I'm finding this new Plasma proc to be annoying because if you are fighting Borg or Romulans, its almost mandatory to have Hazard Emitters. And due to tractor beams, its necessary to have Polarized Hull as the second Science abilities (since Cruisers and most Escorts are limited to a LT Science slot).
While Escorts have Pattern Omega, they are free to use a second science ability in it's place. But <most> Cruisers do not have that luxary and are stuck with Polarized Hull and Hazard Emitters. So this leaves Tanking Cruisers without additional shield reinforcement (since they are limited to only Emergency Shields) and Support Cruisers are limited only to Extend shields. Also, with the cleanse effect being a short duration on Hazzard Emitters, if you got multiple stacked plasma, your hull would've baked off before Hazzard Emitters was available again.
So what I would like to see is Engineering Team and Aux to SIF get a heal boost and one of them having a cleanse effect. That or a new Engineering ability be available that has a cleanse effect so that Cruiser would not have to rely on Hazzard Emitters.
If anyone has an idea what canonical ability that this could be, I'm all ears.
Breaking a tractor beam is pretty unimportant in PvE for cruisers. Although I wouldn't be opposed to having another ability that cleansed it. Aux to Sif wouldn't work though, it's on too short of a cooldown.
While APO might help them get out of the TB or not be pushed by the TBR, it does nothing about the damage.
PH not only helps with the TB/TBR - but it also provides hull resist, which in turn can also help with the damage from the DoTs (as well as any bleed or bare).
As for the shields, if you're talking about resistance and missing out on TSS or having to get an ES from somebody else... there's also flying with an Engineer for RSF or with a Sci for SF. No, the Tac's not going to have either of those.
There are both Cruisers and Escorts that will allow you to run PH, HE, and TSS. You have the Lt & En.
It's also discounting what you could get from RSP, as well as ways to always have EPtS up and running (whether AtB/Tech or using DCE and a second EPt ability). While they may not have the resists, in combination with what you can run and all the ways to get shield heals - it should be workable regardless of the boat you're flying. There's also what you've done with your captain's skill build.
Getting back to the DoTs though, for the STF Borg - they're reducing the damage from the torp DoTs to 80% on Thursday (the patch notes are up early).
Even outside of that, there are many ways to improve your hull resist - so even if HE's on CD, you can still reduce the damage that's being done.
If there were too many ways to cleanse something, then it becomes useless. People have to decide if they want X or Y, acknowledging that if they go with X they can't necessarily have Y as well. Even so, the way STO is - it's more along the lines of choosing X and having y or choosing Y and having x.
Wouldn't it make sense to give Engineering Team that "put out fires" ability, too? I mean, that is what damage control teams do in real life, they put out fires...
I concur
BUT
To be honest, I think they should give Cruisers a higher level sci BO slot. The Cruisers are already at a disadvantage in the realm of space combat - especially in PvP.
Aren't cruisers already limited in Tactical BO slots - They are also limited in dmg output.
Cruiser/Eng Cpts are out shined by both sci ships and tactical escorts.
The one thing Cruisers were meant to handle, they cannot handle, and that is Tanking. I mean there are decent Eng vessels out there, but with a major nerf to MW I think the Cruiser Eng Captain deserves a bit of a buff.
Afterall not everyone can afford those specialty ships.
Where the wiggle room comes into that is with the two Lt and the En slots.
There are variations available for all of them:
Lt & En Eng w/ Lt Sci
Lt & En Eng w/ Lt Tac
Lt & En Tac w/ Lt Eng
Lt & En Tac w/ Lt Sci
Lt & En Sci w/ Lt Eng
Lt & En Sci w/ Lt Tac
If it's a case of wanting 3 Sci BOFF abilities - there are both Cruisers and Escorts that provide that.
If it's a case of wanting 3 Tac BOFF abilities - there are both Cruisers and Science Vessels that provide that.
If it's a case of wanting 3 Eng BOFF abiltiies - there are both Escorts and Science Vessels that provide that.
For folks wanting more options, there are ships out there with different rank Uni BOFF slots - En, Lt, LCdr, and Cmdr...and yes, they're going to cost. If you can't afford it, then you have to go without - I can't afford them, so I have to go without. They're a luxury - they're not a necessity.
Wouldn't it make sense to give Engineering Team that "put out fires" ability, too? I mean, that is what damage control teams do in real life, they put out fires...
Hmmm... this is bad. First I'm agreeing with Sollvax, now I'm agreeing with Soph. The Mayans were right after all.
_______________ CommanderDonatra@Capt.Sisko: ahhh is it supposed to do that? Norvo Tigan@dontdrunkimshoot: hell ya, maybe
polarize hul and hazard emitters isn't necessarily a bad thing to carry considering while both add some form of dmg resist and HE also gives a generous hull heal over time to boot. I can understand that it kinda takes away from picking other sci abilities but, it's not all that bad of a choice really. As for my prefered cruiser setup is with 1Lt. Tac 1En. Tac 1Cmnd Eng 1LtCmd Sci 1Lt. Sci for an Oddy cruiser, I feel gives me some flexibility in all fields, but that's just MOP.
To be honest, I think they should give Cruisers a higher level sci BO slot. The Cruisers are already at a disadvantage in the realm of space combat - especially in PvP.
Aren't cruisers already limited in Tactical BO slots - They are also limited in dmg output.
Cruiser/Eng Cpts are out shined by both sci ships and tactical escorts.
