I see this little starship simulator is being released on 9/14. Did anyone here get in on the beta? Thoughts?
http://store.steampowered.com/app/212680/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/212680/)
I'm waiting for Friday for that game, too. The videos I've seen of it being played have me ready to drop my $10.
I see SoM already has it (probably through Kickstarter), maybe he can share a cent or two.
For $10, I might give it a shot (even if it is a RTS). Looks like the GOG version might be the best bang for the buck [depending on what comes out of this: "You will also receive a few bonus items – 5 songs from the soundtrack, a mini-artbook, some wallpapers & avatars, and maybe more (if i have time)"]....
http://www.ftlgame.com/?p=378
The release of FTL is only a few days away and we wanted to clarify the ways in which you can purchase it:
■ Steam! It will cost $9.99 USD and will get you both Windows and Mac versions.
■It will have the standard Steam conversions of £6.99 / €9.99 / 249 rubles / $7.99 in CIS territories.
■GOG.com! It will cost $9.99 USD for every region and will get you a Windows DRM-free build (need to triple check the region issue).
■You will also receive a few bonus items – 5 songs from the soundtrack, a mini-artbook, some wallpapers & avatars, and maybe more (if i have time).
■Our Website!! It will cost $9.99 USD for every region and will get you DRM-free builds for Windows, Mac and Linux.
■You will also receive a Steam key.
^Eh. That extra crap offered on GoG is just that...crap. Every game comes with that stuff and I don't think I've ever used any of it. The best way to order seems to be from the dev's website. You get a DRM free version AND a steam key.
^sure, but its the "maybe more" I'll be waiting to see...
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on September 12, 2012, 04:56:32 PM
^Eh. That extra crap offered on GoG is just that...crap. Every game comes with that stuff and I don't think I've ever used any of it. The best way to order seems to be from the dev's website. You get a DRM free version AND a steam key.
Agreed. I was kind of "meh" on this because I didn't like the art style. Then I watched a couple of "Let's Play" videos, and now I can't wait for Friday. There is supposed to be a demo released about that time as well.
Quote from: Tpek on September 12, 2012, 04:30:59 PM
I see SoM already has it (probably through Kickstarter), maybe he can share a cent or two.
Yeah, I was part of the Kickstarter. The game plays a little like a Rogue-like, a little like a Choose-your-own adventure and a little like Kings of Dragon Pass. But there are real time pausable battles (although not RTS style battles - it is hard to describe). A but like the Smuggler series but with more variety.
I found the game really fun for a quick diversion, but it doesn't have a lot of staying power due to a distinct lack of mission and encounter variety. I haven't played in a while, so I would be interested in seeing how the beta progressed toward a finished version.
For the price, I think it is worth it, but everyone should be warned that there isn't a ton of depth here. You do get to spend credits on new items, weapons, drones, and stuff like that and you "level up" parts of you ship to get better shielding, more weapon power (to power multiple weapon banks), faster speed, and other things. It is the type of game you expect to lose and are happy when you survive. All in all, the package is a fun one, but more of a 30 minute lunch break game than something you play an entire evening.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on September 12, 2012, 04:56:32 PM
^Eh. That extra crap offered on GoG is just that...crap. Every game comes with that stuff and I don't think I've ever used any of it. The best way to order seems to be from the dev's website. You get a DRM free version AND a steam key.
Looks to be the best route, indeed.
I suppose the dev's own DRM-free version will likely be the quickest to receive updates (and notably any 'beta' updates). Nothing against GOG, and I'm still somewhat considering it just because of their DRM-free policy. ;)
Actually I like the art. Retro-ish with hints of Japanese Anime.
Would love to have a WW2 version of this. Your crew manning a ship or the B-17.
Quote from: jomni on September 13, 2012, 08:28:44 PM
Would love to have a WW2 version of this.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatefans.net%2Fgateforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D4965%26amp%3Bd%3D1330495142&hash=c0602cd3f1272a5530119c99fe9adb1aaed40753)
hehehe. The game just reminded me of B-17 Queen of the Skies boardgame.
There's a VASSAL mod for B-17QotS out.
Quote from: Staggerwing on September 14, 2012, 05:42:42 AM
There's a VASSAL mod for B-17QotS out.
