I am playing 2nd diff level, and I will not surrender to bad quest design and imba npc.
Then surrender to your own ignorance and lack of ability. :rolleyes:
You seem to have a lot of pride for someone who is repeatedly failing. Most people try and figure out what they're doing wrong. You seem convinced you're perfect and the game is at fault (while refusing to post up your build and tactics). Exactly what qualifies you for Advanced difficulty? How is "Normal" somehow beneath you?
If you're in an Escort and sitting in the middle getting shot at, you're pretty much getting what you deserve. An Escort's best defense is mobility - Stay on the move, fly at 3/4 impulse and only use full power when flying in to or away from (you get a better turn radius at 3/4...at 1/2 and max, your turn circle is wider due to either a decreased turn rate at the low end and too much speed for the turn rate at max). Also, keep ready with your shield repair abilities (Emergency Power to Shields, Science Team) as needed (and in an Escort, you're going to use them a lot.) And expect to take a good beating on every pass.
If you continue to have the same problem using those tactics, the only thing left is your loadout and build are not sufficient and you should consider upgrading your load and respec'ing your character's build.
I'm going to contradict the last few posts: it's fine for an escort to slow down or even stop. Getting onto a vulnerable arc and slowing down to unload a lethal burst into it is fine, works wonders. Sitting still and getting circled is getting wrecked, even in a cruiser I wouldn't advise it, I'd advise being the one doing the circling to keep them in your broadside overlap.
When fighting Romulans, there's a few things to remember:
1. Never get in front - they all have high yield plasma torpedoes, many have dual beam banks or cannons, but from behind you almost never deal with anything except beam arrays.
2. If it's a D'derix, never get within 5 km, either. They have three ways to lock you down: viral matrix is fired from the front, photonic shockwave has 3 km range, and tractor beam has 5 km range.
3. If it's a Mogai, have AOE - scatter volley, fire at will, something to clear tractor mines.
Heavy torpedoes can be shot down, but they're not as lethal as you suggest to a good build. I play on elite, and I've eaten all three torpedoes in a D'derix's heavy salvo and come out alive. Covariant or resilient shields, emergency power to shields to harden them, brace for impact and polarize hull to take the impact, Aux2SIF if you have room for it, and hazard emitters on the ready to clear the plasma fire and repair damage.
The only thing about Romulans that can be called bad design is the fact that up to that point, most of your combat has been against Orion and Gorn, which are far weaker factions. You need a passably decent playstyle to fight Romulans, and you need good gear and at least mediocre skill build on top to fight them on advanced or higher.
I'm going to contradict the last few posts: it's fine for an escort to slow down or even stop.
I agree, because it isn't about your speed - it's about maneuverability.
It's about keeping your targets in your firing arc, while staying out of theirs.
There's no way an escort should be out-maneuvered by a NPC cruiser. If you want to sit there and slug it out, you should be in a cruiser and out-cruiser them.
There's no way an escort should be out-maneuvered by a NPC cruiser. If you want to sit there and slug it out, you should be in a cruiser and out-cruiser them.
Even in a cruiser, stopping and slugging it out is inadvisable. There's a reason you have four shield facings, after all. Keep moving, try not to take too many hits on the same facing, and since cruisers have so many aft weapon slots, pick up some mines - they're fun!
I'm going to contradict the last few posts: it's fine for an escort to slow down or even stop. Getting onto a vulnerable arc and slowing down to unload a lethal burst into it is fine, works wonders. Sitting still and getting circled is getting wrecked, even in a cruiser I wouldn't advise it, I'd advise being the one doing the circling to keep them in your broadside overlap.
I agree, because it isn't about your speed - it's about maneuverability.
It's about keeping your targets in your firing arc, while staying out of theirs.
There's no way an escort should be out-maneuvered by a NPC cruiser. If you want to sit there and slug it out, you should be in a cruiser and out-cruiser them.
I stand corrected, both of these are legitimate counterpoints to my previous statement regarding throttle settings. I don't fly the "typical" escort, so speed matters more than keeping the forward 45 on target, I sometimes forget I'm not normal...
I was like the OP the first(and second ...) time I played those missions. I still think the Warbird is death incarnate at < 5 KM and front facing if they get off their full volley.
