The Admiral’s Log: My Journey Through ‘Star Trek Online’ – Part XXXVI

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Finding the Right Starship

‘You treat her like a lady. And she’ll always bring you home.’
– Admiral Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy

There are a great many reasons as to why Star Trek Online is such a magnificent game to play. For the stories are powerful and engrossing, the combat is a blast to take part in and of course, by signing up you’re taking part in a universe/franchise that’s captivated so many for over fifty years. But, while all of those reasons are awesome and important, there’s one last element of this game that makes it an utter blast to play, and that’s the user’s ability to get their hands on whatever starship they wish to fly, allowing for nerdy dreams to come true when the player gets to take their new Galaxy Glass vessel out for a spin, or the player gets the chance to instill fear into the hearts of their enemies when they take command of a ship that can lay waste to entire fleets with the mere press of a button. 
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But, let’s be honest, the number of starships present in this game can be a bit daunting at times because there are so many to choose from. In fact, it doesn’t matter which faction you chose, there are six tiers of ships with multiple variants to take out into the galaxy so really, which is the best one to choose in order to make your spacefaring experience worthwhile? Well unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a solid answer for that because every ship has its strengths and its weaknesses. Instead, I think it’s best we look at some key features that will help you succeed in this game, based upon what you’re looking to accomplish when you log on. Because everyone has their own idea of what they want out of STO, and for some, that involves becoming a true master of interstellar combat.

Which in that case, you’re going to want a starship that is quick and nimble, but also powerful which means there are a few key elements to look out for. First and foremost, it needs to have solid weapons capabilities, so the more slots available to load up your beams and torpedoes of choice is a good thing, because that helps to make the ship a predator in its own right. But at the same time, it also needs to have solid speed and handling, so look for a ship that boasts a wonderful turn rate and can handle a strong impulse engine. But most importantly, look for one that also features a strong hull. Which isn’t always easy when you’re looking at lighter ships, but there are faster vessels out there that can take a beating when their shields go down and that’s supremely helpful in the heat of combat.

However, if you’re not concerned about quick strike capability and you want an alien species to stare at your ship with their jaw on the deck, fleet starships and capital ships in the higher tiers are the ones that are worth your while. Because these monsters can handle all kinds of punishment thanks to their massive hull rating, and they have plenty of weapons to boot, they’re just slow and methodical in combat and that’s not a bad thing either since there’s something to be said about being able to just fire at will and monitor the battle from afar. But personally, I’m a big fan of ships that offer balance and that’s why I’ve stuck with the Odyssey Class for so long. Because while it might not be the fastest ship in the fleet, it’s quick enough to make a difference in combat, and its weapons systems will still punish lighter class vessels as they try to pull an end around on me and most importantly, they take quite a beating.

But in the end, while it is important to pick a ship that meets your combat needs, one cannot forget that the big key to this game is having as much fun as possible. So, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like to fly a Defiant Class starship and test her mettle in combat, do it, why not? Or if you’re like me and always wanted to fly the ships you’ve seen in the various shows, then enjoy the wonder of the Constitution Class, for there’s no shame in geeking out. The bottom line is, just do a little studying when it comes to ship stats and abilities, because that allows for you to make an informed decision on what ships will offer you precisely what you want and trust me, you’ll know when you’ve found the right one because everything feels fluid when that perfect ship arrives, and last but certainly not least, always be sure to follow the late Admiral McCoy’s advice when the time comes to take that shiny new vessel out for a spin. 

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