I tended to go cruisers until i get to the point where Cannons are useful.
TOS connie, tier 2 connie, Daedalus sci, Sao Paulo, Defiant, Valiant, with an Odyssey when I need hull. from there it's pick and choose for traits.
Science until 40 for my Feds. Tachyon Beam + Deteriorating Secondary Deflector = Death laser, up until level 40. At 40 onwards, you have to put a lot of DrainX and EPG to get it to do much, but even the default Deteriorating Secondary Deflector that comes on given Tier of Sci ship without needing to Skill anything into Sci is awesome below 40.
At 40, I usually go with a Event ship that either fits the theme I'm going for and/or that I'll want the Trait from.
Until lvl 40 where I start grinding traits from event ships it's all escorts. CRF/CSV annihilates everything at lower levels, even with the garbage DHCs from the ship gear vendor.
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At 40, I usually go with a Event ship that either fits the theme I'm going for and/or that I'll want the Trait from.