Space Haven thread, or how I conquored the universe

[CaptainCrunch]

I've become a monster!


First of all I modified the good ship Mintas after the stunning loss of her gunship consort Linus, when I ran into a two pirate ship fleet, where we were outgunned shockingly. So I limped away and removed one of the turrets and added an additional shield generator.


I also lost a bunch of crew members after destroying a pirate ship and boarding it, and running into an ambush that cost me 4 of my best marine boarders.


So my strategy has changed. I outgun most pirate ships, so when they attack there is no more hailing them asking for a so called ceasefire. I shoot first and ask questions later. Well I don't ask for questions. I shoot first and destroy them, then use my scanner and sit back and watch the bastards die, then I board their ship, strip it and grab their corpses to shove in the recycling machine to extra water and carbon and food from their stinking corpses.


If I could mount some heads on the front of my ship I would. Death to all pirates.


I'm now about 3/4 of the way around the spiral. I have so many resources and fuel and energy and food, that I could go without mining anything at all or stripping ships. But old habits die hard.

[Krovikan]

I started over again last night, it didn't go well, I only found one friendly ship who wasn't able to trade energy rods. And despite the increase in the chance to find a cryo-chamber, I was unable to find one. So I spent the entire begging of the game desperately trying to search for energy rods.

Ah well, I will try again this weekend, maybe tonight if my friends aren't playing Ark.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Krovikan

I started over again last night, it didn't go well, I only found one friendly ship who wasn't able to trade energy rods. And despite the increase in the chance to find a cryo-chamber, I was unable to find one. So I spent the entire begging of the game desperately trying to search for energy rods.

Ah well, I will try again this weekend, maybe tonight if my friends aren't playing Ark.

What worked for me, is that after I built the energy refiner. I would jump into a system, do a mad dash to find as much elerium as I could and strictly mine it, water and fuel components. Then jump to the next system and do the same thing, that allowed me to build up my energy rods. Then I'd jump backwards one system and leisurely go after derelicts and the other materials.



Even in the first few systems finding people in pods is still rare, it does pick up though. But you usually will find only one or two per system after that and there's a chance that one is already dead.


But yeah don't sit around being thorough in terms of mining and stripping ships. Do a mad dash for key components, and make sure that you keep your carbon up and your food manufacturing up.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think that there's going to be some consumption revalues as the game gets closer to final versions.


You really use very little hyperfuel per jump. But the power rod consumption is very high, especially if you use bigger generators. Solar cells are a great way to do it, but they're really volitile in terms of jumping into systems and not getting enough sun, so if you have key systems attached to solar cells your going to get brown outs. After I finish this game with what I've learned, I'm going to do a serious ship redesign. Have two big generators on a ship and then link them via power nodes to 2 or three solar cells I think just to balance out power.


I'm going to seperate my engine rooms from my manufacturing room, that way I can control my environment better.



And because your limited in your defensive systems, to 7 or 8 of them, I'm going to go for defense first with a couple of shield generators and then guns instead of guns first.

[Krovikan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think that there's going to be some consumption revalues as the game gets closer to final versions.


You really use very little hyperfuel per jump. But the power rod consumption is very high, especially if you use bigger generators. Solar cells are a great way to do it, but they're really volitile in terms of jumping into systems and not getting enough sun, so if you have key systems attached to solar cells your going to get brown outs. After I finish this game with what I've learned, I'm going to do a serious ship redesign. Have two big generators on a ship and then link them via power nodes to 2 or three solar cells I think just to balance out power.


I'm going to seperate my engine rooms from my manufacturing room, that way I can control my environment better.



And because your limited in your defensive systems, to 7 or 8 of them, I'm going to go for defense first with a couple of shield generators and then guns instead of guns first.

I'd like to build a full solar ship, with a large bank of batteries and a backup engine that I turn off.

Do you do the ship or base start, I've done the ship mostly, but I think I'm going to try the base next.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Based on this thread, I purchased this game last weekend. I had to scrap my first ship after I reached a situation with low power and running out of resources to remedy the situation. I obviously went too big, too soon, which was too bad because the ship was taking shape along the lines of USS Sulaco.

