Salvage in Star Citizen is a lucrative game loop where players collect valuable materials from derelict ships. The Drake Vulture is a popular salvage vessel that can be purchased in-game and offers various methods of salvaging, including hull scraping and cargo salvage.
Salvage in Star Citizen is a lucrative game loop that allows players to collect valuable materials from derelict ships and sell them for profit. The Drake Vulture is a popular salvage vessel that can be purchased in-game for 1.2 million Alpha UEC. It has the capacity to hold 12 SCU of cargo on the grid, with an additional 10 SCU along the designated walkway. The Vulture comes with default scraper heads, including cinch scrapers and an abrade scraper paired with a tractor beam.
The main focus of salvage is hull scraping, which involves removing the outer coating of a ship’s hull and converting it into recycled material composite (RMC). To scrape the hull, the ship’s shields must be down. The process is relatively easy and does not require much skill. The Vulture can also engage in structural salvage, breaking down the rest of the ship into construction materials. This mechanic is relatively new and may undergo changes in the future.
Cargo salvage is another aspect of salvage, where players can find and collect valuable cargo from derelict ships. Scanning the ship will reveal its components and cargo, although this feature can be nonfunctional at times. Salvagers can manually remove cargo containers using a handheld tractor beam. It’s important to note that breaking down a ship counts as destroying it, resulting in a percentage of any cargo on board being destroyed.
The Vulture has a processing and cargo area where salvagers can dispense the collected materials. The recycled material composite (RMC) can be sold at trade terminals, such as the tdds in the MJ landing zones, while construction materials need to be sold at administration offices. Salvage missions and combat assist beacons are popular ways to find salvage opportunities, and players can also search for clusters of panels floating among asteroid patches.
Overall, salvage in Star Citizen offers a profitable and engaging gameplay experience, and the Drake Vulture is a great choice for beginners looking to dive into the salvage profession.