U.S.S. Rtas 'Vadum

Notes

Jayiie's Skill tree has been optimized to be used on as many build types as possible. As such there are some questions that naturally arise when talking about it. I will try to capture these discussions as succinctly as possible here.

Tactical ultimate

The Tactical Ultimate is still taken. Because of the skill investment for energy weapons in the skill tree, this only takes a small amount of investment. Even with the intent of going full min-max, if everyone takes the coordination protocols this is comparable to getting a Mk12 damage console which effects everything, as well as a hull plating node. These are worthwhile investements, and given how flexible Jayiies skill tree is designed to be very good at covering multiple roles such as support, tanks, and energy kinetic and exotic dps builds.

Hull Restoration vs Hull Capacity

This is very simple, while also not. Given the choice between a Improved Hull Capacity (+25.5%) and Hull restoration (+25%) against Advanced Hull capacity (+30%), I personally prefer to take the former, splitting the point difference. Since my character is an engineer, this 25% Hull restoration actually has some very useful applications through Miraculous repairs.

As well by taking some extra points into engineering, this has allowed me to take the 10th Engineering Unlock skill which adds +10 Hull Capacity, which is comparable to the +15 taken from the last point of Hull restoration. Due to how the skill works this is a +3.3% Max Hull vs 4.95% Max Hull buff respectively.

EPG vs Control Amplification, DrainX and CtrlX

This time around I've opted to put more points into CtrlX and EPG while taking Control Amplification, and instead dropping points from DrainX. If this wasn't on an engineering captain I wouldn't consider this a loss. However both Nadion Inversion and Intrusive Energy Redirection both scale with DrainX and are innate captain abilities, thus wanting for the skill.

Aux Power

Optimizing to hit 130 Aux power has been challenging. To do this I required Defensive Subsystem turning for the +4.8 Power to Aux. Combining this with the passive on most science ships as well as the Neutronic Eddies has allowed 130 to be hit passively. This has then allowed me to drop EPS Manifold Efficiency freeing up a 10th starship trait. On other builds this has the effect of allowing more aux power for more damage / better scaling on various powers.

Shield Regeneration

This is still a tank first skill tree. Shield regeneration is statically anomaly and adds a huge amount to shield regen in just the first point (more Information on shields can be found here). As such, I have taken the single point. with the most recent tree revision I've opted to spec out of DrainX and Drain Infection for that last point in EPG. Should you want to not take shield regeneration I would suggest the next DrainX point.

Starship Weapons

Notes

Introduced with the Angel's Wake Lockbox, Ba'ul Weapons offer in place of antiproton weapons inherent 20% Critical Severity a reflection mechanic that deals 5% of the dealt damage. When combined with the Linked Sentry Set 2 piece, these weapons gain an additional reflection as well as increasing the reflection damage from 5% to 10%.

Additionally, Ba'ul reflections are unlike other reflection procs, such as the Refracting Tetryon weapon effect. Ba'ul carries with it other on hit procs and status afflictions. This includes:

• Kemocite Laced Weapons (when triggers on source triggers on reflections)

• Suppression Barrage

• Entropic Rider, and by extension Atrophied Defenses, from temporal specialization (if you run it)

• Radiant Detonation Matrix reputation trait

• Energy Refrequencer reputation trait

Notes

I have downgraded emergency power to weapons to only rank 2 to pick up CF3. This just helps make the pets do that much better, as well as improves the delphic torp. I would much rather run EPtW3 and CF2 but I don't want to be that guy in TFOs and override some torpers CF3.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

There isn't much to change here in terms of utility. Obviously if playing on a tactical or science captain EPS manifold Efficiency isn't available. As such these would be best swapped to A Good Day to Die (not confusing at all there's a starship trait, mission, and personal trait with the same name) for tactical captains and potential something like Bio-tech Patch or Conservation of Energy for science captains.

Budget Tweaks:

For budget players who want to save some EC, there's a few standard traits that could be used:

• Bulkhead Technician - Innate trait - this provides +10% Maximum Hull capacity and can be used as a stand in for durability consoles

• Living Hull - Episode Reward from "Surface Tension" - +15% hull regen in combat is equivalent to 3 stacks of repair crews

• Redacted Armor Plating - Episode Reward from “The Renegade's Regret” - +30 all DRR when hit from behind or sides

• Regenerative Control Synergy - Episode Reward from “Of Signs and Portents” - Grants +45% hull regen when using a control power for 10 seconds

• Give Your All - Engineering RnD level 15 - grants a dodge (flat 20% reduction)

That all said, not much here is available to buff pets. That's just part of the cost of running a Carrier.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

Scramble Fighters is the go to carrier trait after SAD or CA when people talk about carriers. Direct replacement I've used in the past has been

Budget Tweaks:

All things considered, most of the traits here are pickups from the ships that had the consoles. It's pretty good value there. Hydra Console + Trait, Support Carriers Console + Trait. Super Charged is viable for replacement. Great than the Sum is a pretty good essential to have also for Exotics with Genesis Seed. 

Miscellaneous

This is a tricky one. Carriers are a pretty long held standard of ship that have only recently enjoyed some attention from mechanic focused players like myself. As such I think there's a fair amount of potential not explored inside the genre. I'll list some other carriers I might enjoy flying in the future, but not necessarily ones that can do a 1:1 portability as there are very few with Command Primary specialization.

Flight Deck Carriers

• Voth Rampart Command Flight Deck Carrier - It has one of the few setups which allow it to run both Needs of the Many and Align Shield Frequencies which are the two BOff powers which triggers the trait from the Friendship, Cooperation is the Dominant Strategy. This is probably the most 1:1 ship you can transfer this build too.

• D7 Miracle Worker Flight Deck Carrier - Improves over the Voth by being 5/3. Also has Command and MW, as well as Ruin of Our Enemies, and an additional console slot for another Hangar power Craft Transmission Console.

• Herald Quas Flight Deck Carrier - I have one of these from when they came out, they are very fun to fly.

• Cardassian Ghemor Intel Flight Deck Carrier - This has a Commander Intel Seat, which I've not explored as a ship much.

• Durgath Temporal Heavy Dreadnought Battlecruiser - I know these are not really FDCs, but they might as well be. These three (Durgath, Universe, and Valkis) are all 4/4, dual hangar bay ships with a +power aura innate, which is very good for pet buffing.

Dreadnought Carriers

• Xindi-Aquatic Briostrys Dreadnought Carrier - This is a visually pretty ship, and gets a commander Tactical with Lt.C intel and Lt. Command. I have the T5 version and its really quite nimble for a dreadnought carrier.

• Terran Acheron Dreadnought Carrier - This is probably a super awesome carrier or support platform. Having access to Magee frigates also means it can get more APB3s out.

• Herald Vonph - This gets a Lt.C Command and a Lt. Intel, which means you can also grab CF3. (I also have one of these too)

• Sarcophagus Dreadnought Carrier - I have one of these. Also has Miracle Worker and Command combo

• Hur'q Vedcrid Hive Dreadnought Carrier - The other Command Primary Carrier

Full Carriers

• Jem'Hadar Vanguard Support Carrier - These are all the same, but the Jem'Hadar gets the vanguard partner ships. At this time I don't know if they get affected by pet and summonable effects.

• Fleet Hiawatha Command Carrier - Full command carrier, but only has 3/3 Weapon layout. Makes a fantastic support ship.