The most recent of the Star Trek movies, Into Darkness, was a massive hit not just with fans but with the general public as well. While the movie was a critical and commercial success, it did not do as well financially as its predecessors. In fact, the movie under performed so much that it almost broke the Internet. If you’re curious, you can read up on the whole debacle here.
One of the most exciting aspects of Into Darkness was the game that accompanied it. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and distributed by Cryptic Studios, Star Trek Online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). In Star Trek Online, players assume the roles of either Starfleet Officers or Masters of Sciences who command a starship as they explore the Star Trek universe. As a Starfleet Officer, you command a ship and crew, fighting alongside your fellow officers in epic battles across the stars.
While the game itself is free to play (with optional paid for premium content), Cryptic Studios, the developers of the game, have created a number of microtransactions that allow for additional gameplay. In this article, we’ll discuss how to make money in Star Trek Online.
The Merchant Designation
One of the earliest ways to make money in Star Trek Online is through the Merchant Designation. As the name implies, a Merchant Designation is a trader in Merchandise and goods of all types, including Food, Drinks, Computers, etc. The basic designations all require you to have a Familiar with Merchandise and how to Market it. With the Basic Merchant Designation, you will begin training how to Negotiate and Contract for Shipments and Trading with Freighters, Merchant Carriers, and Escapades. Once you’ve completed the Merchant Designation storyline, you can choose to specialize in one of the following specializations:
- Auctioneer
- Armory Specialist
- Aviation Pilot
- Carrier Specialist
- Escapades Mercenary
- Federation Agent
- Innovator
- Insurance Investigator
- Investigator
- Maritime Lawyer
- Operations Officer
- Repair Tech
- Security Officer
- Trade Representative
- Treadway Designator
The Crew Role
Another great way to make money in Star Trek Online is by taking on Crew Role. As the name implies, a Crew Role is a member of the crew of a starship who perform specialized functions in relation to the mission, acting in a support role. The following are the specialized roles, with the associated gameplay and side quests:
- Commanding Officer
- Executive Officer
- Science Officer
- Security/Tactical Officer
- Systems Officer
- Navigator
- Medic
- Engineer
- Auxiliary Officer
- Weapons Specialist
The Specialized Agent Designation
If you’ve been playing the game for a while and have gathered a considerable amount of experience, you can Specialized Agent Designation. Specialized Agents are Star Trek Online’s version of super-spies who are experts in their respective fields. They can be incredibly helpful to the player-population, offering in-game Bounty Hunters a Contracting Service, Ship Scrapping Service, Data Recovery Service, and Bulk Commodities Exchange. Once you’ve completed the Specialized Agent Designation storyline, you can choose to specialize in one of the following specializations:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Communications
- Detective
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- Forensics
- Medical Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Military Strategy
- Organic Sciences
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Stealth
- Theology
The Pirate Role
Another way to make money in Star Trek Online is by becoming a Pirate. A Pirate in Star Trek Online is a character who commits acts of piracy and theft in the Stargrimse sector of the game. You take on the role of a bandit who robs freighters and passenger vessels, attacking and overpowering enemy vessels while evading the Starfleet. Once you’ve completed the Pirate Role-play mode, you can choose to specialize in one of the following specializations:
- Aviation
- Bodyguard
- Covert Operations
- Exploration
- Federation Defense
- Highwayman
- Insurance Fraud
- Intercept
- Naval Warfare
- Recovery
- Security
- Subversion
- Transport
- Trainer
The Smuggler Role
Another way to make money in Star Trek Online is by becoming a Smuggler. A Smuggler in Star Trek Online is a character who trades in and profiteers from illicit goods, contraband, and illicit services in Star Trek. Once you’ve completed the Smuggler Role-play mode, you can choose to specialize in one of the following specializations:
- Auctioneer
- Bodyguard
- Bankruptcy
- Bug Hunter
- Drugs & Alchemists
- Extortionist
- Federation Defense
- Hijacking
- Impersonation
- Insurance Fraud
- Judicial Mutation
- Medical Science
- Military Strategy
- Monetary Crimes
- Narcotics
- Piracy
- Poison & Toxins
- Prostitution
- Scandal
- Securities Fraud
- Theft
- Yachting
The Space Traders Role
If you’ve been playing the game for a while and have amassed a considerable amount of credits, you can Space Traders Role. Space Traders are characters who specialize in the purchase, resale, and transport of Bulk Commodities in the Federation sector of Star Trek Online. Once you’ve completed the Space Traders Role-play mode, you can choose to specialize in one of the following specializations: