Bird of Prey is, honestly, one heck of a beautiful design for the show. From the front you can very clearly see the distinct shape of a classic version of the vessel but that's where the similarities tend to stop.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As we'll see in all the <i>Discovery</i> designs and models, the detail is mind-boggling. Just taking in the wing shape and features here is a task in itself. Aside from the dirt and weathering which is good but not overbearing,.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcsg0Pgjy-D1awi39lrIpz13cJHLROsvTYsy2-uE9BnXyhl6xmRpm5R-PvOSo8L9F6xgee_U6ogyUXr28Scflcv2ckZICxE_bwIm_zZ8zAYfR9njdDfl5lIyXoW70mSuKK-F7tvHFLL8yDUJBnjHj-WGhP8rX2n-ObvTvmshv0jipGUZ_UmM4fbtERkM/s4032/2022-07-02%2019.31.21.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcsg0Pgjy-D1awi39lrIpz13cJHLROsvTYsy2-uE9BnXyhl6xmRpm5R-PvOSo8L9F6xgee_U6ogyUXr28Scflcv2ckZICxE_bwIm_zZ8zAYfR9njdDfl5lIyXoW70mSuKK-F7tvHFLL8yDUJBnjHj-WGhP8rX2n-ObvTvmshv0jipGUZ_UmM4fbtERkM/s320/2022-07-02%2019.31.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Constructed in metal, the curving wings have a very textured finish with ribbing extending from the centre of the ship out and just beyond the edges. These are distinctly raised on both the upper and lower surfaces and coloured bronze against the brown base coat. There's also a clever feathered effect at the wing edge which you just can't appreciate on a TV screen but certainly can here. That bronze edging is in evidence right across the Bird of Prey from the wings into the main body and then into the neck and head section. There's a distinct Gothic feel to the way in which this has been designed and that shows through in the model itself.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But there's also an organic piece to the Bird of Prey as running down the centre is a structure that can only be described as its spine replete with a protruding "bone" structure. Again, the detail is just magnificent although, when compared to the images in the magazine you can see that some of the higher level texturing has been lost to the weathering effect.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of the detail is there, notably along those feathered wing edges but into the main body the paint finish is smoother just as the bodywork itself tends to become more complex. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS28dcLQ5iRmE0Znm0M0CgrzQwCE5X2Q9wiYQiE39u60BHmVt-DIxX3fCYjxTdrGPyTf8ywx-rF0OVgaUOvj-qg8tujIBVhlwgBne5pKxG7zbvDC6-gzdTw7MrkkdVd8ziQjh_BHZFMV_FKUSM0Ly6Xingh-2Ch64bk1W1F_D3wtpQwHN3f3K4G6fwCsY/s4032/2022-07-02%2019.31.32.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS28dcLQ5iRmE0Znm0M0CgrzQwCE5X2Q9wiYQiE39u60BHmVt-DIxX3fCYjxTdrGPyTf8ywx-rF0OVgaUOvj-qg8tujIBVhlwgBne5pKxG7zbvDC6-gzdTw7MrkkdVd8ziQjh_BHZFMV_FKUSM0Ly6Xingh-2Ch64bk1W1F_D3wtpQwHN3f3K4G6fwCsY/s320/2022-07-02%2019.31.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The neck and head section are masterpieces when it comes to modelling with the translucent blue section touched up with bronze detail to seem an integral part of the vessel. There's something almost Alien (intentional capital) about the shape of the ship's body as if it would genuinely open up and strike out a razor sharp tongue. Everything about it says aggression and Eaglemoss managed to replicate its onscreen persona pretty closely.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Plastic models are unforgiving when it comes to cost though and sadly that real finishing texture that's so evident in the magazine does get lost a little. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where there is a bit of a tragedy is that these <i>Discovery</i> ships seem to have very little if any annotation to give you an idea of what parts are what. I can work out from the images that the wings do fold with the ship displayed in attack but what's the little piece that sits under the wings and has a piece of transparent blue at its centre? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The design might look good but fans do want to know there's thought behind some of the features and why certain things are in set places - it's just the way they are!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nir7nAD-za55on3LLa5MN-UCFUa8H1QeBlr9ZEri-YcvjgIazm1GA8TBmm-CtOZupv2qCqad4xeHzdvn9XsuMZDnqtKofyYzpp6VsJn2DkZxY5-llv2NBzAHm8zoSn1rbmVg-n88LvuiSp1VfYl5jxG7RlyMCkAQabkeQVKB_IjgrqCCqJGhoMQKwDw/s4032/2022-07-02%2019.33.03.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nir7nAD-za55on3LLa5MN-UCFUa8H1QeBlr9ZEri-YcvjgIazm1GA8TBmm-CtOZupv2qCqad4xeHzdvn9XsuMZDnqtKofyYzpp6VsJn2DkZxY5-llv2NBzAHm8zoSn1rbmVg-n88LvuiSp1VfYl5jxG7RlyMCkAQabkeQVKB_IjgrqCCqJGhoMQKwDw/s320/2022-07-02%2019.33.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The only real letdown as far as the Bird of Prey goes are the two forward facing antenna that are fairly obviously much larger than they should be. Any thinner and we'd be approaching Solar Sailor levels of delicate but these two protrusions are fairly solid. The ship is well put together with the metal and plastic sections both curving and meeting with very little indication towards the front of the sweep.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the magazine the coverage of the design is the clear highlight with the first section only covering the Bird of Prey as part of the Klingon fleet and the actions they were used for in the first season of <i>Discovery</i>. At least with the design article there are a good chunk of pictures to illustrate the extensive work to create this new take on a classic starship. Even goes as far as working out the scale!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-9444920009638679022023-08-18T18:27:00.000+01:002023-08-18T18:27:34.785+01:00Path Not Travelled: USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D All Good Things Future Version<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqj5Jn7T2ubDODnrIQw_n3kXFRculUNDBMcGO6zXqZsbpYHw4w7oi2zKVvi1IvglSd7HphUbSh-oWhSixd_ceSdJWSGNdiNugRRrGSCq5JsjRb2g-NKfIR5JSWpwaOdUQWPkSZV8XkezjGPpCNvBtNgbBh2eF8fU_gG5uPb25gOJVpkpOzPo9oY2bVBE/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.09.18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqj5Jn7T2ubDODnrIQw_n3kXFRculUNDBMcGO6zXqZsbpYHw4w7oi2zKVvi1IvglSd7HphUbSh-oWhSixd_ceSdJWSGNdiNugRRrGSCq5JsjRb2g-NKfIR5JSWpwaOdUQWPkSZV8XkezjGPpCNvBtNgbBh2eF8fU_gG5uPb25gOJVpkpOzPo9oY2bVBE/w640-h480/2023-08-10%2018.09.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a ton of excitement when the subscriber gifts for the Official Starships Collection were announced. Along with the binders, <i>Enterprise</i>-D plaque and infamous light up Borg Cube, perhaps the most eagerly awaited was the <i>USS Enterprise</i> NCC-1701-D as seen in the alternative future of <i>All Good Things...</i>.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLe5yOXMmGxh-rIyjApIXka2vXEQUmDy0_71s4GGqB6QCMCNHVNNtUubroheCw-rOY1MRv2WmmV0vLJK2JEqvpSo32XeJq_3O1TUhAxE4wWKt_3rhLHLo4omYJxozjHP2rFlPzc_TIf6KkyX-fxI4-gdl1IdNb9-XydLrQAD1GgGzm7NNeDp2zPEf3Mc/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.07.29.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLe5yOXMmGxh-rIyjApIXka2vXEQUmDy0_71s4GGqB6QCMCNHVNNtUubroheCw-rOY1MRv2WmmV0vLJK2JEqvpSo32XeJq_3O1TUhAxE4wWKt_3rhLHLo4omYJxozjHP2rFlPzc_TIf6KkyX-fxI4-gdl1IdNb9-XydLrQAD1GgGzm7NNeDp2zPEf3Mc/s320/2023-08-10%2018.07.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">While this version would never come to pass in the Prime Timeline due to the destruction of the <i>Enterprise</i> in <i>Generations</i>, it proved to be an unforgettable arrival into the <i>Star Trek</i> starships canon.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The subscribers version was made on the same scale as the 180 issue "regular" collection but once Eaglemoss expanded into the XL line it was only a matter of time before it joined the series. Indeed, the second of the XLs had been the NCC-1701-D. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In essence this is the <a href="https://trekclivos79.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-official-starships-collection-uss_01534900655.html" target="_blank">XL-D</a> with its future alterations so for the most part this is an absolutely identical finish to the model we've already reviewed. Indeed, lining them up it's very easy to see that the two are - at a basic level - identical.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The aztecing, the decals, the window alignment is bang on a copy but where we get exciting is in the extra parts that were attached for <i>The Next Generation</i>'s seventh season finale.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFCVRSFoU3HURWUs_42Qs6iJpY9CyoWJmJGoRVZ-mHtFDpwO3TuXnotTVsjNx54W1ijPxODww65W3LPhlIT8erAGaHDUEWV7n_NlptqUd9VL6bQPgU2Vx_eCdy6e2Bxyn9nmcYEb5_lMm2QrsRaW5djoiO4zDKtkfIgj1ZXgB8GqCyVXLhgaOORBbjes/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.06.39.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFCVRSFoU3HURWUs_42Qs6iJpY9CyoWJmJGoRVZ-mHtFDpwO3TuXnotTVsjNx54W1ijPxODww65W3LPhlIT8erAGaHDUEWV7n_NlptqUd9VL6bQPgU2Vx_eCdy6e2Bxyn9nmcYEb5_lMm2QrsRaW5djoiO4zDKtkfIgj1ZXgB8GqCyVXLhgaOORBbjes/s320/2023-08-10%2018.06.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On the top of the saucer we have the least updates to the design with the probe-like guns added either side of the bridge module and then what seems to be an additional torpedo launcher just behind it. The larger scale shows up the slight misalignment in the registry decals with the red border a few millimetres out to the right but aside from that there's nothing major to note here... unless we want to cover those pesky windows once more.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The three structures added to the dorsal side of the saucer might just be bolt-ons but they do mesh perfectly with the green/blue (duck egg) colour scheme of the ship overall. Following just how the original studio model was updated for the series, the <i>All Good Things...</i> <i>Enterprise</i> has the glue on third nacelle structure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stretching from the new impulse engine at the rear of the saucer, this element traverses the spine of the ship down the neck connection and along the Engineering hull before rising up to bear that prominent third nacelle. There is a good level of new detailing on here including what seem to be additional transporter emitters along the sides and a raft of new windows as well as continuations of the Starfleet pennant stripes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIht5lcI7CQOytqTt585B1Q87UWigbaVE1nXA-DKLHcd7A8vUsmjjhJGnseu1QBZDD_l5fRrudE_EpDmRME7ffaeAV-lNL9IKyun-idKwCTqOUbWhsFx2dulpQT9Tm71M0GJFF3Px_MUNHvx_YwN_z-ascn5WKTXlWxaoYLYOa_ykzqM0Z_wMd93xiATM/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.07.02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIht5lcI7CQOytqTt585B1Q87UWigbaVE1nXA-DKLHcd7A8vUsmjjhJGnseu1QBZDD_l5fRrudE_EpDmRME7ffaeAV-lNL9IKyun-idKwCTqOUbWhsFx2dulpQT9Tm71M0GJFF3Px_MUNHvx_YwN_z-ascn5WKTXlWxaoYLYOa_ykzqM0Z_wMd93xiATM/s320/2023-08-10%2018.07.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Flip her over and the most evident addition is the huge phaser weapon slapped right down the centre line of the saucer. Ok, it does mean saucer separation is out of the question but for pure "wow" factor it nails it. Detail on this has been scaled up and comparing to screenshots of the episode, the colours and patterning appear to be aligned. What is good with the XL is that there's much more definition to the panelling on these extra pieces. Certainly with the cannon the muzzle area has had some nice upgrading and recessed areas although the fit to the hull on the saucer curvature is a little patchy.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All three nacelles feature the additional top "lumps" indicating a new, larger mould to accommodate those elements which add in new phaser placements and modified decals. The engines do retain their translucent blue and red inserts although on close inspection the joint lines are a bit gappy.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDY9ovzMUYo8gGDNZEw1TxDFZ2VE8-E2JREbt6eedDYJBW-ulR7yi7fjq2bWz_7okamUmavXGlvloFPF4ZHidnhbRPk_FD_W4qZfHRkRFkSoln18cu-AaivcvBalyUwzqY95pTTbGySFAUVcUtxIICQ-FwU_qIG04srpbirO1U4LoHwBTocjGyF_yqTY/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.06.43.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDY9ovzMUYo8gGDNZEw1TxDFZ2VE8-E2JREbt6eedDYJBW-ulR7yi7fjq2bWz_7okamUmavXGlvloFPF4ZHidnhbRPk_FD_W4qZfHRkRFkSoln18cu-AaivcvBalyUwzqY95pTTbGySFAUVcUtxIICQ-FwU_qIG04srpbirO1U4LoHwBTocjGyF_yqTY/s320/2023-08-10%2018.06.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Moving just a little further back and the last of the mods to the ship is evident with the two wings dropping away from the curves of the pylons. This has to indicate the upper half of the Engineering hull is actually a different mould to the original since these are definitely part of the structure and not add ons as with the other <i>All Good Things...</i> upgrades.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The finish overall with the future <i>Enterprise</i>-D is superb and actually enhanced with all the clip on parts. The Eaglemoss model carries the original paint scheme on too with the third engine pylon and raised areas of the secondary hull actually blending seamlessly in regards to colour matching.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19SZSnwrxV05Xf6hdce5ca2uOobXZYCoLW_4i0Q5xEsBX37nGuvgZbABvilEDpt5t4Z0K1E75eAL1LKPWvWTiCNoDAJyRihVumGc5Cq9kuat_aT8Ni7OJjt1QSjBC5iLEBqxh7nVhuUbJ69UcyVoSXJ9ANmeo17t-TFRgDcEAFR3vm6Wnk_NtAbp6tec/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.10.30.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19SZSnwrxV05Xf6hdce5ca2uOobXZYCoLW_4i0Q5xEsBX37nGuvgZbABvilEDpt5t4Z0K1E75eAL1LKPWvWTiCNoDAJyRihVumGc5Cq9kuat_aT8Ni7OJjt1QSjBC5iLEBqxh7nVhuUbJ69UcyVoSXJ9ANmeo17t-TFRgDcEAFR3vm6Wnk_NtAbp6tec/s320/2023-08-10%2018.10.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The magazine gives some brief coverage to the episode and the ship's appearance but the majority is dedicated to the development of <i>All Good Things...</i> as a story. Lining up after that is a short article on the new ships for the finale in the form of the Klingon starship that would become the <i>Negh'Var</i> and the <i>USS Pasteur</i> medical frigate.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Admittedly this is a bit of a "take it or leave it" XL given that the "real" <i>Enterprise</i>-D returned as seen in <i>The Next Generation</i> for <i>Picard</i>'s final season<i>.</i> This might in turn just twist collectors to re-label the secondary hull of their XL to match its onscreen swansong. Good finish, lovely design and well executed. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-86618175233144473742023-08-15T10:05:00.001+01:002023-08-15T10:05:24.228+01:00Fair to Middling: USS Cerritos Unreleased!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fpAvsMdLx3_WjOuxxsq3jowL7FIIx9SI25dFZzyEpa8Y006MRW8kiQDuHsH3HIVGy8KdcF02-nChYn_5Rq6RXQIS3bC_2NDp-n19w94WCUx6HYk5EbtCWzAXPHBFYaat_AToreudHsq--ZQrdORTv8V9LU_vK7Xm5xjvFcEkDPv3AhSj2kD_dFcSgPw/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.03.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fpAvsMdLx3_WjOuxxsq3jowL7FIIx9SI25dFZzyEpa8Y006MRW8kiQDuHsH3HIVGy8KdcF02-nChYn_5Rq6RXQIS3bC_2NDp-n19w94WCUx6HYk5EbtCWzAXPHBFYaat_AToreudHsq--ZQrdORTv8V9LU_vK7Xm5xjvFcEkDPv3AhSj2kD_dFcSgPw/w640-h480/2023-08-10%2018.03.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Trying to find an XL <i>USS Cerritos</i> is becoming harder and harder.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9aaWq0gjF3NHbO4tSSOQERx_F-S1iDc_e3ET1XvvphateEOywXyC3tD4p_fqq71C8ElJBBBomF70qBima7bjLNxBgKrhDryFOTEidYSjZP1Q4CmigZtgFchEuH_VKylU73DHz0bX7AY9JgB5IizhJRfgC2N0ub7gq95oOMdGwJVRhJi1BWeXcHEzbJ8/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.01.36.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9aaWq0gjF3NHbO4tSSOQERx_F-S1iDc_e3ET1XvvphateEOywXyC3tD4p_fqq71C8ElJBBBomF70qBima7bjLNxBgKrhDryFOTEidYSjZP1Q4CmigZtgFchEuH_VKylU73DHz0bX7AY9JgB5IizhJRfgC2N0ub7gq95oOMdGwJVRhJi1BWeXcHEzbJ8/s320/2023-08-10%2018.01.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Master Replicas have managed to secure just about every single last one on the planet but there was some good news when they revealed the existence of the mid-size <i>Cerritos</i> and <i>USS Titan</i> from <i>Lower Decks</i>.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Never released by Eaglemoss, these two are ship-only editions that would have (you suspect) launched the <i>Lower Decks</i> ship range as part of the <i>Star Trek Universe</i> series.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The <i>Cerritos</i> in either scale has been in considerable demand with both this and the XL selling out in minutes although some dodgy multi-orders have been noted by the Master Replicas team. Good to know they're all over it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Based on the season one version of the ship, the Eaglemoss model doesn't have some of the higher detail that was added in subsequent seasons. It's a bit of a loss that there were never opportunities to upgrade the original build but we all know why that is.