Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: Alex Heartnet on September 14, 2012, 07:09:44 pm

Title: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 14, 2012, 07:09:44 pm
By popular demand, HLP Productions presents this Let’s Play series of FTL!


(http://i.imgur.com/lDIJR.png)


Be a redshirt!  Join the Federation in their fight against the evil rebels!  Boldly go where every other kickstarter has gone before!  Meet new lifeforms, and then, get shot up by them, because this game is really really hard.

I’ll let you guys fight among yourselves to determine who gets to be the captain and who gets to be the weapons officer.  :D

Other potential roles in the ship include:
Chief Engineer
Shield Engineer
Damage Control
Security Team

The ship’s crew is selected out of six alien races:
Humans:  Common and uninteresting.  Lack of specific weaknesses is quite useful when things inevitably go horribly wrong.
Engi: Grey-skinned, biomechanical beings who dislike violence and make natural engineers.  They are great at fixing stuff, but are poorly suited for hand-to-hand combat.
Zoltan:  Green-skinned humanoids that can help power ship systems with their strong bioelectric field.  They tend to be rather fragile.
Mantis: Aggressive insectoids that are great at hand-to-hand combat.  Their limbs are poorly suited to using repair tools.
Rockman: Silicon-based lifeforms that are very durable and highly resilient to intense heat, but clumsy and slow.
Slugs: Telepathic invertebrate that are great to have when sensors are not functioning.  They tend to get goop all over the ship.

Most ships start out with four redshirts.  You can get replacement redshirts as you go along towards a maximum of eight.  The starting composition of your crew is determined by what ship you start out in.

Mission 1 - UEF Indus - Type A Federation Cruiser, Medium Difficulty
Fate:  Destroyed by an Auto-Assault within an asteroid belt.
KIA - Scotty (Went down with the ship)
KIA - SpardaSon (Died within a raging inferno in Sector 2)
KIA -  Headdie (Killed by a mutant space virus in Sector 1)
KIA - Z64555 (Went down with the ship)
KIA - Dekker (Went down with the ship)

Mission 2 - Type A Kestrel Cruiser, Easy Difficulty
Ship Name Pending
Crew Pending
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 14, 2012, 07:09:57 pm
Welcome, redshirts, to the Federation Space Dock!  Here you get to choose exactly which class of ship you get to die in!  To start out with, you get a choice between the Federation Cruiser and the Outdated Federation Cruiser.

There are a few other ship classes within the hangar, but why should we trust you redshirts with them?


(http://i.imgur.com/SZNLn.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/bXNFI.jpg)


First, the modern cruiser.  Complete with Artillery Beam.  Drone systems sold separately.  Starts out with four redshirts – a Human, an Engi, a Mantis, and a Rockman.


(http://i.imgur.com/l5tMj.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/h3fcO.jpg)


And the outdated one, which only comes with three human redshirts.


(http://i.imgur.com/ohkly.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/iZFk9.jpg)


I dunno, guys, what should we call the ship?  Enterprise?  Serenity?  Theseus?  Indus?


(http://i.imgur.com/xPoE0.jpg)

(also, do I need to make the screenshots bigger?  :o )
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: MatthTheGeek on September 14, 2012, 07:23:53 pm
Name it Qwaar-Jet, for the Taiidan God of War. Homeworld references best references.

Sign me up for... whatever really, that isn't human.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 14, 2012, 07:26:16 pm
stick me in a red shirt so you cant see the blood and put me on repair and fire fighting duty
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 14, 2012, 07:31:44 pm
I'll sign up as an Engi, 'cause repairing stuff is what keeps the ships moving.  :yes:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 14, 2012, 07:36:39 pm
We really ought to name it after a destroyer.

Bastion?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: SpardaSon21 on September 14, 2012, 08:01:18 pm
Since it has a giant beam laser in the front that pierces shields, Atreus.  Of course, that means we'll need the very best crew.

I volunteer for security detail, complete with red uniform.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: DireWolf on September 14, 2012, 09:40:05 pm
Volunteering for either security detail or damage control, whichever gets me killed faster in the service of glorious message board.

Also, I suggest Indus for the ship title, seeing as the crew is not granted a quick death, but is rather forced to boil alive while they fall ever so slowly into the sun (until Fedayeen, but shush).
Knowing how these tend to work out, we'll probably be hoping for an end like that.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 14, 2012, 09:46:18 pm
Volunteering for either security detail or damage control, whichever gets me killed faster in the service of glorious message board.

Also, I suggest Indus for the ship title, seeing as the crew is not granted a quick death, but is rather forced to boil alive while they fall ever so slowly into the sun (until Fedayeen, but shush).
Knowing how these tend to work out, we'll probably be hoping for an end like that.
That's also why I suggested Serenity as a ship name.  It's a journey where you get slowly picked apart.

And yes, it is actually possible to die that way ingame!  You'll see when we inevitably jump too close to a star.

Also, I would of thought you guys would be fighting each other for the position of captain or gunnery officer.  C'mon, guys!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 14, 2012, 09:59:06 pm
Also, I would of thought you guys would be fighting each other for the position of captain or gunnery officer.  C'mon, guys!

Now you and I both know there's only one man for either: Scotty.  :yes:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Polpolion on September 14, 2012, 10:08:29 pm
Hard Light Productions Productions? :nervous:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: LordMelvin on September 14, 2012, 11:03:13 pm
Thog roll up character. (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=81600.msg1637595#msg1637595)

I'd like to be an engineering ossifer, possibly with a bad northern accent and a finger or two missing.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scotty on September 14, 2012, 11:05:21 pm
I had wanted to be in Engineering, because of the obvious reference, but I suppose my superior experience and time spent piloting various ships in the various LPs around here would qualify me for Captain. :P
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: yuezhi on September 14, 2012, 11:35:02 pm
is there beer, specifically bosch brand?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 15, 2012, 12:09:03 am
The Crew of the Indus was promised a top-of-the-line starship.

Instead they get a complete piece of junk.  Engines, shields, sensors, reactors, and even the life support system is stupidly underpowered.  The much-vaunted “Artillery Beam” is a tiny peashooter hooked up to a huge capacitor and a ridiculous amount of electrical wires.  The hangar bay lacks any kind of equipment whatsoever.  There is only one workable weapon on the ship, the med bay consists of first aid kit and a few bandages, and the sliding doors keep getting stuck.

With our luck, the entire NTF armada will show up any minute now...


(http://i.imgur.com/OQy88.jpg)


All crewmembers move to their assigned positions.  Scotty, being captain, gets to take the helm.  Headdie gets to work on the engine array, while SpardaSon wrestles with the shield system in a vain attempt to have a coherent energy bubble around the ship.  Z64555 finds that the main gun at least is functioning, and fires in three-round bursts.


(http://i.imgur.com/ygoe6.jpg)


Scotty brings up the Nav computer and plots a course.


(http://i.imgur.com/DG1Ul.jpg)


The crew emerges from subspace to find a pirate that is even worse off.  A warning shot is all it takes to grab the pirate’s attention.


(http://i.imgur.com/ZRe5g.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/0RIpK.jpg)


The ships exchange laser fire.  The pirate fires a pair of lasers at the Indus.  The first hit shatters the Indus’ shields, but the second shot misses wide.  The pirate gets hit with two laser blasts out of three for his trouble.


(http://i.imgur.com/Z2id8.jpg)


Despite a direct hit to the weapons grid, the pirate still has both of his basic lasers online.


(http://i.imgur.com/BT8tJ.jpg)


A second laser volley knocks the pirate’s weapons completely offline.  The pirate responds by warming up FTL drives.


(http://i.imgur.com/Lc9nN.jpg)


A laser volley is aimed at the bridge in order to prevent this.


(http://i.imgur.com/5UhjY.jpg)


Direct hit!


(http://i.imgur.com/68MlY.jpg)


One final salvo is enough to finish the job.


(http://i.imgur.com/EbcI3.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/GIUya.jpg)


After requesting a damage report, Scotty sets course for a random system.


(http://i.imgur.com/mAyop.jpg)


Detecting the Indus’ jump signature, a rebel fighter plots an intercept course.  The Indus finds itself unable to evade with its underpowered drive system.


(http://i.imgur.com/Pf24B.jpg)


The ships exchange laser fire.  The rebel opens fire with a high-powered mining beam, which cuts through the hull and passes through the engine room, before splitting one of the bridge computer systems in two.


(http://i.imgur.com/exyY8.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/P2vbC.jpg)


Scotty manages to get the computer systems functional enough to note that the mining beam by itself cannot pierce shields.  Laser cannons can, but that last hit took out the only laser cannon on the rebel fighter.

Meanwhile, the overglorified peashooter on the ship starts to emit sparks and arcs of lightning…


(http://i.imgur.com/xfuiA.jpg)


One laser burst later, the rebel ship surrenders.

But at this point, the artillery peashooter looks like it is about to explode!  Z64555 tries to shut it down, but the weapon won’t respond.


(http://i.imgur.com/71DhJ.jpg)


The artillery gun spits out a huge beam of energy that cuts straight through shields and ship reactors alike.  Disappointingly, destroying the rebel fighter yielded less resources then letting it surrender.


(http://i.imgur.com/1sh2r.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/lpNjL.jpg)


With a sigh, the captain sets course for the next system.


(http://i.imgur.com/76WA3.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 15, 2012, 12:25:02 am
Well... at least we know the peashooter works.  :nono:

Now to figure out what's up with that blasted fire control system.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Legate Damar on September 15, 2012, 12:49:21 am
So, no room for Damar, eh?

Fine, fly your pitiful little ship without me. My Keldon-class is better any day.  :nono:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 15, 2012, 04:12:56 am
yay i'm not dead yet
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 15, 2012, 04:17:03 am
Patiance... new crew positions will open. and I call dibs on a human...whatever.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: DireWolf on September 15, 2012, 10:25:40 am
I eagerly await my assignment.

Also, from the steam store page.
(http://cdn.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/212680/ss_a24141a258e4bdf55cf67a082db6b70bf7613a6d.1920x1080.jpg?t=1347647115)

If we survive long enough to purchase that ship, Carl needs to come out of retirement.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: BritishShivans on September 15, 2012, 10:40:00 am
I sign up as Winston Churchill's Shivan cousin.

Give me crumpets and teas, and I will make sure that your guns never falter.  :yes:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 15, 2012, 10:46:47 am
Once you require a new Egni-crewmember sign me in...

@DireWolf: Already spotted and discussed at the end the ToEE LP...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scotty on September 15, 2012, 11:05:06 am
Captain's Log, Stardate 12915.4

As an officer of the Federation, it is beyond the scope of my duties to criticize my government and my superiors for the situation in which I find myself.  However, it is difficult, very difficult, when I am assigned to a ship that would better serve the Federation as scrap, and a crew that would be most useful scrubbing floors on my last command.

Not all is ill news.  On this crew's "maiden voyage", the ship and crew performed admirably, well above and beyond what I expected from such a ragtag group.  The Indus encountered a pirate engaging a helpless ship.  Despite my better judgement, I ordered my gunnery officer, a strange fellow who calls himself by a combination of seemingly random numbers and letters, to engage the pirate.  A few short bursts from the main gun were all that were required to destroy the enemy.  In return, the ship we had just saved, in addition to the parts left drifting by the pirate ship's corpse, agreed to delay the fleet pursuing us.  A very successful first engagement, all things considered.

Before we could escape, we were spotted by a rebel fighter.  A small nuisance, to be sure, but this nuisance managed to inflict meaningful damage to the Indus.  I'm not quite sure of the extent of the damage, but I was able to jury rig a solution enough to get the damaged components back on-line for the battle.  More detailed diagnostics will be required as soon as we have a few spare minutes.  The enemy fighter was easily dispatched, though it did offer to surrender.  The risk was too great.  I must ensure that the fleet following us gets no better idea of where the Indus is headed than is possible.