I do think the advice the other players gave was golden. Stay at least 5 KM aways, keep 1 or more defensive powers off cooldown (like brace for impact) and keep moving. It is best to stay on the port or starboard (left or right side) of the ship. As an escort you have the mobility to focus fire on one shield while rotating your vessel. But keep moving ... you can't stop ... ever!
I think having some engineering boffs with EPS(emergency power to shields) and some shield consumables helps. Maybe try to gear yourself in blue or purple gear at the correct level. If all else fails there is no shame in stepping down to normal.
As a cruiser I find it trivial to pop Mogai. So maybe that would work for you. This pattern always does it for me in 10-30 secs.
1) Wait until Mogai (~13 KMs away) turns away from you
2) Full impulse and all power to the forward shield
3) Pop weapons buffs and hits it with everything
4) Eject plasma to immobilize and circle around
5) go to 1/2 -> 3/4 speed and move to 5 - 6 KM aways
6) Keep your "Fire at will" on standby for the plasma torpedo volley
7) Hit with boff power => Boarding Parties (love collapsing those shields)
8) If you have aceton(debuff dmg) or tachyon to weaken the shields that helps too
For the escort it is a similar pattern but you will have to target the plasma torpedoes directly. I would put 1 -2 turrets in aft or maybe a 250 degree beam array and use that to pop the plasma near the Mogai. I love applying plasma damage and DOTs from their own torpedo on the Romulans. Best of luck and don't lose hope. Remember today is always a good day to die!
And...
"Romulans are without honor!"
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Don't really matter what you fly, how you fly, what abilities you use or how poorly you place your skillpoints you can still do elite stf.
Believe me I tried. Never played normal stf at all, used a connie on elite stf and slapped random abilities on random ships without reading tool tips from day 1.
Done so everyone can play without having a Phd in D&D attributes and stats.
Secondly, as MANY have mentioned, you can target and kill those HY plasma torpedoes. If you see a giant green ball of glowing doom coming at you, click and kill. If click and kill is too difficult, setup a tactical officer with Cannon: Rapid Fire and/or Beam: Fire at Will, depending on what weapons you're carrying. Heck, even Torpedo: Spread works.
just to avoid confusion, it's Cannon: Scatter Volley that's the aoe, not CRF.
I stand corrected, both of these are legitimate counterpoints to my previous statement regarding throttle settings. I don't fly the "typical" escort, so speed matters more than keeping the forward 45 on target, I sometimes forget I'm not normal...
now i'm curious: what do you fly? <-(this is my "interested" face, not my "skeptical" face). also, how well does it work?
Aside of that, one of the most useless skills for engineers. Especially since its only avayable for lieutenant slots and above.
Is that so? I really like it and have good results with it, normal PvE though. I do use it in combination with evasive manouvres, laying it on the target and form a screen between me and my target, good cover against torpedoes, fighters etc.
now i'm curious: what do you fly? <-(this is my "interested" face, not my "skeptical" face). also, how well does it work?
Until recently (I have commitment issues and continually re-roll characters), I was a Sci. Captain cruising around in a Steamrunner. Dual beams + Beam array upfront with 2 Rapid Transphasics, 2 more arrays on the rear with Transphasic mines. Fully specced for projectile weapons, 4 transphasic compressors, Breen Engines + Deflector, Adapted M.A.C.O. shields. I forget what else.
Best Escort build? Not by a long shot, but good lord it was fun. Transphasics were rated at over 4k damage per torp, between Torp HY3, Spread 2, and a couple of purple Projectile Doffs I just hurled torpedoes at anything that looked at me funny, didn't give a TRIBBLE if shields were up or not.
I think I'm gonna remake him once I get bored flying Tactical/Science.
Until recently (I have commitment issues and continually re-roll characters), I was a Sci. Captain cruising around in a Steamrunner. Dual beams + Beam array upfront with 2 Rapid Transphasics, 2 more arrays on the rear with Transphasic mines. Fully specced for projectile weapons, 4 transphasic compressors, Breen Engines + Deflector, Adapted M.A.C.O. shields. I forget what else.
Best Escort build? Not by a long shot, but good lord it was fun. Transphasics were rated at over 4k damage per torp, between Torp HY3, Spread 2, and a couple of purple Projectile Doffs I just hurled torpedoes at anything that looked at me funny, didn't give a TRIBBLE if shields were up or not.