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH-kjsmXZhQFJSg9pD2ndKLWR2CvLdOPhxQcCmP5qq56k8j8ZfF3BBlauDcq69vB6Wxo6gEj9rhorG0ed9Y9n9AGD_5m65WQcOvgMx0vIQWh4Otiq9jDDv0gWBQ7MPbjSDVlXF6WTnr5E9_CfGlQU1gX0g7PinBc3NeCQy50rve_WCnn69xGte7j10og/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.04.00.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH-kjsmXZhQFJSg9pD2ndKLWR2CvLdOPhxQcCmP5qq56k8j8ZfF3BBlauDcq69vB6Wxo6gEj9rhorG0ed9Y9n9AGD_5m65WQcOvgMx0vIQWh4Otiq9jDDv0gWBQ7MPbjSDVlXF6WTnr5E9_CfGlQU1gX0g7PinBc3NeCQy50rve_WCnn69xGte7j10og/s320/2023-08-10%2018.04.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The paint scheme for one is very simple. A plain grey base with blocked dark grey sections and mid-level grey hull highlights dominate the top of the ship. Alignment of the mid-grey to the lifeboat hatches is pretty good, likely assisted by the scale since this is a relatively small ship in-universe. The windows are also painted on. I can ay no more because the alignment on the mid-size <i>Cerritos</i> is appalling. There's no other words for it because they are so off from their hull indents it's embarrassing. Was this a rush job at the end of the line knowing what was coming? Maybe it was but it ruins what is actually a decent replica.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eaglemoss have, to their credit, added in the phaser strip with more precision and this almost totally encircles the saucer. The distinct Support Services yellow stripe also pops that touch of colour both on the dorsal and ventral sides of the ship 's primary hull and on the bottom of the engineering hull.. One can only assume that over time collectors would have been able to add ships with the red and blues of command and sciences to their shelves. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MWm_jkh9GZM8724RvDAMrtmJ5TzD8ct0KI2v-hfyfTs3h_FeseJGijlIctP9Tr27x9TZlTWVc2a-bDbz4kFCRBP7l9BR-OJOaKFvwcwMWhcHEI4qDzQkIyDxmX2sih4Ptajmw7URXynjfTRlcmrxX8QhCE9kb61OqLerpO42K1uOmHnW1ES0KKMXKc4/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.05.25.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MWm_jkh9GZM8724RvDAMrtmJ5TzD8ct0KI2v-hfyfTs3h_FeseJGijlIctP9Tr27x9TZlTWVc2a-bDbz4kFCRBP7l9BR-OJOaKFvwcwMWhcHEI4qDzQkIyDxmX2sih4Ptajmw7URXynjfTRlcmrxX8QhCE9kb61OqLerpO42K1uOmHnW1ES0KKMXKc4/s320/2023-08-10%2018.05.25.heic" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">To the rear of the hull is the plain and simple ship registry of <i>USS Cerritos </i>NCC-75567. This is the only place on the model and is in keeping with its onscreen counterpart. The reason for this is brilliant. Since the <i>Cerritos</i> is a support ship and more likely to be towing something, the registry was placed to the back rather than emblazoned on the front.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One thing I do like here is the unevenness of the mid-grey panelling. It's beautifully asymmetrical on the top and bottom of the saucer and Engineering section although that's not continued onto the warp engines. They mirror each other from the centre out but let's get to them momentarily.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the underside there is some <i>very slight</i> misalignment of the grey highlights in regards to the four darker recesses but those are almost insignificant. The colour scheme works perhaps even more effectively here as it swirls around in three shades towards the centre of the primary hull.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_HwAcFegxSNyNsR-ZuGcu7KYw2O2iOsgVYCNMVHIJUAuSVwhETDn8sV4xL3jH_QenAR5UmIRNJR8I2A1fc1l9rxz7wPhMHd7lewqGxyRsD4cSj-UtrgP-W1k3NkSPhgqqArrIorrTrEzQ6ZLuFi5HW5GJQCb-dlHvZfpCuqq4zMmrneL-g1rbkGLoRQ/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.04.34.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_HwAcFegxSNyNsR-ZuGcu7KYw2O2iOsgVYCNMVHIJUAuSVwhETDn8sV4xL3jH_QenAR5UmIRNJR8I2A1fc1l9rxz7wPhMHd7lewqGxyRsD4cSj-UtrgP-W1k3NkSPhgqqArrIorrTrEzQ6ZLuFi5HW5GJQCb-dlHvZfpCuqq4zMmrneL-g1rbkGLoRQ/s320/2023-08-10%2018.04.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Darting down to the pencil-shaped nacelles we have two industrial-looking struts. Given their size they do provide decent support for the engines. Oddly the two smaller pieces which connect to the tiny Engineering hull are patchily painted.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nor do the engines contain any transparent elements for the bussard collectors or warp grilles. Everything is painted in here and in respect to the collectors that makes sense as there's a ton of detail around them leading into a darker grey piece before the lighter shades of the main bulk of the nacelle.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe the translucent elements could have been painted as we have seen before however this choice gives the <i>Cerritos</i> a more "cartoon" and matt finish overall. The warp field grilles on the nacelles are fairly slim which may have dictated the choice to go 100% plastic with just the addition of a conspicuous Starfleet pennant towards the front.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6SOFo3Xcm-m2TgDDzvGCQzWLlSXR_nkQsVw6Z66xKsk9-c8-AFRBpYdqc3j4V9V_2EbiInFojTZFaPSpqXA1yEJPiGVhXYLgj_WyLGkU4H-QKkaJKg8xffPDJk9I-iHHE9IQ07-Pz6yFiuigvGLjQ2rqM1ojnR4HEumSyMyo94eAP-XUz0w5B6-jXMc/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.04.58.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6SOFo3Xcm-m2TgDDzvGCQzWLlSXR_nkQsVw6Z66xKsk9-c8-AFRBpYdqc3j4V9V_2EbiInFojTZFaPSpqXA1yEJPiGVhXYLgj_WyLGkU4H-QKkaJKg8xffPDJk9I-iHHE9IQ07-Pz6yFiuigvGLjQ2rqM1ojnR4HEumSyMyo94eAP-XUz0w5B6-jXMc/s320/2023-08-10%2018.04.58.heic" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The seemingly inaccessible Engineering hull finishes off the <i>Cerritos</i> with the same uneven patterning which is less evident onscreen than it is in reality (which is bizarre since there's actually no physical filming model of the <i>Cerritos</i>!). The deflector is finished in pastille shades which does look out of place and subdued when compared to the rest of this design. Why we've gone for a toned down effect here is a bit of a mystery given the bright glow that emanates from it in <i>Lower Decks</i> and if anything it detracts from the finish.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The stand fit for the <i>Cerritos</i> mid-size is secure although fitting the clear holder into the black base was one of the tightest connections ever to the point where I thought the force would snap something. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is a good replica but the choice to market it at exactly the same price as the XL (£59.99) remains a mystery. Yes, it will go with the mid-size <i>Titan </i>but again that's the same price as the XL edition Eaglemoss produced. Both of the mid-size are rare and clearly from the speed they sold the demand was there especially if collectors were unable to get hold of the XL. For note that did drop just two weeks later.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGsyIfc6sONrFiLguHlcJ-QqZxA_dT5mROGVnb9GmTl1ipeq8vpuOehuESP1cUCwNWgxsZLVsRczC324DgtsjQe066qIr_nrrwj2L-HpWYqROF59JGOr_InekreleX6vg0htSA9Fk6-SiiiExSLrlrzPrDjKQIhnSyPHhgQSgcmJR_JKOzybeIV_G3jg/s4032/2023-08-10%2018.03.40.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGsyIfc6sONrFiLguHlcJ-QqZxA_dT5mROGVnb9GmTl1ipeq8vpuOehuESP1cUCwNWgxsZLVsRczC324DgtsjQe066qIr_nrrwj2L-HpWYqROF59JGOr_InekreleX6vg0htSA9Fk6-SiiiExSLrlrzPrDjKQIhnSyPHhgQSgcmJR_JKOzybeIV_G3jg/s320/2023-08-10%2018.03.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Nor is there a magazine with this one since it was produced and lost in the depths of Eaglemoss' multiple third party warehouses scattered across the globe. I think that finding all of these items may have been Ark of the Covenant level cubed at least.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We'll be comparing this to the XL shortly but at first impression and seeing why some of these were cancelled orders following its launch there really doesn't seem to be a reason to have this AND the larger edition. Personal opinion, choose one and go with it because they're going to be similar in detail with only size being the difference.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-11731858060423170722023-08-10T19:12:00.001+01:002023-08-10T19:12:15.659+01:00NX XL: Enterprising Perfection<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4KCbHvi9Nmt0GJGY-jd8g1Tm6y72ziWzNedzEj_RqhU3v-9KGCd8JNsNoVWgP-anMR1xZbkclGsIX7hk9GEgDrfx6jmppZIZ0bdhkWx0BJ3FE2G5hz36aQ23EOBI5VWkwAf4F5xxvKwgaGbThirxca89N9J7XREkawfim5OaoLBxu1jRxqVG_qGSpBU/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.11.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4KCbHvi9Nmt0GJGY-jd8g1Tm6y72ziWzNedzEj_RqhU3v-9KGCd8JNsNoVWgP-anMR1xZbkclGsIX7hk9GEgDrfx6jmppZIZ0bdhkWx0BJ3FE2G5hz36aQ23EOBI5VWkwAf4F5xxvKwgaGbThirxca89N9J7XREkawfim5OaoLBxu1jRxqVG_qGSpBU/w640-h480/2023-06-19%2014.11.30.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br />Even a decade later, the NX-01 model from the Eaglemoss Official Starships Collection<i> </i>remains one of its finest entries.</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How would one even attempt to top it? After all, it exuded superb detail, brilliant build quality and, incredibly, it was less than a handful off issues into the 180 edition run.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The answer to that was fairly simple; make it bigger. While I was unable to get my hands on one of the NX-01 XLs back in the heyday of Eaglemoss, Master Replicas have given both myself and every <i>Star Trek</i> fan out there another bite at the apple so to speak. That's been true in this very case.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkyiucxaJn7L2kd5kucyQdwTKg_-dBHURd-nhNKfryXdv1uYX9W954mzk_wDKu1Q7ulRBbsLFfUcw8ivZ2INdIuxYcwf6t4IHq2RSNnnkfF4aF0iyTz_HJt3kuHs-XV2GjUzhP_F87-jWOUaU8x2yePzCXX84ioVXVxmlutp_9Jt34PdZVNwNU58mPJE/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.09.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkyiucxaJn7L2kd5kucyQdwTKg_-dBHURd-nhNKfryXdv1uYX9W954mzk_wDKu1Q7ulRBbsLFfUcw8ivZ2INdIuxYcwf6t4IHq2RSNnnkfF4aF0iyTz_HJt3kuHs-XV2GjUzhP_F87-jWOUaU8x2yePzCXX84ioVXVxmlutp_9Jt34PdZVNwNU58mPJE/s320/2023-06-19%2014.09.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The <i>Enterprise</i> from, well, <i>Enterprise</i> is just as magnificent as it smaller counterpart which was also re-stickered up as the Mirror Universe version for the second of the bonus editions.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you’re into collecting <i>Enterprise</i>s then this one is a sure thing. The detailing on the hull is exquisite with the increased scale only adding to the package. Just on first glance there’s the shimmer of the aztec paintwork utilising that very slight tonal change to add real depth to the hull. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what makes this just so damn amazing? Well, initially that paint job works a little better with the contrasts not being so obvious and blocky. There's more definition around the RCS thrusters at the edges of the saucer and significantly the golden elements including the bridge dome are brighter. The grille behind the bridge itself is now silver rather than gold and the "lined" detail on the shoulders has been removed with additional window detail dropped on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hull lines seem more precise and actually less prominent. Looking back on the original, the window details at the saucer edge are less blurred and there's a much cleaner curve and slope to the hull. On the smaller version the gradient is quite sharp and ugly but here there's a visual step to the lower rim. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaM3YI92cymI3ZkC98jBwldtDjfdEJogqsL-79_upKoxEHnQp21EkknJMB-MhPzL_CdwbGumVr_ilqATXrAjmLwdX7JgnlvgEZUBaZWJr_QdW3taXqZmJb3DEIQDRkbzgQ3qnUfTJoAAowok6wheMF0H__f0_v3UQa65fXOAFA58zckaROSBnC8SlP5o/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.12.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaM3YI92cymI3ZkC98jBwldtDjfdEJogqsL-79_upKoxEHnQp21EkknJMB-MhPzL_CdwbGumVr_ilqATXrAjmLwdX7JgnlvgEZUBaZWJr_QdW3taXqZmJb3DEIQDRkbzgQ3qnUfTJoAAowok6wheMF0H__f0_v3UQa65fXOAFA58zckaROSBnC8SlP5o/s320/2023-06-19%2014.12.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Out at the front the deflector isn't luminescent blue with the tones limited to the surround rather than bleeding out on to the silver edges of the surrounding metalwork. Same goes for the red and greens of the port and starboard lights which are much more exact in their finish, avoiding the slodgework of the regular issues.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Moving backwards there's little change apart from the upscaling and you can see that the XL is an enlargement of the original moulds. The pylon detail is much sharper with the larger bussard collectors and blue warp engine grilles allowed more space to add that pop of colour.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXzrmnmBN7-e50Yd1t7lcytxDbZUeP0mTq_H9DbmZgyVFvCgg1Y-2Z96IrE-FxRmDUEf6IMGN3xeoZFt6zy94UJgOSkh5yk3Q2284RtZbdZAov1bSYoBEeY7JL5ZEWPYsrsVW9mKDApIhNBLHihqbkwLVhLAQnAulE1mZpq33MIC9H1Df7uDGT0g0JHw/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.11.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXzrmnmBN7-e50Yd1t7lcytxDbZUeP0mTq_H9DbmZgyVFvCgg1Y-2Z96IrE-FxRmDUEf6IMGN3xeoZFt6zy94UJgOSkh5yk3Q2284RtZbdZAov1bSYoBEeY7JL5ZEWPYsrsVW9mKDApIhNBLHihqbkwLVhLAQnAulE1mZpq33MIC9H1Df7uDGT0g0JHw/s320/2023-06-19%2014.11.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the underside there are some noticeable updates. There are more windows and on the issue four version the black "dotting" was absent however some of it here has the standard misalignment we've come to love... or not. The lower sensor dome now has a full coat of paint replacing the worn/unfinished look of before. you might even be forgiven for thinking that the black decals to the front and on the port and aft registries has been darkened because it very evidently has.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Best upgrade has to go to the stand. The smaller one was prone to snapping and only formed a hairs-breadth fastening to the hull. In the XL box the clear holder now folds around the underside of the NX-01 rather than relying on a tiny piece of hull for support.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBjHCjuz5rNBpaLSLKcs-IDbrqORlB_rSSpkH8v9aJ4clbNKHLatcEsNIqHnXwWBRg9XdyinsN466uFPJnhJUlTSr5RaCNlUw02EN-yKcwViXU55jS7nFwukJ8Qzls5akQ05obY4IdNOpO4KpTf-DkUFV4FG6fcwmcih-WB0Gdexy07puQxlFq2PGTIo/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.11.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBjHCjuz5rNBpaLSLKcs-IDbrqORlB_rSSpkH8v9aJ4clbNKHLatcEsNIqHnXwWBRg9XdyinsN466uFPJnhJUlTSr5RaCNlUw02EN-yKcwViXU55jS7nFwukJ8Qzls5akQ05obY4IdNOpO4KpTf-DkUFV4FG6fcwmcih-WB0Gdexy07puQxlFq2PGTIo/s320/2023-06-19%2014.11.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The magazine (hit and miss if you'll get one with the Master Replica releases) treads the territory of how <i>Enterprise</i> came to be as a prequel series and also the casting of the main crew of Earth's warp five starship. As with a lot of the XL mags it feels hopelessly padded and really not one that will tempt you back for a reread anytime soon. To be honest when the model is as good as this one, why would you want to?!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is another where there's not been a serious amount of reworking rather the scale up has allowed for more accuracy and touchups where required. If you've not managed to snag one by this point, time is running - or may have - run out. One of the best? Yes and even better that little bit bigger.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-84467134005868751882023-08-09T09:38:00.001+01:002023-08-09T09:40:17.017+01:00Vup To Something: Actor Dominic Burgess<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>PLEASE NOTE THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BEFORE THE CURRENT ACTORS STRIKE IN THE US</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx4YldzQwoiJR0Lx7QfaVylYXI7kW79tS8vEp4K0YctoITPY04DVYQbienFoXTuQYgYJ83SXDQmz9kQh87n63cuzwDqnsM87akdgupCtzu0E1nwBHnLwX9-LQnCNDYOnQClUbsrp_E1SSuU4voXpoDCPpub1ILRIVjQq0zwwI6aTNGXE61NKXXWJ5_Jo/s208/607081a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="208" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx4YldzQwoiJR0Lx7QfaVylYXI7kW79tS8vEp4K0YctoITPY04DVYQbienFoXTuQYgYJ83SXDQmz9kQh87n63cuzwDqnsM87akdgupCtzu0E1nwBHnLwX9-LQnCNDYOnQClUbsrp_E1SSuU4voXpoDCPpub1ILRIVjQq0zwwI6aTNGXE61NKXXWJ5_Jo/w640-h498/607081a.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br />How many people can say that they have appeared in both <i>Doctor Who</i> and <i>Star Trek</i>?</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You might jump immediately to mention Simon Pegg however there’s another name you should consider - Dominic Burgess.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyUmHx0aLETBEtfNVsall1WzNxHIVK2lTQoTXvtY8L3hBkCqZU69HRRYm3AfqCGF5_7VMf7ZhH1uzg7HGKk5T7gqY5h2L8PTGyL8XfU6xh_UsWYkCIviGOgegU_6mp1f7B5A_NaL-0sp4wnr48g1-Au5_-0-qr-GenxXFvAHb_NMUCoZBh3V--vWZvLk/s225/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyUmHx0aLETBEtfNVsall1WzNxHIVK2lTQoTXvtY8L3hBkCqZU69HRRYm3AfqCGF5_7VMf7ZhH1uzg7HGKk5T7gqY5h2L8PTGyL8XfU6xh_UsWYkCIviGOgegU_6mp1f7B5A_NaL-0sp4wnr48g1-Au5_-0-qr-GenxXFvAHb_NMUCoZBh3V--vWZvLk/s1600/download.