X3

[Falkirion]

Anyone got a starting point for me. I want to get into it but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around everything.

[Spike88]

Anyone got a starting point for me. I want to get into it but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around everything.
I started last Wednesday. Tried several different starts before settling on Humble Merchant. This is the easiest start as you start with 8,000K and two ships(although a lack of weapons).
I Spent a while trading and upgrading my M5 Scout, and Mercury. Although I have a tendency to take my scout out looking for a fight, which usually ends in my death. And a loss of profit. I'm currently waiting to get an M3 or m4 before I start actual combat.

If you decide to go merchant the first things you should do is get the following upgrades for your Mercury:
Duplex or Triplex Scanner
Full Rudder and Engine Tuning
50% of the cargo space upgrade(Arclight recommends 40-50%)
Best Buy(Let's you see what the best buying prices are in the current sector)
Best Sell(Like Best Buy but in reverse)
Trade Extension(Let's you see station prices without docking, believe you need it for Best buy/Best Sell to work)
Stick to the Argon Sectors around Argon Prime(Cloudbases, Power Circle, Herron Nebula, The Wall, The Hole)


Eventually buy Trade Software Mk2, which will allow you to tell your Mercury to find Best Buys/Best Sales. This allows you to do something else in another ship(Take on missions or explore). Make sure to turn on notifications in the Command console so you know when the ship is done buying/selling and it's not just sitting idle somewhere. Eventually you want to work your way up to MK3 trade software(which costs a whopping 500k, and it's wise to have atleast 100k afterwords to continue trading)

With Trade Software Mark 3, you can designate your ship to be a Sector Trader. It will get its own pilot and seek out Best Buys/Best Sells automatically. As the pilot trades he will automatically upgrade allowing him to trade in more sectors and eventually search the entire Universe for Profitsss.

Right now I'm letting my merchant rake in some money, and then I'll work on buying upgrades for my other two Mercury's and getting them on their own trade sections too.


Also keep an eye out for Cent signs, especially on ships and Shipyards. These have a tendency to be people selling their ships for cheap.
I picked up 1 Mercury trader for 16k, which I then sold for 63k. Picked up another two for about 45k and 47k Sold one for 79k and kept the other. Recently I just picked up my third for 112k. The default price for a Mercury is 189k so you can see the savings. I also picked up a Discoverer Hauler, a 59K ship for 8k. All it needed was some repairs with the repair beam. Usually when you buy them they have damaged hulls. But 5-10 minutes spent with your repair beam and they'll be good as new.

Also around the Humble Merchant start, there is an abandoned Toucan Hauler equipped with 3X25MJ shields, life support systems, and weapon(forget which). I had mine for a while, but due to it's small cargo holds I striped it(gave the shields to my trader) and sold it for 700k. If you want I can tell you the location(some people count it as cheating, I count it as using a guide to find hidden stuff. :haha:)

Anyways, if you have any questions you can ask me on steam or on here, I may not have the knowledge of Arclight, or Lionclaw, but I've taught myself over the last couple days, and I'm in the same boat as you.

[Crécy]

Which of those X3 games I ought to buy for best playing experience?

[NeonSamurai]

Might help if you mention which X3 game you mean Falkirion, reunion or the more recent one?

[Dowly]

Which of those X3 games I ought to buy for best playing experience?

X3:TC is better out of box, atleast so I've heard.

[Spike88]

Which of those X3 games I ought to buy for best playing experience?

X3:Gold.

And just because it's two games for one. Here's a run down of the prices in USD:
X3:Gold Retail 19.99
X3:TC Steam 19.99
X3:R Steam 9.99
X3:Gold Steam 24.99


The great thing about the Retail(although I bought Steam version) is that if you like using steam, you can open your steam library and click add a steam product. Insert the CD-key that came with your box and you now legally own the game on CD and the game via steam.


But when it comes down to playing the games. X3TC is the better game. Since release two trailers have been released just to showcase Patches.

[Falkirion]

I've got Gold. Its been daunting trying to get my head around how the game works. Which probably explains why its on the back burner at the moment since I'm playing AC:Brotherhood and WoW.

Still once I get a little more gaming time I want to try and get into X3, and enjoy it.

[TteFAboB]

The interface in X3:Reunion was abysmal. It took more time to issue commands and more headache to figure out how to do very simple things than you actually spent playing the game proper (and you needed to download command mods to have the most basic fleet control), and the whole thing was so cumbersome you wouldn't be able to issue commands in the heat of battle at all.

I read TC has improved the interface, but I wonder if it's indeed better and not just a cosmetic surgery with the same cumbersomeness underneath.

If only I could try a demo...

[Ducimus]

What exactly is this game about, and what is it like?

[Spike88]

What exactly is this game about, and what is it like?
It's an open world game where you go around trading and or taking place in combat. There is a main story to follow, but if you choose you can ignore it and pretty much do anything you want. Oh and it takes place in space.

I think the closest game I've played to it would be Eve.

[Spike88]

The interface in X3:Reunion was abysmal. It took more time to issue commands and more headache to figure out how to do very simple things than you actually spent playing the game proper (and you needed to download command mods to have the most basic fleet control), and the whole thing was so cumbersome you wouldn't be able to issue commands in the heat of battle at all.

I read TC has improved the interface, but I wonder if it's indeed better and not just a cosmetic surgery with the same cumbersomeness underneath.

If only I could try a demo...


I can record gameplay if you want. :hmmm:

[Ducimus]

Is it single or multi? It sounds fascinating.

[Arclight]

Strictly single player. And it is fascinating, though a huge timesink. :lol:

[NeonSamurai]

Ya you can do what ever you want in it, from set up massive factory loops, trading, fighting, piracy, whatever. You can own just about any ship you see in the game (well other than the capital ships from the 2 enemy races, which you can't capture unless you have certain scripts or that super mod).

Player made scripts add a whole lot to the game though.

Someday I will make the transition over to x3tc, but I am in no rush as I will have to recalculate all the ship's stats like I did for the first game (which took me a month to do last time).

[Spike88]

Speaking of Modding, It's possible to get ships such as Mass Effect's Normandy and different classes of Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Wing Commander, Battlestar Galactica, ETC on the X3TC forums.

[Spike88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0yxpQTxK-I Watch in HD for a brief video of X3.

[Dowly]

Speaking of Modding, It's possible to get ships such as Mass Effect's Normandy and different classes of Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Wing Commander, Battlestar Galactica, ETC on the X3TC forums.

There's a Babylon 5 mod for X3:TC
http://b5.hc-gamer.de/

Haven't tried it, tho.

[Rilder]

X3 and X3TC are definitely excellent games, though X3:TC's plots annoy me.

[Spike88]

There's a Babylon 5 mod for X3:TC
http://b5.hc-gamer.de/

Haven't tried it, tho.

There is also a battlestar galactica mod.

[ShadowWolf Kell]

Strictly single player. And it is fascinating, though a huge timesink. :lol:


This.

To really get the most out of X3 (Reunion or TC), you really need to install all of Lucike's scripts. They massively overhaul what you can do with your traders, stations, miners and so on. He also has a pretty nice script setup for managing a Carrier task force as well as logistics ships. It takes a bit to set up, but once it's in place things are a breeze to manage.

Another must have is the MARS turret script.

X3-TC borrows quite heavily from the X3-R Xtended Universe mod, which is currently in developement for X3-TC. A sub group of Xtended is also working on probably the most involved BSG mod outside of Disporia. In same ways, perhaps bigger since Disporia won't allow you to actually command big ships. X3 on the otherhand, that's where things really start to get interesting.

That said, there are quite a few mods that go hand in hand with forging your own empire through conquest.

http://forum.egosoft.com/index.php

That should get ya started on info and mods for any of the X series of games.