I also had an issue prior to the power outages where the crew suddenly put on space suits. I checked all of the gas levels and everything was green. I put scrubbers in the crew's barracks and mess and that solved the issue, but they didn't like the scrubbers for comfort reasons.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Krovikan

I'd like to build a full solar ship, with a large bank of batteries and a backup engine that I turn off.

Do you do the ship or base start, I've done the ship mostly, but I think I'm going to try the base next.

The first few times I just started with the ship. I did start one with the base, and once I got the shape I liked, I started disemboweling components from the base and moved it to the ship til I left an empty base.


Solar is great, I saw a design that a guy did a complete solar ship, with massive amounts of panels, the only problem is that you need to make sure you drop close to the sun or you'll brown out.


I've done a hybrid, my monstrous ship has 4 generators of the mid sized variety, and then solar cells to provide a power boost when they get sun.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

Based on this thread, I purchased this game last weekend. I had to scrap my first ship after I reached a situation with low power and running out of resources to remedy the situation. I obviously went too big, too soon, which was too bad because the ship was taking shape along the lines of USS Sulaco.

I also had an issue prior to the power outages where the crew suddenly put on space suits. I checked all of the gas levels and everything was green. I put scrubbers in the crew's barracks and mess and that solved the issue, but they didn't like the scrubbers for comfort reasons.

Nice ship idea, my next one, I'm going to try to shape like the Galactica. with the one launch hanger with mining pods, and the other with multiple shuttles.


The scrubbers are important, one way you can get around thing is centralize your o2 production and leaving vents open on your doors except for your food room and manufacturing.






Notes on the Mintas.


4 guns two shields and 1 scanner.


8 engines, so I can carry about 13000 tonnes of cargo


I've got every manufacturing device except for the gun building printer, why build guns when I can take them from my enemies


I have a crew of about 16 right now. My growth room has two quad beds and 6 duel beds. I grow 6 oranges 4 veggies 4 meats and 2 fibres.


my power generators are seperated. the one in the engine room powers all of my engines and manufacturing. The mid ship one controls mid ship functions and my grow room.



The one on the upper left powers my crew quarters bridge weapons array. The one on the right controls my prison, guest quarters weapons and scanners.


The solar powers are linked into my power grid to add to everything.


my cargo bins are sorted, I have bins in manufacturing for fuel and energy rods. For raw materials and finished goods. the bin in the food center holds all food stuffs. The one in the med bay holds all medical supplies. I have a bin for guns by the shuttle, and bins by the weapons array that hold power cells (ammunition).


I have three washrooms on the ship which keeps people from pooping their pants.


I have two shuttles, but if I was going to build anything it would be another airlock. But I can strip ships in seconds with two shuttle bays.



I seperated my food room with space ship doors to control the environment. I use space ship doors as well for the engine/manufacturing room, that way I have sealed environments. I have lots of air scrubbers in the engine room because of fires, and lots of oxygen and thermal controllers through the ship.


If I was going to design the ship, I'd want to have a more logical layout with access hall ways, instead of people having to travel through rooms. I'd seperate engineering from manufacturing. And I'd just build one big crew quarter instead of different ones. I'd also like to build a dedicated massive cargo hold. as centralized storage. and then have specific sorted bins.




Oh in terms of lighting, don't go too crazy on it because they drain power like crazy. If I have a section that isn't needed to have human interaction I leave it dark. So there's the scanner room on the top right, and the solar power room just off the med bay that I deft sort of dark.

[CaptainCrunch]

Addon, I'd still like to have multiple levels, I think that would be amazing in terms of ship design.


I'd love more cosmetic furniture choices, it'd be awesome to have desks and decerations to make a Captain Ready Room for example.


I'd love more weapons choices, turrets are cool, but It'd be awesome to have torpedoes or missiles, or even fighters.



I'd love scanners to do more then just scan ships. Having a stellar cartography lab would be cool.



I think I'm going to replace my prison with an autopsy room.

[CaptainCrunch]

BTW I saw the weirdest damn thing tonight.



I shot up a pirate ship and blew its engines out, so you could see the ship depressurize, and I was watching on scanners and all the pirates sprinted into the engine room and jumped out of the back of the ship. I know they were probably trying to repair it, but in my mind they were so afraid of the punishment coming when I boarded their ship that they killed themselves.

