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As you get acquainted with Starfield’s Skymap, you will notice a number of planets on which an Outpost can be constructed. These Outposts can create passive income by extracting a planet’s natural resources. However, much like any base, it will require a crew to operate the setup and keep it secure from pirates and spacers.
Assigning a crew member to an Outpost is quite straightforward; however, there are a few requirements that must be met beforehand. Since outposts can be spread across Starfield’s massive map, it is important to set up near the central star systems and hire the right crew members to keep it efficient and easily accessible.
How To Hire Crew Members
Crew members in Starfield can be acquired in various ways. Some don’t cost any Credits, while others need to be hired from The View Port bar in New Atlantis. Companions and NPCs that you come across in missions can be Persuaded to join after you complete a side mission. NPCs like Lin or Heller are unlocked during Faction quests or other random events.
Once an NPC joins you, you can access the crew management options from the Ship Menu found in the bottom-left corner. In the crew management window, there will be a list of names and skills of every recruit. These can range from Geology proficiency to outpost engineering and management.
How To Assign a Crew Member To An Outpost
Assuming you have already set up an Outpost in one of Starfield’s many planets, you will need to build a specific building in order to house Crew members. Once you are at an outpost, open the Outpost Builder option and build a Crew Station in the vicinity.
You cannot assign a Crew member unless a Crew Station has been built on an outpost.
Once you have set up a Crew Station, return to the crew management screen and assign your preferred crew member. Choosing the right Crew member here is vital as their skills can yield bonuses in tandem with the Crew Station. These skills can range from Geology to Demolitions, each providing a benefit for resource extraction. You can also assign Crew Members proficient with weapons, as pirates, fauna, and other threats can often attack Outposts.
It is worth pointing out that you should build and manage an outpost towards the end of your adventure. Building an Outpost requires considerable credits and resources that might not be available at the start of your journey. However, once you have enough credits and resources, you can build as many outposts as you want on most planets in Starfield.