Simple build for Free to players!

[N a v y 3 0 0 1]

(Because someone reported my other post as "adverstiement" even though it isn't, since you can see the guides right there on steam and the report system is auto madic, here is the guide!)


Now, first thing first! hit U, then at the top of the UI of that window, look for Reputations, should look like this.

https://imgur.com/Hinksre


Now, there are a LOT of reputations, also known as Reps. Only one we need to focus on for this build, is the Discovery rep, pointed out here.

https://imgur.com/a/esmW5z5


The discovery rep is the key to it all. Not only does it allows you to get pretty good consoles for your ship, but, you can get tactical ones that boost a weapon type! Example, you can have a tactical console that boost beam damage, cannon damage, or even torpedo damage! And, there are two types.

https://imgur.com/LkwOlWD

The difference between the two, are the bonus they have. The first one, Pax, has where it increases your hull, the other one, Bellum, increases your Critical hit chance. This is the key for damage.

You also have consoles for engineering, and science. You may choose which every you want, but make sure they have the critical Hit Chance on them!

The 2nd thing you need, are two space gear items. The Deflector, and the engines.

https://imgur.com/a/Zjfh2rT

With 2 pieces of this set, it will give your ship 150% more hull regen!


The last piece, though may take a while, so feel free to use the Discovery shield while you wait, is to get this shield!


https://imgur.com/LKb4Ic4


Believe it or not,the Regenerative Crystal Shields are very very good. I was able to use this in a shield build, where the borg could not even drain them!

And that's pretty much it! This is the build I tell all my friends, and I use my self on alts, it works very well!

If you want more damage as well, make sure you pick up 2 Beam Overloads for your bridge officers! While it is active, it does 150% more damage if I recall right!

[cap-boulanger]

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

In addition, the Fleet Colony's Intervention Protomatter Deflector is huge and should not be overlooked.

[That Crazy Squirrel]

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

They're only a good option if whatever fleet you're in doesn't bother to do more than one holding per two week period which gets instantly filled and you don't get any chances to contribute in order to get the 50k fleet credits you need for EACH of those consoles.

[N a v y 3 0 0 1]

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

In addition, the Fleet Colony's Intervention Protomatter Deflector is huge and should not be overlooked.

I looked at the numbers, its more or less a 5 - 10% increase.

This build is for new players, who are not in fleets.

[That Crazy Squirrel]

Originally posted by Navy3001:

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

In addition, the Fleet Colony's Intervention Protomatter Deflector is huge and should not be overlooked.

I looked at the numbers, its more or less a 5 - 10% increase.

This build is for new players, who are not in fleets.

That usually don't last long, there's a couple of fleets under the same "banner" so to speak that keeps spamming invites to everyone on sight (and out of sight in some cases).

[davejbaker]

Joining a big, well run fleet would be a good move then :-)
I'm in one, which I won't advertise here as that would raise a bit of a suspicion as to my motives - but if I were in an underwhelming fleet I'd exit and try another, until I got fed up or found a good one. Fleet gear is good stuff, and provided you get the opportunity to contribute to the holdings (ie plenty going on) and don't splurge on everything for the sake of it there's no reason to find fleet credits a difficulty.

[cap-boulanger]

Originally posted by Navy3001:

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

In addition, the Fleet Colony's Intervention Protomatter Deflector is huge and should not be overlooked.

I looked at the numbers, its more or less a 5 - 10% increase.

This build is for new players, who are not in fleets.

Most people are in a fleet before they reach level 65.

Being a "free" player has no impact on fleet membership and wasn't mentioned as a carve-out in your original post.

Plus, unlocking a reputation to the level necessary to get all the items you mentioned... also takes weeks.

Originally posted by Orgunis:

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

The Pax/Bellum tactical consoles are basically handicapped though, because they only come in the beam/cannon weapon-style consoles, which are statistically inferior to the energy-type-specific consoles.... and the Bellum bonus is identical to the bonus on Fleet Vulnerability Locator consoles, which DO come in the energy-type-specific types.

They're only a good option if whatever fleet you're in doesn't bother to do more than one holding per two week period which gets instantly filled and you don't get any chances to contribute in order to get the 50k fleet credits you need for EACH of those consoles.

Remember though that you can donate to other fleets in your armada, too.

If your fleet is not being actively managed, and/or won't unlock store access, and/or is not in an armada that is being actively managed, then you're in a bad fleet.

[That Crazy Squirrel]

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

Originally posted by Navy3001:

I looked at the numbers, its more or less a 5 - 10% increase.

This build is for new players, who are not in fleets.

Most people are in a fleet before they reach level 65.

Being a "free" player has no impact on fleet membership and wasn't mentioned as a carve-out in your original post.

Plus, unlocking a reputation to the level necessary to get all the items you mentioned... also takes weeks.

