Well, IRT the T6 Galaxy going Tactical, what was the one consistent thing over the years that people had issues with for the T5 Galaxy?
The answer is simple. Damage capability. How was, say, an old ship like the Excelsior exceeding the Galaxy-class in STO in terms of firepower? We even had the Risian Luxury Liner have more firepower, handling than the Galaxy while still retaining more than enough survivability. Now, to be fair, the Risian Cruiser did outperform many Cruisers in its day but it's just one example of the downtrodden Galaxy.
The T6 Galaxy fits that bill while still retaining its high ENG capacity.
The 2 possible alternates would of course be the Multi-Role cruiser or the SCI-Cruiser. Either way, those 2 routes even with the Tactical oriented route it actually took, there's better ships in those capacities. The Guardian still is a totally solid Multi-Role Cruiser at T6. The SCI Command FDC is superb in the SCI-Cruiser role at T6. The Eclipse still smoke checks every Fed TAC Cruiser.
The T6 Galaxy, as-is, rectifies the 1 consistent problem from the Pre-DR days and makes the Galaxy more relevant Post-DR. A true Super-ENG heavy cruiser like the Galaxy was at T5 is not needed these days. T6 Galaxy lets the fans of the Galaxy play with their favorite ship model and not left with a brick that can't perform for the modern STO.
They listened to customer demands and so they are to blame? Man, if the T6 Galaxy got LtC Sci, the forums would have burned with rage.
It would have gotten the rage all right; over what makes it any better than the Guardian, which can do it as well, but has better extras (Mastery Trait, console, and Intel capability), and could better deal with its LtC Tac. Esp if the Tac was kept Lt on the Andromeda.
I just think it's a pity that, after we finally get a decent Galaxy class, the Excelsior will receive the T6 treatment and will undoubtedly be superior to it.
Exactly. I suspect the T6 Excel will come with four tac consoles, possibly five in it's fleet version. Layout should be CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, LTC Eng/Command, Lt Sci, Ens Tac because it would be only thing making sense regarding the T5 retro and anything but command would be gravely misplaced on an Excelsior and universal slots are nothing for it either. So in terms of pure numbers it would immedeatly be the Galaxy only much better because more damage, less crew and better turn.
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
I just think it's a pity that, after we finally get a decent Galaxy class, the Excelsior will receive the T6 treatment and will undoubtedly be superior to it.
Exactly. I suspect the T6 Excel will come with four tac consoles, possibly five in it's fleet version. Layout should be CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, LTC Eng/Command, Lt Sci, Ens Tac because it would be only thing making sense regarding the T5 retro and anything but command would be gravely misplaced on an Excelsior and universal slots are nothing for it either. So in terms of pure numbers it would immedeatly be the Galaxy only much better because more damage, less crew and better turn.
Actually, if we follow the trend it's more likely to look like 5/2/4. I'm hoping it finally gets a uni station so hopefully CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, Lt Eng, Lt Sci and Lt Uni/Cmd. That way there will be a jump in power to T6/F but not so much as to overshadow other ships, it's also a much more natural progression than changing the ensign profession.
Actually, if we follow the trend it's more likely to look like 5/2/4. I'm hoping it finally gets a uni station so hopefully CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, Lt Eng, Lt Sci and Lt Uni/Cmd. That way there will be a jump in power to T6/F but not so much as to overshadow other ships, it's also a much more natural progression than changing the ensign profession.
The ensign change was involuntary, I confused the layout with the assault cruiser. The third lt would be an interesting option, only found on the pathfinder so far (looking at upgraded T5s). That would set it apart from other cruisers, but a lt command would be rather bad. I think Cryptic wanted to place LTC hybrids from now on (aside from Intel)?
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
Actually, if we follow the trend it's more likely to look like 5/2/4. I'm hoping it finally gets a uni station so hopefully CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, Lt Eng, Lt Sci and Lt Uni/Cmd. That way there will be a jump in power to T6/F but not so much as to overshadow other ships, it's also a much more natural progression than changing the ensign profession.
The ensign change was involuntary, I confused the layout with the assault cruiser. The third lt would be an interesting option, only found on the pathfinder so far (looking at upgraded T5s). That would set it apart from other cruisers, but a lt command would be rather bad. I think Cryptic wanted to place LTC hybrids from now on (aside from Intel)?
