So many ships, help with choice (Fed)

gizmox64

Since there is a 20% discount going on practically everything, I've had some zen sitting in my account for a few years now.
I'd like to get a new ship, but there are just so many options, I don't know what to get. "https://sto.gamepedia.com/Federation_playable_starship"
Currently I'm running a Sci Pilot Escort ship, which I enjoy, but it's getting old after running it so long.
I can get anything in the zen shop, and I seam to gravitate to heavy sci Boff skills (I am Engineer Captain).
I don't really know what to do when I have a commander station for engineering spec.
I have the winter event ships, and like the dreadnought, but not sure the hanger spot is worth a missing weapon slot.

So I'm asking for help in getting a new ship, I like the Bortasqu' Command Cruiser, but only play Fed (and just one toon).
I've been toying with the Fleet Dreadnought Cruiser (but so eng heavy I'm lost), or one of the Command Battle cruisers.

My playstyle is to just throw my ship in reverse, utilizing "Improved Non-Liner Progression" which does shield regen, and Fire at Will everything, and tank damage.
I really like sensor scan and command ship toggles, but just don't know what ship to buy.

Any suggestions on what ship or pack to buy?

postinggum

T6 battlecruiser is good for that style as it has 5 font weapons, decent sci and a top teir trait. That style would be enhanced with the super charged weapons trait from Tac star cruiser - fire torp spread and all other damage is boosted.

The temporal cross faction pack is good:
Ships apply to all toons
Plenty of temporal abilities to mess about with
A ship of each type
cloak for fed escort without using a console slot
maybe the most powerful sci part gen ship with its additional exotic damage modifiers
cruiser is very quick for a dread and can have a decent amount of non-engineering abilities

Any squishy ship is tougher with an Eng, makes HECs more fun, especially if you've got the trait from the T6 defiant for cannon scatter volley.

mustrumridcully0

Maybe it's time for a genuine Science Vessel?
Pretty much all of the Tier 6 Science Vessels are kick-TRIBBLE. Though I would argue only those with a full spec seat or at least a Lt.Cmdr spec seat are interesting in the long run. The Multi-Mission Explorers and the 31st Century Temporal Multi-Mission Science Vessel are really fun.

Did you make a Jem'Hadar character (highly recommended for the character account unlocks!)?
If so, then the Vanguard Carrier could be interesting. It can do a science heavy loadout and still blow things up with Beam Fire At Will. But to get it on a non-Jem'Hadar, you first must play a Jem'Hadar and max out the ship mastery for the ship.
Maybe the Vanguard Warship could be worth a try, too. Both ships also come with a special ability in form of two accompanying Vanguard Raiders that work a bit like carrier pets, but better.


Beyond that, I feel your Engineering pain. Commander Engineer is pretty much useless to me. But if you still like the general look and feel of Cruisers, look into ships with a full specialization seating. Intel Eclipse Cruiser and the Temporal Dreadnought (Chronos) could be interesting there, for example. Temporal spec kinda feels like a natural extension of science. The 31st century ship set overall is pretty potent and works on any character of any faction. However, customization options are lacking.

Alternatively, the Arbiter is also reasonably flexible (despite the Commander Engineering slot), has a kick-TRIBBLE Starship Mastery Trait for energy weapon users, and should work neatly with your non-linear progression...

talonxv

Multi mission cruisers aka the Vesta sub classes would be right up your alley. Properly built they are straight up beasts.

gizmox64

talonxv wrote: »

Multi mission cruisers aka the Vesta sub classes would be right up your alley. Properly built they are straight up beasts.

And T6's are out now too.
two of ya mentioned T6 battlecruiser = Arbiter, but Fleet version is better?
Forgot to mention too, Lobi ships are not out of question too.

mustrumridcully0

gizmox64 wrote: »

talonxv wrote: »

Multi mission cruisers aka the Vesta sub classes would be right up your alley. Properly built they are straight up beasts.

And T6's are out now too.
two of ya mentioned T6 battlecruiser = Arbiter, but Fleet version is better?
Forgot to mention too, Lobi ships are not out of question too.

The Fleet Version is better, but you won't get the Starship Mastery Trait, and that is a highly desirable trait. And if you buy he C-Store Version, the Fleet Version will be cheaper. (1 Module instead of 5, IIRC).

