[Paran]

I caved and went for the Vengeance One more hull to farm gear for Thanks for the advice yet again (cant wait to follow the in game fleet chat suggestion to put the broadside console on a shuttle!)

[Petrarch]

If you get the proton charge launcher and couple it with the broadside emitter, that'll open the 2 piece bonus which gives +25% to torpedoes, mines and phasers.

The other 2 possible choices are the Romulan mining laser (it and the proton launcher can be got from the exchange) or the ejection assembly from the Kelvin Connie. Using the Kelvinprise console in any useful fashion is much easier said than done however.

[casualsto]

The vengeance is one of the finest ships this game can offer. It's the federation scimitar.

Another options would have been: Baltim heavy raider (if you'll ever want to pvp in STO, that is one of the best dogfighters in the game.) - Also an amazing dps choice for a cannon build.

I think the maquis raider is also a decent choice, since it can support six tac consoles and has a 5-1 weapon layout, like the baltim, but might be slightly underperforming in pvp circumstances.

I think that as a fed, you did the right choice by ordering the vengeance. Everything coming with that ship is the least good.

The trait is decent and can be exploited a bit by using csv combined with faw ( just triggering those skills will grant the bonus, no need to use mixed types ).

The console is really savage because of the 19% Captain skill cooldown reductions that can be slotted on any ship. Its clicky on a phaser build is like a faw without even using any beams.

But the real piece of resistance is the ship frame. Five fore, three aft.
The boff layout is THE BEST in the game for a ship that needs to cater varied needs.

The ship mastery is underwhelmingly good, with hull bonus and resists and a great CrtH boost.

Congratulations on your choice.