Introduction

In the X : Rebirth Universe, ships comprise a large part of the game. They can tradeTrade, they can mine Mine and they can also fightFight. They are crewed by NPCs and may use drones, with upkeep missions generated to help guide their acquisition. There are a variety of ways to acquire ships.

Stats for ships

Performance statistics presented in the child pages for different ship classes are based on the attached spreadsheet Rebirth_4.00_Ship_Stats_v11.xlsx (updated, 26.03.2016). Capital ship weapon stats used within that spreadsheet are also presented here.

What are Ships?

Ships are spacecraft that players see or use while travelling around the X Universe in their personal ship (currently the Pride of Albion AKA Albion Skunk). Most are specialized in different ways.

Briefly, each ship can fall under one of these categories: Civilian ships, Drones, Small/Medium ships, and Capital ships. Simoon wrote a guide for capital ships for Rebirth v3.00 00 (link) and although it is a little outdated now (although semi-updated for 3.5), it may be interesting background with that caveat in mind (link).

How to Obtain a Ship

Depending on your desired ship, there are several different ways to obtain a ship and use it on your own:

Legitimate and Legal Way: Buy it

• You can not obtain Civilian ships through any in-game methods. They are automatically generated by their home Station (including player station(s))
• Small Ships are built-to-order and are bought at Small Ship Dealers
  • These dealers are located at various Small (Civilian) Shipyards in the universe. There are 2 in Albion, 1 in DeVries, 2 in Omicron Lyrae, and (DLC: TO) 1 in Fields of Opportunity. (see below)
• Capital Ships are built on request and are built by talking to Capital Ship Dealers
  • These dealers are located at various Capital Shipyards in the Universe. There are 2 in Albion, 1 in DeVries, 1 in Omicron Lyrae. and (DLC: TO) 1 in Fields of Opportunity. If you have advanced to a certain place in the Plot (AKA Capaign) another shipyard may be built in DeVries; it may build S/M & XL ships only depending upon how advanced it becomes
• Drones are obtained in a rather complicated way.
  • If you want to equip a drone on the Skunk, talk to NPC Drone Dealers; they will list their available drones. Other drone dealers, even on the same platform, may have different stock so shop around! (Note that the Construction URV was removed from this list, so do not complain about not being able to find any this way).
  • If you want to equip drone(s) on your ship(s), talk to the ship dealers at the appropriately-sized dock. Go to 'Modify Ships', then 'Equip Drones', then follow the steps to complete the job. (NOTE: it is usually quicker & cheaper to buy capship drones directly from a drone manufacturer, then use the 'Transfer Wares' command to Equip Drones to the target ship, provided at least 1 of the two ships has at least 1 cargo drone /equipped/ & both have functioning Drone Bays). 'Transfer From' & 'Transfer To' can be used in conjunction (requiring 2 trade commands) to equip drones to the original (drone-buying) ship

"Illegal" and "Pirate" Way: Board it

Refer to the articles about Boarding Ships for more info (link).

Simply put, you order your boarding team to try to overrun and take control of the ship. Note that it will reduce your reputation with <target> faction (as well as any faction nearby that is allied to <target>) to do so.

Random Way: Claim it

NOTE: This (mostly) applies to S/M ships!

When in dogfights with S/M ships, sometimes the Pilot in that ship bails out in an Escape Pod. The Small ship then becomes "Neutral" and does not function at all.

You will need to recruited a Pilot in order to claim the S/M ship. Once done, return to where your <target>ship is & double-click on it. Click "Claim" and wait for your Pilot to complete all procedures.

It is rumored that there are random ownerless ships scattering in the various locations in the entire X: Rebirth Universe.. If you happen upon a capship rather than a S/M sip you'll need at least a Captain to perform a similar feat (Pilots cannot work on capships; Captains cannot work on S/M ships)

...

mind.

