Exocraft & Ground Vehicles
While your starship is your primary mode of interstellar transport, Exocraft offer unparalleled mobility and utility for exploring planetary surfaces. These ground vehicles come in various forms, each with unique strengths and applications, making them indispensable tools for resource gathering, combat, and traversal.
To utilize Exocraft, you first need to unlock their blueprints. These are typically acquired through the base-building questlines, specifically by recruiting the Exocraft Technician. Once you have the blueprint, you can craft the Exocraft Summoning Station at your base, which allows you to call your chosen Exocraft to your location.
There are several types of Exocraft, each with distinct features:
- Exocraft Roamer: A versatile, all-terrain vehicle. It's balanced in speed, maneuverability, and has moderate combat capabilities. Excellent for general exploration and resource gathering.
- Exocraft Nomad: A hovercraft-like vehicle that glides over the terrain. It's extremely fast and agile, making it ideal for covering large distances quickly and navigating difficult landscapes. It has limited combat utility.
- Exocraft Colossus: A large, slow-moving vehicle with a massive inventory capacity. It's perfect for hauling large quantities of resources back to your base or freighter. It also boasts sificant firepower.
- Exocraft Minotaur: A bipedal mech that offers excellent maneuverability and combat prowess. It can jump high, traverse challenging terrain, and is equipped with powerful weaponry. It also has a built-in scanner and hazard protection.
Each Exocraft can be further customized and upgraded. You can install various modules that enhance their speed, maneuverability, combat effectiveness, or resource-gathering capabilities. For example, you can add a 'Mining Beam' to your Roamer for faster resource extraction, or a 'Plasma Cannon' to your Colossus for enhanced defense.
Exocraft are invaluable for several reasons:
- Resource Gathering: Many Exocraft are equipped with mining tools that can extract resources much faster than your Multi-Tool. The Colossus, in particular, can carry vast amounts of materials.
- Combat: Certain Exocraft are heavily armed and can easily take down hostile fauna or even Sentinel walkers, making planetary exploration safer.
- Traversal: They allow you to cover vast distances on a planet's surface quickly, reaching points of interest or returning to your base with ease.
- Hazard Protection: Most Exocraft provide their own form of hazard protection, allowing you to stay on hostile planets for longer periods.
Mastering the use of Exocraft will sificantly enhance your ability to explore, exploit, and survive on any planet you encounter.