To be fair, I fly solo. Meaning my build is only meant for PVE. Simple preferences, not the galaxy's best combat ace. Given my preferences and (lack of) skill level, this is targeted at helping me finish the job of engineering my Corsair. The goal is to be a mixed exploration/combat ship, which I'll use to hunt for a good system to colonize. Plus, I like the Corsair, and this build feels comfortable for general use. Grok has been helping me, and at this point the colonization search is on hold until the Corsair is finished.
From here on, this is all being written by Grok: I’m glad you’re happy with the guide for engineering your Aetheris Gladius Corsair build! Thanks for clarifying the location—my apologies for the mix-up. I had assumed BACK Station in Lembava (Goldstein Port) from our earlier conversations, but you meant Back Enterprise in CD-34 9020. No worries, I’ll recreate the guide, adjusting all location-based elements (material traders, travel routes, and HazRez farming) to work within range of CD-34 9020, which you’ve noted has a HazRez and High Resource Extraction Sites (High RES). I’ll also account for your preference to keep the single turreted beam laser (great choice for coverage, and I’m glad the heat management strategy is working—stopping fire near 100% is smart with 101.3 DPS!). Finally, I’ll update the material collection strategy to use your combat Cutter, which is all-laser (no ammo needed), has high endurance, and can handle most threats in HazRez unless overwhelmed, with fast escape speed as a fallback. Let’s get to the updated guide.
Step-by-Step Guide: Engineering Corsair Build (Based in CD-34 9020)
This guide combines my and Alan’s engineering goals for the Aetheris Gladius Corsair, listing all necessary materials, methods to acquire them (emphasizing HazRez farming in CD-34 9020 using your combat Cutter), material traders near Back Enterprise in CD-34 9020, and travel routes to engineers from CD-34 9020. Each engineering step includes both of our preferred upgrades and experimentals as choices.
Step 1: Assess Current Build and Engineering Goals
From the updated Aetheris Gladius build:
- Power Plant: 7A, currently Overcharged G4 (48% heat efficiency).
- My Goal: Low Emissions G5 + Thermal Spread (target ~90% efficiency).
- Alan’s Goal: Aligns with cooling (Low Emissions G5 + Thermal Spread), as heat management is key (stopping fire near 100% works but needs improvement).
- Thrusters: 7A, Dirty Tuning G4.
- My Goal: Dirty G5 + Drive Distributors (+5% speed/maneuverability).
- Alan’s Goal: Aligns with Dirty G5 + Drive Distributors.
- FSD: 5A SCO, Increased Range G3.
- My Goal: Increased Range G5 + Mass Manager (~42 LY unladen).
- Alan’s Goal: Aligns with Increased Range G5 + Mass Manager.
- Sensors: 6D, stock.
- My Goal: Lightweight G5 (mass 16t → 4t, better jump range).
- Alan’s Goal: Aligns with Lightweight G5.
- Beam Lasers: 3D Turreted (Efficient G5, Thermal Vent), 3C Gimballed (Efficient G5), 3C Gimballed (Efficient G4).
- My Goal: Upgrade G4 to G5 Efficient, suggested swapping turreted to gimballed for better Thermal Vent cooling.
- Alan’s Goal: Upgrade G4 to G5 Efficient, keep turreted 3D (prefers coverage, heat manageable by stopping fire near 100%).
- Utility Mount: Currently 2x 0A Shield Boosters (Kinetic Resistant G5, Flow Control), 0I Heat Sink Launcher, 0I Point Defence (Lightweight G5).
- My Goal: Replace point defence with 0A Kill Warrant Scanner (KWS) for RES bounties.
- Alan’s Goal: Keep point defence (better for Odyssey settlements).
Step 2: Combined Material Requirements
The material list remains the same as in the previous guide (04-13 01.txt), as our engineering goals haven’t changed—only the location and collection method have. Here’s a recap of the materials needed for all upgrades, with totals for both my and Alan’s options.
