Reference PSA - Item Guide Review - Precision Firing Protocol to Xeortrium Armor - NOM

Precision Firing Protocol
Protocol
This is similar to but far superior to the Targeting Protocol. This provides a clear system for the Gunnery section to target enemies weak points at a slower pace but with greater precision.

Weapons +25%
Engines -10%
Enemy Malfunction Chance -2%
Damage Modifier +3
Critical Damage +25
Critical Chance +2%
Rarity Rare
Sell Value 5 points

Notes

A solid protocol. The engine reduction makes it harder to run, but the overall package is solid. This is one of the three items in the game with a negative enemy malfunction.

Availability

The Precision Firing Protocol is found in debris searches when Ascending at the Rare rarity.

Price

Protocols can't be sold except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

This weapon is good for both quick battles (weapons boost) and long battles (Damage Modifier and Critical Damage). Use it until you find the Exact Firing Protocol.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good+
Fighter: Good
Other: Good in most builds

Pulsar Beam
Triggering a web-like grid of crisscrossing radiation stripes, the pulsar beam is a highly effective weapon with exceptional range. The broad effect radius makes it a challenge to ensure the full power is brought to bear on the enemy vessel.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +100% 105% 110% 115% 116% 120%
Engines +15% 18% 23% 27% 33% 35%
Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% 0% -1% -2%
Damage Modifier -1 -1 0 1 1 1
Rarity Very Rare
Sell Value 250 points

Notes

Prior to the introduction of the VR+ items, the Pulsar Beam was the gold standard of weapons in Star Pirates. Even now, it's still a very, very good weapon, for a variety of builds.

The -1 Damage Modifier can be an amusing drawback. If you have a pile of Pulsar Beams equipped and fight somebody who has higher shields, you will be really bad in a turtle fight - 0 maximum damage doesn't add up quickly. However, pirates with a pile of Pulsar Beams are usually on the winning side of fights.

Availability

The Pulsar Beam is always available at the Very Rare rarity.

Price

The price of the Pulsar Beam floats on the market. For a long time, the Pulsar beam was the most expensive findable item in the game. With the introduction of the VR+ items and the increase in demand for the CPAI and the C3ET, the Pulsar Beam is now 8th.

Cost/Benefit

Make no mistake - when you are buying Pulsar Beams, you have hit the big time. As the Pulsar Beam is a much cleaner weapon than the basic Mauler Array, I predict there will always be a significant role for the Pulsar Beam.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Superb
Other: Superb in all weapon heavy builds

Pulsar Beam - NOM
Nanometer-scale Optimization Modules bundle raw materials with single-use nanomachines which uniquely integrate components into a ship. Efficiency and effectiveness are progressively increased, but this irreversible process of meshing items with ships makes upgraded items useless for sale or spare parts. As a result, they are bound to a single captain and AI system and cannot be traded.

Rarity Rare+
Sell Value 10 points

Notes

The Pulsar Beam has a solid NOM path. I find the boost to engines perhaps the most interesting, as it becomes a notably better rogue weapon.

I can't say that I think that the minimum damage bonus will make much of a difference - if I have a Pulsar Beam Mark IV, I'm not in a turtle cracker build.

PB-NOMs are required to NOM the Mjolnir and the Smiter.

Availability

PB-NOMs are available on paid debris searches at the Rare+ rarity.

Price

The price of PB-NOMs floats on the market.

Cost/Benefit

It's a clean, simple upgrade path. Very solid. If you are not interested in NOMing a VR+ item, go for it.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Superb
Other: Superb in weapons heavy builds

Pumpkin Bomb
CONSUMABLE
A high explosive device with a rough spherical shape - the explosion is an enormous orange ball of fire; this (and its completely mysterious origin) earned it the nickname of "Pumpkin Bomb".

Min Damage 10%
Max Damage 60%
Malfunction Chance +20%
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

The Pumpkin Bomb is an expensive bomb that not really worth it. If you need to bomb somebody, use a bunch of Small Bombs and an Expert Technician - it's more reliable and cost efficient.

Availability

The Pumpkin Bomb is occasionally made available at the Uncommon+ rarity.

Price

With the very limited supply, the Pumpkin Bomb is rather overpriced.

