Just a couple of questions regarding science ships, the first is about the appearance of the second science ship, the "research vessel" class, the example of the website of the website has the spherical "saucer" section, I was just wondering if all the configurations of this have this spherical section. I just personally really dont like the look of the olympic class ships.

My other was more general for people who have played science vessels, have you enjoyed them? Is the ability to subsystem target and the additional science bridge officer slots really useful in combat?

Yeah. You get a choice of three different spheres, but they're all spheres.

The subsystem targeting gives you, in effect, four extra bridge officer powers for free. Beam: target shields, weapons, engines, aux. It is pretty useful, actually.

I like it enough that I plan on using Beam: Target Shields II on my Cruiser, as a tactical officer ability.

For the science officer slots...it's not so much that you have more science officers on board, because top-tier Escorts and Cruisers can have the same number of science officers. It's that, of course, the Science ship can sit science officers of higher rank.

While not all the Lt. Commander and Commander science abilities are that great...Viral Matrix alone is probably worth it.

Thanks for the feedback, very useful

In groups the Subsystem targeting is quite useful. Yes they are all spheres. Personally I like them. Particualrly the one made of force fields.