I don't know what they have planned for hybrid seats in general but an LTC eng/cmd would virtually force people into using at least one cmd skill because there isn't the range of eng abilities at that level to make CMDR+LTC as effective as it should be. and LTC sci/cmd has a similar issue as the Excel doesn't need the survivability that comes from that level of sci and generally doesn't have the turn to make effective us of beams and GW at the same time... Though with the firing arc changes back along... Hmm...
I don't know though, triple Lt is my favoured layout.
Since i am using the Embassy plasma consoles i think more sci consoles are better. Cruisers should not have too many but 3 is perfect. Perfect for the plasma proc, perfect for the leech. The command cruiser Tac version with 4 Tac, 4 Eng, and 3 Sci consoles is great, i think that would be perfect for the Excelsior, same for the Boff layout, only change : Lt. Cdr Sci instead of Lt, keep the rest as it is.
Actually, if we follow the trend it's more likely to look like 5/2/4. I'm hoping it finally gets a uni station so hopefully CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, Lt Eng, Lt Sci and Lt Uni/Cmd. That way there will be a jump in power to T6/F but not so much as to overshadow other ships, it's also a much more natural progression than changing the ensign profession.
The ensign change was involuntary, I confused the layout with the assault cruiser. The third lt would be an interesting option, only found on the pathfinder so far (looking at upgraded T5s). That would set it apart from other cruisers, but a lt command would be rather bad. I think Cryptic wanted to place LTC hybrids from now on (aside from Intel)?
I don't know what they have planned for hybrid seats in general but an LTC eng/cmd would virtually force people into using at least one cmd skill because there isn't the range of eng abilities at that level to make CMDR+LTC as effective as it should be. and LTC sci/cmd has a similar issue as the Excel doesn't need the survivability that comes from that level of sci and generally doesn't have the turn to make effective us of beams and GW at the same time... Though with the firing arc changes back along... Hmm...
I don't know though, triple Lt is my favoured layout.
With the new lockbox engineering skill,there is an alternative to Command that should fit in with the existing cooldowns. And considering the poor reputation Command BO skills have, it might not be so bad.
Of course, getting that skill is not so easy.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
________________________________________________________________________________
Formerly Known as Protector from June 2008 to June 20, 2012
If the KDF can get a Fleet D7 (that can be upgraded to a T5-U), the Feds should have a Fleet Exeter.
Formerly Known as Protector from June 2008 to June 20, 2012
Please enable us to buy a token with Zen to faction change a 25th Century FED to a TOS FED.
I don't know what I'm going to do with that console, I don't think my Excel can take much more speed, the poor lass slides around enough as it is... but at the same time, from that description it's too much to pass up so I'll have to find some way of offsetting it.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
Gah... decently OP trait and console. Cryptic continues to ruin my view of the Excelsior, it's fine in it's time period and I used to like it, but being in a game 200 years later as well as being above both the Galaxy and Sovereign when I came in at Season 5 really made me dislike it quite a bit. Then, the Sovvy got power creeped with the Regent and Fleet Assault Cruiser and came out ahead, and now the T6 Galaxy can be on par at least, making it more fitting in my view. Now this... I could almost bring out the little model that came with the Hero Clix pack I got for the JHDC and D'D to display on my desk, but now it'll stay in it's plastic prison.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
My take on it:
More shield bypassing. Why are there shields again? The trait sounds interesting with the Radiation, AOE, over time effects. Not saying it's great or it's weak. But there's potential there, I think. However, we have limited trait slots. Something has to give, so that balances it all out.
Console: This is a "Meant for PVP Console." In PVE, the basic Excelsior already is more than maneuverable enough. My God, with good ENG Power and Hyper-Impulse Engines, any ship with a base turn rate of 8 or better moves amazingly well. They don't need more turn rate buffing for PVE. In PVP, ships move way faster, so moving easily to present weapons is a pretty big deal. The debuff to movement performace is another sign. Firstly, in PVE-Land, NPCs move around like slugs travelling on summer-hot-sun-beaten-pavement. They barely move in general. Even Escort type NPCs like Birds of Prey, T'Varos move around lazily. Debuffing NPC movement is a waste since Cryptic nerfed them to begin with by barely doing anything, barely moving at all. You know the NPCs in this game are TRIBBLE when you can take a Cruiser and quickly get on the tail of an NPC Escort that is on your 6 o'clock position.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
My take on it:
More shield bypassing. Why are there shields again? The trait sounds interesting with the Radiation, AOE, over time effects. Not saying it's great or it's weak. But there's potential there, I think. However, we have limited trait slots. Something has to give, so that balances it all out.
