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Ship Choice Woes

whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
edited October 2014 in Federation Discussion
I could use a little advice, please!

I pre-ordered the Operations Pack, so I have all of these shiny new ships to play with. I'm a Tac officer, but I like flying big ships, so that usually means cruisers. I was naturally looking forward to the Guardian bigtime.

Up until now, I'd been flying a Xindi-Aquatic Narcine Dreadnought Carrier. After upgrading it to T5-U ... Well, the stats seem to be better than my new T6 cruiser option. Is anyone else running into this predicament? Maybe there are some new advantages I'm not noticing, beyond the intelligence officer stations?
Post edited by whiteshores on

Comments

  • captmutantcaptmutant Member Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I could use a little advice, please!

    I pre-ordered the Operations Pack, so I have all of these shiny new ships to play with. I'm a Tac officer, but I like flying big ships, so that usually means cruisers. I was naturally looking forward to the Guardian bigtime.

    Up until now, I'd been flying a Xindi-Aquatic Narcine Dreadnought Carrier. After upgrading it to T5-U ... Well, the stats seem to be better than my new T6 cruiser option. Is anyone else running into this predicament? Maybe there are some new advantages I'm not noticing, beyond the intelligence officer stations?

    rememeber yout t5u ship will have its stats fixed and your new shinies will increase their stats as you progress from level 50 to 60
  • kelshandokelshando Member Posts: 887 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    captmutant wrote: »
    rememeber yout t5u ship will have its stats fixed and your new shinies will increase their stats as you progress from level 50 to 60

    No this is not true.. both ships advance in stats.

    To the OP:

    The Narcine is a T6 fleet level ship. The Eclipse, Phantom etc are just T6 ships.. the power creep of ships goes like this.

    T5U: None fleet zen ships

    T6: Eclipse, Phantoms etc. Have Starship traits that T5 ships do not have.

    Fleet T5U: Have 11 console slots vs base T5u ships and higher hull and shields

    Lockbox/lobbi T6 ships: Narcine, Jhas etc. These ships have fleet T6 stats as well as 11 console slots currently the most power tier of ship.

    Fleet T6 ships: These will be added in the future for current T6 ships such as the Eclipise and Phantom.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    kelshando wrote: »
    No this is not true.. both ships advance in stats.

    To the OP:

    The Narcine is a T6 fleet level ship. The Eclipse, Phantom etc are just T6 ships.. the power creep of ships goes like this.

    T5U: None fleet zen ships

    T6: Eclipse, Phantoms etc. Have Starship traits that T5 ships do not have.

    Fleet T5U: Have 11 console slots vs base T5u ships and higher hull and shields

    Lockbox/lobbi T6 ships: Narcine, Jhas etc. These ships have fleet T6 stats as well as 11 console slots currently the most power tier of ship.

    Fleet T6 ships: These will be added in the future for current T6 ships such as the Eclipise and Phantom.

    So, ah ... I upgraded the Narcine. Going by your hierarchy, I now have something equal to or greater than a Fleet T6 ship? So, it really does surpass any of the new ships?
  • seriousdaveseriousdave Member Posts: 2,777 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    So, ah ... I upgraded the Narcine. Going by your hierarchy, I now have something equal to or greater than a Fleet T6 ship? So, it really does surpass any of the new ships?

    There's still more to it than just consoles

    T5U: 10 consoles, 12 boff slots, 4 lvls of mastery

    T6: 10 consoles, 13 boff slots, 5 lvls of mastery, same hull and shields as T5U

    Fleet T5U and Lockbox/lobi T5U: 11 consoles, 12 boff slots, 4 lvls of mastery, + hull and shields over T6 and 5U (That's where the Nacrine is)

    Fleet T6 and Lockbox/Lobi T6: 11 consoles, 13 boff slots, 5 lvls of mastery , + hull and shields over T6 and 5U

    The Nacrine is still an extremely good ship but it does not have all the advantages of a full T6 ship.
    The current top of the line are the Hazari Destroyer & Benthan Assault Cruiser because they are true T6 fleet level.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    There's still more to it than just consoles

    T5U: 10 consoles, 12 boff slots, 4 lvls of mastery

    T6: 10 consoles, 13 boff slots, 5 lvls of mastery, same hull and shields as T5U

    Fleet T5U and Lockbox/lobi T5U: 11 consoles, 12 boff slots, 4 lvls of mastery, + hull and shields over T6 and 5U (That's where the Nacrine is)

    Fleet T6 and Lockbox/Lobi T6: 11 consoles, 13 boff slots, 5 lvls of mastery , + hull and shields over T6 and 5U

    The Nacrine is still an extremely good ship but it does not have all the advantages of a full T6 ship.
    The current top of the line are the Hazari Destroyer & Benthan Assault Cruiser because they are true T6 fleet level.