Cost/Benefit

Use Small Bombs.

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: Used in a Bombing Build

Quality Control Protocol
Protocol
ACAIs realise that simple checklists are one of the most effective ways of reducing mistakes. A ship with an active Quality Control Protocol lives (more often) and dies (less often) by their checklists.

Malfunction Chance -7%
Enemy Malfunction Chance -2%
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value 1 point

Notes

An item with -7 malfunction is always good. As a beginner protocol (Uncommon+ protocols are usually found far earlier than the Rare and Rare+ protocols), it's really nice when your build has too many Uncommon weapons.

Availability

The QCP is found at the Uncommon+ rarity on debris searches while Ascending.

Price

Protocols can't be sold, except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

Use it until you acquire the Health & Safety Protocol.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good in all combat builds.

Reflective Field Dynamo
This is the state of the art in Pacifist reflective defense technology, providing a sizeable boost to shields. On top of this standard benefit, the dynamo absorbs energy from attacks to be reused in part in the engines for fast getaways. The remainder of weapons fire is reflected back at attackers, allowing the Pacifists to technically refrain from harming living beings.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Shields +80% 82% 84% 86% 88% 90%
Engines +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% -1% -2% -3%
Enemy Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Resist Critical 0% 0% 0% 2% 4% 6%
Resist Amount 0 0 0 10 20 30
Rarity Very Rare+
Sell Value 500 points

Notes

The Shield-Heavy VR+ item. The RFD is an awesome weapon, as with all of the VR+ items. Realistically, however, there isn't that much to talk about here - it's pretty obvious that the four basic VR+ items are great and have no drawbacks.

Availability

The RFD is always available at the Very Rare+ rarity.

Price

The RFD floats on the market. Most RFDs are traded outside of the market, making it hard to peg a current price.

Cost/Benefit

What more could a Juggernaut want?

The supply of RFDs has reached the point where the price of RFDs is slowly trending down - suggesting that these are a reasonably buy at this point.

Applicability

Rogue: Very Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Awesome
Fighter: Awesome
Other: Very Good+ in most combat builds

Reflective Field Dynamo - NOM
Nanometer-scale Optimization Modules bundle raw materials with single-use nanomachines which uniquely integrate components into a ship. Efficiency and effectiveness are progressively increased, but this irreversible process of meshing items with ships makes upgraded items useless for sale or spare parts. As a result, they are bound to a single captain and AI system and cannot be traded.

Rarity Very Rare
Sell Value 25 points

Notes

The RFD NOM path isn't great - it's solid, but I don't think it's that great. At least the secondary abilities help a turtle build - but if you are building a turtle, CXES are much cheaper.

Availability

The RFD-NOMs are available on paid point searches at the VR rarity.

Price

The price of the RFD-NOMs float on the market.

Cost/Benefit

NOMing a RFD (or any VR+) is a very expensive proposition, and a long one. There aren't going to be any items released that overshadow the RFD.

Applicability

Rogue: Awesome
Turtle: Very Good
Juggernaut: Awesome
Fighter: Awesome
Other: Very Good+ on all combat builds

Regenabot Summoner
CONSUMABLE
This kit will emit a distress call for Regenabots. Packing a huge amount of sending power in a small package, the unit is destroyed after use.

Repair Ship +100%
Rarity Uncommon
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

Regenabot Summoners are basically 3 points, and tend to be priced accordingly. Reganabot Summoners are nice to have around if you are type of pirate who uses points a lot, and sometimes runs out.

Availability

Regenabot Summoners are always available at the uncommon rarity.

Price

Regenabot Summoners are usually available for slightly less than the price of 3 points.

Cost/Benefit

It's always nice to have a few Regenabot Summoners around in case you accidentally use all of your points in other activities, or if you want to track how often you die.

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: N/A

Roll of Duct Tape
CONSUMABLE
The versatility of the most inglorious of substances ensured its survival into the current age. Desperate spacefarers have been known to use it in place of proper repair work (10% of damage is repaired when used - this reduces Ship Yard time by 1 minute).

Repair Ship +10% (100 max.)
Rarity Very Common
Sell Value $2,400

Notes

As massive amounts of duct tape are required to NOM items, especially to Mark IV and Mark V, Duct Tape is almost never used for its nominal purpose.

