Reference PSA - Item Guide Review - Fusion Blaster Array to Mauler Array - NOM

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Fusion Blaster Array
A series of precisely linked heavy fusion beams in a complementary array - range is greatly increased.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +30% 38% 45% 53% 60% 68%
Engines +5% 5% 8% 15% 15% 15%
Malfunction Chance 0% -1% -1% -1% -1% -2%
Surprise Damage +15 15 15 20 25 30
Surprise Chance +3% 3% 3% 4% 5% 6%
Rarity Rare
Sell Value 50 points

Notes

A Fusion Blaster Array is the second stage rogue weapon - not very good, but a nice package of overall stats. The +30% weapons is very low, though - a pile of FBAs don't add up to much.

Availability

The FBA is always findable at the Rare rarity.

Price

As with all rares, the FBA can be purchased for about the cost of 55 points.

Cost/Benefit

The FBA is a low powered clean (that is, without drawbacks) weapon - the only such weapon between the Fusion Beam and the Phaser Emitter. Use it until you can afford Phaser Emitters.

Applicability

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

Fusion Blaster Array - 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 FBA has the best NOM path in Star Pirates. No other item comes close.

It's power is such that a Mark V FBA is arguably more powerful than a Mark V PE, and comparable to a PEA Mark II.

Availability

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

Price

The supply of FBA-NOMs are significant - the price is usually well under 10k each.

Cost/Benefit

Unless you are in a position to NOM VR items, the FBA is one of your best bests for effective NOMing.

Applicability

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

Galactic Wedding Cake
CONSUMABLE
Traditionally found at human gatherings where two main participants are bound together by energy forces generated by, and linked to, rare metal finger circlets. The proximity of the cake to the rings during the cutting infuses it with residual energy. When eaten, this energy is released.

Duration 30 minutes
Energy +1
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $60,000

Notes

The GWC was distributed to commemorate the real life wedding of two people who met while playing Star Pirates. This was before I joined the game, so I don't know the details, but suffice to say that this is a very rare item. It's power level is quite low, so it's more of a curio rather than an item that can be used to benefit a pirate.

The boost in energy can be used to either allow you more attacks per refill of energy or (more likely) boost energy for a research binge (likely in conjunction with Alpha Centauri Rum, Finely Aged Alpha Centauri Rum and C.O.A.L..

Availability

The GWC is not findable at this time, and I find it unlikely that it will become findable in the future.

Price

I have no idea what the GWC would sell at.

Cost/Benefit

Without knowing what the price is, I can't estimate the Cost/Benefit of the GWC

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: Used in Labcoats

Gravitic Deflection Lens
This device does not work or look like an optical lens, but uses quantum gravity fields to warp the space near a ship in order to provide performance boosts to engines and shields. As a bonus, it can also be called upon as a fairly effective weapon, working much like a graviton beam.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +60% 62% 64% 66% 68% 70%
Shields +60% 62% 64% 66% 68% 70%
Engines +60% 62% 64% 66% 68% 70%
Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% -1%
Enemy Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Rarity Very Rare+
Sell Value 500 points

Notes

The simple awesome firepower of a VR+ item. Nothing special - just a 60% boost in the three base stats. Added together and it's a clean 180% boost - amazing.

The GDL is the balanced VR+, so it helps balanced builds. The reality is, though, that very, very few people can afford multiple VR+ items, so if you are luck enough to have one, just use it.

I don't know if the GDL is a homage to Geoffrey De Lysander, one of the original Star Pirates greats.

Availability

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

Price

As with all of the VR+ items, it's hard to get an accurate price on how much they are selling for as many are being sold or traded off-market.

Cost/Benefit

A massive upside with no drawbacks? The price is high, but it's worth it.

Applicability

Rogue: Awesome
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Awesome
Fighter: Awesome
Other: Awesome in all combat builds that have concentrate on two stats.

Gravitic Deflection Lens - 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 NOM path for the GDL is uninspiring. There's a nice boost to the base stats, but overall, it's not a big jump in power level. Of course, if you start on the top of the mountain, how much better do you really need to be?