The Indus is currently en route to a new, unexplored system.  We can only hope that more beneficial encounters await us there.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 15, 2012, 11:18:06 am
The crew inquires about mercenary work, but finds that their ship is ill-equipped for anything except the complete destruction of other vessels.


(http://i.imgur.com/f83KG.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/xuHNs.jpg)


This system also appears to be the seedy underbelly of the sector!


(http://i.imgur.com/fRG9V.jpg)


The slaver’s request is met with laser fire.


(http://i.imgur.com/0COMN.jpg)


Beam fire begins to slash through the Indus’ shield array, but suddenly stops as a well-timed laser blast hits the slaver ship.


(http://i.imgur.com/5xEYp.jpg)


Much to the crew’s dismay, the slavers manage to get their laser cannon working.  However, the Indus’ shields come back up just in time…


(http://i.imgur.com/1cwxK.jpg)


The artillery peashooter finally comes online, tearing a path through the enemy’s life support and shields before igniting the fuel reserves.


(http://i.imgur.com/ioozw.jpg)


The slaver’s reinforced hull manages to keep their ship intact, but does nothing to protect against the final laser salvo.


(http://i.imgur.com/BUxrV.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/mvK5v.jpg)


By the way, the entire NTF Armada has started to enter the system.  Scotty flies the Indus into the nebula in order to buy time.


(http://i.imgur.com/GUqKP.jpg)


The Indus jumps right into a fierce plasma storm.  Electronics malfunction and short out.  The sensor system glitch like crazy to the point where they can’t even be used to see inside one’s own vessel.  The crew is forced to bring the reactor to half power.

Also, the NTF have a ship waiting for us here.


(http://i.imgur.com/eZ1Zj.jpg)


…Okay, that’s an attack drone.  It can’t really get through shields on its own, but will tear apart any unshielded ship.


(http://i.imgur.com/yEU5w.jpg)


The engines and life support systems have to be taken entirely offline to conserve precious power.  All energy is re-routed into shields and guns.


(http://i.imgur.com/7rSq5.jpg)


At this point the crew realizes that the rebel ship is armed with a missile launcher, which pierces through shields.  A loud explosion is heard in the starboard side of the ship, and we can’t even get a proper damage report.


(http://i.imgur.com/6u5Up.jpg)


The unshielded NTF ship, of course, is equally vulnerable to our own weapons.  The rebel diverts power to shields once weapons go offline.


(http://i.imgur.com/CakYP.jpg)


Not being able to get an accurate damage assessment, the crew just assumes the worse and vents the starboard side of the ship into space.


(http://i.imgur.com/UPXXs.jpg)


That’s a lot of missiles offered.  The crew decides to accept the surrender.  Now bring that life support back online before we all asphyxiate.


(http://i.imgur.com/HnP4b.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/RCIhW.jpg)


Scotty inspects the damage the missile did.  No fires or hull breaches, thankfully.  Just a distinct lack of breathable air that necessitates a trip to the medbay.


(http://i.imgur.com/8n20R.jpg)


The next part of the nebula will hopefully be calmer then this one…


(http://i.imgur.com/ODahA.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scotty on September 15, 2012, 11:45:53 am
Captain's Log, Supplemental

A quick engagement with a slaver ship has left us with quite the surplus of supplies, should we ever find a place to actually use them or trade for something else.  Unfortunately, the rebel fleet has tracked us quicker than I anticipated, forcing a jump into a nebula in an attempt to escape.

The nebula necessitates several unfortunate measures to conserve power.  The power supply was halved, in part to reduce our sensor signature, and in part to give the system a small respite from constant full.  Had I known there was a rebel scout in the nebula, I'd have kept engines online to avoid their missiles, though I must admit I don't know what I'd have shut down in their stead.  This ship I allowed to escape, in exchange for more supplies, including quite the bounty of missiles.  I'm confident that the enemy fleet will be unable to track us, and the intelligence of a lone, crippled scout won't change that much.

The Indus took some damage in the last scuffle, thankfully not enough to meaningfully hinder her combat abilities.  I foolishly set foot in the damaged section unprepared, and required a trip to medbay for trying to suck vaccuum for a few seconds.  With any luck, the next section of nebula will be less... interesting.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 15, 2012, 12:06:21 pm
I've no idea what this game's about but I demand humancy and a senior position!! With sexy humorous plotlines and comedic twists :/
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: SpardaSon21 on September 15, 2012, 12:30:21 pm
Sure, you can hit on the invertebrate slug women. :p
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 15, 2012, 12:32:39 pm
I've no idea what this game's about but I demand humancy and a senior position!! With sexy humorous plotlines and comedic twists :/
officially it's a rogue'alike (read rudimentary RPG) game where you have to cross a number of sectors with a message without getting smoked.  also being Rogue'alike it is highly likely that some random encounter will overpower your ship and you will have to start the game again
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 15, 2012, 01:52:56 pm
officially it's a rogue'alike (read rudimentary RPG) game where you have to cross a number of sectors with a message without getting smoked.  also being Rogue'alike it is highly likely that some random encounter will overpower your ship and you will have to start the game again
The thing with roguelikes is that more often then not, there was a decision you could of made at some point that would of saved you.  If you actually remember to use EVERY resource at your disposal, you will probably do well.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 15, 2012, 03:14:00 pm
officially it's a rogue'alike (read rudimentary RPG) game where you have to cross a number of sectors with a message without getting smoked.  also being Rogue'alike it is highly likely that some random encounter will overpower your ship and you will have to start the game again
The thing with roguelikes is that more often then not, there was a decision you could of made at some point that would of saved you.  If you actually remember to use EVERY resource at your disposal, you will probably do well.

Darwin on stimulants?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 15, 2012, 04:32:44 pm
When a space opens up, I wish to be a Mantis security officer (chief, preferably :P). 
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Patriot on September 15, 2012, 05:56:01 pm
Zoltan engineering officer please, since we need power, having a crew member providing it in part is handy stuff :D

Or you can hook him up to the giant pea shooter and make it a giant peaNUT shooter :D
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 15, 2012, 07:45:22 pm
Just managed to actually beat the endgame - Engi cruiser ftw.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 15, 2012, 08:16:02 pm
The Indus nearly gets lost in the nebula chasing ghosts.


(http://i.imgur.com/DWm1K.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/h86pd.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/pIJR6.jpg)


Rebel scouts are fun.  This one is actively trying to get away!


(http://i.imgur.com/3shrA.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/LX8AJ.jpg)


A laser salvo is aimed at the bridge as the Indus gets torn apart by yet more beam cannon fire.


(http://i.imgur.com/i9T7m.jpg)


The scout ship manages to get the bridge systems working again just in time to see the engines brought offline.


(http://i.imgur.com/myNHW.jpg)


As usual, the finishing blow comes from the artillery beam.


(http://i.imgur.com/lMm6N.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/oKxvc.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/kYNXH.jpg)


The Indus takes a roundabout course towards the beacon.  The idea is that maximizing the amount of time spent in relatively easy sector 1 will mean more supplies for use later on.


(http://i.imgur.com/QNkaq.jpg)


I’m going to hazard a guess that the data within the auto-scout consists of detailed information about the sector.  This would be useful to have early on, but at this point we are headed towards the sector exit anyway, so it won’t be of much help.


(http://i.imgur.com/iyPFe.jpg)


Let’s jump back into the nebula.  That sounds sensible.


(http://i.imgur.com/o4Ipr.jpg)


Oohh, weapon!  We will need to upgrade our weapon and reactor systems before we can fire both guns at the same time, but this will be nice to have for later and was definitely worth the hull damage.


(http://i.imgur.com/r8phV.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/irqJG.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/COXmr.jpg)


Intruder detected in the sensor array!  All hands stand by to repel boarders!


(http://i.imgur.com/1E1Um.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/TPvQf.jpg)


SpardaSon and Z64555 are closest, so they get to exchange blaster fire with the vicious cold-blooded enemy.


(http://i.imgur.com/E9oBs.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Uy9v3.jpg)


The intruder has been dispatched.  Z64555 heads straight for the medbay.


(http://i.imgur.com/iAf2v.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/mZ0hT.jpg)


Rather then trying to flee, the Mantis Scout fights to the bitter end.


(http://i.imgur.com/VJL4W.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/wQ7p5.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6JAtG.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 15, 2012, 09:12:57 pm
Gunnery Control Log:
Reporting Officer: z64555
Ship status:
Hull Integrity: 70%
Systems:  90% and climbing

Everything seems fine, even after that little skirmish with the "warrior." Why he picks on the Engi instead of one of the tougher guys, I don't know. Going to ask the Captain to see if we can upgrade our blasters for something more effective, or at least find a way so that they can't get in anymore.

Also gotta double check that dang medibay, the robotic motivator systems don't seem to be fully optimized.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 16, 2012, 02:18:26 am
Put me in the queue for next available Engine room/damage control guy. Engi if possible, anything else otherwise. And yes I'm willing to wait for the next (or next-next) crew.

Spoiler:
Because I started playing this game, and I'll say that you're likely to party wipe multiple times.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 16, 2012, 04:52:46 am
Nice one Alex, buying now^^

Well, maybe someone can lend a hand...
How much drone parts do I need to actually use one?
And when upgrading the...engines, at some point it says "System Upgrade required"...uh? And how do I do this?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 16, 2012, 11:14:10 am
Nice one Alex, buying now^^

Well, maybe someone can lend a hand...
How much drone parts do I need to actually use one?
And when upgrading the...engines, at some point it says "System Upgrade required"...uh? And how do I do this?

Using a drone requires one drone part.

A few drone types, such as sys repair and anti-personnel drones stay aboard your ship when deactivated.  They will park themselves in your drone bay when idle and get repaired there as if it was a medbay.

Most drones, however, operate outside the ship.  These are left behind when you jump out unless you are lucky enough to have a drone recovery arm on your ship.  Boarding drones tend to go down with the enemy ship and thus can never be recovered.

Also, could you be more specific with your system upgrade problem?  You sure you aren't trying to upgrade the shields and not your engines?  Shield upgrades need to be taken in pairs to be useful - it takes 2 energy bars per shield layer, and the game won't let you have half a shield because of how damage is calculated.

Being successful at roguelikes requires a certain ability to figure things out for yourself.  The tutorial only explains the bare basics - there are still a lot of things to discover about the game.

-snip-
Because I started playing this game, and I'll say that you're likely to party wipe multiple times.

This isn't really a spoiler by the way - it's an important thing to know about roguelikes :P
I'm currently playing this on normal, because I know I will stand a very real chance of actually beating it on easy, and that's no fun.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 16, 2012, 11:26:23 am
Ah, the thing about the shields did the trick...
Thx, now I can use these large amounts of scraps for usefull things.
And I figured the drone workings out myself, but thx for that too.
I'll go most of the time for anti boarding drones or repair drones.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 16, 2012, 11:32:59 am
Keep in mind that using drones requires power that might be needed for other systems.  If you have a large crew that sits idle most of the time, the sys repair drone might not be needed.

On the flip side, I've seen LPers do stuff like tossing out that anti-personnel drone when they have a crew that consists of Zoltons and Engis.  It's a tradeoff - you have to consider the opportunity cost of replacing one type of drone with another.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 16, 2012, 03:20:36 pm
Wit the amount of scrap we have, it might be worth visiting the store.  At the very least we can get our ship repaired and refueled.


(http://i.imgur.com/uc2WO.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/5JBpj.jpg)


I decide to hire a crewmember and repair the ship over installing a drone bay in the disused hangar.


(http://i.imgur.com/06ReE.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/dtOHh.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/7WTcd.jpg)


Unfortunately, the game won’t let you rename crew members that you hire or rescue!  So anyway, this is Dekker.  Be nice to the new guy.


