reman or breen shields on science

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I have the reman shields and I'm looking at the replay breen shields. They have about 2800 less HP and only 46 more recharge.

What do you think? It's nice to have the purples but in this case I don't really see that it's so much better.

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Really depends on your style. I myself use the Aegis Covariants. Coupled with all my buffs and well...hard to punch through them. Granted if you want the full bonus of the Breen set you'll have to use them.

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Breen Shields are Resilient shields which means they negate 50% of all bleedthrough damage.

Covariant shields are for withstanding powerful, burst attacks.

Resilient shields are better at fighting off constant, medium strength damage provided you have the ability to throw a few shield resists on it like TSS or EPtS.

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Thanks. I must've missed it but what is the bonus for collecting all three breen equipment? I have always used high hp shields. Not sure why. But I have several shield regen abilities so it seemed the right thing to do.

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The 3 piece (full set) bonus for the AZ (absolute zero) Set is a free Energy Siphon 1 skill which is a Lt Science power.

The 2 piece partial set bonus is +30 to transphasic projectiles and +30% to EPS transfer rate.

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Thanks. I will get the shields and play around with it to see. Has anyone used the siphon skill?

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With the rapid fire transphasic torpedo, the breen set isn't an entirely bad deal. It could be good for an escort that specializes in transphasic torps because you get the boost to energy transfer and a free energy siphon (which can help out more than you think).

As for a science ship, it's already a very skill intensive build so you might miss those points you spend in transphasic. It CAN work for a build if you put your mind to it, but it would be rather specialized (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I could actually see a B'rel rocking this set pretty well. I hear transphais is popular with them because of their fire on cloak ability.

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Covariant shields are really the only shields worth using the other types are worthless...

Resilient Shield Array's have 5% less total capacity and regeneration over the normal shield array and normal shield arrays are complete garbage. The only thing u get is 5% less bleed through vs. the standard 10% which isnt enough to make them worth while.

Regenerative Shield Array's have 15% less total capacity but 25% higher regeneration over the normal shield array which even with your shield power setting set to full will be less than the normal incoming damage and also will require you to gimp a more useful power setting such as weapons or aux.

I honestly think the breen set is total garbage the boost to transphasics at the most brings them up to the lvl of barely competitive with other torpedoes and the Energy Siphon is just useless. Mind you that in addition to the lack luster set bonus your giving up the far better set bonus of either the borg or aegis set which either mitigates damage or regenerates shields.

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With the rapid fire transphasic torpedo, the breen set isn't an entirely bad deal. It could be good for an escort that specializes in transphasic torps because you get the boost to energy transfer and a free energy siphon (which can help out more than you think). .

no no no no no no no. and no. The faster shot is BAD. its a horrible joke. AND the torps are not part of the set. as it almost sounds like you think it is, im not sure if you do, but it kinda sounds that way.

here is why.

Your numbers for the rapid fire seem off.

The rapid fire has a base value of about 80% (most likely 80.9% or 8.5/10.5) of a normal transphasic. For me, with Mk Xs (what I happened to check with), for example, a Transphasic shows 1956, while the rapid fire shows 1580. Both have a DPS rating of 186.

In essence, the rapid fire Transphasic is a white common item, that trades off some burst potential for greater smoothness due to firing more frequently.

Given the nature of torpedoes, with a player wanting to time them when shields are down, potentially not being able to utilize their max rate of fire due to limited firing arc, and the use HY torp BOff powers, this makes the rapid fire inferior to the regular version.

It is, sadly, a bad joke played on us by the devs.

To be a proper purple item, it needs to:
1. Do higher dps than a normal transphasic, as compensation for losing burst damage.
2. Get 3 bonus worth of things (2% crit, an extra 0.5 tier of damage, etc) to actually make it purple.

set is mediocre, even the devs said that. Its not as good as aegis, and aegis is not as good as borg set. However the set is designed to be "useful" when doing the breen missions...does it have some cool things about it, yes...do I want to try it out, yes...but the torps are a horible joke. get the crafted high end if you want transphasics.

