Hunting Gorn: A Beginners Guide to The Best Setup for Gorn Battles In Space (Starting from Level 10)

[Ricco]

...okay, so I'm the beginner. This is a story, created by the demented mind of one Captain Ricco. He is a ficticious Federation Playa ... I mean player and therefore not based in any reality whatsoever (much like my brain). Therefore, please take the following "testing results" with a grain of salt. This story will be updated frequently.


@@@@@ Latest update: July 7, 2015 9:33 AM (Eastern) @@@@@

I'm spending the money to do the research so you don't have to. It's my destiny to post the following information, based on my first-hand research using each weapon available on the Exchange. I am using the Watran System Patrol mission to test all the following weapons.

There is no use in fighting me, or trying to distract my goal here, and that is to have an easy accessable place to store my research findings, so that when I start over once again, I will be much better prepared to have an enjoyable journey through the stars. :)

Shields:
Resilient, Regenerative, and Covariant,

Shield Array (Dis)

I found the best shield to use to fight the Gorn in this mission, for Lieutenant Commander level, is the regular Shield Array with (Dis). It's the Dis part that's important. The Gorn use Photon Torpedos and Disruptors. The Dis gives you extra protection against Distruptor fire. This works for the Vishap Frigates. I will present my findings on the other types of Gorn ships later.

The purpose of finding the best shield for a particular mission is so you can concentrate on more interesting items on the agenda; like targeting the enemy's shields, or weapons, or both, and then the engines just to give the commander of the enemy ship a stress attack and save the trouble of destroying such a nice ship. :) --By the way, if you haven't already bought manuals for training your bridge officers (especially the Tac. officer) on their abilities, you won't be able to have as much fun with your enemy. It will be all button mashing and no sitting back just laughing at your enemy while you casually eat away at his shields and hull, whilst admiring the scenery, and you won't be able to enjoy the sweet feeling of victory, instead of it being just another notch on your phaser bank.

Look into it. It will make your job much easier if your shields are being resupplied automatically at the push of a button and won't have to worry about that side for at least 30 seconds as power is diverted automatically from the side not being hit to the side being attacked. And then the Engineering ability of Engineering Team I, which will repair the hull in record time.

The way to tell if you have a good shield is just to let the enemy shoot you for a while and if you get to red, next is the hull. A good shield will not get to red so soon. The disruptors of the Vishap Frigates in this mission will barely scratch the best shield, it's the torpedos that deal Kinetic damage (which can be countered by using the best armor and hull plating, which I will get to later, also I will get to deflectors later).


-------------Weapons-----------

Antiproton:

Beam Array

(Acc) (CrtH) - This combination I found to be weak and lacking any kind of punch. However, when used in force with the power of two, two beams are better than one. It's a better feel, and hits harder, but I still found this beam to be weak against the Gorn defenses.

(Acc) (CrtH) (Thrust) - It's the Thrust that gives this combination an extra punch, however still Antiproton seems like the wrong weapon to use. Again when multiplying by two the bite is harder.

(Acc) (Dmg)x2 - The x2 part really helps eat away the Gorn shields. I was thinking that this weapon with some other, more powerful cannon or turret might be just the right stuff.

(CrtD)x2 (Thrust) - This will be the last of the Antiproton beams and I will be back with my analysis. ---Here is my feeling about this one. It's actually a nice pice of weapory! It quickly eats away at the enemy shields, then eats away at the armor and plating like they were a slice of pepperoni and pineapple pizza.

Actually I have one more Antiproton on the list that I bought from the Exchange.

(CrtH)x2 (Thrust) - I will try this one seperately, then pair it with the CrtD and see what happens.

The result:
My testing was interrupted by the entrance of a level 60 (plus) ship, which I didn't get a look at because I was busy trying to find out if the weapon was any good, and he proceeded to use Heavy Plasma Cannons, Duel Plasma Banks, Rotating Shield Frequencies, and Heavy Torpedos. Mopped them up like they were nothing more than little frogs.

Then I left the mission so I could preserve the opportunity to continue to use the Watran as a training ground.