[Spike88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0yxpQTxK-I Watch in HD for a brief video of X3.



And yes, I do lag at certain parts.

[Drewcifer]

Strictly single player. And it is fascinating, though a huge timesink

Yes. The real world as you know it will be gone. As you take on your fictional persona in the universe of X3. Its really difficult to get into, as far as the learning curve is like running straight into a wall. For a first time play running through the terran defender start is a good place.. a few missions in and you have an m6 that will get you under way to whatever goals you see fit to set.

[Spike88]

Yes. The real world as you know it will be gone. As you take on your fictional persona in the universe of X3. Its really difficult to get into, as far as the learning curve is like running straight into a wall. For a first time play running through the terran defender start is a good place.. a few missions in and you have an m6 that will get you under way to whatever goals you see fit to set.

I found the Terran Defender start a bit tricky. Went straight into plot and died repeatably before giving up and going onto a different start.

[CaptainHaplo]

Definitely go with X3 Terran Conflict.

While Reunion was good, the interface was horrible compared to TC.

TC is amazingly stable - patch to 3.0 by all means!

There are slews of mods and scripts that do any number of things. Also "THE" major mod (XTC) for X3 will be out "SOON" tm. As a tester of that mod (I just started helping with the testing) I can't say more than that. However, it will be entirely a new experience for the X3 gamer.

While many people liked Reunion, mainly for its better "story", the whole idea of X3 is freedom - so in TC feel free to ignore the storyline if you like. Its a big universe - go have fun with it! Definitely check the X3 egosoft mod forum for all the tweaks you need (until XTC comes out that is!!!).

If anyone needs specific advice, feel free to ask. The game is truly one that you can lose yourself in. The learning curve can seem daunting, but if you look at it in steps - learn to fly, then explore, then fight, then build - you learn to THINK about your actions and their repercussions!

[Arclight]

And enjoy those messages in your log about Xenon Qs picking off your traders. Heck, even the frigates you sent out to protect said ships. :shifty:


Personally I'm just running it stock + bonus-scripts; don't think mods are really nescesary. Though XTC sounds pretty interesting. :hmmm:

[CaptainHaplo]

Arclight - if you got frustrated by the Q then XTC may indeed be your ticket.

There is ALOT more in XTC than I can share, but when it comes out it will be THE mod. Its huge, but well worth it. Sure, players will tweak it to suit their tastes (once finished testing and its out I KNOW I will!), but lemme tell you - the game is a totally new adventure with XTC. While I can't give details, it really provides a LOT of individual options built in. An expanded universe, more ships than you can shake a stick at, a universe that is truly tense, with race AI and "God" that has some common sense. Its truly going to redefine the game.

[Arclight]

Not frustrated, Q is just a rather powerfull frigate. Only other frigate that can mount PPC is the Boron Thresher, but that falls short in shielding. :-?

Lets see who's frustrated when my soon-to-be-acquired M2 shows up to repay the favour. :D

[CaptainHaplo]

hehehehe - well one of the biggest complaints of X3 in the later game was how OOS combat was handled. While there will always be complaints, it is much improved.

Also, unlike in stock, there are no "uber" ships. Everything is balanced out with new ships, weapons, etc.

Though honestly - if you want destruction on a sector wide scale in stock, the heck with an M2. Get an M7M and fully stock it with a mix of antifighter and capital class missiles. A few salvo's and there won't be anything left.......

[Arclight]

First M7M I get wil be used to launch boarding pods as well. Those pirates tooling around in an M1 are just asking to be boarded. :)

My missile production is non-existent atm though. I'll be damned if I'm going to buy all those missiles.


I'm guessing XTC will come with a ton of new factories too. Wonder how complex construction is handled.

[CaptainHaplo]

LOL I'd love to share details but I can't. It has been dealt with however, and is much improved. Also, from what I have seen, Gazz's complex creator *or compressor as I call it* does appear to work if you want to continue to use that. Note I say "appear" to work, as I have not tested it with XTC as yet, just seem to recall that being posted somewhere - so I could be wrong.

[Spike88]

LOL I'd love to share details but I can't. It has been dealt with however, and is much improved. Also, from what I have seen, Gazz's complex creator *or compressor as I call it* does appear to work if you want to continue to use that. Note I say "appear" to work, as I have not tested it with XTC as yet, just seem to recall that being posted somewhere - so I could be wrong.

Will XTC work with ship mods?

[CaptainHaplo]

Unknown - but doubtful. There are NUMEROUS new ships and weapons in XTC - and the weapons will be a sticking point for all the "add ship" mods that are there. However, if you look at how X-Tended for Reunion was recieved, and how the community is wanting XTC, you can expect the major mods and ships to get compliant real quick.

Honestly, this is going to blow the old experience of X3TC out of the water. Already I am astounded - not just graphically, but at the depth this game has compared to the original.

If you think how GWX made SH3 a better game, and it did, take that and consider a GWX that made SH3 look like SH4 running all the environment mods, had both atlantic and pacific areas, reworked the AI to something that seemed all too human, fixed almost all the bugs, stuck to "canon backstory", and then topped it with adding every ship, sub, weapon and combat equipment that realistically was used.

Literally, XTC will change the X3 game in the same manner. I fully expect a number of the modders will rush to get their tweaks into XTC compliance.

Seriously - the sheer level of "tweakability" that the mod itself gives is astounding - how they did it without the source code is a great feat.

One mod I do know works because I tested it personally - is the 500km comm mod. Had to take it out for regular testing - but thats one that once the mod is live I will be using. Can't be without it.

Mods like Improved Race Relations, Improved Military Response, etc - all are redundant. The AI has been totally upgraded significantly for all factions. The whole premise of the game makes every group act intelligently, both strategically and tactically.

Let me put it this way. If X3 sucked up your life, go ahead and plan on taking 2 weeks or more off work when its released. As for when that release date is - I can only say it truly is "SOONTM".

[Dowly]

Anyone tried the Babylon 5 mod? I seem to have some problems with it (well, I think I have problems). When I start a new game, no matter which start, there doesn't seem to be anything to do. I start in some Minbari sector, but there's no jumpgates nor stations there, only some asteroids. Reading some of the comments on moddb, people are actually playing this mod as it should.

Any idea if mod install might be different on the Steam version? I get the B5 splash screen and stuff, but otherwise I don't think it's working as it should. :hmmm:

PS. Oh and 1.1 alpha is what I have.

EDIT: Nvm, think the installer was corrupt.

[Dowly]

Is there a more comprehensive list of new stuff the Lucike's scripts add? The main thread is pretty vague. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

Jesus. I've been all over the Universe looking for CIGs.:stare:


Edit: I feel like an idiot. Could have just saved time and gone to the two forges in Red Light.

[Spike88]

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=162408 Just found this guide full of guides. Good use for newbs.

[Crécy]

Just found this guide full of guides. Good use for newbs.

A guide which is full of guides. :hmmm:

For newbies, sounds good. That site is most certainly for me then. Maybe I can start playing next year if my computer is fixed by then.

[Dowly]

Hmm... I have bit of an trouble with my CAGs. Yesterday, I built an L wheat farm to Menelaus' Frontier and tasked the freighter I was flying at the time to start selling the stock via CAG.

The stock hardly ever went below 5500 units, so today I bought an larger freighter and tasked it to CAG duty for the farm alongside with the earlier freighter. Same settings, stock constantly at ~7000 units, but the new freighter just idles there saying "CAG on standby..." while the earlier freighter keeps on trading. :doh:

Any ideas? :hmmm:

PS. Not a case of missing software AFAIK.

EDIT: Ah, nevermind, the new trader can't sell resources until he is promoted.

