X3: Terran Conflict

[2fish]

I am loving the look of this game, but want to know more about it before I invest money.

1. I have seen videos where people were in a cockpit, looking down the front of their ship, or just looking out into space with no sign of their ship. How does it look in the real basic game?

2. Is X3: gold the one to go for or is another one of the games better for any reason?

3. It looks like a big learning curve, but I saw there is auto pilot as well. How much do I have to learn to make the game function? I want to control everything by the end but when i start I want to focus on getting good with flying/trading/killing/and other core items.

4. Anything I have forgotten that a newbie like me must know before buying?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Irridium]

1) Some ships have a cockpit view, front-of-ship view, or none. Depends on the ship. Annoying as hell, I think. I wish all of 'em had cockpit views... Good thing there's mods that add them!

2)Well, I bought the X-Superbox for, like, $5 back during the summer sale. But from browsing the store, I'd say just Terran Conflict is fine. Then again, I haven't played Reunion yet... I'd say wait for another's opinion. Mine probably isn't best for this situation.

3)When you start you'll be put through a tutorial that teaches basic controls, combat, and trading. Apart from that it's pretty much "learn as you play". At least that's how I did it.

There's a couple of walkthrough's to help get you set up, should you need them.

http://www.fire-fish.net/?q=node/12

That will probably help you quite a bit.

Also, READ THE MANUAL! Seriously, the manual is god. Do not forsake it. There is a SHITLOAD of info to take in, and it's the best place to get info.

4) Eh, you'll figure it all out eventually

 

[cainx10a]

This game scares the living kha'ak out of me. I installed it four times, and uninstalled it 3 times a few hours after installing it. Why? The learning curve. And the fact I was hoping to play the game to experience that awesome feeling you get after watching BSG space battles, but to no avail. So I have no idea if there are epic space battle later on, but I sure do hope so, and that's why I just installed it a few minutes ago.

Also, watch the G4TV review of X3: Reunion. Funniest review I have ever watched.

 

[Expensive Associate]

The most annoying thing about X3 (Reunion at least, haven't played the others) is the fact ship spawns vary from game to game. Some new games have huge fleets that destroy all your stations constantly, but sometimes it takes 10 minutes of flying around to even find something to fight.

Combat also works differently if you are in a different system, because it would take too much computing power to simulate fully everywhere. This means your invisible super dreadnought can be wiped out by some poxy fighters if you look at it.

Start on the easiest difficulty, it doesn't change anything but the ship you start with, but earning money at the start to buy a good one is seriously boring.

 

[KafkaOffTheBeach]

Just get Terran Conflict
The 'Gold' edition only really serves the player by saying "Look at all the mistakes we made in Reunion! Now look at how we fixed them in TC!".

 

[2fish]

Thanks for all the help.

Bonus question!

Once I get a big enough military to enter and take enemy sectors on the edge of friendly territory is it viable to build defenses and set up a trade system? I can see several issues such as constant attacks by enemies, AI traders not wanting to trade in enemy space, or just not cost effective.

This all stems from my being a greedy bastard and wanting to force all competition out of the area I call home in an economics game. So can I claim enemy territory for this or will I need to use hostile business practices to make sure I am the only space station owner in a given system?

 

[roman gnome]

This game scares the living kha'ak out of me. I installed it four times, and uninstalled it 3 times a few hours after installing it. Why? The learning curve. And the fact I was hoping to play the game to experience that awesome feeling you get after watching BSG space battles, but to no avail. So I have no idea if there are epic space battle later on, but I sure do hope so, and that's why I just installed it a few minutes ago.

Also, watch the G4TV review of X3: Reunion. Funniest review I have ever watched.

That was awesome! Incidentally, I call all of my sector defense ships "Kha'ak Blockers."

And yes, there are epic space battles later on. You can go to Kha'ak and Xenon home sectors if you want to face multiple destroyers and carriers. I recommend saving before you try that. I also recommend reducing your graphics settings if your frame rate isn't fantastic because it will drop significantly with that many ships around.

The menu system is rather convoluted; that's the main reason for the learning curve. They say it will be much simpler and more intuitive in X: Rebirth, coming out in the very near future. I can't wait... but I'll have to because I'm sure my computer doesn't meet the system requirements.

 

[roman gnome]

Thanks for all the help.

Bonus question!

Once I get a big enough military to enter and take enemy sectors on the edge of friendly territory is it viable to build defenses and set up a trade system? I can see several issues such as constant attacks by enemies, AI traders not wanting to trade in enemy space, or just not cost effective.

This all stems from my being a greedy bastard and wanting to force all competition out of the area I call home in an economics game. So can I claim enemy territory for this or will I need to use hostile business practices to make sure I am the only space station owner in a given system?