I would love to see somebody take AH's concept and put it into a computer game...oh wait...they did... Microprose B-17 also on GOG.... Maybe I'll fire it up this weekend.
FTL on sale now on their web site for $9 USD... $8.93 CDN. 8)
I got a copy from GoG.
Already played the tutorial and a single game, unlocking the Engi ship (starts with a drone and an Ion weapon).
Also, unlocked an achivement (not using drones :P)
What! I played 3 games and lost and you already unlocked a ship?
Quote from: Staggerwing on September 14, 2012, 05:42:42 AM
There's a VASSAL mod for B-17QotS out.
I already played that to death. Things get repetitive and it all boils down to luck. Just like FTL.
Quote from: jomni on September 14, 2012, 09:36:24 AM
What! I played 3 games and lost and you already unlocked a ship?
I got 2 achievements, one for not using drones, and another for reaching the 5th sector. These I guess unlocked the new ship :)
Damn yous!
Another roguelike to purchase. >:(
I played a couple of quick games. Had horrible, horrible luck...hence the quick part. Nothing like a pirate craft crippling your engines when you're too close to an unstable star. Every time a solar flare goes up, another piece of your ship starts on fire. And you can't leave fast enough. And the fire takes over. And you run out of air.
Oh, teleporting bombs are an awesome weapon. ;D Unless the other ship has them. >:(
Definitely had some widely varying luck in the first area over a couple plays.
The game's great, but I can see SoM's point about it getting repititive after a bit. Doesn't seem to be a lot to the RPG-like customization side of it. Still enough to hold interest for awhile, though. :D
Even if you're "lucky" not encountering enemies for several turns. It's actually bad because you won't earn scrap to buy fuel. :P
I've had this for a few weeks (there was a late beta release for backers), and have had a blast with it. Parts are predictable, parts are not, and there turns out to be a fair amount of strategy in trying to use the repetitive (predictable!) parts to your advantage in dealing with the non-repetitive (chaotic...!) elements of chance.
After beating my head against it a bit, a normal play (on easy, as normal is bloody hard still for me) gets to the last sector and an engagement with the Big Bad, though I haven't beaten it yet.
You may a high tolerance for learning from failure and for working through similar situations repeatedly.
I don't see how to beat the Big Bad boss at the end.
That ship was just so frikkin powerful.
It didn't even have a single weapons module, but one for each weapon, so you couldn't disable them.
My second playthrough I went with the Engi ship, it went terrible. I wasn't even able to reach the end boss :(
Two tricks I'm using (read these on the forums!) --
1) Get the Transporter, and use it to beam two crew over into the Big Bad's weapons spaces, starting with the missile system (2nd from right). Two crew can kill their one crew at the weapon, the isolated space means it can't be reinforced - and so once your crew destroy the weapon, it stays destroyed.
2) Get the Cloaking Device and use it to hide. If you are lucky, you can get the fire-when-cloaked thingy too.
Those got me through the first of 3 (!) fights with the Big Bad.
In the second round, at least, weapons stations where you killed the crew still have no crew.
Apparently, if you kill all the crew, an AI takes over and you are screwed.
BUT next time I will try to kill all but one of the crew - not killing one of the weapons guys - in the first round, so that I can send combat teams to destroy critical items in the second round and third round. This is likely *tricky*.
The trick is collecting enough resources to upgrade the ship enough to be able to pull that off - which brings us straight back to managing the predictability and chaos well.
Also, I think getting better at collecting resources will make it possible to fully upgrade both the shields and the engine, so with some power management I should be able to defend/dodge better.
Quote from: Tpek on September 14, 2012, 07:47:07 PM
I don't see how to beat the Big Bad boss at the end.
That ship was just so frikkin powerful.
It didn't even have a single weapons module, but one for each weapon, so you couldn't disable them.
My second playthrough I went with the Engi ship, it went terrible. I wasn't even able to reach the end boss :(
OK, I have played 18 games, and kept pretty elaborate statistics. I'm a grog..of COURSE I kept elaborate statistics. ;D
My average experience is just under 1300, and 38 beacons. I have made it to the final boss four times.