(http://i.imgur.com/3CoAe.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Bkob1.jpg)


At this point, there really isn’t anywhere else to go other then the exit beacon.


(http://i.imgur.com/ayfDp.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ur5Bj.jpg)


Ooh, derelict station!  Maybe there’s something we can salvage from it.


(http://i.imgur.com/rWKlO.jpg)


yay i'm not dead yet


(http://i.imgur.com/pqPtB.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/135d8.jpg)


Good grief.  Let’s just get out of here.


(http://i.imgur.com/50rpW.jpg)


Let’s jump to the rebel-controlled system!  That sounds reasonable.


(http://i.imgur.com/yBhdO.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/zTAKq.jpg)


Dekker takes Headdie’s place as Chief Engineer.


(http://i.imgur.com/c37KJ.jpg)


The eternal question.  Upgrade the ship system’s now, or save up for when I reach a shop?

(http://i.imgur.com/ULuRc.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/bV2rV.jpg)


Scotty sets course towards a distress signal.


(http://i.imgur.com/ih6Q9.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/B9zaV.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/uXkoc.jpg)


Oohh, this is a good weapon.  That we currently can’t use, I may add, because it requires three points of energy!


(http://i.imgur.com/XDk2f.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/wQwUB.jpg)


Must answer all the distress signals…


(http://i.imgur.com/YJ3G5.jpg)


Now, if our Rockman was still alive, there would be a special blue option to send him in to put out the fire, as Rockman cannot take damage from fire.  Unfortunately, we lost Headdie from the mutant space virus in the last system…


(http://i.imgur.com/iwzg1.jpg)


I dunno, which is worse?  Burning to death, or dying of asphyxiation?  SpardaSon gets to experience both at the same time.


(http://i.imgur.com/YARq9.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/xXaWN.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scotty on September 16, 2012, 03:28:48 pm
Announcement: Until further notice, no crewmember is to leave the ship for any reason.  All shuttles will be locked down, and boarding parties will not be formed unless in the case of extreme emergency.

OOC: two in three systems is a mite too many when there are only five of us. :P
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 16, 2012, 03:29:05 pm
Dropping like flies!

*straightens his Rebel Commodore's Cap*

At this rate, we won't have to kill those bloody fed scouts, space is going to do the work for us.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 16, 2012, 03:29:56 pm
Well I wore that red shirt for a reason lol
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 16, 2012, 03:40:10 pm
This game would be vastly more fun as an open-world thing rather than with the time limit.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 16, 2012, 03:43:20 pm
This game would be vastly more fun as an open-world thing rather than with the time limit.

I have to agree with that - like a vastly improved version of Strange Adventures in Infinite Space (Though I think even that had a timelimit)

I kinda hope he'll implement a campaign like that at some point, much more freeform.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scotty on September 16, 2012, 04:15:39 pm
If it's moddable, I forsee such a mod emerging fairly soon.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Mongoose on September 16, 2012, 04:17:49 pm
Headdie has died of Space Dysentery.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 16, 2012, 04:32:34 pm
Headdie has died of Space Dysentery.

yep turned me inside out
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 16, 2012, 05:32:40 pm
Oh yay!  An asteroid belt!  Just what I need!


(http://i.imgur.com/YQWEB.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6THGc.jpg)


Asteroid belts are very Fun.  Rocks are going to start pelting the shields of both ships.  If the shields are down for any reason, the rocks are going to impact the hull instead.  Also, that scout is arming three different weapons, including a missile launcher…


(http://i.imgur.com/Mkt6U.jpg)


We haven’t even gotten a shot off yet and already the ship has taken significant damage.


(http://i.imgur.com/SrMSk.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/bpWLD.jpg)


The initial laser salvo takes out most of the attack ship’s weapons.  Unfortunately, an asteroid just took out our engine array…


(http://i.imgur.com/rgiyb.jpg)


And now the ship’s on fire!  Oh joy!


(http://i.imgur.com/CpVyY.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/f3eo6.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ynRUb.jpg)


Putting out the quickly-spreading fire is a lost cause.  Instead, let’s vent the engine room into space.


(http://i.imgur.com/lm2b5.jpg)


Z64555, meanwhile, is successful at taking out the assault ship’s weapons.


(http://i.imgur.com/d9V4f.jpg)


That last asteroid hit just took out the door controls.  Now we can’t close the airlock back up!


(http://i.imgur.com/ryRfr.jpg)


The artillery beam scores a glancing hit on the drone ship for minor damage.


(http://i.imgur.com/BEsgu.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/N7uBs.jpg)


The assault ship’s missile launcher is back online!  Fire a cannon salvo at the gunnery control!  And don’t miss this time.


(http://i.imgur.com/h8HCP.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/HSOXZ.jpg)


With the door control system fixed, we can remotely operate the doors on the ship again.  Opening all the doors on the ship is a good way to equalize oxygen levels in all compartments.


(http://i.imgur.com/9VM1Z.jpg)


Direct hit!  The Auto-Assault is no more.


(http://i.imgur.com/2NPco.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/vSCXH.jpg)


It is only at this point that I realize that I left the airlocks open and the whole crew is about to asphyxiate due to my own incompetence!!


(http://i.imgur.com/vQ44P.jpg)


Close the airlocks!  Close them NOW!!


(http://i.imgur.com/7ewP5.jpg)


Everyone into the medbay!


(http://i.imgur.com/djQ9O.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/3WJ3S.jpg)


Disaster averted.  Whew.  Now let’s get that engine array fixed and get out of here.


(http://i.imgur.com/ZB41a.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Z0Izp.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/lqpSv.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/g3T4U.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 16, 2012, 05:54:34 pm
This is why I tend to invest in the infrastructure to support a level 2 shield (4 shield power bars) as soon as I can (Assuming your starting ship has shields)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 16, 2012, 05:58:37 pm
Woah, that was close mate :)
But since you got that ship, you finished the game at least once, I'm still stuck with the Kestrel and an Engi ship.
As of now, I got lvl 2 shields, the burst laser and a hermes, till I get enough energy for both weapons, I micromanage them...Hermes to take out the shields, laser for the weapons...my pilot is an engi...should never do away missions without blue options^^
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 16, 2012, 07:20:11 pm
Woah, that was close mate :)
But since you got that ship, you finished the game at least once, I'm still stuck with the Kestrel and an Engi ship.
As of now, I got lvl 2 shields, the burst laser and a hermes, till I get enough energy for both weapons, I micromanage them...Hermes to take out the shields, laser for the weapons...my pilot is an engi...should never do away missions without blue options^^

I find the Engi ship really helped me get through my first run, I lucked out and got two attack drones and a defence drone, a decent crew (with plenty of mantises - important for the final fight) and full shields, plus several ions. That was a pretty much indestructible ship for taking out the Flagship. I suggest that the Torus might be easier than the Kestrel for your first victory. The Kestrel is versatile, but I find that can often cause problems getting it properly kitted out.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 16, 2012, 07:30:57 pm
Woah, that was close mate :)
But since you got that ship, you finished the game at least once, I'm still stuck with the Kestrel and an Engi ship.
As of now, I got lvl 2 shields, the burst laser and a hermes, till I get enough energy for both weapons, I micromanage them...Hermes to take out the shields, laser for the weapons...my pilot is an engi...should never do away missions without blue options^^

I find the Engi ship really helped me get through my first run, I lucked out and got two attack drones and a defence drone, a decent crew (with plenty of mantises - important for the final fight) and full shields, plus several ions. That was a pretty much indestructible ship for taking out the Flagship. I suggest that the Torus might be easier than the Kestrel for your first victory. The Kestrel is versatile, but I find that can often cause problems getting it properly kitted out.
Realy? Started the Engi ship, got an Ion cannon, and some drones...but not the energy to power both, so I could choose: disable shield with one shot (they recharge as fast as the disruptor) or use a attack drone(same here)
Right now I have the rock cruiser...a missile centered ship...got to buy some laser canons.

Holy crap, I got Butters, seems he doesn't wanna be Dr. Chaos anymore^^
Oh... and Noemi Laporte as well...
(http://geo.schulzbert.de/wp-content/uploads/butters.jpg)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 16, 2012, 07:53:32 pm
I'm trying to decide if there's a good reason not to get the best O2 possible, and then leave the ship normally mostly vented to space except where members of the crew are.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 16, 2012, 08:00:05 pm
Thats a tricky one mate.
If I would do this on my rock cruiser, the O2 wouldn't be able to get to the habitated compartments or am I missing something?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 16, 2012, 08:28:43 pm
Keep in mind that without blast doors, boarders can and will happily open the sliding doors on your ship with the push of a button.  Flushing them out of the airlock just won't work without blast doors.

The late-game is just nasty on Normal.  I managed to get to the final boss on Normal using the Engi Ship.  I just could not gain any new crewmembers on this particular run, and by Sector 6 I was spending most of my scrap on hull repairs just so I could stay alive.  My ship got torn apart in each and every battle.  One encounter in particular pitted my crew of 2 Engi, one Human, and one Anti-Personnel drone against 6 Mantis teleported in from the enemy ship - the anti-personnel drone was of no help at all.

There is always a good reason not to get the best O2 Possible.  The opportunity cost of that scrap not being spent towards something else.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 12:18:39 am
While my deaths have been many and varied so far (I just got taken down by Solar Flares, there aren't enough facepalms in the world), and though they account for a minimum of them, I really find boarding parties, especially ones that happen without an enemy ship so there's no possibility of getting anything in return, to be the most annoying thing in the game.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 17, 2012, 01:24:26 am
Guh..I hate the enemy flagship fight. Fought him twice with a decenty upgraded ship (24 reactor bars, 6 weapons energy, 3 shild layers) and I can win the first fight...but the second one?

I get DROWNED in drones...despite having a Defense Drone Mk2..

And what sucks the most is the randomness of the items you get. You can end up with weapons that suck so much against the boss you simply cannot win the game.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 17, 2012, 01:32:08 am
Don't upgrade shields! Upgrade engines!

Fully upgraded engines give you a 50% dodge chance if both engines and bridge are manned ... allowing you to dodge missiles and bombs which go through shields

I get DROWNED in drones...despite having a Defense Drone Mk2..

Have an Ion Blaster aimed at their drone controller - it wont stop him from launching those swarms but as long as the system ionized the drones will go out one by one

Going to start my ... 26th run with the Kestrel B now - all other ships I've got so (Kestrel A, Egni A & B, Rock A, Zoltan A) far failed me somewhere mid game (I hate plasma storms ...)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 17, 2012, 01:34:40 am
Gunnery Control Log:
Ship Status: 79%
Systems: Low O2

[O2 mask hissing can be heard]
-hssk- We managed to scrap by our teeth that time. -hssk- My accuracy with the weaponry is sub optimal, and should -hssk- start practicing more in the simulator during whatever downtime -hssk- that I get.

We managed to put the fire out by venting much of the oxygen in the aft section, but -hssk- the doors stuck open when we tried to re-pressure the area. -hssk- We're now low on oxygen, but I think we still have some in reserve.-hssssk-

Gods, headdie didn't last long in that station. -hssk- And Sparda didn't bring a good O2 mask into the fire on the one after that, the poor bastards.

-hssk-We mustn't give up...

-hssk-Resting now to conserve O2. Hopefully that new neural interface won't mess up the simulations while I'm under.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 01:36:33 am
And what sucks the most is the randomness of the items you get. You can end up with weapons that suck so much against the boss you simply cannot win the game.

Roguelikes are not designed to be balanced. Merely supposedly winnable.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 17, 2012, 02:03:15 am
And what sucks the most is the randomness of the items you get. You can end up with weapons that suck so much against the boss you simply cannot win the game.

Roguelikes are not designed to be balanced. Merely supposedly winnable.

Am I supposed to like that?

