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A couple of noob star ship questions.

jamonw2005jamonw2005 Member Posts: 25 Arc User
So I have been playing for a little over a week now with a group of friends. I have gotten to level 40. I am playing a tactical officer for the Federation. I just got my advanced escort and I am loving it. No looking at the vice admiral and tier six ships it seems that none of them provide better stats than what I have now. The only thing I really want at this point is the multi-vector ability. So what I am wondering is if I buy the multi-vector version of the advanced escort can I put it in my RA advanced escort or is it bound to the multi-vector one? The other thing I am wondering here is if I do that can I still up grade my RA advanced escort to tier 5u?

And one more thing. I have been going with a polareon beam and quantum torpedo build. Should I be doing this or should I get a few cannons instead? Thanks in advance.
Post edited by jamonw2005 on

Comments

  • ironcaniacironcaniac Member Posts: 131 Media Corps
    edited March 2015
    You can move the console to the RA Advanced Escort. You can only upgrade the Multi-Vector Advanced Escort or the Fleet version to T5U.
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  • groomofweirdgroomofweird Member Posts: 1,045 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    With regard to your build running a beam setup on an escort with a torpedo may not be the top end of the DPS PVP awesomeness table, but it will serve you well in PVE and story missions.
    You could run a cannon setup on it, they do hit hard but require more effort to fly and keep your weapons on target. Conversely using things like BFAW on a beamboat may gain you allot of aggro for an escort, but all depends on how you like to fly and your skill at staying alive, as DBB escort builds are very deadly with DEM and BO.
    Also range is less of an issue with beams as you suffer less of a DPS drop off than you do with cannons.
    One more thing, if you're specializing in Polaron (and not wanting to switch to another energy type, you didn't say), then be sure to have some skill points in your flow capacitors skill to make use of the power drain proc on your weapons.

    EDIT: I find cannons to be very fun on a nimble ship, if you like that type of play style.
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  • grnlbrtnfrntgrnlbrtnfrnt Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    " multi-vector ability" is a gimmick ability, and IMO not something I would waste any $$$ on. Just avoid gimmick ships.

    "looking at the vice admiral and tier six ships it seems that none of them provide better stats than what I have now"

    no, there are differences. Most of the ships in a category will have similar hull more or less but will have different BO seating, different bonuses and console set ups and different unique consoles. For instance I have a slightly "lesser" ship than I could be using simply because I much prefer the BO layout than the "better" ship.
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  • szerontzurszerontzur Member Posts: 2,724 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    Yes, you can use Multi-Vector Assault Module on the level 40 "Advanced Escort"(and Mirror Patrol Escort). It's an interesting Console, but you will be trading raw performance for what is essentially a gimmick by using it.

    No, the "Advanced Escort" cannot be upgraded to T5U(the MVAE can).

    Weapon loadout is preferential. Cannons give you better focused, sustained damage; Beams give you better AoE and effective range. The Advanced Escort doesn't have the engineering capacity to generate enough power to make a beam build truly shine though; in my opinion.


    If you're seriously considering a C-store escort; I would recommend the Tempest/Patrol Escort Refit(very flexible ship with a nasty console weapon), Phantom/Intel Escort(built-in cloak with a lot of damage potential and a solid Console weapon), or the Armitage/Heavy Escort Carrier(tanky, destroyer-esque ship with fighters and a fun omni-directional torpedo barrage console).
  • razar2380razar2380 Member Posts: 1,187 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    I am not sure if you knew this yet or not, but there are a few things to keep in mind about the MVAE. When you separate it, you don't have control over all three pieces, only one. And a lot of times, the two that you don't have control over will go off and do their own thing. i have tried it before, and found that i was not too fond of it.

    Also, when you do the separation, it also changes the stats of the ship. Some go down, and others go up slightly. i don't remember all of them.

    If you would still like to use the MVAE separation feature, I recommend using the one from the C-Store if using cannons. It has a Lt. Command Science station, and will let you use Gravity Well 1. It is great for holding most enemies still while you tear through them. And with more ships close together, the warp core breach will sometimes do damage to your next target if it is in the group.

    If you are not completely set on the separation ability, and would rather not get a T6 ship, then I suggest looking at the one with the Nadeon Bomb (sp?) I don't remember the name, but it has more variety to stations, and the bomb can do a lot of damage if you switch to phasers.


    When it comes to buying new ships from the C-Store, something else to keep in mind is that the T5 ships can be upgraded to T5-U. To do so, you can either buy the upgrade tokens from the exchange, or the C-Store. While they are over priced in both, it is much easier to get EC quicker, and it is a much better deal than wasting Zen to get them at the way overpriced rate in the C-Store.

    All they give is an increase to hull, and shield hp, a console slot, and lets you gain starship mastery. All this is on a T5-U ship is just 4 levels, each giving a small boost to something. You will not get a starship trait like the T6 ships, and if you buy the ship, and upgrade token, it will cost more than a T6 ship that will offer you more.

    I do know what it is like to just want a certain thing in the game, and not care about the down sides of having it. After DR came out, I bought the Kumari ships. I loved the way they looked since I started playing the game in 2003. So, even though they were not as good as the T6 ships, I still got them. I just didn't waste the Zen on upgrading them. Though, I don't do any STFs, and the only PVEs I do are Mirror, or CC when they have a grind event like now.

