There's a new Patrol Escort on the horizon and it's going to be sick:
http://community.arcgames.com/en/news/star-trek-online/detail/5002633
http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1110471
The BOff layout is possibly the BEST BOff layout for a Fed escort I've ever seen, probably the most versatile on ANY Fed escort for sure.
Hope it's on sale tomorrow after maintenance (probably 10am)
This is the escort that will probably get me out of my cruisers.
Edit: Since I posted this the site now has a bad gateway so here's a single post from the forums where I listed the stats.
http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=16822741&postcount=186
Patrol Escort Refit: Tempest Class
The Patrol Escorts were envisioned as escorts with an engineering bent. The Patrol Escort Refit: Tempest Class improves on those original designs with greatly improved Bridge Officer seating, a 5th Tactical Console slot, and additional aft firepower that will give Tempest captains new options in combat.
The Tempest comes equipped with a Nadion Saturation Bomb console. Firing the Nadion Saturation Bomb lays down a string of explosive fire that strafes between the ship and its target and then continues to detonate past the target. Any enemy ships caught in the explosions will take severe damage. After detonation, an intense Nadion Radiation Field lingers in space, creating a deadly hazard for enemies. The Nadion Saturation Bomb console may be equipped in any console slot of any Patrol Escort.
The Patrol Escort Refit: Tempest Class also comes with the Aft-Firing Tempest Tail Gun. This unique dual cannon is set up to fire on targets in the rear 90 degree arc of the Patrol Escort, and defaults to the Rapid Fire I firing mode. Like other cannons, the Aft-Firing Tempest Tail Gun can be modified by Scatter Volley and higher rank Rapid Fire bridge officer abilities. The Aft-Firing Tempest Tail Gun is fused to its own slot and does not fill one of the ships three aft weapons slots. It cannot be removed.*
The Patrol Escort Refit comes with the new Tempest class costume by default. As a Patrol Escort, it can also use costume parts from the Dervish, Gryphon and Hermes class costumes. If you have already unlocked the Maelstrom costume, it will also be available to you. Purchasing the Patrol Escort Refit: Tempest Class will unlock the Tempest costume for all Patrol Escorts.
Minimum Rank: Vice Admiral
Cost: 2,500 Zen
Hull Strength: 31,500
Shield Modifier: 0.95
Crew: 200
Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 (4*) Aft
Device Slots: 2
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal
Console Modifications: 5 Tactical, 2 Engineering, 2 Science
Base Turn Rate: 16 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.2
+15 Power to Weapons
Can Load Cannons
Nadion Saturation Bomb console
Fused Aft Tempest Tail Gun
Fleet Patrol Escort Refit: Maelstrom Class
There is currently a Fleet Patrol Escort available in the in-game ship store if you have a Tier 1 Fleet Shipyard. That ship will be retired and no longer available. It will be replaced with the new Fleet Patrol Escort Refit. Like all Fleet ships, the Fleet Patrol Escort Refit enjoys additional HP and shields, as well as a bonus console slot – in this case, a 3rd Engineering console slot. The Fleet Patrol Escort does not come with the Nadion Saturation Bomb console item, but it does come equipped with a 4th aft weapon slot, fused with the Aft Tempest Tail Gun.
The new Fleet Patrol Escort Refit will come with Maelstrom class costume by default. It can also use costume parts from the Dervish, Gryphon and Hermes classes costumes. Purchasing the Fleet Patrol Escort Refit: Maelstrom Class will unlock the Maelstrom costume for all Patrol Escorts.
Minimum Rank: Vice Admiral
Fleet Shipyard Requirement: Tier 1
Cost: 5 Fleet Modules (1 Fleet Module if you already own the Patrol Escort Refit) plus Fleet Credits
Hull Strength: 34,700
Shield Modifier: 01.045
Crew: 200
Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft*
Device Slots: 2
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal
Console Modifications: 5 Tactical, 3 Engineering, 2 Science
Base Turn Rate: 16 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.2
+15 Power to Weapons
Can Load Cannons
Fused Aft Tempest Tail Gun
Note: all stats are subject to change.