Avenger Class Battle Cruiser

[Spawnner]

Hello all,

After having a bit of time to give my newest ship a bit of a shakedown cruise, i feel the need to relay the preliminary telemetry data so others can benefit.

Test configuration 1:

Tetryon

Fore:
2x Dual cannons
1x Dual beam Array
1x Beam array
1x Quantum Torpedoes

Aft:
2x Beam Array
1x Quantum Torpedoes

Other notable equipment:
Cloaking device
Covariant shields mk x (CAP)3 (giving apx 9700 shield hit points per facing)

Since i decided to test with tetryon weapons, i did not re-purchase an entirely new set of gear, since i had all mk x or XI purple gear from before i switched to ANTI-PROTON gear.

I find this ship to be a good "bridge" between escort and cruiser. With 5 fore weapons, it definitely can pack a punch; especially since it can equip cannons. With it's larger-than-escort-but-slightly-smaller-than-cruiser warp core power potential,  i definitely recommend using high-capacity covariant shields.

The V.A.T.A. is quite a cool special attack, with a 2 minute cooldown it is useable several times in even a short fight.

While the Shield Frequency Modulation cruiser command is active, the V.A.T.A. will fire a pair Tachyon Armament Projectiles. These projectiles fire Tachyon beams at a nearby target every second that damage the target's shield facings. Upon impact, the Tachyon Armament Projectiles will detonate, dealing high kinetic damage and high shield damage in a 1.5 km radius. Foes affected by the blast will also have their shield hardness reduced for a short time.

While the Weapon System Efficiency cruiser command is active, or no cruiser commands are active, the V.A.T.A. will fire a pair of Quantum Armament Projectiles. These projectiles launch Micro Quantum Torpedoes at a nearby target every second. Upon impact, the Quantum Armament Projectiles will detonate, dealing very high kinetic damage. The Quantum Armament Projectiles and its Micro Torpedoes lack any secondary effects, but deal significantly more damage.

The cruiser commands are a very nice feature too. I personally only use the 2 listed above, especially since they offer the best bonuses and bonuses to V.A.T.A.  too.

Also, since i still had the cloaking device from my tactical escort retrofit, it made a GREAT addition to this ship.
Since you can completely charge you weapons while cloaked; i diverted all power to weapons, turned on the Weapon System Efficiency and uncloaked with a full alpha strike (devastating especially with TETRYON weapons armed to shred opponents' shields). Alternately you can do the same with Shield Frequency Modulation active, to make use of Tachyon Armament Projectiles, for further shield decimation.

The cloak is very handy, as you get a slight damage boost to your weapons for a few seconds after uncloaking, to further emphasize the punch that this ship can pack.

Test Configuration 2:

AntiProton

Fore:
2x Dual cannons
1x Dual beam Array
1x Beam array
1x Quantum Torpedoes

Aft:
2x Beam Array
1x Quantum Torpedoes

Other notable equipment:
Aegis Set


Shield capacity= apx. 9650 shield HP per facing

The test results for AP weapons are very similar to that for Tetryon, however i found it to be slightly less-effective for group action, but equal or better 1v1. AP has shield-ignoring properties built in that allow damage to be more readily directed to the opponents' hull, hence better for non-group combat, as TETRYON allows you to decimate the opponent's shields which is better for the group, as they then can more readily destroy the target.

No matter which weapon set you go with, i feel this ship will perform well.

It has the firepower of an escort, with higher shield capacities. Turn rate is somewhere in between escort and cruiser, leaning closer to cruiser.

It should also be noted that with the Aegis deflector ( or any high-end deflector that improves shield HP) i was able to reach over 10K Shield HP per facing with the coviariant shields from TEST CONFIG 1 equipped.

This ship is quite a powerful machine, and IMO worth the price, as it will make a valuable addition, even if you end up making it part of your fleet for when we are able to assign our BOFFs to command our "spare" ships in our fleet to be part of our personal ARMADA.

[Jureth]

I outfitted mine on my engineer with spiral wave disruptors and then 1 qunatum torp forward and 1 aft. I also transfered my cloaking device from my Galaxy-X. I like this ship but I might have taken a different approach to the hull design..I was glad to see they gave us a no fin option for the warp nacelles...I hate that fin.

