Slipstream
| A flow in hyperspace, akin to currents navigated by ancient seafarers back on Old Earth.
Most slipstreams are temporary, and in recent memory their ebb and flow has been unusually synchronized with the standard Domain cycle. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
Slipstreams are "rivers" / "currents" in Hyperspace that propel fleets along their length at high speeds. They can be used for fast, fuel-efficient travel, or pose barriers that must be crossed.
- For more info, see Hyperspace Topography.
The use & impact of slipstreams increases more as the player progresses Hyperspace Topography.
Behaviour
Slipstreams are "currents" within Hyperspace, where traveling within it will use 50% less fuel. Additionally, traveling above burn level 20 is also more fuel efficient.
Slipstreams in the Sector largely follow pre-defined layouts, running west to east during the first half of a cycle (circa January-June) and east to west during the second half (circa July-December). The 'leviathan' sensor ghost creates short-lived slipstreams in its wake.[1]
Occasionally a certain type of sensor ghost will generate a short-lived slipstream behind its wake that a player can take advantage of.
At 100 points in Hyperspace Topography, Slipstream Navigation will be unlocked, providing an additional reduction of 75% for fuel use in slipstreams, which combined with the inherent reduction will be a total 87.5% reduction.
Detection
Slipstreams can be found simply by detecting it with sensors as the player fleets gets close enough.
Using the Neutrino Detector in hyperspace will increase the detection range out to 10 ly.
Overloading a sensor array will also reveal nearby slipstreams at the cost of three volatiles.
Reaching 250 points in Hyperspace Topography will unlock the Slipstream Detection ability, which allows for player colonies' Spaceports to detect nearby slipstreams.
Traversal
To cross a slipstream, it is recommended to use the Emergency Burn ability, cross at a narrow point, and/or move slightly upstream of the intended crossing point. Sustained Burn works poorly due to its acceleration penalty, and even makes control difficult when intentionally traveling along the stream.
At 400 points in Hyperspace Topography, the Reverse Polarity ability will be unlocked, allowing for travel against the slipstream "current" albeit at a lower efficiency.
At 700 points, the Generate Slipsurge ability will be unlocked, allowing the player to create intense & short-lived slipstreams from the gravity well of large celestrial objects (Giants, Neutron Stars, Black Holes).
References
