Support Tool Systems

Support Tool Systems are specialized tools which are primarily used for non-combat or supportive functions, and fulfill a variety of roles.

A few of them have niche roles in combat, as a supplementary system rather than a primary weapon. For example, although a Power Drain beam can significantly disadvantage an enemy ship while benefiting the ship firing it (by transferring an amount of the power drained), it is not capable of dealing any block damage, and should be used alongside other Weapon Systems in order to succeed.

Salvage

The use of salvage beams is the primary means of resource gathering in StarMade. Although an astronaut can salvage blocks and mine ore by hand, salvage beams are far more efficient at this task.

The effectiveness of a salvager is determined by a hidden HP value called "Salvage HP". Salvagers deal "damage" to this, and when a block's Salvage HP is depleted, it is removed, and transferred to the cargo of the ship which salvaged it. All blocks have a Salvage HP of 200.

Missile-slaved salvage beams split their damage evenly amongst the beams emitted.

Stats for this system			Values for this system's slaves
Name (unit)	Per module	Values	Cannon	Missile	Damage Beam	Damage Pulse
Power Consumption (e/s)	yes	16	16	16	48	96
Salvage Power (damage/hit)	yes	2	1	2	6	12
Hit Rate (hits/second)	no	40	40	40	40	6.667
Burst Time (s)	no	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	15
Cooldown (s)	no	5	2.5	5	15	30
Range (in % of sector size)	no	0.12	0.12	0.12	0.36	0.12
Initial Hits	no	10	10	10	10	10
Beams	no	1	1	10	1	1

Astrotech

Astrotech beams repair damaged blocks that they hit. Their usefulness is limited, however, as they cannot replace destroyed blocks, and most significant battle damage will destroy blocks altogether, rather than just damaging them.

Power Supply Beam

Power Supply beams transfer power from the entity they are on to another entity, at a slightly reduced efficiency (the target ship receives less than it cost to fire the beam). They do not have any effect on entities which they are docked to, regardless of position in a docking chain.

Power Drain Beam

Power Drain beams draw power from the entity they hit, at a slightly reduced efficiency. They do not have any effect on entities which they are docked to, regardless of position in a docking chain.

Push Pulse

Push Pulses try to push away ships in their radius. They effect a quite significant area compared to Damage Pulses, but have limited usefulness after the removal of their control-disabling functionality.

Shield Supply Beam

Shield Supply beams transfer shields from the entity they are on to another entity, at a slightly reduced efficiency (the target ship receives less than it cost to fire the beam). They do not have any effect on entities which they are docked to, regardless of position in a docking chain.

Shield Drain Beam

Shield Drain beams draw shields from the entity they hit, at a slightly reduced efficiency. They do not have any effect on entities which they are docked to, regardless of position in a docking chain.