[Spike88]

Hmm... I have bit of an trouble with my CAGs. Yesterday, I built an L wheat farm to Menelaus' Frontier and tasked the freighter I was flying at the time to start selling the stock via CAG.

The stock hardly ever went below 5500 units, so today I bought an larger freighter and tasked it to CAG duty for the farm alongside with the earlier freighter. Same settings, stock constantly at ~7000 units, but the new freighter just idles there saying "CAG on standby..." while the earlier freighter keeps on trading. :doh:

Any ideas? :hmmm:

PS. Not a case of missing software AFAIK.

EDIT: Ah, nevermind, the new trader can't sell resources until he is promoted.



I had the same thing happen to me. Was bugging Arclight about it trying to find out why, so he told me to check all the settings. Finally he tells me they can sell at Level 1.




Last night I reached Omicron Lyrae from Argon Prime. Took me about an hour at 115m/s With some SETA thrown in. :dead: Would have used jumpdrive, but nothing in that area was charted.

[Dowly]

Last night I reached Omicron Lyrae from Argon Prime. Took me about an hour at 115m/s With some SETA thrown in. :dead: Would have used jumpdrive, but nothing in that area was charted.

I use a boron Octopus as my main ship until I can gather enough money to buy something big. Sucks at everything else than speed, 427m/s max speed and costs only 60k or so. Very nice ship to fly around with. :up:

BTW, how does Travel Drive differ from Jump Drive?

[Spike88]

I use a boron Octopus as my main ship until I can gather enough money to buy something big. Sucks at everything else than speed, 427m/s max speed and costs only 60k or so. Very nice ship to fly around with. :up:

BTW, how does Travel Drive differ from Jump Drive?



I have a M5 that I need to outfit with Navigator Software and send out to explore the known universe. But I didn't know where it(the software) was until After I made the voyage.


I'm unsure of what Travel Drive is/does. Haven't seen it in my game, and a wares search brought up zero results.

The jumpdrive costs about 110K, and then requires Energy cells for each jump. The farther the Jump the more energy required. After you have the requirements, you tell your ship to Jump via Navigation Menu in the Control Console. You'll be asked which sector you want to jump to, and then which gate you want to come out of. You can use it from anywhere in the sector. So for example you could be 1000KM away from the nearest gate. Once you have selected your destination the ship will come to a complete stop. You get a countdown, which sounds awesome, as the Jumpdrive "charges". You'll then see the little vortex thing you get when flying from sector to sector and instantly come out of the gate you had chosen.

It's far superior than normal flying for crossing large distances, but it does have the drawbacks that it requires Energy cells, it requires you to stop(which may be a problem if you're fleeing from something), and you need to have mapped out the Exit portal. Also, most gates in the Terran sector are "Trans-gates" so you can't select them as your destination. Save for the gate in Asteroid Belt, and another in Saturn.

[Arclight]

Don't need to stop to use jumpdrive. ;)

[Spike88]

Don't need to stop to use jumpdrive. ;)


My ship stops. :hmmm:

[Dowly]

@Spike88

Yes, I have played X3 before, so I am well aware of what Jump Drive does. ;) Travel Drive comes with the Lucike's script collection, hence you don't see it in your game. Very hard to find info about it. :shifty:

BTW, the Lucike's collection adds jump beacons, which AFAIK, allow you to jump right to them, instead of gates. :up: They are like satellites, have to buy then first from the JB factory.

[Spike88]

@Spike88

Yes, I have played X3 before, so I am well aware of what Jump Drive does. ;) Travel Drive comes with the Lucike's script collection, hence you don't see it in your game. Very hard to find info about it. :shifty:

BTW, the Lucike's collection adds jump beacons, which AFAIK, allow you to jump right to them, instead of gates. :up: They are like satellites, have to buy then first from the JB factory.


Just making sure. :O:
The only mod/script I'm looking at is this one:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=217470

Lets you recall drones. Although I'm not sure on whether or not I like the added features. *besides the drones*

[Dowly]

Aye, got MARS here too, not that I've have had to use it yet, but nice to have it there. ;)

Here's the linky to the Lucike's collection, compatible with MARS:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=271491

[Spike88]

Aye, got MARS here too, not that I've have had to use it yet, but nice to have it there. ;)

Here's the linky to the Lucike's collection, compatible with MARS:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=217470

You gave the link to MARS again. :O:

From what I understand, maybe you can correct me on this, but MARS changes all turrets to need only 1 gun?

[Dowly]

You gave the link to MARS again. :O:

I knew that! :O:

From what I understand, maybe you can correct me on this, but MARS changes all turrets to need only 1 gun?

I have no idea, read the manual. :DL It might be, (REALLY big might) that it chooses the best gun for each turret depending what it is shooting at from the guns you are carrying.

[Drewcifer]

I'm loving this X3 fever you guys got me starting up a game today... damnit there goes my freetime!

[Spike88]

I'm loving this X3 fever you guys got me starting up a game today... damnit there goes my freetime!

I would like to blame Arc. He is what drove me to buy it, and Dowly to restart playing it.

[Dowly]

Any advice on which factory to build next? Atm, I got L Wheat farm in Menelaus' Frontier with 1 CAG selling the stocks and a BoGas factory in Argon Prime again with 1 CAG selling the stock. Nice steady income, but think I need 3rd factory somewhere to boost my income.

Don't think I wanna go with hightech/weapons yet as I only got 3,2mil and part of it goes to buying a new freighter for the new factory.

Any secondary resource fabs to put into Paranid space? Could use a little boost with their rep.

[Raptor1]

Space Fuel Distillery, build it in the middle of Boron space for good measure too...

[Tarrasque]

Damn it. Now you guys have got me back into it!

Goodbye Life!

[Spike88]

http://tinyurl.com/mmupe9

Make another 300k and you could make that.

Or make medium stations and go for this
http://tinyurl.com/2e8e553

[Dowly]

http://tinyurl.com/mmupe9

Make another 300k and you could make that.

Or make medium stations and go for this
http://tinyurl.com/2e8e553

40k-100k an hour is not all that much given how much it all costs. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

40k-100k an hour is not all that much given how much it all costs. :hmmm:

That's about as much as any Food complex makes.


Bah. My effin M5 scout was destroyed before he could even get the Explorer software. After I finish this mission the pirates are going to have to deal with my M6.

[Dowly]

Hah, here's a funny story for you! So, I decided I'd make large rimes fab to Paranid space, so I hired a Argon Mammuth to ferry it there. Well, at somepoint I started to wonder where the heck is it as it should've been to the assigned sector already. Check my property list and it's not there... guess he found better things to do.. with my 1.9 million credits that is. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- :damn:

[Spike88]

Hah, here's a funny story for you! So, I decided I'd make large rimes fab to Paranid space, so I hired a Argon Mammuth to ferry it there. Well, at somepoint I started to wonder where the heck is it as it should've been to the assigned sector already. Check my property list and it's not there... guess he found better things to do.. with my 1.9 million credits that is. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- :damn:

:har:

Did you check your message log? Maybe he got destroyed.


The AI can be so fail sometimes. Just tried to dock with a terran Solar Planet L. My Nova Vanguard proceeds to fly into one of the Solar Panels. Bounces back with 25% shields left. Goes to try it again before I step in. I tell it to auto-dock again. And the bastard tries to fly into the solar panel again. :dead:

I finally manually dock it.

[Raptor1]

An Argon Mammoth? Would've expected this sort of dishonesty from a Boron, but an Argon...Hmm, I guess they're in cahoots anyway, you can't trust anyone from the Foundation Guild...

[Dowly]

Nah, nothing in message logs. Wouldn't be such a problem, but my last save is from like 4 hours a go. :damn:

[Raptor1]

Are you sure it's not still somewhere along the route?

