Fleet Escort/Garumba STF:
Et2S1, Ep2A1, Aux2Sif
TT1x2, CSV1x2 OR CRF1x2 OR BFAW2x2, APO1x2, APBIII
HE TSS

EP2W is not ideal on the escort as you want that 125 to never fail. EP2E shouldn't increase your defense as you will be at or near max defense most of the time and when APO is running its at max, I see +92% on my tac. APBIII is the real damage dealer in STFs, you should never be without it (pvp is another mater). APB will slot perfectly inside the two APOs giving you 100% uptime on a large damage boost, partly removing the necessity of a higher level attack skill, and while overall damage is less when APO is up, its not significant given the number of times you are not dying. An engineer captain can tank a tac cube with this setup, a tac captain will need to run at times.

I don't like APD b/c it requires someone to be firing at you or your target, and it gives a resistance buff to hull only.

Using the Dragon Excelsior on my engineer, works like a charm ty!

I've recently also flown the Excelsior with my tactical set up like this:

Fore: 3x AP DBB MK XII , 1x Quantum MK XII
Aft: 4x AP Turret MK XII
Deflector: Maco Graviton Deflector Array MK XI
Engines: Assimilated Subtranswarp Engines
Shields: Maco Resilient Shield Array MK XI

Devices: Red Matter Capacitor, Subspace Field Modulator
Engineering Consoles: EPS Flow Regulator MK XI, Neutronium Alloy MK XI, Electroceramic Hull Plating MK XI, Assimilated Module
Science Consoles: 2x Field Generator MK XI
Tactical Consoles: 3x Antiproton Mag Regulator MK XI

BOFFs:
LtC Tac: TS1, APB1,BFAW3
Cmdr Eng: EptW1, EptS2, Rsp2, Aux2Sif3
Lt Eng: EptW1, EptS2
Ensign Eng: ET1
Lt Sci: HE1, TS2

DOFFs:
2x Projectile Weapons Officer
1x Evasive Conn Officer
1x Transporter Officer
1x Warp Core Engineer

Build is what I had with my escort and have on my KDF guramba pilot: http://www.stoacademy.com/tools/skil...ambakdfmuilo_0

Now obviously I only run this particular build in STF's, where it does quite well. I can turn fast enough to keep the DBB's bearing on most enemies and combined with the torpedoes it dishes out respectable damage (not as much as an escort, but hey its a cruiser). But, although the weapon power does go up to 125 (with EptW1 running) it dips lower than 90 sometimes. Is there anything I could tweak with the skill build or the ship equipment to make that power drop lesser? And if there's something else to tweak any help would be appreciated

I'm knew to all this, I'm trying to get something started on my Odyssey tac. I dont have all the equipment yet but am atleast trying to get my bridge crew trained up. the problem is I can't find EPTS3 or Aux to Structural Integrity Field 3 in the training list's. Any solutions to the problem?

ETPS3 is learned by Engineering captains. Pretty sure you can get some to train your Boffs in that. Aux3 comes from rare and very rare Boffs. If you dont get lucky and get one as you level you can find them on the exchange. Though I hear people can also train you in that as well but I don't know how to do that personally -_-

Are chaining the EptW's in a macro

Thanks, I'll ask someone in my fleet if they can do it, I'm trying EPTW1 x 2 and EPTS2 x 2 but have'nt had a chance to pu it to a test yet.

It has probably been mentioned in this thread already, but weapon power bonusses from skills does create a buffer against further weapon power drain. When at full weapon power, if I activate Emergency Power to Weapons, the drop isn't nearly as large as it is without EPtW. This is useful to know for those looking to increase their cruiser dps even further.

A little curious looking at all these builds here, and I see very little sci team, polarize hull, or APO. What do y'all do when you get tagged with a tractor beam, energy drain, or subnuc beam?

Ignore, tough it out, and cry respectively.

Sci Team and Hazard Emitters are important