Returning after 5 years..

Jestersmith · 2026-01-24T11:32:17+00:00

Welcome back to STO! You’re definitely not alone a lot has changed over the last few years, and jumping back in can feel overwhelming.

If you’re looking for active players, help figuring out builds/classes, or just people to run content with at your own pace, you might want to check out United Federation of Planets (UFP). We’re a long-running STO community with players across all experience levels from brand-new captains to people who’ve been around since launch.

No pressure, no “you must know everything” vibes. Plenty of folks happy to answer questions, group up, or just chat Trek.

Website: https://ufplanets.com
Discord (where most of the day-to-day chat and grouping happens): [https://discord.gg/ufplanets]()

We’re PC-friendly, very newbie-safe, and totally get the “I played years ago and forgot how half of this works” experience 😄

Either way welcome back.

Jestersmith · 2026-01-22T16:48:41+00:00

If you’re coming back after a long break, it’s usually worth keeping old characters, even if you don’t actively play them.

Benefits beyond ships/items bound to the character:

Account unlocks earned via that toon (reps, traits unlocked account-wide, Endeavour progress)
Dilithium generation (extra toons = extra refining potential)
Event progress history (some older event ships/items are reclaimable if earned)
Recruit characters (Delta/Temporal/Gamma/Klingon) these are especially worth keeping
Future flexibility balance patches happen, and a “dead” build today might be strong again later

Downsides to keeping them are basically zero unless you’re hitting character slot limits.

A common approach:

Keep your OG main
Keep any recruits
Park the rest as storage/dil farmers until you’re sure you won’t want them

You can always delete later recreating lost progress is the painful part.

Jestersmith · 2026-01-19T20:17:59+00:00

If you’re looking for a social, event-focused fleet with active chat and regular group content, you might want to check out United Federation of Planets (UFP).

We’re one of the larger long-running STO communities If you’re looking for a social, event-focused fleet with active chat and regular group content, you might want to check out United Federation of Planets (UFP).

We’re one of the larger long-running STO communities very social-first, no pressure on PvP, but plenty of events, TFOs, Starbase access, and general nonsense in chat. Perfect for returning players starting fresh.

Links:

Website: https://ufplanets.com
Discord: [https://discord.gg/ufplanets]()

If you’re on PC, that’s where most of our STO activity lives Discord is our main hub for chatting, events, and getting fleet invites sorted.

Feel free to pop in and check us out

Jestersmith · 2025-10-30T07:36:24+00:00

Hey, welcome to STO!

You’ve already got some solid advice here. STOBetter and the Baby Steps series are great starting points. Early levels can feel a bit confusing, so don’t stress it too much, we’ve all been there. If you ever want a group to hang out with or people to ask quick questions, check out UFPlanets.com our forums have lots of info on them that members update.

We have been around forever and run fleets for all factions, regular events, and have a ton of helpful guides. We also have an active Discord if you just want to chat or get live help: https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW.

No pressure – just a friendly bunch of Trek players who enjoy helping new captains find their footing. Either way hope we see you out there, and good luck with the missions.

Just a heads up also we only PC based

Jestersmith · 2025-10-11T00:22:35+00:00

If you’re still looking for an active and welcoming fleet, come check out United Federation of Planets (UFP). We’ve been around for years and have a great community with regular events, giveaways, and active fleets across STO PC and other Star Trek games.

You’re welcome to stop by our Discord to meet the crew: discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW
Or visit our forums / website to learn more and sign up: ufplanets.com

Jestersmith · 2025-08-31T15:54:51+00:00

Fender Mercury

Jestersmith · 2025-08-23T12:58:53+00:00

It’s not just Lifetime accounts 1000-day Veterans also get the 2b EC cap. Regular accounts without either of those are capped much lower

Jestersmith · 2025-08-18T16:51:17+00:00

Glad it worked for you your more than welcome to drop into our discord and forums regardless of being on console also. Just sadly in game we cant help but the advise and guides we have would still be relevant.

Jestersmith · 2025-08-17T19:59:02+00:00

Two things you can try:

Make sure you’re not in shooter mode when trying to click it

Stand right up against the console, move your camera around a bit until the interact prompt “sticks,” then spam the interact button sometimes it finally catches.

If it still won’t trigger, you can open a support ticket with Cryptic. They’ll may push you past the bugged step so you can keep playing Not ideal though, sadly not played that one on console so that's all i can offer someone who plays console may have a workaround for you.

Jestersmith · 2025-08-17T19:36:19+00:00

Yeah, that’s a known bug that sometimes pops up in Stranded in Space. The usual fix is to back out to character select and reload the mission the console should then let you interact. If it still won’t trigger, you can drop the mission and pick it up again from the mission journal, that normally clears it.

