The Nebula as a Science ship? No. It's a Heavy War Cruiser used on the front line of every major conflict the Federation has had. The fact they're giving it an ability from a less then interesting TNG episode is their justification for charging RL money for it. This ship should be more like the U.S.S Phoenix. Now THAT is a Nebula class worth flying. You science guys need to just chill and wait for Oberth class, or maybe they could make the Steamrunner class and make it science based, seems more appropriate.
ya science need to "chillout" after every ship released has been cruiser... right.. for the record i have 1 of each type of captain at VA and my main IS an engineer cruiser captain.
They need to put a poll up and pick a vote, cruiser, science, escort, or all of the above. Id gladly pick all of the above. I was reading through and saw a good idea, if there is a science version you could dump the free sub system targeting for more weapon slots/universal.
The nebula aught to be a ship pack/individual if you just want 1 of the 3. I know id get the 3 pack its one of the most iconic ships to me. And sadly the oberth got the fewest votes of all at a piddily 650 votes to 3500+ for excel. Wont be seeing it any time soon, same with the ambassador which is a shame cause i love the oberth/nebula/and ambassador.
The NX would be fine for a escort, the J is just out of place, NX could have it + a new modeled variant to swap diffrent parts with. Id be happy with ambassador as a skin for T4 and T5 galaxy accept it cant saucer seperate.
Got off track, do a poll and let us vote on the Nebula, doubt people will be truely happy until its decided that way. Id be willing to bet most people would choose the 1 for each class,
1 Cmdr eng BO
1 Lt Cmdr Sci BO
1 Lt Cmdr Universal
1 Lt Tactical Console
This makes it all around good for anything. Good for Eng,Sci or Tact IMO.
Well I happen to agree with you, but I figured that gaining the universal Lt Cmdr would require losing at least 1 BO power. And I think forgetting the tac station entirely helps make this more balanced. Those that want to go offensive can always use the universal for a tac slot. If you are not going to lose a BO power then it needs to be solid science to indicate it's support role.
1 Cmdr Eng BO
1 LT Cmdr Sci BO
1 Lt Sci BO
1 Lt Cmdr Universal
I say Cryptic needs to more formally make cruisers the 'Multi-Role' ship group, and just lump all these cruiser-ish, but flexible ship options there. It doesn't HAVE to be balanced between 'classes'. Anyone can fly cruisers, and honestly, cruisers need the skill points more than any other class. I'm a science officer, and I fly every ship, but I put my points into cruisers cause I don't need to turn faster on my science or tactical ships. Make the cruiser class more ship heavy, and make it a more obvious choice for people who want general purpose ships, like the Nebula. If you want to fly Intrepid sorts of vessels, and not multi-role cruisers that can do science, then stick to science ship skills and Intrepids/Recons. Nothing's wrong with a science officer flying a cruiser that has good science BO slots.
Let me break it out simply:
Escorts are smaller, fast, nimble cannon ships.
Science are medium sized, maneuverable techy ships.
Cruisers are big multi-role ships. - IE, the Nebula.
I LOVE the way the Excelsior turned out. An excellent tactical cruiser. Now, do likewise with the Nebula. Make it an excellent science/multi-role cruiser.
PS: Just posting my thoughts once more on making a torpedo-based special ability for a tactical Nebula: Shorter cooldown on torps or every torp launched gets a free extra torpedo, like adding +1 to it's High Yield level, and making High Yield I by default or something. This also fits well with a retrofit Akira/Steamrunner.
Me personally, I need at least 19 ships, I'll probably only fly one and stick with it for the entire time I play STO but I NEED that option, I need it!
The Klingons have very simple needs: Kill things fast.
Thus, they have simple requirements for ships. They don't need many options, they don't need different customization choices, cause they all have a singular goal. Kill things fast. The Feds on the other hand, are wishy-washy, non-commital, vain people with all sorts of different goals and desires. They have no unifying direction to go, they have no singular vision of ship roles. Thus, they need as many more ships as they have desires of things to do with them.
Really, the Klingons only need one kind of ship, and just bigger/badder versions as you gain ranks. Be happy you have more options than just a bigger BoP. And to hell with ship 'costumes'. Since when do different shaped wings help you kill faster?
Us Feds need to fulfill our metro-sexual desires when it comes to ship style and function.
THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!! (unless you forgot what happened with the Excelsior) but better to start talking about it now than weeks from now.
Also keep in mind this ship has been in development for some time (pre-dates the new KDF ships being worked on)
Ok... here it is
Nebula
A StarCruiser variant (Its not a Retrofit. It utilizes the StarCruiser Skill).
Requires:
Rear Admiral
Weapons:
4 Fore
4 Aft
Boff seats (4 Boffs, 11 Powers):
1 Lt Tact
1 Cm Eng
1 LC Science
1 Lt Universal
Mods:
4 Eng
3 Sci
2 Tact
3 Device Slots
750 Crew
Unique Ability:
Tachyon Detection Grid: PBAoE buff that increases your, and allies w/in 10k, Starship Sensor Stat and Cloak Detection. Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid.
Turn Rate = Galaxy
Any other stats not mentioned are the same as a Star Cruiser.
Screenshots attached - the second is one of the mission pod swap out configuration options
Sounds good-I like it. The design shows original thought and balanced thinking.
Though there will be whines about the "Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid." effect out of fear of exploiting a picket line type of attack-thus suppossedly being able to sweep the pvp field. Such is my prediction.
2. Tachyon Detection Grid seems like a Science-type power, and we're short on Science ships, heavy on Cruisers. Might want to consider retooling the Nebula into a Deep Space Science Vessel offshoot.
I agree this is a science ship of specilized function- not a cruiser at all. The Dev's need to change that,imo. I am still pleased though because it shows good creative thinking in its design.
As for the Universal BO slot- we knew it was going to pop-up Fedside for a while now. The whined for it didn't they?
Science captains can still pilot it, gives them higher hull and more gun slots than being a science ship.
If it's going to be a science ship however, the turn rate HAS to go up. Otherwise it is just a gimped cruiser: slow turning and less hull to defend itself.
THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!! (unless you forgot what happened with the Excelsior) but better to start talking about it now than weeks from now.
Also keep in mind this ship has been in development for some time (pre-dates the new KDF ships being worked on)
Ok... here it is
Nebula
A StarCruiser variant (Its not a Retrofit. It utilizes the StarCruiser Skill).
Requires:
Rear Admiral
Weapons:
4 Fore
4 Aft
Boff seats (4 Boffs, 11 Powers):
1 Lt Tact
1 Cm Eng
1 LC Science
1 Lt Universal
Mods:
4 Eng
3 Sci
2 Tact
3 Device Slots
750 Crew
Unique Ability:
Tachyon Detection Grid: PBAoE buff that increases your, and allies w/in 10k, Starship Sensor Stat and Cloak Detection. Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid.
Turn Rate = Galaxy
Any other stats not mentioned are the same as a Star Cruiser.
Screenshots attached - the second is one of the mission pod swap out configuration options
Daddy like! though I do notice a disturbing trend with the newer ships all being cruisers, any ships other than cruisers slated for soonish? Also turn rate of the Galaxy? Any chance it could at least be (since it is a starcruiser) closer to that in turn? again loving this already, especally with the Universal slot
though I do notice a disturbing trend with the newer ships all being cruisers, any ships other than cruisers slated for soonish?
Here's a list of ships people have asked for over the many months this game has been in game ...
- Galaxy class at T5. This started the whole shebang off ... and it's a cruiser ... and it led to ...
- All Good Things Galaxy
- Nebula
- Excelsior
- Enterprise J
- TOS Enterprise Refit
- Ambassador
What do all those ships have in common?
They're all cruisers.
People keep asking for Cruisers.
Another popular ship request ... the Aventine!
And yet another popular request ... the Enterprise from JJ Abrams' movie.
They're making the ships we ask for.
Those ships are cruisers.
The KDF at least keeps asking for General Chang's Bird of Prey. And some Gorn and Nausicaan and Orion ships. Leaving room for variety.
The Feds keep asking for their favorite ... cruisers!
Here's a list of ships people have asked for over the many months this game has been in game ...
- Galaxy class at T5. This started the whole shebang off ... and it's a cruiser ... and it led to ...
- All Good Things Galaxy
- Nebula
- Excelsior
- Enterprise J
- TOS Enterprise Refit
- Ambassador
What do all those ships have in common?
They're all cruisers.
People keep asking for Cruisers.
Another popular ship request ... the Aventine!
