I’m building World of Frontiers at FloriM Studios. This follow-up to the starter progression diary explains one route to a heavier ship, including the costs behind it.
My current estimate is about 2–3 hours of active play: running missions, fighting aliens and moving from Wren through the Sturmjäger Mk. III to Phantom. This is a rough developer estimate, not a timed newcomer result or a verified no-purchase benchmark. Route choices, equipment, help from other players and paid boosts can change the time.
The hull milestones in this route are:
• Wren: your level-1 starter ship.
• Sturmjäger Mk. III: level 4 and 20,000 Credits.
• Phantom: level 10 and 125,000 Credits.
Buying those two hulls means 145,000 Credits in ship purchases altogether, before equipment and ammunition. Reaching level 10 and having enough Credits are separate requirements. The intermediate ship also gives you three laser slots instead of Wren’s two, but a new hull still needs equipment.
The practical loop is to follow mission objectives, claim the completed rewards, hunt aliens and salvage their containers, then reinvest in equipment while saving for the next hull. The Sturmjäger step is one route to test, not a proven fastest route.
The earlier diary measured basic starter upgrades costing 1,250 Credits; that pilot was still level 1. It did not establish the time to Phantom. Both hulls above are bought with earnable Credits, but purchases can accelerate progress: Premium includes +10% Credits/XP, and Nova can be earned or bought for equipment and ammunition.
Would an intermediate ship feel like a worthwhile upgrade to you, or would you rather save directly for the later hull?
The 24-second clip combines 10 seconds of normal-speed starter gameplay from the October 22 local test with a new route overview. It does not show a completed Wren-to-Phantom run. Music: our original “Glutstrom.” Development and some assets use AI assistance.
Earlier progression diary: https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldofFrontiers/comments/1xcfduy/freeplayer_progression_diary_what_a_fresh_wof/
Playable free in the browser, with optional purchases: https://florim-studios.itch.io/world-of-frontiers