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Zapped by the Ann Droid during the first season of the Russell T Davies BBC reboot in 2005, Burgess would also add appearances in <i>Batman Begins</i>, <i>The Flash </i>and <i>Agents of Shield</i> to encompass the DC and Marvel universes plus a ton of others and more to come!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hailing from my own neck of the woods in Stoke on Trent, Dominic would attend secondary school and go on to theatrical school before branching into TV and movies. Indeed, our conversations revealed a similar trend in TV viewing - <i>Thunderbirds</i>, <i>Terrahawks</i>, <i>Knight Rider</i>, <i>Lost in Space </i>and <i>The X-Files</i> to name but a few. We may have diverted into memories of collecting VHS releases for the latter and THAT cliffhanger with Mulder in the buried box car. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How about telling the Head of the National Theatre that your favourite media experience of the year had been <i>Fellowship of the Ring </i>and not <i>Hamlet</i>? He's even done that so yes, there was a lot of nerdy digression but let's stay on track here and now!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As a fan of <i>Star Trek</i>, nabbing a role in the franchise was always going to be on the bucket list and that’s exactly what came up for Picard’s first season episode <i>Stardust City Rag</i>. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Born in Stoke, Dominic was brought up in Weston Coyney, schooling in Catterswall and Newcastle Under Lyme and having a summer job at nearby Alton Towers. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Burgess remembers "...frequenting the haunts of Festival Park and Waterworld," as well as the Odeon Cinema where he saw </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">First Contact</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIDeX61gutHkFZ0iPo2VUXCPRtdsPZHQ0TNX8OIuikkIeNXdxrARfE5LJZADpcoyxelrz3mVO2SOuOQtMPiVc3Kh8yiXLmtvr8U2t_-nvvaYzemr_WeB9LrEU2r2pmViidCqUMOeCOpIaKVhm5gbZ6lHJhOHiiYJ4k4zIAgNdLQrRp2G8AOaefHsAauU/s647/Screenshot%202023-07-08%20105147.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="647" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIDeX61gutHkFZ0iPo2VUXCPRtdsPZHQ0TNX8OIuikkIeNXdxrARfE5LJZADpcoyxelrz3mVO2SOuOQtMPiVc3Kh8yiXLmtvr8U2t_-nvvaYzemr_WeB9LrEU2r2pmViidCqUMOeCOpIaKVhm5gbZ6lHJhOHiiYJ4k4zIAgNdLQrRp2G8AOaefHsAauU/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-08%20105147.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Following that he chose to head off to Drama School; "there was no option to do GCSE drama or A-level drama. It was all very academically driven and I remember the career guidance counsellor pushing back saying I should do English with Drama...I was very adamant I would take a gap year, travel to the United States and work there at a summer camp and see the country."</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I'm very lucky to now be doing what I love," continued Dominic who is now working not only acting but writing screenplays and exploring the world of directing. "I had the best time at drama school and the way that mine operated was that the arts should sustain you and you should be working in a black box theatre on the Shetland Isles for £5 a night...and that wasn't my mentality. Los Angeles worked better for me than London because it was a business and network TV back then was eight day prep, eight day shoot, eight day post and a machine that you could quantifiably see a career. You could move from co-stars to guest stars and recurring guest stars and your career can get more elastic from there."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"<i>Star Trek</i> and <i>Dr Who</i> have parallels in how I went about getting them. I graduated from ALRA in 2004 and about that time they announced <i>Dr Who</i> would be coming back with Christopher Eccleston and I had grown up with the show. I tracked down the casting director, sent handwritten letters and that I would love the opportunity to audition. Andy Pryor the casting director brought me in for a couple of lines but that was enough to feed my soul!"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His memory of Eccleston is the complete opposite of how the actor was made out to be by the press at the time as he had stated that he would not be returning for a second series. "He was the first person I met when I got to basecamp. He was lovely and upbeat and ebullient. It was my only interaction with him but it was a delight."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">However, his first job was actually in <i>Batman Begins</i> which he took a group of friends to see at the Odeon in Stoke, "only to find out Dominic was never in <i>Batman</i>." he recalled as the scene was cut from the final version however his name still remains in the credits!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-v8vuZL1qFepwk_L3B0lEg6A4R8oswnxjUzDKGQMRVoaNDr8jTS_ffeQ9ViO0i-EKWpT6wxugvfXHPHcG1X7IlVE9Rnb2s7YA75bflujTLONbnuukxAF4-yNqhxFRt4n7_ZIzrvPjOmzWpr6cySvfofOeiDKbtUw37hVN5YoQ-p1_DcTCiLrrd0Ld-xM/s900/netflix-dahmer-john-wayne-gacy-clown.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="900" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-v8vuZL1qFepwk_L3B0lEg6A4R8oswnxjUzDKGQMRVoaNDr8jTS_ffeQ9ViO0i-EKWpT6wxugvfXHPHcG1X7IlVE9Rnb2s7YA75bflujTLONbnuukxAF4-yNqhxFRt4n7_ZIzrvPjOmzWpr6cySvfofOeiDKbtUw37hVN5YoQ-p1_DcTCiLrrd0Ld-xM/s320/netflix-dahmer-john-wayne-gacy-clown.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Both these credits helped the actor to get his 01 visa to work in the US. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A visa that would lead to appearances in series such as <i>The Thundermans, ANT Farm</i> and also the recent Netflix drama, <i>Dahmer.</i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Viewers may not know this but Burgess actually played the role of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. "I love working with accents and physicality. I watched a lot of video footage of the way he talked and moved. The way he processed information was so odd that right up until the end he denied any involvement in the murders and tried to pass them off on other people."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not a subscriber to method acting, Burgess found it easy to separate himself from the part; "That first scene involved fight choreography and then next you cut to see Gacy holding a man's head in the bath...I was more concerned about safety and that I had it all down. There are other things which go through your mind while you're doing it so I can switch off."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But let's move forward once more to <i>Star Trek</i>. A self-confessed fan, Dominic's first introduction to he franchise was the films; "<i>The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock</i> and <i>The Voyage Home. </i>Then I remember school finishing quite late at about 4pm and the bus would take me 50 minutes to get back home. It was always a conscious effort to try and get back before <i>The Next Generation</i> started on BBC2 or Sky One. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I missed out on <i>Deep Space Nine</i> and whenever that was airing there was always a football match. When <i>Voyager</i> aired it was the first series I watched from pilot to finale and so it it always special to me and I got the whole <i>Trek </i>journey."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dominic, like many <i>Trek</i> fans collected the <i>Voyager</i> VHS tapes and the films up to <i>First Contact</i>. It then expanded into model kits of <i>Enterprise</i>, <i>Voyager</i> and the Klingon Bird of Prey "...which are still probably at home in Stoke-on-Trent. One of them might even be in the window!"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even at home in Los Angeles he's not without the DVD sets of <i>DS9</i> and <i>Voyager </i>and a model of Janeway's <i>Intrepid </i>Class starship in there to boot.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With <i>Voyager</i> as his favourite series, it must have been a lifelong dream come true to work with Jeri Ryan? Actually, I might have suggested it was like Christmas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"It was kept top secret and they had accidentally sent me the script to the episode to mine and with the cliffhanger I was thinking 'Where am I?'</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bqM5ZxMS3LqLFlFkaVdUv1UkU9yEZm8e6jdwj7y34HRXmwmlVyEy0ujom7sLrtvuAeCShTnisjQnpa2xA7hjFYOOsTuS_0wvBfwM0z3ckkiSJJ0dfk4mh4wkxm1xue-Jbm6qTaGHe9ozIMjKwEy8JX8xZ-bmnDHP3Cc0w_BHWDAa5i9PWt3L3rv6R2Q/s274/download%20(4).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bqM5ZxMS3LqLFlFkaVdUv1UkU9yEZm8e6jdwj7y34HRXmwmlVyEy0ujom7sLrtvuAeCShTnisjQnpa2xA7hjFYOOsTuS_0wvBfwM0z3ckkiSJJ0dfk4mh4wkxm1xue-Jbm6qTaGHe9ozIMjKwEy8JX8xZ-bmnDHP3Cc0w_BHWDAa5i9PWt3L3rv6R2Q/s1600/download%20(4).jpg" width="274" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"It's still one of my career highlights just to be in that show and to have a scene with Patrick Stewart and Jeri Ryan and to be directed by Jonathan Frakes was incredible. I went up to Santa Clarita to get fitted for the prosthetics and wardrobe and the team asked if I'd like to meet Jonathan Frakes as he was just in the dining hall.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Just in the middle of the canteen he stood up as I walked in, threw his arms out and said 'There he is, there's Mr Vup! Welcome to the family!'</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"There was no feeling of those are the main people over there and I need to sit in the corner and not get in the way. It was so wonderful and so warm. Just a treat from beginning to end. The whole thing is something I will always, always cherish."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In regards to the prosthetics, Dominic thought it wasn't too bad; "I worked on a show called <i>The Magicians</i> and they took about five hours for that but the <i>Star Trek </i>one was about an hour and a half. It was designed by Neville Page and it was effectively a foam cowl over your head with your face visible. Then there' a single piece they put on for that. The hands were effectively gloves. They took moulds of my hands for those so it was overall a very quick process. Probably the quickest prosthetics I've ever been in."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a similar fashion to his interest in appearing in <i>Dr Who</i>, Dominic contacted his agent to start the ball rolling the second he heard Patrick Stewart announce that Picard was returning. "I found out it was through a casting agent called Liz Dean with UDK and luckily they knew my work already from <i>Feud</i>."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOb1WwSNKWerlA_wBvbMaVVGifxrGBYWP502DOCqmr0anMjjGERP2FtQOXWkbC3Xqgq0_A8VCkvV4bd-182ZLHtiGo15nXgRXnVNA8FS9rIvZqF-o8OTmk5WbD4KkeFrkzJuxvCWQKaIzewh2aKINegJJdYsJ6B9982kZzOup5Qx0OqoIw1nWPSBxF2w/s275/download%20(3).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOb1WwSNKWerlA_wBvbMaVVGifxrGBYWP502DOCqmr0anMjjGERP2FtQOXWkbC3Xqgq0_A8VCkvV4bd-182ZLHtiGo15nXgRXnVNA8FS9rIvZqF-o8OTmk5WbD4KkeFrkzJuxvCWQKaIzewh2aKINegJJdYsJ6B9982kZzOup5Qx0OqoIw1nWPSBxF2w/s1600/download%20(3).jpg" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The actor wrote her a handwritten card recalling his weekly rush home to watch <i>TNG</i> and how much it would mean to get on <i>Picard</i> which was not something that was the done thing. "Normally you're told don't send cards saying you would love to be on a show, you have to be specific on a role. On this occasion I just said I'll be a sliding door, I'll be whatever you want me to be!"</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it worked because Dominic was asked in for auditions; "Again I had an existential crisis because there was such limited information on the character, not even saying what species I was."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was only when he walked into the audition room that it was revealed he would be playing a new alien species, a 600 pound, rock solid individual. "I'd got to point where I could go to auditions, do them, get past them and go and do something else for the rest of the day but with <i>Star Trek</i> I just <i>wanted</i> it so much that in the audition room I could feel the pressure. I kept falling over the technobabble and tripped over it four or five times. Liz asked if I needed to step outside because she could see I wanted it so much. Bless her, she took a shot and wrote the technobabble down for me behind the camera.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I left kicking myself and thinking I blew it but then I got the call saying that I had it and I'm pretty sure there were happy tears. When I met Jonathan Frakes I'm sure that Liz had told him I was a fan!"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The scenes for <i>Stardust City Rag</i>, were filmed at a nightclub in Universal City. "In between takes Patrick and Jonathan would sit down and talk about old times. Everyone was included. talked to Patrick and when I said I was from Stoke on Trent he remembered playing at the Victoria Theatre."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One of Dominic's best experiences was getting to sit in video village which is where all the monitors are set up for directors, producers and writers to be able to see what's being filmed. This gave him the chance to see how Jonathan Frakes worked ("If you're not sure what to do, my advice is low and wide!")</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I did the voice as I did on set with prosthetic teeth which helped lower the voice. Four or five months after I went back to loop and do all the lines all over again at different octaves to try and overlay it to try and show that I had several vocal folds. For a time there was a thought about doing this fun layering of his vocals.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vY-P1hDzVWNX5mUkVSF1X2va6hHz7Yl0f7b53mt2gkhaQDwXjQ9wgYIaXhgtJuVSDbAO0M79aKysEJAnZS7BtA1LeYmaWYKmhhvRAWFspJVrgIB281UTbby4q-RKuZ1mjllufSz7DGGehyTJ0z3XRFawmGkhSKFqdOmqFtp0zF5fDVNPJdYfW8vQJtM/s274/download%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vY-P1hDzVWNX5mUkVSF1X2va6hHz7Yl0f7b53mt2gkhaQDwXjQ9wgYIaXhgtJuVSDbAO0M79aKysEJAnZS7BtA1LeYmaWYKmhhvRAWFspJVrgIB281UTbby4q-RKuZ1mjllufSz7DGGehyTJ0z3XRFawmGkhSKFqdOmqFtp0zF5fDVNPJdYfW8vQJtM/s1600/download%20(1).jpg" width="274" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"In the cowl there wasn't much room to move my neck so you have to move very purposefully and you have to really move it so that it reads through the prosthetics. I really enjoy that and find the physicalities in the role."</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No longer a time for physical scripts, Dominic does regret one thing; "When I went in for the makeup test I was given a set of teeth to practice with and when I went back I returned them. I wish I'd kept them when they gave me the set I used onscreen."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As for the future, Dominic has some TOP SECRET projects coming up so watch out for those and if they're ever remaking </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Battlestar Galactica</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> he's definitely available.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Reviewing where he was in 2003, Dominic certainly sees a big change in his answer; "Back then I would have given a flowery answer in terms of something that is fun and creative but now having had the experiences of <i>The X-Files</i> and <i>Star Trek</i> that's where I want to be."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While fans might hope Mr Vup's exit from the episode wasn't quite so final, one might hope the Beta Anorian has a brother but that might not be the case. So, what about if Jonathan Frakes called him tomorrow and gave him the option of coming back for more <i>Star Trek? </i>Any series, any character?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I would love to do <i>Legacy</i> because that's where my heart is as a fan. I love <i>Strange New Worlds</i> and I think that there are a couple of writer from <i>The Magicians</i> who have gone over there. I would actually love to do a <i>Star Trek</i> show where I'm not in prosthetics. You get there early to get made up so I never met Patrick Stewart or Jeri Ryan as me. Jonathan Frakes didn't see me out of prosthetics until three weeks after shooting and he'd forgotten what I looked like!"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Your call time can be 3am so you can start shooting at 9am. There are always bits falling off and you need touching up so you don't necessarily get a chance to interact in a "normal" way. If Rainn Wilson doesn't want to play Harry Mudd again in <i>Strange New Worlds</i>, I'd be there!"