Duct Tape is often used for trading purposes - similar to points and AICBs, Duct Tape is traded enough to be a secondary currency.

Availability

Duct Tape is always found at the very common rarity.

Price

The price of Duct Tape has been slowly dropping - check the Item Market (except on Sunday Night/Monday Morning).

Cost/Benefit

If you are NOMing something, you don't have any choice to but to use Duct Tape, so the question is - is it worth it to NOM stuff?

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: N/A

Science Fact Protocol
Protocol
Science-focused vessels have a natural advantage in running their own researches. And this protocol is -- for science!

Research Units +20
Rarity Rare+
Sell Value 10 points

Notes

The 'Holy Grail' of protocols, this is the one protocol that should not ascend without. Apparently, one pirate spent over 100,000 points searching for this before they ascended.

As for the power level - consider this a 3.3 CPAIs (or 5 ECAIs) in one slot. On personal experience, I can say this item makes a huge difference when researching.

Availability

Despite what some pirates may say, the SFP is found on on debris searches at the Rare+ rarity.

Price

Protocols can't be sold, except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

As Protocols can't be purchased or traded, the Cost/Benefit value of a protocol can only be determined by how long a player will spend in points or time to stay in Ascension to try to find the protocol.

By this metric, the benefit of the SFP is worth a huge cost.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Awesome+ in a Labcoat

Note: I consider this good in all builds as it allows pirates to have a big research boost without significantly affecting the effectiveness of the combat build. All of my standard builds have the SFP - I only remove it for specific battles.

Signature Scrambler Circuit
A Military grade device used to minimize and distort ship emissions. Somewhat legendary, this unit is said to make it impossible to locate a Star Pirate who doesn't want to be found.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Engines 0% 4% 9% 10% 11% 15%
Surprise Damage +15 17 19 21 23 25
Surprise Chance +10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15%
Resist Critical 0% 0% 0% 1% 2% 3%
Resist Amount 0 0 0 15 30 50
Rarity Very Rare
Sell Value 250 points

Notes

The key ability of the SSC is the fact that it makes you harder to find and attack. Favored by Raiders and on-liners.

Note that when somebody has you on their contacts list, they can see where you are.

Availability

The SSC is always available at the Very Rare rarity.

Price

The SSC is one of the two cheapest Very Rares (along with the Linked Nanobot Casing), likely due to the fact that no pirate needs more than one. Check the market for the current prices.

Cost/Benefit

Works wonderfully with a cloak - depending on your play-style, you need it.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good in all combat builds.

Signature Scrambler Circuit - NOM
Nanometer-scale Optimization Modules bundle raw materials with single-use nanomachines which uniquely integrate components into a ship. Efficiency and effectiveness are progressively increased, but this irreversible process of meshing items with ships makes upgraded items useless for sale or spare parts. As a result, they are bound to a single captain and AI system and cannot be traded.

Rarity Rare+
Sell Value 10 points

Notes

As the SSC is an item that most high level pirates need, and it can't be replaced, NOMing it makes some sense. The NOM path is decent, though I'm not clear that the benefits fit together into a normal build.

As nobody would NOM more than one SSC, the price of SSC-NOMs are pretty reasonable.

Availability

SSC-NOMs are findable on paid point searches at the Rare+ rarity.

Price

SSC-NOMs have recently bottomed out, and are available for the equivalent of 11 points. The sell-back price is 10 points, so it will never be less than the cost of 10 points.

Cost/Benefit

As it's pretty cheap, any pirate who enjoys raiding, on-lining or warfare should consider NOMing a SSC. The bonuses are such that they help most builds.

Applicability

Rogue: Decent
Turtle: Decent
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Decent
Other: Decent in all war builds

Small Bomb
CONSUMABLE
Small, non-descript, low-signature electronic disruption circuits; when triggered they can wreak havoc with energy systems.

Min Damage 5%
Max Damage 20%
Malfunction Chance +40%
Rarity Uncommon
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

Historically, Small Bombs tended to hurt somebody, and, if enough were used, would normally get them down to 1-3 points, and get the target a Davey Jones medal. If you have ever wondered why Mr. Awesome has so many DJ medals - it's Small Bombs.

