All factions in StarDrive with the Black Box and Combined Arms mods have access to a common set of orbital defense platforms/stations. Although they can use the same weapons as ships, they’re most effective when armed with specialized weapons that can only be used on these hulls.
Since these hulls are used by all factions, a design created while playing one faction will show up when playing another faction, once all the modules used in the design have been unlocked. They are affected by faction traits, such as module HP, weapon accuracy, maintenance cost, etc.
Kinetic Turrets: All players start with the Kinetic Turret, making it the starting defense platform weapon. There are several Kinetic Turret designs that come with the game/mod. The main weakness of this weapon on a defense platform is its 120 degree firing arc. On a Small Defense Platform with three Kinetic Turrets, only one turret can fire most of the time, and on occasion, two turrets.
Orbital Kinetic Cannons: These 2×2 specialized defense platform weapons are unique in that they have a 360 degree firing arc, which means that no matter where the enemy is, all the OKCs will fire, not just the ones on that side of the platform. They also have roughly 2.75x more range than Kinetic Turrets. On the downside, they require a great deal more ordnance. Nevertheless, they’re more than worth it.
This design improves upon the Small Defense Platform Mk2 design included with the game/mod. Mass isn’t an issue on a platform, so it uses Armored Ordnance Lockers. The two Solar Plates allow using a 2×2 shield generator without requiring a fourth reactor.
This design benefits not only from switching to Fast Shields, but using fusion Fighter Reactors provides enough power to add two 1×1 Fighter Fast Shield generators.
This is a huge step up from the Small Defense Platform. The bridge improves the accuracy dramatically and boosts the shields. There are two 2×2 shield generators, and there’s armor now.
Ceramic Armor would be an obvious upgrade to this design. Unfortunately, the four reactors do not provide enough power for Fast Shields, which hinders upgrades in that direction. In the long term, Quantum 1×1 reactors would be perfect.
This design goes all-in on the shields. The Fairy Armor here provides a big boost to the shields and provides enough power that no reactors are needed. Using the space where those reactors were for ordnance storage means the exterior ordnance spots can now have armor instead. Anti-shield weaponry can be a problem.
When looking at upgrades, Mark 2 Orbital Kinetic Cannons would be a great next step. Unfortunately, this is the last armor that produces power. Further research along this branch of armor development will provide a larger shield boost, but will consume power, rather than producing it. Therefore the reactors will have to come back.
Orbital Missile Launchers: These 2×3 specialized defense platform weapons are guided, have a range of 10k and a 180 degree firing arc.
These Light Orbital Missile Launchers won’t fit on a Small Defense Platform, so the Heavy Defense Platform is a necessity to use them effectively. There isn’t a lot of armor, but it does have two 2×2 shield generators.
Note there isn’t a command module of any kind on this platform. The defense platforms do not require one the way ships do, and these guided missiles don’t benefit from an accuracy bonus.
Stations
Here’s a Small Station armed with Light Orbital Missile Launchers, which are protected by heavy Ceramic Armor. I have not been able to see this design in combat, so I consider it experimental, at least for now.
Good upgrade options include:
- Armored Cold Fusion Reactors, or
- A 4×4 Quantum Reactor
- Battle Shields
- Add Orbital Kinetic Cannons (possibly removing 1 LOM per side)
- More Ordnance Fabricators
- Nano Ordnance Lockers
- Organic Armor for its ordnance fabrication abilities or
- Composite Alloy Armor
Fighters
Whether or not you want to add fighter hangars to stations is up to you, but if you do, one tip is to use fighter designs that only have combat thrusters. They don’t need FTL, and combat thrusters focus entirely on sub-light.
Outro
There you have it, folks! Until next time, don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have that I can help you with in the comments below!
Now go forth and weed out those Pollops!
