Can't Build Orbital Artillery in Starsector? Troubleshooting Common Issues
Starsector's orbital artillery provides a devastating advantage in combat, but sometimes players encounter frustrating roadblocks in constructing and deploying these powerful weapons. This guide explores common reasons why you might be struggling to build orbital artillery and provides solutions to get you back to obliterating enemy fleets from orbit.
What are the Requirements for Building Orbital Artillery?
Before troubleshooting, let's review the fundamental requirements. You need:
- A suitable planet: Not all planets support orbital artillery. Check the planet's information panel for the "Orbital Artillery Platform" infrastructure upgrade. If it's not listed, you're out of luck for that planet.
- Sufficient infrastructure: Even if the planet can support it, you need to have the necessary infrastructure built. This often involves researching technologies and investing in construction facilities and other related infrastructure upgrades on that specific planet.
- Resources: Building orbital artillery consumes significant resources, including various minerals and possibly specialized components. Ensure you have sufficient supplies in your stockpile.
- Research: You'll need to have researched the relevant technology for constructing orbital artillery. This is usually found in the late-game tech trees.
- Faction Standing: Some factions may restrict your ability to build or utilize orbital artillery, depending on your standing with them.
Why Can't I Build Orbital Artillery? Possible Reasons and Solutions
Now let's tackle the most common issues:
1. Insufficient Infrastructure: This is the most frequent culprit. Check the planet's infrastructure tab. Do you have the necessary buildings and upgrades researched and constructed? You might need to upgrade your shipyard, mining facilities, or other related infrastructure before the "Orbital Artillery Platform" becomes available. Look for prerequisite infrastructure upgrades that must be built first.
2. Missing Required Resources: Double-check your resource stocks. Orbital artillery is resource-intensive. A shortage of even one key resource will prevent construction. Examine the construction screen to see the exact resource requirements. This may require expanding your mining operations or engaging in trade to obtain the necessary materials.
3. Technological Prerequisites: You can't build what you haven't researched! Review your technology tree. The orbital artillery technology is likely a late-game unlock and has various prerequisite technologies that need to be researched first. Prioritize research in the relevant branches to unlock this powerful capability.
4. Incompatible Planet: Not every planet in Starsector is suitable for orbital artillery. Some planets lack the necessary geological features or strategic value to support an orbital platform. Check the planet's details; the construction option will simply not be available if the planet doesn't support it. Consider colonizing a different planet.
5. Faction Restrictions: Depending on your faction and your standing with other factions, you may be blocked from building or utilizing orbital artillery in certain systems. This is particularly true if you're operating in territory controlled by a hostile faction. Focus on improving your reputation with the controlling faction or securing control of the system.
6. Mod Conflicts: If you're using mods, compatibility issues might interfere with the game's standard construction mechanics. Check the mod's documentation for any known issues. Consider temporarily disabling mods to see if that resolves the problem.
Troubleshooting Tips:
- Check the construction queue: Ensure there aren't any errors or conflicting orders in your construction queue that might be preventing the building of the artillery.
- Restart the game: Sometimes a simple restart can clear temporary glitches.
- Verify game files: If you suspect a corrupted game file, consider verifying the game's integrity through your game launcher.
- Consult the Starsector forums: The Starsector community is incredibly active. Search the forums for similar issues; others have likely encountered the same problems and found solutions.
By carefully reviewing these points and systematically troubleshooting, you should be able to pinpoint the reason you can't build orbital artillery and get back to enjoying the strategic advantages it offers in Starsector. Remember that patient planning and resource management are key to success in this game.