Console: This is a "Meant for PVP Console." In PVE, the basic Excelsior already is more than maneuverable enough. My God, with good ENG Power and Hyper-Impulse Engines, any ship with a base turn rate of 8 or better moves amazingly well. They don't need more turn rate buffing for PVE. In PVP, ships move way faster, so moving easily to present weapons is a pretty big deal. The debuff to movement performace is another sign. Firstly, in PVE-Land, NPCs move around like slugs travelling on summer-hot-sun-beaten-pavement. They barely move in general. Even Escort type NPCs like Birds of Prey, T'Varos move around lazily. Debuffing NPC movement is a waste since Cryptic nerfed them to begin with by barely doing anything, barely moving at all. You know the NPCs in this game are TRIBBLE when you can take a Cruiser and quickly get on the tail of an NPC Escort that is on your 6 o'clock position.
I think you missed the part where it increases your damage, on top of all the other things, based on the number of enemies near you. +Damage -Speed in a Herald swarm during the last phase of Gateway to Grethor would be a godsend in most PuGs, all the NPC spam just dies or can't go out of range at least. Stack this with all the 'number of enemies nearby = more damage' goody from Pilot Spec and things get to where PuGing this would be easy.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
My take on it:
More shield bypassing. Why are there shields again? The trait sounds interesting with the Radiation, AOE, over time effects. Not saying it's great or it's weak. But there's potential there, I think. However, we have limited trait slots. Something has to give, so that balances it all out.
Console: This is a "Meant for PVP Console." In PVE, the basic Excelsior already is more than maneuverable enough. My God, with good ENG Power and Hyper-Impulse Engines, any ship with a base turn rate of 8 or better moves amazingly well. They don't need more turn rate buffing for PVE. In PVP, ships move way faster, so moving easily to present weapons is a pretty big deal. The debuff to movement performace is another sign. Firstly, in PVE-Land, NPCs move around like slugs travelling on summer-hot-sun-beaten-pavement. They barely move in general. Even Escort type NPCs like Birds of Prey, T'Varos move around lazily. Debuffing NPC movement is a waste since Cryptic nerfed them to begin with by barely doing anything, barely moving at all. You know the NPCs in this game are TRIBBLE when you can take a Cruiser and quickly get on the tail of an NPC Escort that is on your 6 o'clock position.
I think you missed the part where it increases your damage, on top of all the other things, based on the number of enemies near you. +Damage -Speed in a Herald swarm during the last phase of Gateway to Grethor would be a godsend in most PuGs, all the NPC spam just dies or can't go out of range at least. Stack this with all the 'number of enemies nearby = more damage' goody from Pilot Spec and things get to where PuGing this would be easy.
That very greatly depends on range. The notion you speak of isn't new in STO. There's abilities that have increased effects for more enemies that are in range. However, that range is typically short. I highly, highly doubt this trait gives extra damage for every enemy within weapons range of 10km. If anything, watch it be something like a 2-3km range. The value diminishes considerably, even against the Heralds. Even those MRfighters and Herald Raiders weave in and out of those short ranges. The exact definition of the "range" would be further down in the stat description and not in the regular description. Watch it be short.
Trait: Improved Weaponized Emitters: to targets within 3 km of target: {Magnitude} Radiation Damage per sec {Duration} (Ignores Shields).
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
That's just a ridiculous power creep console. I agree with warmaker001b - why do we even bother having shields int he first place? When I play with my Nebula I kill NPCs with 70-100% shields up and when NPCs shoot us their torpedoes deal super massive shield damage or drop ours insanely fast and we still don't die. I don't get Cryptic's reasoning here.
The ship itself is not a reason for me to rage. True, I find it nonsensical that the Excelsior gets a successor in-universe - the line evolved into the Sovereign. But I understand that Geko loves the Excel and wants it to be among the bestest ships. It's his game, he can do that. In-universe, it now even makes sense - the T6 version is truly an "advanced heavy cruiser" - I never understood why the old excelsior was "advanced" over the Cheyenne. Now the T6 variant is a new ship and is "advanced" - being able to use the skin on it is just out-of-lore gameplay cosmetics and I'm fine with seeing canon designs in endgame, regardless of their age - after all, STO is a theme park not a logical universe.