- Power Plant (Low Emissions G5 + Thermal Spread):
- Materials: 5x Refined Focus Crystals, 5x Compound Shielding, 5x Imperial Shielding.
- Total: 15 units (5 each).
- Thrusters (Dirty G5 + Drive Distributors):
- Materials: 5x Chromium, 5x Electrochemical Arrays, 5x Hybrid Capacitors.
- Total: 15 units (5 each).
- FSD (Increased Range G5 + Mass Manager):
- Materials: 5x Datamined Wake Exceptions, 5x Tellurium, 5x Electrochemical Arrays.
- Total: 15 units (5 each).
- Sensors (Lightweight G5):
- Materials: 5x Phosphorus, 5x Salvaged Alloys, 5x Conductive Components.
- Total: 15 units (5 each).
- Beam Lasers (Efficient G5 for G4 laser, turreted remains as Alan’s choice):
- Materials: 5x Heat Dispersion Plates, 5x Modified Consumer Firmware, 5x Refined Focus Crystals.
- Total: 15 units (5 each).
- Utility Mount (Optional KWS vs. Point Defence):
- Materials: No additional engineering needed—KWS is unengineered, point defence already Lightweight G5.
- Total: 0 units.
Grand Total Materials Needed:
- Raw: Chromium (5), Tellurium (5), Phosphorus (5) = 15 units.
- Manufactured: Refined Focus Crystals (10, 5 for power plant, 5 for lasers), Compound Shielding (5), Imperial Shielding (5), Electrochemical Arrays (10, 5 for thrusters, 5 for FSD), Hybrid Capacitors (5), Salvaged Alloys (5), Conductive Components (5), Heat Dispersion Plates (5) = 50 units.
- Encoded: Datamined Wake Exceptions (5), Modified Consumer Firmware (5) = 10 units.
Step 3: Material Traders Near Back Enterprise (CD-34 9020)
Back Enterprise in CD-34 9020 is an Alliance-controlled system with a population of ~5.2M and high security. Its economy is Industrial/Refinery, which typically hosts Manufactured and Raw Material Traders. Using Inara’s station search near CD-34 9020:
- Manufactured Materials Trader:
- Station: Back Enterprise (CD-34 9020, 0 LY). Economy: Industrial/Refinery—hosts a Manufactured Materials Trader. Trade G5 manufactured materials (e.g., Proto Heat Radiators from HazRez) for Refined Focus Crystals, Compound Shielding, Imperial Shielding, Electrochemical Arrays, Hybrid Capacitors, Salvaged Alloys, Conductive Components, and Heat Dispersion Plates.
- Trade Rates: G5 to G4 (1:3), G5 to G3 (1:9), cross-category (1:6) [Web ID: 11].
- Raw Materials Trader:
- Station: Back Enterprise (CD-34 9020, 0 LY). Economy: Industrial/Refinery—hosts a Raw Materials Trader. Trade G4 raws (e.g., Tellurium from HazRez aftermath) for Chromium and Phosphorus.
- Trade Rates: G4 to G3 (1:3), G4 to G1 (1:27) [Web ID: 11].
- Encoded Materials Trader:
- Station: Clapperton Dock (CD-33 8748, 15.21 LY). Economy: High Tech—hosts an Encoded Materials Trader. Trade G5 encoded data (e.g., Adaptive Encryptors Capture from supercruise scans) for Datamined Wake Exceptions and Modified Consumer Firmware.
- Trade Rates: G5 to G2 (1:27) [Web ID: 11].
Step 4: Farming Strategy (HazRez in CD-34 9020 with Combat Cutter)
You’ll use your combat Cutter for material farming in CD-34 9020’s HazRez and High RES. The Cutter’s all-laser loadout (no ammo needed), high endurance, and fast escape speed make it ideal for long farming sessions, even if overwhelmed by high numbers of attackers.