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i have to disagree the aegis set is far better than the borg set for a variety of reasons mainly the shield and engines are better.

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Thanks. I will get the shields and play around with it to see. Has anyone used the siphon skill?

yes, it seems to be energy siphon 1. still somewhat useful.

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Well I'm glad I made this thread. I will be trying the Borg missions soon!

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I know there's quite a bit of debate about this set but the devs have pretty plainly stated that the breen set was made with fighting the breen in mind.

Now you have the set bonus with polaron resist that helps with the beams, but what a lot of people overlook is that resilient shields are better against transphasic than other shields.

Any other shield has 10% bleedthrough which, after some cryptic math works out to 28% bleedthrough fo transphasics. Now a resilient has 5% and after applying the same equations comes to 24% bleedthrough.

So it isn't much but it is an improvement against breen which iirc are the only PvE mobs to use transphasics.

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i have to disagree the aegis set is far better than the borg set for a variety of reasons mainly the shield and engines are better.

I have to disagree. I use the full Borg set on my science officer's science vessel. I feel that the shield and hull regen is superior for that type of ship due the the science ships' innate higher shields. Cov. shields are nice, don't get me wrong, but with the regen of the Borg set, and cap/regen consoles, my shields hardly ever go down. The higher capacity is moot if you can't regen shields fast enough. The Aegis engines are better than the Borg at a higher eng power setting, but I generally run with low engines on my sci to add more to aux, with a balance to weapons and shields.


The Breen set isn't too terrible. Definitely worth it against the Breen, because it seems to completely negate their attacks. But to be used at end-game regularly? Probably not. I do like the engines for my escort because it bumps my defense bonus a bit, but I have no use really for the rest of the set when I'm not fighting Breen, so I pretty much stick with my Aegis on my escort. I need the shield cap for my tactical officers space play style.

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no no no no no no no. and no. The faster shot is BAD. its a horrible joke. AND the torps are not part of the set. as it almost sounds like you think it is, im not sure if you do, but it kinda sounds that way.


I know it's not. But you get a bonus to transphaic torps. If I'm not mistaken the refire rate on transphaics are 10 seconds. Transphasic never had great damage to begin with which is why I prefer an increased fire rate.

Personally, I don't like transphasics to begin with. Between the damage and bleed through bonus it's just not worth it, I prefer a more potent punch when hitting exposed hull and with my science ship I have no issues burning through shields. But if you're going to use the breen set you might as well take the bonus to transphasic damage and run with it.

All things considered, though, play with it for a week or so, then go back to the Aegis or Borg set or whatever combo people prefer to use. It's a fun distraction but I don't see it being of much use until transphasic torpedoes get a boost of some sort.

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if you like the bonus to transphasics use the high end crafted one NOT the rapdi fire torp...its worthless unless they fix them, well they want to fix all transphasics, but it would need more love, and thats what my post was about, not just that I thought you ment the rapid fire torp was part of the set.....

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I for one am glad to see the breen shields since i do not run full borg set i don't like the shields. As a stay in tank the bleedthrough can be a huge issue when you have many on you at once they can really cover you now with the changes to tact team and such its much easier to keep a facing shield up and the breen help keep it off your hull.

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Does anyone happen to know what the shield with the most hp is in the game? Not taking into account regeneration, just pure hp number.

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at what level?

[Paratrinic Shield Array Mk IV] beats the cov Cap 3x at the IV level...

I think Cov. cap 3x is the best bet for pure shield hp...but its never about pure hp alone.

http://www.stowiki.org/Aegis_Covariant_Shield_Array#Aegis_Covariant_Shiel d_Array
the Aegis Covariant Shield Array is approximately equivalent to a Covariant Shield Array Mk X [Cap]x2. but with a 0.5% higher capacity and regeneration rate.


http://www.stowiki.org/Reman_Prototype_Covariant_Shield_Array
The Reman Prototype Covariant Shield Array is a type of Ship Shields that has a 25% higher maximum capacity but 25% slower regeneration rate than the standard [Shield Array].