Availability

GDL-NOMs are available on paid debris searches at the Very Rare rarity.

Price

The price of GDL-NOMs floats on the market. GDLs are usually one of the cheaper Very Rare NOMs.

Cost/Benefit

By the time you are seriously NOMing VR+ items, cost isn't much of a concern for you. However, I believe that the GDL has a weak NOM path, so your cargo may be better suited NOMing a different item.

Applicability

Rogue: Awesome
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Awesome
Fighter: Awesome (May be the best item for Figher builds in the game)
Other: Awesome in all combat builds that have concentrate on two stats.

Graviton Beam
Materializing in mid-space, vortexes of gravitational imbalance stream outwards. While slow to appear, they do not require great accuracy as the wild gravity effects can crush an enemy at range.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +55% 58% 61% 65% 68% 70%
Malfunction Chance +6% 6% 6% 5% 5% 4%
Damage Modifier +1 1 1 2 2 3
Critical Damage 0 0 20 25 25 30
Critical Chance 0% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2%
Rarity Rare
Sell Value 50 points

Notes

The first reliable big gun that most pirates find, the Graviton Beam is a solid weapon, but cannot be used in bulk due to the high malfunction rate.

The relative cheapness of the vastly superior Graviton Beam Array (slightly over twice as much) means that the Graviton Beam has is rather unappreciated, but it's still a decent weapon.

Availability

The Graviton Beam is always available at the Rare rarity.

Price

As with all rares items, it generally sells for about 55 points.

Cost/Benefit

Use the Graviton Beam until you can afford the Graviton Beam Array.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Good+
Fighter: Good
Other: Good in weapons heavy builds

Graviton 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 Uncommon+
Sell Value $4,000

Notes

The NOM path for the GB is solid, especially with the malfunction rate dropping and the minimum damage increasing, but it's not good enough for me to advise dropping the duct tape on it - as the Graviton Beam Array is comparable to a GB Mark V at a fraction of the price.

Availability

GB-NOMs are available on paid debris searches at the Uncommon+ rarity.

Price

GB-NOMs are generally cheap - often less than 6k each.

Cost/Benefit

It's cheap - but the GB isn't the best Rare to NOM, so I'd skip it.

Applicability

Rogue: Decent
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good in weapons heavy builds

Graviton Beam Array
A precisely linked series of heavy graviton beams. Materializing in mid-space, vortexes of gravitational imbalance stream outwards. While slow to appear, they do not require great accuracy as the wild gravity effects can crush an enemy at range.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +65% 68% 71% 75% 78% 80%
Shields 0% 1% 2% 4% 6% 8%
Malfunction Chance +7% 7% 7% 6% 6% 5%
Damage Modifier +1 1 1 2 2 2
Critical Damage +50 52 54 56 58 60
Critical Chance +3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Rarity Rare+
Sell Value 100 points

Notes

The GBA is a very good weapon - in some respects, the best in the game at what it does. It's a turtle cracker, an item that uses increased minimum damage and critical chance and damage to kill pirates that have much shields than the attacker.

In this role, the nice boost (+65%) to the weapons is generally not required - the key is the +1 damage modifier, +3% critical chance, and +50 critical damage.

The malfunction chance is 7% - pretty high, and one of the reasons that the GBA is fairly cheap. The reality is that a pirate can't use more than 3 or 4 without some malfunction-reducing gear (The Military Targeting Computer has historically performed this role). The GBA's brother-in-arms, the PE, on the other hand, can be used in every slot, and is therefore more in demand.

Availability

The GBA is always available at the Rare+ rarity.

Price

The GBA is usually available for less than 125 points.

Cost/Benefit

The combination of critical damage and minimum damage boost is not found on a Very Rare item - which makes the GBA perhaps the best deal in the game. The malfunction hurts, but if you can run 4 GBAs, the 12% chance of doing up to 200 critical damage will drastically shorten a turtle fight (especially if you have a Gunnery Technician

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Superb
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Superb
Other: Superb in any build that can handle the malf and has long battles.

