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A question on switching from escort to cruiser

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2010 in The Academy
HI all. I'm a level 4 LT CMDR and am currently running an escort. My initial intention was to stick with escort all the way through, but I am now thinking of switching to cruiser by captain level. Am I going to gimp myself by taking skills suited to escort right now? I'm assuming that the skills I get are cumulative...so that if I take cannons up to 9th rank, those are 9 ranks I'll never get back and they'll be wasted at later levels. In addition, if I am taking skills in escort LT CMDR level and not in cruiser, are those also points that are cumulative? If so, those also will be points wasted if I end up switching to cruiser.

Thanks in advance.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I did the opposite, I was Cruiser all the way until I hit T4 and met...the Galaxy Class which I did not get on with at all. I had maxed my skills all the way at Cruiser and nothing on Escort, but I got on fine with the smaller ship and had a blast.

    I'm back as a Cruiser Admiral at T5 but I bought a Fleet Escort just in case I get the urge to take it out for a spin.

    Dr. S.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Invest skills in things you can use for both, beam weapons and torps.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Kahzad wrote:
    if I take cannons up to 9th rank, those are 9 ranks I'll never get back and they'll be wasted at later levels.

    Not exactly. While Cruisers cannot use cannon weapons, Cruisers can use turrets. And turret damage scales with the cannon skill; turrets are considered cannons for the purposes of skills and bridge officer powers (they are affected by Cannon: Rapid Fire, etc).

    Of course, if you don't intend to use turrets on your Cruiser, then yes, the skill points would be wasted.
    In addition, if I am taking skills in escort LT CMDR level and not in cruiser, are those also points that are cumulative? If so, those also will be points wasted if I end up switching to cruiser.

    Your points in Escort won't do anything if you go Cruiser...unless you're a Tactical captain. If you are, then the Escort captain skills actually buff your unique Tactical captain space powers, the stuff like Attack Pattern Alpha and Fire at Will.

    EDIT: Just looked at the test server notes. This has changed on Test; now the Tac Captain powers are buffed by a different set of skills. So, enh, what the hell.

    But in any case, I wouldn't worry - we'll be getting a respec function soon. Possibly by this month.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    yea i did this too, now i need a re-spec!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I suppose it is possible that you would not be able to hold your own in PvP but as far as PvE goes, it doesnt matter. You will still be able to do all the missions available even with the wrong skills trained.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I'm at Commander 1 now and I've been awarded my cruiser at each tier, and I've also bought an escort as well... I've been putting points into the light cruiser/escort command skills and cruiser command skills, but I realized that those points don't apply to say, the heavy cruisers or exploration cruisers, so I think I might not put very many points into my heavy cruiser skills, just into the beam/cannon/torps skills that will apply over all tiers... Likewise, I've been considering if I should even bother with putting points into photon or quantum torpedos since I find it unlikely that I will be using those types of weapons at endgame... I guess where I'm going with all this is that it seems that putting points into a skill which will only be used temporarily is not as good an idea as putting points into skills which will be applicable through the entire game... I know there's a respec coming, but how much will it cost? And will that be in Energy Credits, Starfleet Merits, or Cryptic Points?

    Since I'm thinking about it, can anybody tell me how to get Cryptic points? I only have the 240 from the survey, and I have a feeling I'll need more as the game progresses...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Kevscar wrote: »
    Invest skills in things you can use for both, beam weapons and torps.
    Bingo - well said.

    Last night, I switched from my Nova-class science ship to a Constitution-class (NCC-1701-A style) cruiser. The nostalgia was too great to ignore.

    Admittedly, I love the science class slightly more... Firefights are more fun when it comes to disabling enemy vessels, transferring power to fellow Federation players and opening fire, too. Then again, I like the cruiser's ability to last longer in battle.

    It will be fun to experience this game through different ships... and different classes. :)

    So, when do we get Excelsior-class and Ambassador-class designs? Open that C-Store and offer them! I think the designs are still relevant in this game. Along with a TOS-era (NCC-1701 style) cruiser. Make it so! Tholians, too!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rum0r wrote: »
    Since I'm thinking about it, can anybody tell me how to get Cryptic points? I only have the 240 from the survey, and I have a feeling I'll need more as the game progresses...

    Do what I did: Buy them. :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    See that's what I was wondering about.... You have to buy them with real cash? What's the going rate? Where would I go to do that (when I need them; the c-store is woefully inadequate right now...)?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rum0r wrote: »
    See that's what I was wondering about.... You have to buy them with real cash? What's the going rate? Where would I go to do that (when I need them; the c-store is woefully inadequate right now...)?

    You buy them at the ship vendor (same NPC you get the free ones at) for ENERGY CREDITS, not RL money. 68000 for a t2 ship, goes up from there.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Don,t spend any money now. Wait until they get a decent amount of stuff in then see if there is anything you really really must have. I don't mind mini-transactions in F2P games but I will never do them in subscription one no matter what, s for sale.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Callasan wrote: »
    You buy them at the ship vendor (same NPC you get the free ones at) for ENERGY CREDITS, not RL money. 68000 for a t2 ship, goes up from there.

    I think you might have misunderstood my question, I wasn't asking about buying ships; as I stated earlier, I have bought an escort to compliment my free cruiser at every tier so far...

    I was actually asking about buying cryptic points, do they require a real cash transaction or in-game currency of some form?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Rum0r wrote: »
    I think you might have misunderstood my question, I wasn't asking about buying ships; as I stated earlier, I have bought an escort to compliment my free cruiser at every tier so far...

    I was actually asking about buying cryptic points, do they require a real cash transaction or in-game currency of some form?
    Cryptic points are bought with real money.

    If you go to the front page of the official site (http://www.startrekonline.com/) and click the My Account link in the top-right, you'll see your current point balance and a link that allows you to buy more.

    (Note that clicking the My Account link in the top-right of any forum page takes you to your forum account details - you need to be on the main site, not the forums, to get to the right account screen.)

    At the moment, there aren't many things you can buy with Cryptic Points, but the options are likely to expand over time.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Good deal, thank you... I'll be keeping my eyes on the c-store, I guess they're expanding here pretty soon....
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