The two that I won with were using the Kestrel. The first, I managed to find a drone that repaired 3-5 hull damage, useable during combat. This was the "I win" button, and I finished the game with no hull damage, at all. I repaired at LEAST 50 damage during the last boss fight. I also had two augmentations, the first gave my shields a 15% faster recharge time, and the second gave my weapons a 15% faster reload time.
I have discovered that the BEST way to win is to upgrade your shields first. If you aren't taking damage, you aren't spending scrap to repair, AND your crew, during the longer fights, gains experience and skill ups faster too.
Start slow, and stay slow. Stay JUST ahead of the rebel fleet..every beacon you hit is extra scrap, and extra experience.
The anti-personnel drone is pretty cool, and will help you stay alive when the Mantis invade your ship.
When I attack, I attack the weapons. Yes..the shield will stop some of the attack..but I want to knock the weapons offline just as fast as I can. If I have two weapons, one goes immediately against the shields, the other immediately against the weapons. If I have an ion weapon, that disrupts abilities, but fires every four seconds, then this is the one I use against the weapons. Immediate neutralization of their ability to harm you. This is a GOOD thing.
If you are offered scrap of fuel or anything else to stop attacking, take it. One more beacon down, you're safe, and you've made progress. You don't get brownie points for killing more ships. You just don't know when your weapons will take a critical hit, and catch fire. This SUCKS, 'cause the next shot may take out your O2.
It seems like that "I Win" button is the key to getting it done. Just gotta get lucky and find some superb piece of IWin Equipment to make it noticeably easier?
Someone also told me they got an "Ion Bomb" weapon and cruised through after that.
Here's a Giant Bomb Quick Look video showing typical play. Seems like it might be fun for a while.
http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-ftl/17-6584/ (http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-ftl/17-6584/)
Bought it from GOG yesterday. I've unlocked my Engi ship but haven't made it past sector 5 yet. Anyway, are the encounters always the same? I've run across the giant spider encounter and the mad crash survior encounters 3-4 times each and the choice always ends up the same. If I choose the interact option, the spiders eat one of my crew and the loony always puts a bomb on my ship. Has anyone had a different result?
^I did get a different result once when I dealt with the spiders. My crew was successful...can't remember what I got for helping though...
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 20, 2012, 12:15:06 PM
Bought it from GOG yesterday. I've unlocked my Engi ship but haven't made it past sector 5 yet. Anyway, are the encounters always the same? I've run across the giant spider encounter and the mad crash survior encounters 3-4 times each and the choice always ends up the same. If I choose the interact option, the spiders eat one of my crew and the loony always puts a bomb on my ship. Has anyone had a different result?
Yes I've been able to beat the spiders and not lose a crew memeber... but they get eaten more often than not. :P
I've played 14 or 15 games (also never making it past 5 :-X), and I've only run into the spider encounter once and never the loony encounter.
Disable Fleet Pursuit Mod:
http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2593
For those who don't wanna be chased. ;D
Quote from: Nefaro on September 26, 2012, 05:14:08 PM
Disable Fleet Pursuit Mod:
http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2593
For those who don't wanna be chased. ;D
Do not use this link. The software comes with a virus like series of add-ons.
Instead, use:
http://ftlwiki.com/wiki/Mods
This is a tiny download. Instructions are very simple. It works. You won't spend 15 minutes digging out all of the spyware, downloaders and other crap included in the other FTL mod.
Dunno haven't tried it yet. *shrug*
The modding situation is too confusing for me right now since there is more than one release version right now. For once I actually had to load the Steam version because it's the only one up-to-date. ::) I wouldn't be surprised if some of the mods were the other version I'm not using at the moment.
Has anyone tried the free Roguelike Prospector?
It could be pretty awesome although it's a work in progress, I believe, as most free roguelikes are. Been around for a few years. Has space/planet exploration along with some crew control stuff. Looks like a more ambitious feature set as far as content & gameplay goes, anyhow.
http://code.google.com/p/rlprospector/
Wiki with Quickstart Guide (and screenshot gallery):
http://prospector.wikia.com/wiki/Quickstart_Guide
YES!!!!
I finally beat the bloody game. Must be close to 100 attempts but I finally cracked it.
I took the new ship that you get for beating the game and that just opened up a whole new world of fun! I successfully completed a multi-sector quest and got a specialty ship on the first run through with the new ship.
