Starbase News

Welcome back to Starbase Community News, your monthly post dedicated to all things Starbase community, both in-game and outside the game! Community News has been running since October 2020, and past issues can be found on the official Starbase forums under Developer topics.

Spring is coming on the northern hemisphere and April has been busy all over, and not the least with the big upcoming Early Access live server patch (scheduled for next week) and the latest news update from a couple of days ago.

After this issue the Community News will go on a hiatus. It has been an honour witnessing the creativity and the sheer power of imagination of this community in the past years, and giving them the spotlight they deserve. Before we take off for the beaches of a distant moon or attempt to swim in the gas clouds of Eos, however, let's first take a look at what the endokind have been creating in the past month.



[h2]Event Highlight[/h2]

Imperial Mining Operation Intercept

Endor has discovered another Imperial Operation: a mining operation to recover from past losses, just past the Origin 2 safezone. Check #community-events on Starbase Discord for more info.

Time: May 1st 2022 (Sunday), 7PM UTC
Server: Early Access live server
Location: around the edge of Origin 2 safezone
Channel: Voice 1 on Starbase Discord



[h2]Community Highlights[/h2]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Join Senkii for a chill ship-building stream... and bolts. Bolts everywhere.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Softwerker streaming in German!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Puzzled by beams? Commando Doggo shares some handy tips!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Join Alfa Robotics on a salvaging run!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Happy Trigger 42 Plays bringing in tips for upgrading your ships to the new heating system!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Siege gameplay on the PTU server, shared by TurnIP!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Tune in on Baboon King for more ship upgrades! Find the full playlist here.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Krawll Unchained represents the "Small Fighter" by Egomaniac on Community Ship Showcase!



[h2]Screenshot Showcase[/h2]


Posted by Fieldstone on Steam


Posted by Toomboost on Steam


Posted by DRSTARKE on Steam


Posted by KamataSatomi#0642 on Discord


Posted by DRSTARKE on Steam


Posted by HappyTrigger42 on Steam


Posted by ALPHA on Steam


Posted by rekiat55 on Steam


Posted by Kodey on Steam


Posted by HappyTrigger42 on reddit


Posted by DRSTARKE on Steam



[h2]Fanwork Showcase[/h2]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
In times of update trouble, Loops comes to us singing words of wisdom... Enjoy this new hit!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Meanwhile, Commando Doggo summons a dreaded entity from another universe.


Meet "Abyss Ant Mk3 Scout Skiff", posted by igmolicious on reddit. Get the blueprint here!


Posted by Flap_ef on reddit


Meet the "TBMLM-068DW Elefant", a combination tug/salvager/scavenger/repair ship! Posted by Astralion#5521 on Discord.

[h2]Crafting[/h2]

• Added to crafting:
  
  • Speedometer (Controls, tables, screens, small devices)
    
  • Laser tracker (Laser designator and tracker)
    
  • Grid display Basic (Controls, tables, screens, small devices)
    
  • Grid display Advanced (New node, right of basic YOLOL chip)
    
  • 5-tube Rocket Launcher (Rockets)
    
  • Fixed High Explosive Rocket (Rockets)
    
  • Fixed High Explosive Dumbfire Torpedo (Torpedoes)
    
  • Alloy crafting (New node, Advanced tech tree)
    
  • Tier 2 alloys (New node, Advanced tech tree)
    
  • Tripod plasma (New node, tools/weapons)
    
  • Tripod Laser (New node, tools/weapons)
    
  • Tripod Railgun (New node, tools/weapons)
    
  • Recycler tool (New node, tools/weapons)
• Added Alloy crafting to crafting categories
  
• Added gyroscope to the basic research tree
  
• Removed fast travel core from research/crafting environment
  
• Added Factory Hall Flat 2x2 to Research Tree
  
• Removed Fast Travel Core (mini) from craftables
  
• Minimum crafting time changed from 1s to 0.33s, Max crafting time changed from 60s to 20s
  

[h2]Devices[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where equipping the bolt tool no longer highlighted bolts
  

[h2]Gameplay[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where the player character was briefly T-posing upon spawning
  

[h2]Ship Designer[/h2]

