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Forums > Home› Feedback› Builds, Powers, and Game Mechanics

Build Opinions; Excelsior Hv. Destroyer

blackcat#6894 blackcat
blackcat#6894
 Member Posts: 35 Arc User
edited November 2013 in Builds, Powers, and Game Mechanics
To start, I've been playing a while now as an Eng captain flying the Fleet Excelsior. The ship is fantastic, especially for my play style and considering my less than stellar skills build (was still fairly new when I was leveling this character to VA), she performs admirably.

That said, I want to improve my skills setup to take better advantage of the ship. I am still learning what's what when it comes to which skills are really "better" and which don't need to be maxed. At the moment, I'm running a dual torp w/fleet phasers setup on the ship (Why I call it a Heavy Destroyer. It's just a me thing lol) that works quite well.. BUT my weapon specializations are very low. Here is a link to how I think I want to respec, but I wanted to ask the opinion of the community before I proceed.

NOTE: I know there is alot of hate for Tricobalt torpedos, but I find them to be highly damaging in the right curcumstances. Please no "Take off the TCD" suggestions, unless there is a torp that has a higher burst damage capability. I have hit enemies for over 40k damage in CFE with it. I do plan on trying the Dyson gravtorp along side fleet Photons eventually, but it may be a while before I have the gravtorp.

http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=excelsiorheavydestroyer_0
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DISCLAIMER!
This post is not meant to flame, judge, insult, accuse, bash, or an any form offend any who may or may not read it. Unless it is, in which case this disclaimer is invalidated. Cheers!
Post edited by blackcat#6894 on

Comments

  • adamkafeiadamkafei Member Posts: 6,539 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Well yours looks more like a support ship in boff layout than a destroyer to me, as to your skill setup... it's fairly decent but it could be more effective.

    I run the same captain/ship combo and it looks like this: http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/?build=tribblev19_0
    (I've filled in ship, rep, skills and description)

    If you insist on the Trico then do drop the quantum and it's console for another phaser and you should trade the then useless torp spread for either:
    A: Fire at Will (if you insist on high yield torp)
    or B: Attack pattern Beta (if you drop the high yield torp for Fire at Will)
    Option B would produce the best results in terms of your damage, your team's damage and your ship's utility.
    ZiOfChe.png?1
  • blackcat#6894 blackcat
    blackcat#6894
         Member Posts: 35 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Thanks for the response!

    My boff layout is temporary, it is a hold-over from my Galaxy X support build. I want to see if my setup is worth the effort before I commit to changing my boff powers. (Again lol) As for the Quantum torp.. My idea behind having the TCD and Quantum tandom as such is the Quantums are for group/shields "up" targeting and the TCD is for boss/single/shields "down" targeting. It seems to work quite well, though I must admit TS3 has lost some of its power IMO at some point.

    Perhaps I'm just being a n00b with my ideas here, but I find alot of the "mainstream" builds a bit boring. I like to be different, if only for the sake of being different at times. The TCD has definitely served me well, as it's crits have taken elite STF cubes down by up to 40% in one shot. As for the "general purpose" torpedo, I'm up in the air as to keeping it. If FAW2 would be better than TS3 for the group/shields "up" situation then I shall try it. Though, I do like the versatility that comes with tandom torps.

    Again, I do plan to try the Dyson gravtorp + fleet photons eventually. Though it may be a while before that happens.
    This post brought to you by the one known as Kay.
    DISCLAIMER!
    This post is not meant to flame, judge, insult, accuse, bash, or an any form offend any who may or may not read it. Unless it is, in which case this disclaimer is invalidated. Cheers!
  • adamkafeiadamkafei Member Posts: 6,539 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Well in general 6 beams an two torps is good if you want a different/canon build but 6 beams with FAW backed with EPtW will rip shields off upto 3 targets in no time flat, in the time it takes to dip a torp and drop a spread FAW can be hitting hull after ripping shields off, apply that with APB2 and you can pretty much say "What enemy?" not to say the Torps wouldn't have their uses, in an opening volley against a shieldless target your torp is likely to hit for the highest damage numbers, same for a final volley as you fly off to the next target but for an Excel (and most other cruisers for that matter) beams are the primary damage source and you dip a torp where convenient for best results.