I think I'm gonna remake him once I get bored flying Tactical/Science.
that is...unusual. as long as you were reasonably effective and had fun, nothing else matters tho!
Aside of that, one of the most useless skills for engineers. Especially since its only available for lieutenant slots and above.
I could not disagree more having done a 100+ fleet actions in my cruiser(playing a lot more now than in the beginning). You just have to use it strategically. Basically, I use it to "freeze" 4-5 enemy ships, divert power to weapons, circle around, toggle my tac buffs(and emergency power to weapons) and fire at will and spam DPS.
It is also helpful if you get overwhelmed by sheer numbers and need to space out the enemies mobs.
I used variations of this strategy to take out 3 out of 4 Borg squadrons in the daily all by myself today. For some strange reason, no one showed up for the entire 15 minutes it ran.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Let me be clear: Its useful if you dont do enough damage or in emergencies. Then you need it. In a normal cruiser you even have a slot you might use for it without wasting it completly. A good cruiser layout can even do the raptor spawn in CSE on one side without it, but of course you get to have more time when using EWP. It would be a nice skill for an ensing.
Aside of that, one of the most useless skills for engineers. Especially since its only avayable for lieutenant slots and above.
Say what? Space Poo is one of the most useful skills you can slot there. And it's available in LtC or Cdr, not Lt. For some strange reason it has two versions that are both crammed into a Cdr slot, one of which has no clear reason to exist as a result, since it is categorically inferior. It creates a massive navigational hazard that NPCs don't know how to avoid, it kills pet spam dead, it's just all around nifty.
For some strange reason it has two versions that are both crammed into a Cdr slot, one of which has no clear reason to exist as a result, since it is categorically inferior.
it exists for non-engineers flying cruisers, since only engineering captains can train the level 3 version...of course, you can always ask one for training easily enough, but still
A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"
"It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch." "We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
Passion and Serenity are one.
I gain power by understanding both.
In the chaos of their battle, I bring order.
I am a shadow, darkness born from light.
The Force is united within me.
it exists for non-engineers flying cruisers, since only engineering captains can train the level 3 version...of course, you can always ask one for training easily enough, but still
Also, it's really the same logic behind why there's Mark XI gear when anyone who could use it could also use Mark XII gear in the same slot. It's something easier to get that you can upgrade later.
Comments
You seem to have a lot of pride for someone who is repeatedly failing. Most people try and figure out what they're doing wrong. You seem convinced you're perfect and the game is at fault (while refusing to post up your build and tactics). Exactly what qualifies you for Advanced difficulty? How is "Normal" somehow beneath you?
If you insist on this playstyle, you're better off flying a cruiser instead. We have a name for Escorts who sit still: Wreckage.
I weep for your team when you start playing STFs.
If you continue to have the same problem using those tactics, the only thing left is your loadout and build are not sufficient and you should consider upgrading your load and respec'ing your character's build.
When fighting Romulans, there's a few things to remember:
1. Never get in front - they all have high yield plasma torpedoes, many have dual beam banks or cannons, but from behind you almost never deal with anything except beam arrays.
2. If it's a D'derix, never get within 5 km, either. They have three ways to lock you down: viral matrix is fired from the front, photonic shockwave has 3 km range, and tractor beam has 5 km range.
3. If it's a Mogai, have AOE - scatter volley, fire at will, something to clear tractor mines.
Heavy torpedoes can be shot down, but they're not as lethal as you suggest to a good build. I play on elite, and I've eaten all three torpedoes in a D'derix's heavy salvo and come out alive. Covariant or resilient shields, emergency power to shields to harden them, brace for impact and polarize hull to take the impact, Aux2SIF if you have room for it, and hazard emitters on the ready to clear the plasma fire and repair damage.
The only thing about Romulans that can be called bad design is the fact that up to that point, most of your combat has been against Orion and Gorn, which are far weaker factions. You need a passably decent playstyle to fight Romulans, and you need good gear and at least mediocre skill build on top to fight them on advanced or higher.
It's about keeping your targets in your firing arc, while staying out of theirs.
There's no way an escort should be out-maneuvered by a NPC cruiser. If you want to sit there and slug it out, you should be in a cruiser and out-cruiser them.