</span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-12521705343075007352023-07-30T10:00:00.002+01:002023-07-30T10:00:24.059+01:00On a Mission: Gale Force Nine Beams You Aboard<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1R2NHZiEieUH28HYQNg-JhHgKKVwXkyFjp9J7H2NOg987n0mLdS8huJtoWGpJdLUinXkkxMtNhj-zHDjrousQJ1q-6E9OoFMiqqobyBnG9uly1cjes6w_Ce2nNSPixpUPpnewSOINvDPYnOQUn5XiLmabLP0Jtrhf2ykgPm7vyGhkxI6NXdjEPnQRWE/s1920/2023-07-05%2023.19.57.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1R2NHZiEieUH28HYQNg-JhHgKKVwXkyFjp9J7H2NOg987n0mLdS8huJtoWGpJdLUinXkkxMtNhj-zHDjrousQJ1q-6E9OoFMiqqobyBnG9uly1cjes6w_Ce2nNSPixpUPpnewSOINvDPYnOQUn5XiLmabLP0Jtrhf2ykgPm7vyGhkxI6NXdjEPnQRWE/w640-h360/2023-07-05%2023.19.57.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gale Force Nine’s last entry into the <i>Star Trek</i> market was the incredibly in-depth, long playing Ascendancy where anything above a two player game potentially means booking a week off work to see it through.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The arrival of Away Missions (due out in the UK in August) counters that intensity perfectly with a game that can be over and done in 90 minutes while still fulfilling that desire for some proper <i>Star Trek</i> tabletopping.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU33324wDqLKiEMmYimehTbP8N4ynZCKcTp6Gpd4CZs1jbu2DbVdqidB4DQH3rBsf9iZojxdaG8StUYcxDNcZ9Skc9jmD6EiTpzLE3iK6HQI5lep3ZcXQWYCMZDlLShwNYyCgTh81KykKVHnhJvKEvUulyL2HacOYeDnFNvQwpUykvnMCrNBID5yWY4IQ/s4032/2023-07-15%2016.00.34.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU33324wDqLKiEMmYimehTbP8N4ynZCKcTp6Gpd4CZs1jbu2DbVdqidB4DQH3rBsf9iZojxdaG8StUYcxDNcZ9Skc9jmD6EiTpzLE3iK6HQI5lep3ZcXQWYCMZDlLShwNYyCgTh81KykKVHnhJvKEvUulyL2HacOYeDnFNvQwpUykvnMCrNBID5yWY4IQ/s320/2023-07-15%2016.00.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The premise behind the game sees away teams from one of the available factions dropped onto either a Borg Cube or the <i>USS Ahwahnee</i> (one of the ships lost at Wolf 359) with a main mission objective and several secondary objectives to complete. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Time is limited with both sides having to play their actions out across just three rounds. Does it work? Absolutely and with that restriction you become a lot more honed in on exactly what you need to do and the strengths of one faction over another.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The core box contains the Federation and Borg parties. Initial concerns that the 4 vs 6 squads might be a little biased is quickly removed when you understand that bonus actions have been built into the mechanics to ensure that play is fair. Each miniature comes with an accompanying stats board referencing their personal traits and attack, defence and skill levels.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With a set of interchangeable double-sided boards there are a variety of layout combinations that can be achieved. Each board contains different stations (Command, Sciences, Operations, Medical) within sections of the ship or cube that players will need to interact with to complete challenges while also avoiding or engaging the opposition.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8FjZx5G_YdqVbRMMirACIMv2CwKosWcXuqy56KS3WcLDr2RpE_yuUj0l4Fth5azBhFd-MnGq9rlfGDeS2G-zW88WB3TnE-5q8GtJtRFngy16YKLNbNPgs1rf6zX93Os7TrieE43bPfoj9OhMIbJZmbN0M_dMswek8yC5-jvJb9eGYRybymB_ajB9B4o/s4032/2023-07-15%2015.59.35.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8FjZx5G_YdqVbRMMirACIMv2CwKosWcXuqy56KS3WcLDr2RpE_yuUj0l4Fth5azBhFd-MnGq9rlfGDeS2G-zW88WB3TnE-5q8GtJtRFngy16YKLNbNPgs1rf6zX93Os7TrieE43bPfoj9OhMIbJZmbN0M_dMswek8yC5-jvJb9eGYRybymB_ajB9B4o/s320/2023-07-15%2015.59.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Let’s look at how each round works. Using the core box Federation set of Riker, Shelby, Data</div><div style="text-align: justify;">and Worf, each character can conduct two actions per round aiming to complete tasks and build up the most points. These two Actions don't need to be a "Move plus something" and you can mix and match to suit your tactics.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Borg start with two drones and add a further two characters to the board at the beginning of each subsequent round, rebuilding their forces and overrunning the ship. Ultimately there's the chance to have five drones and Locutus in play by the conclusion. That's no including any members of the opposition away team you might have managed to assimilate! Due to their hive mind nature the Borg can also transfer their actions to another drone which comes in useful when you’re needing to grab some final points in the last throws of round three.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As part of each round you replenish your Support and Mission cards which will help gain points. Players keep these in their hand until they need to be played and the decks from which they are drawn (a set 20 cards) can be customised from the sets included in the core box. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRYhyuUr-6QEr-y9eC-gjC6bPv_1MfBIF9nlXatH1BlDAL1b606YeyFY8fvX4IS08rR-8S6ZIsDgo8wDck7EAMClTVFDdKgot5iRF-rccM8ywEdd8GFyYovGFF7TsFayCkgSuxqrNsQU1e7KzgwYvGINjDVhvoWbHCnqT4oNMC0LLSTgBt_amgBKv9R4/s4032/2023-07-15%2018.48.51.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRYhyuUr-6QEr-y9eC-gjC6bPv_1MfBIF9nlXatH1BlDAL1b606YeyFY8fvX4IS08rR-8S6ZIsDgo8wDck7EAMClTVFDdKgot5iRF-rccM8ywEdd8GFyYovGFF7TsFayCkgSuxqrNsQU1e7KzgwYvGINjDVhvoWbHCnqT4oNMC0LLSTgBt_amgBKv9R4/s320/2023-07-15%2018.48.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Support cards will add in benefits such as the phaser rifle or transporter pattern enhancers while Mission cards will provide side quests to boost your points total such as performing a skill test at a certain console. This in turn will depend on the abilities of your characters as to who is best suited for what (and is detailed on their stats card). That will then determine your path through the rooms of the ship or cube.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The model sculpts are nice but they are begging to be painted up and I can see a lot of players wanting to do that. Each does represent their respective onscreen persona very well adding in phaser, tricorders and a customary bat'leth for Worf - ideal since his hand-to-hand combat gains you an additional damage point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Talking of that, facing off against six Borg can seem a little daunting however with the way the stats are built, three rounds is more than enough to dispatch at least one or two as combat is done on a comparison of scores from highest to lowest. This means that while you might stop the drones from completely taking over.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVUd7mPSgyhj8E_czea4jlVPldxClZkQZtUwekF1_-XGAIqUASlpJMe9xpA_rInBRwhbbOh594rJKv5F7yWeqiVsIJp6zUmHbryuzLZEiORqeTd_1tgn5Cs2wK4jpXTwgl0FaAW_3Mza8QwXOJqSKGU32Jt6DosbFwLDpqlNYet34xLEQxqJ8l6NxuVY/s4032/2023-07-15%2015.55.08.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVUd7mPSgyhj8E_czea4jlVPldxClZkQZtUwekF1_-XGAIqUASlpJMe9xpA_rInBRwhbbOh594rJKv5F7yWeqiVsIJp6zUmHbryuzLZEiORqeTd_1tgn5Cs2wK4jpXTwgl0FaAW_3Mza8QwXOJqSKGU32Jt6DosbFwLDpqlNYet34xLEQxqJ8l6NxuVY/s320/2023-07-15%2015.55.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing that I really like about Away Missions though is the quick start guide. The rulebook itself (already available for download from the Gale Force Nine site) covers every eventuality but can be a bit of an overload on first glance. The quick start guide takes you through the basics of the game and in the box there are even a starter Support and Mission card decks comprising of 20 cards to ease you into the action. Once you've got the game down you can rip open the larger packs and start customising your 20 card deck depending on the board and opponents. What works against the Borg might not be the best option against the Romulans for example.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A large Borg force might be enticing but to be able to control any of the areas of the ship you do need to have assimilated members of your opposition since the drones themselves have no set skills until they, well assimilate them. This will mean that your starting tactic for round one might be to add to your workforce while Starfleet's could be to avoid the Borg completely and repair the ship asap.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispYBIEhDbuZ0kB7AF-BA8xVNV87SoNDE_4GyLHYqe7cmVs7PPvzRD0F7geICsZOUpeRlpoY0sn7ykHMCCcr08hzUWB-bB9GyUv90r_AxnOAvQ1V9znU7RI5gkldEzuJWucL3u2RLI5dKz2hJld_XP0keC1ZhbIvXwigxMKWhrMhZQpP68JkusBx8yurI/s4032/2023-07-15%2016.09.18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispYBIEhDbuZ0kB7AF-BA8xVNV87SoNDE_4GyLHYqe7cmVs7PPvzRD0F7geICsZOUpeRlpoY0sn7ykHMCCcr08hzUWB-bB9GyUv90r_AxnOAvQ1V9znU7RI5gkldEzuJWucL3u2RLI5dKz2hJld_XP0keC1ZhbIvXwigxMKWhrMhZQpP68JkusBx8yurI/w200-h150/2023-07-15%2016.09.18.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL-B7J6Z4HTyB_Buw_OvX291NkgXtZguHl6ooVJTqlibLYFLQdN_59tStbeZX9AiGP0gorF4Zxb81cn85JBqK4WAa1Lqg8EXWg64MOpI7sABLI4GvQjSqk4S-1FBLW2b1pfiqoXQfRCmPhEZ8FRF9o3j4GphpfwZ3kOgkcq1YuliDJm7xIFrKl6vqBwg/s4032/2023-07-15%2016.08.10.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL-B7J6Z4HTyB_Buw_OvX291NkgXtZguHl6ooVJTqlibLYFLQdN_59tStbeZX9AiGP0gorF4Zxb81cn85JBqK4WAa1Lqg8EXWg64MOpI7sABLI4GvQjSqk4S-1FBLW2b1pfiqoXQfRCmPhEZ8FRF9o3j4GphpfwZ3kOgkcq1YuliDJm7xIFrKl6vqBwg/w200-h150/2023-07-15%2016.08.10.heic" width="200" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Klingons favour full on combat while the Romulans are all about their intel. The Federation is a bit of a mix although they will only stun opponents unless they're the Borg.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once you get past the first few games and make a few mistakes (I had the Borg being able to do anything until I realised why assimilation was so key!) and how you can play the game more tactically dependent on your faction, this is a fantastic experience. The downside is that you can't get all four factions out at once unless you have two core box sets. That initially sounds a bit grim but given the number of spaces on the four boards you'd be falling over each other from the first move.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0MgtWun33eADq6Hbq6viA7PcOdmnbvCA0m5O9Ib5Lr5maK7mm4HXyEn-uEnDzQon-9FfBDwQ-jbc0fLkRXRUOhwH5mh99wa2nKZHg1BgpAwxJkqTOJlJJBiEZJqMYvn2dsrDnyZtvgWYEi9EDjTVVSLv-tA5XeUFAHuMIF8FKTblcJrvJ1HXBThfqtQ/s4032/2023-07-15%2016.14.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0MgtWun33eADq6Hbq6viA7PcOdmnbvCA0m5O9Ib5Lr5maK7mm4HXyEn-uEnDzQon-9FfBDwQ-jbc0fLkRXRUOhwH5mh99wa2nKZHg1BgpAwxJkqTOJlJJBiEZJqMYvn2dsrDnyZtvgWYEi9EDjTVVSLv-tA5XeUFAHuMIF8FKTblcJrvJ1HXBThfqtQ/s320/2023-07-15%2016.14.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Away Missions is a great and thoughtful game for <i>Trek </i>fans and I can't recommend it enough. There has been a bit of bad commentary over the figures but you need to look beyond and actually play the game rather than worrying about representational pieces of plastic (if they bother you that much). I genuinely hope this gets super popular as I would definitely be interested in a Dominion pack or a Cardassian pack. Maybe there's scope for more boards and a DS9 setting and crew? Mix and match options to pick your best away team? Kirk and Spock on the original <i>Enterprise</i>?</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The possibilities are right there for the taking and it would be great to see a fair few of them come to fruition.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Away Missions<i> </i>launches August 12th and is available to pre-order NOW.</b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-41860660941563136092023-06-30T12:24:00.002+01:002023-06-30T12:24:40.958+01:00Seconds Out: Alliance: Dominion War Campaign Part II<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8srKsPcRt-XTiIJ0IUIaI3ABGyUvX5ulxrde9lrBj0iwXobBU8upowst4umtuZeuLrdC32yMBCJIsdaOp5Qekt3EaqtPnLdkQcgry6HKpEjBpnwphGlj7tvNAC7SN5ZGAo8BXDTgtAIA8pQkafPy0fDG71ZIy0aiTzQWtHfIBufCxcKJoPeseNae8/s4032/2023-05-28%2012.28.05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8srKsPcRt-XTiIJ0IUIaI3ABGyUvX5ulxrde9lrBj0iwXobBU8upowst4umtuZeuLrdC32yMBCJIsdaOp5Qekt3EaqtPnLdkQcgry6HKpEjBpnwphGlj7tvNAC7SN5ZGAo8BXDTgtAIA8pQkafPy0fDG71ZIy0aiTzQWtHfIBufCxcKJoPeseNae8/w640-h480/2023-05-28%2012.28.05.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Tired of replaying the original Alliance missions over and over again?</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In that time honoured tradition the wait is finally over as Alliance 2 has broken cover and brought the Klingon Empire into the Dominion War.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O3UvxkZ0wMc0B0Uz3zQPS-gZR6T_AKA34Si755emKGD-P3VKgDdDTuQ_jYpGWK60cxUicvz-kTMpmhLd2F1fo22tTaswE_xX4v_T4EUvpK8l4D7Q4FHYspDfwHon1sOp95dKvys2hfrm0cQUYC31Bz-3wHbVuj-AD_ZD7Xnobd-_570X0kfFsKMX/s4032/2023-05-28%2012.40.01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O3UvxkZ0wMc0B0Uz3zQPS-gZR6T_AKA34Si755emKGD-P3VKgDdDTuQ_jYpGWK60cxUicvz-kTMpmhLd2F1fo22tTaswE_xX4v_T4EUvpK8l4D7Q4FHYspDfwHon1sOp95dKvys2hfrm0cQUYC31Bz-3wHbVuj-AD_ZD7Xnobd-_570X0kfFsKMX/s320/2023-05-28%2012.40.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">For anyone just dropping on here for the first time, Alliance is a sort of Attack Wing version 2.0. Utilising the same movement and combat systems as that Wizkids tabletop game, this version pits players against a common foe through co-operative play.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Featuring familiar Attack Wing ships, the initial box saw the <i>Akira</i> and <i>Excelsior</i> Classes under player command across four linked missions. These could either be played singularly or as part of a campaign in which players could gradually upgrade their ships and skills.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Alliance 2 continues in the same manner however this is very firmly an expansion to the original rather than a whole new pack so having either the Attack Wing Starter Set OR the original Alliance box is essential as the core pieces such as dice, damage cards and movement templates are not included.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first Alliance introduced the AI feature onto the Jem'Hadar fighters, three of which were in that pack. This sequel now adds the Cardassian <i>Galor</i> Class to the Dominion ranks and the hefty Jem'Hadar Battle Cruiser for good measure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoATq1hGPQXR3Rk8oOcC67JddgCfdlNDvIkhFDtmLpITGQAc-D98tOoUZoOdybInxIeFtST9QNYyZWBwHVVQ6iPfH_bY7IeRgyWBVyBq87xC9YUUjwjMObOaX3Hm91vwi7TRMLOG6HYS6P8zbEFreT7a1PczDV2xC5s4R3QJI2NpcMaxwdzxrQ_sWd/s4032/2023-05-28%2012.37.59.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoATq1hGPQXR3Rk8oOcC67JddgCfdlNDvIkhFDtmLpITGQAc-D98tOoUZoOdybInxIeFtST9QNYyZWBwHVVQ6iPfH_bY7IeRgyWBVyBq87xC9YUUjwjMObOaX3Hm91vwi7TRMLOG6HYS6P8zbEFreT7a1PczDV2xC5s4R3QJI2NpcMaxwdzxrQ_sWd/s320/2023-05-28%2012.37.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Wizkids seem to have learnt quite a bit from that first box as well as their lengthy history with Attack Wing itself. Inside the box there are lots of new bits to enhance the Alliance experience and actually add to the original set.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For example, there are additional cards and manoeuvre dials so that the Jem'Hadar ships from box one can be played in Attack Wing as well as generic Dominion captains. There are also some card markers which can be pulled into use if you require the fighters in this expansion but don't have any or enough available (say if you only have the Attack Wing starter pack). This makes Alliance 2 super easy to get into as long as you have those core gaming elements.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As recognition to anyone who did get that first box and wants to continue using their Federation captains, there are a series of new upgrades for those craft in here too. That's a brilliant pay off for those that have intentionally played it all through ready for Alliance 2 to continue the story.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For those wanting a new challenge or are more of a Klingon persuasion, Wizkids has packed in two player ships here in the form of the <i>Vor'Cha</i> Cruiser and a Bird of Prey. Both are ratified with the new points scores introduced over the faction packs, offering more scope on upgrades.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not to coin a rather cliched phrase but (sigh) this pack is the best of both worlds. It doesn't rely on just having <i>Alliance 1</i> plus it actually realises some of the pitfalls of that first box and works to rectify them. Add in another four missions to the overall Dominion War campaign and you have a very well rounded pack.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuoaIuGr1HrBtdAy6vCClVwuoX9WLw7uTdXM6ESioZDMHG29fbL1mkotbIDUTCSaGYk05iEEpI88PC2Obq-ZqzyJYB0sqCBSXQZITSpUGIJMV9TQhShDO51NihurosnFqZUP-038jfGYdC4ksXn70NA1Un12-DjNqUBvCGrYu8KdKTOZNKYJjM4xQ/s4032/2023-05-28%2012.41.22.