    So, upgrading them is not really an issue for me. I play the game only during events that give something.

    Hope this info helps, and good luck playing STO.
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  • jamonw2005jamonw2005 Member Posts: 25 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    Thanks everyone for the great information. It seems that I am completely wrong on my build here. I think I might get the Phantom Intel Escort now. I am also probably gonna switch beams out for cannons. Should I keep my quantum torpedoes if a go cannons? Also what type of cannons should I focus on and what kind of consoles should I have? Links to decent pve and balanced builds would be nice. Thanks again.
  • razar2380razar2380 Member Posts: 1,187 Arc User
    edited March 2015
    jamonw2005 wrote: »
    Thanks everyone for the great information. It seems that I am completely wrong on my build here. I think I might get the Phantom Intel Escort now. I am also probably gonna switch beams out for cannons. Should I keep my quantum torpedoes if a go cannons? Also what type of cannons should I focus on and what kind of consoles should I have? Links to decent pve and balanced builds would be nice. Thanks again.


    When considering what energy type to go with, it depends on what you want to do. Since you are going with a forward facing build with cannons, I will assume that you will not be doing a drain build. (Polarons are best for them).

    Plasma, Polaron, Disruptor, Tets, and Phasers all have a proc. This means that there is only a 2.5% chance for their special ability to activate.

    Antiproton don't have a proc. Each time they get a crit hit, they will do more damage.

    For a forward facing build that is either all cannon for energy weapons, or mostly cannon, with one DBB, I suggest Antiprotons. There ae a few reasons for this.

    1-They are the best DPS and quick kill weapons if you have a high CrtH, and CrtD. Since you don't have a proc, you can see their benefit each time they crit. And by level 45-50, most everyone is getting crits a lot in a fight.

    2-You have the potential to kill enemies faster, so the proc of other weapons is not even needed.

    These are just my suggestions about it. It is still up to you, personally, to decide. But just because the other energy types have a proc, doesn't mean they are not good. Phasers and Tets don't usually benefit most players from a tactical view. The reason is because even with the huge shield hp that NPCs have now, shields can still be dropped pretty quick with high DPS.

    Therefore, Tets are useless if they proc after the shields are down. In a group, that should happen quickly anyways.

    For Phasers, you cannot decide which subsystem they will take offline when they proc. Problem here is you have anywhere from a 25% to a 50% chance that when you finally hit that 2.5% chance of a proc, it will be a useful subsystem that is taken offline.

    Many times, when i used them, I saw subsystems taken offline that didn't help at all. Like engines on a Borg cube, which moves so slowly. lol. Or shields on a gate, which doesn't even have shields. LMBO.

    So, there are some big down sides to them. Still, their base damage is the same as all of the other weapons with the same mods, MK, and quality.

    For Plasma and Disruptor, you will always benefit if you get theirs to proc. The extra burn from the Plasma, and the reduction in damage resistance from Disruptor.

    Not mater which you like the most, and want to use, it is not a good idea to mix energy types, unless it is a hybrid (like Phased Polaron. They have the proc from both on the same weapon, at the cost of a mod).

    If you have all the same energy type, then you can use tac consoles that focus on that energy type, and not the weapon type (like cannon, or beams).

    If you want to use a torp, want to use AP, and are running the CC grind event that is going now, I recommend getting the AP torp from it. Its power is affected by AP energy tac consoles also. This means that as your AP energy weapons are made more powerful by them, so is this torp.

    If there is a chance you will not be able to complete the project this time, you can still queue it up now, and try to fill it during the next CC grind event. Just run it as many times as you can now.

    Torps are good to have on the front, but if you are going that route, instead of a DBB, then I suggest also having a couple different ones to pick from. There is a reason for this.

    The Hyper Plasma from the Romulan rep system is great for a forward facing build in the STFs. Since the Borg move slowly, and you will be hitting a lot of stationary targets, that is a good torp to use.

    The AP torp from the CC grind event, because it is effective against both shields, and hull (which is the only torp players have that does damage against the shields).

    While the quantom is good, I personally prefer the Gravimetric Torp from what I think is the Dyson rep. It is the torp that can leave a dark round cloud. This can so more damage after it explodes.

    The Plasma Emissions torp. This one is almost like shooting a Plasma cloud at the enemy. It will slow or hold them for you, and also does a little damage while holding them. This one needs to be crafted, or bought off the exchange.

    Finally, I also suggest keeping in mind that if you are not sure about using a torp, then you can always test it out. Since you already have a torp, just play with it, and then you can try all Dual Heavy cannons up front. Then, try all DHC, and one DBB.

    By trying it out yourself, you will be able to see what you personally prefer. DBBs of MK X-XII can usually be bought cheap for blue quality or less. Just for testing, you don't really need anything too expensive, even with the DPS focus the game has. Changing one weapon is not going to cause a failure.

    Hope this helps. Have fun, and happy gaming.
    Leader of Elite Guardian Academy.Would you like to learn how to run a fleet? Would you like to know how to do ship builds (true budget as well as high end)?The join the Academy today!
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