When I returned, I combined the (CrtD)x2 with (Thrust) and the (CrtH)x2 with (Thrust) and the two together were a match to reckon with. Both beams quickly munched up the shields and armor and plating of the Vishap Frigates and Tuatara Cruisers in no time. However, I still am convinced a different weapon will be better. So it's back to the inventory.


Disruptor:

Beam Array

(Acc)x2 and (Dmg)

--Alone this weapon is mildly useful. It will do the job, but I need to do it quickly. I wonder if I combine that Disruptor with the shield munching, Antiproton (CrtD) x2 (Thrust) will do.

I found out. It's a good affect, but still, I think more is better. I will try again with something else.


Turret

(CrtH)x2:

It seems to be a mildly acceptable weapon, however, I'm pretty sure Disruptor is not the right weapon to hit the Gorn as hard as I intend. I'll move on from Disruptor to the next.

But, before that, I noticed an Antiproton Dual Beam Bank (Acc) (CrtD)x2 I wish to try that I found in my inventory.

...so, I combined the Antiproton (CrtH)x2 (Thrust) with the Dual Beamers and found a new respect for Antiproton

In this mission (Watran), you start at the top of a starbase-looking station, facing the planet and a few large asteroids. Directly in front, and to the NE slightly, you will find a group of Vishap Frigates, however, if you dip down to the SW, there is a Zilant Battleship. The Antipro' duo cut through the big ship's shields in no time, and pierced the hull in record time. I will be interested in finding a beam combo that will be better. Anxiously hoping for it. :)


Phasers:

Phasers hurt them!

Beam Array

(Acc) (Dmg)

--Works great! I will pair this one with another Phaser and see the result.

Back wih some very great findings!

I rigged the ship with a Phaser Beam Array (CrtH) x2 and a Phaser Turret with (CrtH) x3

It was all I was searching for. A great way to cook Gorn in their ships so when I send the boarding party they can just bring back dinner :)

Hey, it's better than eating replicated food all the time.



Polaron:

Beam Array

(CrtD)x2 and (CrtH)x2 are a nice combo.

--I think it could be better. With a little help from some higher multipliers it might be a pretty weapon for girls to use :) Let me find out. I will report back in a few hours.

I experimented with several variations of Polaron Beams and Turrets, and found none singly that thrill me, however, when combined, a CrtD or H x2 maybe two Dual Beam Banks... I tried it and found that I liked the Polaron Beams. They did a nice job on Gorn shields and hull and in a quick fashion.

Next I must try Tetryon. I'm getting all excited to see some aqua blue rays of destructive light.

I'm gong to have to report on Tetryon later, I picked up a boatload of...

Plasmatic Biomatter Beams

Yes it sounds disgusting, but it is a pretty weak weapon against the Gorn Zilant Battleship. It has no shield eating power. Once through the shields, however, it eats through Gorn hull like cake. I'm going to go with another weapon if I had to make a choice.

I tried various combos with beams (CrtD and H) x2 (Dmg) and a (CrtH)x3
---nothing was very special except for the neat blue light.

Thankfully, I do have a choice... so many. Now I will try Tetryon.

Tetryon

Tried it and it's time to move on to Plasma now. The Tetryon beams were not very thrilling. I mean, they will get the job done, but very slowly. I'm on my way back to Watran at this minute with a boat load of Plasma beams :)

---I'm back from that adventure. The Plasma will get the job done, but not in the quick ninja fashion I intended.

It's now a toss-up between the Polaron and the Phasers. I'm going back two more times to settle the debate.

Leaving Watran.

It makes me feels sad to leave, but I did manage to work up a great setup for fighting some Gorn, works wells with the frigates, cruisers and battleship and doesn't let a little thing like acetone bring the shields down.

This setup rocks for level 10 and above for as far as I can tell. This is for fighting Gorn. The Undine setup will be different and the Orion as well and etc.