This particular variant of Covariant Shield Array is directly equivalent to a Covariant Shield Array [Cap]x2 of whatever Mk level that you acquire it at.


http://www.stowiki.org/Assimilated_Regenerative_Shield_Array

This is only a RA lower half...so it will get better at VA
+5 Shield Power
5,250 Maximum Shield Capacity

(10% Bleedthrough)

273 Shield Regeneration every 6 seconds
Reduces Plasma Damage to Shields by 15%

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We can keep on going with these 'which shields are better' discussion, but ultimately no shield is just 'best or perfect' without overlooking your abilities and other aspects of your build/abilities, including combining bonusses from 2 sets, etcetera. From my experience a shield can be good at one build/shiptype. and bad at another build/shiptype.

Covariants can take the most burst damage, and will ultimately fail against a good opponent. (Even with TSS3 etc) over a longer duration.

Normal shield array / Resilient can take less burst damage, but you can stay alive in battle for a longer duration.

Regenerative / Borg can not withstand a good alpha strike like the other 2 can, but being shot by weaker firepower you can stay in battle endlessly on some occasions.


Now besides taking a covariant, there are more ways to counteract a good alpha strike, think about Tactical Team or abilities that both heal and 'reduce damage to shield by xx%' abilities, preferably TSS2/3 or else you will throw away an instant heal with for instance 'Emergency power to Shields'.

Just trying to say is that no matter if you use covariant or regenerative, if someone does a good alpha strike against you you have to act, nomatter what. Both for covariant and regenerative.



I have had the Cap x3 covariant with the cap +35% console on my escort, even then occasionally someone pwned through my shield and hull if you cannot act fast enough ;)

Just try to remember one fact, the faster regeneratable shield you take, the more profit you gain from it with regeneration and in total hitpoints over the duration of the battle, versus capacity.

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We can keep on going with these 'which shields are better' discussion, but ultimately no shield is just 'best or perfect' without overlooking your abilities and other aspects of your build/abilities, including combining bonusses from 2 sets, etcetera. From my experience a shield can be good at one build/shiptype. and bad at another build/shiptype.

Covariants can take the most burst damage, and will ultimately fail against a good opponent. (Even with TSS3 etc) over a longer duration.

Normal shield array / Resilient can take less burst damage, but you can stay alive in battle for a longer duration.

Regenerative / Borg can not withstand a good alpha strike like the other 2 can, but being shot by weaker firepower you can stay in battle endlessly on some occasions.


Now besides taking a covariant, there are more ways to counteract a good alpha strike, think about Tactical Team or abilities that both heal and 'reduce damage to shield by xx%' abilities, preferably TSS2/3 or else you will throw away an instant heal with for instance 'Emergency power to Shields'.

Just trying to say is that no matter if you use covariant or regenerative, if someone does a good alpha strike against you you have to act, nomatter what. Both for covariant and regenerative.



I have had the Cap x3 covariant with the cap +35% console on my escort, even then occasionally someone pwned through my shield and hull if you cannot act fast enough ;)

Just try to remember one fact, the faster regeneratable shield you take, the more profit you gain from it with regeneration and in total hitpoints over the duration of the battle, versus capacity.

I would have to say that regen shields wouldn't be half as good if it were not for tac team, by chaining tac team you can basicly have around 20000 shield capacity (plus the 35% shield bonus) on any of the 4 sides if needed. That means if you are paying close enough attention, you can take brutal alpha strikes without even exposing your hull. Because of Tac team, whichever shield has largest shield regeneration rate over time stands a good chance of doing the most healing because with sets like the Borg one that grant superb healing powers and high shield regen, you won't be destroyed nearly as often even in an escort. With full Borg, 2 tac teams, TSIII, HEII, TSSI, EPtS I, EPtS II my MVAE feels like a moderate cruiser. A moderate cruiser that can out turn any ship thrown at you (in the beta section) and evade much of the high burst damage from those pesky Escort alphas.

