Hello all,

I was looking for some advice on my current ship/skill setup and any/all possible tweaks. I know there
are several builds that work but from what I’ve found in my, admittedly limited, searching a lot seem to
be PVP oriented. The build I want to make would focus on PVE missions and PVE fleet actions (primarily
space but ground will also be needed). I want to be able to do good dps, but I also want to be able to
survive.

I’m a VA and am running the defiant retrofit. Below is my current setup.

Front Weapons Layout:

2 – Polaron Dual Cannons

1 – Polaron Dual Beam Array

1 – Quantum Torpedo Launcher

Rear Weapons Layout:

1 – Polaron Beam Array

1 – Quantum Torpedo Launcher

1 – Quantum Mine Launcher

For My shields/engines/deflector I am using the aegis set.

For Consoles:

Tactical – 2 Polaron, 2 Quantum

Science – Cloak, Inertia Dampeners

Engineering – 2 Neutronium Alloys, 1 RCS

For BOffs:

Commander Tactical: Torpedo Spread 1, Cannon Scatter Fire 1, Mine Pattern Beta 2, Attack Pattern
Omega 3

Lt. Commander Tactical: Beam fire at will 1, Cannon Rapid Fire 1, Attack Pattern Beta 1

Ensign Tactical: Beam Target Subsystems 1

Lt. Engineering: Emergency Power to Shields 1, Engineering Team 2

Lt. Science: Polarize Hull 1, Tractor Beam 2

My skill layout is as follows:

Tactical:
Starship attack patterns - 9
Starship Weapons Training - 9
Starship Energy Weapons - 9
Starship Projectile Weapons - 9
Starship Maneuvers - 8
Starship Targeting Systems - 8
Starship Stealth - 3
Starship Energy Weapon Specialization - 4
Starship Projectile Weapon Specialization - 4

Engineering:
Driver Coil - 9
Starship Hull Repair - 9
Structural Integrity - 9
Starship Subsystem Repair - 2
Starship Warp Core Efficiency - 7
Starship Impulse Thrusters - 9
Starship Warp Core Potential - 8
Starship Hull Plating - 9
Starship Shield Performance - 6
Starship Armor Reinforcements - 6
Starship Auxiliary Performance - 3
Starship Weapon Performance - 6

Science:
Starship Shield Emitters - 9
Starship Shield Systems - 9
Starship Inertial Dampeners - 3

Ground:
Grenades - 3
Weapon Proficiency - 9
Combat Specialist - 8
PS Generator - 8
Squad Command - 3
Combat Armor - 8

thanks in advance for any and all advice!!!!

Since it sounds like you are interested in moving into STF type of PvE play, I would recommend giving the following excellent thread a thorough read as it should give you some good insight as well as answer many of the questions that you have:

http://forums.startrekonline.com/sho...d.php?t=244532

Thanks for the link! That was pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I read about 10 pages so far and it seems like good stuff

I was wondering about character stats as well. Did you have a link for those? Please excuse if the thread also covered the stats as I am still reading through it and only saw equipment/BOff setups being discussed.

thanks again for the reply and the info!

id reccomend using 4 of the polaron consoles in your tac slots, if u have/use torp high yield you wont need the consoles to boost them, as your main energy weapons fire more frequent than your torps, so in my oppinion use 4 polaron tac consoles , i use 4 phaser relays on my escort and it packs a punch, and i use 3 dual heavy cannons and a quantum fore and 3 turrets aft, and using torp high yield II and III they cause UBER damage, hope this helps also

if u want a pretty solid escort build send me a mail or tell in game, my handle is @the_ultimate_funky

using a dual beam bank and beam overload 3 is a nice burst dmg, for the ensign tactical BOFF i have a fire at will 1, but that is just because i want to use a small dmg boost while beam overload is on cooldown.

PS: emergency power to weapons 1, just before u shoot the beam overload 3 gives it an extra 5% dmg boost

PPS: u need tactical teams, at least one! max 2

as much as I like the Defiant retro, I just think the fleet escort and MVAM are better bangs for the buck

Thanks again for all the replies everyone!

Just an update on my setup after reading through the thread the first reply suggested, I'm now running 3 DC up front with 1 quantum torpedo and 2 turrets and 1 quantum mine in the back. I also have adjusted my BOffs to match.

Cmdr Tac:Tac Team 1, Torpedo Spread 2, Rapid Fire 2, APO3
Lt. Cmdr Tac: Tac Team 1, Rapid Fire 1, APB2
Ensign Tac: Torpedo Spread 1
Lt. Eng: EPtS 1, Eng Team 2
Lt. Sci: Polarize hull 1, Transfer shield 2

I also put some DOffs on active duty after reading that they actually have an effect on your ship. I put 3 projectile officers on duty and I can't remember the other two.

I also plan on switching my tactical consoles to 3 polaron and 1 quantum(I still use my torpedoes and mines quite a bit). I'm also debating on whether or not to switch my engineering RCS console for an EPS. I already switched out my science console inertia dampener for the field generator (my not be the right name, but it's the one that gives +35% to shields).

RE: @the_ultimate_funky I'll hit you up next time I log on

thanks again everyone!

I fInd projectiles a waste on an escort, and went all cannons/turrets.

Unfortunately, this left me with the prospect of 3 TTs in a retro.

Ended up going Fleet, but may try out the retro again at some point.