This is why I like doing ESTFs on my tac far more than my engineer. If it's a subpar group running rainbows, or starcruisers or whatnot, I can often make the difference in terms of DPS or CC with consoles to get the optional. If it's a completely horrid setup though, I can't overcome that.

For my engineer, it's a lot harder because she just doesn't have the DPS options I do, and her survivability options don't amount to nearly as much.

On the upside, I enjoy PUGing because it's a lot more dynamic than fleet runs. I'm constantly being forced to adapt to often chaotic situations, which keeps me on my toes and has me try out different builds. Fleet runs tend to be snooze-fests in comparison.

For many of us, the only reason we even do STFs anymore is dilithium so a little chaos keeps the tedium at bay, depending on how you look at it. Now days, I find elites far more tolerable than the normals.

Certainly agree there, I tend to run with my Tac in the patrol escort. I got an eng char in a Gal-X with very high tanking DPS standards but I'm nervous about going into a random group with it because if its all Airheading and Skittles then nothings going to get done quickly enough.

Having one airhead or skittle is OK though, doesnt hurt the optional too much.. don't mind that.
Not to mention I can't help but wonder what they must be thinking when they see me make an attack run hitting my AP scatter volley and Quantum torp spread and shreading apart stuff they've barely been able to make a shield dent in

I'll do PUGs fairly often but only elite, since for the most part groups are at least OK there enough to get the job done, and I'm happy about that, and I as well still get the occassional unexpected suprise to keep me on my toes from the cookbook formula for STFs and still at least win.

Best way to avoid the airheading and skittles is to do elite, they seem to be far far less common there than normal, thankfully!

I heard a very thorough rumor about using different energy types draining more from the weapons power then the same items of a matching energy type set.

I basically hear that from every people I meet in game. Would this not be the biggest problem with rainbow build? (Apart from the energy-specific consoles being much better)

That's all it is. A rumor. I used to run a rainbow build, and it drained the same power as my current homogenous build. Anyone who tells you that it uses more energy is taking you on a wild goose chase.

Rainbow Warriors aren't really the root of the issue, they just illustrate the problem in a more colorful way if you don't mind the pun. For all this easy PvE stuff (including Elite STFs) it doesn't really matter if you use 1 energy type or 6 as long as you know some basics about ship builds and combat tactics. Outside of PvP and the NWS the difference is not important at all.

The thing is, people spitting rainbows usually also have builds that make you scratch your head, so you basically know right from the start that you'll have to put some more effort in to get the optional this time. There are as many single color failboats or even more as there are rainbow boats and with them you might see the problem too late to react, like when this Tac/Defiant struggles to take out 3 Raptors in CSE for example.

So point is, rainbows aren't worse than other failboats, we just recognize and remember them thanks to their flashy presence. You really think those colorful "insert cruiser type" (and let's be honest, most of them are cruisers) would be a better addition to your team with a single energy type? They'd still dealing close to zero damage, explode in seconds and spitting boarding parties while doing so.

That's one of the most persistent false statements you'll hear in this game. Drain does NOT depend on energy type. Every energy weapon you shoot after the first will drain exactly what it says in its tooltip.

No rainbow beams? But I like my chroniton dual beam array :<

They mean different energy types. Like a phaser, disruptor, antiproton, etc. all in same ship.

Chroniton is fine.

Can't tell sarcasm

I must admit I prefer my Phased disruptors to the normal ones. Also Having polarized turrets on the back, does give me 3 weapon benefits in 1 weapon type. Just check out my klink...

If you see her Rubma Harda Babycakes... She has a nice weapon layout!

I have on my first toon, in my Tholian Carrier Plasma disruptors, as you cannot get the phased... Which is a shame, because they do have a better DPS.

Unless I am wrong, if you know of an episode on the FED side that gives you phased disruptor heavy cannons please let me know...

One more thing, if you work as a team in STF games you will always get option no matter what dps you have...

If you dont talk to each other or follow the leaders commands you will fail... Its common sense really.

Very simple answer
Change the visual so people see Everyone Elses weapons beams as the same uniform shade of orange
and only their OWN as coloured

because im fed up with people calling me names for mounting plasma weapon Aft on a ship thats otherwise all Phasers etc

mind your own business guys