Outer Directive Glossary

Every term you need to know to navigate the galaxy, fit your ships, build your bases, and wage wars. This is the definitive reference for Outer Directive game terminology, covering ship classes, combat mechanics, base building, the player-driven economy, and alliance warfare.

A

Alliance: A formal coalition of multiple player corporations that share territory, diplomacy, and fleet operations. Alliances can claim sovereignty over star systems and coordinate large-scale warfare. See Alliances feature.
Armor: The second defensive layer on a ship, sitting between shields and hull. Armor does not regenerate passively and must be repaired using armor repair modules or remote repair from logistics ships. Strong against explosive and kinetic damage, weak against thermal. See Combat system.
Asteroid Belt: A cluster of mineable asteroids found within a star system. Asteroid belts contain ore deposits that players extract using mining barges or extractors. Richer belts appear in more dangerous zones.

B

Barracks: A planetary structure that houses workers needed for base operations. Upgrading barracks increases worker capacity, which in turn allows more production buildings to operate simultaneously. See Base building.
Base Building: The system for constructing and managing planetary installations. Players place structures in orbital slots, connect them with power and resource links, and manage production chains to generate materials, ships, and fuel. See Base building.
Battlecruiser: A mid-to-large ship class that bridges the gap between cruisers and battleships. Battlecruisers offer strong firepower and moderate durability, often serving as fleet damage dealers or small-gang flagships. See Ship classes.
Battleship: The largest sub-capital ship class. Battleships carry heavy weapons and thick armor but are slow and vulnerable to fast, small ships that can evade their turret tracking. They form the backbone of large fleet engagements. See Ship classes.

C

Calibration: A fitting resource that limits how many rigs a ship can equip. Each rig consumes a set amount of calibration points, and ships have a fixed calibration budget that cannot be increased by modules. See Ship fitting guide.
Capacitor: The energy reservoir powering a ship's active modules. Shield boosters, armor repairers, electronic warfare modules, and afterburners all drain capacitor. If the capacitor runs dry, active modules shut off. Capacitor recharges passively over time. See Combat system.
Capital Ship: The largest and most powerful ship category, including carriers and dreadnoughts. Capital ships require significant resources to build, cannot use standard jump gates, and are restricted from entering high-security zones. See Ship classes.
Carrier: A capital ship that deploys fighter squadrons instead of using conventional turrets. Carriers provide fleet support through remote repairs and fighter-based damage projection across the battlefield. See Ship classes.
Celestial Body: Any naturally occurring object in a star system, including planets, moons, asteroid belts, and stars. Celestial bodies serve as warp destinations, mining locations, and base building sites.
Command Center: The primary structure of a planetary base. The command center must be placed first and serves as the hub connecting all other structures via power links and resource links. Destroying a command center disables the entire base. See Base building.
Component Factory: A planetary structure that manufactures intermediate components from raw materials. Component factories are essential links in production chains, turning refined minerals into parts used by shipyards and other advanced structures. See Production chains guide.
Contested Zone: A region of space where sovereignty can be actively fought over by alliances. Contested zones offer valuable resources but no NPC protection, making them flashpoints for territorial warfare. See Galaxy overview.
Core Zone: The densely populated central region of the galaxy. Core zones offer high security and robust market access but limited rare resources. Most new players begin their journey in core zones. See Galaxy overview.
Corruption: A maintenance mechanic that degrades structure efficiency over time if left unaddressed. Players must perform regular maintenance to reduce corruption, or risk reduced output and eventual structural failure.
Corvette: The smallest combat-capable ship class. Corvettes are cheap, fast, and dispensable. They serve as starter ships and as tackle frigates in fleet combat, pinning down larger targets for heavier ships to destroy. See Ship classes.
CPU (Fitting): A fitting resource that limits which modules a ship can equip. Every module requires a certain amount of CPU, and each ship hull has a fixed CPU capacity. Balancing CPU and power grid is the core challenge of ship fitting. See Ship fitting guide.
Cruiser: A versatile medium ship class. Cruisers balance firepower, speed, and durability, making them effective in solo combat, small gangs, and as specialized fleet roles like electronic warfare platforms or logistics. See Ship classes.

