In their simplest form settlements are player owned locations on planets that you can dock at.
Settlements are a large undertaking for any player to consider and you need to be at least level 25 before considering attempting to deploy a settlement.
A settlement has all the normal attributes of a Promenade allowing the owner to contract most of the in game offices to their promenade. They can also set things like docking costs and taxes.
Settlement owners have to sink a lot of credits in to keeping their settlement vibrant and in one piece, this involves hiring staff (the right types) researching law and tech levels along with a plethora of other research projects.
Settlements require the owners to first locate or craft Five ‘Hub Parts’. These along with a settlement license ensure that a settlement can be placed. After that they require power, housing, staff and a great deal of attention and funding to get off the ground.
Player Settlements are denoted on the main navigation map by a red dot. If there is a dot you will find there are multiple locations to dock at on the same planet.
Reward wise it’s a place to call home!
Footnote : Settlements have been in game now for over 9 years. In that time a lot had been added and bolted on. You can now raise your settlement to Level Seven and prep for level 8.
Level Six Settlements can choose to specialize either in Manufacturing, Ship building or Star ship Building.
Level seven adds an extra level of spec that allows you to build Starbase buildings (being released 2017).