Ship Creation Ship creation is as much an art as a science. Clich?, I know, but accurate. You?ll need to have a basic plan for your ships before you start.
Ask yourself these questions.
1. What is my best weapon system?
2. What is my second best weapon system?
3. What is my longest range weapon system, both in fire control and weapon?
4. Do I have point defense class weaponry (5sec rates of fire)?
5. What are my sensor techs at?
6. For my survey ships, do I want them jump capable or not?
7. What is my best survey type, both grav and geo?
8. Can I build specialized ships, fuel harvesters, gate construction ships, troop transports, carriers, asteroid miners, terraformers?
9. What is my favored mix of weaponry, missile heavy, beam heavy?
10. Can I build multi-role ships?
11. What is the largest size I can build in my yards?
12. What is my best defense?
13. Can I build parasites and parasite carriers?
Once you?ve thought through these areas, you should have an idea of what ships you can build. I?ll list my answers to these questions based on the tech I have available to me now.
1. 25cm plasma carronade. Sadly, only recharge 1. 80 second fire rates.
2. 12cm railgun. 40k range, 30 ROF.
3. Missile control is 400k km. Max beam fire control is 80k km. Max beam weapon is 60k km.
4. No.
5. Very low, except active scanners.
6. Preferably. Might not be doable below 6000 ton.
7. Standard Grav/Improved Geo.
8. Gate Construction ships, terraformers.
9. Dedicated missile ships, dedicated escorts, dedicated beam ships.
10. Not viable with current tech.
11. 2x 9000 ton yards with 4 slips, 2x 7000 ton yards with 6 slips, 1x 5000 ton yard with 1 slip, 2x 4000 ton yards with 3 slips.
12. Alpha 150/8 Shields. High Density Duranium armor.
13. Parasites, no. Carriers, yes.
Now that I have a base idea of what my capabilities are, I?ve decided on the following. Survey ships, geo and grav, jump capable, aiming for 6000 tons (jump drive limit, next larger size is 7500). Missile ship in the 7000 ton range. Beam escort in the 5000 ton range. Cargo/Colonizer in the 9000 ton range (not jump capable). Capital ship, mixed beam/missile in the 9000 ton range. Scout in the 4000 ton range.
I finalize on the following designs. Please note these designs are from a couple versions of the game earlier. The only fundamental change is how armor works.
Geode class Survey Ship 6000 tons 515 Crew 1508 BP TCS 120 TH 30 EM 0
1041 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1 Shields 0-0 Sensors 8/0/0/0/10 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 0
Replacement Parts 5
J6000(3-50) Jump Drive Max Ship Size 6000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (5) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 89.9 billion km (1000 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Improved Geological Sensors (5) 10 Survey Points
This design is classed as a non-combatant for maintenance purposes
Stellar class Survey Ship 6000 tons 515 Crew 1258 BP TCS 120 TH 30 EM 0
1041 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1 Shields 0-0 Sensors 8/0/0/5/0 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 0
Replacement Parts 5
J6000(3-50) Jump Drive Max Ship Size 6000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (5) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 89.9 billion km (1000 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Gravitational Survey Sensors (5) 5 Survey Points
This design is classed as a non-combatant for maintenance purposes
Lexington class Missile Frigate 4000 tons 410 Crew 557 BP TCS 80 TH 30 EM 150
1562 km/s Armour 1 Shields 5-150 Sensors 8/0/5/0/0 Damage Control 1-1 PPV 16
Magazine 200 Replacement Parts 5
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (5) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 67.5 billion km (500 days at full power)
Alpha R150/8 Shields (5) Total Fuel Cost 40 Litres per day
Missile Launcher 04-040 (4) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 40
Missile Fire Control S01-040 (1) Range: 400k km
Class 4 (50) Speed: 7,000 km/s Endurance: 33 secs Range: 231k km Warhead: 2 Size: 4
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Active Sensor MR11200-R40 (1) GPS 1120 Range 11.2m km Resolution 40
EM Detection Sensor EM1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
Spruance class Destroyer Escort 5000 tons 425 Crew 551 BP TCS 100 TH 30 EM 300
1250 km/s Armour 1 Shields 10-150 Sensors 1/0/0/0/0 Damage Control 1-1 PPV 20
Replacement Parts 5
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (5) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 54.0 billion km (500 days at full power)
