There are 6 Hull Types available in the game. 3 Light and 3 Heavy. Light ships main advantage is Stealth capability and relative low production cost, whilst Heavy ships have superior space for weapons, shields and engines.

Overall the mechanics lean towards Heavy ships, however numerous players have built dominating light fleets, given the more advanced tech become space efficient.

The following gives you a visual overview of what’s available at a glance. Full ship specs

Shuttle

Roles: Colony Ship, APC, scout, Micro-Bomber

The shuttle is a ramshackle craft with limited offensive capability. Its main uses is as a scout and Armed Personnel Carrier. However Micro-bombers en-mass as a calculated risk can subdue an opposition.

Corvette

Roles: Colony Ship, Standard Troop Ship, fast long range APC, Gamble Fighter/Bomber

The Corvette outmodes the shuttle early on as a Colony ship and potential war machine. Soon becoming the standard Troop Ship, and “Gamble” fighter/bomber.

Frigate

Roles: Standard Light Fighter/Bomber, fast large APC, stealth attack.

The Frigate is the Standard of Light Class ships with enough room to carry an acceptable arsenal, shields and cloaking device. Although outmoded compared to Heavy Class hulls, Frigate still remain a credible threat.

Destroyer

Role: Cheap Heavy Class Warship

Their advantage is relative low crew number and comparative economic production cost to Cruisers.

Cruisers

Role: Standard Heavy Class Warship

This vessel has a tolerable production and manning cost. However without effective engine research Cruisers have more moral /propaganda power than outmoding Destroyers.

Battleship

Role: Behemoth, Ship of the Line

The Battleship in many respects are extravagant, expensive to produce and nightmare to man. However they provide consolidated firepower and great propaganda. Without substantial engine research these vessels will be going nowhere fast.

There are a number of things to consider when building a fleet, the first is adapting to your foe.

• 30 Speed is usually considered the bare essential for a fleet, it enables your force to be able to catch prey swiftly, whilst leaving room for good weapons.
• A Balanced mixture between Light and Heavy Weapons enables you to attack either with relative ease, also specialist Light or Heavy Ships once lost, can cause a large dip in overall effectiveness.
• Shields are vital. As the more advanced engines decrease in size, its your cue to add shields. A rough guide: 0% suicide, 50% poor, 100% ok-not-great... etc.
• Scanners are best placed on ships with the highest shields, if not unarmed vessels so they have a greater chance of not being lost as unarmed vessels are the last to be fired on.
• Consider the odd infantry ship to draw fire from your elite ships.

This Guide was posted by jackjack. A lot of this information is scattered on the forums so I put it here.