[Soral]

Here is my build for the Fleet Assault Cruiser Refit - T5-U Build.

Any recommendations on consoles, weapons, etc?

Thanks!

[Dark]

I suggest you go ST1/HE2 on the Science BOff.

That's because with a 2xA2B build, you're unlikely to have much Aux power most of the time. SciTeam isn't dependent on Aux, whereas TSS is. HE2 over HE1 because that's dependent on Aux, but it's also your only hull heal.

Weapons, I prefer RomPlas arrays (Experimental array drains no power and has a set bonus with the ZPEC) and tossing the Hydrodynamics Compensator for a Fleet Flow Cap [+Plas]. If you can stand your ship firing different colored beams, ideally it'd be the one RomPlas experimental array with the rest Caustic Plasma [CrtD]x3 arrays.

Regardless of energy type, you should have all Locators, no Exploiters, with [CrtD] weapons.

The three combinations of deflector/engines/shields to consider for general damage purposes are CC/Rom/?, CC/Nuka/Nuka, and Nuka/Rom/Nuka.

Since you're not a Tac captain (so no APA) and you're just cycling APB (no APO), I'm not sure if the +30 to Attack Patterns from the Romulan engines are better. At the same time, with the Nukara console the +5% Accuracy from the CC deflector may not do that much either. Regardless, you're likely going to want two pieces of Nukara. I'd go CC/Nuka/Nuka and replace the Nukara console with something else, like the Tachyo or the BIC, but those are Lobi consoles. Alternatively, the Bio-Neural Gel Pack console can help the cooldown of abilities like Tactical Team or Science Team, which has cooldowns generally too short to be greatly affected by A2B.

[Mush]

As usual, Dark has the equipment nailed, so I won't add to that. But, I'm thinking about something. With the right DOFFs, you've still got the problem of a wasted Ensign. In this case, it'd typically be the second copy of TT1. With A2B and a Tac Team Conn Officer DOFF, that second copy will never, ever get used because the first copy will always be at global cooldown.

So, I'm considering something.



That said, the numbers are getting ridiculous. My T-5U FAvenger is a little more tanky and it has the fourth Tac Console slot. But, with a half-built T6 Eclipse, I parsed 29 & 30k. The only real problem I'm having is due to the Eclipse's much, much lower hull health, I'm having a difficult time staying alive unless I use the two-piece Assimilated set.

[Soral]

Apparently, I put the wrong link in. That's an older build. I fixed it. Most of your comments still apply, but a few things are a bit different than what you were talking about.

Sorry about that!

[Dark]

Hm, why BO instead of FAW?
Still recommend ST1/HE2, especially since you've got RSP on global from A2B anyway.

[Mush]

I'm just going to be brutally honest with you. I tried and tried and tried and tried to stick with a canon build. I tried to stick with phasers and quantums. If you want to stick with a canon build, that's fine. Go for it. Having fun is what the game is about.

However, you're going to have to accept the limitations you're placing on yourself. Advanced queues require each team member to produce a minimum of 15k DPS just to carry their own weight and not be a detriment to the team.. Elite queues require each team member to produce a minimum of 25k DPS just to carry their own weight and not be a detriment to the team. Even with DR's power creep, you're going to have to be very lucky, or very good, to get 15k out of that build.

If you're on during the evenings in North America, we could probably setup a few runs with a parser to give you an idea of where you're at.

[Soral]

Hm, why BO instead of FAW?
Still recommend ST1/HE2, especially since you've got RSP on global from A2B anyway.

I was looking for something that was more effective on my one-on-one battles. But, it is limiting. I have a FAW3 boff that I've been toying with switching back to.

[Soral]

I'm just going to be brutally honest with you. I tried and tried and tried and tried to stick with a canon build. I tried to stick with phasers and quantums. If you want to stick with a canon build, that's fine. Go for it. Having fun is what the game is about.

However, you're going to have to accept the limitations you're placing on yourself. Advanced queues require each team member to produce a minimum of 15k DPS just to carry their own weight and not be a detriment to the team.. Elite queues require each team member to produce a minimum of 25k DPS just to carry their own weight and not be a detriment to the team. Even with DR's power creep, you're going to have to be very lucky, or very good, to get 15k out of that build.

If you're on during the evenings in North America, we could probably setup a few runs with a parser to give you an idea of where you're at.

Actually, I'm okay with not having a canon build on this ship. I made the switch to Antiproton on my escorts and have been slowly moving away from Phaser because of the limitations. I want something that's going to be able to pull its weight. So I'm game to switch over to other weapon types, it's just a matter of saving up the DIL and Fleet Credits to do that.

