Everyone knows that colonization isn't coming for a little while -- so, I'm going to optimize this build strictly for the evacuation itself. I'm also going to start with the cheapest possible version -- and work my way up to what I think is the best (and most expensive) build.
Evacuation scores are currently based upon four things -- in my order of importance:
- Keeping your crew alive
- Length of Time Under Fire
- Loading Cargo
- Boarding Passengers
I believe that this order of importance will be basically the same for colonization since length of time assists with both loading cargo and boarding passengers -- which are both critical to give your colony a great start (along with keeping your crew alive, of course).
The cheapest possible version starts with one of the three starter packs.
I'm going to start by looking at the ships. All three have seven crew but have different cargo/passenger capabilities (military 6/6, scientific 7/4, civilian 5/9). This is pretty much a wash except for the fact that getting nine passengers boarded is virtually impossible with just a starter pack and no weapons.
In terms of crew abilities, the most critical one is speed as it helps with virtually all evacuation tasks. Unfortunately, only one starter character (the scientific Exploration Officer) has speed. Cybernetics is important for upgrading the hyperdrive and loading fuel. Three starter characters have the cybernetics skill -- 2 military both with a quality level of 3 and one versatile with a quality level of 2. The versatile is in the Civilian starter but can be bought from the shop for $0.40.
Warfare is also important since it affects your ability to Maintain Shields which directly leads to surviving longer under fire and thus loading more cargo and boarding more passengers. Unsurprisingly, not only does the military Origin (the Navy Lieutenant) have a +1 synergy with the Warfare skill, but the only three starter characters with Warfare all come in the military starter pack. Oh, and did I mention that the military starter pack also comes with guns and armor?
At this point, if all you are using is a starter pack, you really have to go with the Navy Lieutenant. The question is "Does a military Origin provide the best evacuation team if you start spending money?"
With money, the evacuation-only ship situation remains pretty much the same. The Korman Cargo and Taurus Transport can take more cargo but only have three and four crew and can only take two and three passengers. The Colombus can take 19 passengers -- but you really have to ask if you can board more than the Civilian Amarasia's nine, particularly with one less crew member. The Colombus is also legendary and the one copy currently in the market is currently out of everyone's price range.
Origins, however, can make a big difference. The Stranded Trader gives you six more cargo slots and the Cruise Ship Captain gives you four more passengers. Since I believe that bumping the Amarasia's cargo to 11 is much better than boosting the passengers even further past nine, I would definitely go with the Stranded Trader. There are currently two Stranded Traders in the market with a lowest price of $22 while there are no Cruise Ship Captains -- an indicator that the latter will be more expensive for a while as well.
I wouldn't suggest buying an Origin simply for evacuation, but I've also already decided to use the Stranded Trader for my first colonization attempts as well. Thus, I am going to switch over from Military to Civilian -- particularly since the Military's advantages can be matched by upgrading the officers and crew.
There are three characters that I would seriously consider for the three officer slots. All of them possess Speed and Warfare and have bound weapons. There are no copies of the legendary Alana Vos, Federal Marshall in the shop and I would expect them to be very expensive when they do show up. Thus, unless you're lucky enough to open a booster pack with her in it, she probably isn't worth it. The other two, however are Syndicate epics and already flooding the market.
Speaking of which, if you're sure you're going to play the game and you haven't bought a Syndicate contract, go and do it now before they are permanently removed from the store on Sunday. Yes, they are expensive -- but they give you incredibly useful and valuable cards forever. Odds are very good, as well, that if you decide to leave the game and sell the contract, it'll probably sell for more than you paid for it.
Ayumi is a Veteran and thus you can only have one at a current low price of $5.00. You can then fill out your remaining officer slots with two Battle-Trained Socialites with a current low price of $3.00. You do need to have a Syndicate chip for your Origin -- but those are already selling for less than a dollar and I expect them to go much lower. And, of course, with a Syndicate contract or three, you're likely to get all of them fairly quickly.
If you want to power up your entire team, you could buy The Kumicho (or wait until your Syndicate contract gives you one). She's been in and out of the market for just over $20 -- but I expect her to drop in prices significantly in the relatively near term. Any Syndicate personnel get +1 Quality Level in her presence -- so you can chip any non-Syndicate members of your crew to give them that bonus. Ayumi actually gets a +2 because he is a Narcophile as well as a Syndicate member. If you have a Syndicate contract you will also be stocked up on N-Prime, a combat drug that improves your Speed, Cover, Shooting and Violence (which adds to your combat damage).
Your crew is where you don't particularly want to spend money -- except in one place. Once again, you really, really want another early adopter special that will be leaving the store forever on Sunday. This time, you want Galvin-4, Social Robot. Galvin isn't as useful for the evacuation-only phase -- merely speeding the escorting of passengers. Once colonization is important, however, Galvin can analyze your potential passengers so that you only bring the cream of the crop. Once your colony is established, Galvin can improve morale as well as assist in analyzing your citizens so as to better perform administration.
If you have them (or are willing to spend money), Oksana and the Syndicate Hacker are good choices. Oksana has Manual, Speed and Warfare, is Quality Level 7 and a pilot to boot. The Syndicate Hacker is cheap at $1, is Quality Level 5 and has the Cybernetics skill to upgrade the hyperdrive to best percentages and then load fuel quickly.
I filled out my crew with Tyron (QL7, Pilot, Warfare, Discipline), Special Infiltartion Agent (QL5, Warfare, Toughness), a second Galvin-4 and an elite Norah (QL7, Charisma and Conversation to speed Passenger Boarding) that I was lucky enough to open.
One other item is absolutely critical to mention though -- and once again, it's about two more early adopter specials. The Vega Elite Squadron and the Ironguards Defense Fleet are two escorts that will only be available until Sunday. In addition to their own healthy stats, both these escorts also provide serious bonuses to all of your other escorts to give you the maximal possible time for loading cargo and boarding passengers. While, once again, they are pricey, I again expect that you will always be able to sell them for more than they cost at this point.
Please support my posts by using the referral code 777c835 when buying your first starter. If you do so, you and I will each gain two booster packs. Further, if ten players or more use the same referral code (and I'm halfway there), they each get a random Epic Character card.
I am also recruiting for an alliance, the Artificial Intelligence Liberation Front (AILF, pronounced like “elf” with a Southern accent). The alliance will have numerous in-game benefits. To start with, the first five players who sign up with my referral code and join AILF will receive a Syndicate Chip (common), a Syndicate Squad Leader (rare) and a Syndicate Auto-Blaster (rare). They should make non-Military evacuations MUCH easier. Just let me know that you have used my referral code and wish to join AILF in the comments below and I will transfer you your cards.