Who is Next Gen La Forge in STFC?
Next Gen La Forge is a common Federation officer in the Engineering class, drawn from the early days of Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He sits in the Next Gen officer group and leans defensive: his captain ability lowers the weapon damage of the ship you are fighting, and his bridge ability raises your own shield health.
Because he is a common officer, he costs very little to recruit and rank up, which makes him an easy early pick for players who want a survivability bump without chasing rare shards. He will not headline an end-game roster, but he earns his bridge seat while you are still building toward stronger crews.
This guide walks through his abilities, the fights where he helps most, how to rank him, and the crew logic around him.
Star Trek background
Geordi La Forge is a Human Starfleet officer from The Next Generation. He was blind from birth and used a VISOR, a curved device worn across the eyes that fed visual data straight to his brain, to see the world around him. Later stories swapped the VISOR for ocular implants, but this card shows the VISOR-wearing version from the TNG series.
He first served aboard the USS Enterprise-D as helmsman before moving into engineering. Promoted to full lieutenant, he transferred into the operations division and took over as the ship’s chief engineer under Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He later filled the same chief engineer role aboard the USS Enterprise-E. Writers gave him a reputation for technical skill and a calm, cooperative way of running his team, a fit for an engineering officer built around keeping a ship alive under fire. In much later stories he reaches the rank of commodore and curates the Fleet Museum, but the officer you recruit here is the younger version still learning the ropes on the Enterprise-D.
Role in STFC
In game terms, Next Gen La Forge is a defensive Engineering officer with two jobs. As captain he chips away at the damage your opponent’s weapons deal. As a bridge officer he pads your shield health so your ship absorbs more punishment before the hull starts taking hits.
That places him in the survivability bucket rather than the damage bucket. You bring him when you want a fight to last longer in your favor, not when you want to burst a target down quickly. His common rarity and low shard cost make him most at home in early and mid-game crews, where small percentage gains in defense still move the needle. As your roster grows, he becomes a reliable backup rather than a first-string pick, but the low cost of entry means almost any player can try him without regret.
Captain ability and officer ability
Timeless (captain ability)
When Next Gen La Forge captains a ship, his Timeless ability reduces the weapon damage of the opposing ship. The rank-1 value is a 10% reduction as of the latest data. Treat that as the number you can count on. Higher ranks adjust the ability, but the safe takeaway is a flat cut to the damage coming at you, which helps your ship win a drawn-out exchange.
A weapon-damage debuff like this pays off most in defensive fights. Shaving a slice off every enemy hit does little in a one-shot trade, but over a long battle those reductions stack into real survivability. It works best when your ship is already built to take a few rounds rather than end the fight on the opening volley.
Rerouting Power (officer ability)
On the bridge, Rerouting Power increases your ship’s shield health. The bonus grows as you promote him, following this progression (current as of the latest game data):
| Rank | Shield health bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5% |
| 2 | 7% |
| 3 | 9% |
| 4 | 11% |
| 5 | 14% |
Bigger shields mean your ship soaks more damage before the hull is exposed, which buys time for your own weapons or your repair window. Paired with his captain debuff, the theme stays consistent: take less, last longer. Neither ability tries to do everything, and that focus is what makes him easy to slot into a defensive plan.
Where Next Gen La Forge shines
He fits a handful of clear situations:
- Early-game survivability. New players grinding hostiles or faction reputation can seat him to stay alive longer between repairs and stretch each ship out further before it needs to dock.
- Defensive setups. The weapon-damage debuff and the shield boost both help when you expect to take fire, such as holding a position, baiting an attacker, or tanking incoming damage while a fleetmate does the work.
- Shield-leaning ships. Any build that already invests in shield health gets more out of Rerouting Power than a glass-cannon attacker would, since the percentage rides on a bigger base number.
He is a support-flavored defensive officer, so he rewards crews that aim to win on attrition rather than speed. If your plan is to out-last the other ship, he belongs in the conversation. If your plan is to delete the target before it fires twice, look elsewhere.
How to get Next Gen La Forge
Next Gen La Forge is a common officer, so he is one of the cheaper officers to unlock and promote. Reaching his top rank takes 135 shards in total, spread across the ranks as 3, then 6, 15, 36, and 75. Promotions also cost Federation credits and officer XP, both of which stay light at the early ranks and grow heavier as you climb. His ranks run from Ensign up to Commander, with the level cap rising from 5 at Ensign to 30 at Commander.
Shard availability shifts with the game’s rotations, so check the current store offerings and event lineup to see where his shards are showing up. As a common officer he tends to be easier to come by than rare or epic crew, which is part of why he makes such a forgiving early investment.
Synergies and crew building
Next Gen La Forge carries a class synergy bonus that rewards pairing him with the right officer classes. His synergy values are 5% for Command, 2% for Engineering, and 5% for Science, so a bridge that leans on Command and Science officers draws the most from seating him alongside them.
He also belongs to the Next Gen officer group, which means he works comfortably next to other officers from that same group. Build around his defensive theme. Captains and bridge officers that reinforce shields or trim incoming damage stack well with what he already provides, and the result is a ship that simply refuses to die on schedule. Keep his seat on hulls where staying power matters more than raw output, and let dedicated damage officers handle the offense.
Frequently asked questions
Is Next Gen La Forge any good?
For an early or mid-game roster, yes. He is a budget defensive officer who cuts enemy weapon damage as captain and adds shield health on the bridge. He is not an end-game centerpiece, but he gives newer players real survivability for almost no investment.
Where do you get Next Gen La Forge shards?
As a common officer, his shards turn up through recruiting and rotating store and event offers. Availability changes over time, so check the current store and event rotations to see where he is available right now.
What ship is Next Gen La Forge best on?
Put him on a ship that already wants to survive, such as a defensive or shield-leaning build, rather than a fast damage dealer. His shield-health boost does the most work where shields are carrying the load.
Is he better as captain or bridge officer?
It depends on the rest of your crew. As captain his Timeless debuff lowers the enemy’s weapon damage for the whole fight, which suits a defensive captain seat. On the bridge his Rerouting Power simply adds shield health. If you have a stronger captain available, use La Forge on the bridge for the shield bonus and let the better officer take the chair.
Is Next Gen La Forge worth ranking up?
His total cost of 135 shards is low, and each promotion raises his shield-health bonus from 5% toward 14%. If you are using him for early survivability, ranking him is cheap and pays off. If you have already moved on to stronger defensive officers, you can leave him where he is without losing much.
Should you chase Next Gen La Forge?
Next Gen La Forge is a starter-friendly defensive officer who earns a place on early crews and quietly steps aside once you unlock stronger options. If you are still building your roster and want cheap survivability, he is worth the small shard outlay. If your defensive seats are already filled by rare or epic officers, treat him as a stepping stone you have likely already passed.
