There are some real handy universal consoles out there and I was playing for a while before I knew half of them even existed so here's a few details on what I think are the lesser known but extremely useful (in certain circumstances) ones:



[Plasmonic Leech]
Steals Target Power
to target: -1 All Power Settings for 15 sec per activation for 15 secs
to self: +1 All Power Settings for 15 sec per activation for 15 secs
Handy for sapping and taking the edge off of hard hitting baddies and slightly counteracting the power drain if your using beam overpower.


[Alpha Deception Field]
Fake your Death: Become Untargetable, Rooted, and Disabled for 5 seconds.
Creates a lvl 12 Lure
While Lure is active (max 30 sec):
+200% Turn Rate
+200% Flight Speed
+6,975 Stealth
All Powers Disabled Until Lure Detonates
Activate power a second time to force Detonation at will.
Upon detonation:
to self: All Cooldown Timers Reset
to foe: 367.3 Tetryon Damage per sec and Hold for 5 sec
Probably the most overpowered console in the game at the minute in my opinion (until they nerf it), especially handy for pvp but you'll only get away with it once  :lol:


[Isometric Charge]
Chained Electrical Damage
180' targeting arc
3,031 Electrical Damage (17 DPS) to 1st target
6,061 Electrical Damage to 2nd target in chain
10,102 Electrical Damage to 3rd target in chain
15,153 Electrical Damage to 4th target in chain
Handy against groups of small attack craft like Jem Attack Ships and Bird-of-Preys.


[Spatial Charge Launcher]
Deploy Spatial Charges
Launches a Spatial Charge at a nearby target once every 3 seconds, up to 5 times. Spatial Charges will fly towards the target's location, rather than tracking the target.
Each Spatial Charge explodes in a 1km radius after reaching its target.
10,910 Kinetic Damage (50% Shield Penatration;Damage reduces from epicenter) per Spatial Charge
I love this console, does massive damage against static or slow moving targets, especially good against borg cubes in stf's.


[Point Defense System]
Automatically Attacks Nearby Enemies
181.8 Phaser/Disruptor Damage x4 per sec for 10 sec (divided among all available targets)
(3x damage to Frigates)
(10x damage to small crafts)
+25 Bonus Accuracy
Only attainable by buying the Heavy Escort Refit from the Z-store (1000 zen) but can be used on any ship.
Real handy when your being swarmed by fighters, leeches, boarding parties or those big nasty targetable projectiles that's, let's face it, killed all of us at least once or twice!


[Photonic Displacer]
+4,875 Stealth
-20 Weapon Power Setting
-20 Shield Power Setting
-20 Engine Power Setting
Creates a photonic displacement of your ship for up to 15 seconds.
Only attainable by buying the Science Vessel Refit from the Z-store (750 zen) but can be used on any ship.
Real handy for getting you out of the sh*t! Creates a duplicate of your ship that takes the heat and cloaks you for long enough to scoot and is about as close to a battle cloak you can get as a fed.


All apart from the two stated can be got off the exchange for a reasonable price (except the plasmonic leech which is, or was when I bought it, uber expensive!).   

This is by no means a comprehensive list and are only useful in my opinion so feel free to add any others to the thread that you think are noteworthy.

I'm sure everyone is working on getting their destroyers if they don't already have it. Figured I would start a thread on possible setups for it. Obviously with the non removable proton cannons, the optimal setup will revolve around Dyson reputation weapons, but are there any other ideas for it?


please voice your thoughts on the subject. With so many people getting them, I'm sure everyone would benefit.

http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showth...p?t=263974


I found this gem which I found to be useful. I just want everyone to keep in mind that what he is saying is beam boats do more aoe DPS with fire at will than a cannon build. Cannons still do better single target with quad cannons able to strip away shields and destroy the enemy in as little as 2 volleys. Disruptors are currently my favorite pick as they increase the damage of your whole team. Phasers are second as they can randomly disable shields for a short time but also something less useful.

the hilbert guide...


this is a great guide to character and ship builds focusing on elite PvE and PvP. I hope this is helpful to those new to the game or to PvE. If you ever have any questions about your build, be it skills or gear, just ask.

a basic how to... on strategies for stf's, both space and ground. These are pretty standard ways to play stf's. *most* people even in pubs run these strats or close. Playing an stf "in order" does help in achieving the optional objectives.

http://skillplanner.stoacademy.com/?build=current_5896


Still have to get on to double check some of my modifiers, but this is what im currently using.
I know i need to respec skills, didnt know exactly what i was doing when i put points in as it was my first character

I am not space-rich, and I don't much care for that dilithium-sink of an "upgrade" system. That being said, this build seems to work just fine for me.


There's some advice here for how to maximize your ground DPS. Some of it is expensive or unrealistic (like building a new character from scratch just to get the desired race); most of it is tailored toward Tactical captains. The second reply in this thread is the source for much of my current ground build, even though I'm an engineer.