However, some time ago, the Expert Technician was improved to increase the minimum damage of bombs by 1. This means that with enough small bombs (about 80/90, if I recall correctly), you will kill anybody in the game.

The price of Small Bombs took a noticeable jump once this improvement was recognized.

Availability

Small Bombs are always available at the Uncommon rarity.

Price

The price of Small Bombs float on the market.

Cost/Benefit

It's not cheap to use bombs to kill somebody, but it's a lot of fun.

There is some thinking that bombing very high level pirates during wars is cost-effective, compared to the cost of War Forays.

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: Used in your Bombing Build

Smiter
A Unique Item: after an intense fight with a Pod Destroyer, this weapon was salvaged by Mr Awesome, Captain of the first Ship to Reach Level 90. It is a highly effective weapon with exceptional range.

Weapons +100%
Engines +16%
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $15,000

Notes

Smiter, like the Mjolnir, the Excalibur and Abhorrence Drive is a named item, the same as a normal weapon, but with a special name.

Three named weapons have been NOMed to Mark V (using Pulsar Beam NOMs) - the AI-Enhanced Paradox of Galaxiana, the Overwhelming Roguish Charm of Kane and the Surgical Singularity. The personalized weapons have slightly better stats than a Mark V Pulsar Beam.

Availability

Named items are given out by the Admins for special events and accomplishments.

Price

I have no idea what this item would go for on the open market.

Cost/Benefit

If you buy this item, you are doing it for an intangible benefit - perhaps to be able to name your own weapon.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Excellent
Fighter: Superb

Stealth Drive Unit
The discovery of both gravity and lightwave manipulation was instantly taken on by Engine Designers to create engines that were not as powerful, but much harder to detect by standard equipment.

Engines +35%
Malfunction Chance +2%
Surprise Damage +12
Surprise Chance +7%
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

Stealth Drive is a weak drive, and is rarely actually used. Stealth Drives, along with Stealth Plating, have been used for official trade-ins for CVISDUs, and the supply is therefore very limited. The last trade in was 15 for 1, and pirates generally were pretty efficient in the trade-in, so there aren't a lot left over.

There have been 2 previous trade-ins, and the Admins have hinted at another trade-in at some point in the future. The current high price of the Steal Gear is based on this belief, not on the actual usefulness of the item.

Availability

Stealth Drive is not findable at this time. It may become findable in the future. The last time it was findable, it was findable at the Uncommon+ rarity. The Stealth Plating and the CVISDU-NOM was findable at the same time.

Price

Extremely limited supply has boosted the price on the market to very high levels. I'm not clear, however, if there is actually any market for stealth drives - I doubt there is.

Cost/Benefit

Don't bother.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Poor
Fighter: Poor
Other: Poor in all combat builds

Stealth Plating
The discovery of advanced gravity and lightwave manipulation meant that truly stealthy armor plating was made possible. This has certain advantages and disadvantages especially as engine and weapons units need to be partially muzzled to gain full effect.

Weapons -10%
Shields +10%
Damage Modifier -1
Surprise Chance +5%
Hull Points +50
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $12,000

Notes

Stealth Plating is a weak armour, and is rarely actually used.

One use for the Stealth Plating is to build a 'Malf Coat', with 10 or more Stealth Plating installed. This gives the attacking pirate zero weapons, and makes it hard to win battles.

Availability

Stealth Plating is not findable at this time. It may become findable in the future. The last time it was findable, it was findable at the Rare rarity. The Stealth Drive and the [url]CVISDU-NOM[/url] was findable at the same time.

Price

Extremely limited supply has boosted the price on the market to very high levels. I'm not clear, however, if there is actually any market for stealth drives - I doubt there is.

Cost/Benefit

Don't bother.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Poor
Fighter: Poor
Other: Poor in all combat builds

Sunburst Chardonnay
CONSUMABLE
Banned by the AI Council, this mysterious, full-bodied wine has been produced and quietly distributed through the system by the Sons of Earth. The grapes from which it is made are grown in intricate Mercurian hydroponic farms, moving on tracks to stay in the safe zone of the Mercurian terminator. The fruits thrive in perpetual twilight; in the purest sunlight in the Solar System. The wine is a symbol of a golden utopia - one not from the AI Council. For this reason, the council is quick to punish those found in possession of the drink. For that same reason, Captains and crews alike will stop at nothing to have it.

