Critique my build: advanced escort with (regular) cannons

Comments

• baudl Member Posts: 4,060 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  2 reasons why it does not pay out to use single cannons neither in PVP nor PVE
  
  PVP you win through high burst dmg...not time on target. Now i wouldn't say that single cannons arent viable for PVP, but burst is king...if you have a grp setup where single cannon would make sense, because of something go for it. But high dmg numbers mean nothing if you can't actually kill anything.
  
  PVE, does it matter what fireing arc you have? No, you can even do elite stfs with a 6 turnrate ship equipped with DHC...since you do not need to move much actually. ofcourse this example is rather extreme, but turnrate in stfs is not the most important thing...dmg is.
  
  so in my opinion, do it if you like, but i think improving how you maneuver your ship is the improvement you should work on.

  Go pro or go home

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• harrymonkley Member Posts: 100 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  If you want to improve your build for both PvP and PvE, really the best source of information is the Hilbert guide which you can find here
  
  http://hilbertguide.com//
  
  I got referred to it when I first started playing STO, and it is essential reading - setting up a keybind is particularly important, and once you have the key principles sorted, you can start to experiment with your build without weakening it.

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• maelwy5 Member Posts: 593 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  edwardvere wrote: »

  How can I improve my build? Here's the build. I'm not looking for burst damage, but DPS over time/average DPS.

  
  (i) Concerning equipment, make sure to grab an 'Assimilated Console'. The rest of your equipment is fine for PVE (Though eventually you're probably going to want to look at the Special Task Force sets: a Mk X MACO shield and either Borg or Omega Deflector/Engines would be a good place to start; and the Adapted Honor Guard Set at Tier V might be a good long-term goal.)
  
  (ii) Concerning Damage; the biggest thing will be making sure you're always running at maximum (125) weapons power. You're already running 3 matching energy consoles; but you may want to look at that and increase it to four if you're concentrating on damage from Energy Weapons rather than Projectile Launchers or Mines.
  
  DHCs are normally the weapons of choice on Escorts, because Escorts have the ability to equip Dual Cannons and enough maneuverability to constantly keep targets inside their narrow 45' weapon arcs. It's possible to build a working setup without DHCs... but once you start going down that route, you really might as well be flying a Cruiser or a Science Vessel instead of an Escort.
  
  In PVE, the "ideal" Escort weapons setup will depend on what you're fighting; but generally either 4x DHCs (Fore) or 2-3 DHCs and 1-2 Quantum Torpedo Launchers (Fore) are the most effective setups. The 4x DHC setup is fairly straightforward. If you want a bit of extra burst damage, then equip one torpedo launcher (for High Yield or Spread). If you find yourself fighting from longer range, or unshielded targets (STFs) then go for 2 Launchers and a few Projectile Weapons DOFFs to increase their firing rate. Occasionally you might see someone use a Dual Beam Bank (for Beam Overload 3), this is an extremely powerful Burst damage buff; but you'll nearly always get better results over time from DHCs (using Cannon Rapid Fire) instead.
  
  Effective PVE weapon setups in the "Rear" Arc are usually either 3x Turrets (Traditional setup) or 1x Turret and 2x Tricobalt Mines (High Burst damage setup, works very well with high-tier Dispersion Pattern Abilities). These days you might also see a Borg "Cutting Beam" equipped in place of a rear turret, since it has a 360' firing arc and has a little more punch than a standard turret.
  

  I have attack pattern alpha, attack pattern omega 3, cannon scatter volley 2, beam fire at will 1, torpedo high yield 3, tactical team 2, target weapons subsystems 1, science team 2, engineering teams 1 and 2 (I know I need to do something about that), hazard emitters 1, and transfer shield strength 1. Getting cannon rapid volley is on my to-do list

  
  At a minimum, you'll want HE1, EPTS1 and TT1.
  
  Try to avoid taking Engineering Team or Science Team, since the cooldown for these is shared with Tactical Team - which is usually very important to have up constantly; instead go for 'Aux to SIF' or 'Transfer Shield Strength' since these do much the same thing (they grant a "heal" and provide a damage resistance buff).
  
  For Tactical BOFF Abilities, you really need to match them to your weapons loadouts: if you're using Tricobalt Mines, a "Dispersion Pattern" (usually Beta) should be your highest tier ability. Next important are high tiers of Attack Pattern Beta (PVE only) and Cannon Rapid Fire. And finally, Torpedo High Yield/Spread.
  
  Never take higher than 'Cannon Scatter Volley I' and 'Tactical Team I' - the former's only use is to turn your weapons fire into an AoE, and the latter's is to balance your shields... the damage buff provided by higher tiers is negligable.
  
