[Taku]

Do you set up your BOffs as space and ground, or do you use the same BOffs for both?

Currently I have 7 ground only BOffs and 7 space only BOffs. They get specialized training, and the space BOffs are consumable / enviro suit storage.
Am I nuts? Does it make any sense to do it this way? I think it keeps training costs down because I only have to run through half of the skills for each BOff.

[aceman67]

Depends on the traits they have. Some of them are good for space only. Some ground. And most of the time, not both. To be honest, you don't want to really use BOFFs that have a mix of both, as that means that there's traits that just aren't getting used.

Pick BOFFS that have the traits you want, and traits that fit where that BOFF is going to be serving.

[Dark]

Unless you have less than 9 BOff slots, it's always better to have a separate bridge crew and away team. No real reason not to.

[Scarlett]

Unless you have less than 9 BOff slots, it's always better to have a separate bridge crew and away team. No real reason not to.

This.

I mean, you *could* make them be the same.

For my part, I did NOT want a Hierarchy BOff running around with my Captain. Why? TOTAL immersion break.

[Taku]

Unless you have less than 9 BOff slots, it's always better to have a separate bridge crew and away team. No real reason not to.

See, that's what I thought as well. But I also thought, "What if one ship has 2 TAC seats and another has 2 ENG seats? Or (heaven help us) 3 of something?" And wh'about specializations? I use Pilots and Intel BOffs, depending on the situation, so should I just train everybody?

I was curious what other people do.

[Scarlett]

Ahh Specializations. This is where I went a little bananas and gave several BOffs multiple Specializations in an attempt to think long-term.

To put another way: it's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

What I have NOT done, is bought all abilities for all specializations at all ranks for all BOffs - here if I need it, then I'll get it.

[Generator]

Ahh Specializations. This is where I went a little bananas and gave several BOffs multiple Specializations in an attempt to think long-term.

I've considered that move, but never pulled the trigger. Nothing quite as aggravating as realizing none of your current boffs has the Spec you need.

(aka "Really? None of you dumbasses know how to Concentrate Firepower? Not even a little?")

[Dark]

Gold accounts end up with 10 slots, which will allow for 4 members of an Away Team, and 2 each of Sci, Eng, and Tac for your ship.

While there are ships that have 3 seats of the same spec, I've found few of them to be worth actually flying long-term (as opposed to just for unlocking their traits) so I just have a member of the Away Team fill in.

Many of my BOffs do have multiple specializations, learned as necessary as I've switched ships or fiddled with Away Team loadouts.

If all else fails, buy more BOff slots? My mains probably picked up a few during service sales just to collect special BOffs.

[Generator]

As a side note, whatever four random schmoes signed on with me as I leveled up almost always end up as my "senior staff"/Away Team. Traits be damned, that's just how it rolls.

They eventually give up their seats on the bridge to SROs, Krenim, or whatever, but they'll always be my away team.

[aceman67]

BOFFS can also have more than one Specialization, the Jem'Hadar Vanguard Boffs, for instance, have all the specializations unlocked. Only one can be active at a time though.

[Scarlett]

As a side note, whatever four random schmoes signed on with me as I leveled up almost always end up as my "senior staff"/Away Team. Traits be damned, that's just how it rolls.

They eventually give up their seats on the bridge to SROs, Krenim, or whatever, but they'll always be my away team.

This is

E
X
A
C
T
L
Y

what I did.

[Taku]

As a side note, whatever four random schmoes signed on with me as I leveled up almost always end up as my "senior staff"/Away Team. Traits be damned, that's just how it rolls.

They eventually give up their seats on the bridge to SROs, Krenim, or whatever, but they'll always be my away team.

I dump the non-very rare BOffs as I get very rare replacements. I still have one rare. I don't know why. I also left my Jem'Hadars on the ship, and I land with 'not Jem'Hadars' because they can wear all the armor. The J'Hs cannot. If I could be a 'not Jem'Hadar' I would. The costume limitations are nuts!

So there's a random reason to put someone in a seat.

[aceman67]

One of my Toons still has the Original Female Andorian BOFF you got during the games Original Tutorial: https://sto.gamepedia.com/Tactical_Duty_Officer

[Scarlett]

Zomg, I still have her too!

[Generator]

Ditto! On my first Fed, at least; unsure about the other.