[Spike88]

Nah, nothing in message logs. Wouldn't be such a problem, but my last save is from like 4 hours a go. :damn:

The one thing I've learned from X3 is save often. Even if stations are out of your way.

I used to take missions via comms without docking. Until I died several times in said missions. Learned my lesson.

[Dowly]

Are you sure it's not still somewhere along the route?

Aye, back-tracked back to Cloudbase South east from where I hired him and no sign and like I said, not showing in the property window either as it normally does.

[Spike88]

Was wondering why the aim thingy on enemy and friendly ships was flashing, did a search and I found out that Fight Command Software Mk1 or 2 adds auto-aim to the ships, and that I had turned said Auto-aim on. It definitely helps snuff out quicker ships.

Decided to put a little video up to demonstrate the difference between how I used to take out ships, and how I now take out ships.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5YA4HUvjis&hd=1

Would have demonstrated on an M5 but it was too busy chasing an Terran Civilian ship, and there was no way I could catch up. :haha:

[Arclight]

Hired ships don't show up for me either, but they shouldn't just cancal their job. Had one sit in a shipyard all night once, no complaints from him.


I'm proud to report Deimos makes minced meat out of any Q, and together with me piloting a Split M6 we took down a pirate M1. Just lost 1 25MJ shield on a fighter and only 2 of them took hull damage. :smug:

* right, as for factories, tech moves really well. Computer components and microchips will move without selling them yourself. Get resources cheap and it's good profitsss.

[Dowly]

* right, as for factories, tech moves really well. Computer components and microchips will move without selling them yourself. Get resources cheap and it's good profitsss.

Aye, tech has always sold well, just expensive to build. I'm quite pleased with my food fabs, was away for 2 hours or so and the 2 fabs I have had made just over 2 million (1mil/hour). And this with one CAG on each keeping the resources at 10% and selling once stock hits 30% and 100k limit on money transfer (might lower it to 50k as one trip makes 60k/90k for the fabs, so every trip would make some profit :hmmm:).

Next, it's time to try that idiot Mammoth again, if he would like to haul my L Rimes fab to Paranid Prime and start trading there. Think rimes go for pretty much same as BoGas ~490cr. max, so with same CAG setup I hope to start making 1.5mil+ an hour. :hmmm:

[Arclight]

Aye, that's how I started off too. Wheat farm in Argon sectors, making soy beans for Paranid and setting up BoFu production complex, maybe a spaceweed complex somewhere.

Usually isn't long before I get into weapon production though, to fit those shiny new ships with something more decent than a PAC. :)

[NeonSamurai]

In reunion I use to always do booze and weed fabs as semi closed loops (energy cells would be bought). Product just flew off the shelves.

I have to say though, man I wish X3TC had an XL factory mod that work with the current version.

[Arclight]

Yeah, would kinda like more efficient weapon fabs. Over 11 hours cycle for Ion Shard Railgun forge seems a little excessive. At least it produces 5 at once.

Set up 6 Teladianium foundries to supply the Hub; left it overnight (realtime) and it got something like 25k delivered of the 150k needed. I was just in time to recieve a report of my pilot comitting suicide (guess he rammed something). :lol:

Getting 450k ore together is going to be awesome...

[Drewcifer]

In my last life through TC I took the bankrupt assassin and went with the belief what I want I take..until I 'took' enough to start my own factories and fleets. This time with the talk of humble merchant start I joined in.. and I'm happy to say after starting yesterday morning and busting hump to gather ten freighters, I have ten sector traders, local between 2 and 3 jumps. I let them work all night and woke up to 65 mil in the bank. Now time for factories, and a 'humble' fleet with teeth.. no pun.. well maybe.

[CaptainHaplo]

Arclight - the hub missions stock are indeed ludicrous in the amounts. Might want to look into reducing those numbers - there are a few mods out there that do it.

[Arclight]

I'm a ludicrous kinda guy. Think I'll manage... someday. ;)

[Dowly]

Spike, how you find your Centaur? Can it actually kill something? :O:

I think I need a bigger bo-... ship. :hmmm:

[Arclight]

Centaur is the fly-swatter of choice imo. Just don't put it up against something more powerfull.

[Dowly]

Centaur is the fly-swatter of choice imo. Just don't put it up against something more powerfull.

Right.. think I buy it then.. if nothing else than to see M.A.R.S. in action. :hmmm:

[Arclight]

Right, should note that I'm a little biased towards PRGs. High speed, high rate of fire, low consumption. Great turret weapon to fend of fighters; a PAC or HEPT is never going to hit the faster ships. Some M5s can actually outfly the projectiles.

There's also the PBE, but that's powerhungry and lacks range. Nice in bigger ships that have the generators to power them though.


* oooh, asteroid with over 100 yield. Let's see; 50 units per minute, that's 3000 every hour, and that means... 150 hours untill the 450k needed. :hmm2:

Think I'll build a few more mines. :D

[Spike88]

Spike, how you find your Centaur? Can it actually kill something? :O:

I think I need a bigger bo-... ship. :hmmm:


I found it in Cloudbase Southeast for 16,000,000 :O:.

And I've killed a fair amount with it. In terms of M3-M5, my main bank of CIG's and IPG's can only really hit them if they're going slow, or they're coming straight ta me, or flying straight away. Although I have yet to see how well auto-aim works with them. On TS-TP it'll chew through them. Have yet to experience another M6.

4X200MJ shields mean so far my shields have only ever been dropped down to 90%.

I'd have to say I may be able to down an M7. Although I have yet to do so, just for fear that I may be wrong.

[Dowly]

Yeh, I saw you actually had the Heavy variant instead of the normal one which I got. Quite happy with it, even with 3x200Mj shields I don't have to worry about them dropping below 60-70%. Took out 2 Yaki TL's with fighters swarming around, had to implement some wwii fighter vs. bomber tactics but took them both out without any hull damage and the fighters after those. I like. :yep:

[Spike88]

Yeh, I saw you actually had the Heavy variant instead of the normal one which I got. Quite happy with it, even with 3x200Mj shields I don't have to worry about them dropping below 60-70%. Took out 2 Yaki TL's with fighters swarming around, had to implement some wwii fighter vs. bomber tactics but took them both out without any hull damage and the fighters after those. I like. :yep:


IMHO the Heavy looks better. Most Heavy M6's look better than their regular versions.

I think my fleet will have 2-3 HM6's 2 or 3 M7's, 1 M7M, 2 M8's, 1 M1 and 1 M2. Plus 2-3 squads of 5 M3s and M4s for the the carrier.

[Drewcifer]

Heavy Centaur is by far the prettiest and I used one as my flag ship for abit today... I also picked up a Skiron which had an extra slot for 200 MJ shields, with an 8 bay front battery.. In battle is seemed to out do the Heavy Centaur. However I think its ugly as sin. Right now I'm sitting nice and cozy in my Shrike M7.. and its lovely hangar of eight, but we were talking about M6's..:DL

[Dowly]

Ah, been eye balling the Skiron, might go with that next. Or the Heavy Centaur and have the Centaur I use now follow me around. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

Ah, been eye balling the Skiron, might go with that next. Or the Heavy Centaur and have the Centaur I use now follow me around. :hmmm:


While I'm partial to Argon design, and don't really care for Terran design, I'm eye-ing the Katana. And while it's slightly slower than the Skiron and has a slightly weaker hull, it does have more laser and shield power, and a bigger cargo hold.

On-top of that I love Poltergeist missiles. And it's half the price.