This link is tailored for engineers. I only just found this, and will explore it further when I'm not at the office.

Last night, I tested my new ground build on Nukara Prime, running all of the missions (interior and exterior). Previously, I would get my butt handed to me whenever I tried anything harder than the "easy" missions, but last night I solo-ed the exterior "medium" missions twice in a row without incident. The interior-medium missions are another story-- eventually the Tholian lieutenants and their sticky spider webs became overwhelming; I need new tactics for this. Here is my build:


Kit: (Xindi, found it on the exchange; bought it because of the slots, more than the mods) -

• Shield Recharge
  
• Chroniton Mine Barrier
  
• Seeker Drone
  
• Quantum Mortar
  
• Beam Turret
  

Personal Shield: Omega Force Personal Shield Mk XII

Armor: Advanced Fleet Recoil Compensating Armor [crtd] [hp] [resall]x2 OR Solanae Marksman Environmental Suit
I should get the Solanae Striker Suit the next time I play through "Step Between Stars"

Weapon1: Omega Force Antiproton Autocarbine Mk XII

Weapon2: TR-116B Mk XII [dmg] [shpen]x4

Devices:

• Medium Hypospray x100 (so I don't have to visit a starbase constantly)
  
• Gambling Device (very nice, but not necessarily required)
  
• Nukara Tribble (really just to get that extra mark every hour)
  

I really need to get the frosted boots during the next winter event.

DOFFs:

• Armory Officer -- moar turret spam
  
• EMH Mk I -- There is always a medical emergency whose nature needs to be stated.
  
• That Ferengi dude from "Time in a Bottle"-- War is good for business.
  

Notes:
I really don't like pulsewave weapons because of their damage fall-off over distance, which means enemies get too close for comfort. I don't like most sniper rifles because their rate-of-fire sucks.

"Commando" specialization tree: OH HELLZ YEAH! Crouching while facing an attacking enemy greatly reduces, if not completely ignores, incoming damage! The mine that deploys whenever I do the "Kirk roll" is of dubious benefit. Being able to knock over enemies just by sprinting up to them is especially hilarious on Defera, where Borg are crowded together.

On killing groups of Borg: Mines, mortar, orbital bombardment.

The Quantum Mortar takes some getting-used-to, but once you've got it figured out, it's magical. When planted out of the enemies' line-of-sight, combined with planting mines nearby to prevent the enemy from finding it, I don't even need to fire my main weapon. On other occasions, I can place the mortar, target a group of enemies with "Orbital Bombardment" (optional), run up to them and knock them over in melee, place mines to knock them over again, and if the bombardment and mines didn't kill them, then the mortar finishes them off.

With the summer event being right around the corner - the corner being Thursday, June 4 - there has been a  request by some new players for info on the summer event - so here it is!


First of all, the event is being held on Risa, the land of jamaharon and horgahns. Risa is located in the Risa Sector of Beta Quadrant. Once you've arrived at Risa, you'll need to move close to the planet in order to trigger the invitation to 'come on down'!

You'll have two options: Classic Beach, for those of you who want to do nothing except sit on the beach, or the Summer Resort. The Summer Resort is where all the cool kids hang out, so join us there!

When you beam down, you'll land on the transporter pad - which you can see right behind Admiral Kethca.



Because you are a member of the fleet, all of your housing needs have been taken care of - so there's no need to wade through the long lines at the hotel check in - you can get right to what's really important: getting out of that darned uniform.

Behind Kethca and to YOUR left you can see a second platform - and that's where we're going next. It's time for some vacation clothes!

Mom

Tablets and Smartphones look like STO PADDS, now I can use mine that way while at the Academy. I made it last night from a cheat sheet for Commander Viala's history questions.


As we see in all these consoles in TNG, DS9, VOY Episodes where the officers just frantically hit buttons with numbers to make things happen, I avoided useful labels on the buttons, of course:

The PADD was fed with Cdr. V's customized exam edition, showing alternate Q & A's in low light to ask mean unrelated follow-ups to stress cadets... (actually the cheat sheet used lists some questions in wrong chapters, the alternate above or below should match that asked in the game)

In an attempt to prepare for the next dil mining weekend – whenever that is - I've been doing a LOT of what I call the “Romulus Run” - the daily ground missions on New Romulus. I'll do other ground missions in the future - but if you have tips, feel free to post them.


