Where and how to build starbases?

[Pragmatic]

As mentioned, they only cost fleet cap as an opportunity cost. You can build a hangar bay or an anchorage in any given slot.

In the midgame you may need both for efficiency.

(I don't know, haven't built any...)

Habitats can build strongholds, which provide soldier jobs (?). I'm pretty sure each soldier jobs provides some fleet cap.

Can habitats act as a weak anchorage starbase?

 

[AlanC9]

I know some people have made that work, yes.

 

[westamastaflash]

(I don't know, haven't built any...)

Habitats can build strongholds, which provide soldier jobs (?). I'm pretty sure each soldier jobs provides some fleet cap.

Can habitats act as a weak anchorage starbase?

They not only do that, they are very difficult to invade and have FTL inhibitors, so they work very well as a strong citadel in border systems.

 

[Hopit]

Places I build starbases:

• At defensive locations. A bottleneck location against an enemy works fantastically.
• Locations to grab trade value. The more convenient the better.
• Systems to split up major trade routes. Preferably I try to keep routes to no more than 3 systems without a base inbetween if possible.
• In systems with colonies. The deep space black site is a pretty solid building. (+5 stability)
• Systems with curators or artisan troupes for the special buildings.

As far as speccing them? First priority is to beef them up defensively if I want it as a defensive station. If not, trade modules if I need them. Hangar modules for trade protection if needed. Then shipyards or anchorages. Buildings are whatever syncs up best with the modules I've chosen.

To this list I'd also like to add black holes for that sweet science module

 

[Bouchart]

Another point not mentioned: you'll want to stay close to your starbase limit early on to help keep up your Cohesion.

Deep Space Black Site is a good building so I'd recommend building starbases in only systems with colonies if possible. Also always build a starbase in a system with an enclave. Black holes are good sites for starbases because of the building that adds physics research.

My starbases are always dedicated to either trade, anchorages, or shipyards; I never mix and match the three. Trade starbases get offworld trading companies. Anchorages get the fleet logistics one. Shipyards get the fleet academy and crew quarters. For the rest of the building slots, I'll build special curator buildings, the Black Site, and maybe one of the resource silo or hydroponics bay if necessary. I play with a lot of hyperlane connections so there's fewer choke points and defensive stations aren't as useful. But you still might want defensive based starbases in systems with wormholes.

 

[Pragmatic]

What defensive buildings (i.e., the 6 minor ones) do all of you use for border systems?

 

[AlanC9]

I like jammers. It's far better to blow up an enemy ship than to make it retreat.