Except it then makes me wonder, with the offensive capability of the Scimitar, and the fact it's designed to hit and fade (NOT TANK), why would you run anything other than the extreme nukage builds that come from DHCs or DBBs in the front?
And Aux2Bat is primarily used on BFAW cruisers, since most other builds don't generate enough power drain to require Aux2Bat to even be thought about.
There is great truth here. This thing deals disturbing damage. It can Spike more fiercely than anything else out there. So why bother sitting around and tanking? You do not NEED to tank. Most things will NOT survive a proper Alpha from this beast and you can stay cloaked and still dish out damage for a fair while with the right combination of Cloak Barrage, Warp Shadows, and the Romulan Rep cloak.
There is great truth here. This thing deals disturbing damage. It can Spike more fiercely than anything else out there. So why bother sitting around and tanking? You do not NEED to tank. Most things will NOT survive a proper Alpha from this beast and you can stay cloaked and still dish out damage for a fair while with the right combination of Cloak Barrage, Warp Shadows, and the Romulan Rep cloak.
If you throw two copies of RSP into that mix, then you've got enough 'tanking' abilities to survive things like gates while you kill them. Its how I do it. RSP/Warp shadows/cloaked barrage/RSP in that order, and its usually dead before the 2nd RSP runs out, soloing it that is. Dies sooner if i have a random teammate or two with me. Not many ships can pull that off at 2-3km away.
Peacekeeper High Command
Scorpius - Zelbinion Mk II
Except it then makes me wonder, with the offensive capability of the Scimitar, and the fact it's designed to hit and fade (NOT TANK), why would you run anything other than the extreme nukage builds that come from DHCs or DBBs in the front?
And Aux2Bat is primarily used on BFAW cruisers, since most other builds don't generate enough power drain to require Aux2Bat to even be thought about.
Once again, joining two completely separate build strategies (A2B + FAW) and acting as though they're one and the same, while at the same time being so very close to the point you're trying to make without even realizing it.
The strength of an Aux2Bat build has nothing to do with mitigating or browbeating drain. It has everything to do with mitigating cooldowns. That's something that's entirely weapon agnostic. The power boost is simply icing on the cake.
Combine the Scimitar's boff seating, console selection and weapon slotting and you've got a ship that can combine massed DHC-level damage output, serious self (and if necessary group ) healing, Aux2Bat cooldown reductions, one of the best hangar pets currently available and hilariously boosted cloak mechanics (which when you combine Subterfuge and Infiltrator boffs with secondary shields means you can get a permanent Ambush bonus while only having to sacrifice 3-second damage increments at the hands of someone who knows how to handle the cloak).
If your hyper plasma torpedoes actually have time to reach your targets, you're doing something wrong. If you're using DHCs for PvE, you're doing something wrong. If you aren't the top dps in PvE in a Scimitar bar none, you're doing something wrong. If you can't tank in a Scimitar, you're doing something wrong.
I doubt a DHC/hyper plasma torp Scimitar would do even half the dps of one just running full beams and none of the stupid consoles.
You must be one of those people who saw a beam scimitar do 25k dps I bet...except it isn't real since they're spamming it and hitting things that recover from damage so fast it's literally damage being thrown away to pump up ego.
I dont understand why people are droning on about aux2bat likes its some kind of bad thing. I use aux2bat on my scimitar simply to increase the amount i can use boff skills such as RSP and attack patterns.
At the same time aux 2 bat helps offset the disadvantage of romulan ships power levels being so low, and triggers my elite fleet core synergy amp damage bonus sometimes also depending what my power levels are set as.
Aux 2 bat is a win win. If you cant grasp how it works, or dont want to fork out the 20-30 mil on the technicians, your loss. Any ship that can run it on the romulan side benefits. When combined with leech, it really does come into its own.
" Experience is a hard mistress, she gives the tests first, and the lessons after... "
You must be one of those people who saw a beam scimitar do 25k dps I bet...except it isn't real since they're spamming it and hitting things that recover from damage so fast it's literally damage being thrown away to pump up ego.
Oh and i use DBB's on my scimitar for the bigger arc, and the fact is the damage is still good, the only way DHC's beat it is with an Alpha strike to trigger the bigger crits. DBB's also lose less damage over distance.
This is all without even throwing FAW's in there.