D

Damage Type: One of four categories of weapon damage: Kinetic, Thermal, Electromagnetic (EM), and Explosive. Each defense layer has different resistances to each type. Choosing the right damage type against an opponent's weakest resistance is a key tactical decision. See Combat system.
Defender: A defensive module or drone designed to intercept incoming missiles or bombs before they reach the ship. Defenders add a layer of active missile defense but consume fitting resources and capacitor.
Deposit: A concentration of raw resources found on planets or in asteroid belts. Deposits have a finite quantity and a quality rating that determines extraction speed. Richer deposits are found in more dangerous regions of space.
Destroyer: A small ship class that sits between frigates and cruisers. Destroyers mount multiple small weapons and excel at destroying frigates and corvettes. They trade the frigate's agility for substantially more firepower. See Ship classes.
Dreadnought: A capital ship built for maximum damage output against structures and other capital ships. Dreadnoughts enter siege mode to dramatically increase their firepower at the cost of mobility and remote repair capability. See Ship classes.

E

EWAR (Electronic Warfare): A category of modules that disrupt enemy ship capabilities without dealing direct damage. EWAR includes ECM jammers, sensor dampeners, tracking disruptors, warp scramblers, webifiers, and energy neutralizers. See Combat system.
Extractor: A planetary structure that harvests raw materials from resource deposits on a planet's surface. Extractors feed into the production chain by sending materials to refineries or component factories via resource links. See Base building.

F

Falloff Range: The distance beyond a weapon's optimal range over which hit chance degrades. At optimal range plus one full falloff distance, the weapon has roughly a 50% hit chance from the range factor alone. Beyond that, accuracy drops sharply. See Combat basics guide.
Fitting: The process of equipping modules, rigs, and ammunition onto a ship. Fitting is constrained by the ship's CPU, power grid, and calibration budget. A well-fitted ship matched to its role is far more effective than a hull with random modules. See Ship fitting guide.
Fleet: An organized group of players flying together under a command hierarchy. Fleets have a Fleet Commander (FC), wing commanders, and squad leaders. Fleet members can anchor on the FC's movement, receive broadcast targets, and warp together. See Combat system.
Frigate: A small, fast ship class that excels at scouting, tackling, and electronic warfare. Frigates are cheap to produce and difficult for larger ships to hit due to their small signature radius and high speed. See Ship classes.
Frontier Zone: A region of space on the galaxy's outer edges, beyond contested zones. Frontier zones offer the richest resource deposits but the least security. Only well-organized alliances can reliably operate in frontier space. See Galaxy overview.
Fuel Cell: A consumable resource required to power structures, jump drives, and certain capital ship operations. Fuel cells are manufactured through production chains and represent a recurring cost for maintaining bases and capital fleets. See Base building.

G

Galaxy: The entire game world, consisting of thousands of star systems connected by jump gates and jump lanes. The galaxy is divided into security zones ranging from protected core systems to lawless frontier space. See Galaxy overview.

H

Hit Chance: The probability that a weapon cycle will land damage on its target. Hit chance is calculated from tracking speed versus angular velocity, optimal and falloff range versus distance, and target signature radius versus weapon signature resolution. See Combat basics guide.
Hull: The final defensive layer of a ship, beneath armor. Hull has low resistances across all damage types and no practical method of repair during combat. When hull HP reaches zero, the ship is destroyed. See Combat system.

J

Jump Gate: A permanent structure connecting two star systems, allowing ships to travel between them instantly. Jump gates form the backbone of the galaxy's travel network. Some gates connect to lawless or contested zones. See Galaxy overview.
Jump Lane: A navigable route between two points within a star system or between adjacent systems. Jump lanes are charted paths that ships follow during warp travel. Unstable lanes may shift or collapse unpredictably. See Galaxy overview.

