Reference - PSA - Item Guide Review - Batten Down Protocol to C.O.A.L.

Batten Down Protocol
Protocol
In the days of sailing ships, the orders would be passed to "Batten down the hatches!" during times of danger. This translates well to any modern spacefaring ships where stowing away delicate exterior mounted devices plus sealing exhaust ports and weapons bays can make all the difference in a firefight.

Weapons -3%
Shields +5%
Resist Critical +5%
Resist Amount +25
Hull Points +25
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value 1 point

Notes

A lightweight Turtle protocol, the Batten Down Protocol will only be used by pirates who haven't found the better protocols. Most of these will be sold back to the game.

Availability

Only findable when ascending.

Price

N/A

Cost/Benefit

The drawbacks are pretty limited, but so is the power level. Low-level applicability.

Applicability

Rogue: None
Turtle: Low
Juggernaut: Low
Fighter: Low
Other: Slightly useful for shield heavy builds.

Black Hole Generator
A black hole is an intensely dense, curved region of space-time which absorbs all matter and energy within its event horizon. The Generator is used to create tiny Black Holes that last for less than a microsecond. When projected into the hull of an opponents ship, crippling damage ensues, as matter and energy are absorbed, then released as deadly Hawking Radiation. When in use, the system provides a spike of energy that can be harnessed by the Ship's AI to boost both engines and defensive systems.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +80% 82% 84% 86% 88% 90%
Shields +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Engines +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Critical Damage 0 0 0 20 40 60
Critical Chance 0% 0% 0% 1% 2% 3%
Rarity Very Rare+
Sell Value 500 points

Notes

Enormously powerful, the BHG is the gold standard of items. Generally considered to be the most powerful item in the game.

Availability

Always findable at the Very Rare level.

Price

The BHG is usually traded off-market, making it hard to accurately peg the value. Furthermore, not many change hands.

Cost/Benefit

Enormously expensive and enormously powerful, the BHG is worth every cargo.

Applicability

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

Black Hole Generator - 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 BHG is the best VR+ when it is not NOMed, but has a weak NOM path.

Availability

BHG-NOMs are always available at the VR level.

NOMs are only found on paid point searches.

Price

BHG-NOMs are popular, and sell for a good price. The price varies somewhat, though, as the supply is fairly limited.

Cost/Benefit

If you are going to NOM something, may as well NOM VR+ items.

Applicability

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

C.O.A.L.
CONSUMABLE
Coallased O-state Antimatter by LaouzerInc. This technological wonder from the PreStarcrash era enabled the safe transmission of quantums of energy in personal Comm Device-sized packages. The matte-black finish was encrusted with interface systems for most power-hungry systems. Together this allowed the COAL to instantly boost systems low on energy and fuel.

Duration 30 minutes
Malfunction Chance +5%
Damage Modifier -2
Fuel +5
Energy +3
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $5,400

Notes

Extremely powerful item for short-term leveling. Used by high-level pirates with a lot of points/AICBs to burn, as the energy boost is great for researching, while the fuel boost is useful for leveling.

Availability

C.O.A.L. was released for Christmas 2 years ago, and some has been found in Alpha Centauri.

Price

So long as people continue to ascend, the price will continue to be fairly stable. As less people ascend (and provided no other source of C.O.A.L. appears, the price will go up.

Cost/Benefit

C.O.A.L. is only worth it if you are going to spend a huge amount of points/AICBs during the 30 minutes that it is active. By itself, it's not worth using.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good