Have an Ion Blaster aimed at their drone controller - it wont stop him from launching those swarms but as long as the system ionized the drones will go out one by one

that's assuming your'e lucky enough to get an Ion Blaster.

What happens if oyu got mostly missile weapons? And the enemy flagship has 2 defense drones? you are frakked.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Patriot on September 17, 2012, 02:44:35 am
2 words


MOAR DAKKA!!!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 03:23:48 am
The stealth cruiser is...well I'm not really happy I unlocked it yet. Some of the achievements seem frothingly optimistic, too.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 17, 2012, 03:50:46 am
And what sucks the most is the randomness of the items you get. You can end up with weapons that suck so much against the boss you simply cannot win the game.

Roguelikes are not designed to be balanced. Merely supposedly winnable.

Am I supposed to like that?

Have an Ion Blaster aimed at their drone controller - it wont stop him from launching those swarms but as long as the system ionized the drones will go out one by one

that's assuming your'e lucky enough to get an Ion Blaster.

What happens if oyu got mostly missile weapons? And the enemy flagship has 2 defense drones? you are frakked.


Koba Yashi Maru, my friend ...

EDIT: That is: Accept that you have lost, analyse how you played and try again ... It's not like a playthrough takes you several days (it's 2,5 houres max for me) so you can easily go back to square one and start over (maybe with a playthrough just to unlock a new layout)

Also, once again the Solstice was lost with all hands during the last stand (crappy placement of the repair stations made it possible)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 17, 2012, 04:46:51 am
Captains Log:
Enginer Chaos mutters something about a Doctor Disaster to support him, while the enemy ship trys to get through our shields.
While Engi Noemi can fix all the systems, I watch the cruiser with my two fellow rock crew mates getting smaller. Too bad the poor bastards don't realize we run out of fuel and missile and the Ion blaster cannot the destroy the enemy, but he can't pierce our shield.
Anyway, maybe they are still there if we return with another ship...if our shuttle makes it home...


thats the problem with the rock cruiser...I got heavy missiles, which are nice cause the bypass shields...but as soon as defense drones are involved, scrap them...they can even intercept ion blaster...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 17, 2012, 03:56:01 pm
Koba Yashi Maru, my friend ...

EDIT: That is: Accept that you have lost, analyse how you played and try again ... It's not like a playthrough takes you several days (it's 2,5 houres max for me) so you can easily go back to square one and start over (maybe with a playthrough just to unlock a new layout)

When life gives you lemons, take those lemons and showe them down lifes throat.

I just modded the game to facilite better scrap income and an improved starting ship. (2x burst laser III's niggaz!)
Kobayashi Maru indeed.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 17, 2012, 04:13:25 pm
The only time I made it all the way to sector 8 so far, it was in a Kestrel with which I was lucky enough to find: a second burst laser II and a fire bomb launcher (deadly combination), and chanced upon a store selling a stealth system and the stealth weapons augmentation and I actually had enough scrap to buy them both!

It let me rip right through to the end, but I lost most of my crew to the second phase of the boss battle, and I couldn't catch the boss again before he finished the game.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 17, 2012, 04:23:56 pm
Koba Yashi Maru, my friend ...

EDIT: That is: Accept that you have lost, analyse how you played and try again ... It's not like a playthrough takes you several days (it's 2,5 houres max for me) so you can easily go back to square one and start over (maybe with a playthrough just to unlock a new layout)

When life gives you lemons, take those lemons and showe them down lifes throat.

I just modded the game to facilite better scrap income and an improved starting ship. (2x burst laser III's niggaz!)
Kobayashi Maru indeed.
And how do you do such things?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 17, 2012, 04:50:13 pm
Koba Yashi Maru, my friend ...

EDIT: That is: Accept that you have lost, analyse how you played and try again ... It's not like a playthrough takes you several days (it's 2,5 houres max for me) so you can easily go back to square one and start over (maybe with a playthrough just to unlock a new layout)

When life gives you lemons, take those lemons and showe them down lifes throat.

I just modded the game to facilite better scrap income and an improved starting ship. (2x burst laser III's niggaz!)
Kobayashi Maru indeed.
And how do you do such things?

Make a lemon powered doomsday device powerful enough to rip a hole through spacetime all the way back to the cold war, and make snake kill Ocelot while he's unconscious. The ensuing time paradox will break reality.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 17, 2012, 05:56:05 pm
Don't upgrade shields! Upgrade engines!

Fully upgraded engines give you a 50% dodge chance if both engines and bridge are manned ... allowing you to dodge missiles and bombs which go through shields

One level of cloak is also enough to dodge missiles.  The moment you see the missile launch, pause the game and activate your cloak.

Alternatively, a Defense Drone Mark I will shoot down missiles most of the time.

The AI doesn't use bombs to their full potential, so those don't bother me as much as missile do.

If you don't upgrade your shields, then you will be in a world of hurt within an asteroid field or if you go up against a foe armed with beams, heavy lasers, or hull lasers (note that stronger beam types can pierce through 1 shield).  I don't usually invest in engines as a priority because dodging gives less consistent results.

Of course, redundant systems is good if you have the scrap for it.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 17, 2012, 06:31:44 pm
THe system overload of the mothership is mean...just when I thought "you suck asshole, the GTD Hope got you!" the ship jumped...and the I was shot to pieces by drones and missile spam...guess I need drones on the next run...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 08:54:39 pm
This close. I realized a shot too late I needed to manually manage my beam fire while letting everything else autofire, or I might have had the freaking flagship in the bag.

If I'd had another ion gun or burst laser, dammit dammit dammit.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 17, 2012, 09:14:03 pm
I just (Read: Started 4 hours ago) finished my third unsuccessful playthrough. But in my defence, I reached the Flagship without losing a single member of my crew and had enough energy and drones to lay some serious smackdown on it.....Only it missile spammed my shield and engines with enough ordnance to completely negate my defence drone. I also forgot to equip my antiship MK2.
So yeah....Engi bomber kicks ass! Or maybe my uncommonly good luck for that particular playthrough?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 17, 2012, 09:39:58 pm
The Indus jumps out of the frying pan and into the fire.


(http://i.imgur.com/B3XMX.jpg)


We’re hit!  Door control systems are offline!


(http://i.imgur.com/RLjKg.jpg)


Torpedo hit on deck 4.  Life support non-operational.


(http://i.imgur.com/5BfYe.jpg)


Firing burst laser…No joy!  No joy!  Z64555, go and fix the O2 systems.


(http://i.imgur.com/hCogt.jpg)


The ship’s on fire again, and with the door systems offline we can’t open the airlock to vent it into space.


(http://i.imgur.com/LU8Vj.jpg)


Scotty is tossed out of his comfortable captain’s chair as an asteroid impacts the bridge.


(http://i.imgur.com/mUkx2.jpg)


The ship’s on fire, everything’s burning, weapons are offline, and that last missile just hit the engine room.  Forget about destroying the attack drone – let’s just focus on getting out of here.


(http://i.imgur.com/kYSmZ.jpg)


That last hit just took out our shield array!


(http://i.imgur.com/cuNrX.jpg)


With our shields online, the ship is at the complete mercy of the asteroid field – which is none at all.


(http://i.imgur.com/WESHj.jpg)


At this point, many people would just hit the escape button and restart the adventure.  However, I refuse to give up.  It’s not over until it’s over!  Everyone, get the engines repaired!


(http://i.imgur.com/KdUwX.jpg)


Those onboard fires might very easily turn out to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Right now the only systems that matter on the ship are the bridge and the engine room.


(http://i.imgur.com/DdZ3U.jpg)



Dying this early necessitates another playthrough…


(http://i.imgur.com/9m5Le.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/V6RgS.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/NJACN.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Ikf0K.jpg)


----------------------------------------------------------------


Now, I made a number of mistakes in this run, and it wasn’t just me derping hard and venting the ship into space!  I could not of anticipated the mutant space virus, and without longrange sensors I had no way of knowing I was about to jump into an asteroid field, but there was still a number of things I could of done differently to avoid dying.

I can think of no less then 4 major mistakes (not minor ones!) I made that were avoidable without 20-20 hindsight.  What I could of down differently:

1. Instead of sending in my crew to put out the fire on the station, I could have instead tried to dock with the station.  In that case, I would have taken hull damage if things went wrong, but at least my crew would be safe.

2. Upgrading the shield system before heading into the asteroid belt.  I had enough scrap to do so, and this is usually one of the first things you want to upgrade.

3. Alternatively, upgrading weapon systems, so I can at least make use of the Pegasus Missile.

4. Targeting the shields of the drones in the asteroid belt, rather then the weapons.  Without shields the drone would have gotten picked apart by rocks.

Time for a second playthrough, methinks.  This one on Easy, with the Type A Kestrel Cruiser, with the goal of making it to the end and beating the final boss.

Remember the Type A Kestrel starts out with a crew of 3 humans.  Someone else besides Scotty can get to be captain this time.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 17, 2012, 10:07:22 pm
I put myself forward for the great responsibility of leading this crew into a senseless and horrible death.  :arrr:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 17, 2012, 10:54:05 pm
When life gives you lemons, take those lemons and showe them down lifes throat.

I just modded the game to facilite better scrap income and an improved starting ship. (2x burst laser III's niggaz!)
Kobayashi Maru indeed.

Someone should mod in a cloning device for the player ship.  It'll be hilarious if nothing else, plus you'll be able to make copies of your best foot soldiers  :lol:  Would have to be balanced somehow though - maybe powering the cloning device would require a significant amount of fuel, which is definitely something you would think twice about using up.

Additionally, scientists have pointed out that a star trek-style teleporter could be used as a cloning device, as there is nothing stopping you from creating multiple copies of the troops you just beamed down.  I'm picturing a ship augment that changes the teleporter's behavior so that it beams copies of your troops into the enemy ship, but won't let you beam them back.  That way the clone(s) go down with the enemy ship, while the original is safe aboard your own ship.

A teleporter could certainly be employed defensively - quickly getting key personnel out of danger - but unfortunately the ships in FTL are too small for this to be viable.  This sort of thing would better suit a less combat oriented game.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 11:05:43 pm
Signing up to man the guns on our glorious Kestrel. Though really, it ought to be "weapons".
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 17, 2012, 11:09:40 pm
Gunnery Control Log (last)
Indus Status report 1%
Systems: 2%

Oh no, not again. -zzzzrk-


OOC: Well that was fun while it lasted. Ah well, that's what redshirts are for. :)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 17, 2012, 11:21:17 pm
With NGTM-1R at the guns, I'd like to sign up for enginering work (either shields or engines, though I prefer engines)

ps. In my own games I'm slowly getting the hang of boarding - high risk but high reward...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 17, 2012, 11:31:05 pm
Signing up to man the guns on our glorious Kestrel. Though really, it ought to be "weapons".
What?  You aren't going to be the captain of the Rebel Flagship this time?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 17, 2012, 11:41:18 pm
What?  You aren't going to be the captain of the Rebel Flagship this time?

Playing the adversary is only fun when they take an active role in the story as whole.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: z64555 on September 17, 2012, 11:56:30 pm
What?  You aren't going to be the captain of the Rebel Flagship this time?

Playing the adversary is only fun when they take an active role in the story as whole.

Hey, I tried. Get on Sparda's and headie's case... that's probably why they died to early.  :lol:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 12:17:02 am
Please confirm crew assignments and ship name:

(http://i.imgur.com/XV6uK.png)

Type A Kestrel Cruiser on Easy, with a player that can make it to the endgame consistently with this setup.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 18, 2012, 12:36:38 am
Engineer reporting for duty!

Crew Log
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Federation Base

This ship! It looks like its been put together by monkeys!
It's engine is seriously underpowered but at least all the doors will open.

