There has to be a less random way of unlocking ships

[AzuredreamsXT]

Makes sense the crystal ship would be tough to unlock, but even the others come down to RNG luck. Engi homeworld but no engi? Screwed. Engi but no engi homeworld? Screwed. Engi, but random event erases him from existence? You get the idea

If these ships are just meant to be extras than its all good, but I feel like the extra ships are a good chunk of the games content, and its annoying as hell unlocking them.

Is there any easier way to get them? Using someone else's save file somehow or something?

[Aerowind]

There's a save game editor floating around here somewhere (think it's in tips and strategy guides) if you really really want to. For me personally, unlocking all of the ships myself was a large part of the content, to the point where my playing has trickled way down now that I don't have anything to unlock anymore.

[boa13]

Is there any easier way to get them? Using someone else's save file somehow or something?

There is a profile editor that allows you to unlock precisely what you want to unlock (and keep your high scores, etc.). See this thread: http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2877

[Agent_L]

If these ships are just meant to be extras than its all good, but I feel like the extra ships are a good chunk of the games content, and its annoying as hell unlocking them.

No, they're not core content, and playing them is not that much different.

Haven't you noticed yet that everything here is down to RNG luck?
This game is not meant to be played once, twice or not even 20 times. It's meant to be played indefinite number of times, and in that perspective the chances are just right.

[Kajitii]

No, they're not core content, and playing them is not that much different.

I'd say there's large difference between some ships. The Stealth Cruiser lets you roll through most sector 1 enemies unharmed, though if you end up facing against a Zolton with drones, you'll take heavy damage. The Mantis B has a four-slot teleporter, which enables you to use boarding parties of epic doom.

At the very least, the start of runs with different ships play very differently. I'll admit that in the end, if you have been doing well, you'll probably have everything anyways.

[Magnianhk]

I hear what you're saying about playing through and not getting ships. Every time I start a new game I think, "What do I want to try and unlock this time?" And sometimes I've sabotaged my play-through just to secure a ship. For example, one time I bought a teleporter and upgraded my med-bay so that I could get the Mantis ship. I would never have purchased these things if I wasn't going for the unlock, because I gave up buying a weapon and an energy cell instead. I don't want to play on easy anymore, either, but when you play on normal you have to play to win, and that means making tough choices about upgrades. And if you want ships that means you need to sacrifice what it takes to beat the game.

One way to alleviate this is to add more options at stores. For instance, if every store had a weapons selection, augments selection, drones, and crew members to purchase, that way if you know you are about to come up on a Homeworld system, you could plan ahead for it. It still wouldn't be guaranteed that every store would have the crew type you wanted, since there would be only 3 to choose from, but it would be nice to know that at every store you could possibly purchase crew....

Having randomized stores is fine and it is something that makes the game challenging, but honestly, crew members are expensive and it's a commitment to purchase one. I don't think the game would lose its challenge by presenting the option a little more often.

[xdiesp]

Unlock them all via a savegame editor, if you really want to complete the game with each one. Sooner or later, you are going to complete their event anyway. Personally I unlocked everything myself, but that's because I had the time and like the game enough to be able and wait.