Shutdown Sci, which ship to go for?

radkip · May 2013

I'm getting into space pvp. I have much to learn, especially on the science side of things. In order to grow an appreciation for the people that make me punch my screen in rage, I am going to try it myself, but I'm not sure which (non-lockbox) ship to pick.

My gut is telling me one of the Vesta variants, specifically the one with five science consoles. I've looked at a few builds for it, but I haven't made my purchase yet and I'm wondering what other ships would work for the role (preferably something that's nice to look at, but I realise that's a lot to ask for). Maybe a Fleet Nebula would work?

Thoughts, tips?

maicake716 · May 2013

actually the best "shutdown" science is the wells class with the temporal gear set (lobi store weapons+console)

the vesta is good for a "mayhem/control" or "healer/control" science vessel.

kamipoi · May 2013

might be the best BUT he wants non lockbox

vesta would be a decent choice for the flexibility it will serve what you intend rad and as you learn you can adapt the ship better to what you want.

i personally use an intrepid fleet issue as a balanced boat that can if needed put out alright healing potential for being a hybrid build but you can get its same layout on the vesta so again its got the flexibility and yes the 5sci one would be a good choice for highly debuff/sci heavy use

rudiefix1 · May 2013

Try this build with the voyager. If you have a more expensive wells or vesta, you can make the same build.

Front: 3x chroniton torpedo
back: beam array, chroniton torpedo and mine

Deflector: adapted maco (KHG)
Engine: adapted maco (KHG)
Shield: maco

Eng consoles: 2x neutronium, borg
Sci consoles: 4x grav
Tac consoles: PSW torp, alblative (or other special consoles like graviton)

Cmdr sci: TSS1, ES2, VM1, GW3
Ltcmdr sci: HE1, ES2, ST3
Ens sci: PH1
LT eng: EptS1, EptS2
LT tac: TS1, DPA1

power settings: 25/50/25/100

Doffs: 2x lab scientists for 2 copies of ST3, 3x warp theorists (energy syphon version)

Spec max in in flowC, grav, subD, partG

This build is best suited for a sci captain. You are excellent to set up a kill.

Your own dps is not that important, but you gain severe disable posibilities and slows because of the highly boosted gravity well and chrono spreads. The adapted maco set ensures even more aux power, and more importantly, it has subspace decompiler. This results in longer disable times for the special beam atacks and VM.

The 2 copies of energy syphon ensures a 3 x 25% chance on a fixed 5 seconds disable of any subsystem, incl shields. Unfortunately, this is not prolonged with subspace decompiler. However, SubD combined with the high aux power result in a 25 seconds (out of every 30 seconds) power drain, which is also a kind of defensive boost.

Its really sick

Unknown · May 2013

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panserbjorne39 · May 2013

I was in your same position last week. I bought a mirror recon sci on the exchange for super cheap to see how I liked flying sci before I dropped the cash on my sci vesta that
I have now. I love the look of my vesta but if I would have done a little more research i probably would've gone with a fleet ship.
Could just be me but I felt like the mirror ship was kind of a sleeper in that I wasn't viewed as much of threat and could wreak a little more havoc than I do in the vesta.
Unfortunately, to really be competitive in pvp it seems you need to rock a wells but that ship is butt ugly imo so even though I have the money i'd rather fly a vesta and die a little more often.

radkip · May 2013

I've decided that since I'm a poor TRIBBLE and I don't have 400m EC to spend, and the likely upcoming importance of cloak detection, to go with a Fleet Nebula. This is the build I've started on:

http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/?build=kipscishutdown_1240

I'll try out Aux2Bat at first, since I have a few purple technicians laying around, but if I don't like it I can go for a more traditional build. I still have much to learn about space, but I think I've got the basics down.

A few notes:
- I opted for Tac Team instead of chroniton torp spread because I do not have the confidence I can survive focus fire without it. That's what teams are for, but I'm usually the only one on my teams who doesn't have voice communication and my reaction times are slow for a "I'MMA TAKIN' FIRE" keybind.
- I'm hoping with Aux2Bat + Emergency Power to Aux II, I can keep my aux power up as well my other powers up. I've yet to test the timing of it as my character isn't even level 50 yet, but it seems like it'll work?
- I'll sub out the Tachyon Detection Field for Theta Radiation when cloak is not a big deal in a match. I'll likely also sub out my engine batteries with chroniton torpedo satellites if I can get away with it. MOAR SLOWS.
- Obviously improve the console MKs and rarities as I get them. This is what I have in my bank right now for when I hit level 50.

Queue space veteran horror.... now.

praxi5 · May 2013

radkip wrote: »

A few notes:
- I opted for Tac Team instead of chroniton torp spread because I do not have the confidence I can survive focus fire without it. That's what teams are for, but I'm usually the only one on my teams who doesn't have voice communication and my reaction times are slow for a "I'MMA TAKIN' FIRE" keybind.

Are you using a keybind to distribute your shields? I have Distribute Shields + Fire All Weapons bound to spacebar and I mash that away.

I don't have a TacTeam, but doing that and rotating my shield heals/buffs helps me survive fairly decently under focus fire.

rudiefix1 · May 2013

when you have Science Team 3 every 15 seconds..... ;-) no need (and place) for Tac Team. It also benefits your team way more. I find that most of the time that a fresh stack of shields prevents a teammate to explode. It's gives your teammate just the extra buffer he needs before his own heals are cycling again. Its so powerfull, and it doesn't even give shield resists. Imagine if it would also give that.