However it beats taking on the Rebels in any other rustbuckets they have here - and I'm not made for those last stands. I hope both the Captain and Weapons Officer agree with me on a 'no last stands'-policy, otherwise this could become a very short trip of them getting me killed.

Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 18, 2012, 01:12:58 am
Log, NGTM1R "Weps", GTD Bastion

Not happy they pulled me off a heavy cruiser for this assignment, but oh well. The Fed says go, I go. Scuttlebutt says this mission is change-the-war important.

If so, I sincerely hope they didn't refurbish this Kessie straight from the boneyard for it. Ship is in good material shape from what I can see, for a Kessie. The design has a notoriously weak weapons grid. I wanted to requisition another burst laser and mount it but there just isn't time to do the rewiring it'd take before we launch; we'll have to go with an Artemis launcher and hope we can keep it in ammo from field resupply.

It worries me we have three crew for a ship that is designed with at least four in mind. Are things that bad?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 01:29:10 am
When life gives you lemons, take those lemons and showe them down lifes throat.

I just modded the game to facilite better scrap income and an improved starting ship. (2x burst laser III's niggaz!)
Kobayashi Maru indeed.
And how do you do such things?

ftldat.exe packer/unpacker.... can unpack the .dat file. All ships data is in xml/text files

If you want the .dat file I modded, go here:
http://www.kerberos-productions.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=34923&start=15   the file is attached ot one of the posts.


Ironicly enough, it still wasn't enough to beat the boss...
The second battle with the flagship lasted forever..I had fully upgraded shields but realy bad luck. Couldn't bring their drone systems off-line (despite two blasters, a Ion gun and a missile luancher). I even had cloack and decently upgraded engines, and the frakker still kept hitting my weapons.
In the end I teleported an assault team, and it was actually going very well....but it was too late, my ship blew up.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 01:35:37 am
Oh, put me up as shield/security officer... or captain.

I'd reccomed you start a game with increased crew numbers (yes, it's a mod...yes, I can put it up)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 02:21:13 am
Oh, put me up as shield/security officer... or captain.

I'd reccomed you start a game with increased crew numbers (yes, it's a mod...yes, I can put it up)

I can haz please?    The current run is meant as a legit win so I can demostrate that the final boss is, in fact, beatable.  However, this will come in handy if I do a third playthrough...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 03:23:45 am
You want everything else but crew numbers vanilla?
How much crew you want?

Specifiy changes and I'll make them.

Or you can do it yourself:
https://github.com/bwesterb/ftldat

It's easy. (blueprints.xlm file is what you want. It specifies all ships and equipmetn stats)

Note that I couldn't find starting credits anywhere. But you can edit the scrap collection arm to be more efficient. I have mine at 50%  MUHAHAHAHAHA
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 03:28:55 am
I -only- want to be able to modify and rename the ship's starting crew, for the purposes of having everyone who wants to be a crewmember at start.  If I do a third playthrough, could I get you to modify the starting crew for me?  Thanks.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 03:42:27 am
Captains Log,
TrashMan, the Him on this ship, the God-Captain of Mankind
GTD Bastion

I asked for a ship and I got one. Not much to look at and completely beneath me, but it will have to do I guess.
With some time I'll make a respectable warship out of this. My "crew" consists of only two people.
And they really intrust such an important mission to an underequipped, undergunned, undermanned ship?
Command has been smoking space weed again.
I should have joined the NTF...

Oh well, into the Melestrom of battle. Release the farts of war!


EDIT:

I read FreeSpace insted of FireSpawn.... DERPDUH!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 03:42:52 am
Once again, our brave suicidal heroes set off into the great unknown!

(http://i.imgur.com/hdc57.png)

Sector 1 layout is a tad iffy.

(http://i.imgur.com/dYooS.png)

This early in the game, I am inclined to take more risks then I otherwise would.

(http://i.imgur.com/Z6mZL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/DCykj.png)

As Sector 1 on this difficulty is pretty easy, I am going to just not show the actual combat unless I run into something abnormally dangerous.

(http://i.imgur.com/IZIJb.png)

Like, for example, this encounter.    A Heavy Laser, a Leto Missile, AND a Beam Drone.  Good grief.  Better hope the shields hold, or we could take a lot of damage very quickly.

(http://i.imgur.com/C4HCm.png)

Okay, why is the crew not at their stations.  FireSpawn, you take the helm.  NGMT-1R, shoot out the assault ship’s weapons so it doesn’t tear us to shreads.  Orpheus, manage the engine output so our shields don’t get knocked out by that missile launcher.

(http://i.imgur.com/TzNTV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/vpvLZ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/jS6eI.png)

The Bastion somehow manages to not get hit at all during the opening salvo.

(http://i.imgur.com/Z0r2e.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/xnhnz.png)

Now, Sector 1 being what it is, I was planning on conserving my missiles and only using them when needed.  This is a situation where they are needed.

(http://i.imgur.com/YjANY.png)

The Burst Laser manages to take out the drone control, but the missile quite simply failed to connect with its intended target.

(http://i.imgur.com/ttxiW.png)

A heavy laser impacted our shields, but thankfully the beam drone is no longer functioning.

(http://i.imgur.com/RcGs4.png)

A missile just impacted the starboard exhaust port.  Contrary to what one might be in the holovids, shooting the big cylinder thingies on the back of starships does not actually cause any significant harm to the engine array.  Anything made to have hot plasma passing through it can’t help but resist weapons fire.

(http://i.imgur.com/rrvOA.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/5uw8i.png)

Arm the burst laser!  Target the weapons grid!

(http://i.imgur.com/KI3B9.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/GMyRI.png)

If that robot is trying to disable our ship, it’s doing it wrong.  Whomever programmed the thing is an idiot.  At least with its weapons down we should have no more problems destroying it.

(http://i.imgur.com/3hopF.png)

All things considered, this could have gone worse.  A lot worse.

(http://i.imgur.com/4rgcc.png)

As to be expected, such a well-armed robot was guarding something actually worthwhile.

(http://i.imgur.com/H4Z0l.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 03:44:58 am
I -only- want to be able to modify and rename the ship's starting crew, for the purposes of having everyone who wants to be a crewmember at start.  If I do a third playthrough, could I get you to modify the starting crew for me?  Thanks.

That's easy. It's just a single number in the blueprints.xlm. You can even set specific crew race (the Fed Cruiser entry shows how) if you want.
However, I never tried putting more than 4 starting crew members.
Don't know if it will work.

I'm at work ATM, so I won't be able to make the file now.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 18, 2012, 04:29:35 am
Log, NGTM1R "Weps", GTD Bastion

For all the great technical achievement that the Reb AIs are, they're almost never a match for a human gunner when it comes to placing their shots. I've heard it said they place according to inscrutable AI logic. This is an insult to really inscrutable sorts, like Rockmen. The AI shot placement isn't logical at all.

The reverse is not true. Normal procedure would be to target the shields with a missile and clean up with the laser, but in this case the Beam Drone was actually the most dangerous weapon aboard the AI ship, so that had to go first. After that knocking out the weapons and then finishing with laser fire was relatively easy without needing to target the shields. At such a low strength, a shield really offers no meaningful protection from a Mark II Burst Laser. At least one shot will make contact with the hull.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 18, 2012, 04:32:12 am
Crew Log #2
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Civilian Sector 01

This is going to be *interesting*.
First we have the mission brief during a FTL jump, allowing an automaton ship to catch us off guard, and then the Weapons Officer mistakes the shield controls with the gunnery station. Didn't stop him from shooting all guns via remote control.

Automaton ship was defeated but knocked some dents in the hull plating - who ever programmed that AI's targeting program didn't make a good enough job on the I-part in AI.

Still musing over the salvage ... looks good but some components clearly are missing before I use some of this tech.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 18, 2012, 04:35:49 am
Captain's Log: Stardate....Ah who the hell cares! This is most likely going to be a one way trip for some (read: all) of the crew on board, myself included.

As the last surviving member of the now nonexistant (along with pretty much every other one) 4th Defensive Fleet I expected that I would have got a medal, or at least a ship that was put together properly! I mean seriously! I just checked the helm control, and found that the ship computer was held together with duct-tape, gum and poker chips.....We are so dead.


Captain's Log: Post battle report

Well, that was lucky. Very bloody lucky. Next to no damage, from an obviously better equipped ship? Either some cosmic superbeing is watching over us, us something is about to go very badly in the near future.
As a matter of protocall I performed a check of the crew with the ship systems and and found that after all is said and done, and providing that I'm still alive, I will have to find the lazy nerf herder who programed this bucket of bolts!
Seriously, "FireSpa"!? It sounds like a bloody holiday resort for the Rocks!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 18, 2012, 06:23:43 am
For the record,

I want in on EVERY mission occurring in this topic :D
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 18, 2012, 07:10:24 am
this ftldat.exe thing is too complicated for me right now^^
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 07:21:23 am
Open command prompt.

Copy the data.dat file from the game/resources into ..let's say d:\modding


run the following command:

ftldat unpack d:\modding\data.dat d:\extracted

and it will create a data.dat-unpacked folder. (you can re-name it if you wish..it's easier)
Edit the files in the folder and then run the opposite command

ftldat pack d:\modding\data.dat d:\extracted\data.dat-unpacked  (or whatever you re-named it)

Presto. You get your new data.dat file
Plop it in the game and play
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Veers on September 18, 2012, 07:22:34 am
Awesome game,

I made it to the Boss on my first go, ship was sh*t and was wiped fairly quickly. *Kestrel* Outfitted with cloak/cloak weapon augment. Burst mark 2, missile (standard I think) with a mark 2 ion.

3rd go was using the Engi Cruiser, wiped out on the
Spoiler:
3rd stage of the Boss. Ship was armed to the bloody teeth, she was good.
and I'm on about my 12th go or so now, havent been back to the final 2 sectors since. :(

My route so far is upgrading the shields, doors and sensors earlier, followed by weapons/droves and engines next. A good crew works wonders, A zoltron is always a nice bonus. Humans at controls with Engi running around repairing everything in sight.

(Pretty sure the above is right. Kinda forgot)

Dekker, I'll try and grab some screenies for you of my your newest command

::EDIT::

Ship: Engi Class - Dekkers Ranger
Status: KIA
Acomplishments: Highest Score, Most Evasions, Most Kills, Attempted to f*ck up that mothership, Mission nearly accomplished.

*Salute*
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 18, 2012, 08:29:52 am
Oh god, three stages? Say it ain't so.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 08:44:56 am
The weapons officer realizes why he was having so much trouble with the weapon controls earlier.

(http://i.imgur.com/v29hG.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/U14kT.png)

The sector beacon map is even worse then I had initially thought.  If I jump over to the area with the nebula, will I even be able to access the beacon cluster with the exit beacon without backtracking through the entire rebel fleet?  Best not to risk a situation like that.

(http://i.imgur.com/hsWTd.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/23IjQ.png)

The Bastion dispatches a rebel scout armed with two heavy lasers.  The only occurrence of note is a heavy laser creating a hull breach within the engine room.

If at all possible, knock out both the engines AND the bridge when dealing with a ship trying to escape.  Both of those systems need to be online in order for the scout to jump out, so it makes repairs harder.

(http://i.imgur.com/AJGBL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/j5L9D.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ysuWw.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/XvX0n.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/bqJr5.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/WiwNL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/fvAq9.png)

Good grief.  I think I’d rather have the crew safely aboard my vessel.

(http://i.imgur.com/NCOR6.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Q2dyj.png)

This pirate was probably not expecting that he would be the one made to pay up at gunpoint.

(http://i.imgur.com/gGxEk.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/lsisV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/GX7sK.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/0Z5nm.png)

As I have no way of knowing how long I will have to wait for a refuel, I decide to err on the side of having too much fuel rather then too little.