The one thing Cruisers were meant to handle, they cannot handle, and that is Tanking. I mean there are decent Eng vessels out there, but with a major nerf to MW I think the Cruiser Eng Captain deserves a bit of a buff.
Afterall not everyone can afford those specialty ships.
I beg to differ. With all due respect to the player that believes they are great cruiser captains, I'm here to inform them they suck. Cruisers can be down right invincible. It's the trade off for crappy DPS. The problem is, it's a pointless trade off when you can't kill nobody and they can't kill you, so why even bother in PVP?
This game needs some serious balancing, and the idea of classes and roles needs to go out the window because it can't work for STO. There's only so much you can do with the Star Trek brand and three whole classes.
Only escorts really need to break tractor beams, I just tank through it if in a sci ship or cruiser. Rather then a polarize hull I rather have extra hazzard emitters.
For PvE, I rarely have an issue on my Tac/Esc with tractors even on elite. Between AP Omega, Engineering Team and Hazard Emitters, it takes a very long time for plasma DoTs to wear me down. I did go through the pain of getting a Mobius/Wells combo so I could have Backstep for another heal, but it's my emergency last-ditch remedy.
That is not to say that I won't eventually explode when facing off against a Tac Cube - but between my four shield heals, three hull heals and AP Omega I feel I am doing fine considering I am flying an escort.
That is not to say that I won't eventually explode when facing off against a Tac Cube
Heh, that's because they cheat.
You'll be sitting their, hull tanking them, trying not to fall asleep, and then you explode. Sure enough, you check the combat log and you got hit by an invisitorp.
Comments
PH not only helps with the TB/TBR - but it also provides hull resist, which in turn can also help with the damage from the DoTs (as well as any bleed or bare).
As for the shields, if you're talking about resistance and missing out on TSS or having to get an ES from somebody else... there's also flying with an Engineer for RSF or with a Sci for SF. No, the Tac's not going to have either of those.
There are both Cruisers and Escorts that will allow you to run PH, HE, and TSS. You have the Lt & En.
It's also discounting what you could get from RSP, as well as ways to always have EPtS up and running (whether AtB/Tech or using DCE and a second EPt ability). While they may not have the resists, in combination with what you can run and all the ways to get shield heals - it should be workable regardless of the boat you're flying. There's also what you've done with your captain's skill build.
Getting back to the DoTs though, for the STF Borg - they're reducing the damage from the torp DoTs to 80% on Thursday (the patch notes are up early).
Even outside of that, there are many ways to improve your hull resist - so even if HE's on CD, you can still reduce the damage that's being done.
If there were too many ways to cleanse something, then it becomes useless. People have to decide if they want X or Y, acknowledging that if they go with X they can't necessarily have Y as well. Even so, the way STO is - it's more along the lines of choosing X and having y or choosing Y and having x.
I concur
BUT
To be honest, I think they should give Cruisers a higher level sci BO slot. The Cruisers are already at a disadvantage in the realm of space combat - especially in PvP.
Aren't cruisers already limited in Tactical BO slots - They are also limited in dmg output.
Cruiser/Eng Cpts are out shined by both sci ships and tactical escorts.
The one thing Cruisers were meant to handle, they cannot handle, and that is Tanking. I mean there are decent Eng vessels out there, but with a major nerf to MW I think the Cruiser Eng Captain deserves a bit of a buff.
Afterall not everyone can afford those specialty ships.
Well, the "basic" difference in regard to BOFFs between the Fed ships is:
Cruiser - Cmdr Eng, LCdr Eng
Escort - Cmdr Tac, LCdr Tac
Science - Cmdr Sci, LCdr Sci
Where the wiggle room comes into that is with the two Lt and the En slots.
There are variations available for all of them:
Lt & En Eng w/ Lt Sci
Lt & En Eng w/ Lt Tac
Lt & En Tac w/ Lt Eng
Lt & En Tac w/ Lt Sci
Lt & En Sci w/ Lt Eng
Lt & En Sci w/ Lt Tac
If it's a case of wanting 3 Sci BOFF abilities - there are both Cruisers and Escorts that provide that.
If it's a case of wanting 3 Tac BOFF abilities - there are both Cruisers and Science Vessels that provide that.
If it's a case of wanting 3 Eng BOFF abiltiies - there are both Escorts and Science Vessels that provide that.
For folks wanting more options, there are ships out there with different rank Uni BOFF slots - En, Lt, LCdr, and Cmdr...and yes, they're going to cost. If you can't afford it, then you have to go without - I can't afford them, so I have to go without. They're a luxury - they're not a necessity.
Hmmm... this is bad. First I'm agreeing with Sollvax, now I'm agreeing with Soph. The Mayans were right after all.
CommanderDonatra@Capt.Sisko: ahhh is it supposed to do that?
Norvo Tigan@dontdrunkimshoot: hell ya, maybe
Praetor of the -RTS- Romulan Tal Shiar fleet!
This game needs some serious balancing, and the idea of classes and roles needs to go out the window because it can't work for STO. There's only so much you can do with the Star Trek brand and three whole classes.
One small point. The Borg Plasma DoTs have been reduced TO 80% of their old value not BY 80%.
That is not to say that I won't eventually explode when facing off against a Tac Cube - but between my four shield heals, three hull heals and AP Omega I feel I am doing fine considering I am flying an escort.
Thanks for that - I edited my post. That's what I get for typing before I have enough caffeine and nicotine.
Heh, that's because they cheat.
You'll be sitting their, hull tanking them, trying not to fall asleep, and then you explode. Sure enough, you check the combat log and you got hit by an invisitorp.