But the console can only be used on the T6 Excelsior I'm sure. Why do we start this TRIBBLE again? Why not just make it inherent abilities then, why all the limited consoles?
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
But the console can only be used on the T6 Excelsior I'm sure. Why do we start this TRIBBLE again? Why not just make it inherent abilities then, why all the limited consoles?
Ah but they have to pretend that it's balanced, not that anything is these days but still. They can't openly admit that, it would give the pvpers more ammunition.
There's a single counter to every thread here that states the Excel is too old, etc, and the Galaxy is superior. Remember, in/out of Canon, 3/4 Galaxy class starships, and their sister class ships, were destroyed, badly. Starfleet wrote the Galaxy off as a bad design from start to finish. The Excelsior, even as Scotty later put it, was Purposely BUILT as a test bed, and was the only ship not held together by "Force-fields and Bubblegum". With as many wars going on, any ship that has the Excelsior hull was more than likely pulled from mothballs, clean gutted, (as it was designed for), and the newest tech put in. Only the Excelsior Herself was under-powered, and that was corrected starting with the
NCC-1701-B.
Tieberion, Captain of the USS Excalibur NX-97000-B
There's a single counter to every thread here that states the Excel is too old, etc, and the Galaxy is superior. Remember, in/out of Canon, 3/4 Galaxy class starships, and their sister class ships, were destroyed, badly. Starfleet wrote the Galaxy off as a bad design from start to finish. The Excelsior, even as Scotty later put it, was Purposely BUILT as a test bed, and was the only ship not held together by "Force-fields and Bubblegum". With as many wars going on, any ship that has the Excelsior hull was more than likely pulled from mothballs, clean gutted, (as it was designed for), and the newest tech put in. Only the Excelsior Herself was under-powered, and that was corrected starting with the
NCC-1701-B.
Simply put: No.
But: The argument against anything "being to old" is that T6 ships come with a new model which is in STOs timeline a current, modern ship. The same goes for every T5 or other ship with a refit version.
The Excelsior was a special case because it only came as a retrofit until now, even the Lakota-type refit was vastly inferior to modern ships of it's weightclass. Aside from the fact that this doesn't matter at all in STO because this game is not supposed to have technological evolution or consistency but is supposed to be a theme park to showcase ships, this was the only issue people had with the in-game representation of it. But once you accept the two facts I stated (STO = no logical universe and T6 = new ships with old vanity skins) the tiresome "too old, too slow, too weak" debate should be ended once and for all.
^ Memory Alpha.org is not canon. It's a open wiki with arbitrary rules. Only what can be cited from an episode is. ^
"No. Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects... and claw at you." -Worf, son of Mogh
"A filthy, mangy beast, but in its bony breast beat the heart of a warrior" - "faithful" (...) "but ever-ready to follow the call of the wild." - Martok, about a Targ
"That pig smelled horrid. A sweet-sour, extremely pungent odor. I showered and showered, and it took me a week to get rid of it!" - Robert Justman, appreciating Emmy-Lou
But the console can only be used on the T6 Excelsior I'm sure. Why do we start this TRIBBLE again? Why not just make it inherent abilities then, why all the limited consoles?
Because that way they can make you buy 3 Excelsior (or whatever) ships instead of just one, so you can get that 3-piece set bonus that makes everything on the map explode when you blink.
You need to think like Cryptic.
T6 Excel officially coming now. (link) At least it seems to be Command given it's trait working with Overwhelm Emitters, so we shouldn't see too many old rust buckets (or new shiny ships made to look like one) out and about.
Well I'm going to port my current build, maybe play with the console and add overwhelm emitters to the build to make use of the trait.
It should be very easy to get Overwhelm Emitters III into the build. The Lt ENG station got upgraded to LtCmdr ENG/Command, so you could stuff that single ability in and keep the rest of your existing build intact.
Comments
The answer is simple. Damage capability. How was, say, an old ship like the Excelsior exceeding the Galaxy-class in STO in terms of firepower? We even had the Risian Luxury Liner have more firepower, handling than the Galaxy while still retaining more than enough survivability. Now, to be fair, the Risian Cruiser did outperform many Cruisers in its day but it's just one example of the downtrodden Galaxy.
