How to Resupply Ships in Dynasty Protocol: The Definitive Guide

To resupply your ships in Dynasty Protocol, you must request docking permission from a compatible station via your comms panel, manually pilot your ship into its assigned hangar, and then use the Station Services menu to purchase vital resources like oxygen, hydrogen, and voltaic cells. This process is a fundamental loop, but mastering its nuances—and learning the methods to bypass it entirely—separates novice pilots from seasoned commanders.

This guide breaks down every method for refueling and rearming your vessel, from the basic (and often tedious) docking procedure to advanced, high-risk alternatives that can keep you flying in the deepest voids of space. We'll cover station types, resource management, and the high-tier hardware that makes logistics a problem for other people.

01

The Standard Docking Procedure: Step-by-Steptag

For your first hundred hours, this will be your bread and butter. While it can feel cumbersome, especially in a bulky freighter, understanding the manual docking process is a core pilot skill. Every station, from gleaming OmniCorp trade hubs to grimy Exo-Driller outposts, uses the same fundamental system.

Step 1: Finding the Right Stationtag

Not all stations are created equal. Before you even think about approaching, check your Starmap (M key) and filter for stations. Hovering over a station icon will show you its primary services. You're looking for facilities that offer Refueling (H2), Life Support (O2), and Re-arming (Munitions). Corporate stations are a safe bet, but they often charge a premium. Independent hubs might have better prices but lack heavy munitions.

Your goal is to find the nearest station that sells what you need at a price you can tolerate. Flying across a system with your oxygen alarm blaring just to save a few U-Creds is a rookie mistake.

Step 2: Requesting Docking Permissiontag

Once you're within 10km of a station, you can request to dock. You cannot simply fly into a hangar; doing so will have the station's defensive turrets turn your ship into hot scrap.

1. Bring your ship to a near-complete stop.
2. Open your Comms Panel (default F4 key).
3. Select the station from the local list.
4. Choose the "Request Docking" option.

If the station has an open hangar for a ship of your size class, you'll receive an audio confirmation: "Docking request granted. Proceed to Hangar Bay [Number]." Your HUD will update with a waypoint marker directing you to your assigned bay.

Step 3: The Manual Approach (The Hard Part)tag

This is where most new players struggle. Dynasty Protocol's physics are unforgiving. The key is to be slow, deliberate, and use your lateral thrusters.

• Align with the Entrance: Point your ship's nose directly at the hangar's magnetic docking ring. Use the holographic guide lines that appear as you get closer.
• Kill Your Speed: Approach at no more than 50 m/s. Once you're inside the station's superstructure, drop to below 20 m/s.
• Mind Your Clearance: Watch for antennas, traffic control towers, and other ships. Scrapping the paint is one thing; losing a shield generator to a poorly judged turn is another.
• Land and Secure: Once you are over the designated landing pad, your ship's landing gear will automatically engage when you are low enough. A magnetic clamp confirmation will appear on your HUD: "Docking Complete. Ship Secured."

The number one cause of ship destruction during docking is excessive speed. Be patient. It's faster to take an extra 30 seconds to land than to spend 10 minutes flying back from the rebuy screen.

Step 4: Using the Station Services Menutag

Once docked, you're safe. The Station Services menu will now be available on your ship's main console (F1 key). From here, you can perform all necessary actions:

• Refuel: Buys hydrogen (H2) to fill your fuel tanks.
• Resupply: Buys oxygen (O2) for life support and Voltaic Cells for ship systems.
• Rearm: Purchases missiles, cannon rounds, and drone munitions.
• Repair: Repairs hull damage and module integrity.

Select the items you want, adjust the quantities, and confirm the transaction. The resources are transferred instantly. Now you can undock and get back to the black.

02

What Resources Do You Need and Where?tag

Understanding the galactic economy can save you millions of U-Creds in the long run. Different station types specialize in different goods and offer wildly different prices based on their location and factional allegiance. Planning your resupply stops strategically is a hallmark of an expert pilot.

Here's a quick breakdown of the major station archetypes and what you can expect to find there:

The key takeaway is to buy your resources where they are cheapest and most abundant. Fill up on hydrogen at an Exo-Driller Outpost in a gas-rich system, then make a separate stop at a trade hub for oxygen and munitions.

