Overview
There are 2 main reactions to getting the Vortex. Like “Oh yay, something new to try out.” Or “What is THIS piece of crap?!”
What the Vortex is.
It is the B layout of the Engi Cruiser. For its main systems, it has basically everything the Kestrel has plus a system for drones. As for subsystems it has everything the Kestrel has minus the sensors. It comes with three drones, two system repairs and one anti-personel. You’ll only have enough power to power up all your systems and one of your system repair drones. You’ll also notice your only crew member is an Engi, that is it. The ship comes with two weapons, the Heavy Ion and the Heavy Laser Mk. I. (Geez that looked akward.) It also comes with a drone reactor thing. The drone reactor thing makes your boarding drone move 50% faster. (yaaay…) It also looks red and I like to call it “The Jelly Filled”… DON’T JUDGE! IT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A DOUGHNUT, OKAY?! (Sorry.)
Warnings and recommendations.
1. Get enough power for the anti-personel drone and get another crew member preferably a human if you are buying. You can get system repair drones later. Your Engi can take care of damage your ship takes in the first two sectors. The extra crew member is for piloting (and charging your FTL while your Engi takes care of your weapons… again.)
2. With the weapons you currently have, you will NOT be able to do any damage to any enemies with a double layered shield or higher. Get a missle/bomb or a boarding drone. Getting a boarding system would work too, unless if you’re faced with an atomated ship with no oxygen and double layered shields or higher.
3. This may seem obvious, but NEVER use your heavy laser first unless if the enemy has no shields. Always use your Ion FIRST. Ion the shields first, then laser their weapons unless if they have a drone, then you might want to go for the drone system first depending on the drone.
4. Do not let yourself get caught by an enemy with a teleporter if you can not get your anti-personel working and you still only have that one lone Engi. Especially if the enemies that are boarding are Mantis.
5. If you don’t plan on getting a boarding drone, just sell the drone reactor thing. It is useless if you do not have a working boarding drone.
6. Always stay well stocked on fuel and drone parts. You’ll surprised how quickly your drone parts get depleted if you have an anti-ship drone, defence drone, boarding drone, etc.
7. Just as a little side note, you probably do not want to use this for the enemy flagship, instead, use this as a way for discovering secrets and unlocking new ships.
Strategies.
There are two ways of approaching the Vortex. One way is maximum defensive and the other being flexible offensive.
If you plan on going maximum defensive, sell your drone reactor thing, it will serve no purpose to you. the crew members you need is another Engi, a Mantis, and a Rock (Maybe a Slug if you are going through a nebula or if the enemy gets the great idea to target your brand new sensors). For drones, you will need a defense drone, a system repair drone, and an anti-personel drone. As for subsystems, just get sensors and upgrade your doors and jets. (You will not need to upgrade your sensors.) For systems, upgrade your medbay once, upgrade your O2 once, upgrade your piloting as much as you can but ONLY IF you can afford to have a pilot while a major ship from sector 5-8 is wailing on you. Get cloaking, and upgrade that as much as possible. Also upgrade your shields as much as possible. As for augmentations, get stealth weapons and shield recharger and if you want another, the last one is up to you. For weapons, keep the ones it comes with, but get a missile/bomb and if there are Mk. II or III versions of the ones you got, get them, but only after you got the missile/bomb and most of your other upgrades.
If you plan of going maximum offensive, keep your drone reactor thing. The crew you need is two Mantis, two Rock, and one other crew member of the race of your choice. For drones, you’ll need a breach drone, an anti-ship drone, and one other drone of your choice. For subsystems, get sensors and upgrade them a minimum of once, and upgrade your doors once. For systems, upgrade your medbay once, get teleporters and it is to you if you want to upgrade them. Upgrade you shields to have 2 or more layers. For augmentations, get weapon pre-igniter, and the other is up to you. For weapons, sell your heavy laser and get a burst laser Mk. II and keep your heavy Ion. You will also need either a missile/bomb or a high powered beam attack.
If you are strapped for scrap and really unlucky.
First, sell one of your system repair drones and your drone reactor thing. Do not get sensors unless if you have done everything else here and do not power your anti-personel drone until halfway through sector 2. Focus on getting your shields to double layered, that’ll help against enemies who love dem Ions and lasers. Get at least one other crew member and keep your system repair drone activated. Sell your heavy laser for a burst laser, and/or get a missile/bomb weapon. You can get what ever augmentations you want, but remember, keep them cheap. You do not want to find yourself at a point in which you have no scrap, no fuel, no drone parts, and no missiles. Refrain from upgrading subsystems until you have done everything that is a must on this list. Only upgrade systems or buy more after you have done everything on this list that is a must.
Note.
I apologize if this guide was bad. This was my first guide ever, so please don’t rip my throat out and throw my carcass into an acidic pool full of sharks that are somehow immune to acid. I also realize my memory is probably the worst. Ever that doesn’t have a medical problem. If you liked this guide, I might make another. If you hated this guide, I will stop making them. And I thank you if you actually read and considered this. Heck, use these strategies and tell em if they worked (Don’t use them against the flagship, you will most likely fail.) I know these worked for me when I was searching for a new ship without taking OVER 9000 tries. Besides, I like using the Jelly Filled.