So, are builder ships actually worth using?

[The Nameless]

I just built myself one--have to try again sometime, this one looks like a blasted flounder--and I can't place any blocks while I'm in the cockpit. So I have to get out, with steel or interior plate or girders in hand, place all the blocks, and only THEN can the builder ship finish the job... and it's SLOWER than my Elite Welder! Really the only benefit it has is that it has solid storage and I'm in realistic inventory mode; other than that it's just drawback, drawback, drawback.

Should I even bother with this thing? Is there a way to switch my toolbars over to place blocks instead of it only being usable for in-ship actions?

[VanGoghComplex]

You're looking for cockpit build mode. It exists. I forget the key combo to activate it, but you can place blocks from a cockpit.

The real advantage of ship welders over hand welders isn't speed, directly; it's that they can weld multiple blocks at once. Though with the recent welder range nerf I'm not sure if that's true anymore...

[The Nameless]

Honestly the fact that I built the ship around a Large Cargo Container (small ship grid size) and it has 15,000L of storage (compared to my 400L character inventory) is advantage enough. If I can just figure out cockpit build mode. Thanks for at least telling me it exists. :P

[NYVS]

In my opinion builder ships can be great to use depending on your application. For incremental work (i.e. building larger shipsin survival) they offer the ability to hold large quantities of building materials, which mean you don't need to travel intermittently 'a lot' to refill on stuff like steel plates, construction components, etc (see above comment by dc040583. If you are electing to 'mass produce' ships, having a dedicated ship which does assembly line functions is very useful, and frees up your time to go do other things.

[WarDaddy]

The inventory space alone is worth it. Check my work shop items I have a welder and cuter ship up. If anything just for an idea of a decent build for inspiration for your own build.

[ShadedMJ]

Originally posted by VanGoghComplex:

You're looking for cockpit build mode. It exists. I forget the key combo to activate it, but you can place blocks from a cockpit.

The real advantage of ship welders over hand welders isn't speed, directly; it's that they can weld multiple blocks at once. Though with the recent welder range nerf I'm not sure if that's true anymore...

I think that is shift-G or alt-G. I tried it for a short time, but the cursor was in the wrong place so I kept on adding blocks in the wrong place.

[MysticMalevolence]

Originally posted by VanGoghComplex:

You're looking for cockpit build mode. It exists. I forget the key combo to activate it, but you can place blocks from a cockpit.

The real advantage of ship welders over hand welders isn't speed, directly; it's that they can weld multiple blocks at once. Though with the recent welder range nerf I'm not sure if that's true anymore...

Don't forget the (generally) bigger inventories.

[The Nameless]

Originally posted by WarDaddy:

The inventory space alone is worth it. Check my work shop items I have a welder and cuter ship up. If anything just for an idea of a decent build for inspiration for your own build.

Yeah I figured it would be. Especially since I'm using 'realistic' settings, so no nice 10-ton backpack.

I have a workable build now. It's not cute, it looks something like a deformed flounder (I suppose I might as well name it that), but it holds what I need it to hold and does what I need it to do, though it could use a better thruster package. And for those who can't figure out cockpit build mode, I did manage to find it; it's ctrl-G. Is a bit harder to get parts where you want them but oh well.

[Zefnoly]

They are also extremely handy when working on blueprints... I make big blueprints for bases and ships to be used in survival. And the holograms Autoplace the blocks infront of the welder ship...

[Raider Deci]

As the other have pointed out the strenght of welder-ships is that they can carry lots of stuff so you dont have to zip back& forth every 30sec.

[Fluffy Tummy]

I found my large ship builder to be much more effective than my small ship. I don't have any quantitative metrics behind this, but the welders feel faster and seem to have a wider area of effect. You just have to be more thoughtful when building it so you can still get into tight spaces.

[Nightwing]

I have a build that's a couple years old, but I think you might like it.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=409304513
Specs are in the description.

[krzosu18]

Well due to nerfing of range of welders (and now blocks have a certain spot that must be pointed to when welding or it wont work) they works way less efficient than they used to - esp when tight corners are concerned due to limitation ive mentioned above - but yes they are still needed and are absolutely necesary to weld on x1 inwentory setting - esp when making batteries or solar panels due to both large amounts of components (cells) needed and their large size. antenas too but usually it aint that much of a prob cuz you usually make one or two large antenas but not more.

So yah they are pretty important and a neat design will still make work progress fast and relatively easy.

depending on what you might need you could browse through some designs of mine and see what might suit you or maybe they shall give you some ideas to make your own :)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1308554758

[The Nameless]

A certain spot? I don't seem to have to do that, I just pretty much have to be touching the block with the welder before it will do anything.

[requiemfang]

Here's a fix for that nerf Keen released.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1306580025

I agree with the mod author, this seems more of a bug than a nerf or feature the devs added. WHen you have to get as close as you can to the point that your freaking face is basically against the object your trying to weld it's at that point that one must realize how horribly frigged up the welder has become.

[Planewalker]

F1 = ingame help.

Ctrl+G = Cockpit build mode.

Yes, builder ship opens up the next level in the game, imo.