Current project status

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TParis: What is Fleet Operations?
DOCa Cola: Hi TParis! In 2000 Fleet Operations was made as a private project first of all only for “Star Trek: Armada I”. In winter 2002 after the release of Armada II we had the idea to develop Fleet Operations for Armada II, which we wanted to make available for every “Star Trek” fan. We had the idea to create a mod, which offers more strategic possibilities, has fair gameplay due to good balancing, keeps the flair “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: Armada I” has created, can be installed easily by everyone and is a worth successor for Armada I’s that time impressive graphics. This were a lot points, but Armada II just not in our taste back this time.

TParis: How did your team came together?
DOCa Cola: Detektor, Optec and I were good friends for a few years before. Our advantage is that we live not far from each other and can meet often personally, to plan and develop the project. I think that’s a advantage over other projects, which were founded by many people, who doesn’t know each other and develop entirely over the internet.

TParis: Whats differs Fleet Ops from other Total Conversions/Mods for A2?
DOCa Cola: Now, I think one of the main aspects is, that Fleet Operations is only created by a few people, because as we now too many cooks spoil the broth. Nevertheless our target is not only to create Fleet Operations on base of our own ideas, but also these we get from the community. That’s why we also put our website and forum online, therefore we can get as much input as possible. Stability is very important to us, so we test the mod very often and before release of a main version one week before everyday. We do not sleep until not the last bug is fixed.
Too much strategy would mean less “Star Trek” or too much realism would cost fun when playing. Thereforce Fleet Operations has a mix of 50% “Star Trek” realism and 50% strategy game.
We also try to extend the possibilities of Armada to the max or beyond, extend the more as has done up to now.

TParis: What will be new in version 3 of Fleet Operations?
DOCa Cola: To sum it up: Avatars, support ships, lots of maps, tons of new graphical effects, many new and improved vessels and stations, new map environments for the map makers, balancing was once again improved from scratch and gameplay partly new structured furthermore the installer works quite fast now when extracting the sound files and of course not to forget, the dominion.

TParis: What are avatars and how will avatars work in detail?
DOCa Cola: Avatars are famous characters or something else of a race, which you can support. For example a Fleet Admiral of the Federation or a General of the romulan Tal’Shiar. Every avatar brings 2 new units and 3 unique specials for every race. These can include cost reduction, new special abilities, weapon changes, new vessel types. Therefore avatars support the favorite strategy of the player.
Before game you choose your race usual from the menu; after the game has started you can now choose one avatar from the build menu of your starbase, afterwards you continue usually. You can only choose one avatar per game, which you have until game ends. Avatars are very interesting during multiplayer. Your opponent know which race you choose before start of the game but now which avatar and therefore which strategy you play. An avatar is no vessel, it cannot be destroyed. After you choose your avatar your build options were adjusted to the changes the avatar gives you. You have to choose an avatar before you can build up your base.

TParis: How will the new unit limit work?
DOCa Cola: At the beginning of a game every player has a number of supply, which will be consumed with every new build vessel. Every vessel has a number of supply it requires to be build, like Dilithium or Tritanium. Therefore it is no “real” unit limit, because you can during game theoretically buy unlimted supply. Supply serves the purpose to give the player a limit in size of his fleet, which can be build up later in game.

TParis: What is planned for future releases after v3?
DOCa Cola: There will be 3 more playable races, but also non playable races, which will be controlled by the computer to for example defend strategic important points on the map or start small assaults against parties. Neutral stations and mercenaries are also planned, but i don’t want to tell you to much about it now;-)
Also important is that online content will be enhanced further. So for example there is a Fleet Operations Tornament planned or a server browser for Fleet Operations internet games, which also includes an auto update function to let you update to latest patches versions by one click.

TParis: Have you created the vessel/station models on your own, or did you get them from other sources?
DOCa Cola: All our models, let it be from stations, vessels or map objects were made by us. There are a few exceptions from other models though we have made a few changes to them to fit them better to the graphical view of Fleet Operations.
Inofficial vessel designs we created on our own or with the help of the community. Of course we also have many famous inoffical high-res designs from the internet in Fleet Operations whole new low-res model build in like the new Phalanx class, which will be included in v3. The Phalanx class was created by Dak Phoenix and he gave us exclusive rights to use the design in our mod.

TParis: How far ist he new version done?
DOCa Cola: We have a few todos remaining, but we are getting closer everyday.

TParis: What are your favorite Star Trek episodes?
DOCa Cola: Detektor’s favorite is DS9, Optec’s is TNG. So said, I have grown up with TNG, therefore it has gotten my favorite episode.

TParis: Do you have any final words?
DOCa Cola: We already said before the first beta released, that we will bring the project to an end and not like a few other mod projects will disappear with an unfinished version. We will keep this promise.

TParis: Thank you for your informative interview!
DOCa Cola: You’re welcome.

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Thanks to Bloggman for his english translation.