I stand corrected, both of these are legitimate counterpoints to my previous statement regarding throttle settings. I don't fly the "typical" escort, so speed matters more than keeping the forward 45 on target, I sometimes forget I'm not normal...
I do think the advice the other players gave was golden. Stay at least 5 KM aways, keep 1 or more defensive powers off cooldown (like brace for impact) and keep moving. It is best to stay on the port or starboard (left or right side) of the ship. As an escort you have the mobility to focus fire on one shield while rotating your vessel. But keep moving ... you can't stop ... ever!
I think having some engineering boffs with EPS(emergency power to shields) and some shield consumables helps. Maybe try to gear yourself in blue or purple gear at the correct level. If all else fails there is no shame in stepping down to normal.
As a cruiser I find it trivial to pop Mogai. So maybe that would work for you. This pattern always does it for me in 10-30 secs.
1) Wait until Mogai (~13 KMs away) turns away from you
2) Full impulse and all power to the forward shield
3) Pop weapons buffs and hits it with everything
4) Eject plasma to immobilize and circle around
5) go to 1/2 -> 3/4 speed and move to 5 - 6 KM aways
6) Keep your "Fire at will" on standby for the plasma torpedo volley
7) Hit with boff power => Boarding Parties (love collapsing those shields)
8) If you have aceton(debuff dmg) or tachyon to weaken the shields that helps too
For the escort it is a similar pattern but you will have to target the plasma torpedoes directly. I would put 1 -2 turrets in aft or maybe a 250 degree beam array and use that to pop the plasma near the Mogai. I love applying plasma damage and DOTs from their own torpedo on the Romulans. Best of luck and don't lose hope. Remember today is always a good day to die!
And...
"Romulans are without honor!"
- Judge Aaron Satie
Aside of that, one of the most useless skills for engineers. Especially since its only avayable for lieutenant slots and above.
Don't really matter what you fly, how you fly, what abilities you use or how poorly you place your skillpoints you can still do elite stf.
Believe me I tried. Never played normal stf at all, used a connie on elite stf and slapped random abilities on random ships without reading tool tips from day 1.
Done so everyone can play without having a Phd in D&D attributes and stats.
just to avoid confusion, it's Cannon: Scatter Volley that's the aoe, not CRF.
now i'm curious: what do you fly?
Is that so? I really like it and have good results with it, normal PvE though. I do use it in combination with evasive manouvres, laying it on the target and form a screen between me and my target, good cover against torpedoes, fighters etc.
Yeah, I knew that. Really, I did.
Until recently (I have commitment issues and continually re-roll characters), I was a Sci. Captain cruising around in a Steamrunner. Dual beams + Beam array upfront with 2 Rapid Transphasics, 2 more arrays on the rear with Transphasic mines. Fully specced for projectile weapons, 4 transphasic compressors, Breen Engines + Deflector, Adapted M.A.C.O. shields. I forget what else.
Best Escort build? Not by a long shot, but good lord it was fun. Transphasics were rated at over 4k damage per torp, between Torp HY3, Spread 2, and a couple of purple Projectile Doffs I just hurled torpedoes at anything that looked at me funny, didn't give a TRIBBLE if shields were up or not.
I think I'm gonna remake him once I get bored flying Tactical/Science.
that is...unusual.
I could not disagree more having done a 100+ fleet actions in my cruiser(playing a lot more now than in the beginning). You just have to use it strategically. Basically, I use it to "freeze" 4-5 enemy ships, divert power to weapons, circle around, toggle my tac buffs(and emergency power to weapons) and fire at will and spam DPS.
It is also helpful if you get overwhelmed by sheer numbers and need to space out the enemies mobs.
I used variations of this strategy to take out 3 out of 4 Borg squadrons in the daily all by myself today. For some strange reason, no one showed up for the entire 15 minutes it ran.
- Judge Aaron Satie
it exists for non-engineers flying cruisers, since only engineering captains can train the level 3 version...of course, you can always ask one for training easily enough, but still
#LegalizeAwoo
A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"
"It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch."
"We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
Also, it's really the same logic behind why there's Mark XI gear when anyone who could use it could also use Mark XII gear in the same slot. It's something easier to get that you can upgrade later.