Old Member, New Game

rocbowlhey

Hi all! I'm a returning member from about a year ago. I took a break from the game due to lack of interest in the content, but I've come back to check out some of the new shiny toys that they've released recently (Delta Rising).

I'm simply curious on what other players are thinking of the new additions to the game and what they would suggest to someone coming back. I'm a casual player, so I'm not really focused on having the maximum DPS possible (I really only play PvE). However, I would like to hold my own in any PvE scenario that I may be placed in.

Here is my current setup. Let me know what you think is worth grinding for or if I could just use this set up for the time being. Obviously, I am working on ranking up to 60 and getting the highest tier weapons.

One last bit of information: I do like the Sci-Scort style of play. I've taken a look at the new ships and the Phantom Intel Escort is nice, but does it work well with a Sci-Scort style of play?

Thanks for your help!

http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=rocbowlbuild_0

reginamala78

Not sure why 3 Betas since globals stop you from using more than 2. Swapping one and rearranging things some to allow an APO will help with the DR stuff (several new enemy types love tractor beams, including a special one that ignores PH).

A couple of Damage Control Engineer doffs would let you drop the EPTW1 for either EPTS1 or EPTE1. On one hand the extra shield hardness would certainly be useful, but on the other hand the Vaadwaur ships are pretty nimble and EPTE would help you keep pace better.

The new enemies in general, with the level scaling, are huge bags of HP, even simple frigates breaking 100k on just normal, so you will need to be able to stay in a fight a little longer (makes 'glass cannon' builds a little tricker to fly, unless you really really really emphasize the cannon part).

Phantom isn't really a sci scort so much as its a demon of a vaper, or a FAWscort to a lesser extent. For sciscort play, the Patrol Escort Refit or the Hazari Destroyer are better suited to that role (plus assorted older lockbox ships of course).

seriousdave

Casual glass cannon builds without the the gold mk14 shinies have been hit hard. Since DR even the lowest TRIBBLE has turned into huge DPS sponges, so even for casual gaming you need a t least some decent heal powers, ET1 and ST1 are not enough anymore.

The closest things to a sci-scort among the new ships are the dauntless and the boxed hazari destroyer. Just do yourself a favour and stay away from the dyson ships if you're maining a fed, simply not worth it cause the fed shipyard has a gigantic selection of better sci and better tac ships.

captwilhelm

On your weapons, I would not worry too much with [Dmg] multipliers. They add negligible damage. The vulnerability locator already increases your critical chance. I would prefer the [CrtD] modifier instead.

I would suggest changing one of your back turret with the kinetic cutting beam. It deals kinetic damage and with your borg console, it will activate a 2pc passive ability. And I think it will not seriously compromise your DPS.

Now, something I haven't tried yet but I think it might work in general is to try activate the most 2pc passives from sets as possible. You do this by trying a weapon and a console from the same set, conjugating with deflector and shields from another set and so on. To give you an idea, here is my experimental build (its aimed at increasing phaser damage and critical chance): http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/?build=wilhelmsphantom_398

And I agree with reginamala78. 3 APB does not seens as a good idea. Perhaps you could replace one APB2 with APO (and use it for an emergency escape). And you cannot do damage while you are dead, so I would harden your build replacing EPtW with EPtS in the Ensign Eng slot.