Advantages of Small/Medium ships are higher in-zone speed and lower cost, but come with the disadvantages of weaker defences and cargo restriction (although this isn't consistently an issue). Advantages of Large/Extra Large ships typically include sturdier defences, greater storage capacity, shorter travel times between zones/sectors*, and the option of ships that can carry two or all four cargo types. The downsides of using the biggest, strongest ships compared to smaller Large ships include slow overall delivery times** and the potential for all their cargo space not being needed for a given run.

 * Facilitated by point-to-point boosting within a sector, and a Jumpdrive for inter-sector travel.
** Caused by reduced maneuverability and boost speed, as this is a standard multiplier of slower base speeds.

Ship construction materials

Depending on the faction that owns the shipyard, ships are composed of varying collections of wares, and more types are used than for station construction.

* Wares that are also used for station construction.

Supplemental notes:

• The Albion/HoL Sanahar Large trade ship uses Medium ship wares (no PFRs or B-OW). 
• As can be seem above, all Teladi ships uses the Medium ship wares (like the Sanahar).
• The Teladi Overwatch shipyard produces Energy Cells, Podkletnov, and Food Rations.
• While the "Total" columns do not show demand, they hint at the significance of the relatively rare RMP and FRs. 

Ship classification

By Class

Ships are often classified by its their "class". Here are the classes currently used:

...

Small Ships are always XS/S/M-sized ships while Capital Ships are always L/XL-sized ships. If you're unsure, look at the ship's details to see whether the ship has a jumpdrive (or fuel in its cargo). If Yes, the ship is L/XL; if No the ship is S/M (or lesser). All drones are XS

By Purpose

Ships are specially specifically designed and can complete the following purposes: (see the ship's Encyclopaedia entry for its specialisation, if any)

1. TRADE with stations
2. MINE materials
3. FIGHT hostiles

4. BUILD stations

Some capships are multi-role. Whilst their efficiency is reduced in the role assignedmay be reduced for their assigned role, other needs (eg defensibility, cargo requirements etc) may suit <player> better for their the particular situation

By Availability

Different ships are available to different Star Systems' shipyards. While any suitably-sized dock can /modify/ a ship (eg equip drones or repair), only certain docks can build /specific/ ships. Ship designs are faction-specific.

1. Albion
2. DeVries
3. Omicron Lyrae
4. (DLC: TO) Fields of Opportunity
5. (Upcoming) (DLC: HoL) Home of Light

By

...

Appearance

All ships (other than <playership>) may exist as NPC ships and carry out commands designed by the game.

1. Albion
2. DeVries
3. Omicron Lyrae
4. Maelstrom
5. (DLC: TO) Fields of Opportunitysectors
6. (Upcoming) (DLC: HoL) Home of Light
7. (Upcoming) (DLC: HoL) Toride
8. (Upcoming) (DLC: HoL) Cold Starsectors

List of Ships Available

(Sorted by Ship Class)

XS Ships

• Construction URV
• Cargolifter URV
• Interceptor URV Mk1
• Interceptor URV Mk2
• Intrepid URV Mk1
• Intrepid URV Mk2
• Overrun URV Mk1
• Overrun URV Mk2
• Assault URV
• Beholder URV
• Traitor URV
• Shield Matrix URV
• And also various Civilian ships (AKA Mass Traffic)

S Ships

• ...assorted fighters (needs expansion or link)

M Ships

• Gigurum (all 4 variants); used throughout the Universe unless stated otherwise
• Mercancias (all 4 variants); used in DeVries
• Nyanae (all 4 variants); used in Omicron Lyrae
• Toucan (all 4 variants); used in Fields of Opportunity
• Some fighters (needs expansion or link)

L Ships

• Rahanas (all 5 6 variants)
• Sanahar
• Fedhelm
• Sequana
• Midir
• Onil
• Boann
• Light Sul
• Heavy Sul
• Balor
• Styrvok (all 6 variants)
• Stromvok
• Hermod
• Lepton
• Xenon K

XL Ships

• Construction Vessel
• Scaldis
• Taranis
• Arawn
• Succelleus
• Olmekron
• Fulmekron
• Gangrene Chaser
• Xenon I