[DownInFlames]

I encountered the jumpers for the first time. I still only have 4 crew and one of them is a wuss so it's getting tough to clear derelicts.

How do you increase system points? I ran out and need more to add weapons.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I encountered the jumpers for the first time. I still only have 4 crew and one of them is a wuss so it's getting tough to clear derelicts.

How do you increase system points? I ran out and need more to add weapons.

Right now, I believe that there is only a total of 16 system points per ship, and each system, scanner, shield generator gun and hull stabilizer is worth 2 points each.


So for me I have 4 turrets (8 points) 2 shield generators (4 points) 1 Scanner (2 points and 1 hull stabilizer (2 points) for 16 points.



There's no way to increase it no matter how big your ship gets. I think this is done to try to make fights somewhat challenging as with a higher system point you could put on like 20 turrets.


When I built my 8 turret gun ship it lasted one jump because I didn't put a hull stabilizer in it.



In terms of the boarders, anyone below 5 will be really apt to panic in the face of determined enemies.



For the most part, you can get away with boarding with 3 for the most part. More crew members are coming you'll find them.



I've found a ton of them in tubes after the third system.


I'm not even going to bother with converting pirates, it costs too much to feed them and house them until their converted. all Pirates are sentenced to death.


I would love to convert some androids though.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Right now, I believe that there is only a total of 16 system points per ship, and each system, scanner, shield generator gun and hull stabilizer is worth 2 points each.


So for me I have 4 turrets (8 points) 2 shield generators (4 points) 1 Scanner (2 points and 1 hull stabilizer (2 points) for 16 points.



There's no way to increase it no matter how big your ship gets. I think this is done to try to make fights somewhat challenging as with a higher system point you could put on like 20 turrets.


When I built my 8 turret gun ship it lasted one jump because I didn't put a hull stabilizer in it.



In terms of the boarders, anyone below 5 will be really apt to panic in the face of determined enemies.



For the most part, you can get away with boarding with 3 for the most part. More crew members are coming you'll find them.



I've found a ton of them in tubes after the third system.


I'm not even going to bother with converting pirates, it costs too much to feed them and house them until their converted. all Pirates are sentenced to death.


I would love to convert some androids though.

I have 2 turrets, 3 shields, 2 stabilizers and a scanner. I’ll have to drop a stabilizer to add a turret.

I’m about a third of the way done and no crew opportunities. I can barely keep my ship running and strip derelicts at the same time. I tried to capture some pirates but another ship dropped in and blew them away before I could board.

[CaptainCrunch]

The crew thing is random. I have 16 crew members, and have lost about 5 all from hyper chambers.


I'd drop the stabilizer, I run with one and my ship is huge.


I'd drop a shield too. 2 is more then enough for me. Keep the scanner. Drop the stabilizer and shield and add two turrets and you'll be in good shape for the killing.

[CaptainCrunch]

The Light Escort Viper who's only job is to provide additional fire power to the newly renamed dreadnought Endeaver. This gives me a total of 6 turrets, which makes me a power in the galaxy. With a small crew of 4, a gunner, navigator and shield operator and one person to maintain equipment.

[Sliver]

We gotta get you a diary, dude.

[CaptainCrunch]

This game definitely gets more intense as you work through the different solar systems. I went to take a ship that had about 20 of those Howlers on it, the big ball like Aliens that rush your guys and beat the crap out of them.



The sad thing is I have so much fuel and power and water and even food that I don't have to board ships anymore, and with 20 crew, I'm not sure I want more.



We had a space funeral for two crew members late last night thanks to the eject cargo feature. We fired their bodies out of the airlock and in a nice piece of timing, the opening bars of the song "We'll meet again" was playing.


I expect that I'll hit the final solar system this weekend, I'm interested in what I find there. I expect a new home. Or a bunch of derelicts occupied by the Bugs.


I'm going to start over again after a break when I finish the game, I have some Ship design ideas just in terms of changing the layouts.

[CaptainCrunch]

Major and interesting updates coming up in Release 9 that sound amazing

Spoiler!

