And not just builds... I am talking about understanding the systems and how items and powers interact with eachother. Starting out with space combat. Right now I have the combat log parser and trying to get that down (no idea MPS means, btw). Also looking at the item bonuses and their definitions.

Any tutorials I can go through or really awesome documentation to get me out and running? Words of advice? I plan on being more of a fixture in here and learn from the best!

Well there's a few threads to start with. You could watch some pvp videos as well to help give you an idea of how things work.

Ultimately though you have to get your feet wet.

When Mavairo comes back from his vacation, he is planning on writing a Basics Article, explaining things like Shield Power, Defense score, etc.

I'm level 30 so far and just have a dual heavy disruptor cannon setup on my escort. All disruptor consoles. I have cannon and mostly heal related powers (polarize, engineering/science team, and doffs that reduce cool downs on those). I can usually be scaled for PVE matches with level 50 people and never die. But that isn't PVP.

So much to learn.

change your Throttle over to a scroller wheel on your mouse or joy stick.

unfortunately a lot of build threads are setup for someone at around my skill level, i leave out the basics and fundamentals because i just assume everyone knows them. energy levels and how they effect anything, what all the skill acronyms mean, defense, accuracy, counters, skill tree specing, all that. if mavs gonna write it thats good, was thinking about doing that myself. maybe he can submit it to bran flakes and get time off for good behavior

Personally I prefer back and forward buttons on the throttle, very handy and you don't have to occupy your index click/middle finger with another button ;p

I can find the defs and I have a good idea of what the skills will aid for the most part (specing out anything that is related to speed, turn, shield, hull, then weapons). What I am super interested in is the math behind those skills. Like by how much do they affect my character.

I will hit 50 soon enough. But on the way, might as well prep for PVPs.

Well then in that case, check Mavs threads either the cruiser or sci thread.

He has a hot link to what each skill point actually does for your character, and bridge officer abilties in the table of contents of each thread. Should be titled something like "what each skill actually does for your character".

on a lot of things the best strategy is to just go for broke on what ever you want buffed. want EWP3 to give mad DOT? spec particle generators to 9 and slot as many particle consoles as you can. want your tet or polaron weapons proc buffed? do the same with flow cap. get as much mileage out of skill points as you can, the tet glider, leach and other draining skills are buffed by it along with those 2 weapon types. why not use as much as you can? focusing on to may things splits your skills and console space ip too much and makes you less effective at everything. its why i wouldn't be caught dead using torps.

links

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...0E&output=html - maxing energy weapons damage

http://home.comcast.net/~amicus/Skil...%20Effects.htm - the math you were wondering about

http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skillplanner/ - the respec saver

Experience and critical analysis is the only way to truly understand a game imo.