7 Chapter 7: To Design is to know Beauty
The Luca system had three planets that were habitable, and the first one Starlight picked to settle was the fifth planet in the system. This planet had forests and mountains, but little ocean. Most of the water on the planet happened to be freshwater that formed the common lake areas. He spent a day setting up shop on the planet, then sent the construction drones to space to start on the Defense Station. While the station didn't have a fleet it would at least defend a bit against anyone trying to attack the planet. The materials for the station would be harvested from the planet.
The planet was claimed and named Luca Prime.
He refueled and jumped to Kono Second, where he loaded up on wood, before refueling again and jumping to Vidu. Another large chunk of money came in, and he went to Ruthgar to ask about the Designer class.
Ruthgar was arguing with a player about the price of a starship. The player thought that 2 million credits for a small trader ship weren't worth it.
"This is nonsense! The ship only has a standard jump drive and only has 50 tons of cargo space. It should cost no more than 200,000 credits."
The player noticed the beginner clothes wearing Starlight and offered his advice.
"Don't even bother trying to buy from this guy, you wouldn't be able to afford his ridiculous prices."
Starlight ignored the player.
"Ruthgar, do you mind me asking where I could train as a Designer?"
Ruthgar smiled happily at Starlight.
"Of course, Star my boy. You have been treating my god-daughter and my friends well, so it is no problem."
The player was confused by the warm welcome that Starlight received, and more so since he didn't connect the name Star with Starlight, the player that was the first to own a starship and leave the planet.
"You're picking up the Designer class? Then could you Design a ship for me? I will pay for it to be constructed and give you a tip for the work."
The player was confident he could get a ship for much less than the 'Greedy' merchant was selling for. Starlight thought about it for a bit, then nodded.
"Let me get the class and I will come to meet you for the Design details."
The player received a one-time contact number, then left. Starlight on the other hand was given an address and went to gain a class.
The Mentor was at a Design Studio in another city on the planet. Vidu Custom Designs. After entering he showed a token that Ruthgar gave him and was led to an office on the second floor. A woman sat behind a desk, red hair wildly scrunched up in one of her hands as she tapped and swiped with her hand in front of her. She noticed his presence after a short while.
"What can I do for you? I don't have any openings for designs for at least 6 months."
"Ruthgar sent me here, said I could learn to be a Designer here."
Starlight raised the token and the woman's eyes sparkled.
"It will cost 1 million credits to get the training. I expect, despite you wearing basic clothes, you have the money?"
He nodded.
"Good, I am Shiori by the way. The best Designer on the planet, ask anybody."
She smiled and accepted the fund transfer. Then she waved her hand and a prompt appeared.
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Designer
Skills: Starship Design 1, Station Design 1
Talent Choice: Exceptional Design: Attributes and Material Cost of Designs increased.
Budget Design: Attributes and Material Cost of Designs decreased.
HP: 5 per level.
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The Talent choice was between better, more costly Designs or poor man Designs. He of course chose Exceptional Design as his Talent. No point making dime store knock-offs. He hadn't been a Designer last time, so he didn't know how much EXP he would get to Design stuff, but he was happy to find out.
He contacted the player and went to find him at a restaurant. They were in the original city and in a common sitting area part of the restaurant. The player was excited to get a starship designed.
"So, what specs do you want?"
"I want a large cargo hold, at least 100 tons, and it should have a really good jump drive, at least able to jump a Standard jump distance in one jump."
Starlight had the interface open and was quickly swiping and making changes. He started with a small hull, added the cargo hold he was asked for and the jump drive.
"Anything else?"
The player thought for a bit then shook his head.
"Don't think so. Make the rest just at the requirements."
Starlight added the requirements and finalized the design. It calculated the cost to manufacture based on the local prices, for the Designer. 1.5 million credits. He shrugged internally.
"Design is finished, how much will you pay me for it?"
The player smiled and thought of how cheap he was going to get a ship for.
"I can give you 10k, it is just a simple Design after all. The ship will probably be extremely cheap. If you want I could hire you as my personal Designer. After a few trading trips, I will be rich and can pay you for better Designs."
"10k is fine, but I don't want to tie myself anywhere right now. So, I will pass on the exclusive contract."
He received the money and he sent the Design to the player, who immediately ran off like he was on fire. If the player didn't have max Broker nor Material Broker, then he will probably need at least 4 million to build that ship. Poor kid doesn't know the value of starships.
Starlight noticed a blinking notification.
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You have sold a Design: Starship, you gained EXP.
Your Design: Starship was sold for 10,000 credits, you gained a 10% bonus EXP
You sold your first Design, you gain bonus EXP.
You have gained 2 levels, please choose Class(es) to increase.
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'Nice, that was a good chunk of EXP.'
He leveled Captain since he wanted to get to 50 and get his first Class Talent. He had reached Level 38 now, though he hadn't spent his skill or stat points.
'Add 2 points to Starship Design and Station Design.'
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Starship Design has reached Level 3.
Please Choose Starship Design Advanced Skill.
Starship Material Cost: This allows you to reduce the Material Cost of a Starship Design.
Starship Quality: This allows you to increase the Attributes of a Starship Design.
Starship Speed of Production: This allows you to increase the speed at which a Starship Design can be manufactured.
Station Design has reached Level 3.
Please Choose Station Design Advanced Skill.
Station Material Cost: This allows you to reduce the Material Cost of a Station Design.
Station Speed of Production: This allows you to increase the speed at which a Station Design can be constructed.
Station Module Design: This allows you to Design Station Modules.
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He chose Starship Quality and Station Module Design. His settlements could handle the material cost and speeding up the production would only make the slightly better than Standard Starships faster, but if each one was better than that, well that would be a snowball effect. As for the Station Module Design, he had bought the basic Dockyard Module for his Stations, but that only could make Corvette class ships. Cheap and easy to make, but doesn't do the job when against a fleet that has bigger ships mixed in. This way he could make the design for a bigger, better Station and Modules that can fill his fleets in well.
Starlight gathered another set of A-1 Pioneers and headed back to Luca.
