I have been tweaking my MVAE build recently. I made some major changes on my last full respec, and while I am happier with what I have, there just seems to be something missing.

Here is my current set up. Keep in mind that I have been tweaking this, so some things are off which I will explain as we go.

http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=mvae2_0

Originally, I used HE1 and Sci Team 2. I move HE to Polarize Hull and Sci Team to HE2. I did this because TB immunity seems to be more important in the current PvP scene. I am missing the Sci Team, however, and have honestly thought of dumping PSW to pick it back up. While I can usually deal with Scamble Sensors, SNB annoys me to no end.

So, even though I am not currently using Sci Team, I have points in Sci Team on the build because I did use it until recently.

And yes, I know I have almost 9 points in everything, mainly because you don't get many non-tac skills in the MVAE and you just don't have to spend all those points in a wide range of skills. I only put 2 points into Energy Weapon Performance because that is all I needed to hit 125 weapon power with my gear.

I also like Polaron weapons. I considered doing what everyone else does and go with AP...but I really like Polaron. And before anyone accuses me of speccing for the Breen set, no I didn't. It was almost like they built it with my ship in mind. Anyway, I had a DMGx3 Transphasic launcher I found, so I put it on the ship. I have no issues with Quantums, but everyone seems to shield tank these days. Getting shields down consistantly is work on many ships, and my thinking was that the Transphasic could still hit the hull.

Honestly, it has worked better than I expected. I can point out a dozen or so times in the last few days where I got someone hull down to almost nothing and they ran away. They had shields up but that Torp hit them for enough to kill them. It was a novelty at first, but lately I am debating on removing the torp at all.

The largest issue with my tac skills is that there are few to choose from at Tier 1. I chose BFAW, TT and BTE for that reason. I have been debating on pulling BTE and adding in BO1 to backup my BO3, and I considered adding a second TT. I rarely use BTE or BFAW as it is.

Now, I have ENG Team as my hull heal, along with HE, but I try to only use it in emergencices and save it for when a system goes offline. EPtS2 I try to keep on everytime it's available.

I have had mixed success with PSW. I picked it initially because it is one the few Sci Skills that AUX doesn't affect it's output. In a few cases it has let me burn down a target almost dead and finish them off and a couple of times it has broken a team of TB users or interrupted someone trying to escape. More often than not, it's just a waste of space.

My weapon loadout is:
3xDHC 1xDBB in front
2xBA 1xTrans Torp in rear

I have swapped the Torp out for a turret recently and am thinking of not using torps at all and sticking with this. As i said, everyone shield tanks these days and there are tiny windows of which to get a torp to the hull. I can usually deal more dmg with BO3 from my DBB anyway.

I am using the Aegis Set. (honestly i did try a couple matches with the new Breen set, didn't work well on this build)

Consoles:
ENG:
Field Generator (+35%) Nuetronium Alloy (+18 to all energy resistance and Kinetic)
SCI:
MVAE, Borg, Photonic Threory (+18)
TAC:
4xPolaron Damage(+26 each)

I'm using the rechargable shield battery and the Subspace Field Modulator.

Finally: Power levels:
125/100
75/50
50/25
43/25

I have the borg BO that gives efficiency and a tac BO with leadership as well. In case anyone wants to know.

I have 5 respec left, but I don't intend to waste them just to move a couple skills around, so this is why I haven't pulled points out of Science Team even though I am not currently using it.

I want to do one more respec that is considered the final build. I have even considered swapping over to my Defiant-R instead. I have access to every ship in the game, I just like the idea of the MVAE. I even considered putting my Sci Officer in it.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on a non-torpedo build? Anyone have any simply changes to add to this builds survival rate? It seems that even 1on1 most defiants can tear me down faster than I can tear them down. I had a friend test with me, and his dmg was 1.5 times higher than mine. He wasn't using AP either, just Phaser.

I know this ship can't tank. Don't intend to try it. I have been going with the mindset that i have to deal enough damage fast enough to kill a traget before they can kill me.

A lot of times this works out. Lately, however, it seems like I end up in a prolonged fight that wittles me down over time and eventually they win.

Any advice or ideas is appreciated, but please let it be constructive. Telling me that the MVAE sucks or that FAW is OP is not helping. I know people try to keep their builds top secret, but those willing to help out, I appreciate it.

I am considering swapping back to the Advanced Escort...any ideas on that? Or what about the Dreadnought? I have a fleet mate who uses the Dreadnought as a Tac Officer and does very well. he is usually in the top 3 damage on any PvP match we do.

My main has been a Sci in the D'Kyr for a long time. I am just trying to do something different for a while, and using my Tac is what I want to do for now.

Thanks in advance.

I have been using it since it came out and to be honest some of your build ideas are things i might want to try. I love being able to split into 3 ships but hav also had that backfire in some missions. Espesially the final davidian one. I have not shanged it but am thinking of trying different ideas in some missions.

As an experiment with keybinding, I setup my tactical escort with two copies of TT1 and EPtS and tied all of them to the spacebar keybind for near constant up time. The improvement in damage output and survivability absolutely blew other people away Definitely worth getting the second TT for increased up time. Regardless of your weapons build out, you're increasing your damage output and getting a significant benefit from the shield balancing as well.

I added dual CRF2 to the mix and switch to all cannons (except for one slot for torp or DBB, otherwise I couldn't use my third tact ensign slot) and its taken my game to a whole new level.

I Changed it around a bit.

http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=mvamIMO_0

If you fell that it's not necessary (pretty colors!) i would not go for polarons. AP or phasers are better. Oh, and tranphasics suck, go with quantums instead (or i guess a photon could work but i prefer quantums, along with most.) .

The change i did to boff slots is just a though, what i would run. You can go with what you like i guess.

I removed the spec in shockwave... its not needed you still get the full stun (what matters).

Also, with the changes i did you have some extra point you can pout where you'd like!
Again, not telling you what to do, just what i would do.. Now if I'm worth listening too that's up to you to decide.