[Dowly]

It makes up the lower hull in 5x200Mj shields. Besides, if you lose all your shields then it means you've doing it wrong. :O:

[Spike88]

It makes up the lower hull in 5x200Mj shields. Besides, if you lose all your shields then it means you've doing it wrong. :O:

I would like to put Matter/anti-matter guns in the two side turrets so I can have them firing without draining my main battery. The only negative is that I need to buy the ammo.

[Drewcifer]

The Skiron is a beast plan and simple. If you pilot it or you have the AI do it, it really can make it thru some craptastic situations trust me.. even when I let the AI tool it around in dangerous sectors somehow it always comesback.. and I'm slightly partial because it turned around when the rest of the fleet jumped out to saftey and my flag ship was blown to pieces... good old trusty skiron crew was set to attack all enemies.. I sat in a puddle of my own urine and my space suit behind an astroid until good old skiron could limp over and pick me up and jump us home.

Its got luck, and alot of shields on its side.

[Dowly]

Am I right to assume that all the main races won't be too happy to see a Space Fuel fab sitting in their sector? :hmmm:

[Drewcifer]

Teladi don't care as long as you share the profitssss

[Spike88]

Am I right to assume that all the main races won't be too happy to see a Space Fuel fab sitting in their sector? :hmmm:

I don't think they'd care. There are Space fuel fabs in Herrons Nebula. Which my merchants can buy and trade without any penalties.

[Raptor1]

I'm pretty sure nobody would notice the distillery. The ships carrying the space fuel are another matter, though.

[Drewcifer]

If you personally pilot the ship and get scanned your boned though. And yes.. eventually officials WILL discover the illegal factory and it will be gone.. I put a fuel in three worlds and eventually ARGON officials scanned it.. a couple of m4 guards stared shooting it.. no biggie... then in comes Argon One to ruin my day and blew it out of the sky. Bottom line is I guess don't drink and fly? I think?

[Dowly]

Hmm... did some digging (yeh, should've done before asking I know I know :O:) and atleast in 2.5, the main races would attack the SF fab if it was in their sector. Including Teladi. :hmmm:

Guess I go with Space Weed Fab for now.

[Drewcifer]

Haha, Bliss Place, and Dream Farms... gotta love 'em

[CaptainHaplo]

Space Fuel has to go in Pirate or unclaimed sectors. Space Weed can go in Teladi space.

As for M6 class ships... pfft - I still love my Springblossom. Yea as you get deep in the game she lacks punch against anything larger than an M7, but between her speed, decent shielding, Starbursts in turrets for flak and 6 or 8 EM/AMs up front.... she is a dogfighters dream.

With the speed of a M5, firepower of an M6 and the maneuverability of a M3 - she is pure gold.

I strongly suggest that you look into the Marauders shipyard too....

At least until XTC is out that is :arrgh!:

[Drewcifer]

Dogfighting is fun, and I love to get my hands dirty, but I also don't mind when people just die while I drive around looking for a place to park my Shrike, its a tank. Honestly sometimes the turrets just kill Xenon or Pirates without me even putting down my property screen.

[Arclight]

I strongly suggest that you look into the Marauders shipyard too....
Marauder's shipyard? :06:

At least until XTC is out that is :arrgh!:
Put out or get out, you tease! :O:

[CaptainHaplo]

Marauder shipyard may be found here:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=223132

As for teasing... yes. Yes I am LOL. I can say it will be here "SOONtm".

The marauder allows you to overtune your ship - for a cost in both spaceweed and credits.

[Dowly]

Haplo, can you say if XTC adds common commodities to trade? Like water, contruction materials, luxuries etc. What about planetary trade? :hmmm:

Those 2 things are my gripes about X3, needs more goods to trade. :yep:

EDIT: NOOOOOOOO, I seem to have lost my Wheat CAG, he was the first CAG I had. :cry:

[CaptainHaplo]

Dowly, I again cannot give specifics - but I can tell you there are additions to the trade system, both in things that can be traded and factories you can own. I can tell you there is no planet trading at this point - some sectors have multiple planets remember. Doing planetary trade is something that I believe is beyond the engine ability unless someone figures a way the limits.

Also, its been made officially known on another public forum, so I can now state it here:

XTC is no longer beta - it is in Release Candidate stage. This shows I am not kidding when I say "SOONtm". Also - if your interested in seeing a bit more of XTC - check here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAQ7x8K6Yjg

Enjoy!

[Arclight]

Now that we're on about X3 anyway... why is it the community is opposed to multiplayer? I mean, I gathered as much reading over time, but the reasoning eludes me.

Doesn't have to be MMO, actually preferred not. But small scale, 16-32 players or something. Apart from a way to ally players, create guilds/corporations, nothing would have to be changed. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

Haplo, can you say if XTC adds common commodities to trade? Like water, contruction materials, luxuries etc. What about planetary trade? :hmmm:

Those 2 things are my gripes about X3, needs more goods to trade. :yep:

EDIT: NOOOOOOOO, I seem to have lost my Wheat CAG, he was the first CAG I had. :cry:

You can trade water in Terran territory.

[Arclight]

Well yeah, but it's not about water. Everything now falls into energy > bio&minerals > food > tech. Would be nice to have more varying goods. Maybe hauling engine parts, or scrap metal.

Always thought planetary trade could be handled as in the Terran sectors: orbital docks that recieve goods from the planets. All you need is a station/dock per planet, with a selection of goods apropriate for that planet. The thing would just function as a factory operating without resources.

[Dowly]

You can trade water in Terran territory.

Aye, but I'm talking about stuff that are there for just to trade. Like the Babylon 5 mod for example, there's even Swedish meatballs to trade.

X3's goods are only the stuff that is necessary for fabs to works.

[Dowly]

Doing planetary trade is something that I believe is beyond the engine ability unless someone figures a way the limits.Enjoy!

B5 mod has planetary trade, didn't try it for long enough to test it. But here's a way: Make a new station, call it planet X customs or something and thru there the trade with planet(s) on that sector would be made.

Frankly, I don't know much about the modding of X3, if that is even possible, but basicly it would be just another station.

[CaptainHaplo]

Dowly - ok I misunderstood you. I thought by planetary trade you would do land on the planet....

Also - regarding more trade items - no there are not "useless" trade items - just things you pick up and move - everything you can trade has a visible usage in the universe.

Arclight - the reason most are opposed to multi with X3 is because to do it right is impossible. If its not an MMO, there is no ability for lets say you, me and dowly all to have a universe in synch. Sure, you could do "short missions" where you teamed up, but the idea of X3 is that it truly is a time sink - hours and hours, day after day, while the universe moves. The only way to have that universe stay consistent is to have it remote somewhere, and thus, it becomes an MMO.

I guess it would be possible to have "saves" handle the universe in small group plays - but then who holds the data, what if one 5 people are playing and then one has to leave. So many issues for what really is a niche market to start, and a huge development risk on top.

The next "space" sim by egosoft will not be an X game I don't think - so who knows what they will do then.

[TteFAboB]

X3-Terran Conflict going for $9.99 on impulse for the weekend:
http://www.impulsedriven.com/x3tc

This is very, very tempting at this price...

Must... resist... assimilation...

[Drewcifer]

lol, one of the greatest games of all time. Just saying.

Oh and Captain I just checked out that youtube link to XTC... I officially can't wait..

[Spike88]

X3-Terran Conflict going for $9.99 on impulse for the weekend:
http://www.impulsedriven.com/x3tc

This is very, very tempting at this price...

Must... resist... assimilation...


Resistance is futile, Your life as it has been, is over.

[CaptainHaplo]

Drewcifer - ya I know. I am playing it and I can't wait LOL. There are some things still getting squashed, some glitches here and there. But then again, the wait is well worth it.

After all - the price is right!

Some of the "tweaks" and options and new stuff in this game are going to blow people's minds.

