This guide is intended to assist prospective players in choosing and purchasing their first ship or game package, as well as explaining further ship or package purchases after the first.
When pledging, use a referral code from the Referral Randomizer to get 5,000 UEC in-game currency.
Please note: If you did not enter a referral code during account creation, you must submit an RSI Support ticket and they will add it to your account, it cannot be done by the user.
Game Packages
The first purchase most players should make is for a Game Package (
RSI Site. Pledge Store). This package includes:
- Star Citizen Digital Download: The game itself. Required for current access to the Alpha and future access to the game on release
- A Ship: A basic starship. Usually versatile and capable of multiple tasks as well as combat.
- Ship Insurance: Insures the stock hull and weapons of your starter ship. Not currently implemented.
- Starting Money (UEC): United Earth Credits will be used in the released game as the primary currency
The two basic, cheapest packages offer either the Aurora MR or the Mustang Alpha along with Star Citizen. This decision is entirely personal preference, with each ship focusing on different capabilities:
- Aurora MR: The Aurora is the "pick-up truck" of the Star Citizen universe; It is rugged, reliable, and versatile. This variant of the Aurora Series has more focus towards interdiction and combat than other Auroras. (Package Link. Pledge Store)
- Mustang Alpha: The Mustang Alpha is a light, fast, and nimble spacecraft in the Mustang series with an optional Cargo Carrier for pilots that favour speed and style. (Package Link. Pledge Store)
Squadron 42
Squadron 42 is the single-player game being developed within the Star Citizen universe. Some game packages include Squadron 42 access. The Standalone SQ42 game is not available for purchase at this time.
Starter Packages
These packages are the cheapest available ways to gain access to Star Citizen. They are recommended for new users to try out the game in Alpha before spending money on more, larger ships.
| Price | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| $45 | Aurora MR. Pledge Store
|
The Aurora is the "pick-up truck" of the Star Citizen universe; It is rugged, reliable, and versatile. This variant of the Aurora Series has more focus towards interdiction and combat than other Auroras. |
| $45 | Mustang Alpha. Pledge Store
|
The Mustang Alpha is a light, fast, and nimble spacecraft with an optional Cargo Carrier for pilots that favour speed and style. It is the base model in the Mustang series and has the most room for upgrades. |
For new users deciding between the Aurora MR and the Mustang Alpha, the Aurora is a more versatile and rugged ship with a focus on versatility and toughness. It features significant room for upgrades and modifications, but lacks in firepower or maneuverability. In contrast, the Mustang Alpha is light, fast, and has more firepower, but at the expense of armor and shielding.
One reason these packages are usually recommended as a first purchase is because of Upgrading and Melting Ships.
Upgrading and Melting ships
Two methods exist for modifying, refunding, and repurchasing ships and ship packages. These are intended to allow buyers to exchange purchased ships for different ones if they made a mistake or want to try something new.
Ship Upgrades
Ship Upgrades are a purchased upgrade from one ship to another; retaining all limited items, access passes and insurance levels contained in your original package. Using these ship upgrades can often cost less than buying the final package on its own. Note that you may only upgrade to ships with a higher value; you cannot "downgrade" ships and receive a refund.
Store Credit ("Melting")
Once a ship or ship package is owned, it may be "Melted" for store credit for the purchase price (Store credit and coupons may not be used). This will remove **ALL** of that package's contents, including insurance, backer rewards and other items associated directly with that package. Once melted, the value will be added to your account, which may be used to purchase other ships, ship packages or items in the store.
A melted package or ship may be repurchased using a "buy back credit" as well paying the refunded price. Each account may have only one of these credits at a time, which are refreshed every 90 days to prevent mass unmelting and melting.
If Squadron 42 is not owned on an account, Melting and unmelting a game package will offer the SQ42 add-on for $15.
More information may be found on the RSI site (Link)
This feature was initially offered in view of the early state in which backers make the pledge decision: if the final item doesn't meet their expectations or, more likely, other, more appealing ships or items are released subsequently, then they should be able to revisit their decision. However, this constant ability to trade has proven extremely popular: it has been gamified beyond this originally contemplated purpose and has provided an additional opportunity for players to engage with the game while it is in development. Trading activity in the backer accounts equals approximately double the initial pledge amounts and has reached a volume of several hundred million dollars since the feature's implementation.[1]
The "trade-in" feature on the RSI platform was developed in anticipation of a more full-fledged in-game trading system. In accordance with the final goal of deeply immersive gameplay, the entire trading system will be moved in the future from the website into the game itself, at which point the player will go to a ship dealer or in-game ship market in order to trade-in his/her ship or to trade it with other players. For now, however, the system remains on the website where it is accessed by tens of thousands of community members on a regular basis.[1]
Upgrades Vs. Melting
Ship upgrades preserve the original packages' contents when upgrading; in contrast, melting/unmelting grants the new package's benefits and contents. Therefore, when it comes to ship upgrades, you should also consider whether it is more beneficial to buy a ship upgrade, or whether it is more beneficial to melt your existing ship and buy your target ship directly.