    I'll admit my own confusion at this point, then.

    On the whole, the difference between a T5U Narcine and my Guardian should be borderline. However, using the exact same gear, the Narcine's superiority was pronounced for me. I'm not certain of what I might be doing wrong.
  • seriousdaveseriousdave Member Posts: 2,777 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I'll admit my own confusion at this point, then.

    On the whole, the difference between a T5U Narcine and my Guardian should be borderline. However, using the exact same gear, the Narcine's superiority was pronounced for me. I'm not certain of what I might be doing wrong.

    And that's where the problem starts, using the exact same gear on two very different ships. The Guardian is a slow and tanky cruiser with some (very good) tac and sci capabilities (thanks to T6's dual lt.com), the Narcine is a swift tactical dreadnought with hangars and very good frigate pets.

    Of course trying to use the layout and plastyle of a tac dreadnought on a eng cruiser will give you worse numbers than on the original ships but that's because the cruiser was not made to work like the dreadnought.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    And that's where the problem starts, using the exact same gear on two very different ships. The Guardian is a slow and tanky cruiser with some (very good) tac and sci capabilities (thanks to T6's dual lt.com), the Narcine is a swift tactical dreadnought with hangars and very good frigate pets.

    Of course trying to use the layout and plastyle of a tac dreadnought on a eng cruiser will give you worse numbers than on the original ships but that's because the cruiser was not made to work like the dreadnought.

    I guess, in that case, it's back to the Narcine until I have the EC or the missions behind me to outfit the Guardian properly. I've been out of play for a long time, for the most part.

    Personally, I never subscribed to the idea that a certain kind of captain is limited to a certain kind of ship in order to do well. I flew the Guardian as a beam ship same as I did every ship before it, and I've seldom used escorts.
  • warmaker001bwarmaker001b Member Posts: 9,205 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Upgrading the old ships gets you to T5u, not a true T6 ship. Not sure where people are getting the idea of upgrading something like the Narcine will make it a T6 ship. It isn't. Even the JHAS, both Temporal ship types, Bulwark, JHDC, etc. all upgrade only into T5u, not T6.

    There's a definite ceiling of development that is lower with the T5u ships than the T6 ships.

    Also, realize that the new T6 Lobi / Lockbox ships and Fleet T6 (whenever they arrive) will completely outstrip T5u ships. Most especially so when Cryptic starts filling in gaps in ship classes (Science, Carriers, etc).

    The Pro/Con of T5u to T6 is listed here. It's not going to be close at all, most especially now that we have T6 Lockbox / Lobi here.
    XzRTofz.gif
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Upgrading the old ships gets you to T5u, not a true T6 ship. Not sure where people are getting the idea of upgrading something like the Narcine will make it a T6 ship. It isn't. Even the JHAS, both Temporal ship types, Bulwark, JHDC, etc. all upgrade only into T5u, not T6.

    There's a definite ceiling of development that is lower with the T5u ships than the T6 ships.

    Also, realize that the new T6 Lobi / Lockbox ships and Fleet T6 (whenever they arrive) will completely outstrip T5u ships. Most especially so when Cryptic starts filling in gaps in ship classes (Science, Carriers, etc).

    The Pro/Con of T5u to T6 is listed here. It's not going to be close at all, most especially now that we have T6 Lockbox / Lobi here.

    It wasn't my idea, for what it's worth. :)

    The origin of the thread was my experimenting with the ship I'd had my eye on, the Guardian. When I flew it in usual Borg red alert encounter, I was surprised at how much less effective it seemed compared to my Narcine - not just offensively, but defensively.

    Could just be me. I've never claimed to be more than a bad player. It was just an experience I'd wondered about.
  • kelshandokelshando Member Posts: 887 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Upgrading the old ships gets you to T5u, not a true T6 ship. Not sure where people are getting the idea of upgrading something like the Narcine will make it a T6 ship. It isn't. Even the JHAS, both Temporal ship types, Bulwark, JHDC, etc. all upgrade only into T5u, not T6.

    There's a definite ceiling of development that is lower with the T5u ships than the T6 ships.

    Also, realize that the new T6 Lobi / Lockbox ships and Fleet T6 (whenever they arrive) will completely outstrip T5u ships. Most especially so when Cryptic starts filling in gaps in ship classes (Science, Carriers, etc).