(http://i.imgur.com/KKs1P.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/FVmb3.png)

Mercenary work!  Bet the crew of the Bastion wasn’t expecting having to do this when they woke up this morning!

(http://i.imgur.com/q2a8X.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/S6Itc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/LpRtQ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/S60F9.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/FgX5V.png)

As it turns out, I could have just gotten my fuel right here.  Nevertheless, this is still a good opportunity to hire a crewmember.  Say hello to the new guy, he hasn’t quite introduced himself yet.

(http://i.imgur.com/lVgzc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/wJcCo.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZHYLo.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/yj5b6.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Pdlsl.png)

Zolton controlled territory!  This’ll be hilarious.

Note that I am sending you guys through all the hostile systems!  The idea is that more combat = more scrap metal = easier endgame.

(http://i.imgur.com/k8qKf.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Ravenholme on September 18, 2012, 08:48:22 am
Oh god, three stages? Say it ain't so.

'fraid so, and the second and third stages.. ;-;
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 18, 2012, 10:50:11 am
OOC: Finally managed to beat the Flagship on Easy ... but since I was running the Stealth Ship A which gives you a really hard early game I guess I can still count this as victory (The Noir (http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af321/0rph3u5/Noir.png) & The Noir victorious (http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af321/0rph3u5/NoirVictory.png), also netted my one of the Stealth Ship achivements)

Crew Log #3
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Zoltan Sector 2

I'll never say another angry word about the Federation's Monkey Shipbuilding Crops. This little ship is holding together even after the Captain decided to bring her into combat three times in row. Only major damage was hull puncture near the engine controls, nothing couldn't be fixed.

Salvage is looking good, hopefully I can put it to use on these engines - more power to the thrusters would make for less hull breaches.

Also we took on a new crewmember - a Mantis no less. I just hope that *person* stays away from my engines, a Mantis breaks more than it can ever fix.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 18, 2012, 11:01:56 am
Open command prompt.

Copy the data.dat file from the game/resources into ..let's say d:\modding


run the following command:

ftldat unpack d:\modding\data.dat d:\extracted

and it will create a data.dat-unpacked folder. (you can re-name it if you wish..it's easier)
Edit the files in the folder and then run the opposite command

ftldat pack d:\modding\data.dat d:\extracted\data.dat-unpacked  (or whatever you re-named it)

Presto. You get your new data.dat file
Plop it in the game and play
Well I got how to come to the stage where I can fidle with the xml files...but don't get them to bake a new data.dat file...and I'm using exactly your instructions o.O
Edit: I get a unpacked data.dat in the modding folder, but when trying to pack it to make it ready to paste into the game folder it shrinks back to a size of 0kb...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 11:30:39 am
Works for me.
Re-name the extracted folder to something simpler. the . and - cna cause problems. So just name the folder something simple.


Here's the modified dat file with 8 crew. Haven't tested it yet.

EDIt: Tested. works , but you can't see the extra crew in the UI (but they are on the ship)and thus, can't re-name them.

[attachment removed and sold on the black market]
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 12:25:06 pm
Hm...I can't find any screenshots I made. WTF does Steam put them????
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 18, 2012, 12:33:20 pm
Paste it into paint?^^
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 18, 2012, 01:23:47 pm
Hm...I can't find any screenshots I made. WTF does Steam put them????

If you click the Community button, the most recent thing at the top should be your most recent screenshots. Otherwise, it's on the right side in your profile, click Screenshots.

I just finished early this morning, on Normal, with a vanilla Kestrel named the Cormorant.
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542938787902958292/1483A96FFBDBDA0D63F9CD9A154D73A688146229/

I'll tell you what: scrap recovery arm, and repair arm make the final boss worlds easier. And stealth weapons, those are good too.
EDIT: Oh yeah, take out the crews manning the weapons on the boss, then they won't be able to repair if damaged.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 18, 2012, 03:12:20 pm
Upgrade teleport. Teleport 2 guys in boss weapons.
Kill them. Destroy weapon. Teleport back.

TAKE OUT ALL THE GUNS!!!!


Or....use breach and fire bombs and focus fire on the O2 systems. Let them all die.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 03:20:12 pm
I can't rely on the game giving me either one of those.  I love using bombs in general - they bypass defense drones, and their effects tend to be more fun then missiles, but I don't always manage to find one.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 03:58:35 pm
I'm surprised no one is vying for a position aboard the ship now that we have a forth crewmember.  C'mon, guys!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 18, 2012, 04:21:37 pm
Dibs! Jose actually means "Scourge" in the Mantis tongue. True fact.

Sign me up for boarding ops, or whatever needs doing.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 18, 2012, 04:52:58 pm
Or....use breach and fire bombs and focus fire on the O2 systems. Let them all die.

Tried that - doesn't work
As soon as all crew members of the flagship are dead there is a pop-up telling you that an AI has taken control of the ship and continues fighting
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 18, 2012, 04:54:24 pm
I wonder... does a drone recovery arm recovers enemy drones as well?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 18, 2012, 05:59:35 pm
Or....use breach and fire bombs and focus fire on the O2 systems. Let them all die.

Tried that - doesn't work
As soon as all crew members of the flagship are dead there is a pop-up telling you that an AI has taken control of the ship and continues fighting

Fought the flagship once so far and notice the fire control rooms seem to be independent of the rest of the ship so can the crew move into those rooms to repair the fire control if you destroy it and kill the crew member
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 18, 2012, 06:04:23 pm
Fought the flagship once so far and notice the fire control rooms seem to be independent of the rest of the ship so can the crew move into those rooms to repair the fire control if you destroy it and kill the crew member

Nope. If you take out the gunner in the fire control station, he stays dead and nobody else can get in to fix it. The system itself repairs between boss stages, but without a guy manning it it'll stay down within a battle.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 18, 2012, 07:48:01 pm
The annoying part about the isolated fire control rooms is that boarding drones can get trapped in there and become completely worthless for the rest of the fight.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 18, 2012, 09:14:39 pm
Captains Log:
As I watch the GTCv Diomedes fall apart around me I cannot help but smile.
Although being a refitted Kestrel, the old lady performed exceptionell well.
While we were able to deliever our intelligence data, the Federation was all but unprepared to fight a war in our backyard. Repair stations are sweet, but what we realy need were a decent supply depot with missiles, they are the key.
We were able to hurt the enemy flagship.
Our boarding drone managed to kill the missile launcher, while we cloaked everytime they fired missiles.
Focusing our hull and burst laser together with the artemis launcher and beam weapon, we inflicted pain...unfortunatly, our drone wasn't able to inflict more damage.
I hope someone will find the blackbox...there is still hope.
This is the Captain, signing off.


So...whats left to say? The boarding drone did well, but to send it against a single weapon subsystem is bull****, better send it against the shields...once they are gone for good, focus one weapons.
What happens if I bring the engines down?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 19, 2012, 01:46:42 am
Or....use breach and fire bombs and focus fire on the O2 systems. Let them all die.

Tried that - doesn't work
As soon as all crew members of the flagship are dead there is a pop-up telling you that an AI has taken control of the ship and continues fighting

But AI ships can't repair themselves anymore ;)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 19, 2012, 02:07:06 am
Actually, I've seen rebel AI ships repair themselves.

And from a story standpoint the rebel flagship is supposedly their staff transport so killing all crew ought to be enough, but...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 19, 2012, 02:33:17 am
Log, NGTM1R "Weps", GTD Bastion

The Rebs are honestly pretty bad out here. I've manned a gun in the heavy duels at least dozen times and they weren't much less professional and competent then we were usually, except the AIs, who were normally smart enough to move in packs. None of that here. Relatively easy pickings, though I do worry about our ability to keep repaired if combat remains this heavy.

We also swore in a new crewman in an abbreviated ceremony today, a Mantis. Not good at repairs, their hands don't work so well for human systems, but they can hit keys as well as any of us so they can man a station. And on a ship this small, having a Mantis to help deal with possible boarding parties  is a blessing.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 19, 2012, 09:42:04 am
The crew of the Bastion finds themselves within Zolton-controlled territory.

(http://i.imgur.com/smz2h.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Lp21y.png)

Some random Zolton Elder tried to show our heroes something, but unfortunately the Mark I Eyeball can’t penetrate the thick nebula.

(http://i.imgur.com/aUrGZ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/XDueH.png)

Oh, look, an unshielded auto-assault.

(http://i.imgur.com/GH4ii.png)

Scourage struggles with the shielding system.  Orpheus is forced to leave his engineering duties to help with the repairs.

(http://i.imgur.com/8AqB4.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Uv8L7.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/xGmEV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/r96Ha.png)

The first engine upgrade is remarkably cheap, so guess I can grab that.

(http://i.imgur.com/y8xBP.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/FZ89w.png)

The Bastion struggles with inaccurate missiles and hull breaches as it takes down another rebel fighter.

(http://i.imgur.com/6XPyy.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/cjChJ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/9MxFc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/pDWWE.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/tECXp.png)

I don’t quite understand why people have so much trouble with boarders.  It’s been a while since I’ve actually lost someone to a boarding party.

(http://i.imgur.com/wvxkZ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/IKDkF.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/3z03y.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/WZD8n.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/n3gha.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/iqBmR.png)

Scrap recovery arm this early on?  Yes please.

(http://i.imgur.com/Tplnr.png)

Don’t you just love it when shops sell nice things that you can’t afford?

(http://i.imgur.com/Oonzl.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4Bewr.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 19, 2012, 10:26:29 am
Crew Log #4
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Zoltan Sector 2

Busy day ... Painkillers from Auto-Doc make me tired.
Made Maintance Tickets for stuff that needs work.

Maintance Ticket #00001
- Fix door control.
- Software bugged. Letting everyone through without ID check.
- Limits effectiveness of spaceing against intruders.

Maintance Ticket #00002
- Upgrade reactor.
- Collector efficency bad.
- Energy output not enough to support Engine upgrade without pulling the plug elsewhere.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 19, 2012, 11:21:33 am
Scourge's log:

Finally found work! Hanging out at the Space Depot parking bay all day was getting boring and hungry, but a little Fed cruiser came by yesterday and actually hired me!

Crew is very nice, three squishy humans. I've spent much of my life around humans, but when these guys told me their mission, that they'll be taking on the rebel armada and pirates and stuff on their way, I laughed. Looks like I'll be looking after them when hostilities break out. But I look forward to it.

Captain FireSpawn needs me on shields so I started looking around as soon as I could. The system is the same as on the Mantis fighter I served on before... before that, heh... but the interface is very different. It'll take a bit of getting used to.

Log update 1:

Ha ha hssssss! My first battle on this cruise! A laser blast from the enemy Auto-Scout's opening salvo just broke right through the hull and nearly took my head off! I'm fine, obviously, but the blast singed me a bit, and knocked out the shields. I was afraid of this, all the tools here were built for human hands!

The enemy went down pretty easily, and me and Orpheus got the shields back online, but the floor of the room is a bit littered with spanner halves that I may have accidentally clipped in half. Heh.

And then... oh then... After another jump, we were boarded! Humans, heeeee! They didn't think there'd be trouble, did they? Nooooo... Oh, the look on that one's face when I surprised his partner with claws in his gut! Priceless.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 19, 2012, 02:44:05 pm
So we can’t afford nice things, but we manage to have them anyway.

(http://i.imgur.com/dnsUp.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/vdlBi.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/xaqw4.png)

Those two stores were probably the only ones in the sector, so I decide to spend my scrap on better shields.

(http://i.imgur.com/9zerN.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/S7OrP.png)

With our new shields, the Bastion manages to ‘process’ a hostile ship without any threat of taking hull damage.

(http://i.imgur.com/qZ9lw.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/p4q29.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/w5Xki.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/kZIgG.png)

So, we just stumbled across some valuable intel.