The T6 Galaxy fits that bill while still retaining its high ENG capacity.
The 2 possible alternates would of course be the Multi-Role cruiser or the SCI-Cruiser. Either way, those 2 routes even with the Tactical oriented route it actually took, there's better ships in those capacities. The Guardian still is a totally solid Multi-Role Cruiser at T6. The SCI Command FDC is superb in the SCI-Cruiser role at T6. The Eclipse still smoke checks every Fed TAC Cruiser.
The T6 Galaxy, as-is, rectifies the 1 consistent problem from the Pre-DR days and makes the Galaxy more relevant Post-DR. A true Super-ENG heavy cruiser like the Galaxy was at T5 is not needed these days. T6 Galaxy lets the fans of the Galaxy play with their favorite ship model and not left with a brick that can't perform for the modern STO.
Exactly. I suspect the T6 Excel will come with four tac consoles, possibly five in it's fleet version. Layout should be CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, LTC Eng/Command, Lt Sci, Ens Tac because it would be only thing making sense regarding the T5 retro and anything but command would be gravely misplaced on an Excelsior and universal slots are nothing for it either. So in terms of pure numbers it would immedeatly be the Galaxy only much better because more damage, less crew and better turn.
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Actually, if we follow the trend it's more likely to look like 5/2/4. I'm hoping it finally gets a uni station so hopefully CMDR Eng, LTC Tac, Lt Eng, Lt Sci and Lt Uni/Cmd. That way there will be a jump in power to T6/F but not so much as to overshadow other ships, it's also a much more natural progression than changing the ensign profession.
The ensign change was involuntary, I confused the layout with the assault cruiser. The third lt would be an interesting option, only found on the pathfinder so far (looking at upgraded T5s). That would set it apart from other cruisers, but a lt command would be rather bad. I think Cryptic wanted to place LTC hybrids from now on (aside from Intel)?
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I don't know what they have planned for hybrid seats in general but an LTC eng/cmd would virtually force people into using at least one cmd skill because there isn't the range of eng abilities at that level to make CMDR+LTC as effective as it should be. and LTC sci/cmd has a similar issue as the Excel doesn't need the survivability that comes from that level of sci and generally doesn't have the turn to make effective us of beams and GW at the same time... Though with the firing arc changes back along... Hmm...
I don't know though, triple Lt is my favoured layout.
Of course, getting that skill is not so easy.
Console: The Tactical Maneuvering Matrix makes an Advanced Heavy Cruiser even more deadly, durable and maneuverable. When activated, Pursuit Mode uses complex predictive algorithms and specialized inertialess maneuvering thrusters to improve the ship's Speed, Turn Rate, Damage nd Damage Resistance, and the amount increases with the number of enemies in combat range. Additionally, your directed energy weapons will cripple your target's engines and maneuvering thrusters for a short time. This will dramatically reduce their turn rate and speed.
If true, these two things will make this a must buy for me. Besides the fact that is the only Endgame Fed TOS ship (Yes, the movies are TOS as well.)
Formerly Known as Protector from June 2008 to June 20, 2012
If the KDF can get a Fleet D7 (that can be upgraded to a T5-U), the Feds should have a Fleet Exeter.
Please enable us to buy a token with Zen to faction change a 25th Century FED to a TOS FED.
Gah... decently OP trait and console. Cryptic continues to ruin my view of the Excelsior, it's fine in it's time period and I used to like it, but being in a game 200 years later as well as being above both the Galaxy and Sovereign when I came in at Season 5 really made me dislike it quite a bit. Then, the Sovvy got power creeped with the Regent and Fleet Assault Cruiser and came out ahead, and now the T6 Galaxy can be on par at least, making it more fitting in my view. Now this... I could almost bring out the little model that came with the Hero Clix pack I got for the JHDC and D'D to display on my desk, but now it'll stay in it's plastic prison.
My take on it:
More shield bypassing. Why are there shields again? The trait sounds interesting with the Radiation, AOE, over time effects. Not saying it's great or it's weak. But there's potential there, I think. However, we have limited trait slots. Something has to give, so that balances it all out.
