Money makes the world go round, I think we can all agree on that. My experience playing Star Sonata for over 14 years should speak something for my insanity as a human being, but also my tenacity against adversity in the game.
There are two things you need to think about when it comes to making serious money as either a free to play or a lower level pay to play in the game, these are hullspace and speed. I make my money from DGs and sell my items to players either from a shop, undercutting everyone, or player to player for my modded gear.
Your average fleet commander is a slow moving bulky slug that slithers from system to system semi indestructible. I like to look at The FC as being the ultimate harvester, not because of this indestructibility but more so as they have what I see as being very useful abilities for making money fast – if you avoid common sense and aug them for speed.
There are three things to remember:
1: Fighters do decent damage. They are not overly powerful, and they can feel a little lacklustre at times, however I use them successfully to DG as a fleet commander so I’m not complaining.
2: Bots are reasonably strong for a fleet commander. They’re not exceptional but let’s be honest, they get the job done. Whatever you pick, just make sure they go fast and have long range, you don’t want them getting hit much. Sustain is always a useful thing too! Your Wild bots will automatically be fast, so don’t worry too much, unless you’ve been cursed with a heph aug.
3: What can’t hit you can’t hurt you. The most common argument against my setups is usually that people are afraid that they will be destroyed. This is a natural fear, especially if you are on DSF and you are used to losing battles against Space Rats and Volcoms in the Nexus.
My main statement on the fact is that if you don’t stand around being hit by everything and it’s mum, you are going to be absolutely fine… Stand there like a Wally and you deserve to get poned.
Fleet commander ships tend to be quite slow and bulky, but there are some faster ones. I do like the look of the Zeus throne plus, though that’s out of most people’s price range. It has a nice size and decent speed
For a tech 20 player, I’d recommend the PBF for it’s disgusting internal speed and three augs. It lacks defences but as a flagship, one can throw an advanced blocker and Warper onto that puppy and get it through level after level of most DGs without issues.
A Hera, Bouquet and Speedy Sup. Capacity augmenter will give you elec regen, mobility, speed and hull so you can DG quickly and efficiently. You will want to outfit your bots for a similar speed, and you can put a speed shield on it if you have the skill to survive with it. The PBF will allow for some awesome speed and quick farming relatively risk free.
Your Prog Rosies are the best wild bots, you can pay a player for them, or cap them yourself. If you’re poor or lack the stylin’ moovz to cap them, Basils will suffice.
You will want to aug your bots for range, speed and sustain. Damage isn’t so important. For years, I thought it meant everything but over time I learned that I generally get decent damage anyway from them.
A cheaper player will want the Lyceum Exploration cruiser, as there are decent tech 19 fighters with 1 Bouquet augmenter and 1 Hera or you could go with the Hybridized Battleship, for those tech 20 fighters and auras. Both are viable for fast farming, just bring an Afterburner and warper, or a blocker and warper to ensure safety. You will be fine.
Hera augs do reduce radar, but you should be fine with a decent radar on your cap ship. Most galaxies or systems, whatever you wanna call them have suns in. Enjoy the light adum gave to you.
Bots can be anything from your cheap Mzungu Liquids to tech 18 Anthos ships if you’re begging to get nerfed. Heck I love F Wings myself for their insane resists. Just chuck range and speed and sustain on them along with OS4s if you can afford them. Bingo. Abstructors with mining control are rather nice for just about anything if you are a cheapskate like me. Invest in your bar skills, invest in hull and speed upgrades where you can get them. Invest in everything you can skill wise. Ships, items etc can be replaced but you can’t. You will always benefit from them.
Learn about the control skills if you haven’t as they will make you strong.
So where do you DG?
All of warp 2 and 3 in earthforce. If you think warp 2 DGs are bad, they’re not. Lots of surprisingly nice things to get from there. Things most players want but can’t be bothered to go for. There are always people who want these items. They’re rare but heck, it’s worth having a play around, and they are very, very safe.
Warp 3 in earthforce is a garden of treasures just waiting to be mined. You don’t need money to get this kind of setup working. You can probably hammer a decent setup together for a few billion if that. Just get a ragtag fleet together and chance it out.
The Lyceum Exploration Cruiser is awesome and very beautiful. The only drawback being that it’s Tech 19, meaning your fighters won’t be as bench, remember the Hera and Bouquet setup. They have a great inbuilt aura but it eats elec like Remdghast eats abuse. Once you are making money, upgrade where you can and max your first 5 bar skills for speed and hull before anything. Boom, now you are making money faster. I’d personally avoid trying this as anything other than FC. Shield monkey lacks the range to be effective, and it’s bots are sadly squishy by comparison.
Wild Bots are your main damage. I think everyone can agree that Prog Rosies re the best thing to ever happen to FC although if you have 20 RC, I recommend Bana spears for the speed. Basils are good if you don’t have the tech for them. Their elec regen is great and if you have the brain for it you can exploit the hell out of that.
You will want to upgrade every bot skill you can along the way for more resistance and faster ships. Liberty is a must.
Maximise your range zen as well for the lols and just enjoy making money.
As a side note, Gunners can also clear things quite effectively if they are auged well but lack the hull to make them viable. If you work with a partner though this can be more effective… But you are probably gonna have to split that loot.
Just your average space adventurer turned blogger. Prematurely balding. Egad, no! Forsooth!
