Correct use of structure blocks ?

[HuMaNgUtAn]

I have searched the wiki, read and watched many shipbuilding guides but have found very little information on the correct use of structure blocks.

I am aware that they can be used to connect parts of your ship for a low cost/weight like with spaced armour but any further advice or information on its use would be appreciated.

Specifically - I am wondering if what I have been doing with my ships is worth it ( I suspect not as I don't really see it done on other ships ) and that is to protect your outer guns with a layer of structure which will briefly reduce incoming damage and disruptor shots before being destroyed. In my AI vs AI tests - taking 2 identical small ships and giving 1 of them a little structure protection over the guns seems to make a decisive difference - but does it really work and is it worth the cost ?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2927193580

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2927193343

[Local Engineer 1592]

I've seen some PvP builds use "arms" made out of structure blocks, which helps with holding enemies in place, seems to be very effective with deck gun rams
Though your strat does makes sense, and as you said it yourself - in tests it seems to make a decisive difference
I think the extra protection is worth it, especially on more tanky ships (where top speed is not a big concern). For more nimble/compact ships it might need consideration

[lalelunatic]

from a purely protective standpoint? no. it just catches every other shot if at all, but, that in itself is technically better than nothing.

so if you use the structure anyway, for design or to connect stuff, which is totally legit (it also weighs about 0.33 tons in average, so a few more or less wont break the ship), you can aswell put a bit more of it in certain areas to give it a "joker" style defense, the "ace up your sleave" if you will.

anyway, your ships look fine, the stuff doesnt weigh to much anyway and it gives minimalist protection on top. no reason to not use it the way you did.

[FiddyTrickPony]

One of the main practical purposes of the structure block is to keep enemy ships from pressing up against you. With some builds, having the enemy right next to you means most of your weapons cannot aim at the same target.

Sometimes they can also push close to get through shields.

Having those structure blocks, like on your first image, will keep the enemy far enough from your weapons that you can likely target 1 point with all 3 cannons. Also if they had a cannon or blaster on the front of the enemy ship, it wont be able to simply pass through your shields.

Aside from keeping distance, also useful for making 'bumpers' or detachable armor segments. Blow them off with explosive charges for a fast getaway. And as stated above, for some builds like an Ion Drill, keeping yourself stuck on the enemy is useful.

[CptnRedstone]

Structure doesn't actually do anything to block or lessen the effect of projectiles. Even if structure gets damaged it doesn't reduce the strength of the projectile that damaged it in any way. Structure is useful for keeping certain parts of a ship together when damaged without blocking weapons, such as between HE missile barrels to prevent the barrels from "snapping" and blocking weapons. It's also useful in some cases for preventing opponents' ships from getting too close; this helps prevent large shields from being blocked, and prevents AOE weapons from damaging you in addition to your opponent at point blank range.

[HuMaNgUtAn]

Thank you all for the responses, this has been a very helpful thread for me.

Originally posted by CptnRedstone:

Structure doesn't actually do anything to block or lessen the effect of projectiles

Well that clears up my main question. I'll be removing a lot of structure blocks from my ships. I guess that my favourable testing results were due to the reasons stated by Ris (I'll be leaving the front prongs on my cannon ship). After reading a lot of guides and in-game tutorials I do not recall ever coming across this piece of information, and it is not easy to intuit as seeing enemy shots damage the structure gives the impression that it must offer some protection.

It also seems that there may be a general misconception about structure blocks among the community as clearly I was not the only person lacking this knowledge.

[CptnRedstone]

Originally posted by HuMaNgUtAn:

It also seems that there may be a general misconception about structure blocks among the community as clearly I was not the only person lacking this knowledge.

I think part of this might be due to the fact that structure *used* to block projectiles in a much earlier build of the game several years ago. I've seen a few people come back to the game after a long hiatus and misunderstand how structure now interacts with projectiles.

Originally posted by HuMaNgUtAn:

and it is not easy to intuit as seeing enemy shots damage the structure gives the impression that it must offer some protection.

This is totally fair, though I can't think of a good way to communicate that to the player. The problem is that projectiles not damaging structure at all could be pretty easily exploited, and having structure absorb damage could complicate the behavior of "simple" projectiles such as laser bolts, plus it's not *intended* to be used as armor.

[Person001]

I use a lattice of structure/diagonal armor on the outer-base of my larger ships, helps destroy missiles and the like before they have a chance to circle around to my engines, should any be exposed.

I've added a very large wedge to my ships to stop ram cannons full advantage, don't really use much outside connecting pieces.