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Blueprint Calculator¶

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Engineering

Overview¶

Calculate material requirements for Elite Dangerous engineering blueprints. Plan your engineering progression, optimize material gathering, and determine the most efficient path to your desired ship modifications.

Key Features¶

🧮 Blueprint Analysis¶

  • Complete material requirements for any modification
  • Grade-by-grade progression calculations
  • Alternative blueprint comparisons

📊 Material Planning¶

  • Current inventory tracking
  • Missing material identification
  • Collection priority optimization

🎯 Engineering Pathways¶

  • Optimal engineer unlock sequence
  • Reputation building strategies
  • Prerequisite chain planning

💾 Build Saving¶

  • Save and share engineering builds
  • Version comparison and tracking
  • Cloud backup and synchronization

Engineering Categories¶

Weapons Modifications¶

Primary Weapons¶

  • Pulse Lasers: Efficient, Long Range, Overcharged, Rapid Fire, Focused
  • Beam Lasers: Efficient, Long Range, Overcharged, Short Range, Thermal Vent
  • Burst Lasers: Efficient, Long Range, Overcharged, Rapid Fire, Scramble Spectrum
  • Multi-Cannons: High Capacity, Long Range, Overcharged, Rapid Fire, Sturdy

Secondary Weapons¶

  • Missile Racks: High Capacity, Lightweight, Sturdy
  • Torpedo Pylons: Lightweight, Sturdy
  • Mine Launchers: High Capacity, Lightweight, Sturdy
  • Rail Guns: High Capacity, Long Range, Short Range

Special Weapons¶

  • Fragment Cannons: Double Shot, Efficient, Overcharged, Rapid Fire, Screening Shell
  • Plasma Accelerators: Efficient, Focused, Long Range, Overcharged, Short Range
  • Guardian Weapons: Specialized Guardian modifications

Core Modules¶

Frame Shift Drive¶

  • Increased Range: Maximum jump distance optimization
  • Faster Boot Sequence: Quick emergency jumps
  • Shielded: Protection against interdiction damage
  • Deep Charge: Extended range with fuel penalties

Power Plant¶

  • Armored: Increased integrity and heat efficiency
  • Low Emissions: Reduced heat signature
  • Overcharged: Maximum power output
  • Monstered: Extreme power with heat risks

Thrusters¶

  • Dirty Drive Tuning: Maximum speed and acceleration
  • Clean Drive Tuning: Efficient with low heat
  • Drive Distributors: Balanced performance

Optional Modules¶

Shield Generators¶

  • Reinforced: Maximum shield strength
  • Thermal Resistant: Heat damage protection
  • Kinetic Resistant: Physical damage protection
  • Fast Charge: Rapid shield recovery

Shield Boosters¶

  • Heavy Duty: Maximum shield boost
  • Resistance Augmented: Damage type protection
  • Thermal Resistant: Specialized heat protection
  • Kinetic Resistant: Specialized kinetic protection

Hull Reinforcement¶

  • Heavy Duty: Maximum hull points
  • Blast Resistant: Explosive damage protection
  • Kinetic Resistant: Kinetic damage protection
  • Thermal Resistant: Heat damage protection

Blueprint Progression¶

Engineering Grades¶

Each modification has 5 grades with increasing requirements:

  • Grade 1: Basic improvements, common materials
  • Grade 2: Moderate improvements, standard materials
  • Grade 3: Significant improvements, rare materials
  • Grade 4: Major improvements, very rare materials
  • Grade 5: Maximum improvements, extremely rare materials

Material Requirements¶

  • Raw Materials: Planetary surface gathering, mining
  • Manufactured Components: Ship salvage, mission rewards
  • Encoded Data: Ship scanning, signal sources

Experimental Effects¶

Additional modifications available at Grade 5: - Weapons: Special ammunition, targeting systems - Modules: Performance enhancers, efficiency improvements - Utilities: Specialized functionality additions

Engineer Unlock Requirements¶

Technology Brokers¶

  • Human Tech Brokers: Conventional technology unlocks
  • Guardian Tech Brokers: Ancient Guardian technology

Engineer Locations¶

Bubble Engineers¶

  • Felicity Farseer: FSD modifications, exploration focus
  • Tod McQuinn: Weapon modifications, combat specialist
  • Lei Cheung: Shield modifications, defensive systems
  • Liz Ryder: Explosive weapon modifications

Colonia Engineers¶

  • Mel Brandon: Shield modifications in Colonia
  • Etienne Dorn: Weapon modifications, remote location
  • Marsha Hicks: Miscellaneous modifications

Unlock Chains¶

Many engineers require previous engineer relationships: 1. Felicity Farseer → Elvira Martuuk → Professor Palin 2. Tod McQuinn → Liz Ryder → Hera Tani 3. Lei Cheung → Juri Ishmaak → Marco Qwent

Optimization Strategies¶

Material Efficiency¶

  • Prioritize Grade 4-5 materials collection
  • Use material traders for cross-category exchange
  • Focus on high-impact modifications first

Engineering Sequence¶

  1. Core Modules: FSD, Power Plant, Thrusters
  2. Defensive Systems: Shields, Hull Reinforcement
  3. Offensive Systems: Weapons, Utilities
  4. Specialized Modules: Scanners, Cargo, etc.

Build Planning¶

  • Define ship role and primary activities
  • Calculate total material requirements
  • Plan engineer unlock progression
  • Optimize gathering routes and methods

Calculator Features¶

Interactive Planning¶

  • Drag-and-drop module configuration
  • Real-time requirement calculations
  • Material inventory integration
  • Progress tracking and visualization

Comparison Tools¶

  • Side-by-side blueprint comparison
  • Performance impact analysis
  • Cost-benefit optimization
  • Alternative path suggestions

Export Options¶

  • Shopping list generation
  • Engineering roadmap creation
  • Build sharing and collaboration
  • Integration with material finders

Efficiency Focus

Start with Grade 1 modifications to unlock experimental effects, then focus on materials for Grade 5.

Material Limits

Check storage capacity before long gathering sessions. Each category caps at 300 units.

Engineer Reputation

Higher reputation with engineers reduces material costs and unlocks additional modifications.

Material Finder Guardian Sites Calculate Blueprints