And yet another popular request ... the Enterprise from JJ Abrams' movie.
They're making the ships we ask for.
Those ships are cruisers.
The KDF at least keeps asking for General Chang's Bird of Prey. And some Gorn and Nausicaan and Orion ships. Leaving room for variety.
The Feds keep asking for their favorite ... cruisers!
This of course has nothing to do with the fact that cruiser is the most survivable ship in the game or that they are the iconic ship for about every Star Trek, i will admit I'm a cruiser fan and I forgot what the nebula looked like. I remember playing the collectable card game and seeing that and going "Thats a damn sexy ship!" so I'm very happy about it, but I only have one cruiser captain, I also have a sci officer and Tactical officer. So far their choices are gonna end up leading to cruisers because well..damn they have all the nice options so far lol. I'm not saying they dont need to be in there or anything, Im just wondering if they are working on some other ships that are not cruisers is all
Again, because it's called a cruiser by Starfleet doesn't mean it has to be a Cruiser in the game. Voyager was referred to as a Cruiser, yet in the game it's a Science vessel. The DSSV could easily be considered a cruiser. The Akira could even be called a cruiser. It's just a name.
Again, because it's called a cruiser by Starfleet doesn't mean it has to be a Cruiser in the game. Voyager was referred to as a Cruiser, yet in the game it's a Science vessel. The DSSV could easily be considered a cruiser. The Akira could even be called a cruiser. It's just a name.
But also ... again ... mechanically speaking, the Cruiser suggestion is better. The DSSV version is much weaker, and not that playable.
But also ... again ... mechanically speaking, the Cruiser suggestion is better. The DSSV version is much weaker, and not that playable.
For whom? I could not fly the cruiser as shown in first post of this thread as a science or tactical ship. But the dssv Version would fit perfectly to a Science Charakter.
Meanwhile i would say make it a Cruiser BUT with LT CMD Universal BO console. Well mainly like in the first post but with These BO consoles:
Problem solved, most people will buy it. By making it 2 Tac consoles you are cutting out the oppertunity for a 3rd of ur players to use it effectively despite it being just as much a fighter as an explorer.
I do see why others find the Cruiser stats attractive. It represents a T5 Cruiser that might prove fun for players. Just save the configuration for something other than the Nebula.
I guess I'm just not all that thrilled with the focus on Nebula as T5. I'd much rather see it's layout as an alternative T3 science ship. Since we missed that opportunity with Excelsior. Having not experienced the DSSV yet, I can only go by the words of its protractors mentioned here. If they are really so lackluster, I think the Lead Designer should revisit the whole set of ships. Assuming improvements were entertained, work in a T5 version at that point.
THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!! (unless you forgot what happened with the Excelsior) but better to start talking about it now than weeks from now.
Also keep in mind this ship has been in development for some time (pre-dates the new KDF ships being worked on)
Ok... here it is
Nebula
A StarCruiser variant (Its not a Retrofit. It utilizes the StarCruiser Skill).
Requires:
Rear Admiral
Weapons:
4 Fore
4 Aft
Boff seats (4 Boffs, 11 Powers):
1 Lt Tact
1 Cm Eng
1 LC Science
1 Lt Universal
Mods:
4 Eng
3 Sci
2 Tact
3 Device Slots
750 Crew
Unique Ability:
Tachyon Detection Grid: PBAoE buff that increases your, and allies w/in 10k, Starship Sensor Stat and Cloak Detection. Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid.
Turn Rate = Galaxy
Any other stats not mentioned are the same as a Star Cruiser.
Screenshots attached - the second is one of the mission pod swap out configuration options
I think it's a great idea to have the Nebula in line with the Star Cruiser. The Nebula was a science cruiser. It should maybe have a slightly better turn rate (somewhat in line with detached saucer of the Galaxy Retrofit, of course accounting for the lower hull and the mission platform).
The universal console slot was something me and my friends have been talking about whenever we discuss the Nebula. That mission platform definitely allows for various loadouts, so kudos to you on that. Being a Lieutenant slot, it's not a real game changer, Lieutenant Tier skills aren't that powerful compared to Lieutenant Commander, so BoP's don't have to fear their supremacy being overthrown on the battlefield.