Full Alpha 9 Experimental Branch Patch Notes

• Environment hazards Implemented - Solar flares, Micrometeoroids, Nebulae and Siren Worlds.
• New Faction Interactions Implemented - Signaling, NPC Hailing, Distress State and Refugees.
• Signaling - Allows spaceships to communicate simple intents directly, like "we want to communicate", "we want to surrender", "we want to establish a cease fire and communicate".
• Distress state - Allows a spaceship and its crew to turn on a distress beacon and call for help.
• Refugees - A new character status in addition to the prisoner status, saved crew members from destroyed spaceships who are looking to be reunited with their faction.
• Suspicion - A new faction status, whereby another faction can be suspicious towards you that you are hiding something from them.
• Implemented a lot of new communication dialogue related to the new faction interaction implementations.
• NPC spaceships now signal and hail the player at times, asking if the player has seen their crew members who sent out a distress call.
• The player can now try to lie in certain dialogue scenarios.
• NPC factions can now help each other in distress situations as well.
• Solar flares - Overload your power nodes and may cause fires aboard your ships.
  
• Micrometeoroids - Rain down on your ships and strike your mining pods. Shields mitigate to a degree.
  
• Microbreaches - Small cracks which cause depressurization.
  
• Siren Worlds - Peculiar planets whose strange signals mess with the mind.
  
• Nebulae - An interstellar cloud of ionized gases, which has a draining effect on shields.
• Added Space Hazards individually to the game customization screen - Tweak their presence and make them non-existent if you so desire.
• Ability to set the resource amounts for derelicts added to the game customization screen.
• Harsh game difficulty is now rebalanced to be harder.
• Shuttles and miners can now become broken if hit by micrometeoroid.
  
• Broken crafts can't work and leak oxygen.
• Many Siren World character conditions added: Disorientation, Psychotic, Schizophrenia, Lost Appetite, Insomnia, Aggressivity, Urge to Destroy.
  
• New Character conditions and behavior possibilities: Committing suicide, poisoning, seeing a captive crew member.
• Implemented an improved way to override crew member schedules for a set amount of hours, for situations needing quick action.
• Crew member schedule overriding can be done by selecting a crew member and from the crew management screen.
• Tweaked Character conditions.
• Tweaked energium to energy rod ratio lower.
• Rebalanced trading prices of resources.
• Made the game log more selective of which conditions and events are listed.
• Hangars can be paused/unpaused to prevent craft from doing work.
• Crew members can fight each other if they get irritated enough.
• Added additional information for grow beds, to easily see if conditions are optimal for plant growth.
• Graphic assets Improvements and Polish: Toilet, Hypersleep chamber, Operations console, Power capacitor, Airlock, Assembler.
• Fixed in-floor power node restrictions to a degree.
• Tweaked the surrender trigger from bullet hits to function in a better way.

[CaptainCrunch]

Well, I found Eden, In the very last sector, after mauling my way across the universe, I ended up with a two ship fleet. My dreadnought and my escort which was a 2 gun ship but I also made it a food growing facility.



I ended up with a crew of 10 guys on the consort and 20 on my main ship. I had pretty much cleaned out about 60% of the derrelicts out there and almost all of the asteroids.


I was given the option of landing on this new beautiful world and ending the game or continuing on. I decided to land.


I'll probably wait for V9 to be uploaded and then I'll start again, I have a better idea around ship and fleet design. I'm thinking a main ship, a food production/mining ship, a prison ship and then doing the manufacturing and logistics on the main ship. I was thinking of also adding a ship that was just there to carry cargo. But I don't know how big my fleet can be.



I want to design a ship with a more logic pathing system in it. Now that I've figured out what my strategy is in terms of mining, stipping ships and trading.

[CaptainCrunch]

Played the Beta 9.0 release, the micro meteors completely change the game, if you have an unshielded ship you need to avoid systems with meteors. They not only damage shuttles and mining pods, but they punch holes in your hull letting atmosphere escape, but also they hit machinery damaging it and causing fires. On top of that in the weirdest fluke ever, one punched through the hull and hit a popular crew member killing him which caused a brawl between two other crew mates.


I haven't hit a siren planet yet, but I'm dreading that now.