" Experience is a hard mistress, she gives the tests first, and the lessons after... "
Once again, joining two completely separate build strategies (A2B + FAW) and acting as though they're one and the same, while at the same time being so very close to the point you're trying to make without even realizing it. In all honesty you hardly ever see Aux2bat being used for anything else.
The strength of an Aux2Bat build has nothing to do with mitigating or browbeating drain. It has everything to do with mitigating cooldowns. That's something that's entirely weapon agnostic. The power boost is simply icing on the cake. Mitigating cds is a nice addition, but tbh you can just run two of the ability.
Combine the Scimitar's boff seating, console selection and weapon slotting and you've got a ship that can combine massed DHC-level damage output, serious self (and if necessary group ) healing, Aux2Bat cooldown reductions, one of the best hangar pets currently available and hilariously boosted cloak mechanics (which when you combine Subterfuge and Infiltrator boffs with secondary shields means you can get a permanent Ambush bonus while only having to sacrifice 3-second damage increments at the hands of someone who knows how to handle the cloak).
And you are missing the point I am trying to make completely as well.
You're using Aux2bat to handle tactical cds... on a ship that can run a Cmdr tactical AND LtCmdr tactical... sorry, that still makes no sense whatsoever. If you're talking about CRF or CSV? You just alternate between the two, or run two copies of them. If you're talking about attack patterns? Same thing. If you're referring to APO which has a much longer CD? Here's what you do: APO3, APB3, APO1, APB2, APO3, APB2... and so on and so forth. You will just have the usual 5 second downtime that you ALWAYS have that not even vaunted Aux2bat can combat.
If you're using it for Engineering cds? Same thing. Just run 2 copies of that ability. For science cds? That's the only place I can see Aux2bat being useful. Sufficed to say, if you put the Ens to engi or have a DCE, you don't need Aux2bat. At all.
So that is merely build choice. But sufficed to say, a NON Aux2bat DHC scimi will be just as effective in combat as an Aux2bat DHC scimi (if not more so, since you aren't relying on cds being reduced by 30%, you're instead going for the 30% triggered shared cds, which gives you an additional 30% uptime in comparison)... and not nearly as squishy (cuz guess what... you got aux heals... O.O).
Which then makes me wonder, where are you heals coming from with no aux power? How can you heal yourself or your team if you have no aux? Just a thought.
It is said the best weapon is one that is never fired. I disagree. The best weapon is one you only have to fire... once.
I dont understand why people are droning on about aux2bat likes its some kind of bad thing.
Its not that A2B itself is bad; its a tool like any other, just one that happens to have higher highs and lower lows. The problem is when people turn it into a crutch instead of a tool, particularly when some of them get so 'assertive' about their perfect builds ("If you're not like me, you're doing it wrong") yet stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the tradeoffs of said setups.
Plus there's the simple fact that such ships are really really boring. If you're in one, you press the spacebar and everything disintegrates. If you're flying something else, for the most part you just end up watching someone else plow through everything. Either way the mission is over in 3 minutes and you never really got to do anything. Where's the fun in that?
You're using Aux2bat to handle tactical cds... on a ship that can run a Cmdr tactical AND LtCmdr tactical... sorry, that still makes no sense whatsoever. If you're talking about CRF or CSV? You just alternate between the two, or run two copies of them.
If you're talking about attack patterns? Same thing. If you're referring to APO which has a much longer CD? Here's what you do: APO3, APB3, APO1, APB2, APO3, APB2... and so on and so forth. You will just have the usual 5 second downtime that you ALWAYS have that not even vaunted Aux2bat can combat.
If you're using it for Engineering cds? Same thing. Just run 2 copies of that ability. For science cds? That's the only place I can see Aux2bat being useful. Sufficed to say, if you put the Ens to engi or have a DCE, you don't need Aux2bat. At all.
So that is merely build choice. But sufficed to say, a NON Aux2bat DHC scimi will be just as effective in combat as an Aux2bat DHC scimi (if not more so, since you aren't relying on cds being reduced by 30%, you're instead going for the 30% triggered shared cds, which gives you an additional 30% uptime in comparison)... and not nearly as squishy (cuz guess what... you got aux heals... O.O).
If you like doubling up on powers that's your prerogative, but you're not getting 30% additional uptime by comparison. Also, an A2B scimitar is very far from squishy, because you can afford to slot more survivability powers - and have access to them on global - whilst still having access to all of the tactical powers you need on global.
Which then makes me wonder, where are you heals coming from with no aux power? How can you heal yourself or your team if you have no aux? Just a thought.