Since you watched the video - did anything stick out? Massive space battles, biological space opponents, etc? Which part interested you the most?

[Arclight]

Arclight - the reason most are opposed to multi with X3 is because to do it right is impossible. If its not an MMO, there is no ability for lets say you, me and dowly all to have a universe in synch. Sure, you could do "short missions" where you teamed up, but the idea of X3 is that it truly is a time sink - hours and hours, day after day, while the universe moves. The only way to have that universe stay consistent is to have it remote somewhere, and thus, it becomes an MMO.
MMO means "massive multiplayer online". 16-32 players is not massive, it's been done for over a decade.

I'm not saying Egosoft needs to host a ton of huge dedicated universes with hundreds of players on each. Just the option to run the game as it is on a dedicated machine, allowing a bunch of players to enter the same persistent world.


Come to think of it though, even by myself it's getting crowded. Sometimes you're just flying along and you notice 1 or more of your ships are there too, doing their thing. With a dozen players, you'd be bumping into player owned ships constantly. :hmmm:

At any rate, we'll see what TNBT™ brings. :)


* really loved the stations, but creatures flapping wings in space? Seriously?

[Tessa]

Now that I finally got my laptop replaced and the new one up and running I had totally lost touch with this MASSIVE timesink of a game. When my desktop died (motherboard died after 5 years of hearty work) my current laptop at the time couldn't really play it that well. Was looking for another game to install for the times when not in the mood for SH and then this thread pops up!

My last/current game I'd put in hundred's of hours into. Had finished completing the hub and had gotten my PHQ and was starting to build my own ships. Used a mod that allows you to repair/destroy jumpgates so connected the hub to the West Gate in Unholy Descent, and then between those two adjacent sectors and blew up the gate in Unholy Descent to effectively seal off my sectors from anyone but a few pirates that pop up around a pirate base ~ 200 km away from all my operations so they rarely if ever venture over towards my only 8 container factory (completely self sufficient, makes raw materials needed to make ships and for the weapon's forges). Was working on making M3's to actually fill up a carrier and take out something like a (rl) carrier group and wreak havoc through Paranid space.

When I was forced to abruptly stop playing had ~20 M2's, couple carriers and two missle frigates (those things rock but are massively expensive to arm, even if you make your own missles you have to burn at least 100 mil in factories to get decent enough production to use them. While there's dozen's of great mods, my favorite (terms of fun) was the Deathmatch Arena. Made my flagship an Osaka, and then overtuned it to the point where it was about as agile as a frigate. With its thin profile (and massively enhanced manueverability) was able to focus on piloting and let MARS do all the dirty work. Watching 24 PSP's broadside the Xenon shipyard and stations was devilishly fun.

[Dowly]

MMO means "massive multiplayer online". 16-32 players is not massive, it's been done for over a decade.

This. Freelancer anyone?

[Arclight]

....

Ha, nowhere near that yet. :lol:

Got all the Teladianium in and about 1/3 through the ore for the hub. Got a TL, M7 and M6 with some fighters aboard the M7. 56 factories with assigned freighters doing their thing, prolly about 1/4 of it is weapon production. 220 million in the bank, currently contemplating my first M2. :hmmm:

[Tessa]

Ha, nowhere near that yet. :lol:

Got all the Teladianium in and about 1/3 through the ore for the hub. Got a TL, M7 and M6 with some fighters aboard the M7. 56 factories with assigned freighters doing their thing, prolly about 1/4 of it is weapon production. 220 million in the bank, currently contemplating my first M2. :hmmm:

The last part with the microchips for the hub is sadistic. When I got to that point I seriously contemplated just leaving it with 2 gates working, totalled up it was astronimcal, was well over 1 billion worth of microchips that you have to feed into that thing at the end :-?

M2's should always be "requisitioned" by Marines. When TC came out boarding ships successfully was a lot easier than they've tweaked it now. On the Zeus and Odysseus there's a blind spot on the bottom where none of the turrets can hit you; since they both move at a crawl and can't turn at all they were perfect prey. Put 5, full 5 star marines into your Vidar, unleash the MAM on the underbelly until it cracks open, let your marines out and in a few minutes you have yourself a nice little addition to your fleet.

If I had to purchase one would probably go with the Osaka or Boreas; since they can both mount belt fed weapons you don't find yourself constantly being depleted of power in the middle of a Xenon patrol (which gets to be extremely lucrative when you get towards the top of the combat ranks).

[Arclight]

Think I'll get a M7M first, train some marines and go out chasing juicy targets.


So the hub get's worse than 150k Teladianium and 450k ore huh? Even the first batch of 500 microchips took forever. Think I'll go do some treasure hunt missions in the meantime... how do you start those anyway? :doh:

[Tessa]

Think I'll get a M7M first, train some marines and go out chasing juicy targets.


So the hub get's worse than 150k Teladianium and 450k ore huh? Even the first batch of 500 microchips took forever. Think I'll go do some treasure hunt missions in the meantime... how do you start those anyway? :doh:

You need to have Kings Knight race rank with the Boron and a mid level trading level. Then you have to hang around in Boron sectors until you get a distress call from a lost boron. Fly to the Xenon Core 23 which (prior to receivinig the call its just a Xenon sector with a shipyard and station in it) actually flies you into the hub itself and that starts everything. Unless you plan to trade for all the materials you're going to need a massive amount of factories to finish it.

If you aren't using it already, I recommend the Complex Cleaner Mod (personally couldn't live without it) so you don't have to worry about factory placement anymore, all factories get put into really massive containers; factories get combined (like if you have 4 xl solar plants it combines them in a single massive one that churns out 100,000+ cells per run) so you can make more using less time. Only drawback is you need all the raw materials in the complex before it starts producting (that particular factory), so you'll need 4x the amount of crystals to start the production run (basically you're running 4 factories in parallel). Nice thing is if you use the resource free mod and spend the extra $$ to remove some or all the resource requirements for the factory they still can combine as long as they are exactly the same. So for think its an extra 20 mil on a XL power station you can remove the crystals req and the factory just automatically starts producing until they max out their storage capacity.

The hub req's in list format is just plain demoralizing, some people have finished it in a day's time but built well over a hundred factories and heavy trading in order to do it so fast, otherwise it'll take at least a week or two of gametime. You'll need to pour into this monster:

400 Computer components
500 Microchips
150,000 Teladianium
450,000 Ore
500 Nividium
250,000 Crystals
400,000 Silicon
Finally then the most painful one of em all
75,000 Microchips

Using the boarding pods isn't as easy as simple shooting it over and waiting for the marines to ravage through the ship. They are easily shot down by the target ship as they have very little shielding. You need to use a technigue called missle tunneling where you sit about 10-20 km away from the ship and keep a steady stream of flail barage missiles hitting it until the shield starts getting close to 0% you fire the pods over. Slightly increase the rate of fire so when the pods hit the ship the shields are down and they get in easily. Its a hard techniqie to master, if I want a terran ship (and have no choice but to use a boarding pod) I'll fire 5 pods at the Tyr expecting at least 1 to get shot down before it hits the hull ensuring at least 15 marines make it onboard to seize the ship.

[Arclight]

Oh, I'm sure I'll manage. Was just wondering why I still haven't gotten the treasure hunt missions, despite exceeding all requirements. :hmmm:

* I was planning to burn away their weapons first tbh. Not gonna launch pods at a fully functional target, that's just silly.

[Tessa]

Oh, I'm sure I'll manage. Was just wondering why I still haven't gotten the treasure hunt missions, despite exceeding all requirements. :hmmm:

* I was planning to burn away their weapons first tbh. Not gonna launch pods at a fully functional target, that's just silly.