Graviton Beam Array - 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 5 points

Notes

The GBA is a very good item, and although the NOM path isn't great (it's average), it's still very popular. The improvements to malfunction, minimum damage, critical chance and critical damage aren't all that significant, though the Mark V is a very solid weapon.

Availability

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

Price

The GBA-NOM is usually available for the cost of 6 points.

Cost/Benefit

The GBA is a good, cheap item to NOM

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Superb
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Superb
Other: Superb in any build that can handle the malf and has long battles.

Hardened Phalanx Protocol
Protocol
The HPP adds maintenance methods to the maneuvering subroutines of the other Phalanx Protocols, improving the general solidity of a ship's hull while reducing the number of weak points.

Weapons -3%
Shields +25%
Engines -3%
Damage Modifier +1
Resist Critical +15%
Resist Amount +50
Hull Points +100
Rarity Rare+
Sell Value 10 points

Notes

A solid defensive turtle Protocol. The minor reductions to weapons and shields do not bother turtles in any way.

Availability

Protocols are found in debris searches when Ascending.

Price

Protocols cannot be sold, except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

When you need to boost your shields just that little bit more, the HPP is invaluable. There is no better Protocol at what it does.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Excellent
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Decent
Other: Good in shield-heavy builds

Health & Safety Protocol
Protocol
A ship under HSP is focused on reducing accidents. This may cause a slightly slower response to new situations but the reduced number of accidents and mistakes from the measured response is usually worth it.

Shields +15%
Engines -10%
Malfunction Chance -10%
Resist Critical +8%
Resist Amount +30
Hull Points +100
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $0

Notes

A very good protocol. It has the best malfunction reduction of any item in the game (only the Venusian Bar is better), it will always be used in some builds, because sometimes malfunction is not an option.

Availability

The HSP is found at the completion of a sub-mission in the Ascension mission.

Price

Protocols cannot be sold, except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

With a -10% malfunction adjustment, this may be the best protocol other than the legendary Science Fact Protocol.

Applicability

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

Heavy Armor
Consisting of scrap salvaged from destroyed vessels and heavy materials pulled from asteroids, this crude armor nevertheless assists to defend ships.

Hull Points +30
Rarity Common
Sell Value $6,000

Notes

Beginning armor. Sometimes used to transfer small/medium amounts of cargo around without any risk of being raided.

Availability

HA is always available at the Common rarity.

Price

HA is always available for $6,025.

Cost/Benefit

Use Heavy Armour for until you can afford the Tritanium Armour

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Decent
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Decent
Other: Decent in most Combat builds

Hybrid AI Protocol
Protocol
An augmentation to a ship's AI and protocol systems, the HAP increases ship functionality and effectiveness, with a slight energy drain.

Weapons +8%
Shields +8%
Engines +8%
Malfunction Chance -3%
Damage Modifier +1
Surprise Damage +10
Surprise Chance +3%
Critical Damage +10
Critical Chance +3%
Energy -1
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $0

Notes

The Hybrid AI Protocol is very similar to the Military Targeting Computer. Not as powerful, but more balanced. I think it would help a lot of builds, but I'm not sure which builds it would be better than the existing protocols. As I'll never have one, I don't think I'll worry about it too much.

Availability

The HAIP was given to the first 11 people to finish the first ascension mission. You can deduce who they are by looking here.

Price

Protocols cannot be sold - except back to the game.

Cost/Benefit

The cost of finishing Ascension very quickly (in less than 4 days after it was released) is considerable. Receiving the HAIP has to be considered a bonus, but not the reason for doing that.

Applicability

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

Inertial Neutraliser
General Relativity redefined the concept of inertia. The device uses an exotic energy generator to enhance the effects of geodesic relativistic deviation so as to apparently violate the Newtonian laws of inertial motion. The upside of this is enhanced speed as engines have less effective mass to push against as well as extra energy for shields and weapons. Unfortunately, the basic materials needed are extremely rare.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Shields +50% 51% 52% 53% 54% 55%
Engines +80% 82% 84% 86% 88% 90%
Enemy Malfunction Chance 0% 0% 0% 1% 2% 3%
Surprise Damage 0 0 0 20 40 60
Surprise Chance 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Critical Damage 0 0 0 0 5 10
Critical Chance 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 2%
Resist Critical 0% 0% 0% 1% 2% 3%
Resist Amount 0 0 0 5 10 15
Rarity Very Rare+
Sell Value 500 points

Notes

Another of the 4 original VR+ items, the Inertial Neutraliser gives a extra boost to engines. Like all of the VR+, it's awesome.