Console: This is a "Meant for PVP Console." In PVE, the basic Excelsior already is more than maneuverable enough. My God, with good ENG Power and Hyper-Impulse Engines, any ship with a base turn rate of 8 or better moves amazingly well. They don't need more turn rate buffing for PVE. In PVP, ships move way faster, so moving easily to present weapons is a pretty big deal. The debuff to movement performace is another sign. Firstly, in PVE-Land, NPCs move around like slugs travelling on summer-hot-sun-beaten-pavement. They barely move in general. Even Escort type NPCs like Birds of Prey, T'Varos move around lazily. Debuffing NPC movement is a waste since Cryptic nerfed them to begin with by barely doing anything, barely moving at all. You know the NPCs in this game are TRIBBLE when you can take a Cruiser and quickly get on the tail of an NPC Escort that is on your 6 o'clock position.
I think you missed the part where it increases your damage, on top of all the other things, based on the number of enemies near you. +Damage -Speed in a Herald swarm during the last phase of Gateway to Grethor would be a godsend in most PuGs, all the NPC spam just dies or can't go out of range at least. Stack this with all the 'number of enemies nearby = more damage' goody from Pilot Spec and things get to where PuGing this would be easy.
That very greatly depends on range. The notion you speak of isn't new in STO. There's abilities that have increased effects for more enemies that are in range. However, that range is typically short. I highly, highly doubt this trait gives extra damage for every enemy within weapons range of 10km. If anything, watch it be something like a 2-3km range. The value diminishes considerably, even against the Heralds. Even those MRfighters and Herald Raiders weave in and out of those short ranges. The exact definition of the "range" would be further down in the stat description and not in the regular description. Watch it be short.
That's just a ridiculous power creep console. I agree with warmaker001b - why do we even bother having shields int he first place? When I play with my Nebula I kill NPCs with 70-100% shields up and when NPCs shoot us their torpedoes deal super massive shield damage or drop ours insanely fast and we still don't die. I don't get Cryptic's reasoning here.
The ship itself is not a reason for me to rage. True, I find it nonsensical that the Excelsior gets a successor in-universe - the line evolved into the Sovereign. But I understand that Geko loves the Excel and wants it to be among the bestest ships. It's his game, he can do that. In-universe, it now even makes sense - the T6 version is truly an "advanced heavy cruiser" - I never understood why the old excelsior was "advanced" over the Cheyenne. Now the T6 variant is a new ship and is "advanced" - being able to use the skin on it is just out-of-lore gameplay cosmetics and I'm fine with seeing canon designs in endgame, regardless of their age - after all, STO is a theme park not a logical universe.
But the console can only be used on the T6 Excelsior I'm sure. Why do we start this TRIBBLE again? Why not just make it inherent abilities then, why all the limited consoles?
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Ah but they have to pretend that it's balanced, not that anything is these days but still. They can't openly admit that, it would give the pvpers more ammunition.
NCC-1701-B.
Simply put: No.
But: The argument against anything "being to old" is that T6 ships come with a new model which is in STOs timeline a current, modern ship. The same goes for every T5 or other ship with a refit version.
The Excelsior was a special case because it only came as a retrofit until now, even the Lakota-type refit was vastly inferior to modern ships of it's weightclass. Aside from the fact that this doesn't matter at all in STO because this game is not supposed to have technological evolution or consistency but is supposed to be a theme park to showcase ships, this was the only issue people had with the in-game representation of it. But once you accept the two facts I stated (STO = no logical universe and T6 = new ships with old vanity skins) the tiresome "too old, too slow, too weak" debate should be ended once and for all.
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Because that way they can make you buy 3 Excelsior (or whatever) ships instead of just one, so you can get that 3-piece set bonus that makes everything on the map explode when you blink.
You need to think like Cryptic.
Just because it has a Command seat doesn't mean it has to be used.
http://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/9456293-star-trek-online:-t6-resolute-adv.-heavy-cruiser
Anyone else?
It should be very easy to get Overwhelm Emitters III into the build. The Lt ENG station got upgraded to LtCmdr ENG/Command, so you could stuff that single ability in and keep the rest of your existing build intact.
Something being missed in the b*tch thread in the GNN forum.
When a T6 Scimitar and its stats get announced (you know it's coming...) I'm very sure there will be a TRIBBLE thread about that also.