>>>
>>>Or you can ask here!
>>
>>I got the impression he was asking about discussion re: how the
>>mechanics work rather than what build is best, but I could be wrong.
>
>Bit of both - the structure of the wiki is such that its good for
>small picture (you have a torp, this is what affects it) but not the
>large picture (don't use an escort as a torpedo boat, don't run
>rainbow).
>
>But also, other then extensive forum diving there's little to direct
>you towards accepted approaches (e.g. armed with just the name Aux2Bat
>I was able to google up a basic understanding.)

Nice. It's worth mentioning that if you can spare small amounts of time over a couple of weeks to run through the B'Tran Colonisation chain, and then run the bonus mission at the end for long enough to grab 3 purple Technicians, you have unlocked the most overpowered build in the game. Throw it onto a cruiser and you'll be laughing.

>>Tetryon is fun but is not all that and a bag of chips. Tetryon's
>>special trick is extra damage to shields, on a 2.5% random chance
>>basis.
>
>The other big advantage of tetryons AIR is that you can get them from
>Fleet for comparatively easy?

As I mentioned above, the big advantage right now is that the Exchange is FLOODED with them, so you can get a set cheaply.

>>>If you get
>>>the Assimilated Console, replace one of your rear turrets with the
>>>Borg cutting beam and maybe lose your torpedo. Or don't, and run the
>>>2-piece Borg AND Dyson sets.
>>
>>... assuming of course that you feel like grinding for months to get
>>the rep and dilithium necessary for those expensive bits.
>
>Ket, my sci, had 250 Omega marks when I logged in so I've been idly
>doing the rep advancement and was rather surprised when I yet to rank
>1 today and saw the mark-prices for things.

It's expensive, but you'll earn a fair bit of dil from doing STFs (better still, Elite STFs) and the upcoming (or recently-patched-in) new Mirror event.

It's also generally not worth buying equipment aside from the universal consoles/cutting beam/grav torpedo until you can access Mk XII versions. Stick with your Mk XII Solenae set until then :)

>Tangentially are any of the rep-passives bad or will "get the
>prettiest" work?

Particularly for an escort, go offensive all the time. Remember, the best form of defence is to kill things quickly.

>>>Science consoles:
>
>Erisa currently has both point-defense consoles slotted here.
>
>>I drop turrets, because I like freem. I also pack shield batteries.
>
>What could possibly go wrong with turrets?

Turrets are fine, I just never use them. Point defence is (again) pretty good, but I'd really investigate some of the console reward packs available in the Exchange. For a couple of hundred thousand ECs, you can get stuff the other faction has to pay Zen for.

>>>Hanger bay: A tricky one. First, know that the basic (blue) hanger
>>>ships are kind of useless. <snip>
>
>I seem to have Advanced Deltas slotted.

Should be fine! I'm currently running Advanced Voth Heavies and they seem pretty great.

Also, just be aware that your fighters will probably die a lot in Sphere content - the Voth are bastards with AOE.

>And that is my bus - more
>bus - more thoughts later...

Feel free to shoot back with questions, etc. I think there are a few different play styles at work here and honestly whatever works for you is great.