  And finally: if you aren't taking either 'Polarise Hull' or 'Tractor Beam Repulsors' in your Science BOFF, you'll probably want to take a copy of 'Attack Pattern Omega I' to allow you to escape enemy Tractor Beams.

  [ <<<--- @Maelwys --->>> ]

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• fraghul2000 Member Posts: 1,590 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  Fore weapons: Polarized tetryon beam array, photon torpedo (dmg), tetryon cannon (crtH*2,dmg), tetryon cannon (acc*2, crtH)
  
  [...]
  
  Aft weapons: Tetryon beam array (dmg), photon torpedo (crtH), tetryon turret (crtD, dmg)
  
  [...]
  
  I have attack pattern alpha, attack pattern omega 3, cannon scatter volley 2, beam fire at will 1, torpedo high yield 3, tactical team 2, target weapons subsystems 1

  
  Just to comment on those parts:
  
  Something that is pretty standard for every PVE escort build is to run dual TacTeams. Rank 1 will usually be enough, with TacTeam Conn Doffs giving a reduced CD and a buff to your attack patterns.
  
  The second thing I noticed was the fact that you were using 3 different types of wepons. You have Torps, Cannons and Beams. It is usually more efficient to concentrate on 1-2 types, meaning you will get a bigger effect from your wepons buffs.
  
  e.g.: Fire at Will/beam overload: effects beams only, no effect on cannons or torps. If you pop FaW, only 2 of your weapon slots will be effected, leaving the other ones less efficient. Same goes for Scatter Volley and High Yield.
  
  So try to go for either beams/cannons, beams/torps, cannon/torps, all-cannon or all-beam.
  
  A typical setup for a ship with 2 weapon types would look something like this:
  
  T1: TacTeam, [insert buff skill for weapon type 1], [insert buff skill for weapon type 2], [insert skill of your choice],
  T2: TacTeam, [insert buff skill for weapon type 1], [insert buff skill for weapon type 2],
  
  
  for a setup with a single weapon type:
  
  T1: TacTeam, [insert skill of your choice], [insert buff skill for weapon], [insert skill of your choice],
  T2: TacTeam, [insert skill of your choice], [insert buff skill for weapon],
  
  That way you will almost constantly have buffs up for all your weapon types, something that cannot be accomplished when running three different types.
  
  A typical "skill of choice" would be AP Omega, AP Beta or Mine Pattern (when running mines aft)

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• edwardvere Member Posts: 13 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  I've read the Hilbert Guide, but I was hoping to find something a little less "cookie-cutter". There really is no way to have an effective escort with single cannons?
  
  Thanks for the advice about the team skills (I already have Omega 3).

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• arleonenis Member Posts: 9 Arc User

  December 2012 edited December 2012

  edwardvere wrote: »

  I've read the Hilbert Guide, but I was hoping to find something a little less "cookie-cutter". There really is no way to have an effective escort with single cannons?
  
  Thanks for the advice about the team skills (I already have Omega 3).

  
  1st. Single cannons no, nope, nada. Dual Cannons its possible but require very creative setup on very few escorts only, hint: steamrunner and heavy procs Go for cookie-cutter as it is cookie cutter for a reason.
  
  2nd. Omega is not team it is self only if you more team focused go for beta this help dmg from entire team as opposed from omega that helps only you. Both are good but depend mostly on what environment you use it and how you fly.
  
  After the changes with new reputation cookie cutter changed to both sero point and assimilation consoles and cutting beam in aft instead of turret.
  
  for typical 4xDHC 2xturrets 1x cutting beam go for this boffs
  
  Tactical
  
  1st TT1 - CSV1 - RF2 - Omega3 or Beta3
  2nd TT1 - CSV1 - RF2
  
  This gives you good single target and good aoe your choice about when to use them to best effect (hint: kang defense / probe duty CSV - cubes gates and other structures RF)
  
  Engineering
  
  Emergency power to shields x2 with new -threat consoles from embassy emergency power to weapons are nice too on heavy single targets as you will avoid aggro
  
  Science
  
  Hazard emitters as borgs dots will kill you fast if not cleared depends on escort at least 1 copy 2 prefered, shield heal and than gravity well if you have lt comm escort.
  
  Do not go for RSF, it is on long cooldown and with new consoles from embassy you shouldnt get aggro if you dont TRIBBLE up in piloting and target choosing (hint: attack same thing as your team unless it is something squishy, dont charge against tac cubes first let others grabb aggro first - few seconds is enough and its lower delay than respawn).

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