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuoaIuGr1HrBtdAy6vCClVwuoX9WLw7uTdXM6ESioZDMHG29fbL1mkotbIDUTCSaGYk05iEEpI88PC2Obq-ZqzyJYB0sqCBSXQZITSpUGIJMV9TQhShDO51NihurosnFqZUP-038jfGYdC4ksXn70NA1Un12-DjNqUBvCGrYu8KdKTOZNKYJjM4xQ/s320/2023-05-28%2012.41.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">But of course the cards are one of the biggest draws here. <i>Alliance 2</i> adds in four for Federation captains; Co-ordinated Assault to transfer an Evade, Battle Station or Scan token to another ship at close range, Battle Plan adds a Battle Stations token to your ship if another allied craft is in close range. Extend Shields provides a friendly ship with a shield fix and Engineering Officer allows for an Action to be conducted even if there is an auxiliary power token in play. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On top of those new upgrades, there are 24 cards to start building that Klingon Fleet. That's six Crew, five(1) new Elite Actions for the captains, five for Weapons and seven Tech. The Crew options do tend to revolve around the utilisation of either the Target Lock or Battle Stations tokens to bolster attack or defence with only Helmsman providing a spin on movement. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the Elite Actions Reckless Assault offers repeat usage for head on combat alone. <span>Evasive Maneuvers awards an Evade for use of an Evade while Strafing Run is reliant on overlapping bases to inflict more undefended damage.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdeJZatYYJG27fUBhZJvEo8f9RlKHjjxJ56lJfm9CVNmEPlG5LaZjhGtLGmedheXl9lL7PqnAiUi-_ZDhWcCJiZ1E515Jr5br3jeMvyCQwOoVjbHHQkNCzTysPcpQE7B6Ar6BL8UZ_WQcM8dse37XPPqxs2rqbexvgN43bUW6mhpVK6cSqWT5ef73/s4032/2023-05-28%2012.41.56.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdeJZatYYJG27fUBhZJvEo8f9RlKHjjxJ56lJfm9CVNmEPlG5LaZjhGtLGmedheXl9lL7PqnAiUi-_ZDhWcCJiZ1E515Jr5br3jeMvyCQwOoVjbHHQkNCzTysPcpQE7B6Ar6BL8UZ_WQcM8dse37XPPqxs2rqbexvgN43bUW6mhpVK6cSqWT5ef73/s320/2023-05-28%2012.41.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Glory to the Empire! acts as an alternative Target Lock to reroll attack <i>or</i> defence<i>. </i>Fight with Honor teases better odds in taking on equal sized or bigger opponents. Eye for an Eye is a real diamond in the pack with the chance to inflict critical damage if you yourself suffer likewise with no chance to defend it.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Weapon upgrades offer a series of ways to target multiple enemies, improve rolled results and in the case of Converging Fire, allow other friendly <i>Negh'Var </i>or <i>Vor'Cha</i> Class ships the use of the host ship's Target Lock. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Equally as good is a unique chance to Target Lock two different opponents with the four point Targeting Array. Secondary Cloaking Coil provides a chance to do repairs and cloak in the same beat although as a discard it's a one off. Reinforced Hull also offers a surprising upgrade to any ships with a hull value of four and above. Nor do any of the Tech upgrades have any real deficits or negative impacts so they would be features I'd choose to get onto my ship first.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But let's get it set right, this is a superb pack that offers so much to all players who have at least the ability to play at a base level. The option now to play as either Federation or Klingon will be wildly popular and the inclusion of two new ship classes under AI control opens up options for this and for straight Attack Wing single player scenarios. The cards themselves are top drawer with Helmsman seeming to be super popular. Thinking to add in Attack Wing cards was a bonus that pays dividends too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">News is that with Part III the Romulans will allow you to mix and match anything so you’ll be flying a Federation ship tooled up with anything you can select from any of the three packs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A great addition if a long time coming and it’s not over yet!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-79252092603517809372023-06-25T13:04:00.000+01:002023-06-25T13:04:12.744+01:00Taken Care: That Final Eaglemoss Special<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First of all... this is a bit weird... but this will be the 1000th published post on this site. It feels somewhat crazy that after 10 and a half years I'm still here and still writing about <i>Star Trek</i>. Thank you to anyone who has followed since the beginning, to all those who read and comment along the way. You've helped keep me going and I've loved meeting and talking to every single one of you. Here's to the next 1000....!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VJJeDy7Y2ELyVzRXT8pUbWbFW_irbxTxyCtU_efklnDMLexYr_S2m_7-W_UQyCb4rbY-51tpumA3N8rNfJP94KpcbPtGNP96xCKTohNdiIjfPts2bY4F7COucMQiitQ2w-Zmv7t4Y26APPIEhEnjyjtYP3ljhXqFAIb7W-2XvANLoI1wC4thxi_tq3Q/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.06.38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VJJeDy7Y2ELyVzRXT8pUbWbFW_irbxTxyCtU_efklnDMLexYr_S2m_7-W_UQyCb4rbY-51tpumA3N8rNfJP94KpcbPtGNP96xCKTohNdiIjfPts2bY4F7COucMQiitQ2w-Zmv7t4Y26APPIEhEnjyjtYP3ljhXqFAIb7W-2XvANLoI1wC4thxi_tq3Q/w640-h480/2023-06-19%2014.06.38.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were excited, giddy even at the thought that Eaglemoss would be producing the Caretaker Array from <i>Voyager</i>’s pilot episode. </b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hurrah! Prepare the pre-orders! Donate that final irrelevant lung and stand by the post box!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgtbkmU9KcAujv1AxeRZL83N7Hvo23w9mmqMzopu_4UaNERqSba2cIufYrsPdcMJRkcSHz-T07BPkhODCZl1rBoMVKsptX-k2xaVs1c4ffoYgbO943x0G9LLYd3gHKFprTOFUS-D6pmUATn85jvnVjHHyrscDoceJKNL6BFVGsjCF0zwOQ5LWAKMxeP8/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.05.05.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgtbkmU9KcAujv1AxeRZL83N7Hvo23w9mmqMzopu_4UaNERqSba2cIufYrsPdcMJRkcSHz-T07BPkhODCZl1rBoMVKsptX-k2xaVs1c4ffoYgbO943x0G9LLYd3gHKFprTOFUS-D6pmUATn85jvnVjHHyrscDoceJKNL6BFVGsjCF0zwOQ5LWAKMxeP8/s320/2023-06-19%2014.05.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A year later and the landscape is quite different yet somehow, models find a way. That Caretaker Array did finally ship but via Master Replicas who have bought a considerable chunk of Eaglemoss' remaining catalogue including several of their unreleased models (see also XL <i>USS Stargazer</i>).</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is perhaps most surprising is the size of this special. Certainly the smallest space station in the series, the Array is only just twice the length of the familiar black base. It’s virtually all plastic with the two central rings acting as metal ballast. To be honest I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting here nor am I sure what I actually got.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The detailing is pretty minimal and comparing what we have in the box to the item on screen is not the easiest of jobs. I’d even go as far as saying that this gives an air of being unfinished although it’s actually comparable to the station on screen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ7LZllQUJGWEVMJtu9zviBHeLhQY4n_ahYApb6f8Hr7W9Yt39uE4NgtVHdbMSWZEA1NW2tXNJOFpYT_oJX5RVU3EEjZrculPQ7YD0YXENe5N40_1sv3py8WXhuNRcoriSGoA8GcLcdLo7FndTV-Nf4C2tQTVa2Fi0m45Yny3bYCJoiqfUbZf0YDC_zM/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.07.20.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ7LZllQUJGWEVMJtu9zviBHeLhQY4n_ahYApb6f8Hr7W9Yt39uE4NgtVHdbMSWZEA1NW2tXNJOFpYT_oJX5RVU3EEjZrculPQ7YD0YXENe5N40_1sv3py8WXhuNRcoriSGoA8GcLcdLo7FndTV-Nf4C2tQTVa2Fi0m45Yny3bYCJoiqfUbZf0YDC_zM/s320/2023-06-19%2014.07.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Those antennae/sensor arrays are indeed skeletal if you watch the episode back so there is a decent level of accuracy when it comes to the station's extremities. In fact they're fairly well detailed too in terms of surface greebling if not that strong. There's a fair bit of give in the larger ones in particular yet it is as screen accurate as you would hope.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Both the outer arms and that central core do have a level of grubbiness to them indicating the grand old age of the array. Problem is, it's just not that exciting as a station or as a product.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The top and bottom assemblies aren't that intricate but do at least bear some resemblance to their vaguely seen "real" versions in <i>Caretaker</i>. I guess this one is a bit of a kicker though thanks to its size and the mix of well detailed elements to that rather plain central core. Yes, there is hull panelling but the single tone colour scheme lies a bit flat and the station feels somewhat lifeless.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As to the stand fit, this one's pretty good, clipping right around the lower elements of the central core and holding the whole station very firmly in place. Nicely constructed and provides a stable base.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDJUWHwwLARk7JlKabQb62iapTtuXZJTHIuIKrsCMIoTPoAigF05igrVDYCgYyvyhUCPWif39PeKJO2U_EcBr7GnCqeWkc2-VexAvgizeznB1yChxsSQfMMWFic697cVG5PWtA6iKCVLmUApa5MZPTJyLxXHep1SvZpYSuV5SEVkNKOOLfecUAG74xDQ/s4032/2023-06-19%2014.07.28.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDJUWHwwLARk7JlKabQb62iapTtuXZJTHIuIKrsCMIoTPoAigF05igrVDYCgYyvyhUCPWif39PeKJO2U_EcBr7GnCqeWkc2-VexAvgizeznB1yChxsSQfMMWFic697cVG5PWtA6iKCVLmUApa5MZPTJyLxXHep1SvZpYSuV5SEVkNKOOLfecUAG74xDQ/s320/2023-06-19%2014.07.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, it is just a model but Eaglemoss managed to successfully convey signs of life on many of their other products however it falls a little flat here. The lack of an accompanying magazine is conspicuous too and would probably have helped answer a lot of questions about the resulting build however that's one thing that concretely never saw the light of day.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For now the Caretaker Array rests as a tantilising glimpse at some of the possibilities that might have emerged in 2023 but also represents that final crumbling moment in what was once a huge part of the merchandising market. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is it a "must have"? Yes if you're a completist or a <i>Voyager</i> fan but no in every other sense. It's only really gained notoriety because it's Eaglemoss' unreleased special. For me it might even rank below the stick that is Relay Station 47 and maybe as the weakest of the space station/stationary structures. Functional - absolutely but just super, super dull and a disappointing way to have closed down the specials series of models. Who knows what could have been next...</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-13021793203496469672023-06-24T10:38:00.000+01:002023-06-24T10:38:08.158+01:00The Prodigy Returns - We Hope<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJathNFPRRJuCkWyLVqPcIfo3PAXJsVT-yDpguYSP6MTHuZfH0PbbkMLU5tUH90Q47cmcR0y1ZyOEYTnKDJWZrvLlt19TPX9obQaRPzeQev49eRiOJjmrMT4f2XBrMCMZZf2y0cZJedte2J5CluB1CSxIuZ5Z58BxhEnqx-2ODz5_c3mKHHuGa7UhhTw/s1587/2021-09-09%2010.42.44.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1587" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJathNFPRRJuCkWyLVqPcIfo3PAXJsVT-yDpguYSP6MTHuZfH0PbbkMLU5tUH90Q47cmcR0y1ZyOEYTnKDJWZrvLlt19TPX9obQaRPzeQev49eRiOJjmrMT4f2XBrMCMZZf2y0cZJedte2J5CluB1CSxIuZ5Z58BxhEnqx-2ODz5_c3mKHHuGa7UhhTw/w640-h232/2021-09-09%2010.42.44.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In a wave of cuts, Paramount has cancelled <i>Star Trek: Prodigy</i> after only one season has aired.</b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While that technically makes it the shortest <i>Star Trek</i> series aired at just 20 episodes to date, it's not the end of the story.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhE09KVY4GbargmfmcFICsiDVzDpRu99EdCTTerylQcqK9O40-XGwieb_u5_ymeoqtdUQsHMg32mBZxHsqiJib0HhQmzipb5eUuZsC4G6cFyIUNVkwKBfKeK9rnD6qHAcjkZkkHIFRcflegN_cN1s6s5BS8dq9PmWBX5MxPlSyDfOVEXy1vcbLcGeFhg/s1587/2021-09-09%2010.44.24.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1587" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhE09KVY4GbargmfmcFICsiDVzDpRu99EdCTTerylQcqK9O40-XGwieb_u5_ymeoqtdUQsHMg32mBZxHsqiJib0HhQmzipb5eUuZsC4G6cFyIUNVkwKBfKeK9rnD6qHAcjkZkkHIFRcflegN_cN1s6s5BS8dq9PmWBX5MxPlSyDfOVEXy1vcbLcGeFhg/s320/2021-09-09%2010.44.24.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In a partnership with Nickleodeon, <i>Prodigy</i> was envisaged as the <i>Star Trek</i> series that would bring in a younger audience although it seems to have received a warmer welcome from established fans across the course of its initial airing. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Prodigy</i> certainly developed its core of characters across the season and we know that a second batch of episodes are in post production with Paramount allowing them to be completed. This will then be shopped around for a new home as (you would presume) a bunch of 40 episodes, taking it over the 30 produced for <i>Picard</i> and also ahead of <i>The Animated Series</i>. <i>Strange New Worlds</i> sits at 20 with its second season in full swing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's definitely come as a shock to see <i>Prodigy</i> fall from grace so quickly. Will another home provide funding for a third season? Will it even find a new base from which to tell its story?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaqC7rkd9-s0aUeCRCBA6ciYb1ZtkcX31oH1On9dQJelPeBtOylcRCFbC_mE9fStn6pyJwAXiMQoCoJuVGQYTPG2wIeVqeZ2xZeDA1lrvqZwrXq99MqKWlU_6kMLQHLi75l-WLvcsEnXTsUbHkeq7CXTSyt5ZgtzwJPqqAQm6Jwc4Oik3U66OjGq0Epg/s2532/2022-11-20%2018.01.41.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaqC7rkd9-s0aUeCRCBA6ciYb1ZtkcX31oH1On9dQJelPeBtOylcRCFbC_mE9fStn6pyJwAXiMQoCoJuVGQYTPG2wIeVqeZ2xZeDA1lrvqZwrXq99MqKWlU_6kMLQHLi75l-WLvcsEnXTsUbHkeq7CXTSyt5ZgtzwJPqqAQm6Jwc4Oik3U66OjGq0Epg/s320/2022-11-20%2018.01.41.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">So far only the first half of the first season has made it to Blu-ray and DVD. The videogame, <i>Supernova</i> was quickly price-dropped and the range of Playmates action figures promoted in February 2022 has still not materialised. In fact fans have noted that the initial wave including Kirk, Picard, Burnham and others is now itself being discounted to clear.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Playmates website actually notes that the <i>Prodigy</i> figures would be launching in 2022 with additionals characters coming in early 2023. So it could be said that the writing has been on the wall with the wonders of hindsight.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The positive is that there is a confirmed second season in existence which, given circumstances, is most likely to be its last. Whether expense or interest were ultimately the reasons for calling time may not be fully revealed but it might even have been the point that as a joint production it was an easier option to cancel.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QXxHuUd15zAf2mbYsnanCD0r9Bbcn8ru50L-XCAerHtevle3p0fjUKVcO18vPe9luo5ZpAykwBl8QFZFPx10JE8okzuI6ElAo0JWv_kgPpnDguonFJrQGHP2mDUUfcso2jJfUHAvlYxrExas6tmlYqPAV0SMIE3fG1LCWYrpbXWuLmIBIcfdIBOCdto/s2532/2022-10-29%2014.12.26.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QXxHuUd15zAf2mbYsnanCD0r9Bbcn8ru50L-XCAerHtevle3p0fjUKVcO18vPe9luo5ZpAykwBl8QFZFPx10JE8okzuI6ElAo0JWv_kgPpnDguonFJrQGHP2mDUUfcso2jJfUHAvlYxrExas6tmlYqPAV0SMIE3fG1LCWYrpbXWuLmIBIcfdIBOCdto/s320/2022-10-29%2014.12.26.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Paramount is apparently fully invested in the continuing voyages of the <i>Star Trek</i> franchise although with the ending of <i>Picard</i>, <i>Discovery</i>'s upcoming final season in 2024 and now the demise of <i>Prodigy</i> it might be that they are reining in the costs and only going with what has truly captured the audience imagination and wallets.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Strange New Worlds</i> is experiencing positive reviews, <i>Academy</i> is on the way, <i>Lower Decks</i> has a fourth season due and there's the <i>Section 31</i> TV event to come. Maybe Paramount will invest in more of these one offs to test waters for future series before fully committing. That's my suspicion with the Michelle Yeoh vehicle and that the Oscar winner will only be onboard for the event before jumping and allowing a full (cheaper) cast to take over.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But back to <i>Prodigy</i> because it is set to disappear from Paramount+ in the next few days in line with its cancellation. There are petitions out there but in respect to its former home, that association looks to be over and done. Maybe it will continue beyond the 40 completed stories but I don't hold out much hope especially with the current world economics and the need to watch every penny.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At least the episodes we do have are of a high quality both in terms of visuals and storytelling. Super shame Eaglemoss never got to make a <i>Protostar</i> model but I can say it's a series that I will be revisiting and enjoying just as much on repeat viewings.