03

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Resupply Methodstag

Docking isn't the only way to keep your ship running. For those who operate far from civilized space or simply can't stand hangar traffic, several advanced modules and techniques offer self-sufficiency at a price.

Gas Siphoning with Harvester Dronestag

Why pay for hydrogen when you can collect it for free? With a Harvester Drone Bay module and a stock of drones, you can pull hydrogen directly from the upper atmosphere of any gas giant. This is the preferred method for long-range explorers and fleet carriers.

The process involves flying to a gas giant, deploying a drone, and defending it while it fills its collection tank. It's not without risk; pirate ambushes near rich gas giants are common, and flying too deep into the atmosphere can damage the drone. But the reward is a full tank of fuel for the cost of a single drone.

Onboard Generation with a Cryo-Condensertag

For oxygen, the high-tech solution is a Cryo-Condenser Module. This expensive piece of equipment slowly pulls in trace interstellar gases and particulates from nebulae, refining them into breathable oxygen. The process is slow—it can't keep up with consumption during combat or heavy maneuvering—but it's a passive, constant trickle that can dramatically extend your operational range.

It's an emergency backup, not a primary source. But for a lone wolf scout operating hundreds of light-years from the nearest station, that slow trickle of O2 is the difference between life and death.

Automating the Process with an Auto-Dock Computertag

For pilots with more U-Creds than patience, the Auto-Dock Computer is the ultimate quality-of-life upgrade. This module, once installed, adds an "Auto-Dock" option to your comms menu after docking is approved.

Activating it relinquishes manual control to the ship's computer, which will then perform a perfect, efficient docking maneuver every time. It's not cheap, and it takes up a valuable module slot, but it transforms the most tedious part of the resupply loop into a single button press. It's considered an essential upgrade for anyone flying large, unwieldy ships like the Behemoth-class freighter.

04

Resupplying Your Fleet: The Fleet Tender Solutiontag

Once you begin commanding a fleet, docking each ship individually becomes a logistical nightmare. This is where the Aethel-class Fleet Tender comes in. This specialized support vessel is essentially a mobile station, equipped with massive cargo holds for resources and drone-based transfer systems.

An Aethel-class tender can dock with a station, fill its holds with a vast quantity of oxygen, hydrogen, and munitions, and then travel with your fleet. When a smaller ship needs to resupply, it can fly in formation with the tender, which will extend a docking boom or use transfer drones to replenish the ship's tanks and magazines in deep space. This is the only way to sustain a combat fleet on a long campaign far from friendly ports.

05

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)tag

Why can't I dock at a station? There are three common reasons: the station is full and has no open hangars for your ship class, your reputation with the controlling faction is too low (they've blacklisted you), or you have a criminal bounty and the station is hostile. Check your faction standings and transaction log for any fines or bounties.

How do I get an Auto-Dock Computer? Auto-Dock Computers are high-tech modules and are typically only sold at OmniCorp Citadel stations in high-population, core systems like Sol or Alpha Centauri. They require a Grade 3 ship outfitter to install and are very expensive, often running over 2 million U-Creds.

Is it cheaper to siphon hydrogen than to buy it? In the long run, absolutely. A single Harvester Drone costs about 5,000 U-Creds. A full tank of hydrogen for a mid-size ship can cost over 50,000 U-Creds at a station. The drone pays for itself on the first run. The trade-off is the time it takes and the risk of being attacked while you are stationary.

Can I steal resources from other ships? Yes, but this is an act of piracy. You can use cargo scanner limpets to see what's in another ship's hold and hatch-breaker limpets to force it open. However, this will give you an immediate criminal bounty, and CONCORD security forces will be dispatched to your location.

06

The Bottom Linetag

Logistics are the unglamorous heart of Dynasty Protocol. While it's tempting to focus on combat and exploration, a pilot who can't keep their ship fueled and breathing won't last long. Mastering the simple, tedious act of docking is the first step. Learning how to transcend it with advanced technology and strategic planning is the next. Keep your tanks full, your cockpit pressurized, and fly safe.