"best set", spire cores, improved tachyon beam, nandi trait advice sought.

dave18193

Hi all.

Im currently flying a Presidio, having bought the full command bundle. Like many, I think the ships main, or only, drawback is the lack of the weapon system efficiency comm array power and subsequent wep power drain issues.

To mitigate it, i was thinking of getting an elite spire core - how effective are they at reducing weapon power drain? I currently have a Delta core (upgraded for the AMP mod).

On a related note Im almost done with the pearl grind for the nandi and had a barmy idea - I could run Tachyon Beam at ensign level with the nandi trait (to mitigate weapon drain further) and the improved tachyon beam trait from the geneva (which according to some folks at reddit is an amazing AoE shield heal). Im not sure if tachyon beam got any better fter its buff, but I figure the two traits are good enough to justify an ensign slot (it would only replace polarize hull).

Finally, I was hoping for some set advice. Im currently running 3pc Delta with the Aegis engines - should I go Iconian? Shield, engine and deflector anyway look awesome.

weirdtrekie30

Well, The plasmonic leech console, off the exchange can help a lot with weapon drain. The starship trait on the T6 Avenger reduces weapon drain by 30%(Or around 30%) for 30 seconds every time EptW is activated, so 100% uptime if you chain EptW.

On a side note - For a sci power build, or to add bite to sci powers on other builds, I actually think the free Solenae set, eng, deflc, and shields, works really well. It's an underrated set I think, although I don't think much of the Warp Core

smokeybacon90

As you have noticed, the 3 piece Iconian set is exceptional for damage, while the shield provides good resist, shield offline removal, and continuous debuff cleansing. You can pair this with a Spire AMP core, and this is now I would conclude is the best all round gear set in the game.

dave18193

weirdtrekie30 wrote: »

Well, The plasmonic leech console, off the exchange can help a lot with weapon drain. The starship trait on the T6 Avenger reduces weapon drain by 30%(Or around 30%) for 30 seconds every time EptW is activated, so 100% uptime if you chain EptW.

On a side note - For a sci power build, or to add bite to sci powers on other builds, I actually think the free Solenae set, eng, deflc, and shields, works really well. It's an underrated set I think, although I don't think much of the Warp Core

I love the plasmonic leech, its the single best console there is IMO - it does help a lot. As to the avenger though Im gonna pass on it - Im saving my zen for the T6 Defiant and Excelsior.

Have you got any info on the spire core? How effective is it for drain mitigation?

All of my sci powers on this build at least are defensive (unless I run tachyon beam), and Ive only got four of em. I will use solanae set on my sci alt though thanks for the tip (:


EDIT:

Thanks smokeybacon, I must have missed your post before I posted the above. I reckon that'll be my next move - get 3pc Iconian and Spire core for pure awesomes.

Anyone got an opinion on using the Nandi trait and improved tachyon beam? Im not worried about losing a single ens level boff power for significant drain reduction, even if it is only up 1/3 of the time, but if i used improved tachyon beam that would be giving up two starship trait slots - basically meaning Id be giving up Ablative Field Projector which is awesome. It wont be too much of an issue once the 5th ship trait slot from the krenim holding rolls round, but that is ages away.

smokeybacon90

Between the spire core, Arbiter trait (if you have it), EptW and enough points invested into EPS (perhaps with an [EPS] R&D console), you should not really require the Nandi trait.

dave18193

True, but I wont have the Arbiter trait. Im saving up the zen for a t6 excelsior in all its delicious awesomeness.

I know its only up for 10 out of 30 seconds, but if the magnitude of the drain resist is right it could really hit the spot. Especially since it boosts all power levels too (dont know how big that boost is either). I just wish I could find the magnitudes for it.

On the upside, Ive claimed a geneva from my bundle. If the tooltip is correct, the shield heal is virtually identical to Sci Team 2...... but it applies to every friendly in a 10km radius. Wowzers. For an ensign level power to do that is incredible - coupled with nandi trait (it the numbers are suitable) this could work out very well indeed.

jbmaverick

I believe Borticus posted in the last month that the Spire cores do NOT (or at least aren't supposed to) affect weapon power drain, they are specifically for resisting abilities that would steal/drain power from you such as Tyken's Rift and Energy Siphon.

Edit: found the thread, linked here http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums#/discussion/comment/12543241

iconians

jbmaverick wrote: »

I believe Borticus posted in the last month that the Spire cores do NOT (or at least aren't supposed to) affect weapon power drain, they are specifically for resisting abilities that would steal/drain power from you such as Tyken's Rift and Energy Siphon.

Edit: found the thread, linked here http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums#/discussion/comment/12543241

That's helpful. I should probably work on upgrading some new cores then, since I thought they resisted the power drain from firing weapons.

Unknown

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tom61sto

jbmaverick wrote: »

I believe Borticus posted in the last month that the Spire cores do NOT (or at least aren't supposed to) affect weapon power drain, they are specifically for resisting abilities that would steal/drain power from you such as Tyken's Rift and Energy Siphon.

Edit: found the thread, linked here http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums#/discussion/comment/12543241

From what I can tell, 'Power Cost' is a specific thing, on sets that explicitly reduce weapon power cost (Mogai set, Breen ship console set) what's on your tooltip for energy weapons will actually list lower numbers for how much it drains, like a Beam Array saying 8 instead 10 power on firing other weapons.

Resistance seems to work on far down the weapon power meter goes during a weapon cycle, but only mildly. Not sure what exactly is different functionally to our player perspective, but seems importantly different on the technical side.

Additionally, as mentioned elsewhere in the thread, Spire cores also increase power regeneration, allowing some power to return during a weapon cycle. Crank EPS via Skill points or [EPS] crafted consoles, and how far weapon power dips during a full cycle is drastically reduced, particularly if you have Plasmonic Leech.

dave18193

So its the EPS which makes the spire cores better? Nifty. So long as it has the effect of mitigating the weapon power issue I dont mind where the benefit comes from.

So this 66% power transfer boost is a noticeable improvement on its own? Im not sure if Ive got room for an EPS crafted console, but I do have 6 points in EPS.

Cryptic really need to make things clearer in game though, and should do it when the item comes out (not ages afterward).

Thanks for all your help guys (:

[Deleted User]

Right now I'm theorizing a two-piece Counter Command with the MACO shield and Spire core for my T6 GCS.

divvydave

dave18193 wrote: »

So its the EPS which makes the spire cores better? Nifty. So long as it has the effect of mitigating the weapon power issue I dont mind where the benefit comes from.

So this 66% power transfer boost is a noticeable improvement on its own? Im not sure if Ive got room for an EPS crafted console, but I do have 6 points in EPS.

Cryptic really need to make things clearer in game though, and should do it when the item comes out (not ages afterward).

Thanks for all your help guys (:

Totally agreed with this last part, Iv'e never played any game where the tooltips are such a mess as in STO.

Is it Incompetence or just not giving a TRIBBLE?

jbmaverick

Speaking as a programmer, what makes sense to the ones developing the code often doesn't make sense to the ones simply using the resulting application. The programmers know exactly what they intended because they designed it to function a specific way, and they choose grammar that makes sense to them to describe it. But the players don't know what was intended and therefore sometimes the grammar doesn't clarify enough.

vetteguy904

i just did some figures on what effects power...

annemarie30

are you going to run DM? if so don't forget Marion