Wondering what could use some fixes or changes, see where I'm headed, Rank 135

Research trees:

• Advanced Weapons
  • Null Rays 0/3
• Advanced Power Systems
  • Dark Energy Induction 2/4
• Shield Systems
  • Rift Fields 1/3
• Stealth Systems
  • Wideband Jamming 2/3
• Advanced Armor
  • Neutronium 0/3
• Defensive Systems
  • Phase Shifting 2/3
• Advanced Sensors
  • Sub-Dimensional Sensors 1/3
• Planetary Construction
  • Quantum Assembly 0/3

I'm leaving cloak in the back-hand for a while due to deck space limitations, in fact, the same goes to sensors. Currently working on Null Rays.

Ship Stats:

• Hull: 3057
• Shields: 127
• Decks: 553
• Attack: 1704
• Defense: 432
• Scan: 171
• Cloak: 150
• Cargo: 300
• Mining: 797
• Artifact: 499
• Research: 1452

Currently have two relays and a Zolazin Jammer uninstalled (to increase hull from 2.5k)

Continue researching energy after weapons. The weapons will keep you going for a while so you can focus on other areas. After that focus on buildings up to +8, they are expensive but worth it.

Weapons then energy then buildings back to energy.

I think it's a little early to research Null Rays unless you're heavily into PvP or NPC. Your mining might not be enough to cope with the upkeep.

I'd finish energy and get the relays too then go for planet structures then scan. Scan gets you better planets so it's totally invaluable. I usually use the top of any tier of scanners which I do a scan blitz.

Energy is the key resource unless you're a slow ranker. Other resources are also important as you progress in the game so better planets and better production structures help a lot.

Weapons are important too depending on your play style but heavy antiprotons should be enough for your rank. (That said, things have changed with more slow rankers). Really unless you do PvP or NPC a lot I wouldn't worry too much about then till rank 160 where you'll start getting the boost in credits from Aidonum.

I was originally a Konqul Fixer, but changed to builder to cope with the upkeep, so that won't be much of an issue for me. I'm not that big on PVP currently, but it's slowly changing.
Energy then planet structures seems like the best route to go. Thanks for the tips.

I have to agree with Remainder that its a little early for Null Rays. You would be very hard pressed to afford them. Myself, I would finish researching the Phase shift Engines, then take care of your energy cores (and follow-up relays). After that go to your planetary building research. Try to work on getting 4 of your best Thrusters and 4 of your best Dampeners install for your defenses. It will pay big dividends when you NPC/PvP.

And if I may, try to avoid "bounce" research. Doing one step of this, one step of that, etc. In the future, research a technology for the FULL set before moving on to another tech. And when you upgrade ship modules, only install "top of the tier" mods. IE: "Heavy" weapons, MkIV cores, MKIII other stuff, etc. You will save a lot in construction costs.

Before null rays I'd get phase shift arrays, quantum overlays... Hell, I intend to get energy nullifiers before null rays, but it's your choice. You REALLY need to balance your ship attack/defense for PvP if you have a large damage cap. That 3k hull won't get you very far, although your damage cap is smaller than most. I know thunderbolta in my legion has to repair alot with twice your defense and the same hull. He also has twice your attack though.

• Finish Null Rays if you must.
• Tear up the defense tree to quantum overlays, MINIMUM.
• Neutronium Armor
• Sub Dimensional Sensors, find better planets, get better income.

I've actually been trying to get down better defenses, which is a bit hard with space limitations.

This is what I currently have installed (from research tree):

• Heavy Antiproton cannon x4
• Merged Nexus Armor x5
• Dark Energy Core - Mark II
• Transconduit x3

GP / NPC / Mission (Excluding size 0 modules)

• Crimson Auto-Phaser
• Dominion Cannon
• Modulated Xecti Disruptor x2
• Psionic Amplifier
• Vortul Blast Phaser
• Dark Ring Thruster x2
• T.O. Harmonic MegaPulser
• Vortul Plating
• F.A.T.H.E.R.
• Exo-Temporal Translator
• Kronyn Anomaly Engine x2
• Stryll Hunt Sensor x2
• Stryll Transponder x2
• Zolazin Jammer (Offline)

With all that I've only got one deck left. I'm wanting to at least keep some kind of base scan and cloak - And most of those modules give me either Attack or Defense (mostly defense)

It's pretty clear /where/ I'm stocked on, but I don't know what could be removed to replace with researched modules to benefit.

Hate to tell you this, but you're going to be fighting deckspace till AT LEAST rank 500. My recommendation is to put your Rank Points into decks. Either all 5 or use 4 for decks and alternate the 5th point between Tactical Officers and Engineers. But DO NOT add them until you are ready to install a new module. At your current rank, those extra decks will have a bigger effect on your damage cap than they will at higher ranks, so there's no reason to have empty decks.

Frankly that's what I've been doing for a while now. I used to be massing in engineers (235) and an occasional one in either of the others (minus cargo and scientists). Since then it's either all deck, or 4 deck and one in Helmsmen or Tactical Officers.
At the current rate I practically have to add them as I go to be able to get everything back on. I still need at least 25 to catch back up so that all modules that should be on, are on.
Though I must say I've never thought of storing the rank points until the deck's needed, it is logical. Thanks for the pointer!

Update: Light null rays finished, now proceeding with defense modules until Phase shifting is complete to carry on with planet structures.