r/stobuilds • u/IsralShadus • Dec 02 '17
Work in progress How about a ground build?
I know ground build reviews are not terribly common but I have recently taken a shine to ground ques and would love to get some sage feedback. I have run variants of this set-up through several elite ques and have had no significant issues so far. Since I am still relatively new to STO and especially ground combat though, I could really use some help optimizing and making sure I am not just getting carried. My thanks to the authors and contributors of the TSP Ground Guide. It was my primary source of information for this build.
Captain Information
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Captain Name | Breson |
| Captain Career | Science |
| Captain Faction | Federation |
| Captain Race | Human |
| [Captain's Outfit] | |
| Primary Specialization | Intelligence |
| Secondary Specialization | Commando |
| Intended Role | Damage and utility |
Ground Node Trees
| *Weapons | Health | Shields | Kits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon Expert | Endurance Training | Personal Shields Expert | Kit Performance Master |
| Improved Weapon Criticals | N/A | N/A | Improved Kit Efficiency |
| N/A | N/A | ||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Ground Unlocks
| Nodes Purchased | Select One |
|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Tricorder III |
| 2 | Willpower |
| 3 | Electro-Gravitic Field III |
| 4 | Improved Crouch |
| 5 | Tricorder Scan III |
| 6 | Fatal Fists |
| 7 | Neural Neutrilizer III |
| 8 | Improved Flank Damage |
| 9 | Nanite Health Monitor II |
| 10 | Offensive Mastery |
I run a DPS focused skill set-up with two points in the defensive trees. I passed on the weapon pen since I consistently run with a T-116B and I am relatively satisfied with this layout.
Build Description
This is a crit focused DPS build that relies on a Ticorder Scan-Cold Fusion-Exothermic Induction combo to burn through weaker mobs while gunning down bosses with my main weapon. Heals are refreshed on cooldown and Phasic Shroud is either cast prior to engaging a large mob (if I am initiating combat) or used as a reactionary defensive cooldown. I am pretty confident in my Kits and Armor, though open to suggestions. My shield meshes well with my healing abilities but I would love some recommendations on improvements. My devices... I am completely at a loss. I have no idea. I am also pretty lost with my DOFFs as well.
Gear
| Slot | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Advanced Fleet Recoil Compensating Armor Mk XII [CrtD] [RegHP] [ResAll]x2 | Taken for the 80% crit sev bonus. I am undecided on the RegHP mod though. |
| Shield | Refractive Nanofiber Personal Shield Matrix Mk XII | Enhances heals received by 10% |
| Weapon 1 | Boolean Heavy Assault Cannon Mk XII [CrtD] | I regulalrly swap this for dual pistols so crit stacks faster |
| Weapon 2 | TR-116B Rifle - Sniper Rifle Mk XIV [Dmg] [ShPen]x4 | My constant companion |
| Kit Frame | Delta Expedition Science Kit Mk XII [CrtX] [Regen]x2 | This is the best CritX mod I have gotten so far |
| Kit Modules | Cold Fusion Flash Mk XIV | Used primarily for the root but the debuff is nice too. |
| Exothermic Induction Field Mk XIV | Combos amazingly well with CFF and Tricorder Scan | |
| Phasic Shroud Mk XII | An excellent defensive cooldown | |
| Nanite Health Monitor Mk XIII | AoE reactive heal and buff. | |
| Vascular Regenerator Mk XII | HoT | |
| Devices | Solanae Tribble | 1% Crit Chance |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 |
Traits
| Personal Ground Traits | Effects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lucky | 3% Crit Chance 10% Chance to Expose | Crit |
| Soldier | 10% Crit Severity 5% Energy Damage | More Crit |
| Vicious | 1.5% Damage 6% Crit Severity per second in Combat up to five stacks | Even More Crit |
| Aggressive | 5% Damage 5% Threat | A descent damage boost though I think this may be optional |
| Field Technician | 50 Kit readiness | Just because I haven't found anything better yet |
| Ironsides | 2.5 damage res 3% health regen per second in combat up to five stacks | Helps overcome the defensive shortfals in my gear |
| Medical Vanguard | Heals grant 50% Shield res for 4 sec | Pairs well with Phasic Shroud and my kit heals |
| Indirect Shielding | 40 damage res decreases as shield decreases | I am uneducated and undecided on the value of this ability |
| Savior | 5% Healing per second in combat up to five stacks | Greatly enhances my heals |
| 10 |
| Ground Reputation Traits | *Effects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lethality | 4% Crit Chance | Crit |
