Starfield: At Home in Space

Ground Control to Major Tom

After releasing in 2023 and getting one major expansion in 2024, Starfield feels like it has been long forgotten by both players and Bethesda alike. Whilst the studio has mentioned that they will be revealing another expansion later in 2025, right now it feels like we have been stranded in an empty galaxy without enough Helium-3 to get us to the nearest planet of content. (That metaphor works, right?)

One thing which helps keep the game somewhat alive is the extremely active modding community you see with any Bethesda Game Studios title, thanks to the adaptiveness of the Creation Engine and mods being accessible on console. I think it's clear to see that the most popular genre of mods for Starfield are those which add unique parts to the ship-building suite, with the likes of Matilija Aerospace, Owltech, Avontech Shipyards, and Stroud Premium Edition being some of the most popular Creations to download.

But mods can only add so much, and they usually don't have the same degree of optimisation and functionality as officially-released assets, which is why I think BGS should release a DLC focused on building up the player ship to turn it into a true home among the stars. This would be an expansion akin to the Vault Tec Workshop DLC for Fallout 4, with new role assignments for an enlarged crew, an enhanced ship builder, and an extended selection of Habs to make exploring the galaxy comfortable and efficient.

So, without further hesitation, let's delve into my pitch for a new Starfield DLC: At Home In Space

Ship Crew Overhaul

The first thing I wanted to do was overhaul the ship crew system. While crew perks can indeed impact gameplay, selecting your current ship crew still feels a little unimportant - and with only 8 slots available, five of which are usually taken up by Constellation, it feels like there isn't enough freedom to explore the galaxy with all of your potential companions, and makes the addition of randomly-generated ship crew feel totally redundant. This frustratingly small limit also makes large ships feel barren and somewhat pointless.

To address these issues, I would like to propose an increased capacity for ships taking the crew count to sixty members, with a variety of unique roles which can be assigned via new crew posts which will spawn in specific habs or can be placed manually:

Bridge Crew:

Captain (Player)
- No specific requirements, the ship will always have you as its captain.
First Officer
- Requirement: Bridge cockpit type
- Boost: 10% boost to persuasion and negotiation checks
- Recommended skills: Negotiation, Diplomacy, Ship Command
Helmsman
- Requirement: Maximum engine power
- Boost: 10% boost to manoeuvrability
- Recommended skills: Piloting, Engine Systems, Astrophysics
Communications Officer
- Requirement: Satellite Dish (Shipbuilder Equipment)
- Boost: 10% boost to scanning and surveying planets. 5% boost to persuasion and negotiation checks
- Recommended skills: Negotiation, Commerce, Surveying

Storage Crew:

Chief Cargo Officer
- Requirement: Cargo Terminal (Crew Station)
- Boost: 25% boost to cargo capacity.
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Payloads, Outpost Engineering
Cargo Officer
- Requirement: Cargo Hold Hab
- Boost: 10% increased chance to evade Contraband scans.
- Recommended skills: Weight lifting, Payloads, Stealth

Medical Crew:

Chief Medical Officer
- Requirement: Doctors Office Hab
- Boost: Increases effectiveness of other medical crew by 20%, reduces Medical Officer prices by 50%
- Recommended skills: Medicine, Scanning, Leadership
Medical Officer
- Requirement: Infirmary Hab
- Boost: Sells health items and other chems
- Recommended skills: Medicine, Scanning, Chemistry
Field Medic
- Requirement: Infirmary Hab
- Boost: Provides health services (Healing player, curing ailments, etc)
- Recommended skills: Medicine, Decontamination, Special Projects
Counsellor
- Requirement: Infirmary Hab
- Boost: Increases relationship gain with companions by 10%
- Recommended skills: Medicine, Diplomacy, Negotiation

Security Crew:

Chief Security Officer
- Requirement: Battle Stations Hab
- Boost: Increases effectiveness and health of Security Crew by 20%
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Rapid Reloading, Pain Tolerance
Security Officer
- Requirement: Battle Staions Hab
- Boost: Increases ship weapon charge speed by 15%
- Recommended skills: All weapons systems skills, Targeting, Targeting Control Systems
Ground Crew Soldier
- Requirement: Armory Hab
- Boost: Stands outside ship when landed, will have weapons equipped.
- Recommended skills: All weapons certification skills, Pain Tolerance
Brig Officer
- Requirement: Brig Hab
- Boost: Unlocks "Transport Prisoner" missions.
- Recommended skills: Martial Arts, Intimidation, Outpost Management

