U.S.S. Lydia Litvyak

Notes

• All weapon-centric builds benefit from the tactical ultimate, as weapon haste and bonus weapon damage from the Focused Frenzy active are appreciable when used on big targets. Applying the bonus to your team is also appreciated. I do not find the cooldown boost from Frenzied Reactions to be needed on a build with a good cooldown scheme.

• Engineering skills

  • Taking two Hull Capacity helps survivability and boosts Tyler's Duality as well. A point in Hull Restoration is useful for helping heals

  • I always take a single point in Hull Plating, but other resistance skills and Damage Control are not worth it. Likewise, 2 points in Impulse Expertise is an appreciable boost to maneuverability. Warp Core Potential and especially Warp Core Efficiency help boost power to subsystems. Efficiency is particularly good at adding power to subsystems I am not allocating much power to.

  • Improved EPS Power Transfer is essential for recovering power while firing energy weapons. 

• Science skills

  • Single points in Shield Restoration/Shield Capacity are low opportunity cost for relatively high survivability gains. Since I need skill points elsewhere, only 1 here for those. 

  • A single point in Shield Regeneration has surprisingly large impact on shield regeneration based on recent research by Jay

  • Since this character uses either Overwhelm Emitters, the Bajor Core, or Tetryon weapons on various builds, all of which scale with Drain Expertise, I take both points in DrainX. Two points in Control Expertise powers the Fragment of AI Trait on builds that use it on this toon. 

  • All energy builds should take maximum points in Long Range Targeting Sensors. 

  • The rest of the science skills are of little value on this build and are completely skippable. 

• Tactical skills

  • Energy Weapon Training, Hull Penetration, Shield Penetration, Weapon Specialization, and Weapon Amplification are all worthwhile skills to take 3 points in as they boost energy weapon damage directly. Since I do have a torpedo and it does decent damage, 2 points in Projectile Weapon Training is a good choice. 

  • I like taking 2 points apiece in accuracy and defense. Defense is a small contribution to avoiding incoming damage but also helps reduce enemy crits when you're not moving and accuracy is just good all around, if not a stat that you'll need tons of. 

  • Coordination Protocols, Defense Coordination and Offensive Coordination are good team boosts so I always take those. They also benefit hangar pets on builds that have those. Improved Tactical Readiness is essential for reducing tactical cooldowns along with the rest of the cooldown scheme. 

• Unlocks

  • There are two crucial unlocks: battery expertise (improves duration of consumable batteries) and threat control which either increases or decreases threat based on threatening stance. 

This ship is a classic energy + 1 torpedo set up. It has absolutely zero investment into exotic damage, so I am not skilled at all into those.

Intel/Strategist is the best-in-slot choice for non-tank Energy builds. Intel provides substantial damage through flanking and Intel Fleet. Strategist likewise adds damage through Logistical Support, Maneuver Warfare, and Show of Force, as well as some damage reduction through Layered Defenses. 

Notes

If you have access to the Pahvan Omni, that would displace the Gamma Turret. It acts as a cannon under Scatter Volley. 

Notes:

If you T6-X2 the ship, the Antares Distress Protocol would be a good slot. Alternately, Subspace Field Modulator if you don't have access to it. 

Notes: 

There are enough Phaser pieces on this build that it's pretty well bound to Phaser type. I do not recommend trying alternate types. 

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

• With more budget, you could certainly consider better consoles like Approaching Agony or Immolating Phaser Lance. Custom Power Matrix and DOMINO are strong slots if you have them from events. The more actives you add, the more the value of the Subspace Fracture Tunneling Field from the Vovin gains. 

Budget Tweaks:

• This build is pretty cheap, but if you had to drop something, Hull Image Refractors could be a Zero Point Energy Conduit. 

Meta Notes

• You could run Unconventional Systems on this if you were so inclined, but you'd want more active consoles on here, like DOMINO, Adaptive Emergency Systems, Flagship Computer, Krenim Chronophage, etc.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

• For survivability, Whole Lotta X's is much better than Bulkhead Technician. Replacing Innocuous with Intelligence Agent Attache is a strong power increase. Replacing Operative with Breen Shield Tunneling or Context Is for Kings would be another good increase.  

Budget Tweaks:

• I don't know that you can get much cheaper without severely impacting the build. Dropping Boimler Effect for Accurate is a serious downgrade.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

• Picking up another trait via T6-X2 at this price point would lead me to Superior Command Frequency. Other options at the C-store level include Strike From Shadows and Heart of Sol. Superior Area Denial with a pet featuring Pulse Cannons like To'Duj Fighter Squadrons or Valors would be another strong but expensive option.

Budget Tweaks:

•  These are pretty cheap and generally draw from ships where we can leverage multiple parts. Pilfered Power could be Improved Unconventional Tactics. 

Miscellaneous

Pretty standard Boimler Effect + Photonic Officer setup. Note that you really need Boimler Effect to counteract Reroute From Life Support, which is not modeled in the tool.  

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