Posted by: nakorkren
« on: January 06, 2024, 09:47:46 AM »Worth noting since you're new to tugs: if you build your cargo/colony/troop/mining/terraforming/jump point stabilization ships as pods without engines or armor (i.e. as "space stations") and then tow them with tugs, then you get several benefits.
They can be built using industry, instead of at shipyards.
Your tugs will always be smaller than a purpose built ship with the cargo/etc capability built in, so your commercial shipyards don't need to be as big.
You don't need to retool your commercial shipyards for each class, you just tool once for the tug design.
When you get new engine tech, you build new tugs, without having to rebuild the cargo module (or scrap your existing cargo/colony ships to recover the module)
You can build extra cargo/colony/troop transport "pods" and keep them laying around. This makes your logistics fleet VERY flexible, as you can switch to moving all cargo, all colonists, all troops, etc just by tractoring the correct pod on each ship.
Only two downsides:
Slightly less efficient since you have to include a 500t tractor beam module, but that's miniscule compared to the mass of the tug/cargo pods
There's a little bit of micro involved when you want to switch over, since you have to tractor a new pod, but you only have to do that as often as you want to switch what type of thing you're carrying, so ultimately not that big a deal.
They can be built using industry, instead of at shipyards.
Your tugs will always be smaller than a purpose built ship with the cargo/etc capability built in, so your commercial shipyards don't need to be as big.
You don't need to retool your commercial shipyards for each class, you just tool once for the tug design.
When you get new engine tech, you build new tugs, without having to rebuild the cargo module (or scrap your existing cargo/colony ships to recover the module)
You can build extra cargo/colony/troop transport "pods" and keep them laying around. This makes your logistics fleet VERY flexible, as you can switch to moving all cargo, all colonists, all troops, etc just by tractoring the correct pod on each ship.
Only two downsides:
Slightly less efficient since you have to include a 500t tractor beam module, but that's miniscule compared to the mass of the tug/cargo pods
There's a little bit of micro involved when you want to switch over, since you have to tractor a new pod, but you only have to do that as often as you want to switch what type of thing you're carrying, so ultimately not that big a deal.