I'll never beat this game, I'm too busy accidentally opening all the airlocks on my own people.
Has anyone tried any of the mods for it? I've seen one where it removes the chasing enemy fleet, allowing for some more ridiculous time to build up your ship.
The FTL play -> die -> restart game model gets tiresome.
Quote from: eyebiter on October 02, 2012, 04:59:38 PM
The FTL play -> die -> restart game model gets tiresome.
I'm not as enticed to restart this one after dying once or twice, as I am some of the other roguelikes out there.
I think there are a couple reasons for it. One is the relative shortage of "character" customization. The other also being a relative lack of variety in enemies, equipment, and such. It's not terrible, but it does get pretty repetitive due to very little change in your equipment loadout which is the main customization facet. Some of these issues are inherent with starship RPGs, though, because there are only so many enemy ship variants to be had before it all starts looking like you're fighting the same ship every time - just of a different size & slightly different loadout.
The hardest part is getting your first victory. Once you do, you get access to a much better ship and it becomes easier to unlock further ships. I'm now up to 5 different ships and two variants for two of those five. It adds a lot more variety to the game. (Man, that Stealth cruiser is brutally hard to play!)
Quote from: ScottP on October 01, 2012, 01:43:00 PM
I'll never beat this game, I'm too busy accidentally opening all the airlocks on my own people.
Has anyone tried any of the mods for it? I've seen one where it removes the chasing enemy fleet, allowing for some more ridiculous time to build up your ship.
I did the mod for eliminating the fleet. It removes all of the play balance. A better mod would allow you to set a different pursuit rate - but I have not seen one of those.
Quote from: ScottP on October 01, 2012, 01:43:00 PM
I'll never beat this game, I'm too busy accidentally opening all the airlocks on my own people.
I did this. I was finally having a successful run (well....mostly) when after a ferocious battle I had fires in the engine and 02 rooms. I moved my engineer to safety, opened the doors to deep space, and when the fire was out I sent my entire crew in to make speedy repairs.
Without closing the doors back.
Yeah, that didn't work out so well.
Quote from: airboy on October 03, 2012, 08:35:52 PM
Quote from: ScottP on October 01, 2012, 01:43:00 PM
I'll never beat this game, I'm too busy accidentally opening all the airlocks on my own people.
Has anyone tried any of the mods for it? I've seen one where it removes the chasing enemy fleet, allowing for some more ridiculous time to build up your ship.
I did the mod for eliminating the fleet. It removes all of the play balance. A better mod would allow you to set a different pursuit rate - but I have not seen one of those.
It's a simple text edit of a certain value in that mod, from what I read.
Evidentally the 'disable fleet' mods just put in a massive value for how many turns they are delayed. And I
have seen at least one mod, there, that only relaxes the value. Just dig through the place. Too bad they don't have a separate Mods section of their forum.
Got Xcom over the weekend.
Loaded it, started the demo, then the wife interrupted.
Later I remembered that I wanted to buy FTL.
Downloaded that.
Been playing it ever since.
I guess I could have saved 40 bucks on Xcom.
And as of now there is a MOD section on their forums.
Now I have to add, I've been playing PC games since the early 80's and this stupid little game kept me up half the night with the "one more turn" addictiveness that I haven't seen in close to 20 years.
It's not perfect but it's got something.
Quote from: Onion on October 18, 2012, 02:45:00 PM
Now I have to add, I've been playing PC games since the early 80's and this stupid little game kept me up half the night with the "one more turn" addictiveness that I haven't seen in close to 20 years.
Haha! I'm getting more and more tempted by this game.
Quote from: Onion on October 18, 2012, 02:45:00 PM
Now I have to add, I've been playing PC games since the early 80's and this stupid little game kept me up half the night with the "one more turn" addictiveness that I haven't seen in close to 20 years.
It's not perfect but it's got something.
Glad to hear it.
BTW, when you're ready for another "one-more-turn" game let us introduce you to Warlock. :)
Still playing this game about an hour a day. I believe I'm almost to the point of winning on EASY. It helps that I realized I should backup the savegame so the perma-death is not so uh permanent.
I actually left my office the other night and went in the stariwell thinking I needed to make sure the bulkhead doors were sealed. I have not been this into a game in a long time.