[Spawnner]

My only disappointment is the lack of a 4 power (Commander LEvel) tac console. This forces me to give up my ATTACK PATTERN BETA and OMEGA, as i need the rapid fire cannons, high yield torps, and torp spread.

[Battle Lion]

My only disappointment is the lack of a 4 power (Commander LEvel) tac console. This forces me to give up my ATTACK PATTERN BETA and OMEGA, as i need the rapid fire cannons, high yield torps, and torp spread.

well, considering that its a cruiser, it kind of makes sense. everything has to have limits. Remember how OP viral matrix and RSP used to be in PvP?

I'm really liking the cruiser commands, gotta say. its about time something other than escorts got attention.

[Jack]

should throw some pics in there it is abeutiful ship

[Hera]

Ive been looking into getting a cruiser for DPS on my alt and I was told the Regent equals the Avenger in prerfomance.  Can anyone shed some light on that?

http://sto.gamepedia.com/Fleet_Assault_Cruiser

[Battle Lion]

EDIT:: The Regent is essentially the same thing as a FACR. see next post about regular avenger vs regent.
since we dont have tier 4 or 5 shipyard, if you want a FACR or FA, you need to join another fleet, get it, and then come back to LF.



Theyre both very similar. it looks as though it comes down to play style and preference. this will compare the fleet assault cruiser retrofit (FACR) and the FLEET avenger (FA)

if you are used to flying an escort, love dual cannons and are good at keeping things in your forward arcs, the avenger is for you.

if you are a seasoned cruiser pilot, and like just a tad more survivability over the avenger, then the FACR is the better choice.

they both have LTCmdr and Ens tac slots and a CMDR ENG slot with a universal LT slot.

the FACR forces you into a LT ENG slot, while the FA forces you into a LT sci slot.

since youre probably going to use the universal slot on the FACR for Sci, and the universal slot on the FA for Eng, it probably isnt going to matter in the end. but if you wanted all three specialties with the max focus on TAC powers, the Avenger is going to be a better choice.

both cruisers will do very well with an Aux 2 Batt build, which is the current cruiser DPS hotness build.

The FACR has 300 more crew, slightly more hull, and even though the shield modifiers are both 1.1, it looks like FACR edges out the FA on shields by a smidgen. i dont think you will notice a difference.

the FA has more intertia, and turn rate (9 vs 7) and can equip dual cannons, as well as the cloaking device...but you have to have one already from the GAL X or Defiant refit. it has 5 forward weapon slots and 3 aft, while the FACR has 4 and 4. this lets the FA have three sets of dual cannons, 3 turrets, and two torp launchers (for some nice set bonuses, omega, rom, etc, or a good old photon and a quantum). basically, anything within 90 degrees of the FA with that setup is going to have a bad time with 3 turrets, 2 torps, and 3 DCs pewing away.

both get +10 to weapons power, but FACR gets +5 to engines and aux, while FA gets +10 to engines.

The FA does not have the Attract fire cruiser command. since that is the least useful command, i doubt you will care.

TL;DR
cannons, more escorty? FA.
slightly more tankable/cruisery? FACR

[Battle Lion]

this will compare the assault cruiser refit (ACR) and the avenger


bridge officer loadouts are the same as the above post.

The ACR has 300 more crew, and 1500 more hull.

the avenger has more intertia, and turn rate (9 vs 7) and can equip dual cannons, as well as the cloaking device...but you have to have one already from the GAL X or Defiant refit.

power bonuses and weapon placements are the same as fleet variants posted above.

real differences start here.

ACR has 4 eng, 2 sci and 3 tac consoles, while avenger has 4 eng, 1 sci, and 4 tac consoles.

please see this post
http://sto.perfectworld.com/blog/?p=999581
for information about the VATA console that avenger comes with.

the ACR comes with the coveted wide angle quantum torp launcher. it has a 180 degree firing arc, but slightly less damage than a standard quantum. IMO its worth it on any cruiser except excelsior and avenger.
it also comes with a console; the Metreon Gas Canisters. This Console Mod allows you to vent the gas from your Bussard Collectors and ignite it at will. can only be equipped on assault cruisers.

original TL;DR stands,

if you more more of a escorty cruiser, get the avenger. it can do some serious damage with dual beams or dual cannons.

if you want more of a cruisery cruiser, get the regent. it can dish out some serious damage with its broadsides and wide angle torp.