It's not exactly hard to break the A2B cycle to pop off a sci heal @ 100+ aux within a few seconds, and if you really want to you can slot a stack of aux batteries and do a battery/heal combo for maximum effectiveness. That aside with a valdore console, constant EPtS buff uptime - alongside EPtW too since you can run just one copy of each and maintain both buffs 100% or as near as damnit, instead of having to run two copies of EPtS - more regular access to TSS IF you need it, and RSP on global, the only thing you really need HE for is plasma/drain cleansing and a little bit of hull top-up - and you've got that on global without having to double up on it. Still feeling you're a bit lacking on the hull healing side? No problem: equip the assimilated engine/deflector for the autonomous regeneration 2-piece and you've got a regular hull HoT (I don't use it on my Scimitar, because I really don't need it).
Then you've got a host of damage-mitigating singularity powers at your disposal....
As for healing your team, in what content outside of PvP and perhaps NWS is that particularly necessary? Also, anyone who can't handle the vast majority of damage in eSTFs really needs to learn to, because it's really not all that hard.
I played around with an A2B build last night, and yeah, for alpha striking its a beast. My only problem with it is the extra attention you have to spend on the cool downs. Miss a beat and you loose a lot in efficiency. Not a problem in stfs, no awareness really needed. But in the middle of a mass firefight (SB24), when you're trying to locate and kill negvahs before the other player with a decent build does, it gets very trickey.
And I've got to admit, the aux isn't a problem really, as it generally shoots back up to the mid 60's for me while A2B is in effect. Its just the lack of hull heals that i miss (mainly A2SIF). The extra engine power is also notable, it was the first thing i missed when going back to my previous build.
Normally i judge its efficiency on how quick i can do one side of khit. Typically all 3 times i did it yesterday i had a decent teammate in a bug. 3rd time was most amusing, as we'd finished our side before they popped a single transformer. Anyways, back on track. I'll be giving it another spin today on khit and hopefully the rest of the team will all just go to the left and leave me to do the right on my own, lol.
So yeah, its good, if not better. Just at a cost.
Peacekeeper High Command
Scorpius - Zelbinion Mk II
Comments
There is great truth here. This thing deals disturbing damage. It can Spike more fiercely than anything else out there. So why bother sitting around and tanking? You do not NEED to tank. Most things will NOT survive a proper Alpha from this beast and you can stay cloaked and still dish out damage for a fair while with the right combination of Cloak Barrage, Warp Shadows, and the Romulan Rep cloak.
If you throw two copies of RSP into that mix, then you've got enough 'tanking' abilities to survive things like gates while you kill them. Its how I do it. RSP/Warp shadows/cloaked barrage/RSP in that order, and its usually dead before the 2nd RSP runs out, soloing it that is. Dies sooner if i have a random teammate or two with me. Not many ships can pull that off at 2-3km away.
Peacekeeper High Command
Scorpius - Zelbinion Mk II
Once again, joining two completely separate build strategies (A2B + FAW) and acting as though they're one and the same, while at the same time being so very close to the point you're trying to make without even realizing it.
The strength of an Aux2Bat build has nothing to do with mitigating or browbeating drain. It has everything to do with mitigating cooldowns. That's something that's entirely weapon agnostic. The power boost is simply icing on the cake.
Combine the Scimitar's boff seating, console selection and weapon slotting and you've got a ship that can combine massed DHC-level damage output, serious self (and if necessary group ) healing, Aux2Bat cooldown reductions, one of the best hangar pets currently available and hilariously boosted cloak mechanics (which when you combine Subterfuge and Infiltrator boffs with secondary shields means you can get a permanent Ambush bonus while only having to sacrifice 3-second damage increments at the hands of someone who knows how to handle the cloak).
You must be one of those people who saw a beam scimitar do 25k dps I bet...except it isn't real since they're spamming it and hitting things that recover from damage so fast it's literally damage being thrown away to pump up ego.
At the same time aux 2 bat helps offset the disadvantage of romulan ships power levels being so low, and triggers my elite fleet core synergy amp damage bonus sometimes also depending what my power levels are set as.
Aux 2 bat is a win win. If you cant grasp how it works, or dont want to fork out the 20-30 mil on the technicians, your loss. Any ship that can run it on the romulan side benefits. When combined with leech, it really does come into its own.