Availability

Inertial Neutralisers are always available at the VR+ rarity. To the best of my knowledge, a VR+ has never been found in the belts.

Price

As with the other VR+ items, the Inertial Neutraliser doesn't trade enough to get a firm market price.

Cost/Benefit

If you can afford it, run it. The price continues to drop as the supply grows, but it's a slow process. The IN is the cheapest of the VR+ items.

Applicability

Rogue: Superb
Turtle: Good
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Superb
Other: Good+ to all builds

Inertial Neutraliser - 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 IN-NOM path is solid, but not special. The best parts are the Enemy Malfunction (always good) and the big boost to surprise damage. However, these benefits are heavily weighted to the Mark IV and Mark V.

Availability

IN-NOMs are found on paid debris searches at the VR rarity.

Price

The price of IN-NOMs floats on the market. There are usually enough on the market to get a gauge as to the current price. The IN-NOMs are the cheapest of the VR NOMs.

Cost/Benefit

By the time you are NOMing VR+, price isn't much of a concern. Just make sure the IN-NOM path supports your build.

Ion Pulse Heavy Cannon
A basic weapon without accuracy or finesse but compensated for with pure size.

Weapons +38%
Engines -10%
Malfunction Chance +5%
Rarity Uncommon
Sell Value 1 point

Notes

A weak weapon for beginning pirates. The weapons boost is nice, but the drawbacks are pretty severe, especially if you have a couple installed.

Availability

The IPHC is always available at the uncommon rarity.

Price

The IPHC can usually be found on the item market for a couple of hundred cargo more than the current point price.

Cost/Benefit

Cheap, but dangerous. When Ascending, I used Fusion Beams instead of IPHC.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Poor
Other: Decent in a Hammer

KramBuck
CONSUMABLE
KramBucks are an unsettling symptom of a deeper problem within the AI Council. A nano virus infecting regenabots results in an imperfect repair of your ship, through which cargo flows all too freely.

Duration 30 minutes
Engines +13%
Malfunction Chance +13%
Hull Points -13
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $1

Notes

A Star Pirates institution called Kram Notlimah spent about a year 'leaking' cargo - that is, sending a single cargo to everybody who talked on the Shoutbox, as well as to other pirates. Warped Board's Rum Delivery Service is the child of Kram's leaking of cargo.

Availability

Over time, this delivery of a single cargo became known as a Krambuck. One day, the admins decided to recognize this dedication, and created a new item, the Krambuck, and gave a pile to Kram to distribute. He started distributing Krambuck Mark IIs, to great amusement.

There were several waves of Krambucks, but they have never been made findable.

Price

I don't believe that the Krambuck is traded that often - but check the item market. I suspect that Krambuck sellers are willing to negotiate.

Cost/Benefit

Krambucks are novelty items - they have virtually no value from a gameplay perspective (other than in a malf coat), but have an amusing backstory which, when combined with the short supply, result in it having a decent sale value.

Applicability

Rogue: None
Turtle: None
Juggernaut: None
Fighter: None
Other: Good in a Malfunction build.

Large Bomb
CONSUMABLE
Large, low-signature electronic disruption circuits; when triggered they can severely disrupt or even destroy energy systems. An AI transport was intercepted. A limited number were flung into space...

Min Damage 50%
Max Damage 100%
Malfunction Chance +40%
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

The gold standard of Bombs, the Large bomb can destroy a pirate in a single shot - though it's statistically unlikely.

Availability

The Large Bomb was not findable for a long time, but some pirates report having found them in Alpha Centauri.

