The Vortex engi ship (SPOILERS INSIDE)

[Gunnar]

I recently unlocked THE VORTEX (the second layout of the one engi square/donut/ring ship)

I find it fun to use, but I am having trouble with having a viable strategy with it.

Some important things about it:

Crew: 1 Engi
Drones: 2 repair drones, 1 anti-personel defense drone
Weapons: Heavy Ion, Heavy Laser I
Augmentations: Drone Reactor Booster (increases inside drone movement speed by 50%)
Other: Has no video cameras (the thing that lets you see inside your ship, I don't remember the name of it! )
one shield

How can you do well with this ship? Again, I do find the concept fun (one person running a robot ship basically) but I don't know how one could kill the boss with it. With only one crew member, I am finding it hard to not take large damage to the hull. The shields are not lasting long, and I am having trouble deciding if I should have my one crew member sit on weapons or pilot the ship.

The thing is, the extra repair drones are just not worth the trade off of the lack of crew imo, as they cannot man any stations to help defense of the ship. Sure they can repair things, but they cant repair the actual hull which is getting hurt more than usual because of lack of men in the shield room and engine room, and also the slowing of weapons shooting because of the lack of men in the weapons room! (thus giving more time for the enemy to shoot at you or whatever they like)

So what is your opinions on this ship, what are your experiences? Is there a good way to use it, besides hoping for slave ships and off chance of having the extra scrap to buy some crew?

[H@buster]

I haven't used the Vortex yet, however:

You DO know you can get the slaves for free, right?
Just attack the slaver and at half health or something he'll offer you a slave for free!

Generally, it shouldn't be too hard to get a crew in this game - more than once was I above the crew limit and had to dismiss someone.

Also, always have someone pilot the ship. The dodge chance can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to rockets.

[Gunnar]

Yes, I always attack the slave ship for the free crew. and okay, I will keep him in the piloting location

[Sacarathe]

I find it fun to use, but I am having trouble with having a viable strategy with it.

Heres one way to do it with this ship:

(I sold the Drone Reactor Booster)




Cant make 2nd image smaller

[GoldenShadowGS]

You can buy a sensor room for this ship.

The best thing to do is pick up more crew asap.

I eventually got a 2nd heavy ion and a that super beam that starts with G, does 3 damage per room hit, and can hit multiple rooms. I focus fire both heavy ion on shield room and manually fired the beam when shields were offline. You can take out some ships in one volley.

I had gotten 4 shields, 2 defense drones for missile defense and fully upgraded weapon and reactor by the end of the game. I likely would have won, but I screwed up and let it get too close to the base and got gameover without even fighting it.