The creator upgraded their Aurora Mk II by sourcing top-tier materials and replacing all components, resulting in enhanced shields, power output, and firepower that surpass a solo Cutlass Black. This project showcases how meticulous crafting and upgrades can transform a starter ship into a formidable vessel in Star Citizen.
In this video, the creator embarks on an ambitious project to upgrade their starter ship, the Aurora Mk II, transforming it into a vessel stronger than the Cutlass Black. The journey begins with sourcing the highest quality materials across the Star Citizen universe, traveling through dangerous and lawless areas such as Pyro to gather steel run, venturing to Nyx for lindenium and salillion, and mining gold in asteroid fields near Crew L4. The goal was to collect only materials rated 900 quality or higher to ensure the best possible upgrades.
Once back in the home hangar with top-tier materials, the creator begins the extensive upgrade process by replacing every single component of the ship. The shield system is upgraded with a pair of crafted FR-66 shield generators, each benefiting from a 15% crafting bonus due to the high-quality materials. This enhancement boosts the shield capacity to 3,643 hit points per generator, significantly improving the ship’s defensive capabilities.
The power plant is the next major upgrade, where the stock power bolt is replaced with a crafted quadricell power plant. This modification increases the ship’s power output from 14 to 18 pips, nearly matching the output of a size 2 class civilian power plant typically found on larger ships equipped with size 1 components. This substantial power boost allows the Aurora to operate at almost maximum power across its systems.
For offensive capabilities, the creator swaps out the ship’s four CF227 badger laser repeaters for four crafted NDB28 neutron repeaters. This upgrade dramatically increases the ship’s sustained damage output from 669 to 1,158 damage per second. This level of firepower is particularly impressive when compared to a solo Cutlass Black, which, armed with four CF337 laser repeaters, produces 1,152 sustained damage per second.
In conclusion, the upgraded Aurora Mk II now boasts nearly the electrical output of a size 2 power plant, shield generators that outperform a class C size 2 industrial shield, and firepower that edges out a solo Cutlass Black. This transformation demonstrates how the Aurora Mk II can punch well above its weight, making it a formidable ship despite its humble origins. The project highlights the potential of careful crafting and upgrading to maximize the performance of even starter ships in Star Citizen.