I haven't actually taken over any enemy sectors yet in X3, nor have I carefully read the relevant parts of the manual, but I think Kha'ak and Xenon stations respawn when you're not looking. There may or may not be a way to change that w/o modding the game; if not, I'm sure there's a very simple mod you can download.

I did clear out a Xenon sector in X2, and it wasn't long before an armada of Xenon ships started pouring out of their nearest intact sector and making their way toward the empty one. I never checked to see if it was still empty at that point or not, as I was a bit too busy trying to defend my property in the sectors in between.

As to business competitors, however, you have nothing to worry about. Factories that are destroyed will be rebuilt, but no new factories other than yours will ever be built anywhere. And AI ships will come to your stations if your products are needed nearby.

 

[Aeshi]

I've been arsing around with the Reunion demo for a while now and am considering getting Terran Conflict for Christmas. It's quite fun if you can handle all the gimmicks and such.

Though from what I saw of the demo it seems like the combat can be summed up as "If the other ship has missiles it will instantly 1-shot you"

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I am loving the look of this game, but want to know more about it before I invest money.

1. I have seen videos where people were in a cockpit, looking down the front of their ship, or just looking out into space with no sign of their ship. How does it look in the real basic game?

2. Is X3: gold the one to go for or is another one of the games better for any reason?

3. It looks like a big learning curve, but I saw there is auto pilot as well. How much do I have to learn to make the game function? I want to control everything by the end but when i start I want to focus on getting good with flying/trading/killing/and other core items.

4. Anything I have forgotten that a newbie like me must know before buying?

Thanks for your help!

1. There is a mod that comes with the recent versions (like gold)that enables cockpit views... but it's kinda dull and useless (just an aesthetic, it has not real value), the standard views is just a HUD and no physical representation of your ship. There is also a 3rd person view, though it's more of a vanity view then an actual practical perspective. Other then that, you have a couple of cameras to swing through, depending on the size of the vessel your in (you can switch between gun ports on capital ships for example).

2. If gold comes with the expansions ("terran conflict" and 1 other I believe) then thats the one. If it isn't, then it might be "X3: Collection" or something along those lines.

3. HUGE learning curve. The early game is pretty much economical grinding, making pittance off of taxiing and small trades... until you can afford a decent combat capable ship, with high grade shields and weapons, stay away from bounty hunter missions or vigilante/pirate life styles.

Also, trading is slow going... until you get your first freighter vessel and fully upgrade it, your going to be transferring small things in small quantities.

Essentially, money is key... everything from flight speed/manoeuvrability, weapons/shields, cargo holds and even autopilots and combat/trade/flight software, all require upgrades and modules to be purchased first.

Satisfaction is hard earned in X3... but when you have a fleet of ships ranging from scouts to fully loaded carriers and colossal destroyers and/or an entire industry under your command you really feel like you accomplished something.

4. The game is slooooooooow... and unforgiving. If ever there was a need to label something Hardcore it would be these games (though it does simplify stuff from their predecessors). There is no continue, so save often, and best before jumps (pirates might pummel you on the other side).

It's a huge game and you will need to spend days to get to some of the good stuff. It's a game that requires a commitment to be honest.

Story is shit, but that's typical of the series.

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

Thanks for all the help.

Bonus question!

Once I get a big enough military to enter and take enemy sectors on the edge of friendly territory is it viable to build defenses and set up a trade system? I can see several issues such as constant attacks by enemies, AI traders not wanting to trade in enemy space, or just not cost effective.

This all stems from my being a greedy bastard and wanting to force all competition out of the area I call home in an economics game. So can I claim enemy territory for this or will I need to use hostile business practices to make sure I am the only space station owner in a given system?

I remembered playing that one a long time ago.
Let me think for a moment, yes once you can afford a large spaceship you have probably already several created functioning factories or selfsufficient superconstructions. So there is no actual need to build something up in a sector with high enemy presence. I think there was one system without Space Stations, but Space Stations aren't that big deal. Factory superstructures are. But trading and factory micromanagement is pretty awesome and can get you some serious headache.
BE VERY CAREFUL and plan ahead when you built your first superstructure.
My first big complex I built, spread so far across the system that almost any ship in the sector crashed into it...

 

[Leppy]

Get the game, it is fantastic. I spent the better part of a year playing X3, and a very long time on Terran Conflict. Terran is much easier, as you have an infinite amount of station missions, ranging from sector defense, to massive scale trade runs. Yes, you can clear out entire Kha'ak / Xenon / Pirate sectors, and claim them as your own. They don't respawn, however, they will migrate from their nearest territory with everything they can spare in an attempt to reclaim their sector. So, wipe them out (You'll need at least a couple of destroyers of your own, or a carrier with many decked out fighters), set up shop, and get ready to defend against the biggest blitzkrieg since Kursk, its fantastic.

I wrote a little blog when I started my last play through, if you're interested in having a read.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.307927-Leppys-X-Terran-Conflict-Blog#12758893