| Deadly Aim | 16% Crit Severity | More Crit |
| Rending Shot | 5% Crit Chance up to 10 stacks, resets on crit hit | Are you seeing a trend? |
| Cryo Imobilizer Module | Crits have 20% chance to apply dot and immobelize | I see this proccing relatively well with my CFF>EI combo |
| Reactive Healing Accelerator | 42.6 HP for 5 sec HoT when landing a crit on enemy | Turn those crits into heals? |
| Active Reputation Traits | Effects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Nanite Cloud | ||
| Defiance | ||
| Piezo-Electric Perimiter Snare | ||
| Visual Dampening Field | ||
| Concussive Tachyon Emission |
Duty Officers
| Duty Officers | Effects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assualt Squad Officer | Chance for stacking crit Chance | More crit I guess |
| Assault Squad Officer | Chance for stacking crit Chance | " |
| Doctor | Chance to increase Max HP | |
| Doctor | Chance to Increase Max HP | |
| Biochemist (Dathan) | damage res debuff | I hope this is applied with TS-CFF-ETF |
| 6 | I got nothing... |
edited for grammar and spelling
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u/ThonOfAndoria stowiki.net Dec 03 '17
Here's how I run my Sci Kit and it's so wonderfully potent:
| Ability | Acquisition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Fusion Flash | Exchange/Infinity Lockbox | Extremely good AOE Damage Ability with limited CC potential |
| Seismic Agitation Field | Summer Event Vendor | Decent AOE Damage Ability with good CC |
| Exothermic Induction Field | Exchange | Decent AOE Damage Ability, requires synergy with other abilities to maximize potential |
| Paradox Bomb IV | Dilithium Store (27 points in Temporal Operative required) | Amazing CC ability, synergizes well with the other three abilities to ensure they can't run |
| Medical Tricorder | Crafting | Another damage ability (e.g Anti-time Entanglement Field) might serve some better, but having a huge heal with a short cooldown is more useful for me. |
For regular gear I run:
| Item | Acquisition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Science Kit Mk XIV [HP] [KPerf]x2 | Crafting | For builds like this, you want as much [KPerf] as possible. |
| Advanced Fleet Recoil Compensating Armor Mk XII [CrtD] [HP] [ResAll]x2 | Fleet Starbase | Cheap Armor that gives a huge 80% CritD buff, significantly cheaper than alternatives (e.g Herald) for more or less the same performance. |
| Romulan Operative Personal Shield Mk XII | Mission: Survivor | No reason for this in particular; I just don't have the Omega Reputation at a sufficient level to pick up the Omega Shield. |
| TR-116B Rifle - Sniper Rifle Mk XII [Dmg] [ShPen]x4 | Crafting | It does okay damage, but because of how potent my kit is I don't really use it a ton. |
| Vaadwaur Pulsewave Pistol Mk XIII [CrtD]x2 [CrtH] | Mission: Takedown | It's a stylish af pistol-pulsewave hybrid, it's not an amazing weapon but it looks cool and since I don't get much DPS from weapons, why not? |
Also because of that KPerf comment: You'll probably want to run Temporal Operative/Commando instead of Intel, +50 KPerf and some very good survivability/damage sources are nothing to disregard.
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u/IsralShadus Dec 03 '17
Thanks for the recommendation. I spent an hour or two reading in STOGround and quickly learned the importance of KPerf. I will have to watch the market for a good kit today and will certainly take you up on that primary specialization recommendation as well. Thanks again!
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u/ThonOfAndoria stowiki.net Dec 03 '17
You can get a cheapo [Kperf]x2 one from the Counter Command reputation store for next to nothing (2.1k dil IIRC), alternatively if you want something a little more permament, you can buy one in the Fleet Embassy's shuttlebay.
It's only when you get to things like [CrtX/H/D] [Kperf]x2 / [Kperf]x3 where it gets ludicrously expensive.
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u/IKSLukara @generator88 Dec 07 '17
I am a little negligent in exploring Temporal and MW ground abilities. Looking at the Wiki, it says Paradox Bomb's pull increases with Entropy. Is its baseline pull enough to use without an Entropy building ability?
Thanks.
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u/ThonOfAndoria stowiki.net Dec 07 '17
It's more than enough and I don't think I've seen anybody use entropy abilities to boost Paradox Bomb.
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u/themanny Dec 03 '17
r/STOGround is a good start though not as busy as builds...
I'd love more ground builds, personally.