I know I sound like a fanboi or plant at this point, but I'm really into retro games (even set up a P90 machine two years ago to play DOS games on after getting sick of being burned on new games) and this game is my favorite new game in years.
edited typos
Quote from: Onion on October 25, 2012, 02:52:42 PM
I actually left my office the other night and went in the stariwell thinking I needed to mak sure the bulkhead doors were sealed. I have not benn this into a game in a long time.
LOL
That's funny :)
FTL is on sale at GOG for 40% off right now.
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/faster_than_light
Great price. One of these days I'm going to excercise some restraint when a new game comes out :P
p.s. Developer has matched the price ($6)...and his comes with a Steam key.
http://www.ftlgame.com/
Quote from: Nefaro on December 05, 2012, 07:04:55 AM
FTL is on sale at GOG for 40% off right now.
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/faster_than_light
You guys are killing me.
GOG's price is back to $9.99, but the dev and now Steam have it for $5.99...
This was a must buy game for me, I've been on a kick lately where my prefered games don't have a lot of graphic power but do have that "one more turn" power.
Now the game is mine as well.
I played FTL exclusively for almost a month, it really has something that I've missed in PC games for a long time. Then I finally fired up Xcom. I do agree that Xcom is the spiritual successor to the original Xcom. Even though I was wary after being burned on a few Firaxis games. Xcom has kept me up until too late at night. It's nice after all these years to find TWO games that do that for a old school gamer.
Quote from: LongBlade on December 05, 2012, 03:36:46 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on December 05, 2012, 07:04:55 AM
FTL is on sale at GOG for 40% off right now.
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/faster_than_light
You guys are killing me.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m0wfgrRrGR1qegasto1_500.jpg&hash=2a9ea19ca7f02860dac8e920a6312571b02d7507)
;D
A free expansion (http://www.ftlgame.com/?p=598) is coming to FTL next year.
Quote
FTL: Advanced Edition, as it's known, will be free to those who already own the original, and it'll include the following:
Mind Control System: Temporarily turn enemies into allies. Force a boarder to repair the damage they just did, or have the enemy pilot sabotage their own helm.
Hacking System: Lockdown and disrupt enemy systems. Unique effects for each system, ranging from forcing a teleporter remove boarders to making the medbay damage instead of heal.
New Sector and Events
New Weapons and Effects: Many new weapons that take advantage of new mechanics: overcharging to increase the number of volleys, stun effects to freeze crew, and area effect targeting, to name a few.
And more systems, drones, augments, enemy ships, enemy layouts, and hostile environments.
There'll also be smaller tweaks, including combat saves, more store variety, and save crew positions.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/12/bye-life-ftl-getting-free-avellone-penned-expansion/#more-176090
Very cool.
The free
FTL Advanced Edition (http://www.ftlgame.com/?p=688) announced last November will be available April 3rd.
Quote
"The time has come! We will release both FTL for the iPad and the FTL: Advanced Edition expansion on April 3rd!"
"FTL: Advanced Edition is a free content expansion for FTL. All current (and future) customers will receive this update regardless of where they purchased it. Prior to release, we will post detailed instructions on how to get the update from whatever digital vendor you originally purchased FTL."
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/03/28/ftl-advanced-edition-release-date/#more-198035
Interesting. I loved the original, but somehow didn't play it very much. Got sucked into the Eador games instead...
Wonder what new stuff will be added to FTL.
New race, new random encounters, and new ship sub systems... according to Pocket Tactics.
All this was adds during the conversion to a iPad version, so the PC version gets the new stuff too.
IPad version due out April 3.
This link from last November has more details about whats coming:
http://www.ftlgame.com/?p=598
Advanced Edition is now available. I got my free upgrade from GOG about an hour ago and I've been fiddling with the game. The new ship and new race both seem interesting. I like the improvements to the game interface.
Downloaded my free AE from GoG as well. Something to check out for the weekend...
There is a write-up of the new AE version over at RPS (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/04/ftl-expansion-free/#more-199343).
This was a good game when it came out, and it is even better now.
I like the changes a lot. It is still a roguelike, and you will die, a LOT, but it's fun, and interesting. Highly recommended.