Treasure hunt one you'll get a random message thats in the form of an invitation if you would like to join. Cost to start is like 75K, first time I got the message was in the Oort Cloud in Terran space. From what I had read the treasure hunt is pretty difficult, they give you some really cryptic clues for some of the portions.

[CaptainHaplo]

Well, here is the officially released manual for XTC. Just know this wouldn't be being made public if things were not coming SOON!tm - so enjoy reading up on all the goodies that are coming your way for this game.

http://downloads.thexuniverse.us/XTC_Release/Manual/XTC_Manual_v1.0.zip

[Arclight]

Tease!

:O:

Thanks. :salute:

[Tarrasque]

coming SOON!tm

How soon approximately is soon? Is it start a new none XTC game soon, or wait a reasonably short time for the mod soon?

[CaptainHaplo]

Go ahead and start a new game if ya like....

I should warn you - XTC is installed "clean" - you clean everything out, install X3, patch it to 3.0, then install XTC. No keeping all your scripts and other packs. So enjoy what you have now while you have it. All I can say.

[CaptainHaplo]

Ok - now you can stop playing that boring ol game...

X3:XTC has been released!

Find it here:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=293490

Told ya it wouldn't be long. Original plans were to get it out yesterday but there were some installer problems from what I hear. MAKE SURE to rtfm - especially the bit about the difficulty levels and the AL plugins! If anyone has any questions, post in the forum or just hit me up directly! ENJOY!

[porphy]

Great news!

I have been waiting to dive into this game for some time now. XTC looks really impressive. :up:

cheers porphy

[Ilpalazzo]

neat looking mod. That might be just what I need to get back into x3tc.

[artao]

I wondered if I'd find an X-Verse discussion on Subsim. hee hee
I've only really gotten into X2: The Threat , as a friend gave me the discs many years ago. I never was able to play it, due to lack of a manual. Recently tho, I pulled it out again, and found the manual online, and WOW am I hooked now!!!
So much so, that over christmas I was talking to a brother-in-law about it rather enthusiastically. I mentioned the X-Superbox. He talked about Steam, and how he'd found the Superbox on sale therein. I've always been sketchy about Steam, but said that might tempt me to try it when I get home. He informed me it was a one-day-deal ...
Well imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail informing me my brother-in-law had sent me a gift of the Steam X-Superbox. Fricken AWESOME!!!
I've installed them all now (keeping my original X2 from the discs install), and tried each of them a bit. Very cool seeing the progression. Having invested as much time into X2 as I have, I'm gonna keep going with that one yet for awhile, but fully intend to play thru the whole series, at the least for the plot.
As far as X3: Reunion and X3: Terran Conflict (or the X-Tended mods) I can say that I will NOT be able to play X3: TC until I buy a new machine. And probably get bogged down pretty good in X3: R once I get a little ways into it.
Still, as I said, I'm completely hooked.
GREAT fricken game series. GREAT!!!

[CaptainHaplo]

artao - yes the X series is great. I actually skipped X3R - I have it now but can't play it due to the difference in interfaces from TC.

XTC still has some bugs - but they are being worked on. Something this large we couldnt get them all, and had a set internal release date we meant to keep. Still - its major improvements.

Emjoy the series - X3TC is the last of the X series - although egosoft did note they are making another space sim...... sooner or later.

[Spike88]

Anyone know of any Ishimura models, for X3:TC or even XTC? I'd love to get my hands on one.

[artao]

Well, with the immense replay value of the entire X-Series, not to mention all the available mods, I know I have literally DECADES of space-sim fun on my computer now.
I look forward to what Egosoft puts out next. I am impressed with them, rather, as a development company.
---perhaps a sub-sim? :hmmm: LOLz -- [joke] i know they won't -- -- intersting side note is how similar spaceships and submarines really are. :|\\
I do indeed intend to try the X-Tended mods (there's a version for both Reunion and Terran Conflict, no?) ... but not until I've played vanilla for a career or two. Certainly I'll archive them for future use.
:sunny:

[CaptainHaplo]

Yes the X3R mod made by the team is called Xtended. It adds a lot to the game from what I hear, but was not personally involved in that one.

[Falkirion]

Ah I've been having fun with TC over the past couple of days. So far I've amassed a fleet of 6 ships. 4 TS's and 2 fighters. An M5 and an M4. I've been dealing mostly in Spacefuel, E-cells and used ships who's owners may or may not have been coerced into parting with them.

[Falkirion]

Okay I'm giving in. Grabbing XTC now, going to start it tomorrow night if it all comes down while I kill the rest of tonight with Torchlight

[Drewcifer]

Any feedback on the Big mod out for this thing? XTC I think its called? Arc I know I heard you say you started it? Anybody?

Just curious what it does, alters, changes, makes better, worse, etc to the game.. I'm overdue for a new start. Considering the mod.

[Arclight]

Didn't get far into it, came just after I moved on. I tend to rotate games a lot, I'll get back to it eventually.

What it changes is pretty much everything. Whole new universe, but the familiar settting (same races, same ships though more, etc). I'd give it a try, feels like a whole new game.

[Arclight]

Fans of the X series? Awake from your comas – the series is back with the freshly announced X: Rebirth. There’s four images, too. And a trailer!
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/04/20/born-again-x-rebirth-announced/

[Raptor1]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/04/20/born-again-x-rebirth-announced/

Awesome. Though according to the trailer it sounds less like a true reboot and more like an indirect sequel.

I would love to see the X series go to some of the background events, like the Boron Campaign. If done correctly it could present a very nice change.

(Failed to spot this thread being back until now, so I moved this from the news thread)

[Arclight]

Not sure what to call it either. They concluded the story in Terran Conflict, so if they want to call it a reboot that's fine with me. All I care about is that one of the most respectable (imho) developers is continuing a solid franchise, which is something I'm rather happy about. :sunny:

[Dowly]

- Cockpits (Small cramped ones for fighters, larger more open ones for bigger ships)
- Planetary trade (why trade with space stations when there's planets with, no doubt, larger quantities of goods just below?)
- Multiplayer (While I love these kinds of space games, they still all feel the same to me if there's no MP. Usually don't care about the story and just want to do what I want, hence MP would be very welcome.)

That'd be my wishlist.

[Arclight]

I'd add shifting borders to that. Perhaps get some politics in there, racial tensions, small skirmishes to possibly all-out war.

Perhaps make it so the AI doesn't invade core sectors, but make it possible for border regions to change ownership. Make a huge player-build fleet have a purpose beyond cleaning out a Xenon sector and calling it home: actually show the region as owned by whoever maintains a military presence there. Would love to claim my own sector.

(I know mods make a lot of that possible already, if not all of it. Would just like to see it out of the box, not a fan of modding. Just ends up with waiting for updates and troubleshooting mod-soup half the time)

[AVGWarhawk]

Ok, been toying with the idea to get the superbox of X3. I see many reviews and it is about 50/50 for and against being a good space sim. What is your review of the game?

[Arclight]

It's... good. Why the hesitation?

Well, the interface isn't too friendly for one. If you try to navigate it with a mouse it won't be long before you start to notice strain in your wrist, at least I do. Just too much. It is however fairly friendly for use with a keyboard. Lot's of shortcuts, but obviously it takes a while to learn. Once you do, it's pretty darn speedy, though still a bit cumbersome.

Once your empire grows, managing it becomes a full time task unless you automate it. If you get it, be sure to download the bonus package, which contains a few extra scripts for the AI that are absolutely vital to management. So what's the problem then? Setting the thing up. Lot's of menus to navigate. At least you only have to do it once, perhaps adjust orders occasionally, instead of providing orders constantly to ships.

