T6 Sovereign

Last week finally saw the release of the much anticipated T6 Sovereign… spiritual descendant of the Big Double-E. As it turns out, the one that comes with the Attack Wing game miniature is but one of two variants – that’s a Command version officially named the “Vizier” class, while a C-Store Intel version is named the “Archon” class.

And predictably, this “exclusive” method of obtaining the Vizier class has caused another bit of an uproar among the player base, but what else is new?

It’s been widely reported that the Attack Wing Enterprise-E is sold out almost everywhere, hence making it difficult for STO players to grab the Vizier in-game, thus causing the commotion. Interestingly, I happened by a gaming store in the mall this past weekend, and found two of these on the shelf! I immediately grabbed one – lo and behold, it’s CAD$18! Considering the fact that it costs 3000 Zen/USD $30 for a C-Store ship, this is a bargain. For CAD$18 (which is around USD$13.50 at current exchange rate) you get a C-Store ship, AND a miniature you can hold in your greedy little mitts!

I have to admit, I love the sleek, streamlined design of the Sovereign. In fact, it’s arguably my favorite design of all the canon Trek hero ships. The T6 skin mostly stays true to the Sovereign’s origin – I especially like the big orange deflector – but my God, those nacelles! They remind me of the giant wheels on a monster truck. And just as inexplicable.

Yeah…. no. I’m sticking to the original Sovereign nacelles.

So I was holding this thing in my hands and waiting in line to pay for it, while my SO ogles this sexy nurse figurine in a zombie survival game. ::roll eyes:: What else is there to do but to check the Vizier’s stats on my phone? Turns out, it’s pretty standard Fed cruiser fare.

• Tier: 6
• Faction: Starfleet
• Rank Requirement: Vice Admiral (Level 50)
• Hull Strength: 44,850 at level 50 and 52,000 at level 60 (Fleet 57,200)
• Shield Modifier: 1 (Fleet 1.1)
• Fore Weapons: 4
• Aft Weapons: 4
• Device Slots: 4
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Ensign Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal/Command
• Console Modifications: 3 Tactical, 5 Engineering, 2 Science (Fleet +1 Tactical)
• Base Turn Rate: 7 degrees/second
• Impulse Modifier: 0.15
• Friction/Traction: 40
• +10 to Weapons, +5 to Shields, +5 to Auxiliary
• Console – Universal – Metreon Gas Warhead Launcher
• Starship Ability Package (Cruiser)
  • Absorptive Plating (+Kinetic and Physical Damage Resistance)
  • Rapid Repairs (+Regeneration)
  • Enhanced Plating (+Energy and Radiation Damage Resistance)
  • Armored Hull (+Max Hull Hit Points)
  • Vent Metreon Laced Plasma (Starship Trait — boosts Eject Warp Plasma)
• Cruiser Command Array
  • Command – Strategic Maneuvering
  • Command – Shield Frequency Modulation
  • Command – Weapon System Efficiency
  • Command – Attract Fire

Starfleet Assault Cruiser Technology Item Set

Items in set:

• Console – Universal – Metreon Gas Canisters
  • Found on the Assault Cruiser Refit
• Console – Universal – Incremental Phase Cloaking Device
  • Found on the Intel Assault Cruiser [T6]
• Console – Universal – Metreon Gas Warhead Launcher
  • Found on the Command Assault Cruiser [T6]

Set Bonuses

• 2pc: Assault Cruiser Versatility
  • +Turn Rate
  • +Directed Energy Damage
• 3pc: Battle Cloak
  • Grants an ability that allows the user to engage a Battle Cloaking device

 

Compared to the Endeavor (since Kala flies one, it’s the easiest comparison), the Vizier is a bit more maneuverable. The Fleet version of the Vizier is roughly on par with the Endeavor in terms of shields and hull. And the Console 3-pc set bonus gives the ship a Battle Cloak! Very interesting, that.

And then the downside sets in. The two Science Consoles layout is weak under the current meta — Embassy consoles are good not just for raw DPS, but for threat generation/mitigation. The BOFF seating is unique – which is generally good – but no native Science seats? I can’t imagine flying any ship without Hazard Emitters, so that means the Universal Lt.C seat is actually reserved for a Science/Sci-Command BOFF.

But wait… in order to get the Vizier to par with the Endeavor, I’d have to upgrade it to Fleet quality. As for the 3-pc bonus, I would need to buy the Archon as well as the T5U Assault Cruiser Refit… yeah, this is getting expensive real fast… never mind needing three slots for a trio of consoles of dubious usefulness.

In the end, I put it back on the shelf. As much as I love the Sovereign’s design, it’s just another cruiser in a faction already full of them. If I didn’t already have the T6 Arbiter and T6 Odyssey bundle, this might be a viable purchase… but I do. Sorry kids, Heidy is keeping her money for Christmas on this one.