I'm essentially making due with what I have until I can afford to make some changes. Got a Nukara deflector waiting on DIL and enough Nukara Marks to get it. Same with the Romulan weapons.

[Mush]

Actually, I'm okay with not having a canon build on this ship. I made the switch to Antiproton on my escorts and have been slowly moving away from Phaser because of the limitations. I want something that's going to be able to pull its weight. So I'm game to switch over to other weapon types, it's just a matter of saving up the DIL and Fleet Credits to do that.

I'm essentially making due with what I have until I can afford to make some changes. Got a Nukara deflector waiting on DIL and enough Nukara Marks to get it. Same with the Romulan weapons.

Excellent. Here's the build I think would be the cheapest and quickest. You could also go Antiproton, but it will take more time and effort. You want the Advanced Fleet AP's with the highest CrtD modifier you can get or CrtDx3's from the exchange, which is a major investment.

You'll also want to pick up two of the Rare (Blue) Male Tactical Officers from our Embassy. They have the Superior Romulan Operative trait. This will greatly increase your built in CrtH and CrtD. But, be very careful. You have to get the Rare (Blue) Males. They're the only ones in the Embassy with the trait. It's very common to make a very expensive mistake and buy the purple ones or female ones.

As for DOFFs, you want 1x VR Conn Officer (Tac Team cooldown and Attack Pattern boosting variant), 3x VR Technicians (A2B variants), 1x VR System Engineer (Marion Frances Dulmur), and either Agent Nerul from the Operation Pack or a boosting DOFF of your choice.

That should be a really good start and should get you much, much closer to where you want to be.

[Soral]

You have to get the Rare (Blue) Males. They're the only ones in the Embassy with the trait.

I actually have a Very Rare Boff from the Embassy with the Superior Romulan Operative. Did they make a change to the Boffs there after the embassy was open for awhile?

[Dark]

That is news to me, I'm tempted to take a look if I ever pass by.

[Mush]

I actually have a Very Rare Boff from the Embassy with the Superior Romulan Operative. Did they make a change to the Boffs there after the embassy was open for awhile?

Not to my knowledge. You better double check it just to be sure.

[Soral]

I checked and both say Superior Romulan Operative. But, here is the odd thing...I know the second one I bought WAS a Rare (Blue) BOFF to begin with. Now it is showing as a Very Rare (Purple) BOFF. Color issue possibly?

And before anyone asks, I don't remember if the first one I bought was a Very Rare or Rare BOFF. I barely remember what I had for lunch yesterday. Plomeek Soup or Hasperat...I'll have to ask Quark now...

[Soral]

I switched back to my Defiant last night and ran Mirror Invasion (Normal) and WOW!!!! I've got the antiproton build using Advanced Fleet Antiprotons with ACCx2 and again WOW!!!! I literally sliced through ships. I can see now what you guys are talking about the difference in DPS damage with the right build and how far behind my cruiser still is.

Working on gathering the Romulan weapons. It's gonna be awhile, cause I don't gain that much dilithium that quickly.

Question for Dark, why a CC/Nukara/Nukara? I was looking at another thread you posted awhile ago and you were hot on CC/Rom/Fleet Resilient Shields. What's the main advantage I'd get from going with Nukara? I read through the descriptions of each piece and I'm kind of at a loss as to what advantage I gain, even with the two piece bonus.

[Dark]

The point of the Romulan Engines is the +30 to Attack Patterns. As an Engineering Captain without Attack Pattern Alpha, and on a FACR without Attack Pattern Omega/Beta, it's not going to boost your damage.

The CC Deflector's biggest draw is apparently the +5% Accuracy, but the rest of the stats will also boost damage a bit anyway. The 2-piece Nukara set bonus is +2.5% Damage, hence if you have no attack patterns you'd go CC/Nuka/Nuka.

If you do have Attack Patterns, such as when you're in the Defiant, you'll probably want the Rom Engines.

As an aside, I find the current DPS discussion that suggests Nuka/Rom/Nuka over CC/Rom/Whatever to be strange, since the entire reason I joined the DPS channels was to argue that Nuka/Rom/Nuka or CC/Nuka/Nuka would be better. Then I proved myself wrong, and someone else on the official forums posted their own test results verifying it, but now they're talking about Nuka/Rom/Nuka again. I haven't tested it again though, since I'm currently leveling the Guardian cruiser.