Also, 500 Quatloos to you for the TDG. While I know I'm going to regret this down the line, it probably shouldn't be contagious. One of the advantages Klingons have when Feds (and to a lesser extent the Dreadnought and the Retrofit Defiant) is their cloaking device to slip past Feds and ambush them to rout their forces. The TDG in TNG "Redemption" and "Redemption II" was iffy at best, and was only designed to make sure the Romulans didn't sneak through the boarder to aid Dura's forces in the Klingon Civil War. That being said, either it should be limited to 5 ships per Nebula, or it should impose a speed-ratio effectiveness (the slower you go, the farther you see, the faster you go, the less you'll see).
It's nice to see that the Federation is trying to keep up with the Klingons so this doesn't end up like "Yesterday's Enterprise". Keeping that in mind however, maybe the Klingons should be getting a few Reverse Engineered technologies of their own, maybe from their Federation trophies, or Romulan conquests?
I know you've got a lot on your plate, but when you get a chance after you've caught up the Klingons with their ships, maybe take a look at the Oberth-Class next, or maybe an Akira-class retrofit with carrier capabilities?
It was a tough call whether to make this a Science Vessel or a Cruiser. The IP supports either. In the end we decided to make it a cruiser because it is so big and especially b/c it has so much in common with the Galaxy. So we decided to make it StarCruiser.
We could consider making it a Science Vessel. A Deep Space Science Vessel was the second choice. Doing so would swap the BOff and Mod slots. Also, its weapon slots would need to be reduced, and it would gain Subsystem Targeting. Finally it would have DeepSpace Science Vessel hull and Shield HP. So it would be something like:
Nebula
A DeepSpace Science Vessel variant (Its not a Retrofit. It utilizes the DeepSpace Science Vessel Skill).
Requires:
Rear Admiral
Weapons:
3 Fore
3 Aft
Boff seats (4 Boffs, 11 Powers):
1 Lt Tact
1 LC Eng
1 Cm Science
1 Lt Universal
Mods:
3 Eng
4 Sci
2 Tact
3 Device Slots
750 Crew
Unique Ability:
Tachyon Detection Grid: PBAoE buff that increases your, and allies w/in 10k, Starship Sensor Stat and Cloak Detection. Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid.
Turn Rate = Galaxy
Any other stats not mentioned are the same as a DeepSpace Science Vessel.
I say do this, it was suposed to be an updated version of the relient, with the big sensor array on top...
Canonically, the Nebula had a sensor array that could be modified for its role.
For all those crying wah...not another cruiser...why not have 3 variants. Maybe even have the sensor pod interchangeable in-game (probably require lots of game mechanic rework).
TAC:
4 fore, 3 aft. (extra torp launcher in pod. Have it as torp only, otherwise it could get cannon-crazy!)
Cdr Tac
LC Sci
Lt Eng
Lt Uni
Mods: 4T 3S 2E
SCI: as proposed
ENG:
3 fore, 3 aft
Cdr Eng
LC Sci
Lt Tac
Lt Uni
Mods: 4E 3S 2T
Anyway - just a thought...I think the universal boff might make stuff (especially TAC) overpowered.
Comments
ya science need to "chillout" after every ship released has been cruiser... right.. for the record i have 1 of each type of captain at VA and my main IS an engineer cruiser captain.
They need to put a poll up and pick a vote, cruiser, science, escort, or all of the above. Id gladly pick all of the above. I was reading through and saw a good idea, if there is a science version you could dump the free sub system targeting for more weapon slots/universal.
The nebula aught to be a ship pack/individual if you just want 1 of the 3. I know id get the 3 pack its one of the most iconic ships to me. And sadly the oberth got the fewest votes of all at a piddily 650 votes to 3500+ for excel. Wont be seeing it any time soon, same with the ambassador which is a shame cause i love the oberth/nebula/and ambassador.
The NX would be fine for a escort, the J is just out of place, NX could have it + a new modeled variant to swap diffrent parts with. Id be happy with ambassador as a skin for T4 and T5 galaxy accept it cant saucer seperate.
Got off track, do a poll and let us vote on the Nebula, doubt people will be truely happy until its decided that way. Id be willing to bet most people would choose the 1 for each class,
Well I happen to agree with you, but I figured that gaining the universal Lt Cmdr would require losing at least 1 BO power. And I think forgetting the tac station entirely helps make this more balanced. Those that want to go offensive can always use the universal for a tac slot. If you are not going to lose a BO power then it needs to be solid science to indicate it's support role.