(http://i.imgur.com/fUDL3.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/XuK6B.png)

The Bastion moves in to assist a station, but…

(http://i.imgur.com/HVyIh.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/bnKLO.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/gRB2e.png)

I think there’s a lesson here.  Poor communication kills.

(http://i.imgur.com/3KF5Q.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Ee2TX.png)

Hmm.  Seems like I can jump into and back out of this system just before the rebel fleet arrives…

(http://i.imgur.com/KxvGa.png)

The pirate’s weapon loadout isn’t capable of penetrating our duel shields.  Use your imagination on how the fight ended.

(http://i.imgur.com/AIRQo.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/DXa4f.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/BNNQV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/hlFFh.png)

Scout data on this sector is completely useless to us at this moment, so might as well take apart the auto-scout.

(http://i.imgur.com/6Ukk6.png)

We’re at the node and jump drives are on line.  Engage!

(http://i.imgur.com/rDWzu.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/aXlJc.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Patriot on September 19, 2012, 03:58:50 pm
Man oh man, am i having trouble getting past the 6th sector.

So far i have unlocked both layouts for the Engi Cruiser, and as much as i like the second layout, it is hard as hell.

At one point i was quite confident i would be able to make it further, but i was cut short by a nasty Elite Fighter that had a missile launcher, not enough crew really hurts and the one drone i kept around wasn't going to repair fast enough to save my ship's life :(

Any tips? I usually go for shields first(both as an upgrade and as something to take out) and then engine(upgrade) or weapons(upgrade or takeout)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 19, 2012, 04:35:05 pm
With the Engi cruiser A, You have to take down the shields system with your Ion blast, so your drone can do the damage. If I have a weapon (or weapon combo) that can take down at least one shield and do hull damage, I try to take out the weapons system first.

For upgrades, do weapons as you need them, then balance shields and engine upgrades (along with other systems) as the threats demand.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 19, 2012, 05:00:35 pm
Keep in mind that the extreme rate of fire on the Engi ion gun is balanced out by its power (or lack thereof).  It tears through shields, but can't keep multiple systems offline simultaneously.  With the Engi Ion, focus fire on ONE (1) system only.

Level 3 Sensors are very helpful if you rely heavily on ion weapons, as you can see exactly what effects they are having.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 19, 2012, 05:14:47 pm
Captain's Log:

With our recent spate of highly successful engagements with hostile craft and boarding parties, I can't help but think of an ancient ballad that was once seen as a masterpiece of music. What little remains of the peice goes "Smack my ***** up. Smack my ***** up. Pow."

Note to self: Double Scourge's daily rations for the next week, due to exceptional fighting prowess in the face of superior numbers....As soon as I find out what they eat. Are they carnivores, herbivore, omnivore? Do the drink nectar? TO THE ENTOMOLOGY HOLO!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 19, 2012, 05:40:35 pm
Log update 3:
A few more brief battles, and I'm getting the hang of the shields system. This is actually a lot of fun! I got a second shield layer to handle while NGTM-1R had a re-loader installed to help him out. But I'm not jealous, it's just nice to be contributing.

In other news, Captain FireSpawn issued double rations in appreciation of my combat prowess! That, along with the boarders from earlier, mean I'm going to be eating well for a loooooooong time.
Related: I've doubled the locks on the closet in the shield room, just in case.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: esarai on September 19, 2012, 08:03:04 pm
I do hereby enlist in the Federation Armada, and request a posting of either Weapons, Engineering or Captain.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 19, 2012, 11:22:43 pm
Upgrading sensor systems right before jumping into a nebula is maybe a tad questionable, but we are going to want level 2 sensors regardless.

(http://i.imgur.com/1LOyr.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/XcYoy.png)

Ugh, plasma storm.  Don’t think I want to risk my crew on this, as we are not exactly overflowing with an abundance of redshirts.

(http://i.imgur.com/UHxGP.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/QyOHR.png)

If that rebel scout thinks it can get through both of our shields with only a basic laser and mini beam, they have another think coming.

(http://i.imgur.com/fL4a4.png)

Precious power is diverted from life support for the sake of having two shields and a weapon.

(http://i.imgur.com/dRqKM.png)

Direct hit!  Now that the rebel fighter has been de-fanged, we can bring shields down and life support back up.

(http://i.imgur.com/4VXpz.png)

Not too keen on that offer, but the salvage we got from destroying it was pretty much the same amount.

(http://i.imgur.com/bOsVg.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/oeyas.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/7Ft6v.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/TQyeF.png)

Recon data would be nice to have before the rebel fleet arrives.

(http://i.imgur.com/pUG0I.png)

All these drones must have been made by the same programmer.  This time it was the port exhaust pipe that got hit with a missile.

(http://i.imgur.com/SJCy9.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/UTcS6.png)

With a full map of the sector, we can clearly see that there are no shops around anywhere.

(http://i.imgur.com/ishHe.png)

A new weapon!

(http://i.imgur.com/rH4Ec.png)

Unlike the Engi Ion Peashooter, this can actually take a system offline for a significant period of time.

(http://i.imgur.com/dv4fE.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/0UWiy.png)

I tend to hold off on reactor upgrades because I can just transfer power between systems as needed.  But we are definitely reaching a point where more power is a must.

(http://i.imgur.com/NPLvr.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/EVuUa.png)

Our new ion cannon enabled the Bastion to dispatch a moderately shielded auto-scout without too much difficulty.

(http://i.imgur.com/eG86d.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/D5DYU.png)

Who says we can’t have nice things?  Now if only I could find a drone bay…

(http://i.imgur.com/gv3co.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/gmUPy.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/eA8jK.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 20, 2012, 01:33:41 am
Hm...the Zoltan Elder usualyl gives you some nice stuff. Some special stuff.

Also, I don't recal manually searching the wreckage resulting in crew death. Some hull damage IIRC. Possibly a pirate attack.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 20, 2012, 01:41:52 am
Hm...the Zoltan Elder usualyl gives you some nice stuff. Some special stuff.

Also, I don't recal manually searching the wreckage resulting in crew death. Some hull damage IIRC. Possibly a pirate attack.

From having BEATEN the game multiple times, I can confirm that both the Zoltan Elder and the Ion Storm Wreckage has a chance of killing a crewmember.  (The death by Zolton Elder is quite an interesting death).  I'm being more cautious with my crewmembers in this playthrough then I would normally be.

I don't think that there are any events that are 100% safe without blue options.  Even the Mantis Escape Pod, normally a source of easy crewmembers, does have the small possibility of killing a crewmember.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 20, 2012, 03:09:04 am
I've never seen the Zoltan Elder kill someone; occasionally cause a fight, but not kill.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: 0rph3u5 on September 20, 2012, 03:11:57 am
Crew Log #5
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Zoltan Sector 2

There ain't no rest for the wicked. Obviously living in the engine room makes everyone think I work here non-stop.

"Upgraded" the shield generator after the Captain asked for it. At first I though they had given us a piece of junk but the system is acutally decent, totally broken but decent. After having replaced most of the wireing nearly half the emiiters are working now, the others have been burned out, some even beyond reapir. I'll have to scratch-build new ones later.

Reactor upgrade is proceeding slowly due to the lack of proper material and because a certain *someone* broke some of my tools. But since we got new energy cells for the weapon capacitators from those Zoltans a few jumps back I was able to devise a plan for powering both the engines and shield to a 100%. I just hope no one noticed that both the Auto-Doc and the Artemis launcher don't recieve energy by default.

Crew Log #6
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Rebel Controlled Sector 3

I hate plasma storms! Having to jam most of the contrrol rods into the reactor makes power distribution a real job. None of the programms is helping either, one even shut down life support to power the shields.

Crew Log #7
GTD Bastion
Current Location: Rebel Controlled Sector 3

We meet with a Engi ship that required fuel and the Captain was so generous as to give them what they needed to get the hell out of here. Transfered over while we were refueling, the stuff they have on their ships is really amazing. Not to mention the Engi themselves.
Maybe I should hire on a ship of the Engi Corps once this mission is over. That is unless no one is getting me killed first.

Looted another drone manufacturing device from a rebel base at the last jump. This looks like it could be a real helper as it could be repairing hull damage on the outsite. Still no control tech to hook it up, we will need to see a merchant in the next Sector about it.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 20, 2012, 04:15:51 am
Log, NGTM1R "Weps", GTD Bastion

Boarding Party, as predicted. Mantis kicked their ass, as predicted. Kind of messy, actually, but not much worse than the time the Rebs tried to board the Marine deck of the Colossus. We have a Heavy Ion mounted but can't power it yet. Actually, I think we're cutting our power needs pretty fine at this point.

Pity we didn't pick up a Zoltan crew member, that would have helped.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 20, 2012, 06:58:03 am
I've never seen the Zoltan Elder kill someone; occasionally cause a fight, but not kill.
I did, one of my rockmen aged backwards and disappeared...
And I never do away missions without a blue option, 'cause I allways loose at least one red shirt

Edit: Why the hell do destroyed ships in the last sector give only fuel upon their destruction?
With a Scrap recovery arm and a repair arm on my rock cruiser I got slowly shot to pieces and only the unlikely event of a rebelship surrendering offered scrap...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Veers on September 20, 2012, 11:13:19 am
Finally finished the game for the first time. (sigh of relief) and it is only 2:06am in the morning.

Engi A
1 Human - Pilot - Full Skill.  2 Engi - Weapons/Engines - Full skill.  1 Zolton - Shields - Full skill.  1 Mantis - Boarder - full skill.  1 Rock - Boarder - full skill

Lvl 3 shields/engines/teleport/cloak/ lvl2 medi, lvl 1 O2. 7 Weapon bars (1 Hermes, 2 Ion Blasts Mark 2) 4 drone bars, boarder, repairer (forgot to sell that) and mark 1 laser

Oddly enough.., this was my 3rd highest scoring Engi A at 3444 points. It is the only one to complete the game. The highest scoring vessel (did not complete the game) was actually named Dekkers Ranger (3793). So serves me right for using the generic name on my vessel. :(
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 20, 2012, 01:46:25 pm
I should probably show you the technique I have been using so far.

(http://i.imgur.com/8461L.png)

Before I got the ion cannon, my plan was ‘shoot out the weapons with the burst laser, fire the Artemis if more firepower is required’.

Having the ion cannon opens up new possibilities…

(http://i.imgur.com/MfjQn.png)

Here we have the missile launcher on the scout getting knocked out by my burst laser.  At this point I decide I don’t need the Artemis missile anymore and power up the Heavy Ion instead.

(http://i.imgur.com/eTbuf.png)

With the Heavy Ion I can keep the enemy shields offline while I hit it with burst lasers.

(http://i.imgur.com/JlkQK.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/KSpNV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/pjVCD.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/udLrh.png)

This guy’s dead and he doesn’t even know it yet.  Look at that loadout.  Zero chance of getting through two shield layers.

(http://i.imgur.com/h30vu.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/imXn7.png)

I managed to asphyxiate the crew of a rebel fighter using weapons that aren’t really up to task.

(http://i.imgur.com/Z8hOM.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/pOKwr.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/khkgw.png)

Killing off the crew of an enemy ship tends to yield more scrap then just destroying it outright.

(http://i.imgur.com/pRDAm.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/mHJQR.png)

The Bastion tries to uncover a mystery without putting her crew in significant risk.  The results were disappointing.

(http://i.imgur.com/iGeLF.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ewDqD.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4oowK.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4Z1AJ.png)

“Helm, open a communications channel with the automated rebel headed our way.  Maybe we can upload a virus into its system or something…”

(http://i.imgur.com/ORCX5.png)

The layout of the Type A Kestrel makes putting out engine room fires problematic.

(http://i.imgur.com/nsXUD.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/hM0GL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/H72L4.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Xa7nX.png)

Despite this little handicap, the Bastion has apparently acquired quite the reputation.  Even the Mantis run in terror from the Bastion!

