Since I've been leveling like crazy, I did put the brakes on for my 30s. I just love my Defiant class ship and don't look forward to a "Defiant gap" in my 40s.

Since there is no retrofit (which I've been getting regularly since FTP started) should I just power through my 40s to get to my next Defiant ship? I am really NO where near having enough dilithium for a RA ship.

Between making DOff missions two to three times a day and doing episodes I think it will just fly by. Should I just make the dash or is there a huge benefit to having one of the current RA escorts?

I'm facing a similar choice when my Nausicaan is done with Captain, drive a Klingon ship between the Scourge Destroyer and Garumba Siege Destroyer, or just keep flying the Scourge?

Well, I haven't ground enough dilithium-for-c-points yet to get the Scourge yet, and the Vandal's fine for PVE at Captain level, so I'm going to do the same with the scourge. I'd perhaps get tier 5 escort for PVP, but for PVE a captain level ship ought to do fine.

Are you planning on getting the Tactical Escort Retrofit?

If so, just grab the RA escort and quickly get up to VA. Then get the Tactical Escort Retrofit.

That's what I did. The extra officer slot and aft weapon will be worth it in the short run.

But of course!

I don't have the dilithium, but if I get a ship token for hitting RA I'll get a ship. Otherwise I'll likely be through my 40s in about a week or so. Then onto the Avenger - B.

Just continue using your Sao Paulo through the 40's. You'll be able to upgrade your equipment, and I guarantee that even without the extra turret or BO, you'll do just fine.

Edit: I didn't realize that with the Sao Paulo you're only down one Level 3 tactical BO power, even better.

The same goes for the destroyer, just use the ship you've got through RA, it'll keep up.

The Fleet Escort is probably the most over looked ship in the game, when really its actually a very, very good choice.

More hull points, better crew slots set up and you can transfer everything over from your sao paulo and you get an addtional tac device slot to boot.

I only have about 17k dilithium. Will I get a free ship token on promotion, or is there another way to get a RA ship?

I think you'll get a token, but save the token in case you want to try something later. If you're leveling quickly at all you won't know a difference. I leveled my tac from 40-50 in a day using the sao paulo, after which I unlocked the defiant. I now have a free t5 ship I can redeem any time I want to. The fleet escort is a very nice ship indeed, but for the use you'll get out of it, it wouldn't be worth buying.

you will get a token even if you are silver i did