Another complaint leveled against it is that planets are just part of the background, essentially. You get a warning when you fly too close (where possible, depends on sector) and the ship will be destroyed if you venture closer, but that's it. Some older games allowed seamless transition and landing on a planet. In practical terms it doesn't make much difference though. A planet is just another place to dock, and X3 has no shortage of stations to dock at.

The physics are kinda wonky, as in, there are none. Cut the engine and the craft stops, rather than coasting along. Does make combat and control a lot simpler, but it's not really how it works. The game does a clever bit to get around it though: if you roll a ship (thinking of the Explorer here) you see a thruster fire to roll it. When you release the button, another thruster fires to cancel out the roll. So basically, the game assumes that every ship has a system to counter uncommanded movement. The problem is just that you can't turn that system off. Minor niggle though, it's not like you have to worry about fuel, so there's really no point in coasting.

Last complaint I can think of is that it takes forever to really build big. Ships, weapons, equipment and stations are expensive, though admittedly you rake in big money from missions in the late game and stations you built (and automated ships doing trading for you) can earn you cash. I wouldn't really object to it taking some time if it all wasn't just rather pointless. You can finish the main plot without much of a fleet at all, though you'll need a handful of different ships to take on all mission types. There's a few side-plots you can follow through, which may require a more robust fleet. There's one sort of uber-plot where you try to get a hub up and running. The amount of resources is ridiculous, but it does have nice options once finished that you don't have access to otherwise (iirc reverse-engineering and building ships).


-It's a big space, something like 150 sectors to explore iirc. All of them unique, with a little back-story you can read on the map and plenty of liveliness.
-You're completely free to do as and go where you please.
-You can build a fleet ranging from small scouts to giant freighters that can haul several stations, with plenty of ships to choose from (each race has their own design-philosophy, though you can find some odd-balls).
-You can build an empire by building stations. Stations can be combined into complexes so resources produced by one flow to the other to be further refined.
-You can have dozens of freighters flying about this large universe doing automated tasks to keep it all going (is nice to fly around and run into them going bout their jobs, feels pretty good).
-Working economy. Stations low on resources pay good money for them, and a large stockpile of products means they sell low.
-There's tons of constantly generated missions available of several different types, so you'll never run out of something to do (though it becomes a bit repetitive after a while).
-You can take up life as a trader, mercenary, smuggler, miner or maybe buy one of those huge freighters and build stations for people.
-Exploring is rewarded. For example, pirate stations are cloaked and can be hard to find. Asteroids need to be scanned to determine yield for mining. And you can find abandoned ships drifting around here and there, for you to claim.
-Lot of mods, pretty open to modding (scripting in particular).

:hmmm: can't think of anything else at the moment.

Guess it comes down to finding your own motivation in the long run. If you just want to build a big fleet and go rampaging through a Xenon sector, you'll be happy. But it's not something thats is required, so for a large part you'll just have to... well, play the game as you want, instead of expecting it to tell you what to do or set objectives for you.

If you're interested in the genre, I don't think the problems are enough to take away your enjoyment of the game. Also, the game came a loooooooooooooong way since release, think they're still releasing patches. Problems? Yes, but it's really rather good.

[AVGWarhawk]

Graphics look excellent and game play looks to be interesting. I'm not worried about learning interface/keys etc. The Superbox edition would be the way to go?

[kiwi_2005]

Bought a new Joystick - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, I needed it as the MS sidewinder precision pro ive been using for the last 10yrs or more & still works perfectly but would not run with Windows 7 because it has a pin connection. One of the best joysticks ever made imo. So I ordered X3 Reunion today to try out my fancy js I haven't done any proper research on the game Ive played X2 The threat and always wanted to try out X3. There is X3 Reunion then Terran Conflict and Albion Prelude is the latest right.

I am hoping the new copy I bought will already be updated to the latest patch. I'm guessing the latest patch is 2.5? according to what Ive read on a review site here that was dated Oct 2011.


The copy protection system used is Star-Force, which will not install on Vista / windows 7 correctly. But cause your computer to crash and not restart properly. (a auto windows repair program to run)

This can be avoided by doing the following***8230;
(from egosoft forum)

With the release of patches 2.x, X³ no longer requires the physical media nor Starforce in order to run.

If you wish to install X3 without installing Starforce, the procedure is as follows:

Install X3 1.3 from the CDs/DvD. Do not run the game!!!!!

Apply the 1.0 ? 2.5 patch. Run the game.

This will prevent Starforce from installing unnecessarily, as it does not install until you run the game for the first time.Oh X3 has no cockpit?...

[Drewcifer]

Correct no cockpit, however there is a mod that adds them.

Also the new X, X rebirth will have a cockpit as well as interior of the player ship.

[Takeda Shingen]

Bought my copy on Steam. No Starforce.

[kiwi_2005]

Correct no cockpit, however there is a mod that adds them.

Also the new X, X rebirth will have a cockpit as well as interior of the player ship.

X rebirth sounds good. I thought I would get X3 first then play the others if I get that far as I know how long these games can take, I like how we can either choose trade or combat with x3. X2 it was pretty much trading or play out the plot.

[CaptainHaplo]

X3TC (X3 Terran Conflict/Albion Prelude) is up to patch 3.2 - definitely worth getting to that point. Yes - all copy protection went out the window with I think 2.1 and nice to see it happen.

There are a HUGE number of "mods" for the game - everything to adding better equipment to the universe, small mods that affect little nuances of gameplay - to huge reworks of the galaxy - see my sig for an example. (XTC!!!)

Many mods are compatible - I actually run with about 15 total at once.

I can't speak as much to X3: Reunion. I started out playing TC - and the interface is a leap backwards going to X3:R

If you want a recommendation from a really avid X3 player - I would say it depends on your goal. Both games are good - but Reunion is more story driven than TC. TC also has a better interface, more of an open field to play in, and more community support. R on the other hand has a more personal storyline and is more mature - mod wise. But thats like comparing mods from SH3 and SH4 - both have been around for a long, long time......

Personally I favor TC, as I said. But if you like a sandbox in space - you can't go wrong with X.....

*If you do go with Reunion - definitely check out the X-tended mod!*

[kiwi_2005]

X3TC (X3 Terran Conflict/Albion Prelude) is up to patch 3.2 - definitely worth getting to that point. Yes - all copy protection went out the window with I think 2.1 and nice to see it happen.

There are a HUGE number of "mods" for the game - everything to adding better equipment to the universe, small mods that affect little nuances of gameplay - to huge reworks of the galaxy - see my sig for an example. (XTC!!!)

Many mods are compatible - I actually run with about 15 total at once.

I can't speak as much to X3: Reunion. I started out playing TC - and the interface is a leap backwards going to X3:R

If you want a recommendation from a really avid X3 player - I would say it depends on your goal. Both games are good - but Reunion is more story driven than TC. TC also has a better interface, more of an open field to play in, and more community support. R on the other hand has a more personal storyline and is more mature - mod wise. But thats like comparing mods from SH3 and SH4 - both have been around for a long, long time......

Personally I favor TC, as I said. But if you like a sandbox in space - you can't go wrong with X.....

*If you do go with Reunion - definitely check out the X-tended mod!*

Ok. Yep I will try out X3 first as I wanted to play this game when it came out but the pc I own at the time wasn't powerful enough. Then I will move on to TC and Albion. I'll check out the mods tonight still waiting for the game should arrive tomorrow hopefully. :salute:

[kiwi_2005]

Received game today, comes with the bonus content package- cockpit mod included so I expect this game is updated to the latest patch with no Starforce as well. Installing now. :rock::rock:

[kiwi_2005]

Can't for the life of me find where to change my character name so I can enable the script editor ingame. I know about Thereshallbewings to enable but Ive looked everywhere in the menus and the one my right, yet can't find the char name change option. I only see the option to change the ship name. :damn:

Edit: nvm found it