So I have a few things to ask. First I want to start a new story with the Federation and base my person as a descendant of the NX-01 crew. Who should the descendant be of?
1. Archer
2. Trip (I have never played as an engineer so this could be fun.)
3. Reed
Pick Trip, and give them some
slightly Vulcan features...
Engineer isn't bad, but find I like it better when I'm the TAC officer and the support BOFF is the ENG instead. Using the turrets is useful, but I like it when they spawn them and I take advantage. More fun to pew pew than support the BOFF doing it...
So the next question. If I go head and buy a higher level ship like a tier 3-5 level ship can I use it at the start of the game or do I have to wait until that rank?
Nope, can't use it until your character is the right rank for it. Otherwise could have an Ensign flying a Gal-X or whatnot. Honestly wouldn't bother buying anything lower than a T5 endgame ship. You just level up so fast, you'll almost never use the thing, and then never again other than for fun as a vanity thing. Useless in combat. And the free ships are plenty fine to survive in the leveling process...