How do repair drones work?

[KnightlyKestrel]

Do they require resources to operate? can they repair docked ships, or just the mothership?

Asking this as I am experimenting with a Cerberus Vanguard

[conrado.lacerda]

They speed up the self-repair of the main ship, so they're most effective on a ship with a full crew. They require the ship to have a computer-controlled captain in order to work, but no resources are needed. Smaller ships docked with the main ship don't get any benefits.

Also, despite some claims, they do work with frigates (not only L/XL ships - at least, they did when last I tested), but you won't get the animation of drones flying around the ship soldering stuff.

[KnightlyKestrel]

Originally posted by conrado.lacerda:

They speed up the self-repair of the main ship, so they're most effective on a ship with a full crew. They require the ship to have a computer-controlled captain in order to work, but no resources are needed. Smaller ships docked with the main ship don't get any benefits.

Also, despite some claims, they do work with frigates (not only L/XL ships - at least, they did when last I tested), but you won't get the animation of drones flying around the ship soldering stuff.

Neat.

also, ships can self-repair?!

[conrado.lacerda]

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

also, ships can self-repair?!

Medium ships and larger can; the number of service crew and their level determine how fast and how much (up to a % of the total hull).

So, it's a good idea to have a full crew on all your ships, even small ones (although they don't self-repair, the crew improves their overall performance).

Repair drones are also useful on stations by enabling their self-repair; this is particularly important for defense platforms that are constantly under attack by Xenon or other enemies you might have.

[KnightlyKestrel]

Originally posted by conrado.lacerda:

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

also, ships can self-repair?!

Medium ships and larger can; the number of service crew and their level determine how fast and how much (up to a % of the total hull).

So, it's a good idea to have a full crew on all your ships, even small ones (although they don't self-repair, the crew improves their overall performance).

Repair drones are also useful on stations by enabling their self-repair; this is particularly important for defense platforms that are constantly under attack by Xenon or other enemies you might have.

got it, thanks!

[PeaceMaker]

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

Do they require resources to operate? can they repair docked ships, or just the mothership?

Asking this as I am experimenting with a Cerberus Vanguard

I have no idea. All I know is when my H got damaged recently some little robots popped out and started repairing the ship. I don't even know how. I might have bought some repair drones ages back and forgot about them cos they suddenly popped up when I needed them, but haven't since.

I've been meaning to see if I can rebuy them actually...

[KnightlyKestrel]

completely unrelated to the topic, i know, but I just noticed steam is censoring part of my name in the quotes - how odd.

Originally posted by PeaceMaker:

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

Do they require resources to operate? can they repair docked ships, or just the mothership?

Asking this as I am experimenting with a Cerberus Vanguard

I have no idea. All I know is when my H got damaged recently some little robots popped out and started repairing the ship. I don't even know how. I might have bought some repair drones ages back and forgot about them cos they suddenly popped up when I needed them, but haven't since.

I've been meaning to see if I can rebuy them actually...

Not sure if you missed it, conrado has said that the drones speed up the self-repair of ships.

they can be bought/supplied like any other drone

[conrado.lacerda]

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

completely unrelated to the topic, i know, but I just noticed steam is censoring part of my name in the quotes - how odd.

Maybe it has to do with that infamous word related to racism...

Originally posted by KnightlyKestrel:

they can be bought/supplied like any other drone

Quite often, they also come with a captured capital ship, which I guess is PeaceMaker's case.