User:DuskFyre/Sandbox/Ships

"For a list of all ships in Star Citizen, see Category:Ships" Over one hundred ships (also known as starships) exist in the Star Citizen universe, whether playable, in design, or in concept. These ships are used by Citizens and NPCs to explore the universe; conducting trade, fighting over cargo, or conducting many other activities. Innumerable combinations of ship components, customization items, and other personal touches allows each Citizen to purchase and build their own personalized starship. Some ships have multiple variants to specialize a ship for a particular role. For example, The Aurora CL has a larger cargo bay than other Auroras for more profitable trading excursions.

Ships are designed to be as customizable and complicated as the pilot wants. It is relatively easy to purchase a F7C Hornet from Anvil Aerospace with stock equipment and insurance to start bounty hunting criminals immediately. However, if desired, ship owners can spend time and credits to attach heavier armor, fine-tune the engine, and generally build a ship to their own specifications. With their custom ship, pilots can join up with a player-run organization and operate as an escort for a mining operation.

Components
"For more information, see Category: Ship Components" Beyond just the hull, the components are all the devices, equipment, and tools that make up the "working" parts of a ship. From weapons to thrusters, each component has different characteristics that differentiate it from other components in that class. For example, one shield generator may provide an improved recharge rate in exchange for greater power consumption.Equipment and components can be procured from various stores and shops located throughout the universe such as Hardpoint Guys; supplying weapons from Apocalypse Arms or shield generators from Seal Corp.. These components are then attached to your ship and integrated into the power and CPU systems and activated. Beyond simply purchasing and attaching new equipment, pilots may fine-tune, overclock, and test modifications to the components at the risk of damage or destruction.

Components operate on a "Size" system: Size 2 components will only fit and operate properly in Size 2 hardpoints. The only exception is weapons, which work on a more complicated sizing system allowing weapons to be twin-linked, gimbaled, or manned with a compensating size increase, such as a Size 3 weapon that is twin-linked and gimbaled would require a size 5 hardpoint. For more information, see Ship components

Insurance
Insurance policies are taken out by pilots for their ships, cargo, and modifications. Basic hull insurance will insure a pilot against the loss of the hull and the stock weapons that it came attached with. A regular fee must be paid to maintain this policy and operates as a reasonable running cost.

Additional insurance policies may be taken out based on risk. The riskier systems that you are taking your ship or cargo through, the higher the premiums will be.

Lifetime Insurance (LTI) is present for any ships purchased before November 26 2012 or during their concept sales. LTI policies never expire and require no running fee, but only cover the base hull and stock weapons. LTI does not exist for modifications or cargo.

Roles
Most ships and ship variants in the universe are designed and built for a particular purpose, or role, in mind; from the small eleven meter M50 Interceptor racing ship to the massive one kilometer UEE Bengal Carrier purpose-built for the military.

Starter
Starter ships are the inexpensive and versatile ships used by fledgling Citizens to explore the universe for the first time. Often single-seat and with a small cross-section, these may be the most common type of ships piloted by Citizens in the universe.

Exploration
Exploration craft boast powerful sensor suites, larger fuel tanks, and other components to explore frontiers and make grand discoveries. These ships, manned by brave explorers, will delve into unexplored and dangerous jump points just for the chance to discover a new system

Cargo/Mercantile
Every settlement, station, and ship needs supplies and goods to function; whether the demand is for essential jump fuel or luxurious leather couches. These ships are owned by traders and merchants seeking to deliver these goods for the highest profit, utilizing expanded cargo holds and improved engines to haul as much cargo as possible.

Combat
Combat ships are purpose-built and designed to interdict, outmaneuver, and disable or destroy targeted ships. Bristling with weapons and boasting improved power plants, combat ships have small or non-existent cargo holds and other accessories for maximum combat efficiency. These ships are further broken down into different combat roles.

Fighters
Fighters are combat ships designed for one or two persons; often with forward-facing weapons and focused on taking down other ships of similar size. These fighters can be found all over the universe, whether for bounty hunters or as part of the front line of a capital ship battle.

Bombers
Bombers carry a large payload of torpedoes and other heavy ordnance for tactical strikes against larger targets. Bombers often have fewer anti-fighter weaponry and require a fighter escort to reach the target before being intercepted

Combat Utility Ships
Combat utility ships are small ships with support equipment, radar, non-lethal weapons, or other specialized equipment. They take on a role beyond simply destroying enemy targets; usually used to support squadrons or fleets with their abilities.

Crewed Combat Ships
Crewed ships are larger, heavier, and carry more people, or crew, than fighters. As with fighters, crewed ships may either be general combat ships, or focus on a specific role. Many of these heavier combat ships are part of the UEE Navy and are not available to Citizens

Industry
Industry ships work to produce raw resources from the universe, whether they be raw materials or electronic information. These ships include self-contained mining ships and salvage ships designed to harvest materials from wrecks as well as information-gathering couriers.

Racing
Packing over-sized engines and power plants at the expense of every other component, racing ships are unparalleled in their speed and maneuverability. Often weaponless and without a cargo hold, these sleek ships can fly at breathtaking speeds as they cruise around a racing course; racers dreaming of winning the Murray Cup.

Specialized/Miscellaneous
With many different roles to fulfill in the universe, these ships often fall into a class of their own; filling a niche need without significant competition. Specialized roles include passenger transportation or scientific research, though the customization of other ships may allow them to fulfill this role to a lesser degree.

Alien Ships
Many aliens ships also exist in the universe, most normally not flyable by humans without serious modification. Replica craft are included in the above tables where designed and refitted by human manufacturers for use by Citizens.

Manufacturers
"For more information about ship manufacturers, see User:DuskFyre/Sandbox/Ship_Manufacturers" Ship manufacturers design and build ships for military and civilian use, spending decades and billions of credits on research and development.