Here it is:

Fore Weapons:

Plasma Cannons -
#1 with (CrtD)x2 (Dmg)
#2 with (CrtD)x2 (CrtH)

Deflector:
Neutrino (Sens)

Shield:
Array (Dis)

Impulse Engines:
Combat

Aft Weapons:

None :)

Consoles:

Engineering: - Monotanium Alloy - Injector Assembly
Science: - (put in later)
Tactical: - (put in later)

That's it! Now it's off to find more Gorn to test this setup and find out if it holds up to the test of time. I will report soon on my findings.

The afore-mentioned setup works fine for the Nausicaans in Xleen, as well. Meanwhile, I have found more Gorn to fight, they are in the Ruben System. It's a nice quiet mission with only some Vishap Frigates and a Tuatara Cruiser. The Gorn setup lets me pick and choose my weapons (all with x2 associated with a CrtD or H, all others are pointless piles of circuits and had to be recycled), and take my time about it. I'm saving this mission for a rainy day when I'm in the mood for duck hunting ...I mean Gorn hunting :) Next, I will try to find more Gorn.

Here is a list of where to find Gorn (from level 9 and above, I must go back and start again to find the other Gorn missions in the earlier levels) --Also, this is a work in progress:

Watran
Ruben
Seedea
Veyga
Vor

The rest I will have to wait until level 16. Vor was the last patrol with Gorn in the Kitomer Sector, and the last for my level (15).

As to the earlier missions with Gorn, I will be starting a new character shortly, in the meantime, I'm keeping this Gorn thing going with the story missions involving Gorn. I am now at level 15, that means I can now craft my own stuff! I'm going to be dangerous to contain!

Well, I finished the Hide and Seek mission and there were Gorn. The following setup was perfect and also for the Klingon ships involved in this mission (a Qul'Dun and a Ravager Bird of Prey). All used Disruptors and I have pleny of protection for all the torpedos.

Anti Proton Beams in front and back with:
(Acc)x2 - My first homemade beam, and it works great!
(CrtH)x2 (Thrust)

Aft:
(Acc) (Dmg)x2
(Acc)x2 (CrtH) -My second homemade beam and I love it!

Deflector:
Neutrino (EM) (Sif)

Shields:
Array (Dis)

Consoles-

Engineering: Monotanium Aloy x 2

Science: Ionized Gas Sensor/Shield Emitter Amplifier.

Tactical: Phaser Relay ( a note it's only Mk II, I need an upgrade).

[Serious Dave]

Here are a few things:

PvP mods in general are poitnless since they really only work against other players (if they're not bugged and even work at all). So against NPCs it's literally like they aren't even present.

DMG is THE worst mod a weapon can have. It does boost your base damage but compared to CrtH, CrtD, Acc, Pen it's far less effective in a ongoing battle (it would blow your mind if you saw the numbers). It's no coincidence that all the record holders have ships full with CrtDx 3 or 4 weapons. Srsly that thing is avoided like the plague on endgame builds and for a reason I might add.

NPCs in general aren't weak against a specific energy type, it really just depends on how powerfull your attacks are and how much hp that specific ship you're fighting has.

As for the shields, it may be nice against gorn but the probelm is it literally does nothing against all non-disrutor users, which is the majority.
Just go for stuff that has general use like Cap, Reg, etc.
Endgame wise AP resistance does have it's worth since most strong enemies there use it, like Voth, Undine, Heralds/Iconians.

[Ricco]

Oh my gawd! Somehow I just new he would end his advice with a sharp sarcasm :) You are all missing my objective here. I'm only interested in fighting this one Vishap Frigate at Watran for this very moment. Antiproton is not my weapon of choice, only the first one I am testing. As for all the advice of Serious Dave, and N3MES1S, it's all meant to confuse and distract me from my mission. As I stated, your attempts at doing so will be met with ignorant bliss as I am forging on despite what anyone says or thinks about it. ...that is until someone like Grandmaster Yoda shows up again to kick me out! :)

[Ricco]

Now, now, it's all about freedom of speech here isn't it? Everyone should be allowed to express themselves in any way they feel that is appropriate to the rules of a civilized society. We are a civilized society aren't we?

[Ricco]

I will update the original post with my latest findings and comments.