This is what I've learned:

Staging area: - 4 minutes, 45 seconds

I've tried playing on one side of the map or the other, trying to determine if there is one side that is better than the other. There isn't, as far as I can tell. No single area respawns targets fast enough to justify staying in one location, though maintenance on the shuttle pad often respawns so frequently that you don't have to leave very often, as does maintenance on the anti-grav lifts (near the bridge/Atlai side of the map). This doesn't happen every time, though, so if you don't get a second respawn by the time you've done all the maintenance, move on.
The key for a fast run seems to be in picking up reports – or not picking them up – and in the number of players in the instance. The more players in the instance, the more effective picking up reports is; the fewer players, then reports will slow you down.
The break point seems to be around 25 players. Above his number, pick up the reports and turn them in quickly to the overseer. (They won't respawn until you turn them in – but make sure to get all three before turning them in for a better reward.) In doing so, I averaged 4 minutes and 45 seconds to reach 100% (with 2-3 trips to the overseer each time.) Not picking up the reports adds 30 seconds to one minute to the run time.
Below 25 players, skip the reports. You'll get about the same time (4' 45'' versus 5' 15'' for picking up reports.)
HOWEVER: the number of players in the instance will determine the time needed: more than 35 and you're all competing for the same resources, and 10 or fewer and you don't get many respawns. Both add 30 seconds to on minute to run time.
Therefore, to maximize your efficiency in the Staging Area, opt for an instance with around 20-30 players: above 25, get the reports and turn them in quickly; below 25, skip the reports.
And do pick up the rocks and plants (if you know where they are); it only takes a few seconds, and you can stockpile them for turning in later on Romulus.
Note: When you do "Investigate Suspicious" DON'T engage them, regardless of the response. You will still get the points, but you won't lose the time needed to defeat them.

Atlai, Hwael, etc to follow.

Mom

Another dil mining weekend is upon us! Yay!


To help you maximize your efforts, please find below a list of some - but not all - of the better projects to maximize your return on investment (of time).

In order of biggest bang for your buck (most dil, least time)

Preferred mining claims (10k dil for 1 minute of mining)*

Dyson Ground Battlezone (10-20k/hour depending on dinos - keep your frosted boots on hand!) Do pick up daily missions from Commander Arnold fro additional dil!)
Solanae Space / Undine (12k/hour)


Nukara
Easy Mission: 540 dil plus Nukara marks
Medium missions: 900 dil plus Nukara marks
Pick up all four missions and run them concurrently: about 10-12 minutes = 2880 dil
Easy doesn't have a cool down – you can reacquire immediately. Medium has a 15 minute cool down from time of acquisition. You can get 12k dil/hour here, so it rivals BZ. A bit boring though!
(Don't do zone wide mission for dil – time consuming for the small amount you receive)

New Romulus Ground missions 720/mission
Staging area, Atlai and Paehoes can be run in about 3-5 minutes
Hwael averages 7 minutes,
Vastam, Warehouse, Underground Ruins, and Caves run 10-12 minutes: I skip these and stick to the first three.
(Atlai: stay near the southern edge - more nanovs, insects and water samples there; Paehoes, collect 45 plant samples on the hill directly behind the main tent. Monotonous - but it's 3 minutes to complete.)
Note: mission time does not include time to get from one location to the next, and this does affect your efficiency.

Foundry missions: Variable, but for short missions (Fed: Sword of Kuvah Magh, KDF may have a fast equivalent, but I haven't found it) Approx 2600 dil for 15 minutes if it's the first spotlight mission of the day for you. Pick up mission "Investigate Officer Reports" for additional 960 dil. This mission has a 30 minute cd from time of acquisition - so it will be in cd about the time you're done with mission.

Nimbus: 3 ground missions at approx 480/mission (varies with your success on the desert monster missions - up to 680 di) and if you do one of the option missions that appears every 10 minutes or so. Total dil averages 1600 for 10 minutes. Frosted boots are your friends.

Defera Space missions: 1440 dil for the Aiding the Deferi mission ( three missions). If you go in equipped with a big ship and lots of beams, you'll kill this in 20 minutes or less.
Defera: Emancipation: 480, 5 minutes for a fast ground fight.
Defera: Free the prisoners: 480, but can take time since you first have to find the Breen patrol, then there are screens you have to click through, and it will cost you 1000 gpl. Also is buggy: I usually skip this.
Max: 2400 dil/30 minutes

Defera ground:
Easy: 240 dil + marks
Medium: 336 + marks
Hard: 480 + marks
Easy and medium are time sinks: Take all four hard missions, grab a fleet team, and you'll be out in 15 minutes with 1920 dil, (Note: City has been bugged lately)

Things to consider: most missions have 20 hour cool down from time of acquisition. To overcome this, you can pick up the mission the day before the weekend starts, then run the mission, turn it in and immediately reacquire it and run it again. This eliminates having to travel to and from. (A few, like the Beasts mission on Nimbus are 20 hours from when you turn the mission IN - so you can't run it twice in a row - but you can run the other two missions.)

Travel time can be used to trade in marks, however, so it's not always time lost.

Please feel free to list your favorite dil sites as well as tips

Bad news: turning in Tier 5 reputation no longer gets the big dil boost - sob!, same for turning in reputation marks, borg implants, etc.

The good news is that means you can spend more time in the battlezone!