What are the best sectors to place the HQ?

[Raposus]

Opinions differ, but which sector is best suited to place the HQ from a commercial, security and military point of view?

[Midnightknight]

To my point of view it depends who you will side with, and Teladi space is not an option.

Then i think it also depends about the Beta sectors you have in your game or not. Many of the new sectors available in FL can be claimed meaning you can set inside some illegal stuff without to deal with police licence lost and will allow you to make a lot of profit from the local pop that will come buy this stuff that is legal in your controlled sector but not in theirs.

And lastly i would check the local threats and pirates/Yaki/Xenon spawns. I set mine in Consecrated fire B now and the area is pretty safe except from pirates spawning occasionally in any sector that have asteroids. So setting up a few Acynonyx and Carracks can deal with them easily, a few laser towers near gates prevent them from messing with the next sectors or try to run away from my patrol. Except that it's pretty safe. On the other hand i was in Profit Center alpha (and beta) before and it was a nightmare. Yakis/Pirates juste like in my new location, but also Xenons poping in scale plate green and sometime rushing up in PTNI HQ. Had also a Brigantine + Carrack pushing out of veil of opportunity. It wouldn't be an issue if the Teladis could deal with all those menaces bu most of the time they just sit and look, waiting for you to deal with them. But the worst were all those corps ships being red and you can't attack cause in a neutral space, having to set every tower, every ship , every satellite to ignore them and be attacked from time to time (really not often but happening) by those ships you ignore and lose some of your assets in the process.

So i wouldn't ruch where i put my HQ, i would really take sometime to explore things correctly and if there is someplace you like, try to fly around a few hours to see what pops in, what they needs and have plenty to avoid bad surprise. You might loose sometime at first, but trust me, moving all yours stuff later cause you missplaced it will cost you a lot more time. And yes it's easy to move your PHQ, but when it's full of wares it suddenly becomes a lot harder and will need to buy many TS/TL to empty it and move it, not the funniest to do in such a game.

[Ramdat]

Harmony of Perpetuity.

• Single gate into the system. Very easy to defend.
• No pirate activity. No Yaki activity. Some Xenon activity, but it often gets clapped by the Argon before achieving anything. If it doesn't, its easy to melt the Xenon with lasertowers or ships guarding the single gate.
• 450% Suns, best in the universe. Perfect for a megaplex to supply your empire and earn money.
• Adjacent HSAP sector. Full of high-yield asteroids to feed the megaplex.

[Chull]

I too have set up in Consecrated fire beta, though mainly as it was the only one of the HSAP sectors I was able to claim so far. It turns out to be quite good.

I had a mega plex in Teladi space, and a rifle fab/marine barracks in a Split sector before I chose CF beta, that needed breaking down, packing up and shifting, a lot of work but worth it. Now I have all my stuff in one place so I don't need to worry if something is illegal or not. Lots of juicy asteroids, one way in and out, that's not a jumpgate. I managed to find a Jump Beacon in a RRF friendly ship which I used the cargo bay hacker to pilfer. Now I have a my own jump-in point with a full-beam-weapon armed Pteradon parked next to it to greet any unwanted guests.

I'm not bothered about the sun %, it's 150, so just fine. I need only 2 upgraded XXL solar plants to power every weapon/shield/ammo/building materials fab in my mega plex.

The only thing I'd love to change is the music that is played there to one of the newer tunes, or randomised upon entry would be cool.

[Hwitvlf]

I think the answer changes as you progress through the game. Until you have enough ships to deal with Q raiding parties, I think it's best to put it in a busy sector with a friendly jump beacon. I used Rolk's Legacy. If the sector only has jump gates, there's a significant delay when multiple M6 or bigger jump to the sector- to avoid collisions at the gate.

If you want to build a mega-factory, the claimable sectors have the best asteroids, but they're random in each playthrough, and they really require a player-owned jump beacon to be useful. In my game, I set up mines in Nathan's Voyage Beta, and then the mega-factory in Harmony of Perpetuity. I use TS with "Trade Distribution Run" to cart Ore/Silicon to the complex in HoP, and energy back to the mines in NVB.

So far, I haven't seen any Xenon in Nathan'sVB, but HarmonyOP has twice had a Xenon I fleet with several K escorts. I think they're coming through Black Hole Sun, so you have plenty of warning if you set up a satellite warning system.

[Ramdat]

So far, I haven't seen any Xenon in Nathan'sVB, but HarmonyOP has twice had a Xenon I fleet with several K escorts. I think they're coming through Black Hole Sun, so you have plenty of warning if you set up a satellite warning system.

Yes, they do come from the Xenon Sector above Black Hole Sun.

I used Harmony from the beginning. Both in a normal start when I could afford to move the HQ, as well as a custom start with the HQ starting in that sector.

Eventually Ks or Js make it through, but most ships are destroyed in Elysium of Light. They seem to love to attack the Goner buildings. The few times they made it to Harmony, I just aggroed them with my personal ship and dragged them around the sector until the Argon Rapid Response fleet arrived. This was only necessary in the early game, as it's fairly easy to defend the gate after getting some decent ships and lasertowers.