Duration 30 minutes
Shields +15%
Malfunction Chance +5%
Critical Damage +30
Critical Chance +2%
Resist Critical +8%
Resist Amount +60
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

Chardonnay is an excellent turtle boost. Turtles don't mind the malfunction that much, and the huge boost to critical resistance is a huge boon.

Availability

The Sunburst Chardonnay is on a list of items that are findable for about two weeks every few months. When findable, Sunburst is findable at the Uncommon+ rarity.

Price

The price of the Sunburst slowly goes down when it is findable,and slowly goes up when it is not findable. It should remain quite reasonably priced - well worth it for most medium level pirates to use during wars.

Cost/Benefit

A very solid consumable, well worth using in warfare and leveling binges.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Superb
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Superb
Other: Good+ in builds that have lengthy battles

Targeting Protocol
Protocol
[/i]The ACAIs have found standard operating procedures that improve firing accuracy. Translating these procedures to ships of Free Captains has resulted in the Targeting Protocol.[/i]

Weapons +5%
Critical Damage +12
Critical Chance +5%
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value 1 point

Notes

A beginners protocol for small pirates, used in attacking builds. Replaced by Rare and Rare+ protocols.

Availability

The TP is found at the Uncommon+ rarity in debris searches while ascending.

Price

Protocols can't be sold, except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

Use the TP until you find the Precision Firing Protocol or (preferably) the Exact Firing Protocol.

Applicability

Rogue: Decent
Turtle: Decent
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Decent
Other: Decent in all combat builds

Tritanium Armor
Standard space armor - a dark material meant to minimize heat loss and maximize energy absorption while providing radiation protection. In deep space the first enemy is the void and freezing; the second is baking to death.

Hull Points +65
Rarity Uncommon
Sell Value 1 point

Notes

A solid piece of armour, used by beginning pirates. Most are sold for points.

Availability

The TA is always available at the Uncommon rarity.

Price

Can usually be found on the Item Market for a couple of hundred more cargo than the current price of points.

Cost/Benefit

It's very good for beginning pirates. Sixty-Five hull extra hull is huge in a sloop 1.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Poor
Fighter: Poor
Other: Poor

Venusian Bar
CONSUMABLE
Before the Starcrash Catastrophe, history says people were able to stop working and enjoy video entertainment. Unheard of in present day, this was a big event. As part of a celebration of a "movie" fine chocolate in the shape of small spaceships were made - one shipment was sent into orbit intended for military command. It never arrived. Since most spacefarers have never even heard of chocolate - imagine what the crew will do for a captain who can find and share this!

Duration 30 minutes
Malfunction Chance -20%
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $24,000

Notes

Venusian Bars are an item that was much more prominent in the early days of the game, and has non-findable for my entire time in the game.

It's a massive decrease to malfunction, which was previously used to support Plasma Cannon builds, but is now used against builds that have 100% enemy malfunction.

Availability

I am not aware of any plans to make this available (either findable, or as Admin gifts / official contest prizes). If you want it, the Item Market is the place.

Price

It's expensive (10m+), but there aren't enough trading to get a handle on the current price.

Cost/Benefit

Not worth it for 30 minutes of bonuses. It's cheaper just to bomb the people you want to kill.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good+ in all combat builds.

Venusian Heart
CONSUMABLE
It is a testament to man's oft-perverse nature that, in the years following the Starcrash, the lost knowledge and resources which were most keenly mourned were also quite often the most trivial. The recent discovery of the missing shipment of Venusian Bars stirred human scientists to synthesize ingredients and produce more of that singular substance, chocolate. While some captains maintain that the lighter flavour of the "V-Heart" pales in comparison to that of the Venusian Bars, most rapidly grow to yearn for the wave of exhilaration and high spirits brought on by its consumption.

Duration 30 minutes
Engines +30%
Malfunction Chance -10%
Enemy Malfunction Chance +5%
Energy -3
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

The Venusian Heart is an interesting item. Mainly a rogue boost (though the malfunction modifications are good for all combat builds), the -3 Energy has to be carefully managed, as it can affect the number of attacks that a be taken on a full tank of fuel.