1 Cmdr Eng BO
1 LT Cmdr Sci BO
1 Lt Sci BO
1 Lt Cmdr Universal
A perfect flexible support cruiser.
Let me break it out simply:
Escorts are smaller, fast, nimble cannon ships.
Science are medium sized, maneuverable techy ships.
Cruisers are big multi-role ships. - IE, the Nebula.
I LOVE the way the Excelsior turned out. An excellent tactical cruiser. Now, do likewise with the Nebula. Make it an excellent science/multi-role cruiser.
PS: Just posting my thoughts once more on making a torpedo-based special ability for a tactical Nebula: Shorter cooldown on torps or every torp launched gets a free extra torpedo, like adding +1 to it's High Yield level, and making High Yield I by default or something. This also fits well with a retrofit Akira/Steamrunner.
Yes / No / Fire at Will?
They really do. Apart from its missing a tac console and a Universal LTC slot rather than LT. Especially seeing as its down one BO slot.
Dude this has been in development for months, long b4 they even started to address the klingon ships. After this is out ull see ur klingon ships.
When the Feds are done getting what's needed first then we'll consider it.
How many ships do you guys need FFS.
Me personally, I need at least 19 ships, I'll probably only fly one and stick with it for the entire time I play STO but I NEED that option, I need it!
Thus, they have simple requirements for ships. They don't need many options, they don't need different customization choices, cause they all have a singular goal. Kill things fast. The Feds on the other hand, are wishy-washy, non-commital, vain people with all sorts of different goals and desires. They have no unifying direction to go, they have no singular vision of ship roles. Thus, they need as many more ships as they have desires of things to do with them.
Really, the Klingons only need one kind of ship, and just bigger/badder versions as you gain ranks. Be happy you have more options than just a bigger BoP. And to hell with ship 'costumes'. Since when do different shaped wings help you kill faster?
Us Feds need to fulfill our metro-sexual desires when it comes to ship style and function.
Klingons are getting multiple ships. You just have to be patient while they figure out how to push the Nebula.
Sounds good-I like it. The design shows original thought and balanced thinking.
Though there will be whines about the "Each buffed ally in turn will buff more allies within 10k of them - thus extending the grid." effect out of fear of exploiting a picket line type of attack-thus suppossedly being able to sweep the pvp field. Such is my prediction.
I agree this is a science ship of specilized function- not a cruiser at all. The Dev's need to change that,imo. I am still pleased though because it shows good creative thinking in its design.
As for the Universal BO slot- we knew it was going to pop-up Fedside for a while now. The whined for it didn't they?
Science captains can still pilot it, gives them higher hull and more gun slots than being a science ship.
If it's going to be a science ship however, the turn rate HAS to go up. Otherwise it is just a gimped cruiser: slow turning and less hull to defend itself.
Oh ... interessting suggestion. Could be really interesting and would be a nice compomise between Cruiser and Scienceship.
MfG Michael
Daddy like! though I do notice a disturbing trend with the newer ships all being cruisers, any ships other than cruisers slated for soonish? Also turn rate of the Galaxy? Any chance it could at least be (since it is a starcruiser) closer to that in turn? again loving this already, especally with the Universal slot
Here's a list of ships people have asked for over the many months this game has been in game ...
- Galaxy class at T5. This started the whole shebang off ... and it's a cruiser ... and it led to ...
- All Good Things Galaxy
- Nebula
- Excelsior
- Enterprise J
- TOS Enterprise Refit
- Ambassador
What do all those ships have in common?
They're all cruisers.
People keep asking for Cruisers.
Another popular ship request ... the Aventine!
And yet another popular request ... the Enterprise from JJ Abrams' movie.
They're making the ships we ask for.
Those ships are cruisers.
The KDF at least keeps asking for General Chang's Bird of Prey. And some Gorn and Nausicaan and Orion ships. Leaving room for variety.
The Feds keep asking for their favorite ... cruisers!
This of course has nothing to do with the fact that cruiser is the most survivable ship in the game or that they are the iconic ship for about every Star Trek, i will admit I'm a cruiser fan and I forgot what the nebula looked like. I remember playing the collectable card game and seeing that and going "Thats a damn sexy ship!" so I'm very happy about it, but I only have one cruiser captain, I also have a sci officer and Tactical officer. So far their choices are gonna end up leading to cruisers because well..damn they have all the nice options so far lol. I'm not saying they dont need to be in there or anything, Im just wondering if they are working on some other ships that are not cruisers is all
But also ... again ... mechanically speaking, the Cruiser suggestion is better. The DSSV version is much weaker, and not that playable.