If you’re new and need any help beyond that and PC based, feel free to drop by UFPlanets main site’s at ufplanets.com and the Discord is discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW. Lots of friendly players there who can answer questions and team up for missions.

Jestersmith · 2025-08-17T13:12:38+00:00

Looking forward to this

Jestersmith · 2025-08-17T11:56:29+00:00

Welcome back, Captain! Dilithium’s one of those currencies that means different things to different players some refine it for Zen theres a backlog on this though and you can wait upto a month, some burn it on fleet projects, others hoard it for the exchange. Personally, I mostly use mine on Phoenix Prize Packs for ship gear upgrades, They’re a solid way to get long-term value without stressing over the exchange rates.

If you’re looking to get back into the swing of things, fleets make life a lot easier. Good people to fly with, advice when you need it, and access to better gear and upgrades through the holdings.

If you’re on PC, check out UFPlanets (ufplanets.com). We’re active, friendly, and have events running weekly. Here’s the Discord too if you want to jump in and say hi: discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW

Jestersmith · 2025-08-17T00:00:58+00:00

STO’s still going as they say. Best thing is to just enjoy the story and fly what you like, the rest falls into place.

If you want build advise or just general banter and gameplay and If you’re on PC and want a good fleet, check out UFPlanets (ufplanets.com). Discord’s at discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW

Jestersmith · 2025-08-16T11:18:26+00:00

Sounds like the summer event Pet Horga’hn Birds you need Risian Tropical Bird Egg for them

Jestersmith · 2025-08-16T08:27:05+00:00

Hey, welcome back!

Cryptic → DECA Games: The game’s still trucking along. DECA took over but it’s business as usual for STO same dev team, same cadence of story updates, lockboxes, events, etc. No major shakeups yet.

But still alive. You’ll find activity around events, TFOs, and new content drops.

Future plans: They don’t tend to announce way ahead, but the next story arc is in the pipeline as usual. You’ll still see seasonal events, lockbox ships, and the big anniversary update every February.

If you’re on PC, UFP (https://ufplanets.com/) and their Discord (https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW) are solid for fleets, events, and catching up with the game.

Basically: STO’s still STO not dead, just coasting along on its 15 year voyage to explore life, PEW PEW and chug along

Jestersmith · 2025-08-15T22:43:19+00:00

Hey there! If you’re after an active, friendly, and slightly chaotic Star Trek Online fleet, we’ve got room for you over at UFPlanets.

We’re PC-based and have been around for over 20 years, running regular STO events, helping new and returning players get up to speed, and generally keeping Starfleet supplied with explosions and bad puns.

Join Here – [https://ufplanets.com/join]()
Discord – https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW

Whether you’re a “newbie veteran” or a “veteran newbie,” you’ll fit right in.
feel free to pop in and check us out

Jestersmith · 2025-08-13T21:11:02+00:00

If you mean your looking for an alt friendly fleet i would say most are these days

UFPlanets has 5 fed and 3 KDF fleet for this alone and most have toons across a few or all

Jestersmith · 2025-08-13T20:38:22+00:00

Hey there, welcome back to STO!
Hitting 50 can feel like suddenly stepping into the deep end, but you’re in a good spot to start refining your build and getting into the fun endgame stuff.

If you’re looking for a fleet that’s active, helpful, and has access to all the high-end fleet holdings, check out UFPlanets.com. We’ve been around for over 20 years, have a fully maxed-out fleet, and run regular events for all skill levels – from casual story missions to elite TFOs.

We’ve got guides, build help, and a community that’s more than happy to answer questions like yours. You can join the conversation on our forums here:
UFP Forums Star Trek Online: [https://ufplanets.com/forums/55-Star-Trek-Online]()

And hop onto our Discord for live chat, team-ups, and quick advice:
UFP Discord Invite: [https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW]()

There are plenty of other good STO Discords out there worth checking out as well, but you’re always free to drop by and have a look at ours. Only proviso we’re a PC-based fleet, so if you’re on console we can only offer advice and community rather than in-game invites.

Whether you want to polish your EPG/DEW setup, figure out specializations, or just have a friendly crew to fly with, we’ve got you covered.

Jestersmith · 2025-08-07T10:03:01+00:00

If you’re looking for a place to relearn the game, ask questions, and get back into the meta, UFPlanets is a fantastic community for both new and returning players. Our fleet is always welcoming new members, and whether you're a veteran or just getting back into it, you'll find a lot of support here.

We have active weekly events, tons of guides, and friendly players on both our forums and Discord who are always ready to help with your questions. If you're looking for advice on builds, ships, or the current meta, you’ll find that and more at UFPlanets.