L

Lawless Zone: A security classification for star systems with no NPC enforcement whatsoever. In lawless zones, players can attack anyone without penalty. These areas contain the most valuable resources and the most dangerous encounters. See Galaxy overview.
Logistics Ship: A specialized cruiser or capital ship designed to repair allied ships during combat. Logistics ships use remote shield boosters or remote armor repairers to keep fleet members alive. They are high-priority targets in fleet warfare. See Ship classes.

M

Maintenance: The upkeep process required to keep planetary structures operating at full efficiency. Neglecting maintenance leads to corruption buildup, reducing output. Maintenance consumes materials and worker time. See Base building.
Market Order: A buy or sell listing placed on the in-game market. Market orders can be immediate (filled at the best available price) or limit orders (waiting until a specific price is met). The market is regional, meaning orders are only visible within the same trade hub. See Economy.
Mining Barge: A specialized ship class designed for extracting ore from asteroid belts. Mining barges have large ore holds, mining laser bonuses, and limited combat capability. They are most effective when escorted by combat ships in dangerous space. See Ship classes.
Module: Any piece of equipment that can be fitted onto a ship to modify its capabilities. Modules include weapons, defensive systems, propulsion upgrades, electronic warfare tools, and utility devices. Each module consumes CPU and power grid. See Ship fitting guide.

N

NAP (Non-Aggression Pact): A diplomatic agreement between two alliances to refrain from attacking each other. NAPs are enforced through the diplomacy system and can be broken, though doing so carries reputation penalties and strategic consequences. See Alliances feature.

O

Optimal Range: The maximum distance at which a weapon suffers no range-based accuracy penalty. Within optimal range, hit chance is determined solely by tracking and signature factors. Beyond optimal, accuracy degrades through the falloff zone. See Combat basics guide.
Orbital Slot: A designated position around a planet where a structure can be anchored. Each planet has a limited number of orbital slots, making them strategically valuable. Controlling orbital slots around resource-rich planets is a major alliance objective. See Base building.

P

Power Grid: A fitting resource that limits which modules a ship can equip. Weapons and active defensive modules typically require the most power grid. Managing power grid alongside CPU is essential for effective ship fitting. See Ship fitting guide.
Power Link: A connection between structures in a planetary base that distributes energy from power-generating buildings to production and defense structures. Without a power link, structures cannot operate. See Base building.
Probe: A deployable device used to scan down hidden sites, wormholes, and cloaked ships within a star system. Probing requires a probe launcher module and skill in narrowing scan results to pinpoint locations.
Production Chain: The sequence of extraction, refining, manufacturing, and assembly steps required to produce finished goods. A typical chain runs from raw ore to refined minerals to components to a completed ship or module. See Production chains guide.
Protected Zone: The highest security classification for star systems. In protected zones, NPC enforcement immediately responds to any unauthorized aggression. New players start in protected zones, and basic economic activity can be conducted safely here. See Galaxy overview.

Q

Quantum Core: A rare and expensive component required to anchor certain advanced structures. A quantum core activates full functionality for sovereignty hubs and capital shipyards. Destroying a structure drops its quantum core as loot.

R

Refinery: A planetary structure that processes raw ore into refined minerals. Refineries are a critical step in the production chain, converting bulk raw materials into usable inputs for component factories and shipyards. See Base building.
Resource Link: A connection between planetary structures that transfers materials from one building to another. Resource links define the flow of goods through a production chain, from extractors to refineries to factories. See Base building.
Resource Sink: Any game mechanic that permanently removes resources from the economy. Ship destruction, structure maintenance, and fuel consumption are all resource sinks that prevent inflation and keep the economy healthy. See Economy.
Rig: A permanent ship modification that provides passive bonuses at the cost of a drawback. Rigs consume calibration points and cannot be removed without being destroyed. They allow further specialization of a ship's role. See Ship fitting guide.

