Science Mage
Josh
Build Overview and Focus
This character has taken a number of different turns on his ground build evolution, mostly starting from a kit-based mage perspective and eventually settling on a mix of temporal and cold-based build. Having both is a nod to some heavy infantry units from the Command & Conquer series, because just cold was not working out. However, around the time I began fleshing out his build and doing ground research, I realized that there was room for two unique support builds and one of them would need a science captain. Since he's my only science captain at present, he got the nod for an alternate support loadout.
I fully acknowledge that this (nor any of my ground builds, really) are not the optimal choices. As a theme, "cold" is okay. It's not as good as lightning, but it's certainly usable. It got better once I added a temporal-themed module or two. I'm still hitting around top 100 in BHE, but I'll provide some recommendations about what's more optimal.
Character Info
Yet another human character with a 2409 start. Since he flies more Temporal ships, my headcanon is that he leans more into the Temporal agent side of things, but that won't really come into play on this build.
Thematic Choices
Cold and time-themed build
1 healing kit module
Temporal Defense Polaron Dual Pistols as primary weapon I needed a Polaron damage character for the endeavor
Meta Analysis
BHE: 3.0K. As of the posting, this was top 100 on BHE
Budget Analysis
There's nothing particularly difficult to acquire that's essential.
1 Winter Event Kit, 1 Winter Event Kit module
1 Summer Event kit module
1 Mudd's Store device
1 Lockbox kit
4 Lockbox ground traits
2 non-standard doffs
Change History
December 2023: Replaced armor and secondary weapons to retain set bonus while getting a stronger armor
July 2023: Posted build
Build Breakdown
Heavy focus on kit-based abilities. Weapon damage is fairly low, has some thematic considerations and an ally-heal.
Skills
Skill Unlocks
Notes
The meta skill layout would be to skip Shield Capacity, Endurance, and Armor in favor of Improved Weapon Damage, Weapon Criticals, and Weapon Penetration. I just think ground on higher difficulties requires a bit more survivability than that and haven't felt the need to change it.
Build
Personal Equipment
Notes
If fighting Borg or Elachi, I keep a Mk XV TR-116B in inventory to swap out the pistols with.
If I fully wanted to embrace the cold, either the Breen pistol (but the 2-piece is not great), or the Nukara Cryo Full Auto Rifle are options.
The Elachi Combat Walker is easily replaced and not essential at all.
There are better Tribbles out there, or a Gambling Device.
Kit Modules
Notes:
Nanite Health Monitor is an option as well for a heal. I prefer the low cooldown of Medical Tricorder
Typical rotation is Tricorder Scan -> Anti-Time -> Paradox Bomb -> Endothermic -> Andorian Summer -> Cold Fusion Flash
Could replace Paradox Bomb with Gravitational Juncture
The meta kit modules are probably picking from this pool:
Universal: Ball Lightning, Ba'ul Obelisk Network, Gravity Containment Unit, Mudd's Time Device, Chain Conduit Capacitor, Kuumarke Drones, V'ger Probes,
Tac: Trajectory Bending, Graviton Spike, Motivation, Chroniton Micro-Torpedo Spread, Battle Strategies
Eng: Anchor of Gre'thor, Explosive Drone, Chroniton Mines
Sci: Cold Fusion Flash, Exothermic Induction Field, Andorian Summer
If you want to do that on every character, be my guest.
Set Bonuses
Meta-Focused Tweaks:
See above
Budget Tweaks:
The Elachi Walker can be replaced by literally anything to reduce cost. It was free for me.
Traits
Personal Traits
Meta-Focused Tweaks:
Could swap Adaptive Offense for Terran Vision or maybe Serenity.
Budget Tweaks:
Most ground stuff tends to be pretty cheap. Tricorder Analysis could be swapped for something else if you were trying to save on ground costs.
Reputation Traits
Active Reputation
Duty Officers
Meta-Focused Tweaks:
Probably using all 6 doffs for ground would be a start, but I'm not doing that.
Budget Tweaks:
If low budget
The Assault Squad Officers are expensive. I would consider an EMH for more Hypos, or perhaps a Doctor for additional heal on Medical Tricorder.
Miscellaneous
Ground Stats
Parse Breakdown
Numbers from record Bug Hunt Elite (BHE).
Cold Fusion Flash: 719.3
Endothermic Induction Field: 535 - depending on your ability priority/rotation, Endothermic, Cold Fusion Flash, and Andorian Summer all can do over 500 DPS
Anti-Time Entanglement Field: 459
Andorian Summer: 442
Polaron Dual Pistols: 409
Danube Runabout: 287
Paradox Bomb: 100
Polar Blast: 23
Imminent Decay: 14
Lt. VanDerveer: 9
Temporal Reubke: 3
The Piezo-Electric Perimeter Snare misfired this fun, can usually expect about 100 DPS from it.