Decks are a problem for me my artifact production SUCKS, im level 254 with 1351 artifacts per hour, i need to put all the points i get into my decks

I've got 2365 decks now and made the decision a few levels ago to put level ranking points into tacticals and engineers and rescued prisoner points into decks. I've done ok so far, but probably will need to dump a few more level rank points into decks when I decide to pick up more shielding and defense.

All my rank points go into TO and engineers. Almost every planet I colonize is arty. I plan on getting my arty high enough to provide ship bots, rescued prisoners (more TO & engineers), scientists and helmsmen. No one in my legion believes this is a good strategy, but I have my eye on end game when those who waste ranks on decks will be weaker compared to me.

Rank 36
decks 34 (ship bots only-will increase later)
cargo 230 (all from arty)
engineers 290
TO 177
helmsmen 11
scientists 22

ap/hr 507
res/hr 101
min/hr 11

My ship will grow into its strength.

I recently stopped adding decks at just under 1.3k. I'm doing:

4:1 engineers to TO's from rank points
2:1 engineers to TO's from prisoners
Androids giving me helmsmen and scientists
Ship bots rusting in storage

At rank 170 I have 4.5k arti/hr
3.7k atk
2.6k def
~1500 max energy without relays

Crew, eventually you will have more decks than potential use. This is an iron indisputable fact. Otherwise your choice is between engineers, helmsmen, and TOs. I have my own preferences, but I would stop all deck adding--literally no more point to it.

Actually, don't bother with helmsmen. Between modules and androids, don't waste your rank points on them.

Funny to see Threadbearer and others on the post.
Gotta love necro

I stopped put any points into deck at 1700 or so size.
Every rank, I put all 5 points into engineers. I spend a total of 2 rank points from prisoners into energy for every level.
The rest go into tactical officers.

I stopped putting rank points into deck at 1200 deck
All engineers and tacticals since then

Since I posted.. I have been doing 1 engineer rest Tactical when I level. Using ship bots to gain decks. Looking to fit 5 scanners on. Then rest of my weapons(Ion pulse cannons)

Think I stopped adding to RP to decks around deck 1700. I mostly slow rank though. Though occasionally I use some artis to add them if I want to add a module (hence the current 2155). Arti production only at 5833 though. But arti pulls are still nice

Level 387,
2155 Decks
1161 Engineers
1000 Tactical
1012 Helmsmen
2108 Scientists

I never have added Scientists, it just balloons no matter what ya do thru missions/artis lol. Stopped adding helmsmen a while back again due to artifacts. Saving lot of those artis for the CT lab though, but have them as a backup in case I need them.

Going to take engineers to 1500-2000, then do all tactical probably.