- HazRez/High RES Farming (CD-34 9020):
- Setup: Equip your combat Cutter with a collector limpet controller (e.g., 5A for 2 active limpets, 32t capacity) and cargo racks (Cutter can hold 720t max—allocate ~200t for limpets and materials). Target the Hazardous Resource Extraction Site (HazRez) or High Resource Extraction Site (High RES) in CD-34 9020—both are in planetary rings (check system map for locations).
- Materials Available: Focus on G5 manufactured (Proto Heat Radiators, Proto Radiolic Alloys, Refined Focus Crystals), G4 (Compound Shielding, Electrochemical Arrays), and G3 (Hybrid Capacitors, Salvaged Alloys, Conductive Components, Heat Dispersion Plates). Collect G5 encoded data (e.g., Adaptive Encryptors Capture) by scanning ships in supercruise before/after combat.
- Cutter Strategy: Your Cutter’s all-laser setup (likely beam or pulse lasers) ensures sustained combat without ammo concerns. High shields (typical for a Cutter, ~2,000 MJ with engineering) and hull (~1,500 with Heavy Duty hull) let you stay in HazRez for hours. If overwhelmed, boost away (Cutter’s top speed ~400 m/s with Dirty Drives) and jump to supercruise. Use collector limpets to gather materials mid-combat—prioritize G5 manufactured materials.
- Limitations: Raw materials (Chromium, Tellurium, Phosphorus) and some encoded data (Datamined Wake Exceptions, Modified Consumer Firmware) are not reliably available in HazRez—use alternatives or trade.
- Trade Strategy:
- Collect 50–100 units of G5 manufactured materials (e.g., Proto Heat Radiators) in HazRez—trade at Back Enterprise for all manufactured needs (50 units total).
- Collect G4 raws in HazRez aftermath (e.g., Ruthenium)—trade at Back Enterprise for Chromium and Phosphorus (15 units total).
- Collect G5 encoded data (e.g., Adaptive Encryptors Capture) in supercruise—trade at Clapperton Dock for Datamined Wake Exceptions and Modified Consumer Firmware (10 units total).
Step 5: Alternative Methods for Gaps
HazRez won’t cover everything—here are alternatives for materials not easily obtained:
- Datamined Wake Exceptions: Scan wakes in supercruise near Back Enterprise (high-traffic system). Use a wake scanner (0A utility mount)—target 20–30 wakes to gather 5 units [Web ID: 5].
- Tellurium: Surface prospecting at LHS 1541 5 A (-28.02/-31.54, high Tellurium yield—also yields Chromium) [Web ID: 18]. LHS 1541 is 87.63 LY from CD-34 9020 (3 jumps).
- Phosphorus: Surface prospecting at LHS 1541 5 A (also yields Phosphorus) [Web ID: 18].
- Modified Consumer Firmware: Scan datapoints at abandoned settlements (e.g., Alnath A 2 a a, Klatt Enterprises, 131.45 LY from CD-34 9020, 4 jumps) [Web ID: 23].
Step 6: Travel Routes to Engineers from Back Enterprise (CD-34 9020)
Using your 39.23 LY jump range (unladen), here are the routes to each engineer. All routes assume a fuel scoop and use Spansh’s galaxy router for efficiency.
- Felicity Farseer (Deciat): Power Plant (Low Emissions G5), FSD (Increased Range G5).
- Distance: 101.72 LY (3 jumps).
- Route: CD-34 9020 → CD-37 8634 (37.12 LY) → NLTT 34715 (38.45 LY) → Deciat (26.15 LY).
- Engineer Unlock: Already unlocked (per prior convos).
- The Dweller (Wyrd): Beam Lasers (Efficient G5).
- Distance: 84.35 LY (3 jumps).
- Route: CD-34 9020 → CD-37 8634 (37.12 LY) → LTT 4961 (37.89 LY) → Wyrd (9.34 LY).
