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
• Spaceport
• Starbase

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.

Spaceport

Spaceports are spacecraft with such a low acceleration that it can do nothing but keep an orbit over a city. They act as the first line of defense for a planet and as a trading and docking station for other spacecraft.

Starbase

A starbase is a rare sight. They are in theory just spaceports with a FTL drive, but since they can't use the FTL drive for anything, they are rarely designed.

It is however rumored that once the tractor beam bay is implemented, a starbase will be able to be pulled along with the pulling starship into FTL thanks to its FTL drive, while spaceports will not be able to use FTL when pulled.

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.

Private Spacecraft

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.

Subsidized Spacecraft

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.

Stations

Spaceports and starbases and commonly referred to as space stations.

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 load and unload crew and passengers with those cities.

The size of a spaceport'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 size of the station's service area is based on the tech level of the command and control module installed on the station.

Produced by

Building	Produces	Consumed	Required	Optional
Spacecraft Factory	1 Spacecraft	?* Adamantine** ?* Bay Module** ?* Command And Control Module ?* Capacitor Module ?* Drive Module** ?* Electronic Part ?* FTL Drive Module** ?* Gold** ?* Hydrogen Power Plant Module ?* Life Support Module** ?* Magmium** ?* Mechanical Part ?* Medical Module** ?* Metal** ?* Plastic ?* Sensor Module** ?* Shield Module** ?* Textiles ?* Transporter Module** ?* Turret Module** ?* Vulcium** * Depends on design ** Only with specific equipment	Electricity Fitting Wrench Glue Gun Hammer Sewing Needle Soldering Iron Wrench ** Only with specific equipment