What Video Games have you been playing II: Have you finished that backlog?

[Commodore]

Not really. One weak point is that the races are basically locked in an unalterable and static struggle. If you support race X, who are at war with race Y, you need to deal with the fact that race X border sectors are subject to incursion by race Y invasion fleets, which will occasionally come in and raze the sector to the ground before a defense fleet arrive...including your stuff if you are their enemy. You can just avoid building much in those sectors, or provide adequate defenses, or maintain good enough relations with the enemy that they leave your stuff alone while razing everything that belongs to your hosts. The races in conflict don't do 'occupation' at all, so eventually the razed sector will be redeveloped by the owners, only to eventually be razed again.

Manipulation isn't available, but profiteering certainly is. Watching two enemy fleets pound each other to dust while you scoop up salvage since you are friends with both is a good pass time...though capital ships carry weapons that can inflict significant collateral damage so a degree of caution is required.

Oh, hey, I forgot. There's also two sociopathic alien races that are in a constant state of war with everyone, including you. If you build in some race's core space you are reasonably safe from them because the races defend their core sectors (mostly) adequately, but the pirates aren't really organized enough to defend their space against these guys so if you build there you have to deal with them yourself. Among long term players the development of automated fleet strategies for occupation of enemy sectors (where enemies will spontaneously and endlessly spawn) is a goal.

Cool. I can live without the manipulation part, it was just an added bonus I hoped would be possible, but I am definitely getting this game. It sounds like something that is right up my alley.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Cool. I can live without the manipulation part, it was just an added bonus I hoped would be possible, but I am definitely getting this game. It sounds like something that is right up my alley.

See you in a couple years.

Or maybe on the Egosoft X universe forum. The learning curve for X3 is frequently described as 'the cliff that keeps on giving', so feel free to seek advice.

 

[Zack]

I've become a little obsessed with The Binding of Isaac. Also started playing Spelunky, but I am straight-up awful at it.

 

[Commodore]

Started playing X3 yesterday. Oh. My. God. The game is very overwhelming, especially since there is no tutorial (unless that is supposed to be the purpose of the story missions). I started a custom game and was getting myself acclimated to the controls when I accidentally fired at a very large warship. I was promptly destroyed.

I have decided to take the RPG approach to this game and do as little manual piloting as I can possibly get away with. I then spent the next several hours in the system I started in docking with the various stations and just figuring out exactly how this all works and how to get myself started on the path to galactic domination (yeah, I'm going to be a warlord). Overall, I see what people mean when they say this game has an extremely steep learning curve, but it seems the developers found a way to make it fun because I am having a blast just trying to figure everything out.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Started playing X3 yesterday. Oh. My. God. The game is very overwhelming, especially since there is no tutorial (unless that is supposed to be the purpose of the story missions). I started a custom game and was getting myself acclimated to the controls when I accidentally fired at a very large warship. I was promptly destroyed.

I have decided to take the RPG approach to this game and do as little manual piloting as I can possibly get away with. I then spent the next several hours in the system I started in docking with the various stations and just figuring out exactly how this all works and how to get myself started on the path to galactic domination (yeah, I'm going to be a warlord). Overall, I see what people mean when they say this game has an extremely steep learning curve, but it seems the developers found a way to make it fun because I am having a blast just trying to figure everything out.

The learning curve that many people complain about is why I have more time in that game than any other. I am still working out new ways to make the automated trading systems interact more reliably and/or profitably, occasionally successfully...eight(?) years later.

I do remember some sort of "tutorial" though. It dumped me in a fully equipped heavy fighter with no explanation of how to fly it right into the middle of a giant fleet on fleet furball in which I didn't know how to tell friend from foe. Eventually I figured out the learning curve for trying to survive the tutorial was worse than for the game itself.

 

[azzaman333]

Omega Ruby I love you.

 

[Phrossack]

Just installed the "Republic at War" mod for Star Wars: Empire at War, set during the Clone Wars. I've seen my friend play it, and I can say it seems at least as professional as the original, if not more so.

 

[caketastydelish]

Thanks for that, I didn't even know that mod existed and after looking it up it looks awesome.

 

[Phrossack]

Thanks for that, I didn't even know that mod existed and after looking it up it looks awesome.

Oh, it is! I just lost a lot of sleep playing it, but it was worth it. They even got the voiceovers from Republic Commando and the Clone Wars series (the most recent one). It's practically an unofficial expansion pack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Commodore]

The learning curve that many people complain about is why I have more time in that game than any other. I am still working out new ways to make the automated trading systems interact more reliably and/or profitably, occasionally successfully...eight(?) years later.

I do remember some sort of "tutorial" though. It dumped me in a fully equipped heavy fighter with no explanation of how to fly it right into the middle of a giant fleet on fleet furball in which I didn't know how to tell friend from foe. Eventually I figured out the learning curve for trying to survive the tutorial was worse than for the game itself.

So far I have just been selecting "Custom Game" and going from there. Of course now I realize "Custom Game" is really X3's way of saying "you will start as the equivalent of a homeless guy collecting cans for recycling, now go build an empire." I know it's going to take a long time to do that, but I imagine it will be immensely satisfying once I finally dominate the galaxy knowing that I started from such humble beginnings.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

So far I have just been selecting "Custom Game" and going from there. Of course now I realize "Custom Game" is really X3's way of saying "you will start as the equivalent of a homeless guy collecting cans for recycling, now go build an empire." I know it's going to take a long time to do that, but I imagine it will be immensely satisfying once I finally dominate the galaxy knowing that I started from such humble beginnings.