Price

The Large Bombs were quite expensive. They will likely become cheaper, due to the increased supply and the Expert Technician's ability to to increase the minimum damage of bombs and reduce the malfunction rate have made Small Bombs much more powerful. I predict the price will continue to drop for some time.

Cost/Benefit

In any case, it's much better than the other bombs, but not worth the extra price.

Applicability

Rogue: N/A
Turtle: N/A
Juggernaut: N/A
Fighter: N/A
Other: Great for a Bombing Build

Laser Beam
A low-yield laser intended for combat. Starvessels this far from the sun are designed to maximize heat retention. Concentrated coherent light takes advantage of this to inflict damage to an enemy vessel.

Weapons +10%
Damage Modifier +1
Rarity Very Common
Sell Value $2,400

Notes

A small weapon that gives a damage modifier without a malfunction - a rare occurance.

On April 29th, 2011, the stats of the Laser beam was updated. Previously, the Laser Beam gave a 15% weapons boost with no damage modifier.

Availability

The Laser Beam is always available at the Very Common rarity.

Price

Laser Beams can always be acquired for $2,425 or less.

Cost/Benefit

Quite solid in small turtles or when you need to boost your minimum damage and can't afford malfunction.

Applicability

Rogue: Weak
Turtle: Decent
Juggernaut: Decent
Fighter: Decent
Other: Decent

Letter of Marque
CONSUMABLE
Presenting this letter to the Martian Despot, Emperor Julianus presses your vessel into privateer operations. To ensure your protection (and obedience) you are put under escort by Martian Security Interceptors. Prevents other players from initiating online attacks (not raids) on you while you are at Mars Station. You cannot raid any player while active nor perform an attack against an online player while the effect lasts (any station).

Duration 30 minutes
Rarity Uncommon+
Sell Value $7,200

Notes

One of the more interesting consumables in the game, the Letter of Marque does two key things when active:

- If you are at Mars, anybody who attacks you will 'bounce' and end up lost in space.
- If you attack an on-line pirate, you will 'bounce' and end up lost in space.

Some pirates (including the author) have used Letter of Marque's to have 'Lost in Space' events, where they get lost 50 or more times in the 30 minutes that the Letter of Marque is active.

With some coordination, two or more pirates can work together to get one pirate the majority of the rescues that are caused by attacking with an active LoM, which means that the Valiant Pirate medal can be 'purchased'.

Letter of Marques can be found while ascending. They offer no protection (there is no planet Mars when ascending) but they can be used for rescuefests).

Availability

Letter of Marques are always available at the Uncommon+ slot.

Price

The supply of Letter of Marques exceeds the demand. LoMs can usually be purchased for less than 8,000 cargo.

Cost/Benefit

LoMs are dirt cheap - fire one up and have some fun.

Applicability

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

Linked Nanobot Casing
Atomic-sized Nanobots coaxed into protecting specific portions of the ship can provide amazing strength allowing for less mass and superior protection. While limited, the effect is still astounding, however there is a constant energy cost to keep the links.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Shields +25% 28% 31% 35% 36% 39%
Engines +5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
Resist Critical 0% 2% 5% 7% 10% 12%
Resist Amount 0 15 30 45 60 75
Hull Points +200 225 250 275 300 325
Energy -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2
Rarity Very Rare
Sell Value 250 points

Notes

The LNC has long been the cheapest of the VR items - there simply isn't much demand for amour. I believe that a big part of this is that it's rare that any serious build will have more than two LNCs, whereas most other VR items (other than the SSC) will often be used in greater numbers.

However as an amour it's still the best in the game, with a nice boost to shields to go along with the hull bonus. The -1 Energy is generally seen as a good thing, as pirates can manipulate their energy to ensure that they get more attacks per energy bar.

Availability

The LNC is always available at the Very Rare level.

Price

There are usually enough LNCs on the market to see the current value.

Cost/Benefit

The best armor in the game, the LNC will always have a niche. The negative Energy will often be useful. They're cheap - buy two.

Applicability

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

Linked Nanobot Casing - 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

I like the LNC-NOM path. The big boost to Critical Resistance is very impressive, and the other stats are quite nice.

