So i finnaly just got 24 lvl with my Fed, and just made my Klingon looking alien. Since my times playing EvE online i loved flying as an Stealth bomber/Recon pilot. So in STO from the start, obviously my ship of choice was Bird of Pray.
In my opinion PVE is something i can do in singleplayer, so i focus on PvP.
So im lvl 27 Tac, just starting, but i want to head in the right direction, could someone write me build for BoP pilot? I read through some topics already, but some looked like they were expired and i didnt get the info i wanted.
For skills ill go Max Tac, half in Engi, and Shield Emitters/Shield Systems in Sci.
Gear, well the best one ill find obviously, with:
Front: 2x Tetryon dual heavy canon, 1x Tetryon dual beam and a Quantum torp
Aft: Torpedo, and something.
But i have no idea what skills should i roll on bof. Should i go with 2 tac officers or 2 sci?
I was thinking something like:
Tac: TT1, dunno, BO3 (if i can find it), APO3
Second officer i dont know who to pick
Sci: I dont know i think a must is PH, but i think i could also use TB, TSS, and HE
Eng: EPTS1, RSP1
I would really appreciate all the feedback i can get, because im playing this game for a week now and dont want to doon goof in the start. Also quick question should i roll as a BoP pilot for leveling or better should i pick a Raptor? Because in compare to my Sci Cap Sci vessels, BoP sure blows up a lot

And what lvl is good to start playing PvP matches, is it Capitan? or should i try, as soon as i find some decent gear.
Comments
Do whatever works for you, whats important is you load up on a full strength alpha, decloak and hammer the target. And when that fails, how to get out of the situation. If you go in with Omega you have 15 seconds of TB immunity. Not having PH hasn't hurt me too much. I'm one of those fools who wont cloak out until I feel pressure directed at me. Saving evasive manuvers for use at same time you cloak helps evade people when your shields are down. (use 3 evasive doffs for CD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YATZLqO0M50
I think I did pretty well though. Considering. And here's my current build.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMArobiYv0Y This build demo's being aware and prepped to evade regardless of the outcome of your Alpha. The actual how's and whys of it working.
I'm still doing pretty well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMqbpi2rDPg This is an Alpha. Avg is about 3 seconds length. You figure out what to do with the other 17 seconds. Just kidding. The previous video explained what to do with that time. You evade.
But overall, Dis, Ap, and Ph, are the three primary energy types. I would heavily recommend staying away from tetryon and polaron. Phased Polaron is half and half.
Fleet weapons are the best to pursue. (Strongest weps in game next to the Quad Phaser Cannons and Quad Disruptor Cannons)
Also, learn when to GTHO, when you make your first attack run, time your abilities vs how long it'll take to complete your attack pass, and click battle cloak. If you don't kill your target in the first pass, you don't want to stick around for the retaliation. A BoP can't survive jack TRIBBLE.
I've had idiots try and take my in my Dreadnought, Negh'Var, Guramba, it never ends well for them if they don't kill me in the first pass.
Beware of Science Vessels, when a player is playing in a Science Vessel, check his profile to identify if he's a Sci Officer in it, if so, avoid attack that ship in a BoP, he, most likely, will be able to detect before you even get into weapons range. And will be dead before you even decloak.
Watch out for Cruisers running dis/mine/RCS builds.
Even a Dread can turn on a dime. Don't assume because it's slow, that he's not built. I've had more idiots charge my dread thinking they can out run my turn, and then discover they are in the crosshairs of my cannons, flew into a minefield, and get 12 Orion Raiders charging up their *** before they decloak, before their buddy finishes his first pass, and their next buddy blown up after the pass, and the fourth near death.
In a Bird of Prey, you want to use hit and run, it is so vital to know what targets to take on, and what targets to stay the hell away from, and when to GTHO.
I've seen the dumbest things happen from BoP and Escort Players. Don't just charge in like an idiot, everyone will know you'll hit your torps, then high speed cannons, and will buff accordingly, followed by their own debuffs on you, I had an idiot in a B'rel get so close, I just used my assimilated tractor beam and allowed by slavers kill the fool.
Just choose your targets wisely.
The BOP is maneuverable, highly customizable, and can be quite devastating. But it is so fragile that you will be surprised how quickly it can go down if you don't handle her right.
Remember: In a BOP, there is absolutely no room for error. You're literally flying inside an eggshell :cool:
thissler, I saw your videos, and the alpha is a sure great thing to watch to, but seriously im too neewbish to figure out what officers are you using in your build, I was even reconsidering messaging you on yt to ask what skills are you running, but I figuredout a topic on this site should be enough to get some skill builds :P
Aux2Bat. Is it feasible on a BoP if you plan to be running either the alpha strike build, or the torp/mine B'Rel stealth build?
Missing the good ol' days of PvP: Legacy of Romulus to Season 9
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To be honestly with you, I really see no need at all if you're running a torp build to use an aux2bat. I really don't. Some might, but it seems like wasted seconds.
For an Alpha Strike do you mean such as that for a cannon build BoP?
I suppose that makes sense, since the cooldown is slow on mines anyways, reducing the cooldown on mine abilities would be unnecessary.
And yes, a cannon build BoP was what I was referring to.
Missing the good ol' days of PvP: Legacy of Romulus to Season 9
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Before you even think about attacking someone with a bop you must watch your target and make sure they dont have defensive buffs going. Tac Team, Attack Pattern Omega, Transfer Shield Strength, RSP of course. If any one of these are running then you should NOT attack. As the others have stated you cannot hang around blasting at a hardened target, you will die.
The next thing you want to keep in mind is you can NEVER rush your attack. Wait until all* your damage buffs are ready before you start your run. Use this time to watch your opponents buffs. When you are ready activate ALL your damage buffs starting with the longest running buffs. Attack pattern ALpha, Go Down Fighting, Tac Fleet, then Beam Overload 3, Torp High Yield, then your shorter buffs, Attack Pattern Omega and last Tac team. It is best to have a tractor beam so you can stop your target which gives him a -def rating which will give you 100% chance of hitting with BO3 (mostly). Make sure you have Evasive Maneuvers ready so you can get out of town. You will have to practice the timing but you will be vaping feddy bears in no time.
*you can get away without having Tac Fleet and GDF on softer targets. they have 4-5 min CD so you can fit two alphas in while they are on CD.
And one last note, try to hit your buffs outside of 10km from target or they may hear your buffs activate! Yes that can happen and your target will have Tac team up and waiting for you, if they are alert.
Have fun!
House of Beautiful Orions
PUNISH THE FEDs
Lol a dime
Agreed, that can be a effective way to set up your attack. But, I would caution you against trying it against a Sci captain, unless you know exactly what skills he carries. You dont want to get hit with a Charged Particle Burst or Sci Scan and get decloaked.
House of Beautiful Orions
PUNISH THE FEDs