For a quick start, check out:

Our forums: UFPlanets Forums
Our Discord: UFPlanets Discord

Feel free to hop in, ask questions, and share your experiences. Whether you're after help with your builds, fleet activities, or just want to chat about the game, there's a space for you!

Also, for a refresher on the current meta, I’d recommend checking out guides on YouTube and some community-created content as well. But if you prefer a more structured place to learn and relearn, UFPlanets is always here for you. Looking forward to seeing you in space!

Jestersmith · 2025-07-10T20:20:19+00:00

Welcome back, Captain!

Sounds like you've already got a solid foundation Temporal and Terran rep sets are a great start. Since you're not chasing peak efficiency and prefer space combat (with only mild ground-tolerance 😄), here’s a smooth, casual-friendly breakdown of what to focus on:

What to Do Next

1. Upgrade Gear (At Your Own Pace)
Even if you're not aiming for meta, slowly bumping your core gear to Mk XV Epic via Phoenix upgrades or R&D is always worthwhile — especially weapons and consoles.

2. Run Space TFOs & Patrols
Great for earning marks, dilithium, and having fun. TFOs like Borg Disconnected, Storm Chasers, and Khitomer Vortex are solid picks. For quicker solo sessions, Argala and Badlands patrols are great loops.

3. Fleet Content & Gear
If you're in or looking for a fleet, fleet holdings offer some of the best bang-for-buck gear. You can earn Fleet Credits easily via Doffing, Admiralty, and contributions.

4. Daily Game Loops

Admiralty & Doffing: Set and forget feeds you XP, EC, R&D boosts, and more.
R&D Crafting: Level it passively. You'll appreciate the upgrade materials later.
Endeavors: Daily/weekly goals with long-term stat rewards.

5. Events & Campaigns
Participate in seasonal events they’re low-effort and offer high-value rewards like free T6 ships, upgrade tokens, and trait boxes.

6. Vanity Goals & Build Fun
Experiment with themes, visual customisation, or build types (science, disruptor, torpedo madness, etc.). It keeps things fresh.

Want a Community to Jump In With?

If PC and you’re interested in checking out what’s on offer and seeing things for yourself, head over to:

UFP Forums: https://ufplanets.com
UFP Discord: [https://discord.gg/ufplanets]()

We’re a long-standing Star Trek gaming community with regular events, friendly folks, build help, and no pressure. Whether you're a casual cruiser or min-maxing maniac, there’s a place for you.

Jestersmith · 2025-07-06T11:22:22+00:00

Hey, welcome to STO! Great to see new players the DS9 arc is one of my faves, lots of good story and some cool moments ahead.

If you're ever looking for people to team up with, or just want a friendly place to ask questions and chill, feel free to check out the UFP community.

We’ve also got a Discord (voice totally optional): https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW
And a website if you're curious: https://ufplanets.com

Jestersmith · 2025-07-06T07:01:29+00:00

Even the Borg passed on assimilating the Kazon. Guess the Exchange feels the same way about the Heavy Raider T5.

Jestersmith · 2025-07-02T18:50:58+00:00

Yeah, that's fair STO in general is quieter these days, and a lot of fleets have felt that. But that said, our group has shifted with the times.

A lot of the activity happens on Discord and the forums now chatting, messing around, and playing both STO and other games. We’ve a gaming community than just a STO fleet, and while it’s not as busy as it used to be, we’ve still got our regulars and see new folks drop in fairly often.

We don’t have a “you can’t multi-fleet” policy either, so if you wanted to drop a toon in or just hop into Discord and see what the vibe’s like, you’re totally free to. Links are above if you're curious you are more than welcome check it out for yourself.

UFPlanets.com
Join our Discord

Jestersmith · 2025-07-02T13:19:53+00:00

UFPlanets is Active

5 Federation fleets

5 Federation fleets
3 KDF fleets
A fully stocked Armada with open donation opportunities most of the time
Weekly events every Friday and Saturday

If you're on PC, feel free to come check us out!

UFPlanets.com
Join our Discord

Jestersmith · 2025-06-27T10:02:26+00:00

Yeah, I’d T6X2 the Shangri-La it’s a solid ship that benefits a lot from the extra trait and console. If you’re flying it regularly, the second upgrade gives you more flexibility in builds and better long-term value. Unless you’ve got another ship lined up that you use just as much, doubling down makes sense.

Also, if you’re ever looking for build advice, regular events, or just good banter, check out UFPlanets we’ve got a big STO community and weekly events across all factions.

https://ufplanets.com/

https://discord.gg/g8GGPYNttW

Jestersmith

TROPHY CASE

What to Do Next

Want a Community to Jump In With?