The following commentary is meant as a guide to a basic set-up for normal gameplay. It is assumed that one is familiar with the basic controls, etc. outlined in the manual and the on-line references at the STO web site.
Space Gameplay
Once you are commissioned to "captain" a starship at the beginning rank of Ensign you are sent to Earth Dock to collect, outfit, name and modify your vessel. Admiral Quinn grants you the ship. The Shipyard is where the outfitting, etc. is done. As you progress, the upper floor of the Shipyard will be used to access subsequent ships and ship equipment which are earned by rank:
Ensign-Leutenant = Tier 1 Vessel that can mount any equipment and weapons.
Lt. Commander = Tier 2 Vessel where you must select between Cruiser, Escort or Science Classes (Hint: most players seem choose the firepower of the Escort Class whcih exclusively mounts Cannons over Level IV). Up to this point, any class can mount cannon weapons.
Commander = Tier 3 Vessel of the types selected above.
Captain = Tier 4 Vessel
Admiral = Tier 5 Vessel
Outfitting the Ship
Ships are requisitioned from Starfleet and come fully equipped to complete your missions. You can and will add to the kit including the following items:
- Weapons - a must since nearly all of your ship missions will entail fighting.
- Shields - a necessary part of surviving a conflict. You generally choose between lower and higher capacity shields. Lower ones generally recharge very quickly; higher capacity shields generally have lower rates of recharging.
- Deflector Dish - this is used for detection, electronic countermeasures and tractor beams.
- Impulse Engine - includes power ratings and manouverability.
- Consoles - each ship has at least one console of each basic type (Tactical, Engineering and Science). As you progress, higher tier ships have more consoles of each type depending on ship class. This equipment influences and affects the performance of the above equipment systems.
- Consummables - these are items that you can purchase, create (at a crafting station) or loot that directly benefit an equipment system. They offer a temporary boost to power generation and include:
- Auxiliary Batteries
- Weapon Batteries
- Shield Batteries and
- Engine Batteries
HINT: Start with basic weapons and upgrade with drops as soon as you can. Try to stay with one weapon type (phaser, disruptor, etc.) because you will be able to improve your skills with them much easier if you are dealing with a single energy type. Try to strike a balance between high recharge rate for shields and shield capacity. It does depend on your space combat style. In general, it is always better to select greater capacity shields because with skills, energy balancing and batteries, you can always supplement the recharge rate. Engines come with difference enhancements, but you can never go wrong with a faster rate of turning. Top speed doesn't matter so much in STO. Likewise, Deflector Dishes can feature all levels of enhancements, but the ones that provide the ability to jam an enemy's weapons are helpful.
As for the Consoles, there are many choices. Tactical consoles enhance different weapons. Use ones that improve the weapons you use most (energy weapons over mines and torpedoes). Engineering consoles also enhance a variety of equipment. Those that benefit power generation are especially helpful. Lastly, the consummables have different strategies. Mostly the Engine Batteries are not as useful. Shield and Auxiliary Batteries are the most useful. The Auxiliary Batteries are most helpful when used with skills that transfer power from auxiliary to another system (shields, weapons, etc.).
Combat Tips
Set energy output for maximum weapons ("X" icon to the right of the shield strength indicator). This sets your weapons for maximum damage and faster kills. If you are in a battle with multiple enemies and your shields are taking a beating, change the setting for shield generation ("D" icon). Keep in mind it takes some time (about 15 seconds) for the effects to be realized. Escort ships and weapons perform better at this setting. Cruisers perform well too, but against multiple hard targets, the "D" setting can greatly improve one's survivability. Science ships lack the damage dealing potential of Escorts and Cruisers, relying more on buffs and debuffs, so the "D" setting is probably better.
Since most of your combats will be face-to-face, put your strongest energy weapons up front. At lower tiers, it is more important to maximize your ability to drop an enemy's shields and beam weapons have higher DPS than kinetic weapons (torpedos and mines). Basic space combat is comprised of using your beam weapons to drop a shield and expose the hull. Then torpedos and mines are used to deliver kinetic damage to the hull. It is not necessary to use kinetic weapons to damage hulls. Beam weapons can do an adequate job; it's just that a well placed torpedo does far more immediate damage.
Basic Attack Strategies
All weapons have a 10 km. range. Use your Full Impulse power until you are about 11-12 km. in range, then drop back to manouvering engines to bring yourself just into range to maximize your time on target. Using all beam weapons, fore and aft. Place Arrays in all locations and attack target from an angle where all weapons can fire (analogous to a broadside attack). This is used more by Cruisers and Science ships.
Place cannons in front, try dual heavy cannons, but remember that your attack arc is 45 degrees so the target must remain directly in front of you. Using manouvering to keep the target in range (reverse engines, stop, manouvering skills). You can place an array in the rear weapon location to attack when the cannons are out of range (arc). This is used more by Escorts. Against slower targets, it is possible to stay on an enemy's "six" and pound away at it. Like you, the enemy can only bring a limited number of weapons against you at that location.
Place a torpedo launcher in the aft mount to attack as you turn away from a target. In this way you can expose a target's hull with forward firing beam weapons, then turn away to deliver a punishing torpedo atack on the exposed hull. Also you can attack and kill an enemy that stays in your "six", such as fighters.
Use the "Spider Web" attack where you continually drop mines and lead a target into the mine field. Although mines deliver little damage to shields alone, many mines can add up to high damage to shields. Note that mines have a lifespan before they self-destruct, but there is usually plenty of time to create a large minefield with faster recyling types (photon e.g.). Mines can also be used defensively. Some enemy torpedos can become confused and target mines instead of your ship. Also, an exploding mine can detonate an incoming torpedo or an enemy mine. Mines are another tool to effectively eliminate enemies on your "six". Mines can be dropped at any time so you may actually use your Full Impulse engines to close on a target and drop mines close, then cruise past to engage them with beam weapons.
Notice the placement of asteroids that can be used as shields from which to launch attacks or screen out attacks from other enemy ships. Note that STO will frequently have NPC ships lodge in asteroids where they can be easily dispatched or may not be targeted at all until they free themselves.
When attacking groups always reduce the size of the group by first eliminating the weaker targets before attacking the largest ships. This will dramatically reduce the number of weapons that attack you and increase your survivability. Note that the best drops come generally from the largest ships. If possible, use skills that affect a target's ability to attack you, first on the larger enemies, then switch to attack and eliminate the weaker ones.
Don't forget that you are fighting in three dimensions. Targets above and below you can be attacked but the shield you attack is not necessarily as specific as if you approach from a side. Your ship will attempt to strike the weakest and most prominent facing shield, but you cannot rely on the AI for consistency.