Engines for large ships?

[Rav3n]

For use in sandbox mode, not creative. What is your choice and why? Currently building a large ship for use in space and not an atmosphere. Should I use large ion or hydrogen?

[Barber[FG]]

I like to use both hydrogen and Ion. I typically use the Hydrogen to thrust up to a speed quickly when I need to and Ion to make finer adjustments to my course. Most of my ships can fly around on just Ion… but again… nothing beats those hydrogen thrusters in my own opinion.

[Ronin Planetary Industries]

Well by "sandbox mode, not creative" do you mean "Survival Mode?"

Large hydrogen thrusters are cheaper to build than ions. They also require less time investment in terms of the mining and refining of platinum. Trying to put 50 large ion thrusters on a ship in survival mode 1-1-1-1 will take you a few days of work and lots of refineries.

[Karmaterrorᵁᴷ]

Do you have a good supply of power/uranium or is ice more plentiful? Thats the question in survival, build whichever will be more practical at first. Later when you are flush with resources you can decide based on performance, or looks etc :)

[Sean W.]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2724451646

Typically, I would use Ion Engines because they are easier to use. However, it occurred to me that I need to think a bit more forth dimensionally. So, I constructed a ship that uses Ion, Hydrogen and Ion engines. It can land and take off from an atmosphere and I hope other people like it.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, I prefer ION thrusters with Reactors for my Motherships because it gives a better in-game Perfo when the ship is huge.

But I recommend to try all to gain pure Engineer experience.

[Power and Wealth]

I use ion engines in space, hydrogen to land and take off.

[Ilshavoh]

Depends on what you need, dunnit?

Are you going to need to quickly accelerate/brake? Does your ship need to do *any* kind of evasive maneuver?

The Ion <-> Hydrogen scale depends on whether your ship is a massive mobile space station, or is a dedicated combat corvette that should never get hit.