Starship Mechanics

Ship Modules

This determines the modules any ship can be outfitted with, which can be broken down into four categories:

Core Modules

All ships have the same types of core compartments. Each core module is restricted to it type of module. They are legally required on every ship, as it isn't possible to use one without it.

Bulkheads

Used to protect the hull of the ship. It acts as the second layer of defense for Starships.

Power Plant

Reactors used to power the ship with energy.

Sublight Thrusters

This propels the ship when flying in sub-light speed.

Field Warp Drive

Allows the starship to travel at faster-than-light speeds within a star system, but also jump to hyperspace allowing fast travel to distant solar systems.

Environmental Control

This is the basic life support of the ship. Allows you to modify the climate/atmosphere for the species of the crew. Certain modules allow for more specific fine-tuning.

Power Distributor / Computer System

Regulates power from the Power Plant to subsystems and modules. Some Starships may come equipped with an advanced computer system that will automatically adjust these values based on status, along as coming with additional features.

Sensors

Provides basic detection, identification, and targeting capabilities. Some modules allow for advanced tracing, such as auto-targetting hardpoints or gimballed systems.

Fuel Tank

Storage for fuel used by the ships Power Plant.

Hardpoints

Mounts on the external frame of the ship, often used for mounting weapons.

Utility Hardpoints

Specialized Hardpoints with non-combative uses, such as a drive wake scanner, shield boosters, and point defense turrets

Internal Compartments

These sections can fit all kind of different modules, allowing Starship owners to finetune and alter ships to their liking. These include everything from hull reinforcement, storage compartments, and raw material processing.

Reserved Compartments

Some modules are a core function of ships, so you may run into a situation where manufacturers have it where certain compartments can only be used for their specific designed purposes. Often hauler-type ships have some compartments that can only be used for storage, or luxury ships having suite-cabins for crew and guests.

Special Ship Actions

Cold Boot

Any Starship that has been completely powered off takes time for system components to come fully online.

• Internal system components will take up to a minute

• External systems will take another minute after that

• Combat systems are only 10 seconds after that

• Shields come on the same time as internal systems, and start at 70% integrity, unless starship takes hull damage, making it start as if integrity failed.

Gracefull Reboot

A starship can go through a graceful reboot, most often used when widespread components begin malfunctioning unexpectedly.

• Internal system components will take up to 10 seconds

• External systems will take another 10 seconds after that

• Combat systems are only 10 seconds after that

• Shields come on the same time as combat systems, but only at 40% capacity, unless starship takes hull damage, making it start as if integrity failed.

Hard Reboot

Any Starship that loses power but regains it either intentionally or unintentionally does not have as much of a lengthy reboot process compared to a cold boot. This is a very forceful method and can only be done by physically turning or cutting power off the ship.

• Internal, external, and combat system components only take up to 20 seconds and start at the same time.

• Shields come on the same time as internal systems, but only at 50% integrity, unless starship takes hull damage, making it start as if integrity failed.

Silent Running

Any starship can go dark, by turning off its sensors and closing it's cooling vents. This comes with many pros and cons.

• Shields will go offline, and will not recharge until silent running is disengaged.

• Cooling vents will close, preventing any thermal heat from escaping.

• Starship becomes almost undetectable to other sensors and targeting systems that rely on thermal energy.

• Using systems that generate heat (such as firing weapons) while in silent running will cause the ship to show up on some enemy sensors.
Heat signature can be reduced further by turning off non-essential ship modules and systems