[Bentusi]

Playing as a science character.

For lore reasons, I'm only using phasers (specifically the fleet stun pistol as it's the only one that remotely looks like a normal TNG era phaser without all the fancy holographic projections, and/or the high density beam rifle type 3).

Any tips for what equipment I should use?

Presently I'm using the Romulan Imperial Navy 2 piece set with the Nakuhl 2 piece set, but it bothers me that the +20% plasma damage is wasted with phasers.

[Jestersmith]

I did a few ground builds a while back

https://ufplanets.com/showthread.php...e-Ground-Build

[Bentusi]

Ahhh thank you!!

[Jestersmith]

I could probably do with updating it but really it still applicable now tbf. The build will work with any ground weapon type so Phaser its fine.

[darthnovawave]

With ground builds, most people like to emphasize kit performance and criticals over weapon performance anyway which is a big reason why the ability to make the Risian Kit have 4 [kperf] mods was so popular over the summer. The Temporal Rep armor is nice for sci builds since it has the passive DOT buff, but another popular choice is the Disco rep armor or enviro suit, since both give +20% crit severity buff at UR quality. The Na'kuhl shield is still pretty popular, usually paired with the set's minigun in your secondary slot for the 2-piece bonus there for more crit love (the weapon itself is pretty lame and is just there for the set bonus).

As far as kit modules, probably the only "lore-friendly" options in the sci field would be the healer options, but there are a ton of fun dps options if you choose to go full wizard mode with your toon. As Jestersmith's example notes, Cold Fusion Flash and Seismic Agitation Field are often cited for both damage and control effect benefits in combat. I've played options like Paradox Bomb from the Temporal Ops specialization and Endothermic Induction Field from the winter event too that can help pull and slow your targets to keep them stuck in your AOE effect areas longer as unfortunately even STO's AI is smart enough to know not to stand on the floor that hurts them. There are plenty of other options, but in most cases the visual effect doesn't exactly line up with anything you would see in most Trek shows/movies and is more inspired by DnD-style fantasy games than sci-fi.

[Bentusi]

Hahahah tell me about it! Right now I have cold fusion flash and exothermic induction field and I'm borderline tolerating them as the effect is not THAT obvious (at least it doesn't engulf the whole map in flashy stuff... I swear most of the ground TFOs look like I'm in a rave rather than leading an away team mission!).

If I find a replacement for the Na'kuhl shield I will ditch it in a heartbeat even if the replacement is less powerful as I hate the red bubble that goes off all the time. For some reason I am lacking Temporal rep marks right now. I was thinking of maybe switching for the Omega set for the dodge chance and the crit buff as I have a ton of Omega marks but I haven't looked at the disco rep yet, might be worth checking out.

Now if only there was an option to turn off the visual effects in space battles....

[Jestersmith]

If you want the look you can always go for Maco set bonus offers 2 piece emergency shield and tactical readiness that benefits self and team or Adapted Maco that offers a health type bonus on the set with increased hit points and melee damage boost and also an all damage boost with an increase to crit chance and severity but if you are looking for boosts for crit then the Discovery set is better I use that on most my builds anyway see tac build link at the bottom.
On Sci, though I use the Temporal as like darthnovawave points out it offers a passive that affects not only damage over time but also hazard effects as well and also increases health regen to self the rest of the set bonus only makes sense if you are using antiproton or polaron weapons as your not it's not worth the set in the build if you want a decent shield without the visuals of the Na'kuhl one the elite fleet adaptive is decent its what I used prior to the sets.

If you have it you have the lobi you can also look at the Starfleet Experimental Enviro suit that offers a bonus to kit readiness and performance though I have not tried this out yet so can say how good it is but as I say that's a lobi item that will set you back 200 lobi if you want it.

https://ufplanets.com/showthread.php...-Ground-Builds

Decent review on MACO set and ironically he did the Adaptted set other night also