    The Pro/Con of T5u to T6 is listed here. It's not going to be close at all, most especially now that we have T6 Lockbox / Lobi here.

    Maybe they got the idea because cryptic said so... The last JHAS promotion even stated that the JHAS will be upgraded to T6 for free that was before the list....

    They said that not all T6 will have intel-stations and traits... but hull and shields are T6.

    All lockbox/lobbi ships are T6 in stats... they have stated this.

    They also said that for hull/shields and consoles that fleet T5U are better then base T6 but that when Fleet T6 show up that they would be better then Fleet T5U.

    Right now lockbox/lobbi have 11 consoles + the T6 shields hull - the space trait.
  • ddesjardinsddesjardins Member Posts: 3,056 Media Corps
    edited October 2014
    I could use a little advice, please!

    I pre-ordered the Operations Pack, so I have all of these shiny new ships to play with. I'm a Tac officer, but I like flying big ships, so that usually means cruisers. I was naturally looking forward to the Guardian bigtime.

    Up until now, I'd been flying a Xindi-Aquatic Narcine Dreadnought Carrier. After upgrading it to T5-U ... Well, the stats seem to be better than my new T6 cruiser option. Is anyone else running into this predicament? Maybe there are some new advantages I'm not noticing, beyond the intelligence officer stations?


    I did the same as you; bought the Operations Pack. Not regretting it yet, but...

    T5-U ships are better, WAY better than the intel ships for Feds and Romulans. I'm thinking it's my inexperience with the ships, the new powers etc.

    But I'm having way more fun with the simple upgrades.
  • kelshandokelshando Member Posts: 887 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I did the same as you; bought the Operations Pack. Not regretting it yet, but...

    T5-U ships are better, WAY better than the intel ships for Feds and Romulans. I'm thinking it's my inexperience with the ships, the new powers etc.

    But I'm having way more fun with the simple upgrades.

    Just remember the T6 ship trait is a unlock that can be used with other ships.. so if you take the time to level them up.. well what ever ship you pick full time will be even better.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    So, as I come back today to read where the thread went ... I am no closer to having a good decision than the start. Everyone seems to have a different view on this issue!

    Some people are saying the upgraded Narcine isn't better than the new ships. Some are saying it is better, but only until the fleet T6 ships come out. Some are saying the T5Us from lockboxes are *definitely* better. Some are saying that the T5U is superior, but it's better to stick it out with a T6 for the ship traits.

    I am still left wondering whether to stay in this Guardian or go back to the Narcine. What a dilemma. :S
  • mandarsmashmandarsmash Member Posts: 78 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    So, as I come back today to read where the thread went ... I am no closer to having a good decision than the start. Everyone seems to have a different view on this issue!

    Some people are saying the upgraded Narcine isn't better than the new ships. Some are saying it is better, but only until the fleet T6 ships come out. Some are saying the T5Us from lockboxes are *definitely* better. Some are saying that the T5U is superior, but it's better to stick it out with a T6 for the ship traits.

    I am still left wondering whether to stay in this Guardian or go back to the Narcine. What a dilemma. :S

    Fly what you want. At this level, you'll see more difference in how you spec and pilot your ship than in the raw numbers. Playstyle will necessarily change ship to ship. You could probably make a huge performance difference just kitting differently and flying differently on the exact same ship.

    Yes, there are differences in Tier levels. Will most differences make a huge splash? Meh.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Fly what you want. At this level, you'll see more difference in how you spec and pilot your ship than in the raw numbers. Playstyle will necessarily change ship to ship. You could probably make a huge performance difference just kitting differently and flying differently on the exact same ship.

    Yes, there are differences in Tier levels. Will most differences make a huge splash? Meh.

    At least some folks seem to think that taking a Tier 6 through the leveling process is important, because it opens up the door to that fifth ship bonus. I guess I'll stick with the Guardian and see what comes of it.

    Hopefully, the situation has not shifted such that a Tac captain can only do well in escorts, and so on. If it's my equipment, well, I'm dirt broke and I don't have good replacements, so I transferred from my Narcine since I'd intended the Guardian to use beams anyway. That's about as honest as it gets. :P
  • variant37variant37 Member Posts: 867 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I am still left wondering whether to stay in this Guardian or go back to the Narcine. What a dilemma. :S

    I'm not sure if I understand why it's such a dilemma. Which ship do you enjoy flying more? That's the one you should be in. It's not like you can't switch back and forth between them whenever you find yourself getting bored with a particular ship.
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    variant37 wrote: »
    I'm not sure if I understand why it's such a dilemma. Which ship do you enjoy flying more? That's the one you should be in. It's not like you can't switch back and forth between them whenever you find yourself getting bored with a particular ship.