Engineering Crew:

Chief Engineering Officer
- Requirement: Engine Bay Hab (Minimum size 3x1)
- Boost: Increases effectiveness of Engineering Crew by 20%
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Starship Engineering, Engine Systems
Engineering Officer
- Requirement: Engine Bay Hab
- Boost: Increases repair speeds by 10%
- Recommended skills: Starship Engineering, all Systems skills, Astrophysics
Reactor Technician
- Requirement: B-Class Reactor or higher
- Boost: Increases power generated by 4
- Recommended skills: Starship Engineering, Aneutronic Fusion, Astrophysics
Grav Drive Technician
- Requirement: B-Class Grav Drive or higher
- Boost: Increases Grav Jump Fuel Efficiency by 10%
- Recommended skills: Starship Engineering, Astrodynamics, Astrophysics
Weapons Technician
- Requirement: Battle Stations Hab, and B-Class Weapons or higher
- Boost: Increases weapon damage by 20%
- Recommended skills: Starship Engineering, all Weapons system perks, Targeting Control Systems
Shield Technician
- Requirement: B-Class Shield or higher
- Boost: Increases shield strength by 20%
- Recommended skills: Starship Engineering, Shield Systems, Aneutronic Fusion

Science Crew:

Chief Science Officer
- Requirement: Chemistry Lab Hab
- Boost: Increases effectiveness of all Science Crew by 20%
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Research Methods, Special Projects
Science Officer
- Requirement: Chemistry Lab Hab
- Boost: Sells chems and resources
- Recommended skills: Special Projects, Geology, Medicine
R&D Officer
- Requirement: Workshop Hab
- Boost: Reduces requirements for Research Projects
- Recommended skills: Research Methods, Special Projects, Surveying
Hydroponics Officer
- Requirement: Garden Dome
- Boost: Increases the quality of meals served at the Mess Hall hab, adds a rejuvenation effect to the pool water in the Pool hab.
- Recommended skills: Botany, Research Methods, Scanning

Ship Life Crew:

Chef
- Requirement: Mess Hall Hab
- Boost: Sells hot meals, boosts ship morale and skill efficiency by 2%. Extends passenger mission duration by one day.
- Recommended skills: Gastronomy, Leadership, Nutrition
Bartender
- Requirement: Bar Hab
- Boost: Sells alcoholic drinks and listens to your woes, boosts ship morale and skill efficiency by 2%. Extends passenger mission duration by one day.
- Recommended skills: Gastronomy, Commerce, Diplomacy
Cleaner
- Requirement: Cleaning Equipment placeable
- Boost: Cleans up accumulating mess on the ship, increasing morale.
- Recommended skills: Chemistry, Decontamination, Wellness
Teacher
- Requirement: Classroom Hab
- Boost: Keeps Cora and Sona happy when onboard, increasing relationship with Sam and Sarah faster
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Research Methods, Diplomacy
Librarian
- Requirement: Library Hab
- Boost: Collects and sells books, interacts with Cora a lot
- Recommended skills: Commerce, Research Methods, Scavenging
Bounty Hunter
- Requirement: Satellite Dish (Shipbuilder Equipment)
- Boost: Increases payout of bounty missions by 25%, unlocks scanning ships for Bounty targets (Or entirely wanted ships!)
- Recommended skills: Any weapon certification, Intimidation, Incapacitation
Cartographer
- Requirement: Museum or Treasure Vault Hab
- Boost: Increases payout of survey missions by 25%
- Recommended skills: Scanning, Geology, Planetary Habitation
Trade Authority Commissary Chief
- Requirement: Trade Authority Stall
- Boost: Rotating stock, buys items. Will likely carry contraband!
- Recommended skills: Commerce, Negotiation, Concealment
Galbank Contact
- Requirement: Galbank Desk, all Debtor missions completed
- Boost: Provides Debtor radiant quests for Credits.
- Recommended skills: Commerce, Negotiation, Intimidation
Passenger Support Guide
- Requirement: Information Kiosk
- Boost: Increases payout for passenger missions by 25%
- Recommended skills: Leadership, Ship Command, Diplomacy

With all of the new crew members, they will need a place to sleep! That's why I propose the game should have assignable dorms, bunks, etc. Assigned bunks and rooms will eventually be decorated with items relating to the character assigned to them over time. Core crew members will also have unique upgrades based on their loyalty quests.

