I decided to open this thread as a place where people can post their low level/resource builds for players to spawn early in the game. Really simple rules: It has to look like a ship, not a collection of random parts slapped together. A HV or SV can use 200 ingots (or below) of any type. A CV or BA can use 1k (or below) ingots of any type. The more goodies you can can cram into it, and the lower the resources needed to build it, the better. Example: SV-AABMV HV-AABMV (Almost Absolute Bare Minimum Vehicle)
I used to use a "Scooty Puff Jr." that was a cockpit with a light frame and basic doodads, when you could manufacture it using the starting resources. But I find there's little reason to go extremely cheap anymore, since you can make up your basic resources with some deconstruction.
The limit of 100 copper really limits how many thrusters a craft can have (for HV/SV). Bumping that up to 150 or 200 will allow a much greater variety, while keeping the restrictive limits will end up with nearly identical vessels (when it comes to thrusters and devices anyway). I have one bare minimum harvester-hv that only has 8 thrusters, fuel, gen, rcs, seat, constructor, harvester and it's over 100 copper. (I'll put a pic in spoiler below). For SV's it's kinda the same - if you want builds that are more than a cockpit with bare miniumum thrusters/gen/fuel glued to the outside raising the limits would be a good idea For a CV, I have a small warp capable one that's well under 1k ingots (690 neodymium is most expensive part), Mini Warp Sled: workshop Spoiler: Cheap HV's that are over the limits 116 iron / 118 copper / 87 silicon: same as above but with a fancier exterior and a gatling gun/ammobox: iron 170 / copper 140 / silicon 102 my small hv's from cheapest to most expensive, all over 100 copper: I could make one that's under 100 copper by removing some of hoverscooter7's thrusters, but then it would be too slow for my tastes, and I'm not sure that there's much use to a small HV without atleast a harvester for killing critters and mining rocks.
Trig, you rule. Your workshop is a treasure trove of low cost designs. Even if they don't strictly meet the requirements of this thread, I will definitely be using some in the future, they're simultaneously affordable, functional, and beautiful. Great job!
Originally I was going to post an absolutely minimal SV, but then I decided I should put a little effort into complying with the single aesthetic requirement (that it look like a ship). Thus, I present the Phobos MicroSV: Spoiler https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1335134435 It isn't quite the cheapest SV you can make, as it does have two thrusters, but the downward-facing thruster makes it considerably easier to fly. The main thing to note is that it lacks a forward-facing thruster, so no auto-braking; flip-and-burn and lithobraking are your options for stopping. The truss blocks provide a little bit of protection for subsystems; I'm not sure you could take a hit from a POI plasma turret, but one or two hits from a POI laser turret could probably be absorbed without catastrophic effects.
I may have a few candidates but there's something I can't figure out. When I look at the factory page, one of my HVs shows this : But if I spawn the ship and look at the control panel it shows this : 2nd image is an old screenshot while the 1st image from the factory was done today, and there could be some variation in material requirements, but still : where does the big difference come from ? Loaded ammo and stuff in cargo boxes ?
looking at the first image I would guess it was a blueprint saved from alpha 6 or earlier - It has an artillery turret but is only level 7. Also 160 blocks/59 devices for only 24 iron? that also seems off. Material costs for stuff changed pretty drastically throughout A7, saving the blueprint again should update the material costs (and level) on the factory page.
I got some dirt cheap designs, it's always handy to have one laying around. This is the T4-Phobos, It's one of my oldest ships, and my only SV to meet your requirements. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1162411629 This is my very blandly named speederbike, an open top starter HV that has all the things a lvl 3 HV can have. It goes only 4 ingots over the requirements. (really just change it to 120 instead of 100 you're killing me here) http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1218152722 This is my most recent extreme budget build and my favourite. I made this to be as compact and cheap as possible, but it's 2 copper ingots too expensive. (Getting tired of this.) http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1291862533 Actually, if this isn't a challenge, why not remove the resource requirements at all? It's impossible to make an ultra-cheap vessel without sacrificing looks, as you can see here. The Phobos is the worst looking one, but the only one that meets the requirements.
Ok three entries ....all previous builds HV with only 2 hover motors.....yes sometimes it is a little tippy , but it is fun Spoiler SV that I have spent many hours with...I also give them away to newbies Spoiler CV for the less rich and famous and accident prone Spoiler All BP's are on my workshop front page
OK I found the problem... The blueprint thumbnail shows material requirements... based on my modded config file! And since I changed (simplified a lot) all recipes... So I will have to check in my "vanilla" game if I have candidates...
Acari Light-Smuggler (CV) (Modified from Acari Light design by "ei8htx", name intentionally left on core) Full Mobile base, Adv Constructor + Large Constructor, 16 double cargo (I believe this includes 1 harvest box), Auto ramps and Internal Lights, Nav Lights, Spotlight, Toilet + Shower, Armor Locker, O2 Vent and Station, 2x Cannons, Food Processor and Fridge, Med bay, Warp. (no gravity of offline protection as it is intended as PvE, mobile, on-planet base) The entire ship is set up to be an economical mobile base suitable for 1-2 people, but by adding a couple of passenger seats it could accommodate more in a pinch. There is a reasonable space on top to land a couple of SVs. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1319712040 Alpha 7.6.1 Requirements: Level 10 Iron: 816 Copper: 179 Silicon: 220 Neo: 560 Cobalt: 330 Sathium: 309 Wood/Plastic: 5 Growplot (Steel): 8
I designed this HV to have full survival functionality for a level 3 starter HV and one of the only ones I've seen with 2 harvester modules (they do seem to work faster than 1) making short work of animals or surface boulders. Guns can be attached to the sides but are left off the blueprint to make it cheaper to build in the early game. Iron: 122 Copper: 112 Silicon: 84 Perseid
If you assume on the SV you need to get off the starter planet. Think this is the minimum. It's not very pretty: So, assuming you want something not horrid looking: The last one is: Iron Ingots 106 Silicon Ingots 70 Copper Ingot 86 Cobalt Ingot 88 It does have 12 m/s2 in every direction. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1337240826