Alpha R150/8 Shields (10) Total Fuel Cost 80 Litres per day
Quad S&W 100mm Laser Cannon Turret (1x4) Range 20,000km TS: 10000 km/s Power 12-4 RM 2 ROF 15 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S04 10-9600 (1) Max Range: 20,000 km TS: 9600 km/s 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pressurised Water Reactor PB-1 AR-0 P20 (1) Total Power Output 20 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Sensor MR56-R0.2 (1) GPS 5.6 Range 56k km Resolution 0.2
Enterprise class Cruiser 8800 tons 850 Crew 1334 BP TCS 176 TH 66 EM 300
1562 km/s Armour 1 Shields 10-150 Sensors 8/5/5/0/0 Damage Control 1-1 PPV 26
Flag Bridge Magazine 400 Replacement Parts 10
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (11) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 61.3 billion km (454 days at full power)
Alpha R150/8 Shields (10) Total Fuel Cost 80 Litres per day
25cm C1 Plasma Carronade (1) Range 80,000km TS: 2400 km/s Power 16-1 RM 1 ROF 80 16 8 5 4 3 2 2 2 0 0
Twin R3/C1 Meson Cannon Turret (1x2) Range 30,000km TS: 10000 km/s Power 6-2 RM 3 ROF 15 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S04 40-2400 (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 2400 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
Pressurised Water Reactor PB-1 AR-0 P20 (1) Total Power Output 20 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Missile Launcher 04-040 (2) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 40
Missile Fire Control S01-040 (1) Range: 400k km
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Active Sensor MR112000-R80 (1) GPS 11200 Range 112.0m km Resolution 80
Grav Pulse Detection Sensor GPD1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
Fletcher class Freighter 7750 tons 445 Crew 664 BP TCS 155 TH 60 EM 0
1612 km/s Armour 1 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/0/0/0/0 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 0
Cargo 25000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 50 Replacement Parts 5
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (10) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 174.1 billion km (1250 days at full power)
This design is classed as a freighter for maintenance purposes
Ark class Colony Ship 7750 tons 470 Crew 1114 BP TCS 155 TH 60 EM 0
1612 km/s Armour 1 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/0/0/0/0 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 0
Colonists 50000 Cargo Handling Multiplier 50 Replacement Parts 5
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (10) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 174.1 billion km (1250 days at full power)
This design is classed as a freighter for maintenance purposes
Coontz class Scout Frigate 3800 tons 300 Crew 573 BP TCS 76 TH 42 EM 300
2302 km/s Armour 1 Shields 10-150 Sensors 8/5/5/0/0 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 0
Replacement Parts 5
Nuclear Thermal Engine E8 (7) Power 25 Efficiency 0.80 Signature 6 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 142.1 billion km (714 days at full power)
Alpha R150/8 Shields (10) Total Fuel Cost 80 Litres per day
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Active Sensor MR112000-R80 (1) GPS 11200 Range 112.0m km Resolution 80
Grav Pulse Detection Sensor GPD1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
North Carolina class Planetary Defence Centre 34200 tons 3585 Crew 3284 BP TCS 136.8 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 3 Sensors 8/140 Damage Control 0-0 PPV 320
Troop Capacity 5 Divisions Magazine 2400
Quad S&W 100mm Laser Cannon Turret (4x4) Range 60,000km TS: 10000 km/s Power 12-4 RM 2 ROF 15 3 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
PDC Fire Control S16 60-9600 (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 9600 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Pressurised Water Reactor PB-1 AR-0 P20 (2) Total Power Output 40 Armour 0 Exp 5%
PDC Missile Launcher 24-120 (10) Missile Size 24 Rate of Fire 120
PDC Missile Fire Control S04-320 (1) Range: 3200k km
Class 24 (100) Speed: 6,000 km/s Endurance: 62 secs Range: 372k km Warhead: 6 Size: 24
Thermal Sensor TH1-8 (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Signature 100: 0.8m km
Active Sensor MR112000-R80 (1) GPS 11200 Range 112.0m km Resolution 80
Active Sensor MR56-R0.2 (1) GPS 5.6 Range 56k km Resolution 0.2
Grav Pulse Detection Sensor GPD1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-5 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Strength 100: 0.5m km
This design is classed as a Planetary Defence Centre
This ends Part 3 of the tutorial.
Part 4 will focus on setting up the homeworld.