X3: Albion prelude combines elements of dogfighting, economics and fleet organisation.   To thrive in the hostile and outnumbering universe, the player requires ships suited to each role.

Ship Classes

M1 - Carriers: Able to economically bring large swarms of fighters (or corvettes and bombers in the case of the Aran, Kyoto and Valhalla) into battle while delivering some capital ship grade damage to enemies at a distance

M2+ - Heavy Destroyers: Very slow, heavily shielded and bearing lethal firepower these flagships are as much of a bane to their enemies as the construction cost is to their owners

M2 - Destroyers: These ships have high sustained damage and shielding that makes mincemeat of most fighters, corvettes and stations but at the cost of low speed and manoeuvrability combined with a large hit box

M3+ - Heavy Fighters: Bearing more guns and shields that conventional M3 fighters at the cost of maneuverability

M3 - Fighters: Less manoeuvrable compared to The M4 and M5 ships but have substantially higher durability and firepower and a greater range of missile options

M4+ - Heavy interceptors: An intermediate between M3 and M4 ships

M4 - Interceptors: General use combat ships

M5 - Scouts: Used for exploration, ferrying equipment, scanning asteroids and drawing heavy enemy fire in an economical manner

M6+ - Heavy Corvettes: Slower but better shielded and higher damage corvettes

M6: Corvettes: Less agile than a fighter but with at least twice the shielding and the ability to mount weapons that deal heavier damage, there is also a paradigm shift in missile options  

M7 - Frigates: Less agile than a corvette but with over three times the shielding and the ability to mount weapons that deal heavier damage however they lack the laser generators for sustained firing

M7M - Missile Frigates: Bringing total doom to anything in their path and great for boarding enemy ships however, these ships require a large economy to keep them supplied with missiles

M7C - Carrier (Drone) Frigates: Frigates exchanging firepower for a hanger able to carry fighter squadrons into battle

M8 - Bombers: Designed to eliminate any ship too slow to dodge (M6, M6+, M7, M7M, M7C, M2, M2+ and M1 ships and stations) the only problem these ships have is a limited ability to fend off attacking fighters and the ability to keep them supplied with torpedo missiles

TL - Large Transports: Unable to dock at stations and relying on Freight Drones for trade, these ships have huge cargo holds able to carry whole stations and even the ability to dock fighters

TM - Military Transports: Lightly armed ships able to dock multiple fighters for more economical redeployment

TP - Personnel Transports: Transports designed for the luxury transport of large numbers of passengers making them a must have for some missions and a storage for spare marines/mercenaries

TS+ - Heavy Small Transports: Trade ships with increased firepower, shielding and cavernous cargo holds in exchange for reduced speed and a larger price tag

TS - Small Transports: Able to carry XL goods and with large cargo holds these ships make ideal traders and commercial agents for stations

Minimal Boarding Personnel Requirements

Some ships in the X-Universe are not for sale at shipyards or are owned by races that are hostile to the player meaning they need to be acquired by force. These tables list the minimal Marine/Mercenary skill requirements to board ships of each class.

• The total Fight skill amounts listed are the combined boarding crew Fight skill requirements to have a high chance of a casualty free boarding along with the minimal average if target ship marine capacity+1 Marines/Mercenaries are used for a boarding operation. It is possible to board ships with fewer personnel if their combined Fight skill is greater than or equal to the minimal total. Having a much higher total Fight skill than the minimum total can guarantee no casualties.
• With the Mechanical and Hacking skills only half the number of personnel are required if they have double the minimal skill points since it is the total of best and second best in each boarding team group that is used.
• It is always good to have more than 2 personnel with sufficient Hacking skill in case one is unlucky and dies during the fighting on the decks. There is a 1.96% chance no hacking skill is required.

M1

M2/M2+

M6/M6+

M7/M7M/M7C

TL

TM