Information about the return of Q’s Winter Wonderland is just around the corner! As part of this year’s holiday festivities, we will be retiring the “Autographed 8×10 Glossy Photos of Q” and changing how starships will be earned during this event.

Before this happens, though, we want to give you the opportunity to trade in any leftover Autographs for something special. Beginning on DATE PENDING (just after Maintenance completes) we’re opening access to the “Winter Buyback” store. This special store, accessible from your Event Reputation Store button, will be offering a selection of unique prizes in exchange for your Autographs of Q.

Here are the items that will be available:

ITEM 1 Specialization Point 1/2 Specialization Point 78,200 XP equivalent 1/10th Specialization Point 15,640 XP equivalent 500 Specialization XP Event Buyback Tech Upgrade – Universal (Large) +25,600 Tech Points / No Research No Dilithium Cost Event Buyback Tech Upgrade – Universal (Small) +12,800 Tech Points / No Research No Dilithium Cost Elite Queue R&D Material Reward Package Available in all varieties. Player chooses contents. Starship Emote Pack: “Smile” and “Sad” Starship Emote Pack: “Thumbs Up” and “Thumbs Down” Starship Emote Pack: “Live Long and Prosper” Starship Emote Pack: “Rock, Paper, Scissors”

AUTOGRAPH COST 200 125 30 1 50 30 15 40 40 40 40

 

** NOTE: Specialization Point packages may only be purchased by Level 60 characters.

A few prizes require a bit more information, so allow me to expand on those…

SPECIALIZATION / XP PACKAGES

Purchasing any of these items will immediately reward the buyer with either 1 Specialization Point, or an amount of XP equivalent to the fraction (1/2 or 1/10^th), or the amount (500 XP) indicated. These cannot be traded, and only players that are already Level 60 will be eligible to purchase them.

While the lowest denomination package may be purchased in bulk, it’s important to note that larger packages are more cost-efficient.

ELITE QUEUE R&D MATERIALS

These packages are exactly identical to the rewards given upon the completion of an Elite Queue. Players will be able to choose which Material they prefer to receive, by purchasing the corresponding pack:
Craylon Gas, Argonite Gas, Dentarium, Trellium-K, Plekton Particle, or Radiogenic Particle

As with the standard Elite Queue R&D prizes, all of these packages include all of the following:

• 10 Common R&D Materials
• 10 Uncommon, Rare or Very Rare R&D Materials
• 7 Rare or Very Rare R&D Materials
• 3 Very Rare R&D Materials
• Common, Uncommon and Rare Materials are Random, while the Very Rare will always correspond to the Material type purchased.

STARSHIP EMOTE PACKS

Each of these packages unlocks one or two new powers, which can be slotted into your Starship Power Trays. Activating any of these Powers will display a brief holographic symbol above your ship while in System or Sector Space. All share a brief cooldown period, so as to discourage noisy over-use of this new feature.

Our hope is that having a few quick communication options at your fingertips may help even total strangers communicate with one another with ease, while flying among the stars.

While these will remain exclusively available on the Summer and Winter Buyback Stores for the time being, these Emote Packs will eventually also become available for Gold-Pressed Latinum.

FAQ:

Why are you retiring the Autographs?

We want to maintain the exclusivity and collectability of the event ships from the Winter Event each year, and in order to do that we will be retiring the existing items. When the 2015 Winter Event begins, an entirely new currency will be needed to acquire the event starship. This will be the process going forward – a new item to be collected each year.

Our goal for this change is to ensure that everyone participates on equal footing for the release of each year’s new ship.

What if I have a partial Winter Reputation project in progress?

Those of you that already have a winter ship project in progress from a previous year’s event WILL NOT lose any progress, and can simply finish that project either with your existing Autographs, or with the new currency when it arrives.

 Can I slot a new project for previous Winter Ships?

No. These ships are being retired with the start of the 2015 Winter Event.

What about discounts for alts?

Moving forward, all starships earned by completing an Event Project will be unlocked for all characters on your account. Visit the Event Store to claim them on additional characters!

What if I don’t finish a Winter Reputation project?

All in-progress Winter Reputation projects will be removed before the subsequent year arrives.

More to come!

More information on the 2015 Winter Event is right around the corner! The event goes live very soon!