    Well, the major dilemma is that I spent $125 primarily for the collection of ships, which now appear to be inferior after upgrading the Narcine.

    The point was to try and figure out if I was doing something wrong, misinterpreting, missing anything which might make the Guardian (or any of the other new ones) still worth picking over my upgraded ship.
  • variant37variant37 Member Posts: 867 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    The point was to try and figure out if I was doing something wrong, misinterpreting, missing anything which might make the Guardian (or any of the other new ones) still worth picking over my upgraded ship.

    It's debatable. The Guardian comes with 2 LTC boff slots and an Intel hybrid slot, neither of which the Narcine has. Slightly better hull, slightly worse shields. Starship mastery trait, which the Narcine will not get. Worse turn, can't mount dual cannons, but that may not be an issue since this ship is obviously meant to be a beam broadsider. Which of these aspects are most important to you?
  • whiteshoreswhiteshores Member Posts: 46 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    variant37 wrote: »
    It's debatable. The Guardian comes with 2 LTC boff slots and an Intel hybrid slot, neither of which the Narcine has. Slightly better hull, slightly worse shields. Starship mastery trait, which the Narcine will not get. Worse turn, can't mount dual cannons, but that may not be an issue since this ship is obviously meant to be a beam broadsider. Which of these aspects are most important to you?

    I do not use dual cannons on the Narcine. Instead, I have it loaded fully with tetryon beams. The ship has a very good turn rate for its size (I was really feeling that drag with the Guardian on turns), so it's easy to make use of all beams. I also find it helpful to have the frigates out intercepting torpedos and helping out in the fight.

    On the other hand, appearance is also a factor for me. It's fun. In that department, I like the Guardian more. It did seem to hold up well during the fight with the Borg and the boss ship, but it went kaput more often than I'm accustomed to. This may be a result of being used to the frigates screening at least some incoming fire.

    It is also a factor, no doubt, that I have no money or lobi and can't give these ships the best one can buy (or even remotely close to that). I upgraded my Borg consoles, since I completed the Borg missions in the olden days, and hoped for the best. My alt does have the other set, the name of which slips my mind at the moment, but it's the one that has a blue projection from the deflector dish.
  • jarfarujarfaru Member Posts: 572 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I did the same as you; bought the Operations Pack. Not regretting it yet, but...

    T5-U ships are better, WAY better than the intel ships for Feds and Romulans. I'm thinking it's my inexperience with the ships, the new powers etc.

    But I'm having way more fun with the simple upgrades.

    For me T5-U ships will be fine. I don't pvp or do elite stf. Pve ques maybe once in awhile with friends only. I got lucky as i only needed to buy 2 upgrade tokens and the rest of my ships had free upgrades. Non of the T6 ship make me want to spend money for them.
  • kelshandokelshando Member Posts: 887 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I do not use dual cannons on the Narcine. Instead, I have it loaded fully with tetryon beams. The ship has a very good turn rate for its size (I was really feeling that drag with the Guardian on turns), so it's easy to make use of all beams. I also find it helpful to have the frigates out intercepting torpedos and helping out in the fight.

    On the other hand, appearance is also a factor for me. It's fun. In that department, I like the Guardian more. It did seem to hold up well during the fight with the Borg and the boss ship, but it went kaput more often than I'm accustomed to. This may be a result of being used to the frigates screening at least some incoming fire.

    It is also a factor, no doubt, that I have no money or lobi and can't give these ships the best one can buy (or even remotely close to that). I upgraded my Borg consoles, since I completed the Borg missions in the olden days, and hoped for the best. My alt does have the other set, the name of which slips my mind at the moment, but it's the one that has a blue projection from the deflector dish.

    Again the Narcine doesn't have a space trait so leveling all 4 fed T6 ships to get the space traits unlocked is still "worth it" as far as getting the most out of your 125 dollar investment even if you want to use your Narcine instead. Right now if you are a carrier captain that's really the only route you can go to get the most out of your ship do to no T6 carrier ship with a space trait out there.
  • thegcbaconthegcbacon Member Posts: 434 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Try the Eclipse. It has good turn for a cruiser, Intel Sensor, cloak and you can swap on the nacelles from the other Intel ships to make it look better(also adjust the pylons outward). Play w/dif Intel Powers until you find something you like. It's a lot of fun testing new powers.
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