- If your target ship offers better insurance and extras, it is better to melt your current ship and purchase the target ship.
- If the target ship offers worse insurance and extras, it is better to use Ship Upgrades to upgrade the ship only.
All Game Packages
While the above packages are suitable for access to the game, some players opt for larger, more expensive packages to use more valuable ships. These ships may also be rented in Arena Commander using Rental Equipment Credits. More expensive packages often give larger hangars, more UEC, and longer insurance terms than lower-cost packages, but these benefits are usually minimal.
| Price | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| $60 | Pisces C8X Pisces Expedition. Pledge Store
|
Enhancing the standard C8 explorer with added firepower and a limited-edition livery, the C8X Expedition turns a stout snub into a capable stand-alone vessel, ideal for exploring tight spots and unique environments inaccessible to larger ships. |
| $60 | Drake Cutter. Pledge Store
|
Designed for hard-working folks of all stripes, the Cutter packs 4 SCU of cargo room and plenty of wallop into a rough and tumble, compact frame. It’s a ship that truly embodies the spirit of Drake: that no matter who you are or what you do, you can reach the stars. |
| $65 | Origin 100i. Pledge Store
|
Tour the universe with the perfect coupling of luxury and performance. The 100 series features Origin Jumpworks’ patented AIR fuel system, making them the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly ships on the market. Capable of long distance flights that most ships of this size aren’t equipped for, the 100 series is perfect for solo pilots looking to turn heads without sacrificing functionality or reliability. |
| $70 | Avenger Titan. Pledge Store
|
With its hold modified for maximum cargo space, and its tried and true combat abilities, the Avenger Titan is a light freighter that’s more than capable of handling itself in a fight. |
| $85 | Gatac Syulen. Pledge Store
|
Gatac Manufacture’s Syulen is so much more than a simple light freighter, representing a huge step forward in Human hybrid shipcraft, bringing the elegance and focus of Xi’an tech and design principals to a much wider Human audience, and creating a truly accessible and versatile ship, perfect for Human pilots looking to get started in the world of alien spacecraft. |
| $90 | Anvil Arrow. Pledge Store
|
Unmatched design, blazing top speed, and ultra-responsive maneuverability make the Arrow the most agile scrapper in its class. And, a robust weapons package provides firepower to spare. This is truly the classic light fighter updated for the next generation of combat. |
| $95 | Consolidated Outland Nomad. Pledge Store
|
With the versatility of a medium-sized multi-purpose freighter packed into a stylish, compact frame, the Consolidated Outland Nomad is the model of self-sufficiency, the spirit of the open sky, and the perfect solution for anyone yearning to start a brand-new adventure. |
| $115 | Cutlass Black. Pledge Store
|
The Cutlass Black is a low-cost militia and patrol craft with a large cargo hold and tractor beam for search & rescue operations. The fact that the Cutlass also excels at capturing, boarding, and "liberating" cargo from cargo ships is not an officially supported usage, according to Drake Interplanetary |
| $125 | Freelancer. Pledge Store
|
The Freelancer is a multicrew starship for explorers, traders, and hunters alike with an ample cargo hold and room for a co-pilot as well as passengers. The base Freelancer can be upgraded through Ship Upgrades to the Freelancer DUR for more exploration and guns, or the Freelancer MAX for a greater focus on cargo transport. |
| $275 | Constellation Andromeda. Pledge Store
|
The Constellation Andromeda is a bigger version of the Freelancer, having a max crew of 5 for piloting, engineering and other functions. It features a surprisingly strong set of weapons, a large cargo bay, and all the equipment necessary for exploration. As with the Freelancer, it can be upgraded to other ships in the Constellation series |
Game packages beyond the above packages exceed $1000 for bundles of ships. While these bundles may be tempting, they are not recommended for first-time buyers
Standalone Ships
Players with a game package may purchase standalone ships to add to their collection for usage in-game (Link. Pledge Store)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Open Development as Disruptive Game Design Practice, Clash of Realities 2015/16, pages 583-584, Ortwin Freyermuth, degruyter.com, ISBN: 9783839440315, October 27, 2017