Originally posted by Orgunis:

They're only a good option if whatever fleet you're in doesn't bother to do more than one holding per two week period which gets instantly filled and you don't get any chances to contribute in order to get the 50k fleet credits you need for EACH of those consoles.

Remember though that you can donate to other fleets in your armada, too.

If your fleet is not being actively managed, and/or won't unlock store access, and/or is not in an armada that is being actively managed, then you're in a bad fleet.

I figured that one out when I noticed the lack of a shipyard.
I'd try to change but I figure good fleets won't invite anyone anyway.

[davejbaker]

Well I wasn't going to advertise, but it's not about waiting to be invited - for example 44th fleet work by you applying to join, rather than the existing members inviting you to join. If you go to the 44th fleet website at https://startrek.44thfleet.com/ and click the join tab the process will be explained. Basically you just tell them who you are, and after a short wait you'll get sorted. 44th has several fleets for fed and one for KDF, after joining you get put into the newest fed fleet and there are plenty of projects for all the holdings all the time - shipyard and starbase for the latest (Temporal Vanguard) 44th fleet are just at level 3, the rest of the holdings are at level 1 and 2 - if you need fleet gear from a higher level holding, such as the locators from a level 3 Spire you just get someone on fleet chat to temporarily move you to a more established fleet (eg 44th Alpha, 44th Beta etc) and do your shopping, then get transferred back to the newby fleet. Works well. I am sure other fleets out there are doing a good job also.
dave

[cap-boulanger]

Originally posted by Orgunis:

Originally posted by cap-boulanger:

Most people are in a fleet before they reach level 65.

Being a "free" player has no impact on fleet membership and wasn't mentioned as a carve-out in your original post.

Plus, unlocking a reputation to the level necessary to get all the items you mentioned... also takes weeks.



Remember though that you can donate to other fleets in your armada, too.

If your fleet is not being actively managed, and/or won't unlock store access, and/or is not in an armada that is being actively managed, then you're in a bad fleet.

I figured that one out when I noticed the lack of a shipyard.
I'd try to change but I figure good fleets won't invite anyone anyway.

Not true at all.

I'm the co-leader of a rather quiet, but maxed out fleet in a still-developing armada (we have 2 maxed out fleets and the rest, except maybe one, are still being actively managed/developed).

We don't actively recruit, but I can get you in if you'd like to mail me in-game (so I have your proper character names and @ ) ... mine is Audrey@westmetals.

[cap-boulanger]

Originally posted by davejbaker:

Well I wasn't going to advertise, but it's not about waiting to be invited - for example 44th fleet work by you applying to join, rather than the existing members inviting you to join. If you go to the 44th fleet website at https://startrek.44thfleet.com/ and click the join tab the process will be explained. Basically you just tell them who you are, and after a short wait you'll get sorted. 44th has several fleets for fed and one for KDF, after joining you get put into the newest fed fleet and there are plenty of projects for all the holdings all the time - shipyard and starbase for the latest (Temporal Vanguard) 44th fleet are just at level 3, the rest of the holdings are at level 1 and 2 - if you need fleet gear from a higher level holding, such as the locators from a level 3 Spire you just get someone on fleet chat to temporarily move you to a more established fleet (eg 44th Alpha, 44th Beta etc) and do your shopping, then get transferred back to the newby fleet. Works well. I am sure other fleets out there are doing a good job also.
dave

Also just to note... excepting ships and a few of the vendor items, in many cases changing fleets isn't necessary - you can shop as a map-invite guest; it uses the host fleet's level for vendor unlocks, but your own fleet for permission and provisions.

As long as your own fleet allows you to shop and is up to at least Tier 1 on the appropriate holding (because they need that to generate provisions).

[SeaDog]

Look up "sto budget builds" on youtube. There are many more "must have" consoles and weapons that you can get from missions and reputation that are energy type specific. Counteryolo has some very complete videos that go over every energy type and are excellent for beginning builds.

[N a v y 3 0 0 1]

Originally posted by SeaDog:

Look up "sto budget builds" on youtube. There are many more "must have" consoles and weapons that you can get from missions and reputation that are energy type specific. Counteryolo has some very complete videos that go over every energy type and are excellent for beginning builds.

While thoes videos are great, this is for a template starter build!

[SeaDog]

Originally posted by Navy3001:

Originally posted by SeaDog:

Look up "sto budget builds" on youtube. There are many more "must have" consoles and weapons that you can get from missions and reputation that are energy type specific. Counteryolo has some very complete videos that go over every energy type and are excellent for beginning builds.

While thoes videos are great, this is for a template starter build!

I disagree. Reputation gear is NOT starter gear. You need to be level 50 before you can even start the reputation grind and will have to complete many advanced TFOs to get the reputation marks you need for the gear. While leveling you should be working on missions that provide good console, weapon and space sets. Budget builds show you what gear to get along with the missions that give it free. By the time you are at level 60 you should have an energy-specific build with all the free mission gear to go with the reputation gear you are working on.