Tough, dependable and not overly expensive, Venture-class cruisers are usually constructed by private corporations for escort duty or by small non-aligned worlds for system defense.
The Venture-class ships are perhaps the most widely used civilian cruisers in the Sector. The blueprints for the Venture are widely available and can often be secured without too much trouble.
When used by small corporations, the ship is usually the pride of the fleet and is used to underpin vital operations. Due to its ubiquity, the vessel also serves with quite a few pirate outfits, where it sometimes fills the role of command ship.
The Venture is a cruiser with carrier capability. It has strong armor and a relatively low logistics footprint, while its speed, firepower and shields are modest.
A Venture can be an excellent early game choice for exploration & survey missions. Taking a Venture inside the core worlds is often a deathtrap due to the Civilian-grade Hull-enlarged sensor profile but out in the wilds that frequently doesn't matter and the cruiser level Surveying bonus can make a big difference. The Venture is often seen as having many compromises compared to other ships however a meagre 15 supplies per month is an exceptional bargain for what you do get.
A Venture's combat ability should never be underestimated as the combination of many missile mounts and Fast Missile Racks can potentially kill many ships outright. Many players also underestimate its durability, with hull and armor almost to the level of a Dominator.
