Vanguard
What is the Vanguard for in Old Light?
The Vanguard is a massive, fragile colony ship, and the only ship that can capture a star you don't yet own. It captures by decreasing a system's loyalty or hostility; once that drops below zero, the system is yours and runs its own economy and structure queue.
A massive, fragile colony ship, and the only one that can capture a star. It sits out the fighting, so it needs a combat escort to survive the trip.
| Offense | 0 |
|---|---|
| Defense | 1 |
| Palladium cost | 25,000 per system owned, up to 1,000,000 |
| Iridium cost | 25,000 per system owned, up to 1,000,000 |
| Build time | 90m |
| Upkeep / day | 600 credits |
| Speed | 16.9 ly/hr |
| Cargo hold | 0 |
| Shipyard level required | 12 |
What it does
A Vanguard captures a star by decreasing its loyalty or hostility. Once that value reaches 0 or below, the system is yours.
Why it matters
Building outward is the only way to grow an empire wide instead of tall. Every new star runs its own economy, its own structure queue, and contributes to your empire score.
Requirements
A Vanguard needs your Shipyard at level 12 AND your Command Center at level 12 before it can be built.
Cost
A Vanguard costs 25,000 of each resource for every system you own, up to 1,000,000 of each from 40 systems on. The price is set when you place the order, so a system gained or lost while it builds does not change it. Its upkeep starts at 600 credits a day and also rises with the number of systems you own.
Strategy
Vanguards are expensive to lose.
Never send a lone Vanguard at a defended star. Without a combat escort, your vanguard dies on arrival. Bring marauders or sentinels sized to survive the defender's fleet.
Sending more than one Vanguard in the same arrival doesn't help. Only one ever rolls, and if the escort wipes they all die together.
Vanguards are slow and their upkeep is steep. Build them shortly before you send them, since a parked stockpile pays that upkeep every day.
I aim to misbehave.
Common questions
What do I need to build a Vanguard?
A Vanguard needs your Shipyard at level 12 and your Command Center at level 12 before it can be built. Vanguards are slow and their upkeep is steep, so build them shortly before you intend to send them rather than stockpiling.
How should I send a Vanguard?
Never send a lone Vanguard at a defended star. Without escort it arrives, gets caught, and dies, so bring marauders or sentinels sized to survive the defender's fleet. Sending more than one in the same arrival doesn't help; only one rolls, and if the escort wipes they all die together.