Availability

The LNC-NOM is available on paid debris searches at the Rare+ rarity.

Price

There are usually enough LNC-NOMs on the market to see the current value.

Cost/Benefit

A well-NOMed LNC will significantly reduce the amount of critical damage you will receive. With the price of all of the components dropping, it's a good investment for top-end pirates.

Applicability

Rogue: Poor
Turtle: Excellent
Juggernaut: Good
Fighter: Good
Other: Good for builds that get in extended fights.

Long-Use Computer Kludge
CONSUMABLE
Sometimes all you need is a little boost to shift the odds in your favour. Consisting of space junk and spare parts, and supporting only the most basic programming, the computer kludge looks and functions like something from a garbage heap. The moving parts are barely holding together, and will definitely not last permanently, but with some skill, and a little Luck, you'll get the fighting edge you need.

Duration 30 minutes
Weapons +25%
Malfunction Chance -5%
Enemy Malfunction Chance +10%
Surprise Chance +10%
Critical Damage +10
Critical Chance +10%
Rarity Not Findable
Sell Value $9,000

Notes

L.U.C.K. may be the best consumable in the game - with 6 positive stats (including a 10% Enemy Malfunction Chance) and no drawbacks, it is fits helps every build and hurts none.

Availability

The Long-Use Computer Kludge (L.U.C.K.) is another in the rotating series of short term findables (like the Crawler Cluster and the Starburst Chardonnay), and was first released just before St. Patrick's day, 2010.

Price

The price of L.U.C.K. is defined by supply and demand - as it is made findable more often, the price has been slowly dropping.

Cost/Benefit

The limited availability of the L.U.C.K. makes it more expensive than, say, the Finely Aged Alpha Centauri Rum. At current prices, it's clearly worth it for higher level pirates.

Applicability

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

Mauler Array
A surprisingly devastating array of various common beam weapons coupled with disabled engine safety overrides to siphon what the creators call 'excess engine output' into weapons. This motley configuration of parts and lesser weapons destroys anything in it's path, but partially cripples any ship whose captain is crazy enough to mount one.

Mk.I Mk.II Mk.III Mk.IV Mk.V
Weapons +125% 128% 133% 140% 145% 150%
Engines -15% -12% -9% -6% -3% 0%
Malfunction Chance +8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3%
Enemy Malfunction Chance -3% -2% -2% -1% -1% 0%
Damage Modifier +1 2 3 4 5 6
Critical Damage +50 55 60 65 70 75
Critical Chance +1% 1% 1% 2% 3% 4%
Resist Critical -15% -13% -11% -9% -7% -5%
Rarity Very Rare+
Sell Value 500 points

Notes

The biggest gun in the game, the Mauler Array was the fifth and final VR+ added to the game. It has some fairly serious drawbacks, though, so it's clearly the weakest of the VR+ items.

Availability

Mauler Arrays are always available at the VR+ rarity. To the best of my knowledge, a VR+ has never been found in the belts.

Price

As with the other VR+ items, the Mauler Array doesn't trade enough to get a firm market price.

Cost/Benefit

If you can afford it, run it. The price continues to drop as the supply grows, but it's a slow process.

Applicability

Rogue: Good
Turtle: Poor
Juggernaut: Superb
Fighter: Good
Other: Superb on Hammer, poor on most others.

Mauler Array - 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 MA was introduced later than the other VR+ items, so the supply of the NOMs is a little lower than the others.

The NOM path is very, very solid. The weapons boost is nice, but the real key is the dramatic reduction in drawbacks - a Mark V MA is an extremely dangerous item. Of all the VR+ items, I expect that the MA-NOMs will continue to be the most valuable, as it has the best NOM path.

Availability

IN-NOMs are found on paid debris searches at the VR rarity.

Price

The price of MA-NOMs floats on the market. There are usually enough on the market to get a gauge as to the current price.

Cost/Benefit

By the time you are NOMing VR+, price isn't much of a concern. Just make sure the MA-NOM path supports your build.