Ummmm....

Custom game is actually X3's way of saying 'all the plots are disabled'. Another point where some sort of explanation might have been handy.

For a 'homeless guy' start...let's see...trying to remember which starts don't have to be unlocked...anonymous Argon? I go with 'nostalgic Argon' usually, but it isn't available straight out the gate. I think the absolute least available asset start is probably 'Boring Boron' though, and I think it is unlocked.

Which game are you playing BTW? Reunion, TC, or AP?

 

[Arakhor]

I actually own Terran Conflict but I couldn't get past the first ten minutes of the tutorial, so I figured if I was that much of a failure, the real game would be much harder!

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I actually own Terran Conflict but I couldn't get past the first ten minutes of the tutorial, so I figured if I was that much of a failure, the real game would be much harder!

Yeah. Egosoft doesn't quite understand the concept of 'tutorial'.

The game dumps you in a ship with no guidance on how to fly it, but you are sitting in a reasonably peaceful place and can muck about trying to figure it out. The tutorial dumps you in a ship with no more idea how to fly it, but in the middle of a war zone. Reeeeally helpful guys. Thanks.

 

[PhroX]

While I've played a fair bit of X3:TC and thoroughly enjoyed it, my defining memory came from when I first started. Without really knowing what I was doing, I picked a "trader" type start - I forget the name - which started me off with an unarmed freighter. As a new player, I logically started off by trying the tutorial missions....which involved me having to shoot things. Yeah....

 

[Timsup2nothin]

While I've played a fair bit of X3:TC and thoroughly enjoyed it, my defining memory came from when I first started. Without really knowing what I was doing, I picked a "trader" type start - I forget the name - which started me off with an unarmed freighter. As a new player, I logically started off by trying the tutorial missions....which involved me having to shoot things. Yeah....

Those who give missions in X3 really need help.

"I need a ride to that far away place, and I need to be there in this incredibly short time."
"Dude, I'm flying a freighter. It can't even turn around in that amount of time, much less get anywhere."

"I need protection. Pirates are coming to destroy my station!"
"I'm flying an unarmed scout ship here. Thanks for the warning. I'll leave now."

"My production is stopped! I need energy cells immediately! Forty thousand or so!"
"I'm flying a fighter. I can carry forty. Will that help?"

 

[caketastydelish]

Oh, it is! I just lost a lot of sleep playing it, but it was worth it. They even got the voiceovers from Republic Commando and the Clone Wars series (the most recent one). It's practically an unofficial expansion pack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just got done finished installing it and already within the first few minutes, here is my impression:

If the people that made this mod don't already have legitimate jobs (meaning they actually get paid) making mods then they obviously deserve it. They put a truly professional touch on this.

 

[Commodore]

Ummmm....

Custom game is actually X3's way of saying 'all the plots are disabled'. Another point where some sort of explanation might have been handy.

For a 'homeless guy' start...let's see...trying to remember which starts don't have to be unlocked...anonymous Argon? I go with 'nostalgic Argon' usually, but it isn't available straight out the gate. I think the absolute least available asset start is probably 'Boring Boron' though, and I think it is unlocked.

Which game are you playing BTW? Reunion, TC, or AP?

Reunion. I just click Custom Game and it sticks me in the Argon Prime sector with an Argon Buster and 1,000 credits. Not really much to start on since the Buster has sub-par weapons and pretty low cargo capacity.

I have been scraping by so far though by running illegal Space Fuel between a distillery and a free trading station in the same sector (Herron Nebula I think). I did have a bit of a setback though when I had to dump my cargo when I got scanned by the law enforcement in the area.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Reunion. I just click Custom Game and it sticks me in the Argon Prime sector with an Argon Buster and 1,000 credits. Not really much to start on since the Buster has sub-par weapons and pretty low cargo capacity.

I have been scraping by so far though by running illegal Space Fuel between a distillery and a free trading station in the same sector (Herron Nebula I think). I did have a bit of a setback though when I had to dump my cargo when I got scanned by the law enforcement in the area.

Yeah...that's the 'plot turned off' start.

I suggest one of the regular starts. They will put you in the same buster with some amount of credits as determined by hard medium or easy. If you follow the plot missions you will get a kind of general introduction to things through the course of a mildly interesting story and then get turned loose on your own. That 'general introduction' takes the form of 'lead this patrol from here to there', which is assigned when (if you hadn't already played) you don't have a clue how to even fly your ship and a number of other assignments that don't give you any clue how to do them, but will guide you in the direction of good things to figure out that otherwise you might not even realize can be done.

 

[bhsup]

Silly question, I know, but have you guys read the X3 manual?

 

[Commodore]

Silly question, I know, but have you guys read the X3 manual?

Bah! Manuals are for sissyboys! Real men charge headlong into a game with no knowledge of how to play and then complain about the lack of a proper tutorial.

Seriously though, I thought about reading the manual, but decided against it because I am actually getting a ton of enjoyment out of figuring things out.