These could be assigned via an interaction on a sign above each bed or dorm entrance, which will display the name of the character assigned to the bunk or room.

Ship pets available:

Cats:
- Bombay
- Sphynx
- Tabby
- Ginger
Dogs
- Shepard
  - German
  - White
- Retriever
  - Golden
  - Labrador
- Pug
  - Faun
  - Black
- Boxer
  - Brown
  - White
Ashta Pup
- Albino
- Midnight
- Crimson
SHATTERED SPACE: Groat
- Black
- Grey
- White
- Faun

Shipbuilder Enhancements

New Ship Nameplates can be purchased and applied to all sides of the ship, with a variety of styles:

Akila Wood
Vintage
Neon lights
Metallic
Upon completing Crimson Fleet quest: Crimson Fleet Graffiti
Upon completing United Colonies quest: UC Vanguard Plate
Upon completing RYUJIN quest: Ryujin Neon
Upon completing Freestar Collective quest: Ranger Star
Upon completing Shattered Space quest: Varuun Plating
IF AINCIENT MARINER CREATION PACK IS OWNED: Mariner

Increased maximum assigned power per slot to 20 with new Class-E reactors.

With this additional power space, you can now add more weapons and engines to your ship!
- “Stay Class-E with StroudEklund"

New Ship Habs:

Holodeck
- W3xL3xH2
- Ryujin / Stroud-Eklund
- Can be changed to show a variety of different biomes and locations:
  - Old Earth Forest
  - Old Earth Cherry Blossom Peak
  - UC Office
  - Akila dive bar
  - Vintage Ballroom
  - Paradiso Beach
  - Fantasy Town (Skyrim Whiterun)
  - Apocalyptic Town (Fallout Megaton)
  - Starborn: Unity
Classroom
- W2xL1xH1
- Deimos / Stroud-Eklund / Nova Galactic
Pool
- W3xL2xH2
- Doors only at upper fore, lower floor for water space and lockers
- Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Bar
- W2xL2xH1
- All companies
Doctors Office
- W1xL1xH1
- Deimos / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Casino
- W2xL2xH1
- Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Arcade
- W2xL1xH1
- Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Garden Dome
- W3xL3xH3
- Actual hab shape is only one floor, but the dome on top takes up two floors of space, much like the dome in the Matilija Aerospace mod
- Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Museum
- W2xL2xH3
- Open middle with tall skeleton in the middle
- Ryujin
Library
- W2xL2xH1, W2xL2xH2
- Taller variation has tall bookshelves on port and starboard sides with a bridge between, but can be flipped to go horizontally.
- Doors only on sides without shelves.
- Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Treasure Vault
- W1xL1xH1, W1xL2xH1, W2xL3xH2
- Will build up with easter eggs based on ship value, quests completed, cargo carried.
- Deimos / Hopetech / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Nightclub
- W2xL2xH1
- Different themes selectable:
  - Red Mile Patronage
  - Astral Lounge Inspired
  - Industrial Loft
  - Akila Dive
- Deimos / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Cryo Lab
- W1xL2xH1
- Deimos / Hopetech / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Church:
- W1xL2xH1
- Various Religions available:
  - Sanctum
  - House Enlightenment
  - Varuun
  - Unity
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Escape pod bay
- W1xL2xH1, Port and Starboard options available
- Pods enterable with windows out to space
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Hallways with stairs
- W1xL3xH2, W1xL3xH3, W3xL1xH2, W3xL1xH3
- Stairs on either side of the hab leading to upper floors
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Large living quarters
- W3xL3xH2
- Stairs going between the floors, doors can only be placed in the centre fore and aft placements, as the sides are assigned to rooms and communal living areas such as kitchens.
- Assignable dorms, bunks, etc. Assigned bunks will eventually be decorated with items relating to the character over time. Core crew members will also have unique upgrades based on their loyalty quests.
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
Windowed hallways
- W1xL1xH1
- Port, Starboard, Fore and Aft window options, with there also being dual Port/Starboard and Fore/Aft options, as well as corner options which can be flipped to all four corners.
- Deimos / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Observation decks
- W2xL2xH1
- Full glass wall options for each side, which can be flipped to all sides.
- Full glass corner wall options, which can be flipped to all four corners.
- Glass floor option
- Deimos / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin
Curved hallways
- 90° arch shapes, though if a square would be W2xL2xH1
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
STARBORN - Guardian Cockpit
- Cockpit from Starborn Guardian ships, with fixings to fit it with traditional shipbuilder pieces
STARBORN - Armillary Room
- W1xL2xH1
- A room dedicated to the Armillary
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
STARBORN - Multiverse Variant Tracker
- W2xL1xH1
- Displays any alterations to your universe on a terminal and an investigation board
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic
STARBORN - Unity Clone Room
- W2xL2xH1
- Has an array of cloning vats filled wit alternative versions of yourself
- Deimos / Hopetech / Stroud-Eklund / Ryujin / Nova Galactic

