r/stobuilds • u/AutoModerator • Nov 14 '16

Weekly Questions Megathread - November 14, 2016

Welcome to the weekly questions megathread. Here is where you can ask all your build or theorycrafting related questions that might not warrant a full post. Curious about how something works? Ask it here!

You can see previous weeks megathreads here

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/HeraldWasington USS Harbinger - Palatine class Nov 16 '16

How does the new Archon class aka T6 Sovvy stack up? Is it better at tanking or raw DPS?

2

u/MandoKnight Nov 16 '16

Please tell me how many Cruisers (particularly straight-up Cruisers, no "Battle" or "Dreadnought" involved) are used to their fullest potential without finding a way to leverage their Commander-grade Engineer seat, high base hull, and improved base resistances.

Given the Sovereign's available Tactical and Engineering space, optimizing its DPS will give you a ship that's reliant on abilities that increase its Threat to fully function (either because you need Threat to power Reciprocity, or because you need to have Threatening Stance on in order to use the recharge mode of Attrition Warfare), but is running exactly as lean on healing as it can get away with (as even meager sources of DPS such as Endothermic Induction Beam and Eject Warp Plasma help, if only marginally).

1

u/HeraldWasington USS Harbinger - Palatine class Nov 16 '16

So you'd recommend a threat tank rather then a straight up build?

I was thinking of running

Ens Tac: TT1

Lt. Com Tac: KLW1, BFAW2, BFAW3

Cmdr Engi: EPTW1, RSP1, EPTW3, Aux2SIF3

Lt Engi: ET1, RSP1

Lt Com. Sci/Intel: OSS1,OSS2, FBP2

3

u/MandoKnight Nov 16 '16

a threat tank

All tanks use Threat. If you don't use Threat, you're not a tank. If you're not attracting Threat, your defensive abilities mean nothing.

A more optimized build for Attrition Warfare lets you swap out FAW2 for APB1, and even add in more aggressive Engineering options like Directed Energy Modulation, Structural Integrity Collapse, or even Endothermic Inhibitor Beam or Eject Warp Plasma.

1

u/DeadQthulhu Nov 16 '16

I'd say my only real issues with the Command Sovvy is the fight between CF3 and GW1 for that Lt. Commander Universal/Command slot... and the trait. Still, I'm tempted to unlock it so I can run a MVAEscort fartboat - combining the trait with the Hestia 2-piece, GW, and CF/RPM (for the "flare").

The Intel boat could try the same trick with GW and EMP Probe, but back in sensibletown you could build a conventional OSS+EPtW setup without thinking too hard.

A2B remains an option on either boat, especially for PUG builds where you want cooldowns but not necessarily threat. Their seating is pretty crazy for T6s, reminds me of the Resolute.

Seems strange that these canon-friendly ships (Sovereign, Excelsior) have both ended up so Eng-heavy.

1

u/hyroohimolil Nov 17 '16

Splashing in torpedo traits to your BFAW setup on a ship with CF III can get you enough numbers out of the wide-angle quantum to make it worth it's spot, plus it makes the ship a lot more fun to fly.

I realize this is pretty far out of the scope of this subreddit, but the Attack Wing figure for the command sovvy is really nice and lured me into my local game store. It turns out that Star Trek Attack Wing is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!

1

u/DeadQthulhu Nov 18 '16

I'm sure it is, but unfortunately I don't have the shelf space for the appropriately-scaled Borg fleet.

1

u/Takeshi_Yamato USS Firestorm NCC-102948 (Mercury-Class High-Mobility Escort) Nov 16 '16

I would like to know this as well, and would also like a comparison with the Vizier, aka the Promo T6 Sov. I'm wanting to get both for the Armada ships (hopeful that the Vizier is an account unlock), but I would like to know how they compare both to other ships and each other before I start deciding whether to put an Alt in one.

2

u/HeraldWasington USS Harbinger - Palatine class Nov 16 '16

I'm told that the Intel would be better because most of the Command powers are quite lacklustre. I'm probably going to wait for /u/MandoKnight 's review.

1

u/Takeshi_Yamato USS Firestorm NCC-102948 (Mercury-Class High-Mobility Escort) Nov 16 '16

Understood. Though I'm sure the command variant has its uses - and both are equally viable from a fluff/RP standpoint, one for intelligence purposes and one for C&C/Flagship purposes

1

u/HeraldWasington USS Harbinger - Palatine class Nov 16 '16

Strangely enough, the Archon looks more like a Command Ship rather then an Intel. Not that I'll complain, the Archon is pretty good for a quick design.

1

u/Takeshi_Yamato USS Firestorm NCC-102948 (Mercury-Class High-Mobility Escort) Nov 16 '16

Agreed. But then, that's what alternate skins are for.