Priority One's podcast were able to interview STO's Lead Designer Al "CaptainGeko" Rivera last Saturday to talk about the 3rd expansion to the game. Click on either of the following links to listen to this interview.
STO Forum Post: http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1215176/podcast-priority-one-podcast-269-agents-of-yesterday-with-al-rivera
P1 Website Link: http://priorityonepodcast.com/po269/
The chat with Geko starts at the 17 minute mark if anybody wants to just listen for themselves.
* It's kinda-sorta like a new "Faction".
* An "Expansion" has a lot more stuff than a "Season".
* New stuff all over the place in AoY.
* All new TOS Ships (plural).
* All New Characters start in the TOS era like a new faction.
* Kinda takes place just after the years of the Animated series.
* Picks up at the year 2270.
* "Future Proof" arc is the beginning of this expansion. (separate but interconnected)
* Nakul still involved.
* At least a new faction as the Romulan one was.
* TOS "Faction" will have it's own Tutorial, Story Arc, the Federation from 2270, own Quadrant, Own Sector blocks.
* Everyone will be able to have access to it.
* Expect to see other Actors "joining the game" beside Koenig and Chris Doohan.
(he didn't want to ruin the surprise announcements)
* Several other's coming, Chase will be back also.
* Been planning this for over a year - since Season 9.5
* Story will make sense, characters not just squeezed in.
* Trailer has clues to what's coming.
* Hard to pick certain stuff from TOS because there is so much to use.
* [i:728f2120d1]Vasquez Rock[/i:728f2120d1] IS going to be available to see and experience.
* TOS 2270 Federation Factions will be included.
* No Cardassians.
* Can't play as a Klingon or Romulan in this "faction".
* No "separate" playability for them.
* They were not a member of the Federation during that time period.
* Lots of Blogs and specific details are forthcoming.
* Watch the TRIBBLE server for "some" of the things to come.
* Blogs will be at least twice a week if not more.
* This is not a "separate game" it does eventually tie back to the existing game.
* They thought about making a separate TOS game but decided since STO was doing so well it wouldn't be practical.
* Didn't want to split the STO community.
* New Fleet Holdings... not at this time. (They are working on one though)
* New Temporal Agent Bridge Officers.
* Described the "Temporal Back-step Power", (can be used on all Temporal starships)
* Talked about the two new Temporal Agent Packs.
* 11 ships in the large pack.
* TOS skins can be used on their 26th century counterparts.
* "Federation Faction" players will be able to use TOS ships.
Cribbed from STO forumite: DavyNY