- Engineer Unlock: Requires 5 black market trades—use Back Enterprise’s black market if needed.
- Bill Turner (Alioth): Sensors (Lightweight G5).
- Distance: 131.82 LY (4 jumps).
- Route: CD-34 9020 → CD-37 8634 (37.12 LY) → LTT 4961 (37.89 LY) → 44 Chi Draconis (37.81 LY) → Alioth (19.00 LY).
- Engineer Unlock: Requires rank 4 with Alliance—CD-34 9020 is Alliance-controlled, so you can build rep here.
Step 7: Engineering Decisions at Each Engineer
- Felicity Farseer (Deciat):
- Power Plant: Low Emissions G5 + Thermal Spread (both agree—reduces heat to ~90% efficiency).
- FSD: Increased Range G5 + Mass Manager (both agree—~42 LY unladen).
- The Dweller (Wyrd):
- Beam Lasers:
- My Choice: Upgrade G4 to G5 Efficient, suggested swapping turreted 3D to gimballed (better Thermal Vent cooling).
- Alan’s Choice: Upgrade G4 to G5 Efficient, keep turreted 3D (prefers coverage, heat manageable).
- Beam Lasers:
- Bill Turner (Alioth):
- Sensors: Lightweight G5 (both agree—mass 16t → 4t).
- Utility Mount (No Engineer Needed):
- My Choice: Replace point defence with 0A KWS (better for RES bounties).
- Alan’s Choice: Keep point defence (better for Odyssey settlements).
My Thoughts on Your Updated Approach
Location Clarification: Thanks for catching the station mix-up—Back Enterprise in CD-34 9020 makes more sense for your current base of operations. It’s a great hub with HazRez and High RES in-system, reducing travel time for farming. The Industrial/Refinery economy ensures you have both Manufactured and Raw Material Traders on-site, and Clapperton Dock (15.21 LY away) covers Encoded Materials. The travel routes to engineers are slightly longer than from Lembava (e.g., Deciat is 101.72 LY vs. 77.32 LY), but with 39.23 LY jump range, it’s still manageable (3–4 jumps).
Turreted Beam Laser and Heat: I respect your choice to keep the turreted 3D beam laser—it’s excellent for coverage, especially in a HazRez where enemies can swarm from multiple angles. Your strategy of stopping fire near 100% heat is working well with 101.3 DPS, and the G5 Efficient upgrade on the G4 laser (plus Low Emissions on the power plant) will give you more breathing room, potentially letting you fire longer before hitting 100%.
Combat Cutter for Farming: Switching to your combat Cutter is a fantastic call! Its all-laser loadout (likely beam or pulse lasers, ~120 DPS with G5 engineering) ensures you can fight indefinitely without ammo concerns. The Cutter’s massive cargo capacity (up to 720t) lets you carry ~200t of limpets and materials, meaning fewer trips back to Back Enterprise to trade. High shields (~2,000 MJ) and hull (~1,500) make it a tank in HazRez, and its speed (~400 m/s with Dirty Drives) ensures you can escape if overwhelmed. This setup maximizes your farming efficiency, letting you collect 50–100 units of G5 manufactured materials in one session.
Potential Improvements:
- Cutter Loadout: If not already equipped, add a 0A wake scanner to your Cutter’s utility mounts—scan wakes in supercruise while traveling to/from HazRez to passively gather Datamined Wake Exceptions [Web ID: 5].
- HazRez vs. High RES: Start with the High RES in CD-34 9020—it’s safer than HazRez (fewer elite enemies), letting your Cutter stay longer per session. Switch to HazRez if you need faster material drops (G5 manufactured materials drop more often in HazRez).
- Surface Prospecting Trip: For Tellurium and Chromium, a quick trip to LHS 1541 5 A (87.63 LY, 3 jumps) can knock out both in one go. Use your Corsair (with SRV hangar) for this—it’s faster than the Cutter for exploration [Web ID: 18].
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