- "Rugged utility cruiser built for repair and resourcing operations support." — In game description
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Support Cruiser
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| Vehicle Information | |
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Classification
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Cruiser
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Purpose
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Resource Controller
Repair Anti-Air Defense |
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Vehicle Type
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Utility Support Cruiser
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Cost
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600 CUs
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| Technical Information | |
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Length
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114 meters
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Armaments
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2x Point-Defense Cannons
1x Anti-Air Missile Pod |
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Damage
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1
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Rate of Fire
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LOW
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Hull
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4100
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Armor
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2
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Build Time
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45s
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Fleet Supply
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6
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| Usage | |
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Eras
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Affiliation
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Note: These are stats are from multiplayer.
Campaign units have different stats. | |
The SGSC-12 Warden-class Support Cruiser was a desert vessel used by the Coalition of the Northern Kiithid during Operation Khadiim. These large support vehicles were designed and produced by Kiith Sagald and operated as a mobile resource drop-off points and repair vehicles. They were armed with point-defense cannons, could be upgraded to equip anti-aircraft missiles.
Lore[]
- "The current standard in coalition support cruisers, the Sagald-designed and produced Warden class fulfills all requirements of the task without neglecting anything critical. It can cover long-range resourcing missions with its point defense cannons, and is also able to use its repair capabilities to maintain any of the crawlers and vehicles in its formation. The Warden's large containment base allows it to act as a resource storage point in contested areas, while its impressive armor allows it to survive until help arrives or the resourcers are pulled back." — Expedition Guide
Campaign[]
A support cruiser is granted to the coalition fleet early in the campaign, and it is a vital source of healing along with the Kapisi and the Science Baserunner. More may be built starting on mission 4.
Support cruisers function as a resource drop off point. Salvagers are rather slow vehicles, so it will greatly increase resource collection rates positioning support cruisers nearby resource deposits. They also automatically repair nearby player-owned and allied units, as well as friendly structures; this repair rate can be upgraded to be faster and to also target multiple units at once, and late in the campaign, support cruisers can self-repair. If a second support cruiser isn't available, then Rachel S'jet or the Kapisi are other sources of healing. Support cruisers have a couple of Point-Defense Cannons, but their accuracy and damage are both very low.
Support cruisers' role in combat as repair is essential, especially in more difficult missions. They are durable enough to be parked right next to frontline units taking damage and rarely risky destruction. Overall, support cruisers greatly increase the survivability of units even if it comes at the cost of mobility.
Starting on mission 5, support cruisers can be upgraded to destroy nearby aircraft. Upgrades to add automated anti-air turrets are a very helpful bonus once the Gaalsien air units begin to attack, and overall, they are better unit choice than the missile battery intended for ground-to-air combat; since the support has roughly the same firepower, costs fewer RUs, possesses significantly more hull, and has the critically useful repair beams, as well as providing a resource dropoff point. The only disadvantage to the support cruiser is a supply cost of four compared to the missile battery's three. Even on the hardest difficulty, a couple of support cruisers with anti-air turrets provide more than enough firepower to handle all airborne threats on most missions.
Towards the final missions of the expedition, fielding several support cruisers is necessary to repair friendly vehicles against increasingly deadly Gaalsien hovercraft.
Abilities[]
| Name | Effect | Cooldown | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle Repair | Toggles whether if repair beams are active | 0s | None |
| Toggle Resource Controller | Toggles whether if salvagers can deposit resources at this support cruiser | 0s | None |
| EMP Rounds | Point defence cannons have a chance to temporarily disable enemy ships | 0s | None |
Veterancy[]
Support cruisers are highly durable by default, but their hull strength and armor increase significantly as they gain experience. However, it is very difficult for support cruisers to gain veterancy in most cases, due to their poor rates of damage against ground units and the scarcity of air units to gain experience from. Support cruisers that are lucky enough to reach the rank of captain can heal significantly more quickly.
| Rank | Effect | XP Required |
|---|---|---|
| Officer | +2 Armor | 1000 |
| Lieutenant | +200 Hull | 2100 |
| Lt. Commander | +4 Armor | 4200 |
| Commander | +300 Hull | 8400 |
| Captain | +75% Repair Speed | 16800 |
Research[]
| Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Cruiser Fabrication | 500 CUs | 0 RUs | 30s | Enables support cruiser production |
| Support Cruiser - Repair Speed | 750 CUs | 50 RUs | 20s | Increases repair speed by 30% |
| Support Cruiser - Effectiveness | 550 CUs | 25 RUs | 20s | Increases hull by 50% and adds area of effect to its repair ability |
| Support Cruiser - Anti-Air | 675 CUs | 300 RUs | 30s | Enables anti-air capabilities |
| Support Cruiser - EMP Rounds | 300 CUs | 50 RUs | 25s | Support cruiser's weapons now temporarily disable medium and large vehicles |
| Support Cruiser - Self Repair | 600 CUs | 75 RUs | 30s | Enables self repair passive ability |
Multiplayer[]
Support Cruisers primarily function as resource drop offs, and if enough are built, as vehicle repair and anti-air defence. Support cruisers are quite vulnerable and can be destroyed by a handful of LAVs or Sandskimmers that would attempt to circumvent defensive lines to raid resource operations.
At least one Support Cruiser should be positioned adjacent to salvage operations to increase the speed of resource collection. Support cruisers can provide some defense against air strikes when upgraded with anti-air defences. However, anti-air upgrade is rather expensive, and support cruisers can be quickly overwhelmed by multiple aircraft as its defences are most suited against a single bomber or a squadron of strike fighters or interceptors. Support cruisers' anti-air missiles have marginally less range compared to missile battery vehicles.
Soban carriers lack repair systems, so there is more value to Support Cruiser's repair capabilities. One can choose to completely avoid building missile batteries in favour of support cruisers anti-air weapons, having multiple support cruisers supporting an offensive line. It should be noted that Support Cruiser's repair speed is much slower when compared to campaign, with no area of effect either.
Strong against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Weak against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Abilities[]
| Name | Effect | Cooldown | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle Repair | Toggles whether if repair beams are active | 0s | None |
| Toggle Resource Controller | Toggles whether if salvagers can deposit resources at this support cruiser | 0s | None |
Veterancy[]
| Rank | Effect | XP Required |
|---|---|---|
| Officer | +10% Repair | 300 |
| Lieutenant | +100 Hull | 570 |
| Lt. Commander | +10% Repair | 1083 |
| Commander | +100 Hull | 2508 |
| Captain | +2 Armor | 3910 |
Research[]
| Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Cruiser Anti-Air | 500 CUs | 320 RUs | 75s | Enables AA | None |
Trivia[]
- Support Cruisers are operated by crews of twenty personnel.
- Kapisi engineering team later incorporates Gaalsien self repair technology into the support cruiser