Availability

The Venusian Heart has occasionally be made findable. It's not known if the V-Heart is going to become a 'Short Term Findable', in the same manner as the Sunburst Chardonnay and the Crawler Cluster.

Price

The price V-Heart floats on the market. I'm not clear how many of these are sold.

Cost/Benefit

If the V-Heart is sold at slightly below the prices that I'm seeing on the market, it's rather expensive for what it does. Should it become findable again and the price drops to about a million, I expect it to be used a fair bit. A bonus of -10% malfunction is very helpful, especially in conjunction with the L.U.C.K..

Applicability

Rogue: Awesome
Turtle: Superb
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Awesome
Other: Superb in all combat builds

Xeortrium Armor
Discovered just before the Starcrash, xeortium is a rare asteroid metal which can be worked into nanotubes providing excellent tensile strength and armor. The latticework is much less bulky. Unfortunately it is also easily spotted by scanners due to its rarity.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Shields 0% 0% 1% 4% 9% 12%
Engines 0% 0% 0% 3% 6% 9%
Resist Critical 0% 1% 2% 4% 6% 8%
Resist Amount 0 10 20 30 40 50
Hull Points +150 180 210 240 270 300
Rarity Rare
Sell Value 50 points

Notes

A very simple armour, XA just gives a simple hull boost. Used in non-turtle builds, often for belt runs.

Availability

The Xeo Armor is always available at the rare slot.

Price

Most of these are sold for points, and can be purchased for 55 points.

Cost/Benefit

As XAs are bought and sold for the price of 55 (or less) points, there's little cost/benefit calculation - as you can always sell it for the price you buy it for. The XA is clearly a better armour for all but turtles.

Applicability

Rogue: None
Turtle: Medium
Juggernaut: Medium
Fighter: Low
Other: Medium for builds that expect long battles

Xeortrium Armor - NOM
Nanometer-scale Optimization Modules bundle raw materials with single-use nanomachines which uniquely integrate components into a ship. Efficiency and effectiveness are progressively increased, but this irreversible process of meshing items with ships makes upgraded items useless for sale or spare parts. As a result, they are bound to a single captain and AI system and cannot be traded.

Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value $4,000

Notes

The NOM path for XA is pretty solid - everything fits together, and it's a solid package. XA-NOMs are quite cheap, but the duct tape and cargo costs are significant. From what I can tell, people who NOM armour usually NOM a Linked Nanobot Casing instead, so I wouldn't NOM more than one.

The NOM path for the XA was updated - a full discussion can be found here.

Availability

The XA-NOM is available on paid point searches at the Uncommon+ rarity.

Price

XA-NOMs have been seen at near sell-back price.

Cost/Benefit

NOMing a rare armor is generally better than NOMing a weapon, shield or engine, as there is no Rare+ armour. That being said, the Linked Nanobot Casing is the cheapest Very Rare item, it's probably still a better idea to just NOM it.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Good
Other: Decent in most combat builds

Starcrash Celebration Cake
CONSUMABLE
Customs among post-starcrash humanity are complex and downright strange. Many traditions come and go, short-lived as a sunspot - but absurdly, a few seem to stick. In the case of Starcrash Celebration Cake, mankind chose to celebrate its greatest disaster, rather than mourn it. And what's a party without delicious, frosted cake? So, once a year (or whenever the fancy strikes) free captains throughout the solar system negotiate with their kitchen AIs, promising to cut carbs and run laps if the AIs will just let them eat cake!

Duration 30 minutes
Weapons +15%
Shields -5%
Engines +30%
Malfunction Chance -2%
Damage Modifier +2
Surprise Damage +100
Surprise Chance +5%
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

The SCC was introduced on April 25th, 2011 in celebration of Star Pirate's 3rd anniversary.

Availability

When findable, the SCC is available at the uncommon+ rarity.

Price

Unclear at this time. If the item description holds true and this item is only available briefly each year, the price will be artificially high, and this item will generally be a curio.

Cost/Benefit

Not worth it to use at this time. Sad, as this is a huge boost for any rogue.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Decent
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Superb
Other: Good+ in all combat builds