Like Praxi says, use manual shield distribution and "wasd"

And AtoB on a Nebula?

praxi5 · May 2013

rudiefix1 wrote: »

when you have Science Team 3 every 15 seconds..... ;-) no need (and place) for Tac Team. It also benefits your team way more. I find that most of the time that a fresh stack of shields prevents a teammate to explode. It's gives your teammate just the extra buffer he needs before his own heals are cycling again. Its so powerfull, and it doesn't even give shield resists. Imagine if it would also give that.

Like Praxi says, use manual shield distribution and "wasd"

And AtoB on a Nebula?

He speaks the truth.

Try to toss in a TSS if you can as well. Sure, giving someone 5k shields every 15 seconds is nice. But without any resistance to go along with it, those 5k are going to be ripped away in less time than it takes to blink.

section31agent · May 2013

I know this is going to sound off as to the other opinions here...

I have flown Sci Vessels for over 3 years now. I have a Tac Captain currently flying a Wells until such time as my T-5 Intrepid is available. I do believe I have the best of both worlds the ability to placate and destroy my enemies. I average about 725K-750k damage per PvP session.

Fist thing I would counsel anyone on with a sci ship is to learn what the sci abilities actually do. My attacks always begin with Jam Sensors 1 your opponent can't shoot what they can't see. Then a case of Viral Matrix 3. While they are stunned I use speed to close in and hit them with Theta Radiation. While in the radiation I can use my Borg tractor beam to hold them while I unleash a torrent of torpedoes.

The only beam I use is the Chroniton Beam from the lobi set. The rest is torps or consoles.

The Breen Cluster Bomb is a pain in the neck [and is enhanced by Transphasic pushers].
The Point Defence System is handy as is the Bio Neural Warhead.
Next we do the Purple Mk XII Transphasic Torpedo [Borg]
Then you have your choice of weapon Omega plasma works well.

As far as consoles...
Theta Radiation
The Impulse Capicator for when you need a hasty retreat.
Subspace Jumper
Isometeric charge
Rule 62 lobi console
Borg console [Tractor Beam]

and I run the Borg Set.

The hardest thing is to learn how to space out your attacks and your BO skills and doff's abilities. Once you have practiced enough you are golden. It is not easy to do and there is a lot of trial and error but once you get the basics down your ship will be feared.

radkip · May 2013

Are you using a keybind to distribute your shields? I have Distribute Shields + Fire All Weapons bound to spacebar and I mash that away.

I manually activate my distribute shield power these days as I broke my last keyboard's spacebar. Seems to work just as effectively.

I don't have a TacTeam, but doing that and rotating my shield heals/buffs helps me survive fairly decently under focus fire.

It might work, and my initial build was TS1/DPB1. I figured if I was under heavy fire I could just stop distributing my shields and spin around to let my shields get eaten, but after some discussions with fleet members and other mentors, I'm probably not that good enough of a pilot yet to pull that off effectively. Besides, I will never be able to disable a good escort's ability to get to and stay on my downed shield facing unless I sit on them the entire match.

It's possible, but I don't have that confidence yet, especially since I don't have a feel for slow ships.

praxi5 · May 2013

radkip wrote: »

I manually activate my distribute shield power these days as I broke my last keyboard's spacebar. Seems to work just as effectively.

It might work, and my initial build was TS1/DPB1. I figured if I was under heavy fire I could just stop distributing my shields and spin around to let my shields get eaten, but after some discussions with fleet members and other mentors, I'm probably not that good enough of a pilot yet to pull that off effectively. Besides, I will never be able to disable a good escort's ability to get to and stay on my downed shield facing unless I sit on them the entire match.

It's possible, but I don't have that confidence yet, especially since I don't have a feel for slow ships.

Heh, I know what you mean. Even in my Wells, I have trouble keeping a determined Escort away from a weak shield facing.

Easiest method I've found to avoid that is Tractor, Subspace Jump, Evasives (obviously), or quickly reverse and change direction.

Unknown · May 2013

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marc8219 · May 2013

I keep a sci B'rel logged out near kerrat to deal with campers, it works great as I see many campers leave out of fustration after I keep sci spamming them to no end. I fire chroniton torps and mines while cloaked, and keep hitting them with doffed out VM3, SS2 and SS1 with doff and countermeasures consoles, GW1 with doff. Being cloaked means you don't need nearly as much heals so almost all sci skills can be used for annoying abilities. You only get 3 sci consoles on a B'rel but there are no subspace decomplier consoles anyway so your VM will be as good as any sci ship and thats the main part of it.

section31agent · May 2013

deokkent wrote: »

You haxxor'ed!!! Lol couldn't help myself. Anyways, how are you helping the sci captain that wants to play sci and not dps.

Because I do the "Best of Both Worlds", having spent the time and money to get the consoles is not enough. Knowing how to use Sci abilities to compliment the DPS is where my build makes a difference. I have found in my experience that a ship must be versatile enough to not just shut down a few systems it must be able to destroy them on your own. In PvP od PVE you must be a jack of all trades in a Sci ship not just crowd control.

theeishtmo · May 2013

I think your best option for a shutdown ship is actually probably the Nova. That high turn rate will help line up the viral matrix launches much better than anything else, and you can get a bit more DPS using a dual beam bank (chronoton bank might be worth investing in) would be helpful. That's my thinking at least.

Shutdown Sci, which ship to go for?

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