• Navigation Data Logger parts added, located in Devices/ Navigation
  

[h2]Ship shops[/h2]

• Updated Mason and Zilant developer-made ships
  
• Updated Ghidorah, TAC Eclipse, Firefly and Sphyrdinae player-made ships
  
• Changed name and description of:
  
  • Mason -> Mason Drillship
• Added to Duratech ship shops:
  
  • Frigg B
    
  • DTX KVASIRB A
• Removed from Duratech ship shops:
  
  • DTX-FAR3-A Faradagr A
    
  • LYNGBAKER A
    
  • Sinthgut DTX-SGT5-A
    
  • ORMVIDAR A
    
  • DTX-NGL4-A Notnagel A

[h2]Ships[/h2]

• Spaceship window plates primary material changed to "Glass"
  
• Fast Travel Gate Core is no longer required in order to use Fast Travel Gates
  

[h2]Stations[/h2]

• Window plates primary material changed to "Glass"
  
• In Settings -> Graphics -> Stations, there is now option to set how many zones can be loaded in at once. The choice is between 2 to 5 zones.
  
• If GPU memory is about to run out, zones start unloading to avoid issues
  
• Added new developer stations to the universe
  
  • Added Robur Station close to the Origin Fast Travel Gate - An easy-to-access PVP station with an infinite insurance transfer range and shared inventory and Auction House with Origin stations
    
  • Added Farbelt Outpost station to the edge of the Eos asteroid belt
    
  • Added a new Fast Travel Gate connection from the Elysium Moon to the outer edge of the Eos asteroid belt, near the new Farbelt Outpost station

[h2]UI[/h2]

• Added settings for enabling/disabling player relation icons
  
• Fixed an issue where the bloom settings weren't available to players
  

[h2]PTU ONLY[/h2]

• Capital Ships
  
  • Glass Alloy now affects the shell rating of capital ships positively
    
  • Exutium material also affects the shell rating positively now
• Crafting
  
  • Fix on crafting material config for station windows
    
  • Added more glass objects to station window crafting material lists
    
  • Added crafting data for Gyroscope Device
    
  • Added Capital Ship Dock Flat 2x2
    
  • Rail cannon crafting cost reduced
    
  • All alloys crafting costs reduced greatly
    
  • Capital Ship support beam crafting costs reduced greatly
    
  • Removed Ajatite from decorative station/capital ship block crafting requirements
    
  • Removed Ajatite from crafting requirements for station frame blocks
    
  • Material selector enabled for Capital Ship Plating Module (Alium / Exutium)
    
  • Fixed an issue where alloy crafting items did not show up after researching
• Devices
  
  • Recycler Tool
    
    • Recycler Tool settings are now available
      
    • Recycler Tool now consumes 1 electricity per second from the Power Pack instead of 10 electricity per second
      
    • Fixed an issue where pointing at an Easy build mode ship with the Recycler Tool caused the whole ship to get highlighted
  • Added station permissions for factory reconstruction machines, and added a message on the terminal screen
• Factory Halls
  
  • Factory hall frames are now unremoveable if there's content inside them
    
  • Resource bridge and crates now don't require a power network to function in factory areas
• Gameplay
  
  • Adjustments to Exutium Alloy Armor Value, from 5.0 to 4.4
• Hangar Halls
  
  • Fixed an issue where spawning ships from the hangar during warp caused them to be lost in space
    
  • Added an error message for ships that are too large for the current hangar
• Mining
  
  • Patched a power consumption exploit involving the Mining Laser
• Moon
  
  • Newly constructed moon bases now have two 5x5 floors as options to expand into, with the first floor being only slightly under ground. Maximum expansions remain at 30.
    
