OK, I know I behind the curve but I just got a t3 Walrus Tugboat, need help

[darkshadow1029]

Hi, I just got my Walrus Tugboat today, and I am working on t3 stuff on my base, I have open up weapons, and gen etc, still got some stuff to open up.

But , should I put in a Cabin to the ship or just steering wheel? I made it totally out of wood, even the frame, is this the right choice (I been going all wood for everything)? Is this the best t3 ship (or do I want another that is better)? With that being said, I will be collecting the others in t3, just want to make sure I get the boat that is best first. What are the Ammo crates for? I have 3, they can be placed on the deck of the ship like the suit case I have, but do they have a purpose or are they for looks?

I have more questions, but I want to start here.
Thank you for your time and help.

[Ryuu]

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

But , should I put in a Cabin to the ship or just steering wheel?

It's a matter of personal preference mostly: if you have spare space — then you might wanna place a cabin to protect what's inside of it (especially for PVP); for the nicer looks; and to place some modules on top. If you don't have enough space — simply surround the steering wheel with other modules, NPCs don't try knocking it out. When your steering wheel reaches 0% durability — the boat would be barely controllable until you repair the wheel.

BTW there are two steering wheels in the game: regular (looks wooden) and basic (looks metal):

• Regular costs resources to build and repair and has 1k base durability. It can also be disassembled into bits of metal (which is what i do with all of them).
  
• Basic wheel you can craft at any time for free in 30 seconds (while outside the port). It's free to repair (but the repair might be VERY slow, i think 0%→100% can be 1-2 minutes without skills) and has 2k base durability (if you keep crafting it you can reach around 2.5k). It can be disassembled but this produces nothing.

Other than that as far as we know they work the same, so i prefer basic (with 2.5k durability). And i use cabins when i can fit one, but preferably a compact one.

Oh, almost forgot one more point for consideration: their repair costs! I have a cabin that costs only plastic and wood to repair, i'm avoiding spending extra metal for now.

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

I made it totally out of wood, even the frame, is this the right choice (I been going all wood for everything)?

Wood is the best choice until you feel the abundance of metal — you need metal for lots of stuff at the base. BTW deck material affects nothing, seems to be mostly decorative choice, only sides and frame matter.

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

Is this the best t3 ship (or do I want another that is better)?

Up to your personal tastes and playstyle again. This kind of ships is slow, bulky, big targets, so if you don't really need and don't use all that extra cargo and deck space — i think they're not an optimal choice. And i think they're more suitable for metal plating due to all these reasons. And with long-range weapons.
For my playstyle i've been recommended and i intend to get Vigilant Patrol Boat at T3, good all-around ship: 100T vs 140T cargo capacity, a bit fewer deck squares, has 3 slots for external motors (Walrus has 0), and 60 base speed vs 36.
Comparison here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UQTuOOMLLql7HGMpVyVhlKvCvQ8I3lgwaRAlTr1NE-U/edit#gid=1742858203

It's probably best to have boats for both playstyles if you can afford it. For now pick what you prefer and can afford to equip.

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

With that being said, I will be collecting the others in t3, just want to make sure I get the boat that is best first.

Yeah, i like collecting hulls too :) Even regular Rubber boat can be captured! :D But can't be added to hull collection :(

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

What are the Ammo crates for?

Notice their icon: those are decorative items, so they're mostly for looks if you have spare space (BTW there's ~100 modules per ship hard limit). They can serve as a cheap (free to repair) and light armor, but not very well. The game does not show their durability, so it's not clear.

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

I have more questions, but I want to start here.

Sure, shoot them!

[Ryuu]

Since you like collecting hulls, here's an advice how it's probably best to add new hull to your collection without having to rebuild your current main ship, because even if you save the blueprint for it — loading that blueprint picks random parts of that type, so you still have to spend significant time to fix it — so instead it's best to return your main ship to Three Whales as is:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/2695490/discussions/0/4333104737350242132/#c4333104737350430203

Originally posted by Ryuu:

And if you wish to minimize risks, avoid using Powerbanks for extra teleports, avoid losing hull materials from the original boat, etc — find a friend to help you in a party and cover you on a way there and back.

So what i did instead:

1. Killed all crew
   
2. Boarded the ship, transferred resources to the main ship, left only the steering wheel + a bit of equipment for an easier voyage
   
3. Teleported to Three Whales with the main ship, left it on the base, took pirate rubber boat (you can use anything else which is fast and has nothing expensive on board)
   
4. Sailed to the captured ship, the route was mostly safe and easy, except the last miles — there friend was waiting and clearing the area
   
5. Got into the new hull, taking everything from the boat
   
6. And then we sailed together to Three Whales safely

If you're playing alone (though it's actually easy to find help in the Steam chat/forum and maybe even game chat) and don't mind using Powerbanks, you can:
• At step 3: recharge the translocator using Powerbank and teleport to the location closest to the captured ship (or your original ship if you instead took the new hull to Three Whales). Or sail there all the way yourself, if it's close enough.
• In step 6: instead you can charge and teleport back to Three Whales again.

This way the only risky step is Step 4.

If you only need the new hull or don't mind rebuilding the current ship and everything fits in the new hull: just occupy it, transfer your stuff and teleport to Three Whales — quick, cheap, easy and risk-free!
And it's not worth it recovering the original hull for materials unless it's metal — so probably just don't use metal ships for boarding :)

[darkshadow1029]

I dont, I have been using a cheap plastic or wood t2 boat with just weapons and a few needed items, if all I am out to do is get a haul. then with t2 or t3 weapons (so far, but only been to t3) I down a gunman or 2 (all depending on what is firing and how many. but if its just reaguler guns and I have downed it to 1 or 2, I ingore), down the helmsman and then last of the guns men. Board, fast and easy, and not waste rare boarding stuff, because I can repair enough to get home (because I port, and sink the cheap boat).

[darkshadow1029]

Thank you Ryuu, those spreadsheets are to valuable. I have them up all the time I am playing. I have made a couple tweaks to the crew, because I use grenade, because if your just killing, then you get a side produce of shark bodies. the grenade randomly kills a shark when your just firing them at enemies. so in a fight with 3 or 4 t2 and t3 boats I get like 2 to 4 sharks, which has food, teeth and skin. for now they all go for sell at a vendor for like 3000-4000 per visited. and i have not put any resources into it. its free corks.

[Ryuu]

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

I have them up all the time I am playing

Yeah, me too :D That's why i made them :)

Originally posted by darkshadow1029:

I have made a couple tweaks to the crew

The intended use is to copy the document and edit values for yourself, so of course :) Though at the moment i like grenade launcher the least — it's too non-universal, not too powerful, etc. Farming sharks is almost the only good use for it :) I used to blow up sharks too and sell their stuff, but grew tired of making stops to loot them
Also do you really use all those corks? :) For what?

[darkshadow1029]

Originally posted by Ryuu:

Also do you really use all those corks? :) For what?

WHAAAA GREED! The 267 Rule of Acquisition: Always make money when you dont need it, because they always add a patch that requires you to have Money!!!!!