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-49517244259265527662023-06-07T20:02:00.002+01:002023-06-07T20:02:27.732+01:00Gaming Trek Back in Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LEN0KtJ6unPNar9umaUCNJSvQRvRpb7pcrLcDcyDqktXdHL90xb3msI5bay-WHatlcJlPu0q5QiPjfHNAo5l7dGs4OPNjlRywfDOUi0k9Cx5C4i5xW7RKGrJvImjGDffGBmTnmdhDFwnLf_sLd1NCdsoA-ZI7c5qzlZlEJd1jQPTjNnFR1dUi4Ev/s1200/Fw8ETtmWcAAGF3f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1200" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LEN0KtJ6unPNar9umaUCNJSvQRvRpb7pcrLcDcyDqktXdHL90xb3msI5bay-WHatlcJlPu0q5QiPjfHNAo5l7dGs4OPNjlRywfDOUi0k9Cx5C4i5xW7RKGrJvImjGDffGBmTnmdhDFwnLf_sLd1NCdsoA-ZI7c5qzlZlEJd1jQPTjNnFR1dUi4Ev/w640-h434/Fw8ETtmWcAAGF3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>For years fans have been screaming for a new </b></span><b><span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: helvetica; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"> console game that encapsulates the true spirit of the franchise.</span></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">In recent times we’ve had the Kelvin Universe back in 2014 as a prequel to </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Into Darkness</span><span lang="en-GB">, the VR reliant </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Bridge Command</span><span lang="en-GB"> and only a matter of months ago, </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Prodigy</span><span lang="en-GB">’s </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Supernova</span><span lang="en-GB">. Yet nothing seems to have captured the imagination of the </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> gaming community as much as classics such as </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Bridge Commander</span><span lang="en-GB"> and </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">A Final Unity</span><span lang="en-GB"> from the 1990's.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3gcVHnDvyjrjMJ1PHwecZ3cGGhZWOnafbOvScThAbOtDOU-MfyhqItGN95RiN56oVa0emfgFvq6HATRd67nixGNTjcIGBxzLsZKy4rMRSaC9AGsnZv6qGPrKGy7qbBeMQVhM5C8ueA3T5T9dMcCOF7Wn2uHcZ4dRqgNrDY7VON9wVClvPlxMPGBA/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.39.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3gcVHnDvyjrjMJ1PHwecZ3cGGhZWOnafbOvScThAbOtDOU-MfyhqItGN95RiN56oVa0emfgFvq6HATRd67nixGNTjcIGBxzLsZKy4rMRSaC9AGsnZv6qGPrKGy7qbBeMQVhM5C8ueA3T5T9dMcCOF7Wn2uHcZ4dRqgNrDY7VON9wVClvPlxMPGBA/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Resurgence<span lang="en-GB"> was slated as the Next Big Thing. There’s been hype, trailers and much excitement around Dramatic Labs new addition to their catalogue. Could this be the game to revitalise </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> on consoles and PCs? Might this be the first real chance to bring in fans to the levels that </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Online</span><span lang="en-GB"> has managed</span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">?</span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">While </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Supernova </span><span lang="en-GB">was evidently aiming for the junior </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> fan market (and some could argue completely failed at that), </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Resurgence</span><span lang="en-GB"> is the one most fans will have been waiting for. Taking a more adult and more conversational direction, it perhaps encapsulates the franchise's nature more absolutely.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">Set during the Dominion War timeframe, </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Resurgence</span><span lang="en-GB"> will go some way to appease fans of the 90’s generation of shows. The uniforms, the ships, the Starfleet environments; all are incredibly familiar and all tied into a heavily narrative driven adventure. Don't expect that "Dominion War" tag to pay off however as that seems to have been just for marketing purposes since there's not a Jem'Hadar in sight from beginning to end.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxpIOZdxADNFDUEzI53zIHNkiYWJY48t-Eg66R0X_gNaJzAmiyCG-F_r1udGj64tgLYaBIyRwaSV1DytmH1764wkTaNyt85c8HviacxhHqo-qBjXaC8X-uSKgaXv9JvSfzIkH0BkIicE0_TSC1uJHtAxDTKdFB69O5IuhjrWhOzix9AJ03-waOTF/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.08.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxpIOZdxADNFDUEzI53zIHNkiYWJY48t-Eg66R0X_gNaJzAmiyCG-F_r1udGj64tgLYaBIyRwaSV1DytmH1764wkTaNyt85c8HviacxhHqo-qBjXaC8X-uSKgaXv9JvSfzIkH0BkIicE0_TSC1uJHtAxDTKdFB69O5IuhjrWhOzix9AJ03-waOTF/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">If you’re looking for lots of shooting and high octane kicks then it might be better to head over to <span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">STO</span><span lang="en-GB"> or perhaps even the (somehow still going) </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Alien Domain</span><span lang="en-GB">. This is a game requiring much more attention and understanding of the overall plot. </span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">The </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">USS Resolute </span><span lang="en-GB">has finally been put back into service following an "incident" which is unseen during the game itself but can be found by reading the prequel comic series. Taking on a new first officer, the ship is tasked with helping negotiate between the Hotari and Alyidans over dilithium mining rights. Now this might not seem super exciting to begin with but trust me it does get going although it does seem to take a while to switch into gear.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoHz7MeVWzPD8NFEnK5XQuat18YaN6AwlzZz3eJTBnJVD1xfRQmoW-FefV2oDCTnRJoRcckBZ96dxQcRtBMeYlwlTCM-zMohjvtjolGvy4aWPvYIN7Q5wZJpRti8bUBuIAJ_eWSiK5sraAb-R7phr6ua2J24u492asY1DQKPkuG7OX3e0Q8JvA68j/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.15.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoHz7MeVWzPD8NFEnK5XQuat18YaN6AwlzZz3eJTBnJVD1xfRQmoW-FefV2oDCTnRJoRcckBZ96dxQcRtBMeYlwlTCM-zMohjvtjolGvy4aWPvYIN7Q5wZJpRti8bUBuIAJ_eWSiK5sraAb-R7phr6ua2J24u492asY1DQKPkuG7OX3e0Q8JvA68j/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">During the mission you get to play as both first officer Jada Rydek and Petty Officer 2nd Class Carter Diaz allowing for two different perspectives on the ship and adventure as time progresses. </span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"><br />As noted, this isn't a phaser fight all the way and relies much more on decision making and attention to detail. Yes, there are some combat elements but these are far outweighed by the choices made along the way. </span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">The first few missions do allow you some time to adjust to what might be a slower pace of gaming as you're taken through the steps - how to use the tricorder, how to interact with objects, how to shoot... before the story really kicks in.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 119%;">What becomes immediately obvious is the amount of replay there will be </span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">Resurgence</span><span lang="en-GB" style="text-align: justify;">. Each choice leads to another but perhaps not one you chose on the last run through. Each decision also influences the relationships that character has. For example Chief Engineer Chuvok (yep, he's a Vulcan) will have his opinion of Diaz changed dependant on which of three answers he gives at a chosen point. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"><br />At first this may not seem to cause any major ripples but as you get further into the story, or replay to see other results, these paths become more obvious.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-IxcPVHA873VXm7T1QzUV7J9R6MUCiZG6YPMQQ7upw4twxDxsD6BDdMxPXcTXiUiqroo7A6RBLJhVKMfuNKDwuPh2pDlBkul93a1D2No0A9vMcnlMgwg_x68wmn0aX04BTXpeI36wNnvsCkoioLs1RcQGJ_v2-qUS8TJhz4_8zljq3eZtXCWISM/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.08.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-IxcPVHA873VXm7T1QzUV7J9R6MUCiZG6YPMQQ7upw4twxDxsD6BDdMxPXcTXiUiqroo7A6RBLJhVKMfuNKDwuPh2pDlBkul93a1D2No0A9vMcnlMgwg_x68wmn0aX04BTXpeI36wNnvsCkoioLs1RcQGJ_v2-qUS8TJhz4_8zljq3eZtXCWISM/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Resurgence</span><span lang="en-GB"> isn't a totally new set of characters either with the already announced Captain William T Riker (voiced by Jonathan Frakes) appearing as well as legendary Vulcan ambassador Spock. Nicely voiced by Piotr Michael you'd swear it's Nimoy and his inclusion in the game is definitely one of its highlights. His inclusion might seem like a bit of a marketing ploy but his place in the story does help tie elements together.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB">As is the choice to bring back the Tkon Empire. Perhaps not referenced as much as the Ionians, the Tkon appeared in </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">TNG</span><span lang="en-GB">'s first season </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">The Last Outpost</span><span lang="en-GB"> and this game plays as a decent if long overdue sequel. In the game 16 years have passed since that encounter while in real time its 36! In fact the game even takes players back to the location of that very episode as part of the story itself, further integrating it into the fabric of the </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> universe.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaAgk4TiKptNfXtT2JJeyJE-otOdnf4UGounBk0ZBKVXVir-f00SR5EJ0OgGiwp5luy2sokmfNDrN-EeFG1sUxL84HEUsW70cFcXa0nRR3NuounLwv2ee-K_jfL5H7SWq_jysbxnB-GGW6Usu4SfOu55cG_ys7NZ-JcHhQQNgpPcBrco14_GfGs5Z/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.33.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaAgk4TiKptNfXtT2JJeyJE-otOdnf4UGounBk0ZBKVXVir-f00SR5EJ0OgGiwp5luy2sokmfNDrN-EeFG1sUxL84HEUsW70cFcXa0nRR3NuounLwv2ee-K_jfL5H7SWq_jysbxnB-GGW6Usu4SfOu55cG_ys7NZ-JcHhQQNgpPcBrco14_GfGs5Z/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB">Important to note is that given the price tag, don't expect this to be the next </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Skyrim</span><span lang="en-GB"> or </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">GTA</span><span lang="en-GB"> for quality. It's a decent mid-range game that knows it has a somewhat niche gaming market and as such you can sort of tell that it's not quite pushing the boundaries for the PS5. There are an annoying amount of glitches. The AI walking ability is horrid at points and when characters are talking you can see pretty much into the back of their digital skulls. The audio is also out of sync with their lips which gets increasingly frustrating as does the odd sound echo or cut line. Hopefully these are issues that can get ironed out with future patches and it certainly needs them to really get that immersive </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> episode experience right.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Resurgence </span><span lang="en-GB">in that sense does need a chunk of work doing to it in the form of patches and upgrades to iron the bugs out and make this a much smoother gameplaying experience but I guess it's initial popularity on shelves coupled with how much replay value there is will determine what that will look like.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifa09puTLJ9nN25P-ztrVA0yx-STeajg8YRfPX1dfCYQ-UGdPaF5XD_i2UXjl7CVGcnWPqQUutQ3xJ2JrFcph0xaHiGCaiSu6u263kpP86Xhyp3uDDiOMEO5IAiOJ038LGD9uV9PVzWvC1hCN9cLhdlcwprJ0R24y81m4d49Oz1pODDCkMNQG2YBy/s1920/2023-06-04%2012.13.28.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifa09puTLJ9nN25P-ztrVA0yx-STeajg8YRfPX1dfCYQ-UGdPaF5XD_i2UXjl7CVGcnWPqQUutQ3xJ2JrFcph0xaHiGCaiSu6u263kpP86Xhyp3uDDiOMEO5IAiOJ038LGD9uV9PVzWvC1hCN9cLhdlcwprJ0R24y81m4d49Oz1pODDCkMNQG2YBy/s320/2023-06-04%2012.13.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB">It does also offer the chance to expand into other episodes with these characters and take them and the </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Resolute</span><span lang="en-GB"> into different areas of the </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB"> universe. A single play through of the game's 40 episodic slots doesn't really give it a fair shot if I'm honest and it may find its true value in subsequent run throughs to highlight the results of different choices on the story as well as those characters around both Diaz and Rydek. It's also a long game in terms of payoff just in that first experience because there are little nuggets dropped in that don't seem to really have much effect. But don't despair because everything in here has a purpose.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 119%;">While enjoyable it does feel that there's still much work to be done to bring this up to warp speed and I for one look forward to seeing how the developers expand this unique entry to the </span><span lang="en-GB" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 119%;">Star Trek</span><span lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 119%;"> gaming catalogue.</span><span lang="en-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 119%;"><b>What's your experience of <i>Resurgence</i> been so far?</b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 119%;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-71389442185746642872023-05-15T07:41:00.005+01:002023-05-15T07:41:42.441+01:00Previously Unreleased: XL USS Stargazer<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5nWckFyLlJexyxp2jOkbIxO-x0K7QrorBVFrcyhTPOqMTUeitS3K7gJnkRZgMcA0EimoyWycjtRKomMbotoWs9kMiS5XCfHIn4hruv_jZ2tD63q83Lo2ckYBvMISHLhGRZzcL_makma6Ki4c5KXhGeLdrvQO3-15r3NswFe6v4hoTO12Pd20C7nY/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.44.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5nWckFyLlJexyxp2jOkbIxO-x0K7QrorBVFrcyhTPOqMTUeitS3K7gJnkRZgMcA0EimoyWycjtRKomMbotoWs9kMiS5XCfHIn4hruv_jZ2tD63q83Lo2ckYBvMISHLhGRZzcL_makma6Ki4c5KXhGeLdrvQO3-15r3NswFe6v4hoTO12Pd20C7nY/w640-h480/2023-05-05%2007.44.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gone and in an instant several long awaited models just didn’t arrive. </b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the oft repeated story of Eaglemoss and now, many months on we’re starting to see some of the ones that got away. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHOdR3rGWxUS_rih0Oa6CYXFCdxmR7iUVpvliujQ63TQD67iEAGhm_PEDCn9SC2ay8fXY_ViCAzIxazJWQf2MI-7aLh_zzM5um1eto2_vTf2lqeC8V4oZZ0ZXNjub0MBZ-8c-b2RrVtT68R2WRvDOBMkrQciVO40npbkpYExtGbcgLkZw_ZxZ4Yy3/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.44.40.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHOdR3rGWxUS_rih0Oa6CYXFCdxmR7iUVpvliujQ63TQD67iEAGhm_PEDCn9SC2ay8fXY_ViCAzIxazJWQf2MI-7aLh_zzM5um1eto2_vTf2lqeC8V4oZZ0ZXNjub0MBZ-8c-b2RrVtT68R2WRvDOBMkrQciVO40npbkpYExtGbcgLkZw_ZxZ4Yy3/s320/2023-05-05%2007.44.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Master Replicas secured a good chunk of the Eaglemoss back catalogue plus items that never made it to sale. The first of this bunch is the last XL model which was announced, the <i>Constellation </i>Class <i>USS Stargazer</i> NCC-2893.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Intended to be a <i>Constitution </i>Class a la the refit/1701-A <i>USS Enterprise</i>, the <i>Stargazer </i>morphed into a new class of ship for the <i>TNG </i>first season episode <i>The Battle </i>as well as a few other appearances later in the show under various different guises. She would also turn up at the Fleet Museum amongst other iconic vessels in <i>Picard</i>’s third season. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The <i>Stargazer </i>was also one of the first 20 issues announced for the regular sized Starships Collection back in 2012 and certainly caused a few rumblings back then. Eaglemoss were notorious for producing screen accurate vessels which translated into ‘We Didn’t Check What We Made’ since errors fans couldn’t make out on screen were often copied straight to the ships. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In many instances this was quite quirky as for example with the <i>Stargazer </i>the bottom registry was applied the wrong way round and was duplicated into its miniature version.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrYXGX2jjyLxcmcde1DiljLpn7ELo0W0dl02Knzia6XlCHdlAAAjiM7r2fg3386wZD6jZBMu4aMQjaUncnVL0csdZnJfbor2fhRqqw15samvwI-PB4Q3rKTvf8VUx84wuniLu8NhxY8BXQrJ_id0vVegWEWQ4jQTqAMyUXSTK3uxR-mgdISH6ydk/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.47.12.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrYXGX2jjyLxcmcde1DiljLpn7ELo0W0dl02Knzia6XlCHdlAAAjiM7r2fg3386wZD6jZBMu4aMQjaUncnVL0csdZnJfbor2fhRqqw15samvwI-PB4Q3rKTvf8VUx84wuniLu8NhxY8BXQrJ_id0vVegWEWQ4jQTqAMyUXSTK3uxR-mgdISH6ydk/s320/2023-05-05%2007.47.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Not so it seems with the XLs. With the <i>Equinox </i>the grating spelling mistake (EQUINDX) was updated and in the quad-engined <i>Stargazer </i>we have the registry not updated but removed completely. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In fact this ship, while actually pretty impressive, is something of a conundrum. Is it accurate because it certainly isn’t screen accurate so what is this final piece actually based on? Given it’s production history and lack of accompanying magazine you might have to wonder if it was actually completely finished before they boxed it up and shipped.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet Jean-Luc Picard’s first command and the first starship to complete the Picard Maneuver is a worthy purchase for any ship collector (if you can find one now).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTbKwEw8AUP8sq_LpSuswHLNGIh1DuQPvQcYgH5Lu_0xURoOj8lylNU8FBBtyyQunkAo1HN-qpTOZjP3YYnP8M7rB4nEmKnFnr5Iq-O3MdicZkRkqk5Z7mbCKOQtmP5dpjgd7KCkyAkaljITTDbYVMoafoTZb_qj7vXlIt3bR_6ip6WRsiUtA4E7a/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.43.32.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTbKwEw8AUP8sq_LpSuswHLNGIh1DuQPvQcYgH5Lu_0xURoOj8lylNU8FBBtyyQunkAo1HN-qpTOZjP3YYnP8M7rB4nEmKnFnr5Iq-O3MdicZkRkqk5Z7mbCKOQtmP5dpjgd7KCkyAkaljITTDbYVMoafoTZb_qj7vXlIt3bR_6ip6WRsiUtA4E7a/s320/2023-05-05%2007.43.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">From the top there have certainly been improvements to the finish. The RCS thrusters feature that little more detail (and relevant placing) with the grille work on the surface is far more prominent in a larger scale (and completely recoloured from the grey). The hull benefits from much stronger grid lines that aren't swallowed into the paintwork with the striping around the bridge also being a much crisper alignment and colour. Indeed, the whole bridge module itself has more finesse to its finish with the dome and levels much more recognisable. Even the striping is more in line with the classic movie style of grey edged in red rather than blotchy blue.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The issue for me comes in the alignment of the registry decals which tend to slip into the valleys of the surface and aren't that well aligned to the hull itself, following their own path rather than the curve of the saucer. Randomly this was something that the original version actually got right however the more screen accurate font and edging.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Moving towards the rear, the structure in front of the engine mount has received a total rehash with the recessed elements now raised above the hull and leading more naturally into the propulsion units. In fact this is where a lot of the visual upgrades really start to kick in. Detailing here makes it much clearer how these two strut leading to the engine platforms are reused necks from <i>Constitution </i>Class vessels due to their angles and also the inclusion of the photon torpedo launchers. Eaglemoss even managed to add more decal striping in here and window detail adding to the feel of scale.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvAi6tUlqwFqpFZV_bU36YEjmCZPlzo-FxaGT9juGOAXzXxoNLUtx3R6LkH-ibaRwzHqlu3cMVi2ZNqSGcEENwIzQc2J7UNHjIy9c0WaYtZ-gW2z3AZ4gGXvdycLL16X_sFq47S778VtRKCZ-p9ZmlMtW03N6y36uQVVXm7F8bxlbKMhXIg8oFH4j/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.46.45.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvAi6tUlqwFqpFZV_bU36YEjmCZPlzo-FxaGT9juGOAXzXxoNLUtx3R6LkH-ibaRwzHqlu3cMVi2ZNqSGcEENwIzQc2J7UNHjIy9c0WaYtZ-gW2z3AZ4gGXvdycLL16X_sFq47S778VtRKCZ-p9ZmlMtW03N6y36uQVVXm7F8bxlbKMhXIg8oFH4j/s320/2023-05-05%2007.46.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">While they have also updated the painting of the circular vents (four on this ship!!!), they're only in grey blocks rather than having a blue inset to really make it kick. But that's not to take away from the greater level of surface greebling and painting. Nor from the excellent paintwork on the two side located warp field generators where the lining is particularly ramrod straight.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Other XLs were known for just being upscaled versions of the originals with simply bigger parts using the same construction techniques. Noticeably on the engines of the <i>Stargazer</i> instead of having the cross-pylon as a piece and then the engines themselves being two halves with that all glued together, the model designers have simply adapted it into an "upper" and "lower" engine assembly. By virtue this adds a lot of strength and stability to the core of the model and reduces six parts for each engine pair down to just two.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether as a benefit from this or another detailing upgrade, the warp engines have much more small level touches with the tips split in grey and white rather than just a grey paint mess and again a smoother application of the Starfleet pennant along the exterior edge (in most cases!!!). To the rear the impulse engines are now painted in red rather than being just plain and simple base grey.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9MvSJCsIhZWS6KkEh_XOLfdvnt3OKvWkCJw7mHhT1-sy05JdsD9iUcaUMykHbL-CmflCIjgg7bJdq8fLjY6VD4Mk1vAc4evnj1rvZJdH8t25rkDkLVJlr1ktoOCdTaobSerIkRD4-q4Gx7hjNWsPkyvdJiBh-6V43HTg2MO2HDuunjO8U7Sa1bte/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.46.52.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9MvSJCsIhZWS6KkEh_XOLfdvnt3OKvWkCJw7mHhT1-sy05JdsD9iUcaUMykHbL-CmflCIjgg7bJdq8fLjY6VD4Mk1vAc4evnj1rvZJdH8t25rkDkLVJlr1ktoOCdTaobSerIkRD4-q4Gx7hjNWsPkyvdJiBh-6V43HTg2MO2HDuunjO8U7Sa1bte/s320/2023-05-05%2007.46.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The forward shuttlebay door too is disappointing. There's no definition to its surface, only recessed and then painted grey, missing out on the horizontally ridged version that should be there and the same goes for the rest of the cargo doors around that saucer edge. Indeed the two which butt onto the warp field generators aren't even painted up.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now here's a thing. I couldn't work out if this was an amalgamation of the original studio model and the one built for the Picard Archive in <i>Remembrance</i> for <i>Picard</i> itself. Looking at the shots of that ship there are certain similarities although it doesn't have some of the surface grille work present and has some very distinct painting differences. However, it actual in-line surface details do line up for the most part.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJJMRg9hMEuqQyUuJqUJ0Y8GlCLVqQiS6qOyfL2IoU_v9cUfehLsZ7R28SCcS2dZg245uEwR_EHYLZk4ydkiTNOf3cHsegSh8QE6tL1XQVMX8OBH25A2wYFiHJVx-ApKPJxAfy_ifojoqqHnwNdJBDKR7q7I59W-Hu4Ms7-rxgOHs4pMmYrvwdbE0/s4032/2023-05-05%2007.45.07.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJJMRg9hMEuqQyUuJqUJ0Y8GlCLVqQiS6qOyfL2IoU_v9cUfehLsZ7R28SCcS2dZg245uEwR_EHYLZk4ydkiTNOf3cHsegSh8QE6tL1XQVMX8OBH25A2wYFiHJVx-ApKPJxAfy_ifojoqqHnwNdJBDKR7q7I59W-Hu4Ms7-rxgOHs4pMmYrvwdbE0/s320/2023-05-05%2007.45.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">But then we flip her over and take a look at the work on the ventral side. Immediately that lack of registry (even the wrong way round) hits you straight in the face. As does the point that the forward two surface lump have been massively downsized and the greeble surface work in front of the pylon support is now gone. What DID confuse me and led to some heavy internet research is the placement of the sensor probe/aerial structure that sits next to that engine support. Again the platform that it its on has had some subtle revisions however the aerial itself (at least on mine) has switched sides. Now, on the <i>Picard</i> model and pretty much everything I could find it's on the starboard side if you're viewing from the front so why it's moved is absolutely inexplicable.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stand fitting is pretty decent too with the clips sliding neatly around the rear of the primary hull and providing a decent mid-point balance that won't have it suffering from Warbird Syndrome.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's something still brilliantly satisfying in just seeing this ship actually make it out of the warehouse and into the hands of collectors after such a long time. Bizarrely its arrival after the end of <i>Picard</i> seems equally fitting since that show included (at a distance) the <i>Stargazer</i> docked at the Fleet Museum. Indeed, this could be the last unreleased <i>starship</i> XL ever if not for a long time so definitely one to enjoy. But then, who knows? Maybe the licence will see a revival...one day.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Enjoyed this article? Why not like and share to spread the word!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Like our page on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704244740681306525/6869174757493281293#" style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a></span></div></div></div>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704244740681306525.post-5946235002282594702023-05-07T08:30:00.004+01:002023-05-07T08:30:58.298+01:00A New Start to Finish: Picard Season 3<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74JMFkp_p_fAhyMfmJl3TrTiZTNN5Ixi53XkqdfzlmTlyyhrthXJYTIIQKfHeZ670PCseMHHlk_zOk0C1gzb-PCwUp-LK77CW8mb3P-CQcET8zk3-8IeEJMpvhfkhfQY1gVIwNLnJjTzXzbbbsupPU5EeoCWUNI0lRe7JEkrPfYGAiLnhCPRls515/s1026/2023-04-16%2010.19.04%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="1026" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74JMFkp_p_fAhyMfmJl3TrTiZTNN5Ixi53XkqdfzlmTlyyhrthXJYTIIQKfHeZ670PCseMHHlk_zOk0C1gzb-PCwUp-LK77CW8mb3P-CQcET8zk3-8IeEJMpvhfkhfQY1gVIwNLnJjTzXzbbbsupPU5EeoCWUNI0lRe7JEkrPfYGAiLnhCPRls515/w640-h294/2023-04-16%2010.19.04%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br />Ten weeks have passed by and fans have experienced what may be the single greatest season of the Kurtzman era and potentially one of the most spectacular runs in <i>Star Trek </i>history.</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are (of course!!!) talking about the recently concluded <i>Picard</i> third season so be warned if you've not finished it yet, there are <b>SPOILERS</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>ahead.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVQHtFnxVei4Kw0W3vgjTj3Wj1RYjrURAdQyxhDDikKP991EhXkB9o97Li5py3YcZ0UvwRDxfrS4Ob56mpiwFxj0Elr0fltnxRH73_4oZZWsACd2S56yb1g2yl5FoN5mkmvUPqNi-bNMiRyV5xfonMAFXBKPVJ0lYLBVKA6yZzeLShg_NnmwoQ9KI/s1920/2023-03-31%2023.28.42.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVQHtFnxVei4Kw0W3vgjTj3Wj1RYjrURAdQyxhDDikKP991EhXkB9o97Li5py3YcZ0UvwRDxfrS4Ob56mpiwFxj0Elr0fltnxRH73_4oZZWsACd2S56yb1g2yl5FoN5mkmvUPqNi-bNMiRyV5xfonMAFXBKPVJ0lYLBVKA6yZzeLShg_NnmwoQ9KI/s320/2023-03-31%2023.28.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Very evident even from episode one was the seismic shift. There seemed to be more direction, a better focus and a real understanding of the core characters which had evaded the show during its earlier seasons. That could might have something to do with this final year being a 10 part long <i>TNG</i> movie. Maybe.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With a severe cast cull that only retained Patrick Stewart, Michelle Hurd and Jeri Ryan, season three looked to be doing everything that its star and exec-producer had said would be avoided from day one. U</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">niforms, an </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Enterprise</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> (or five) and the full </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">TNG</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> cast reunion which has made <i>Picard</i> essential viewing each and every week.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">From scouring the socials it's clear that fans couldn't wait to see the next episode in what may be one of the most drastic about-turns in the fortunes of a <i>Star Trek</i> series since the Jem'Hadar rammed the <i>USS Odyssey.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileBrBCI038TvYozv-agqtKSZIiDL3f3l5XEsp34H_ztEZjQZImVdNPyl5A3EGpWxNDK_FjjuPifcE1XLk05fvLuDCyLNP6YZqfb0Uo9kI8pIJ7bRwQBnn8L3PVBi2Ddxw9Ie1Qc7CRgRRc6ZlSfy34SFnNMnIWC9MQe6X9LC3l2PaRfqjFQBqgwZK/s1600/2023-02-13%2016.45.47.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileBrBCI038TvYozv-agqtKSZIiDL3f3l5XEsp34H_ztEZjQZImVdNPyl5A3EGpWxNDK_FjjuPifcE1XLk05fvLuDCyLNP6YZqfb0Uo9kI8pIJ7bRwQBnn8L3PVBi2Ddxw9Ie1Qc7CRgRRc6ZlSfy34SFnNMnIWC9MQe6X9LC3l2PaRfqjFQBqgwZK/s320/2023-02-13%2016.45.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Season three seems to have become something of a revelation and, monumentally, one that <i>has</i> lived up to the hype and as such it's well worth just reflecting back on what has been and potentially what's to come.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Opening with the moniker "In the 25th Century", the feel of the season seemed to be coming straight out of <i>The Wrath of Khan</i>. Not just in the hinted revenge of the trailers but in the more military sense that the second through sixth movies insinuated.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the wonders of hindsight, the trailers really didn't give much away and in some respects managed the perfect magic trick by showing us one thing and yet actually presenting us with something else by the end of <i>Seventeen Seconds</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And my god doesn't having the episode titles back make a difference?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Terry Matalas promised that each character would have their time to shine and that's been proven every week. Rather than opening on Jean-Luc himself, <i>The Next Generation</i> led with Beverly on the <i>Eleos</i> and opened up the apparent mystery of the season before returning us to ore familiar surroundings at Chateau Picard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PRl-PDgCsgzVCoQA-Nw1PQqVl-6TAmhhDQ1tkefqchNWP-JkPmozoZ0YZ2CWvovfQm66mdxfYqbvrleKUE2tVAh1KKlRMorXESQ1rwPUgnD--nVZUzt-7SSGeUC-Y9btSdmP884_mMJ-QBDIzbtSfSQXswcGKTUUF8YrfN413fVZl8N6emhjgV4H/s1873/2022-10-10%2009.39.00.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1873" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PRl-PDgCsgzVCoQA-Nw1PQqVl-6TAmhhDQ1tkefqchNWP-JkPmozoZ0YZ2CWvovfQm66mdxfYqbvrleKUE2tVAh1KKlRMorXESQ1rwPUgnD--nVZUzt-7SSGeUC-Y9btSdmP884_mMJ-QBDIzbtSfSQXswcGKTUUF8YrfN413fVZl8N6emhjgV4H/w320-h129/2022-10-10%2009.39.00.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Time-jumping from 2399 to 2405, the opening episode insisted to trust no-one with Jean-Luc and Riker getting themselves aboard the brand new <i>USS Titan</i>-A with the hopes of rescuing Dr Crusher.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But this season has been much more than just a rescue plot. The introduction of a memorable foe in Amanda Plummer's Vadic really upped the game and while she wasn't, ultimately, the super-evil behind the overall arc, her tussling with the <i>Titan</i> was exquisite and supremely memorable. Character has indeed reigned supreme with some of the best moments in the entire franchise history for many of the seasoned players. If you need any proof, flip to the last fifteen minutes of <i>No Win Scenario</i> and say they isn't some of this era's best written and impactful scenes. In fact, scrap that, just watch the whole season and then make that judgement.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Riker has been in his element with Frakes at the very pinnacle of his game. Commanding the <i>Titan</i> while tackling Vadic or trapped in the gravity well, he has never been in better form, even leading to dismissing Admiral Picard from the bridge. There seems to be a greater depth to William T Riker here. A man who is back out in the galaxy to avoid the struggles in his homelife but facing threats that are just as significant, the retired, pizza cooking captain of <i>Nepenthe</i> seems a million miles way.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfgar1iD1wh_ngw3SaO-6ljsTSeSD615sPD5MXOUPDbSz-8mDpgk-ANXG3H_ti9kbsgTYBwpjJFfSGf5JxTG-xNBaKwAo_Pup1eBEfSDwhHFvI6x48Es2IVoMDcIll82tYyU-CkZRj49ngi8MlNW43mGT7Rg9i1isSC93HnJLAxskzepzeT1SMHOE/s1286/2023-02-09%2019.30.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1286" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfgar1iD1wh_ngw3SaO-6ljsTSeSD615sPD5MXOUPDbSz-8mDpgk-ANXG3H_ti9kbsgTYBwpjJFfSGf5JxTG-xNBaKwAo_Pup1eBEfSDwhHFvI6x48Es2IVoMDcIll82tYyU-CkZRj49ngi8MlNW43mGT7Rg9i1isSC93HnJLAxskzepzeT1SMHOE/s320/2023-02-09%2019.30.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Seven too has been provided with a meatier role as the <i>Titan</i>'s less than conformist first officer. Oppressed thanks to Captain Shaw's decision to use her human name of Annika Hansen, Seven seems to be fighting the system initially but becomes much more the team player as we have gone along. But let's deal with that in a second.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Worf and Raffi pairing is something that no fan could have expected or realised that they were missing until it came to pass in <i>Disengage</i>. Dorn has grown that little older but Worf seems to be even more compelling and I'm actually preferring this version to some of his younger years on <i>TNG </i>and <i>DS9</i>. Their mission on M'Talas Prime allowed Raffi a world of room to stretch before teaming the pair up with the main cast and taking her off to Daystrom Station alongside Worf and Riker.