For the first 46 levels I have been running a small ship build, using the new damage cap rules. This has meant that I added a single deck each level and then I was placing the other 4 rank points into attack. I have concentrated on PvP and NPC hunting while only doing 17 missions. Along the way I have picked up the 4 dominion cannons (+50 attack) and 2 Crimson auto-lasers (+25 attack.) Recently I have begun to bog down in combat, caught between having low energy and low hulls. For the last four levels I have added all rank points to decks and have really upgraded my hull. The main question I now face is whether to continue to invest in decks and in doing so abandon the small ship build.

My stats:
Rank 50
Decks 89
attack 707
Defense 49
Scan 1
Cloak 0
Cargo 100
Energy 84
Hull 706
Shield 73
Kills: 376 (insane)
Deaths: 45
NPC 183
M/A/R 316/219/351

If I do move away from the small ship build what areas should I focus on first? I am thinking of building my hulls up first and then adding deck space for some energy. It would also be nice to be able to really do a full run or two of planet scanning as finding good planets is quite tough on your own with a small ship build. If I stay with a classic small ship build it would mean no more decks for 20 levels but I have my doubts that just adding straight to attack will be efficient.

Thank you for any input you may offer.

Yes. Get away from the small ship build, get your cannons (Graviton Shearers and hull up Microgels), then defense (spacial thrusters) and then energy.

omg ONLY 84 NRGY???!!!! , you really need energy, get up to at least quantum capacitors, and then defense because the damage cap is gonna grow and you're going to need defense.

If you even do a small ship build you started out bad.

at your lvl i was around 250 energy so you should get that up, and your def if your a PVPer

Decks then energy.

Or...
You can come to AU, and we can help you slowly transition while continuing to build some nice kills.... if that is your thing!