Support ship design

[Dralasite]

So far, when I design support ships, I make them strictly support ships. So my repair ship has no weapons, just a repair bay and I fill the rest up with solar collectors. Similar with ship space yards later on (although I give them some storage as well).

I usually put one or two solar collectors on all my ships but I also build some destroyers that are full of solar collectors, no weapons.

Is this the best way to do thing? Maybe I should
have my repair ships have a few pdcs, some armor, or whatnot? Should I not bother with any collectors on my warships and only have support ships?

Thanks!

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Dralasite:
So far, when I design support ships, I make them strictly support ships. So my repair ship has no weapons, just a repair bay and I fill the rest up with solar collectors. Similar with ship space yards later on (although I give them some storage as well).

I usually put one or two solar collectors on all my ships but I also build some destroyers that are full of solar collectors, no weapons.

Is this the best way to do thing? Maybe I should
have my repair ships have a few pdcs, some armor, or whatnot? Should I not bother with any collectors on my warships and only have support ships?

Thanks!

I often put a point defense canon or two on my repair and supply destroyers. They can pick off one missile when they encounter enemys -- before they run to the corner

[Gryphin]

As in most things, It depends.
Seems to me there is not much point to putting defence on a support ship.
If the enemy is attacking ships in the cornor then your fleet is gone anyway. Maybe there are exceptions like Arkon's though.

[Gozra]

I design support ships based on what their function is.
1 repair ship
2 Space dock
3 Refueler
4 Cargo
5 Unit launcher
6 Unit Sweeper
7 Scout/raider

I tend to put sensors on these ships as well. My main thought is that these are fleet support ships so anything they can do to support the fleet is a good thing. Extra cargo space, sensors, even missle bays. A big thing with these designs as well is/are the ablity to keep up with the fleet. So I tend to use BC hulls or cruiser hulls.

[Slick]

Try giving a support ship (if not to be assigned to a fleet) the order of Kamakazi instead of Don't get Hurt. A colony ship can often kill an escort or frigate by ramming. It is better than hiding in the corner waiting to be killed. Do NOT do this for a ship in a fleet because you do want support ships to run to the corners during fleet battles.

Slick.

[Wanderer]

The way I see it, weapons and defences reduce the efficiency of a support ship, whilst support items reduce the efficiency of warships.

If I don't arm my support ships, they won't get blown up trying to fight, leaving any survivors low on supply and with no repair crews!

I tend to keep them the same size as the warships they are supporting, so in an emergency I can retro-fit them into extra warships.