    I use the skill spec I put in my previous post and get some fairly decent performance out of it, I'm looking to persuade a friend of mine to do a two man CSE with me as I'm confident the ship can do it :)
    ZiOfChe.png?1
  • blackcat#6894 blackcat
    blackcat#6894
         Member Posts: 35 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    As it turns out, I have an "extra" tactical boff with TacTeam FAW & ATB so I will try that. Though, I have used this on a Mirror Prometheus and an Oddy, to limited effect. My Energy Weps Spec. is 0 atm, so that most likely had something to do with it. Once I respec perhaps I will get a better effect.
    Edit: Also, I only have 1 tick in Attack Patterns skill currently. (Again, was ignorant of the game when I first speced.)
    This post brought to you by the one known as Kay.
    DISCLAIMER!
    This post is not meant to flame, judge, insult, accuse, bash, or an any form offend any who may or may not read it. Unless it is, in which case this disclaimer is invalidated. Cheers!
  • adamkafeiadamkafei Member Posts: 6,539 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    It was only recently I specced into attack patterns myself to be honest, though it was only recently I started using it for my eng :P
    ZiOfChe.png?1
  • dahminusdahminus Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=beampowaboom_0

    3 techs, marion if you can afford and a warp core doff.

    I would change beam arrays to dual beam banks...but that tricobalt has such a massive cool down (biggest issue), beam array would be fine

    Any questions
    Chive on and prosper, eh?

    My PvE/PvP hybrid skill tree
  • blackcat#6894 blackcat
    blackcat#6894
         Member Posts: 35 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Questions? One. I dont use Eng team. Tac team is more useful to me, and Aux2SIF keeps me alive just as good anyway due to the 15 sec cooldown. Where would it go in there? Also, I don't have Leech.
    Edit; Nor do i have the millions of EC required to purchase XII Purple phaser relays. else i would already have them. Just a note.
    This post brought to you by the one known as Kay.
    DISCLAIMER!
    This post is not meant to flame, judge, insult, accuse, bash, or an any form offend any who may or may not read it. Unless it is, in which case this disclaimer is invalidated. Cheers!
  • dahminusdahminus Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    You may not have tt. But you have rsp on global cool down plus you still have distribute shield facings.

    Engineering team will be at a 15 second cool down. It will take the place of the aux2sif healing...allowing you to get a aux2bat build operational

    The leech is amazing, try to acquire one is possible otherwise, your choice for a replacement
    Chive on and prosper, eh?

    My PvE/PvP hybrid skill tree
  • blackcat#6894 blackcat
    blackcat#6894
         Member Posts: 35 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Well, I suppose EngTeam would work with a 15sec cooldown. However, I currently have ~2.5 million EC and I don't have the wherewithall to put that in the double digits in a timely manor. Doffs are incredibly expensive from what I've seen, and to be totally honest.. I'm not all that interested in a Aux2Bat build. I've seen enough crusiers and such using it to know how powerful it can be, but I enjoy a more "canon" playstyle. Mine isn't truly canon, being as the TCD isnt exactly standard issue for an Excelsior, but it is fun. Pulling aggro from everything in system annoys the heck out of me, so I think I will make due without. Thankyou for the advice though.

    Side note; I just ran a CFE using the above (previous post) mentioned FAW boff. The result was me being so focused on keeping myself alive that I couldnt heal team, and (in my current skill spec) my torps kill faster. Perhaps after respec I will try again.

    So back to the OQ, any suggestions to improve my "Destroyer" build with light/heavy torps? Boff abiliys are open, so feel free to suggest them aswell.
    This post brought to you by the one known as Kay.
    DISCLAIMER!
    This post is not meant to flame, judge, insult, accuse, bash, or an any form offend any who may or may not read it. Unless it is, in which case this disclaimer is invalidated. Cheers!
  • dahminusdahminus Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    Can you slot cannons on the excelsior? Sounds like you want a more focused attack instead of beams everywhere...

    As for aux2bat doffs, just go with greens, that will do the trick for ya, considering you aren't doubling up in abilities anyway.

    You only have 3 tact boff slots, aux2bat was are for ships like this...

    Anyways, good luck.
    Chive on and prosper, eh?

    My PvE/PvP hybrid skill tree
  • ussboleynussboleyn Member Posts: 598 Arc User
    edited November 2013
    adamkafei wrote: »
    Well yours looks more like a support ship in boff layout than a destroyer to me, as to your skill setup... it's fairly decent but it could be more effective.

    I run the same captain/ship combo and it looks like this: http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/?build=tribblev18_0
    (I've filled in ship, rep, skills and description)

    If you insist on the Trico then do drop the quantum and it's console for another phaser and you should trade the then useless torp spread for either:
    A: Fire at Will (if you insist on high yield torp)
    or B: Attack pattern Beta (if you drop the high yield torp for Fire at Will)
    Option B would produce the best results in terms of your damage, your team's damage and your ship's utility.

    This build is awesome...
    ≡/\≡
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