Oh and i use DBB's on my scimitar for the bigger arc, and the fact is the damage is still good, the only way DHC's beat it is with an Alpha strike to trigger the bigger crits. DBB's also lose less damage over distance.
This is all without even throwing FAW's in there.
lolwut? see link in sig. O_o 10k+ dps escort
Why are you such a beamboat fanboy?
Fleet Admiral Rylana - Fed Tac - U.S.S Wild Card - Tactical Miracle Worker Cruiser
Lifetime Subscriber since 2012 == 17,200 Accolades = RIP PvP and Vice Squad
Chief of Starfleet Intelligence Service == Praise Cheesus
And you are missing the point I am trying to make completely as well.
You're using Aux2bat to handle tactical cds... on a ship that can run a Cmdr tactical AND LtCmdr tactical... sorry, that still makes no sense whatsoever. If you're talking about CRF or CSV? You just alternate between the two, or run two copies of them. If you're talking about attack patterns? Same thing. If you're referring to APO which has a much longer CD? Here's what you do: APO3, APB3, APO1, APB2, APO3, APB2... and so on and so forth. You will just have the usual 5 second downtime that you ALWAYS have that not even vaunted Aux2bat can combat.
If you're using it for Engineering cds? Same thing. Just run 2 copies of that ability. For science cds? That's the only place I can see Aux2bat being useful. Sufficed to say, if you put the Ens to engi or have a DCE, you don't need Aux2bat. At all.
So that is merely build choice. But sufficed to say, a NON Aux2bat DHC scimi will be just as effective in combat as an Aux2bat DHC scimi (if not more so, since you aren't relying on cds being reduced by 30%, you're instead going for the 30% triggered shared cds, which gives you an additional 30% uptime in comparison)... and not nearly as squishy (cuz guess what... you got aux heals... O.O).
Which then makes me wonder, where are you heals coming from with no aux power? How can you heal yourself or your team if you have no aux? Just a thought.
Its not that A2B itself is bad; its a tool like any other, just one that happens to have higher highs and lower lows. The problem is when people turn it into a crutch instead of a tool, particularly when some of them get so 'assertive' about their perfect builds ("If you're not like me, you're doing it wrong") yet stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the tradeoffs of said setups.
Plus there's the simple fact that such ships are really really boring. If you're in one, you press the spacebar and everything disintegrates. If you're flying something else, for the most part you just end up watching someone else plow through everything. Either way the mission is over in 3 minutes and you never really got to do anything. Where's the fun in that?
If you like doubling up on powers that's your prerogative, but you're not getting 30% additional uptime by comparison. Also, an A2B scimitar is very far from squishy, because you can afford to slot more survivability powers - and have access to them on global - whilst still having access to all of the tactical powers you need on global.
It's not exactly hard to break the A2B cycle to pop off a sci heal @ 100+ aux within a few seconds, and if you really want to you can slot a stack of aux batteries and do a battery/heal combo for maximum effectiveness. That aside with a valdore console, constant EPtS buff uptime - alongside EPtW too since you can run just one copy of each and maintain both buffs 100% or as near as damnit, instead of having to run two copies of EPtS - more regular access to TSS IF you need it, and RSP on global, the only thing you really need HE for is plasma/drain cleansing and a little bit of hull top-up - and you've got that on global without having to double up on it. Still feeling you're a bit lacking on the hull healing side? No problem: equip the assimilated engine/deflector for the autonomous regeneration 2-piece and you've got a regular hull HoT (I don't use it on my Scimitar, because I really don't need it).
Then you've got a host of damage-mitigating singularity powers at your disposal....
As for healing your team, in what content outside of PvP and perhaps NWS is that particularly necessary? Also, anyone who can't handle the vast majority of damage in eSTFs really needs to learn to, because it's really not all that hard.
And I've got to admit, the aux isn't a problem really, as it generally shoots back up to the mid 60's for me while A2B is in effect. Its just the lack of hull heals that i miss (mainly A2SIF). The extra engine power is also notable, it was the first thing i missed when going back to my previous build.
Normally i judge its efficiency on how quick i can do one side of khit. Typically all 3 times i did it yesterday i had a decent teammate in a bug. 3rd time was most amusing, as we'd finished our side before they popped a single transformer. Anyways, back on track. I'll be giving it another spin today on khit and hopefully the rest of the team will all just go to the left and leave me to do the right on my own, lol.
So yeah, its good, if not better. Just at a cost.
Peacekeeper High Command
Scorpius - Zelbinion Mk II