If Lobi ships are not out of the question, and you don't care about looks, the Vengeance Dreadnought is pretty nasty. And it is a full spec ship, so the Commander Engineer can be used more flexibly.

nimbull

Temporal ships are a nice option if you want fleet level ships out of the Z store. Also they're multi-faction so if you ever get an itch to play another faction they're available on that faction. That 31st Century Bundle is a sweet deal really. Dreadnaught, Science, and Raider all with cloaks and hangers. The raider has a battle cloak.

talonxv

> @gizmox64 said:
> talonxv wrote: »
>
> Multi mission cruisers aka the Vesta sub classes would be right up your alley. Properly built they are straight up beasts.
>
>
>
> And T6's are out now too.
> two of ya mentioned T6 battlecruiser = Arbiter, but Fleet version is better?
> Forgot to mention too, Lobi ships are not out of question too.

Well yeah of course. I meant the tier 6 variants. They are some of the most hard hitting ships around. Had a buddy of mine in a vengenace full mk 14 epic gear vs my mk 12 rare gear T6 engineering Vesta. I mopped the floor with that vengeance.

Space magic with Aux dual cannons ftw.

warmaker001b

mustrumridcully0 wrote: »

Maybe it's time for a genuine Science Vessel?
Pretty much all of the Tier 6 Science Vessels are kick-****. Though I would argue only those with a full spec seat or at least a Lt.Cmdr spec seat are interesting in the long run. The Multi-Mission Explorers and the 31st Century Temporal Multi-Mission Science Vessel are really fun.

Did you make a Jem'Hadar character (highly recommended for the character account unlocks!)?
If so, then the Vanguard Carrier could be interesting. It can do a science heavy loadout and still blow things up with Beam Fire At Will. But to get it on a non-Jem'Hadar, you first must play a Jem'Hadar and max out the ship mastery for the ship.
Maybe the Vanguard Warship could be worth a try, too. Both ships also come with a special ability in form of two accompanying Vanguard Raiders that work a bit like carrier pets, but better.


Beyond that, I feel your Engineering pain. Commander Engineer is pretty much useless to me. But if you still like the general look and feel of Cruisers, look into ships with a full specialization seating. Intel Eclipse Cruiser and the Temporal Dreadnought (Chronos) could be interesting there, for example. Temporal spec kinda feels like a natural extension of science. The 31st century ship set overall is pretty potent and works on any character of any faction. However, customization options are lacking.

Alternatively, the Arbiter is also reasonably flexible (despite the Commander Engineering slot), has a kick-**** Starship Mastery Trait for energy weapon users, and should work neatly with your non-linear progression...

Science Vessels IMO look to be in a Golden Era.

I remember in the past, years and years ago, that I derided SCI Vessels without a LtCmdr TAC station, and too heavy of a SCI BOFF layout. The reason was that back then we didn't have the specializations. Just standard TAC, SCI, ENG BOFF abilities. In standard SCI abilities, there's too many shared cooldowns. The LtCmdr TAC let me slot TS3 so that I could fire a big spread of Dyson Grav Torps into GW3 and watch the toilet bowl swirl away the NPCs.

But as time has gone on, we got extra BOFF abilities, specializations, etc. that gave lots of options. DRB, SSV, Temporal BOFF abilities. Then we had stuff like Particle Manipulator, etc.

The end result is that IMO, even an old SCI vessel with a mere Lt TAC station can do some very serious work today. Go into a T6 SCI Vessel with all kinds of BOFF layouts and today's traits, abilities, etc, you could do anything. Even a brand new Gamma Recruit flying a decent SCI Vessel, built smartly and even using trash "normal" consoles can do good work.

lordgyor

The Cardassian Intel Ships are great as well, cross faction C-Store, Fleet Quality.

echatty

I'll throw my lot in with the Temporal bundle. The Dread and MM Explorer are both beasts. I'm using a dread with a sci and an engi toon and they mop the skies. My sci in his MME mops up as well.

The Vorgon Carrier is also a beast if you have that. The frigate pets that come with it are pretty durable.

talonxv

> @echatty said:
> I'll throw my lot in with the Temporal bundle. The Dread and MM Explorer are both beasts. I'm using a dread with a sci and an engi toon and they mop the skies. My sci in his MME mops up as well.
>
> The Vorgon Carrier is also a beast if you have that. The frigate pets that come with it are pretty durable.

Jupiter class ain't too shabby either.

echatty

You're right, Talon. The Jupiter is a beast as well. I've come to be quite fond of carriers/flight deck cruisers.

Build 'em right and they tear stuff up.

lordgyor

> @echatty said:
> You're right, Talon. The Jupiter is a beast as well. I've come to be quite fond of carriers/flight deck cruisers.
>
> Build 'em right and they tear stuff up.

Jupiter is really great at being a team player thanks to the console.