Offensive science

adamkafei

Okay, so I just reached lvl 40 with my KDF sci and I'm looking for something comparable to the Feds fleet Nova or even RSV. Now I found the KDF timeship which is perfect in every way, sadly however I am poor.

Any ideas?

PS: I don't really want a BoP as they lack for the forward speed they feel like they should have.

breadandcircuses

Claim your Summer Giveaway Varanus tomorrow (9/1/14 @ 10 am PST), get one FSM, and get yourself a Fleet version; it still won't be quite as nice as your Fleet Nova, though (slower turn, Lt Tac rather than LtC Tac, more crew, less shields, but at least it has a bit more hull). Unfortunately, there is no RSV equivalent, as the Varanus performs like a DSSV (with less shields and more crew, but with a special Repair Platform console if you choose to use it).

Otherwise, you can use a BoP or Carrier for Science abilities, though each has a far different play style than you'd see with a Fed Science ship... nothing in the KDF lineup properly balances against a Fed-equivalent where Science is concerned (other than the Dyson Science Destroyers, which are pretty comparable across all 3 factions). KDF Science vessels are generally inferior to the Fed versions, where equivalents exist, so you might want to make due with the coming free Varanus, a BoP, or a Carrier until we see what options exist for the KDF when X2 launches in October.

ursusmorologus

The Varanus and Dyson Science Destroyer(s) are the onlly true science vessels on KDF side. Most people use a lockbox ship. BOPs, Fleet Corsair, Vo'Quv, Kar'Fi, have also been viable in some cases but none of them have Sensor Analysis. Bortasqu' Command Cruiser has SA, but is not a true science vessel (does not have subsystem tareting) so it will not get secondary deflector, also only has 2 science console slots so its not much use as a science ship anyway. None of them are worth spending any money on, given that T5 is dead-ended with DR, so whatever you buy is probably going to become a storage ship within a couple months anyway.

jaguarskx

For added speed you can always choose impulse engines that has [SPD]

As for warp cores, you can look for one with [SEP] or Starship Engine Performance which increases engine power depending on the Mk level.

wilbor2

I use kar'fi for my kdf sci its a great ship one of the best carriers in the game.

lucho80

ursusmorologus wrote: »

The Varanus and Dyson Science Destroyer(s) are the onlly true science vessels on KDF side.

You forgot the Voth Palisade.

kasandaro

ursusmorologus wrote:

The Varanus and Dyson Science Destroyer(s) are the onlly true science vessels on KDF side.

lucho80 wrote: »

You forgot the Voth Palisade.

I think they were focusing on non-lockbox/lobi ships. From the Shipyard, the only things that have (or can have) Cmdr Sci:
BoPs
Vo'Quv
Kar'Fi
DSDs
Varanus

Of those, the only two with both sensor analysis and subsystem targeting are the latter two; the carriers have targeting, and the BoPs have neither.

Once you get into lockboxes and lobi, then yes, a whole lot of other true Science options appear, like the Korath, the Palisade, and the Orb Weaver.

havokreign

Raiders get flank damage which is nothing to scoff at. I believe the Fleet Norgh has the best BoFF layout (4/3/3/2) for BoPs.

ryakidrys

I have the varanus and use it as a drain ship in PvE/ STFs.
Here is the setup I run: (recent posts from many folks, Lucho and ursusmorologus come to mind, have been extremely helpful)

6 beam arrays of your choice of: Polaron, Dominion Polaron, Protonic Polaron or Phased Polaron.
You are at lvl 40, so you should be around Boldly they rode or passed that episode recently. Here comes the ugly part. You might want to wait until you reach lvl 50, but run Operation Gamma a couple times for the space set pieces, then boldly they rode for the other space set pieces and Dominion Polaron beam arrays you want. Get the Jem Hadar deflector. It's got the highest flow cap bonus, plus another piece gives extra Polaron dmg boost. If you want the dominion Polaron beam arrays, run boldly they rode a few more times. I've done this on three toons so far to get a complete jem hadar set with beam arrays, 2 were for cruisers! So, I understand the pain that re-running it over and over brings. One of my fleetmates likes to include a random "Kurland here" in voice chat, just to remind me of my dedication to getting the full Mk XI Jem Hadar set.

TT1, BFAW2
EPTS1
EPTS1, A2S1
HE1, ES1,GW1,
HE1,TSS2, ES2, TR3

Doffs:
3 blue or better deflector DOFFs to reduce cooldowns
2 purple/ Very Rare Conn Officers to reduce CD on tac team

Consoles:
I highly recommend 4 flow cap/ threat reduction consoles. If you can reduce your threat enough, you might find it easier to slot tachyon beam instead transfer shield strength to add extra chances to reduce CD on grav well and tykens rift. Creating a grav well, and putting a tykens rift in it a few seconds later can be really devastating to the baddies you trap in there.
Plasmonic leech. Next to the Valdore on the Romulan side, Plasmonic Leech is possibly the best 1000 zen purchase in the game. You are going for drains, so suck everything you can from them and boost your stuff along the way.

Mix in subsystem targeting in when BFAW is cooling down.

It won't win a DPS contest, but the skills you use will make the baddies have less power to shoot back with, etc.

I hope that helps you out.

ursusmorologus

lucho80 wrote: »

You forgot the Voth Palisade.

I was specifically talking about faction ships since he said he was too poor for time ship, but I also said Most people use a lockbox ship.

adamkafei

Okay, I've pretty much decided to use the Varanus I just claimed for free, I'm thinking I might do something like this:

FAW1, APB2
EPtW1
EPtS1, RSP1
HE1, ST2, TB3
HE1, ST2, TR2, GW3

2 Netroniums, 1 RCS/EPS
1 Field gen, 1 Shield emitter amp, 2 particle gens
2 Disruptor consoles.

Either 2 Vrare DCEs or 3 rares

I'm fairly good with Keybinds so I can keep all the essentials up full time.

What do you guys think?

ursusmorologus

This is my Fleet Varanus which I mostly used for PVE grinding (rep marks, etc), sometimes used in PVP (rarely).

http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/?build=zimvaranus_3536

I'm running EPtA2 for a couple of reasons, one is the T4 Nukara rep passives so I get a big boost to defense and damage (inc weapon damage), second it helps spot romulan cloakers.

I have KDF shield so I am using regen boosters instead of cap boosters.

2x VR DCE
1x TB shield-drain
1x Deflector +Aux on exotic ability
1x Deflector CD reduction (sometimes switch for GW aftershock)

Ship is not really good its very middle-of-the-road and not worth trying to turn into a science hoss, just wont ever get there vs some of the lockbox ships