For whom? I could not fly the cruiser as shown in first post of this thread as a science or tactical ship. But the dssv Version would fit perfectly to a Science Charakter.
Meanwhile i would say make it a Cruiser BUT with LT CMD Universal BO console. Well mainly like in the first post but with These BO consoles:
.CMD Engineering
LT CMD Science
LT CMD Universal
LT tactical
I think that would fit for everyone.
[X] Vote for 1600 CP
That way customers will have to buy the 2000 C-points chunk instead of cheating Cryptic by purchasing the 500 and 1000 C-point chunks individually.
Consoles
3 Eng
3 Sci
3 Tac
BO's
COM Eng
LTC Universal
LT or LTC Science
LT Tac
Problem solved, most people will buy it. By making it 2 Tac consoles you are cutting out the oppertunity for a 3rd of ur players to use it effectively despite it being just as much a fighter as an explorer.
I guess I'm just not all that thrilled with the focus on Nebula as T5. I'd much rather see it's layout as an alternative T3 science ship. Since we missed that opportunity with Excelsior. Having not experienced the DSSV yet, I can only go by the words of its protractors mentioned here. If they are really so lackluster, I think the Lead Designer should revisit the whole set of ships. Assuming improvements were entertained, work in a T5 version at that point.
So let's see what the T3 Nebula might look like?
I think it's a great idea to have the Nebula in line with the Star Cruiser. The Nebula was a science cruiser. It should maybe have a slightly better turn rate (somewhat in line with detached saucer of the Galaxy Retrofit, of course accounting for the lower hull and the mission platform).
The universal console slot was something me and my friends have been talking about whenever we discuss the Nebula. That mission platform definitely allows for various loadouts, so kudos to you on that. Being a Lieutenant slot, it's not a real game changer, Lieutenant Tier skills aren't that powerful compared to Lieutenant Commander, so BoP's don't have to fear their supremacy being overthrown on the battlefield.
Also, 500 Quatloos to you for the TDG. While I know I'm going to regret this down the line, it probably shouldn't be contagious. One of the advantages Klingons have when Feds (and to a lesser extent the Dreadnought and the Retrofit Defiant) is their cloaking device to slip past Feds and ambush them to rout their forces. The TDG in TNG "Redemption" and "Redemption II" was iffy at best, and was only designed to make sure the Romulans didn't sneak through the boarder to aid Dura's forces in the Klingon Civil War. That being said, either it should be limited to 5 ships per Nebula, or it should impose a speed-ratio effectiveness (the slower you go, the farther you see, the faster you go, the less you'll see).
It's nice to see that the Federation is trying to keep up with the Klingons so this doesn't end up like "Yesterday's Enterprise". Keeping that in mind however, maybe the Klingons should be getting a few Reverse Engineered technologies of their own, maybe from their Federation trophies, or Romulan conquests?
I know you've got a lot on your plate, but when you get a chance after you've caught up the Klingons with their ships, maybe take a look at the Oberth-Class next, or maybe an Akira-class retrofit with carrier capabilities?
The Nebula has the right build for being a healer ship. Like to test that.
If it a Science Ship? That great.
If it a Engineer ship? That's still ok. I don't want to reskill for Cruiser skills. Since I'm a Engineer Captain in Science ship.
I say do this, it was suposed to be an updated version of the relient, with the big sensor array on top...
For all those crying wah...not another cruiser...why not have 3 variants. Maybe even have the sensor pod interchangeable in-game (probably require lots of game mechanic rework).
TAC:
4 fore, 3 aft. (extra torp launcher in pod. Have it as torp only, otherwise it could get cannon-crazy!)
Cdr Tac
LC Sci
Lt Eng
Lt Uni
Mods: 4T 3S 2E
SCI: as proposed
ENG:
3 fore, 3 aft
Cdr Eng
LC Sci
Lt Tac
Lt Uni
Mods: 4E 3S 2T
Anyway - just a thought...I think the universal boff might make stuff (especially TAC) overpowered.