Embarking on your interstellar journey in Starfield opens up a universe of possibilities, and among the most engaging is outpost construction. Establishing outposts across various planets and moons allows you to tap into planetary resources, set up essential workstations, and create a network of intergalactic logistics. However, pinpointing the perfect location and optimizing your outpost for maximum efficiency can be challenging. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of building and managing thriving outposts in Starfield.
Selecting the Ideal Planet or Moon for Your Outpost
While the Planetary Habitation skill unlocks outpost building on almost any celestial body, beginners should prioritize locations with favorable conditions. Your initial outposts should ideally be situated on planets or moons that meet these criteria:
- Absence of Extreme Conditions: Avoid planets with “extreme thermal,” “extreme pressure,” or “toxic atmosphere” warnings initially. These environments require advanced skills and equipment to manage. Look for planets with moderate climates to simplify early outpost development.
- Abundant Basic Resources: Focus on planets rich in common building materials, particularly Aluminum (Al) and Iron (Fe). These resources are fundamental for constructing outpost structures and various industrial components. Scanning a planet from orbit will reveal resource deposits.
Starting in less hostile environments with readily available resources streamlines the initial outpost setup process.
Here are a few excellent starting locations within the early Starfield systems:
- Pontus (Moon of Erebus, Olympus System): Often possesses a good mix of basic resources and manageable environmental conditions.
- Callisto (Moon of Jupiter, Sol System): A familiar location in our own solar system, Callisto can offer a solid starting point for resource gathering.
- Zamka (Moon of Olivas, Alpha Centauri System): Located in the starting Alpha Centauri system, Zamka is easily accessible and can be a convenient first outpost location.
- Antharum (Moon of Akila, Cheyenne System): Another accessible moon in a relatively early system, Antharum can be a viable option for your first outpost.
Establishing Your Outpost Basics: Foundation for Success
Once you’ve chosen your planet, the next step is to find an optimal location for your outpost beacon. Deploying the beacon establishes a buildable zone, visualized as a large circle in scanner mode. Crucially, activate your scanner and ensure that the beacon placement encompasses deposits of the resources you intend to extract. Overlapping resource veins within your outpost boundary maximizes efficiency.
Begin by constructing essential structures to kickstart your operation:
- Habitable Structure (Hab): Start with a basic Hab module. While elaborate designs can come later, a simple four-wall Hab with an Airlock provides necessary enclosed space. This indoor area is vital for placing workstations, most importantly the Industrial Workbench.
- Industrial Workbench: This workstation is indispensable. The Industrial Workbench unlocks the crafting of advanced outpost structures and industrial components, essential for expanding and optimizing your base beyond basic modules.
- Resource Extractors: With your workbench set, deploy resource extractors. When placing your outpost beacon, the scanner interface lists available resources within the zone. Only these listed resources can be extracted within that specific outpost boundary. Select extractors corresponding to the resources you wish to gather (e.g., Aluminum Extractor, Iron Extractor).
- Power Generation: Extractors require power to function. Starfield offers several power source options:
- Solar Panels: Ideal for planets with consistent sunlight. Provide clean energy but are less effective on planets with frequent storms or nighttime cycles.
- Wind Turbines: Best suited for planets with consistent wind patterns. Performance varies based on wind strength and consistency.
- Fueled Generators: Offer the most consistent and potent power output but necessitate a continuous supply of Helium-3 (He-3) as fuel.
Powering Your Outpost with Helium-3: A Step-by-Step Guide
Fueled generators, while powerful, require a Helium-3 fuel setup. Here’s how to establish a self-sustaining He-3 fuel line:
- Helium-3 Extractor: Place a Helium-3 Extractor on a He-3 deposit within your outpost zone.
- Independent Power Source: Power the He-3 Extractor using a separate solar panel, wind turbine, or a dedicated generator (initially, you might need a standard generator before your He-3 setup is online).
- Gas Storage Container: Connect the Helium-3 Extractor to a Gas Storage Container. This container will accumulate the extracted Helium-3.
- Fueled Generator Link: Link the Gas Storage Container to the Fueled Generator. The generator will automatically draw Helium-3 from the storage to maintain continuous power.
With your power grid established, connect your resource extractors to appropriate storage containers. For solid resources like Aluminum and Iron, use Solid Storage Containers. Once powered and linked to storage, resource extraction will commence automatically. Your outpost’s resource production rate per minute is displayed at the bottom right of the outpost building menu.
Outpost Defense: Protecting Your Investments
To safeguard your outpost from hostile encounters, especially from factions like Spacers, implement defensive measures:
- Turrets: Install defensive turrets around your outpost perimeter. Turrets automatically engage approaching enemies, providing essential defense while you are away or occupied elsewhere.
While attacks won’t completely destroy your outpost structures, damage will halt operations until repairs are made. Regular defense minimizes downtime and resource loss.
Crew Assignment: Boosting Outpost Efficiency
To further enhance your outpost’s productivity, consider assigning crew members:
- Crew Station: Construct a Crew Station within your outpost. This structure enables crew assignment.
- Crew Skills: Crew members with relevant skills can significantly boost outpost efficiency. For example, crew with skills in resource management can increase extractor output, while security-focused crew enhance defense capabilities.
- Outpost Management Skill: Investing in the Outpost Management skill in your skill tree increases the number of crew members you can assign to each outpost, maximizing personnel-based bonuses.
While crew members are beneficial, they are not mandatory for basic outpost operation. Outposts can function autonomously, making crew assignment an optional optimization strategy.
Cargo Links: Establishing Inter-Outpost Logistics and Trade
As your Starfield empire expands to multiple outposts, efficient resource transfer becomes crucial. Cargo Links enable automated shipping of resources between your outposts, streamlining supply chains and consolidating materials without manual ship transfers.
Starfield features two types of Cargo Links:
- Cargo Link (Intra-System): Facilitates resource transfer between outposts within the same solar system. This link is ideal for consolidating resources from mining outposts to a central processing base or transferring manufactured goods within a system. It does not require Helium-3 to operate.
- Inter-System Cargo Link: Enables resource shipping across different solar systems, crucial for large-scale resource distribution and fulfilling supply missions acquired from mission boards. The Inter-System Cargo Link requires Helium-3 to function, adding another layer of importance to He-3 outposts.
Cargo Link Mechanics:
- Construction: Build the desired Cargo Link type at each outpost you wish to connect. These are large landing pad structures with integrated input (green) and output (red) storage containers.
- Connection Limits: Each outpost can support a maximum of three cargo links, and each link is point-to-point, connecting to only one other outpost. However, each link can handle multiple resource types simultaneously.
- Configuration: Interact with the Cargo Link control console to establish connections and define resource flow. You select the destination outpost and specify which resources to send and/or receive.
- Resource Routing: For outgoing resources (red container), link the storage container holding your mined resources to the Cargo Link’s output container. This automatically feeds resources into the shipping system. Incoming containers (green) can be linked to storage for organized intake, or left unlinked for direct access.
- Automated Shipping: Once configured, cargo ships will automatically arrive, load outgoing resources from the red container, and unload incoming resources into the green container, creating a continuous automated supply chain.
- Adjustments: Modify resource assignments or destination links anytime via the Cargo Link control console to adapt to changing needs.
Mastering cargo links is essential for establishing a truly interconnected and efficient outpost network, allowing you to manage resources across vast distances and build complex industrial operations.
By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to establish thriving and efficient outposts across the Starfield galaxy, maximizing resource acquisition and building a powerful interstellar presence. Remember to continuously explore, experiment with outpost layouts, and adapt your strategies to the unique challenges and opportunities each planet offers.