New weapon types:

Drill
- Damage enemies via ramming
- B-class or higher
- 4 power per drill
EMP Pulse
- Cut out nearby ship engines. Prepare to dock!
- C-class or higher
- 10 power per emitter
Glassing Beam
- Continuous, heavy beam for 30 seconds. Ships can only support one. Slow recharge.
- E-class only
- 20 power for beam
Minefield Deployer
- Take out pesky pursuers by scattering mines behind you
- Any class
- 5 power per deployer
Flare
- Avoid missiles by having them track to flares, if a flare hits a ship, it will damage over time and scramble their targeting
- Any class
- 2 power per deployer
Combat Drone
- Summon an angry little friend to help you in battle. Has fast-firing high-impact rounds or laser beams, depending on choice
- C-class or higher
- 5 power per drone
Flamethrower
- Melting hulls with super-heated plasma flames. Short range but extremely high damage.
- B-class or higher
- 3 power per Flamethrower
Acidic Spray
- Corroding hulls quickly, direct fire only. Will leave floating puddles of acid in space if it misses. Careful, this can damage your hull too!
- B-class or higher
- 3 power per acid nozzle
STARBORN - Guardian Ship Weapons
- C-class or higher
STARBORN - Clone Ship: Call in a Multiverse copy of your ship
- Visually looks like a small inverted dome with a crossing in the middle
- E-class only
- 12 power

New equipment:

Prototype stealth drive
- Go invisible while thrusting.
- C-class or higher
Shield booster
- Recharge shields while thrusting.
- C-class or higher
Shunt Thruster
- Use the side thrusters to quickly boost in any direction, dealing damage to nearby target.
- B-class or higher
Tractor Beam
- Loot items and dock onto other ships from further away.
- B-class or higher
Satellite Dish
- Unlock Communications Officer
- B-class or higher
Rear-facing docker
- Dock from behind. Ignore any innuendos.
- Okay but seriously why aren't there any of these in the game right now?
STARBORN - Phantom Drive
- Phase through asteroids and other ships when boosting. Enemy projectiles will also phase through you.
- E-class only
STARBORN - Flux Capacitor
- Slow down time when thrusting, scanning and targeting.
- E-class only
STARBORN - Autopilot
- Ship continues in same direction when standing up from Pilots Chair
- C-class or higher

Miscellaneous and Quality-of-Life Additions

A new set of appearances for the immediate crew members and other notable characters which can randomly be assigned in NG+ playthroughs. 2 additional looks per character.
Official support for self-placing doors in ship builder. A bound key/button where the player can press on each hab and assign doors. Doors which lead to nowhere will be flagged in the problems tab.
Shipbuilding items causing issues in the problems tab will be highlighted (Improper doors, outwith boundaries, not connected, etc)
A new Starborn ship parts vendor at The Eye in NG+ playthroughs, selling unique ship parts.
NPCs will spread around the ship better, and usually be seen in rooms related to their roles, or recreational rooms on their break hours.

What do you think of this concept? Would it help bring you back to Starfield? Let us know (And show us your ships!) on our Twitter @GamesAtlasCom and stay tuned for other exciting gaming articles!