U.S.S. Viviane

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 and Exotic Builds

The tactical ultimate does basically nothing for the majority of the damage on this build. However this is a skill tree that is still designed to run things like the Inquiry and Verity, so I do still have this. A more optimized tree would look something like EPHs tree he uses on exotics. The core skill selections are still there.

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

As of right now I'm not amazing at getting much out of the mines on this ship. I mostly just let them go and do their thing, relocating them to big targets to build up stacks of Resonating Payload Modification. It is worth mentioning these are currently broken as Resonating can break the 5 max stack limit with mines. This has been the case for years (basically since the traits were released). I don't enjoy taking advantage of these but considering they've been in the game for several years now I think its fair game to use them here.

An interesting thing that could also be considered is the lobi pairing to the Delphic torp, the Dual Overcharged Delphic Antiproton Beam Bank. This would fill the set bonus on the delphic torp for the 2pc which grants +1.25% CrtH and +12.5% CrtD. Is this worth it compared to the 25% CrtD from the Lorca 2pc....I'm not sure. However it would also get around the issue where the Wide Angle Dual Beam bank is currently incorrectly applying a +20% bonus all damage (from the ramping proc; its listed as only granting to the beam but is in fact applying to everything).

For those without the Hysperian or Terran Sommerville, look to here for some alternatives and rankings.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

With some of my saved (read hoarded) stuff finally selling last year I saw a plethora of extra EC I could throw at some wishlist items. Namely for this build the Maquis Raider for the Plasma storm module. I have avoided thinking about this in the past due to the visual of the console however with the introduction of VERTIGO that particular downside has faded and finally made me pull the trigger on picking this up. This only leaves the potential of the last bit in the Interphase Quantum Distributor, however at this time I think this would be more of a slide grade than a necessary pickup (and I don't want to open boxes for EC just for that).

Budget Tweaks:

This ship is incredibly expensive. As such there is a multitude of budget oriented options to take.

• More Particle Focusers - I use 2, you can use more if you have empty science slots. I used 3 before the plasma storm got picked up so just fill any extra science slots you can with these, they are very good.

• Hull Image Refractors - While this ship doesn't have much in the way of heals, a passive +20% damage isn't bad!

• If you are struggling to get some Aux power the Temporal Disentanglement Suite can help, and also offer some CrtH/CrtD along the way.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

I did pick up a Delayed Overload Cascade 3, I must say I was unimpressed. Either the power triggered later than I wanted it too and did nothing, or it flung stuff into the aether and ruined runs. I have been tempted to use it on this build since it has a lower control rating than the Annorax but my experience there taught me that something more consistent would be better than something more spiky for day to day use. This is a meta pick and would probably give more damage however my personal performance improved when not using it so...take that as you will.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

Obviously building on an engineer was "my first mistake"...I just like the engineering playstyle (also EPS power transfer is really good). I have thought about using Intelligence Agent Attaché on this to get that power back faster, but it would have to displace something here. In the future if I solve the Aux power problem I mentioned in my skill tree I might be able to remove EPS Manifold Efficiency. Tactical Captains as always get A good day to die with science captains having Conservation of Energy. Additionally, since this is an engineer it might be interesting to use EPS Overload as the primary subsystem is aux power so this would also grant +20% CrtD.

Budget Tweaks:

Despite being one of the first people to tackle exotic math way back when the S12 and S13 changes, I am a rather dunce when it comes to the total build space. Exotics Basics might be the best place to start.

Bug notes:

As it stands, Feel the Weight of Our Presence and Resonating Payload Modification both have broken interactions with mines. For the sake of transparency I will explain on them here.

FEEL THE WEIGHT OF OUR PRESENCE: Despite explicitly listing mines as not counting for the stacking -0.5, they do. This means that I can routinely apply anywhere from -20 to -25 to targets by myself in any engagement

RESONATING PAYLOAD MODIFICATION: I suspect largely due to how mines work that these are counting as seperate entities to the player (also would explain FTWOOP) and therefore are applying stacks to targets independent of the stack counter of the player. This can cause it to exceed the 5 max stack per person limit very easy.

Feel the weight is better left to running on a support, but it can be run on the primary DPS captain.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

Of the ones not listed, Kick them When Their Down is probably the best one to put in here, displacing...something, maybe Exotic Modulation. This grants up to 25% CrtH vs Exotic Modulations +20% Cat2. However with Universal Designs I'm not overly capped on CrtH...I also don't have the trait to slot there instead. By the Book makes its debut appearance on my builds, it's an interesting (not bad or good, just interesting) change to playing compared to energy builds where you use abilities as soon as off cooldown. Definitely something to learn how to do better.

Budget Tweaks:

Again, a bit of a dunce on this knowledge base. Some that I know off hand:

• Improved Critical Systems - requires 2 EPtX copies to get the full benefit but most science ships tend to have a Lt. Eng or greater seat. 

• Unconventional tactics - +% bonus damage on using brace for impact.

• yeah, there's not much here that's on a pure budget. There's a few C-store ones that poke around in my head like Checkmate, Electrified Anomalies, Strike From Shadows, and Emitter Synergy all come to mind. Exotic Modulation also serves very little use on this ship since it has no temporal powers and I would be hard pressed to want to run Directed Energy Modulation on it.

If you have the Augur, you can sub in Temporal Investigator as needed. It's not a good enough trait to subvert the meta but it's interesting enough on this build to warrent consideration in the budget space.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

In an ideal world I would shell out and get myself a 32 of 47 Liberated Borg Duty officer for Exotic Damage increase and 20% CrtD, but its again hardly needed. I have been using the 31 of 47 here with good enough results

Budget Tweaks:

Most of these are really easy to get. Sub in Projectile weapon officer for cooldowns or whatever suits your fancy if you don't want the +CrtD/CrtH ones.

 The most direct build this can port too is the Dranuur Science Vessel, which can be seen here as EPHs build.

Other ships worth mentioning:

• Augur and its Fleet version: Lots of forced tactical seating

• Sh'val Temporal Science Spearhead: Lacks the 3rd Lt.C Science power and has a forced Lt.C Tactical seat

• Edoulg Sphere Builder Science Vessel: Another forced Lt.C Science, but also has intel powers on the engineering seat.

• D'var Temporal Science Vessel: Lowers to a forced Lt. Tactical, upgrading to a Lt. Eng/Intel seal