Spacecraft
Spacecraft are the primary way of navigating the universe.
A spacecraft is designed by players at a design studio and constructed at a spacecraft factory.
Spacecraft Definitions
Depending on the design, a spacecraft will have one of four definition.
- Spaceship
- Starship
- Space Station
Spaceship
Spaceship is the most basic spacecraft definition, it is given to any spacecraft that has the minimum requirements for sub-light travel.
Since a spaceship is limited to sub-light speed, it mostly used to travel between worlds in a solar system. They can be used for interstellar travel, but has to relay on deadheading.
Starship
A starship is the definition given to a spaceship capable of faster than light (FTL) travel, this is archived with a FTL drive.
There is no other difference between a spaceship and a starship, then the presence of a FTL drive.
Space Station
Space stations are spacecraft with such a low acceleration that they can do nothing but hold their position. They act as the first line of defense for a planet and as a trading and docking station for other spacecraft. They may also act as resource collectors when placed near suns, gas giants, worlds and rings.
Private vs. Subsidized
Common practice is to think of subsidized spacecraft as expendable, and any spacecraft of personal value should be purchased as a private spacecraft.
While stations can be purchased as a private spacecraft, the benefits of doing so are limited.
Privately owned spacecraft can not be switched to subsidized spacecraft and vice versa.
Private
Private spacecraft are owned by an avatar.
Probably the biggest advantage a private spacecraft has is that it can be respawned after being destroyed. All static items will remain intact, but cargo from the spacecraft's hold may have been lost during its destruction.
The respawning is only possible if an avatar held the captain's berth on board the spacecraft when it was destroyed, and it is important that another berth is not taken or the private spacecraft will be lost. To respawn a private spacecraft, hail on the Crew communication channel with adequate range to reach the location the spacecraft was destroyed. The spacecraft will spawn in orbit above the avatar, but it will be damaged and require repairs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be respawned | Have to pay for repairs, fuel and munitions |
| Can not be captured | Costs money from the player to make |
| Personal effects, items and animals not lost when destroyed | |
| Trade transactions not subject to subsidy tax |
Private spacecraft are made when a spacecraft is purchased at a spacecraft factory.
Subsidized
Subsidized spacecraft are owned by an empire's government.
Any empire member can take control of a subsidized spacecraft if it does not have an officer or captain already. A spacecraft with a NPC officer is under the control of empire members that is is chain of command of the officer's home world.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free repairs, fuel and munitions | Can not be respawned |
| Free for the player to make | Can be captured |
| Everything aboard is lost when destroyed | |
| Trade transactions subject to subsidy tax |
Subsidized spacecraft are made at a spacecraft factory using mass production processes.
Space Stations
Space stations act as a trade hub for a solar system. Every city in the solar system that has an airport terminal can be traded with while in range of a station. This makes it possible to buy from any city and sell to any city without moving. It is also possible to load and unload officers, crew, troops and passengers with those cities.
The size of a station's service area is indicated with a rotating beacon, visible when piloting a vehicle or spacecraft. Visiting vehicles and spacecraft must enter the service area of a station to moor there, get repairs, refuel, and use the station as a trade hub.
The station's service area extends 100m beyond the overall radius of the station's hull. The size of the service area is increased by the tech level of the command and control module installed on the station.
Space stations are instantly destroyed if they ever contact the terrain.
Decommissioning
The number of stations is strictly limited in the game. Excess stations are decommissioned (destroyed). Decommission rules do not apply to pirate stations, stations in an arena, stations in tow, or privately owned stations that have a human officer on the roster.
A station that is not at a planet is decommissioned if no AI officer is aboard and it is no longer in any scene.
A station that is at a planet is decommissioned if no AI officer or person online is aboard, when another station from the same empire orbits the same world and that other station does not have an AI officer either. This imposes a limit of one station without an officer per empire per world. The number of stations with officers is not limited.
Upgrading
When a new subsidized station is manufactured, it is launched into orbit above the spacecraft factory. If another subsidized station from the same empire without an officer is in orbit at the time, it is replaced by the new station. Crew and cargo is tranferred from the old station to the new station. The new station is christened with the same name held by the old station.
A station is not replaced if the new station is the same design and tech level. A spacecraft factory can be left to automatically manufacture stations. The factory will launch a station then build the next one. The next one will not spawn until the station in orbit is destroyed, removed, or given an officer. Then the waiting station will spawn and the factory will commence building the next one.
Changing the station design at the factory, or production of a higher tech level station, will result in replacement of the station in orbit.
Produced by
| Building | Produces | Consumed | Required | Optional
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spacecraft Factory | 1 Spacecraft |
* Depends on design |
** Only with specific equipment |
|