  • Increased radius of Moon Base safe zones slightly to accommodate the change of the shape
    
  • Added 100m range from Moon Base Safe Zone border where no other Moon Bases can be founded
    
  • During Build Mode, the zone below the current one is always loaded to ensure Support Legs remain loaded in
• Ship shops
  
  • Player made ship Sphyrdinae added to the economy
• Ships
  
  • Fixed an issue where spaceship's Transponders and the ships themselves could teleport away from the location they were left at if the player left the area
    
  • Opened Fast Travel Gate Connection between new Moon Orbit Gate and Farbelt Gate
    
  • Increased Fast Travel Gate travel speed by 100%
• Tutorials
  
  • Dismissible hints added for capital dock, hangar hall and moon base items
• Weapons
  
  • Fixed an issue where the sound of tripod weapons wasn't played to other players

[h2]Known issues[/h2]

• Asteroid hauling area at Arma station does not work correctly
  
• Safe zones of Farbelt Outpost and its Warpgate connection will be considerably smaller, but these adjustments didn't make it to the patch build
  
• Ship stores are not requiring glass material for buying ships that do have glass material in them
  
• Robur station and Origin station's station storage and ship storage are not yet linked together
  
• Robur station has two Insurance Transfer terminals with the same name, which are considered as the same terminal due to this
  
• Farbelt Outpost's refill spots are missing resource bridges so they cannot be used. Ore towers can refill your ship's power and propellant too, so use those instead
  

Hello all Starbase players old and new. Today we announce a large update that we plan to release in the next week or so. We are pushing out a good deal of features, in-world changes, as well as economy and balancing changes. These are features and changes that we had originally planned to add to the live server later together with Station Siege.

The reason for this rather sudden major update is that Starbase’s sales performance hasn't been the strongest, and thus we need to prioritize other projects for some time in the interest of ensuring the game’s continued development and long-term future. Starbase’s server costs are low so they aren't in any danger, but its development will be slowed down and updates will be less frequent for some time. While this is not ideal, we're looking forward to returning to development as soon as possible, reinvigorated and ready to make Starbase the game we all want it to be.

Our goals for the upcoming update are:

• Reducing AFK time (flying, crafting) and making the current "populated universe" easier to move around in
  
• Making the universe more lucrative but also more dangerous
  
• Providing a reasonable amount of new gameplay to everyone
  

Here's a summary of features you can expect on Live soon:

• Moon Mining & Bases
  
• Capital Ships
  
• Heat mechanics
  
• Hangar halls (Ship Designer/Repair hall) to player stations and capital ships
  
• Blueprint update
  
• Alloy furnace
  
• Recycler tool
  
• Speedometer, gyroscope for ships
  
• New tripods(plasma, rail, laser)
  
• Rail cannons, premium FCU, tier 2+3 enhancers, and professional YOLOL chips are now obtainable
  

Universe changes:

• A lot more large asteroids everywhere
  
• New dev stations (Robur & Farbelt Outpost)
  
• New fast travel connection
  

Balancing & Features

• Research tree & crafting balancing
  
• Fast travel core requirement removed from using the Fast travel gates, gate speed increased
  
• Some weapon/device cost balancing
  

We hope you'll enjoy these little changes coming soon to the Starbase universe. The full changelog will be published along with the update. Sieges can continue be tested on the PTU side as before, and serve as a prelude of things to come to the live side later on.

Join the discussion on the official Starbase Discord.



Wishlist Starbase on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/454120/Starbase/

[h2]Chat[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where the game crashed when pressing "Reset Shared settings" button on chat context menu
  
• Fixed chat not wrapping lines properly with relation icons
  

[h2]Crafting[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where cancelling the alloy crafting queue refunded all the electricity charges from already crafted alloys
  
• Fixed an issue where some modules could not be crafted
  
• Adjusted Generator Enhancer crafting data, enhancers are now much cheaper to build
  

[h2]Devices[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where generators were not able to provide power to the network as fast as they were supposed to
  
• Added Speedometer, a simple device that reports its speed as a YOLOL field
  
• Added Laser Tracker, same as the Laser Sensor that can already be found on the torpedo, but it attaches to the utility body 2S
  

[h2]Easy Build Mode[/h2]

• Added a toolbar to Easy Build Mode
  
• 3 new and 27 updated Easy Build Mode area module icons
  
• Players are now able to build while slightly past the build zone edge
  

[h2]Gameplay[/h2]

• Fixed an error that occurred immediately after booting up the game
  
• Fixed an error where shooting at a station that has damageable parts generated and safe zone disabled causes persistent effect and audio loop for the projectiles' lifetime
  