S

Security Zone: A classification applied to star systems that determines the level of NPC enforcement and the rules of engagement. Zones range from Protected (full enforcement) to Lawless (no enforcement), with Contested and Frontier in between. See Galaxy overview.
Shield: The first defensive layer on a ship. Shields regenerate passively over time, are strong against EM damage, and weak against explosive damage. Shield extender modules increase capacity while shield hardeners improve resistances. See Combat system.
Shipyard: A planetary structure where ships are assembled from components and refined materials. Shipyards vary in size: small shipyards produce frigates and destroyers, while capital shipyards can build carriers and dreadnoughts. See Base building.
Shuttle: The smallest and cheapest ship class, used for fast personal transport between star systems. Shuttles have almost no combat capability but align and warp extremely quickly, making them difficult to catch. See Ship classes.
Signature Radius: A measurement of how visible and targetable a ship is. Smaller signature radius makes a ship harder to hit and harder to lock onto. Frigates have small signatures (around 40m) while battleships have large signatures (around 400m). Certain modules can increase a ship's signature as a trade-off. See Combat basics guide.
Sovereignty: Formal ownership of a star system by an alliance. Sovereignty grants control over system infrastructure, the ability to set access rules, and bonuses to industrial and military operations within the system. See Alliances feature.
Sovereignty Hub: The central structure that establishes an alliance's sovereignty claim over a star system. The hub must be fueled and defended. If it is destroyed, sovereignty is lost and the system becomes contested. See Alliances feature.
Stacking Penalty: A diminishing-returns mechanic that reduces the effectiveness of each additional module of the same type fitted to a ship. The first module provides full effect, the second provides roughly 87%, the third around 57%, and so on. This prevents extreme min-maxing. See Ship fitting guide.
Star System: A discrete location in the galaxy containing celestial bodies, asteroid belts, stations, and jump gates. Each star system has a security zone classification and may contain player-owned structures and sovereignty claims. See Galaxy overview.
Structure: Any player-built installation, whether in space (stations, sovereignty hubs) or on planets (extractors, refineries, shipyards). Structures require materials to build, fuel to operate, and maintenance to sustain. See Base building.

T

Tick: The fundamental time unit of the game simulation. The server processes all actions, movements, and calculations in discrete ticks. Understanding tick timing is important for advanced combat tactics like speed-tanking and module cycling.
Tracking Speed: The rotational speed of a ship's turrets, measured in radians per second. Tracking speed determines how well a weapon can follow a moving target. Small weapons track fast, while capital weapons track very slowly, making them ineffective against small, fast ships. See Combat basics guide.
Trade Hub: A star system with an exceptionally active market, where players congregate to buy and sell goods. Trade hubs form naturally around well-connected systems in secure space and serve as economic centers for entire regions. See Economy.
Trade Route: A path between two locations where goods are transported for profit. Players run trade routes by buying low in one system and selling high in another. Longer routes through dangerous space tend to offer higher profit margins. See Logistics.
Transport: A ship class designed to carry large volumes of cargo between star systems. Transports sacrifice combat effectiveness for massive cargo holds. They are essential for supplying remote bases and running trade routes. See Logistics.

U

Unstable Lane: A jump lane that may shift destination or collapse without warning. Unstable lanes can provide shortcuts through the galaxy but carry the risk of stranding travelers. They are more common in frontier and lawless zones. See Galaxy overview.

W

Warehouse: A planetary structure that stores raw materials, refined goods, and manufactured components. Warehouses act as buffers in the production chain, holding surplus materials until they are needed by factories or shipyards. See Base building.
Worker: A unit of labor required to operate planetary structures. Workers are housed in barracks and assigned to extractors, factories, and other buildings. A shortage of workers limits how many structures can run simultaneously. See Base building.