Just, you know, the whole idea of a tank in one of these games? It's just damage soak and aggro generation and the Fleet AC can do those. It's a fine ship for tanking. Tanking just isn't needed in STO right now to the degree that the ship can specialize.
In the forums when we speak of "tankyness" most usually refer only to the ability to soak up damage, the threat generation is assumed to be specced into for tanks, and not specced into for non tanks. At least that's how i've always understood it.
And while you're right that the Fleet AC is really just a step below the Fleet Galaxy and Fleet Starcruiser in terms of potential damage soaking it IS below them all. Admittedly its all relative since its more than enough for PvE. It'd probably be more apt to say that the Fleet Galaxy and Fleet Starcruisers have too much of damage soaking potential? But that's only apparent when you reach a certain level of game experience. To the average player that extra durability is VERY much wanted.
As to how needed tanking actually is.... it shouldn't be a role at all tbh. The whole concept of hard roles are bad enough in fantasy RPGs, in a space game where spaceships are the PCs its beyond silly.
But, since the role exists and the engi piloted Fleet AC provides a new style of play that is VERY different from my tacscort I do it. Its fun to make a build that is so different and works. Flying the engi cruiser as a DPS centric tank is different enough without being completely unrecognizable (such as going from a DPS to a tank or healer role in a fantasy RPG) and most importantly its very entertaining to wade into waves upon waves of enemy baddies and lay waste to them all in a cruiser DPS cruiser (in particular the romulan levelling mission with the waves of Elachi replayed at max level and set on Elite for two players was a lot of fun, not really difficult but a fun change from the usual Borg and Tholians. Fortunately I know someone that got me into the map). You really own that patch of space, in an escort its more like you're strafing through. Both are fun and add variety to the game without being required.
I'm finding that a shield quarter that is in the 'red zone' still stops a whole load of my weapon, being in a cruiser with an enemy at the starboard, you can't maneuver to take advantage of any holes in the shields. I personally find this frustrating and I tent to change targets.
Comments
In the forums when we speak of "tankyness" most usually refer only to the ability to soak up damage, the threat generation is assumed to be specced into for tanks, and not specced into for non tanks. At least that's how i've always understood it.
And while you're right that the Fleet AC is really just a step below the Fleet Galaxy and Fleet Starcruiser in terms of potential damage soaking it IS below them all. Admittedly its all relative since its more than enough for PvE. It'd probably be more apt to say that the Fleet Galaxy and Fleet Starcruisers have too much of damage soaking potential? But that's only apparent when you reach a certain level of game experience. To the average player that extra durability is VERY much wanted.
As to how needed tanking actually is.... it shouldn't be a role at all tbh. The whole concept of hard roles are bad enough in fantasy RPGs, in a space game where spaceships are the PCs its beyond silly.
But, since the role exists and the engi piloted Fleet AC provides a new style of play that is VERY different from my tacscort I do it. Its fun to make a build that is so different and works. Flying the engi cruiser as a DPS centric tank is different enough without being completely unrecognizable (such as going from a DPS to a tank or healer role in a fantasy RPG) and most importantly its very entertaining to wade into waves upon waves of enemy baddies and lay waste to them all in a cruiser DPS cruiser (in particular the romulan levelling mission with the waves of Elachi replayed at max level and set on Elite for two players was a lot of fun, not really difficult but a fun change from the usual Borg and Tholians. Fortunately I know someone that got me into the map). You really own that patch of space, in an escort its more like you're strafing through. Both are fun and add variety to the game without being required.