• Optimizations to modular generator fuel chamber LODs
  
• Optimizations to thruster LODs
  
• Adjusted floor panel LOD distances
  
• Improved modular ore cargo crate LODs
  
• Improved generator enhancers' LOD optimization
  
• Improved radiator LODs
  

[h2]Mining[/h2]

• Increased the amount of mineable large asteroids in Eos and Elysium asteroid belts
  
• Large mineable asteroids now spawn near Origins and edges of the Eos belt
  

[h2]Modules[/h2]

• Added a grid based check to module placement to avoid gaps between objects from forming. Existing gaps are not affected, and some gaps may appear if you attach objects to other objects that have already have been offset. Removing enough of the problematic pieces and placing them again may fix existing gaps
  
• Fixed an issue where an error showed up when recycling station modules consisted of multiple parts
  
• Added generator enhancer modules to Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 generator nodes
  

[h2]Ship blueprints[/h2]

• Ship blueprint autosave settings are now available
  

[h2]Ship Designer[/h2]

• Move and rotate tool options for selections now has colored XYZ icons
  
• Added text informing players of object placement or movement being canceled when target position would go outside of the build area
  

[h2]Ship shops[/h2]

• Updated the following player-made ships:
  
  • 10 Flying Arrow
    
  • 16 Red Chains
    
  • 19 God Gives
    
  • 26 So Eager
    
  • DTX AELSA A
    
  • DTX ALFRIGG A
    
  • DTX BOMBURR A
    
  • DTX EYDAMA A
    
  • DTX FORNBOGI A
    
  • DTX FRIGG A
    
  • DTX FUNDINN A
    
  • DTX HEPTIFILI A
    
  • DTX HERETHA A
    
  • DTX JAGERFALL A
    
  • DTX JORDIS A
    
  • DTX SIGNY A
    
  • DTX SVAFA A
    
  • DTX VANA B
    
  • DTX HANARR A
    
  • DTX VEGGR A
    
  • DTX VOLSUNG A
    
  • DTX VOLSUNG B
    
  • DTX VOLSUNG C
• Updated the description and the name of:
  
  • Kodiak -> Kodiak Racer
• Laborer, Laborer module 2 and Kodiak have been returned to the economy
  

[h2]Ships[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where ships violently vibrated at end of warp travel if they were not permitted to exit safe zone
  
• Added default leave safe zone, tow in safe zone and disable safe mode settings
  
• Added a button to apply default settings to all owned ships
  
• New collision sounds
  
• Fixed an issue where smallest ships (mass less than 100) did not make collision sounds
  

[h2]Stations[/h2]

• Added a feature to reclaim abandoned stations of any type. Entering an abandoned station's area creates a pop-up where you can claim them.
  
  • Resigned, docked Capital Ships can only be claimed if you are owner of the station where they are docked in
• Players are now able to build while slightly past the build zone edge
  

[h2]UI[/h2]

• Added an option in graphics settings to disable and enable the bloom effects in-game
  

[h2]Weapons[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where picking up ammo from the world reloads the weapon immediately without the reload animation
  
• Reduced crafting costs of all ship mounted weapons and adjusted Rail Cannon crafting material types
  

[h2]PTU ONLY[/h2]

• Capital Ships
  
  • First placed capital ship block now snaps to a grid-defined position. The first piece must be a module.
    
  • If all capital ship pieces are removed, it is now possible to place the first piece again
    
  • Fixed an issue where a system message was constantly being spammed in Capital Ship halls
    
  • The primary material of window modules has been changed to "Glass"
• Crafting
  
  • Added alloy furnaces and craftable alloys to Public Test Universe -> Alloy crafting
    
  • Added the Recycler Tool to Public Test Universe -> Personal tools
• Devices
  
  • Added Durability Tool and Recycler Tool to the inventory cheat tab
• Reconstruction Machine
  
  • Updated the reconstruction machine's UI to show battery percent instead of cooldown time
    
  • Added "km" to distance indicator in the respawn menu
    
  • Fixed an issue where a station's name did not update to the respawn menu after linking
    
  • Fixed an issue where respawn distance did not work properly for station devices
    