I don't imagine, resiliant shields can outheal regen ones over time, but I have not cruched numbers so I'm not sure...

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You guys are missing the point of the Absolute Zero set. Sure both the Aegis and Borg sets are better, however you can ONLY get thos as an Admiral or General, the Absolute Zero is a set for lower ranked characters to use. It is to give them a unique set to have and benefit from, when they get higher in level they'll switch it out.

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Does the aegis shield scale up to VA?

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Does the aegis shield scale up to VA?

Yes, it will scale up with you.

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Everyone can be down on transpahsic's now...but when they make the changes to weapon types (due to certain types like transphasic costing so many more points) I think people will be gearing up for severl of those launchers.

I had a pretty useful build on my crusier that used transphasics and Directed Energy Eodulation to great effect. I designed it as a bleedtrhough boat. I didn't care if your shields stayed up, I killed people with bleedthrough. It wasn't a be all end all build, but it was surprisingly effective against many ships because most people seem to shield tank these days.

First time I killed an Excelsior with 1005 shields, he sent me a tell and asked what just happened. He had only a single hull heal, in Eng Team. Sure, his shields never dipped much at all...but that didn't fix the hull. I had two transpahsics in front, two in rear. I used HYT3 and HYT2 to send barrages of torps at him. It was a fun fight watching the torp hit for 3k each (without a crit), and seeing his hull drop 1% everytime. Not counting the DEM on the beams up front.

It was a bbuild easily countered though. But was fun for a while. When Cryptic fixes the weapon types issue, we might just see more people using Transphasics and Chronitons, maybe even plasma.

Cheers.

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Everyone can be down on transpahsic's now...but when they make the changes to weapon types...
This^^
I've been playing with my Intrepid build lately, which uses extremely low weapon power. I run a transphasic fore and aft and a tricobalt in front, and use shield draining abilities. If I'm teamed up with an escort, I can pretty much own face as they are now, but when they boost transphasics I'll be able to punch through shields very well.

Resilient can take less burst damage, but you can stay alive in battle for a longer duration.
I have had the Cap x3 covariant with the cap +35% console on my escort, even then occasionally someone pwned through my shield and hull if you cannot act fast enough ;)


This is precisely the reason I sprung for the Resilient Cap x3 array from K7 for my sci vessel. I used to use the covariant cap x3 and found that bleedthrough would get me about half the time. This is because sci vessels have the most fragile hulls, and can crumble quite easily just from that 10% damage if they're being focus fired by a full team. Having switched to the resilient, I survive about twice as long. Granted, I went from about 14k shields to 11k, but considering one shot from an escort does about 2k damage, that extra doesn't matter at all if I have shield buffs running.

I would NOT put a resilient array on a cruiser or an escort, I'd much rather run the borg set or the Aegis set. But on a science vessel, I wouldn't run anything else.

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With the rapid fire transphasic torpedo, the breen set isn't an entirely bad deal. It could be good for an escort that specializes in transphasic torps because you get the boost to energy transfer and a free energy siphon (which can help out more than you think).




That was my thought so I'm trying the Breen deflector and engines with the Reman shield with phasers and transphastics on my Defiant Retrofit Escort. I also added the minepedo front and rear. I' wouldn't use it for PVP but it's fine for PVE.

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You should be using Mk X Cap x 3 shields. You are in a science ship after all.

;)

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The borg sensor array isn't any good for a science ship... lets face it, if you don't use the defector skill your probably not playing sci properly.

As boring as it might seem the aegis is the better of the two sets for survivability matched with other skills.

EDIT: I prefer resilient shields, but thats just me...

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The borg sensor array isn't any good for a science ship... lets face it, if you don't use the defector skill your probably not playing sci properly.
...

Are you serious? Borg deflector gives +5 to aux and boosts sensors (for sensor scan) and emitters (for hazard emitters and tractor beams). Combine with Borg console and breen engine and resilient shields. I guess I don't play science properly.

Not arguing, just agreeing backwards. I did put your resilient shields on.