That's good info, but I'm not listing specifics like that for several reasons. First it varies by rank, so I'd have to list the way skills and aux power and the like affect things at each rank of a power. Second, it can be a rounded value which could get people reporting issues where the math is off, and its very difficult to test that kind of stuff. And finally, its too confusing to list all that information, especially if things change, then I have to go back through and get all that information all over again.

I want the thread to be a good overview of science powers and what they do and how they work, but not down to the precise numbers, because it isn't strictly necessary. The exact numbers are something anyone can go ahead and check in game with their own ships and varied setups, especially so on Tribble.

A truly excellent guide!

One point though. Sensor Analysis does work with Mask Energy Signature, at least in PVE. I haven't tried it in PVP, but you can stalk an enemy with MES active and SA will begin stacking.

Thanks, I'll test that.

Okay, I confirmed it, sensor analysis DOES work with MES active, and will start stacking normally with your target selected while you are safely 'cloaked'. Interesting potential there if you can find a target that will sit still for a minute.

That certainly raises some interesting possibilities. A common Escort (Defiant) tactic is to wait until most of the other team is engaged before decloaking and unleashing hell.

Sitting with MES active and "stalking" a target until 10 stacks of SA have applied with an RSV make for a pretty potent Alpha, especially for a Tac. APA + SA + Gravity Well + Beam Overload 2 + HYT 1 would be pretty deadly.

Yes its interesting, but the thing is, the target knows they are being analyzed. They get the icon in their bar, so that science ship is either sitting on their hands for 60s while a fight is going on and their target is too distracted to care, or they are stalking someone not in combat, perhaps capturing a point in C&H, who can see the icon and quickly full impulse away to break the 10k mark, or worse, sensor scan and detect the science ship.

Yeah, it's very situational. But I did manage to nail someone with a 42K Beam Overload 2 crit using that tactic ^_^

Not worth sitting there and waiting for it to stack, though.

Honestly a really good guide to Aux. It definitely clears up a lot of questions. Thanks for all the testing.

Very helpful OP .Excellent Job Foxrocks.
My stupid question :
Does this mean that after a certain amount of skill points invested in "Photonic Theory" you reach the 4 sec stun while anything less will reduce the duration ? Does the version affect stun duration or just the amount of kinetic damage ?

Basically yes, 4s is the cap so if you don't have enough skill in it, you will get between 2-4s on the stun.

The kinetic damage should increase even after you invest enough skill to hit the duration cap, with more skill invested. However in general, I would say the damage is not worth investing for, but if you want it you can continue to invest in the relevant skills and get more damage.