  • Fixed an issue where players could continue playing while dead if they were killed while standing in the reconstruction machine heal
    
  • Fixed an issue where battery percent on a station device did not update if the terminal screen was visible
    
  • Increased station reconstruction machine range to 5000 km
    
  • Added reconstruction machine access permissions to station access tab
• Hangar Halls
  
  • Added an icon for station manager hangar access permission
    
  • Added hangar hall access permissions to station access tab
• Moon
  
  • Fixed an issue where moon city transponder did not show up
    
  • Large safe zone area around moon city removed
    
  • Safe zone from moon gate to moon city removed
    
  • Safe zone around the moon gate added
    
  • Ship collision damage from all moon safe zones removed
    
  • Hand weapon damage still apply on all moon safe zones
• Ship Designer
  
  • Added Grid Displays (found in Devices/Controls)
• Siege
  
  • Siege HUD now prioritizes the closest siege
    
  • Added the target station name to the siege timer
    
  • Added minimum and maximum times to expanded participant list
    
  • Fixed an issue where the siege HUD was visible even in Ship Designer and the main menu
    
  • Increased siege team change interval cooldown to 15 minutes
    
  • Modified siege schedule information tooltip
• Weapons
  
  • Fixed Tripod placement not using player's rotation properly

The below notes are for the previous PTU patch, which was released on the 14th without its own patch note post.

[h2]Crafting[/h2]

• Fixed an issue where some station parts were not craftable
  

[h2]Ship Blueprint Update[/h2]

• Added a feature to allow each ship 3 save slots for different modifications
  
• The window for the blueprint files opens by default with the Universal Tool when near a ship you're hosting, and can also be bound to a separate key
  
• Operator access is enough to allow modifying ship blueprint files
  
• One slot can be set to automatic save with 3 triggers configurable from Gameplay -> Ship Blueprint Autosave
  
• Repair terminals and the blueprint filler feature can be used to restore ships to the form in these saved slots. The form at the time of purchase is also always available by activating the original blueprint slot.
  

[h2]Ship shops[/h2]

• Added Sphyrdinae player-made ship
  
• Updated the following player-made ships:
  
  • Larve
    
  • 10 Flying Arrow
    
  • 22 the Heavens
    
  • 30 Allons Danser
    
  • Hexxer
    
  • Rigger
    
  • Rocker
    
  • Rocker Duo
    
  • Shifter
    
  • Stocker
    
  • Ghidorah
    
  • Apito
    
  • Namib
• Updated descriptions of:
  
  • Trident C512
    
  • Trident C250
    
  • R-17 Recolter
• Updated description and changed name:
  
  • Peon -> Peon Prospector
    
  • Vector - Vector Shuttle

[h2]Stations[/h2]

• Added a system log message to inform players of prohibited double foundation placement
  

[h2]PTU ONLY[/h2]

• Devices
  
  • Reconstruction Machine: Added a station permission check to link button during sieges
• Hangar Halls
  
  • Enables hangar construction in Capital Ships and fixes some bugs with deactivating hangar halls
    
  • Fixed an issue where repair menu didn't update correctly when creating new areas
    
  • Hangar Hall terminal error screen has been replaced with a black screen
• Ship Designer
  
  • Added Grid Display device to Public Test Category folder
• Ships
  
  • Fixed an issue where heat increased incorrectly in some situations as the ship moved
• Capital Ships
  
  • Alium material in single parts should now affect shell rating positively. Also secondary materials in objects are now included in the shell check.

[h2]Known issues[/h2]

• Selecting the Repair tab on a hangar terminal makes the terminal screen turn black. This is currently being worked on.
  
• Terminals only recognize one hangar per station area. This is currently being worked on.
  

Hello everyone, it's time for another Starbase Developer Vlog!

The developer vlogs are a series of videos where we'll talk about news regarding Starbase's development, upcoming features, community creations as well as any other topics that the community wants us to discuss.

In this video we're discussing Station Siege being added to the Public Test Universe, the creation of the Player Council, and more.
[previewyoutube]https://youtu.be/vcB2EGd1clw[/previewyoutube]

Join the discussion on the official Starbase Discord.



And don't forget to wishlist Starbase on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/454120/Starbase/