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Picard/Crusher element is something that has been long overlooked and perhaps intentionally ignored even though it's been brought up again and again and even prodded on several occasions within <i>TNG</i>. But, if it hadn't then we wouldn't have received some of the outstanding pieces of this season. For one Beverly's arrival on the bridge of the <i>Titan</i> and the following series of looks and reactions between her and Picard confirm everything the viewer needed to know without a single word being uttered. Magical is an understatement but this, coupled with any point McFadden and Stewart are on screen together is <i>Star Trek</i> gold. Finally after over 30 years there's some expansion of this relationship which feels natural. That said, the reveal that the couple had a son is maybe the season's hardest pill to swallow.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW_FCwtmETkQc21QbbbKVTdQOaVKZ6N8hdjArWMrRIvmIWIVfD4LPfFGZ6kDo3sUtLfuK1tQTE0rTiy3AsSXG892Tw_l8T1Jv9dyfTj1lCX-q7jekMrrZyqrHbifn4-kzW2SVdRLrZNcWpzv0ax3pqo3A5M6V4h1_DO_GvD0KMzTGHUn4YchgDJbC/s2532/2023-04-27%2021.45.54.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW_FCwtmETkQc21QbbbKVTdQOaVKZ6N8hdjArWMrRIvmIWIVfD4LPfFGZ6kDo3sUtLfuK1tQTE0rTiy3AsSXG892Tw_l8T1Jv9dyfTj1lCX-q7jekMrrZyqrHbifn4-kzW2SVdRLrZNcWpzv0ax3pqo3A5M6V4h1_DO_GvD0KMzTGHUn4YchgDJbC/s320/2023-04-27%2021.45.54.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ed Speleers Jack Crusher is a startlingly good addition and the relationship between him and his long-distant father has been interesting to watch. In the back of the mind though there is that niggle of him being shoved into the pages of canon without much care and a good deal of the season does rely on his very existence. Was it ultimately a surprise that he was linked in to the Borg? Probably not given that viewers were reminded numerous times about Locutus. The concept of the receiver/transmitter abilities was a cool inclusion harking back to earlier episodes of <i>Picard</i> and more significantly to the opening battle of <i>Star Trek First Contact</i> in 1996. While Jean-Luc can "hear" the Borg, Jack is able to project his thoughts and get others to do his bidding. This all seemed a bit weird and X-Men until it was explained just how this was possible.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But, it's Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) that seems to be the revelation of the season. brutally honest with a disregard for seniority, Shaw's only priority is the safety of his whole crew and, as we discover, this all stems back to his time aboard the <i>USS Constance</i> and its part at Wolf 359. In comparison Sisko was positively diplomatic when it came to facing Locutus of Borg in <i>Emissary</i> but Shaw doesn't hold back. Shaw's increasing realisation that he needs to work as part of a team to save the <i>Titan</i> does come to illustrate the ability for him to change although much to his chagrin. For some reason through the season I've suspected that someone in the ensemble wouldn't make it to the closing credits of episode ten and, well, I was right. It's a fitting redemption and mirror to how Shaw himself survived Wolf 359 although it does appear fans would have wanted him to stick around for future outings.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xGyJkEMyppgITaEhAL2miLShUWfIdMpFhnu6lVlGjr77j9J4WFBcyLbsXVo9HABl541QTp5Wi3-xZ7rYgUt6FmTmCHd6_06SDIKEQGjJFQtWS07ovlfK92_2B8b79lFi-RzjVQfs3EbFvvxQzviHjguQ5o2ZvOj5Vi0BbxJZVMGZuxOWhqkfyyVl/s2532/2023-03-24%2018.11.26.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xGyJkEMyppgITaEhAL2miLShUWfIdMpFhnu6lVlGjr77j9J4WFBcyLbsXVo9HABl541QTp5Wi3-xZ7rYgUt6FmTmCHd6_06SDIKEQGjJFQtWS07ovlfK92_2B8b79lFi-RzjVQfs3EbFvvxQzviHjguQ5o2ZvOj5Vi0BbxJZVMGZuxOWhqkfyyVl/s320/2023-03-24%2018.11.26.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">What we did anticipate from the trailer was that Amanda Plummer's Vadic would be the main villain of the season, hell bent on some form of revenge against Picard however within a matter of episodes that assumption has been overturned with her objective more a disruption and distraction.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And why? Because <i>Picard</i> chose to bring back one of the franchise's most important opponents ever; Changelings.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note they're not called Founders at any point since this bunch of shapeshifters are a breakaway faction following the Dominion's crushing defeat at the conclusion of <i>DS9</i>. Bringing chaos and disorder was their forte for many years of the space station series but at this stage in <i>Picard</i> we are none the wiser to their ultimate goal. However, just having them back in the series has changed perceptions and definitely reignited the interest of many a Niner. Combine them with the Borg threat and it's like <i>Doctor Who </i>slamming the Daleks and Cybermen together for <i>Doomsday</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Admittedly the back end of the season is ridiculously heavy on the fan service and while we can look at it in an overview it's difficult not to discuss some key elements so beware that there are not just <b>SPOILERS</b><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>but <b style="font-style: italic;">SUPER SPOILERS </b>after this point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3coW-IYb7VgLKF03W6BsJfK-DIKMVk1jYqmz-lwZYjaKkWQYcyFIe-iHbGIkhgG2JnajGh7mbS5GZAxNtTyoOaC7Hwrg26ILOH5brPMstmXUndypXSvBsfD6gB4Sl2585x25drNW1juUXyUlyUl3UPG3UJYhAub8NW7JMUehgwKT9-YHQmkw6om1/s723/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20082611.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="723" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3coW-IYb7VgLKF03W6BsJfK-DIKMVk1jYqmz-lwZYjaKkWQYcyFIe-iHbGIkhgG2JnajGh7mbS5GZAxNtTyoOaC7Hwrg26ILOH5brPMstmXUndypXSvBsfD6gB4Sl2585x25drNW1juUXyUlyUl3UPG3UJYhAub8NW7JMUehgwKT9-YHQmkw6om1/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20082611.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">So let's first touch on some returning characters because that's where the nostalgia really kicks in this final handful of episodes. The out-of-nowhere return of Commander Ro Laren is nothing if not emotional and ties up the dangled threads of <i>TNG</i>'s <i>Pre-Emptive Strike</i> while proving that Michelle Forbes was horribly underused for two seasons in the 90s. It's an appearance that gives everything and the scenes of her and Stewart are just golden. I mean how could you better the season after that... let me hold your blood wine.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just in fan service we have Captain/Shapeshifter Tuvok for two episodes, Admiral Elizabeth Shelby (for about four minutes), the voice of Walter Koenig as Federation President Anton Chekov (with a speech similar to that of the UFP in <i>The Voyage Home)</i> and then there's the rest of the <i>TNG </i>cast. There's one more but we'll get to that...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4ab3yCQbeFw1GzJyU-RP5XH-r2Z-DVqQBCWTjvYUYQABVoUC2uiHxvL7B06BjT_hx2txOOt4am8cP0Sqrb2PvlKa937B2zVSTuQQEpVfMuriRTvYbsHG6Lw4TBLaWyc9DU9KoF-PpnfMvG0oB-VCPP-Gjs1XW9bz8M6134hGOIcLavoVcIb_fhz9/s1200/2023-03-21%2020.51.52.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4ab3yCQbeFw1GzJyU-RP5XH-r2Z-DVqQBCWTjvYUYQABVoUC2uiHxvL7B06BjT_hx2txOOt4am8cP0Sqrb2PvlKa937B2zVSTuQQEpVfMuriRTvYbsHG6Lw4TBLaWyc9DU9KoF-PpnfMvG0oB-VCPP-Gjs1XW9bz8M6134hGOIcLavoVcIb_fhz9/s320/2023-03-21%2020.51.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Fans have to wait until deep into the season for the return of LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis and each is well worth it. Geordi's position as head of the Fleet Museum allows for an overload of 90s <i>Trek</i> adoration with just Spacedock alone before getting into the array of exhibits on show. The refit <i>Constitution</i> Class makes its first live action appearance since <i>The Undiscovered Country</i>, <i>Voyager</i>, <i>Defiant</i> and the NX-01 refit tick a whole series of fan boxes as does the inclusion of one stolen Klingon Bird of Prey named <i>HMS Bounty</i>. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's easy to be swallowed up in these episodes by all the nods to the past of the franchise and forget that there's actually a plot somewhere buried in the background! Geordi has aged and matured as a character and a father here, becoming a whole lot more than he ever was in <i>TNG</i>. There's more depth and believability to the role and his stance on family is, while not fitting the desire of the crew, probably very on point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXKxVkQElgs3Layc_49OTXRLRA72YlpzltgzQSy70_St9sYyiI-FrKn5Q9g4yj4t9e904hRy8oI4jbjyWfVTkekVHoKfGDvJqDO8JlPpwHsN-B7fh9pQYl8Q-XnkQyHHVzCprgfZS_XFuxdb9Z8yNODfPIzL34jwJRgFfJVDiaL6lqVbV1jSc9hdY/s2532/2023-03-24%2018.10.17.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXKxVkQElgs3Layc_49OTXRLRA72YlpzltgzQSy70_St9sYyiI-FrKn5Q9g4yj4t9e904hRy8oI4jbjyWfVTkekVHoKfGDvJqDO8JlPpwHsN-B7fh9pQYl8Q-XnkQyHHVzCprgfZS_XFuxdb9Z8yNODfPIzL34jwJRgFfJVDiaL6lqVbV1jSc9hdY/s320/2023-03-24%2018.10.17.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">What makes <i>The Bounty</i> an even greater hour of <i>Star Trek</i> is the choice to split the crew with half on the <i>Titan</i> while Riker, Worf and Raffi tackle Daystrom Station.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thought that the Fleet Museum was packed with references then think again because this place is rammed. Filled to the bulkheads with items from multiple series, the station is a treasure trove that has delivered some downright gobsmacking secrets; Project Phoenix anyone? Spare Genesis Device? Attack Tribble? All in there plus a load more that the production team just chucked in for good measure and to see if fans were really paying attention.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now, given that he was teased in the trailers, the appearance of Daniel Davis' Moriarty isn't quite what one might have expected but it's still a glorious sequence that leads into a bigger reveal that restores some balance to the <i>Trek</i> universe.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Actually, <i>The Bounty</i> settles a few points that have been left sort of unanswered; what happened to Lore? B-4? Picard's real body? All answered right in one episode and somehow it doesn't feel rushed. The overarching conspiracy still weaves through the episode although it feels a little distant when faced with so much fan service. The resolution of that internal Soong conflict is satisfying and true <i>Star Trek</i>. How could this be a full reunion without Spiner playing Data in some capacity? It also aligns with the development of the android in the novel series of the last decade in which Data has super evolved. Naturally it means that Spiner doesn't have the excuse of being too old to play his iconic character but all the traits are there plus a few new ones that make him much, much more human.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUiTKTLWSOQSvkEhzr5YssQC_rYIw3T7fRUzaost93Bj8Q8LH5CW3X6Kqh57OunMybfhx9zmeWEn8lbFLno5KCRUeTIoyRdQX6kz69_BQXvyXY0rlHqLhoFF_NECHxOB8eNEtRgW4on-NdU-F_FDMFv2CRLOvL6gs88CzeNiq1LZd-wXZW7Fh5V1A/s2532/2023-04-13%2018.52.11.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUiTKTLWSOQSvkEhzr5YssQC_rYIw3T7fRUzaost93Bj8Q8LH5CW3X6Kqh57OunMybfhx9zmeWEn8lbFLno5KCRUeTIoyRdQX6kz69_BQXvyXY0rlHqLhoFF_NECHxOB8eNEtRgW4on-NdU-F_FDMFv2CRLOvL6gs88CzeNiq1LZd-wXZW7Fh5V1A/s320/2023-04-13%2018.52.11.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It's at this point that it starts to feel that both Raffi and Seven are sort of superfluous to requirements. Reassembling the <i>TNG</i> cast was always the big prize and while it takes another episode to truly get to that point you can see their roles a little downsized the more of the classic cast are on screen. Perhaps their last big hurrah of the season comes from Vadic's takeover of the <i>USS Titan</i> in her attempts to secure Jack Crusher. No, actually, tell a lie. It's not. Seven has an incredibly sweeping character arc in this season which is a far cry from stepping out of an alcove in <i>Scorpion</i> as a full Borg. Shaw really did think she was awesome as we see from his evaluation and the promotion to captain and subsequent command of a starship proves that there is justice in the universe.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ok... it seems we can't dance around it anymore. Let's just finish this piece out with some simple admiration, written sobbing and general appreciation for the last two episodes of the season and of the show as a whole.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With Vadic vanquished following her takeover of the <i>Titan</i>, the crew finally make it to Earth to witness the celebrations of Frontier Day. Cue the arrival (finally) of the <i>Enterprise</i>-F with Shelby sitting in the captain's chair only for it all to go proper bad as the Borg's clever little plan swings into action and assimilates everyone under the age of 25. Thanks for the DNA Jean-Luc, you've wiped out Starfleet.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmBMv-6qkycXmuZ-i_ke2JsyWrkWGTQ-0VMM5hLMPHL47oJiqkx9bF_aHc8eWiyHLVXkXFmIruyZ3r8FG3jEI1XwRGJdM6EubyARMFJvwR3wrUphlnjQ-pA70aVVHkFikzWrhrYSvj3nRku4J44rYLK7GDdfzNbCqSQrXCSfmE7bcsc1jxotNPP7c/s2532/2023-04-13%2018.50.36.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmBMv-6qkycXmuZ-i_ke2JsyWrkWGTQ-0VMM5hLMPHL47oJiqkx9bF_aHc8eWiyHLVXkXFmIruyZ3r8FG3jEI1XwRGJdM6EubyARMFJvwR3wrUphlnjQ-pA70aVVHkFikzWrhrYSvj3nRku4J44rYLK7GDdfzNbCqSQrXCSfmE7bcsc1jxotNPP7c/s320/2023-04-13%2018.50.36.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Fine, that's a harsh line but without it we wouldn't have a finale which is the most fan servicey hour of <i>Star Trek</i> that has ever been. Go on, I dare you to find another that punches this high and this hard. I'll be a little critical in that some of the elements do feel as though they were borrowed from <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (interconnected ships) and <i>Star Wars </i>(the run through the Borg Cube) but I didn't care by this point because it was just so stupidly good.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course Geordi was hiding the D in Hanger 12, of course it had to be the way this crew would see out their final adventure together. Was it everything fans could have hoped for? YES and in spades. The bridge was lovingly recreated from scratch (with the dedication plaque that had been on the original set from seasons five to seven), the grotesque return of the Borg Queen was stunning and voiced by Alice Krige which spins not just <i>First Contact</i> but <i>Voyager</i>'s <i>Endgame</i> into play. Jack all Borged up as Vox was a startling echo back to Stewart's Locutus of <i>The Best of Both Worlds</i> and I'm sure that on subsequent viewings there will be even more to uncover and fully digest.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The closing poker game was filmed for a full 45 minutes and unscripted, meaning everything you hear and see is just the cast having fun in a scene that nods directly to </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">All Good Things...</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> All the feels you might say and just soaking up everything that happens in this episode and potentially the whole ten episodes is going to take a while.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv-ysNVbQ8lENUZ_2w-ZTizretUof052yHs2hISuyoIU7kD0OMeLrIyuhaGhA1gU01EDy8Y3heEEHaYjzYgvDFx63rtEwtSzxEnyS6Tl8fNcQcSukMRMy8zfpU8pJWlohmY9yBRJ7Nae9rQledIX9SOWX5A4OL9J4n8x1RSyujWmgai2QIy9ML8w9/s2532/2023-04-20%2023.10.13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2532" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv-ysNVbQ8lENUZ_2w-ZTizretUof052yHs2hISuyoIU7kD0OMeLrIyuhaGhA1gU01EDy8Y3heEEHaYjzYgvDFx63rtEwtSzxEnyS6Tl8fNcQcSukMRMy8zfpU8pJWlohmY9yBRJ7Nae9rQledIX9SOWX5A4OL9J4n8x1RSyujWmgai2QIy9ML8w9/s320/2023-04-20%2023.10.13.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Is the renaming of the <i>Titan</i> to the <i>Enterprise</i>-G a surprise? Apparently not if you listen back to all the musical cues as far back as episode one which all carry traces of themes that suggest nothing less. The <i>Constitution III</i> Class makes perfect sense in a neck aching nod to just about everything classic <i>Trek</i>. Plus, how can you not say that those last five minutes are a stamped, signed, sealed and very public announcement that Terry Matalas (who wrote and directed the finale) is looking to take the <i>Enterprise</i>-G right out there for its own series.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean, as someone puts it right in the closing seconds... the trial has just begun.</span></p>Some Kind of Star Trekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078684096109641287noreply@blogger.com1