(http://i.imgur.com/1VtpA.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Patriot on September 20, 2012, 02:46:35 pm
Those creatures on a random planet yield some nice amounts of fuel and scrap usually for me.

Managed to get to the boss this time in Kestrel A, had a Scrap Retrieval Arm upgrade about halfway through for free, had 2 Burst Laser II's and the Artemis, but only 1 missile left(silly me should've kept the Ion Bomb launcher to take out the complete shield system for quite a while) i SHOULD have taken out that god awful missile launcher, having 4 shields is useless against triple missiles torching the place, good thing i prepared the airlocks to vent atmosphere should there be a fire in any place.

so, 4 shields, 4 engines, maxxed system operators, previously mentioned weaponry, lvl 2 O2 generator/medbay, and a few Engi's on standby for repairs, another human to help out with boarding parties(because Engi's don't fight so well up close..)

managed to get the hull down to 3 points, no sweat for dual Burst II's, but his last missile salvo had all 3 hit, emptying MY hull :(
Oh, without drones AND no crew death prior to reaching sector 8, yaaaay
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 21, 2012, 01:10:16 am
Anyone actually try to get some (of those creatures) on board to sell?

One playtrough I had TWO Scrap Retreval Arms. Can you say fully upgraded Kestrel?

Alas, it took forever to beat the boss with it, since I had 2 (3 actually, placed one in storage) bomb launchers, but ran out of missiles in the first fight.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 21, 2012, 04:45:44 am
Mate, I once entered the boss fight with 40 missiles...and during the second engagement...I ran out of them...tough luck^^
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 21, 2012, 05:17:34 am
Mate, I once entered the boss fight with 40 missiles...and during the second engagement...I ran out of them...tough luck^^

I was literally two hull points away from beating the boss right after work, when I accidentally killed his last crew member.

Instantly the AI comes online, repairs the missile launcher, and hits me three times, and it's another ride on the derpout train.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 23, 2012, 05:40:49 pm
At this point we can just barely make it to this beacon before the rebels get here, and collect the scrap that is hopefully here.

(http://i.imgur.com/JBAll.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/tPL34.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/HiWxf.png)

However, we will have to fight our way through the enemy fleet.  This isn’t sector 6 and we aren’t playing on normal, so that isn’t as big of a deal as it sounds.

(http://i.imgur.com/sueBK.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/LUjvO.png)

To buy time for the FTL to charge up, I order all available firepower focused on the weapon systems.  I’m not looking to destroy the ship, just buy time.

(http://i.imgur.com/0WgUv.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/8Mpzr.png)

FTL drive is charged, but at this point the fighter’s weapon grid is on fire and its shields have been ioned out.  As I can jump out at any time, there is no point in wasting missiles on it or taking hull damage – if it manages to fire off a missile, I’m out of here.

(http://i.imgur.com/oVrH7.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/6vEK1.png)

This is what the game’s explosion effects look like if you take a screenshot at the wrong moment.

(http://i.imgur.com/Vftjh.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4f5g8.png)

Sector 4 and no major problems yet!

(http://i.imgur.com/zn6tG.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Zf8gE.png)

I don’t anticipate any problems until we reach Sector 6, but it won’t hurt to spend a bit of scrap on upgrades.

(http://i.imgur.com/TQuEp.png)

Alien…spiders?!?  I’ve only run into this once before, but I do not like the sound of that at all.  As I don’t have a boarding drone with me this time, I’d rather not send my crew to what will probably be a horrible death.

(http://i.imgur.com/EVP8C.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/GwE8n.png)

Déjà vu, anyone?

(http://i.imgur.com/iQF7R.png)

I have pried open enough Mantis Escape Pods to know all possible outcomes.  It could turn out to be an angry mantis that kills one of your crewmembers, but most of the time it is either a friendly mantis or a human captive.

(http://i.imgur.com/Q842q.png)

Great, another new guy who hasn’t introduced himself yet.  Here, you get shield duty, Scourge gets security detail.

(http://i.imgur.com/W8NLE.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/oaBze.png)

This store sure contains a lot of nice things!  Let’s start by buying a drone control system and cloaking device – both of which are very useful.

(http://i.imgur.com/BbEiQ.png)

And that leaves us with not enough scrap for a drone recovery arm!  We could definitely sell this system repair drone – the Kestrel’s layout lends itself reasonably well to repairs unlike some ships (looking at you, Zolton Cruiser).  If I sell the Defense I Drone and Anti-Ship I Drone, that leaves me with a Defense II Drone, a Hull Repair Drone, and just enough scrap left over to manage repairs.

(http://i.imgur.com/Fb75e.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/EySEN.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/6PX3j.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/cFnAx.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 23, 2012, 06:30:12 pm
Scourge's log, update 4:

I'm really starting to get the hang of battles here. We're kind of cleaning up against the few pirates and rebels and whatnot out here. Yesterday, though, we had our first tangle with the Rebel Fleet proper. I was sure the crew would panic, at least a little, but they hardly did at all. The enemy was wiped out pretty easily but we had to bug out right away to stay ahead.

This morning, we jumped into my home sector! It's nice to be so close to home, but I doubt we'll have time to stop at the homeworld.
Actually, I doubt that even if we did, it would out well... my kin don't tend to be too kind to, well, anybody who shows up around here. Case in point: We found a stasis pod floating out in space. When I told the captain that it looked Mantis, he very nearly jettisoned it on the spot. He decided against it, on the off chance the occupant was friendly. I got pod-opening duty, just in case though. It was a Human inside! He was properly freaked out when he saw me, heh, I guess my countrymen were having some "fun" with him, until he escaped.

Turned out to be a pretty decent guy after I promised not to eat him. Firespawn put him on shields duty, and I showed him the ropes. My new job is purely to repel boarders, and I'll probable be the one to put out fires and patch holes in the Bastion as necessary.

Until we get a teleporter installed.  ;7
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 24, 2012, 01:32:49 am
You could have bought a second Scrap Recovery Arm...you should have bought a second scrap recover arm.

The profitssssss
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 24, 2012, 01:36:08 am
You could have bought a second Scrap Recovery Arm...you should have bought a second scrap recover arm.

The profitssssss
Quote
(http://i.imgur.com/Fb75e.png)
he did get one
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: LordVerex on September 24, 2012, 02:19:44 am
by the High Lords of Terra.... this is amazing good sir, have at those pirate wankers!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 24, 2012, 08:34:27 am
Scrap recovery arms are stackable. You can have two of them at once (or three)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 24, 2012, 05:45:15 pm
But the shop had a lot of good stuff with not enough scrap to buy it all - I really had to ponder my purchasing decisions in that particular shop.

A drone recovery arm allows you to be far more aggressive about how you use your drones, as you are unlikely to ever run out.  Additionally, the drone parts saved by the recovery arm can instead be used for hull repair drones, as opposed to having a repair arm eat up your scrap.

I have since figured out that stacking similar enhancements is a very good way to get nice stats. 
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 24, 2012, 06:58:42 pm
Can you recover enemy drones?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 25, 2012, 01:29:01 am
But the shop had a lot of good stuff with not enough scrap to buy it all - I really had to ponder my purchasing decisions in that particular shop.

A drone recovery arm allows you to be far more aggressive about how you use your drones, as you are unlikely to ever run out.  Additionally, the drone parts saved by the recovery arm can instead be used for hull repair drones, as opposed to having a repair arm eat up your scrap.

I have since figured out that stacking similar enhancements is a very good way to get nice stats. 

You make a good point - however, unless drones are your primary mode of attack you won't run out of them easily. Especially since you can easily get a few from fighting.
And an extra scrap recovery arm increase you income in general, giving you more money for more upgrades- meanin you are stronger and you have to spend less money on repairs, and you have more than enough money to buy drones.

With two recovery arms you can upgrade your ship to full and still have leftover scrap.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on September 25, 2012, 11:54:43 pm
Log, NGTM1R "Weps", GTD Bastion.

Not much to report on the gunnery front. Things continue to go relatively easy, and weapon hits are rare. We freed the Mantis up for counter-boarding and D/C duty by recovering another human.

Still. I'm not fond of Ion Weapons; alone they're really only good for shield work, you need several to really get options out of them.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 27, 2012, 04:29:56 am
Not a whole lot happens on the way to the exit beacon.  The Bastion found a new missile launcher or two, though.

(http://i.imgur.com/TkB2b.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/IFteu.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/y7g3e.png)

I most definitely won’t be using three missile launchers, so at least one of these will get sold.

(http://i.imgur.com/j2tD0.png)

Scourge attempts to fight off a boarding party, and gets swatted around for his trouble.

(http://i.imgur.com/Iq16k.png)

The boarders manage to breach the blast door using explosive charges.  NGMT-1R dives behind an empty cargo crate and opens fire with his standard-issue Federation Phaser.  One of the Mantis boarders draws a blaster magnum and takes aim at the cargo crate. The blaster shot explodes on impact, knocking both the crate and NGMT-1R against the wall.

(http://i.imgur.com/sZFYT.png)

The battle outside the ship, meanwhile, is going quite smoothly despite the constant plasma explosions in the weapons bay.  Apparently in the future, a military-grade handgun can match the destructive potential of an old earth grenade launcher.

(http://i.imgur.com/Bi7WK.png)

With the Bastion’s crew all either in the medbay or busy watching the enemy fighter burn, the decision is made to vent the weapon control room into space.  The hostile boarders respond by trying to force their way into a different compartment.

(http://i.imgur.com/GPwUj.png)

NGMT-1R, meanwhile, rigs up an improvised explosive that involves an electric current, a box of carbonated beverages, a video camera, and an empty supply crate.  The intruders get quite the surprise when they manage to get through the door.

(http://i.imgur.com/vk6AA.png)

A few uneventful jumps later and our intrepid redshirts find themselves in an alien homeworld.

(http://i.imgur.com/DtWqs.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/z3Cwy.png)

The Bastion has barely entered the sector and already she is under attack by hostiles.

(http://i.imgur.com/IqTpS.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/z2xQs.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/HPTAC.png)

Asteroid fields commonly turn out to be the bane of so many players.  Me, on the other hand…

(http://i.imgur.com/CV4Zn.png)

Given the last transmission received from the enemy fighter, the request to surrender makes little sense.  Must be a trick.

(http://i.imgur.com/frNch.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/H9yYc.png)

Solar flares.  The other bane of so many players.  Personally, I don’t see what’s so fearsome about solar activity – the fires are more of an annoyance then a genuine threat unless you have already taken a pounding.

(http://i.imgur.com/2iQph.png)

A missile is fired at the Bastion, but the Bastion cloaks immediately after detecting the missile launch and the missile loses lock.

(http://i.imgur.com/aO9Wx.png)

It just occurred to me that using fire weapons in this environment would be downright evil.

(http://i.imgur.com/6HnQx.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/uwhlD.png)

So that last solar flare created a bit of a problem, and we kinda had to vent half the ship…

(http://i.imgur.com/EYHWP.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/r5rru.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZqPFf.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 27, 2012, 05:47:58 am
As long as your shields are up, solar flares are no bigge.

Also, as long as you don't have comparementnts open to space.

Speaking of which, if no one claimed the Baars guy...I'm it...him..
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on September 27, 2012, 06:44:21 am
Captains log:

Despite the fact that we seem to have a giant bulls-eye painted on our hull and everyone we meet are either gung-ho idiots or pirates determined to fillet us and sell our ship for scrap, things have been in our favour for some time now. While I assure you that it's been no picnic, and our lives have been in an inordinate amount of danger, our gains outweigh our losses.

And speaking of "gains", during a salvage of one of the vessels we sunk, the salvage arm picked up a case of Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters. These will be shared out amongst the crew before our next jump, as I have a feeling that we will be facing the greatest smackdown threat to the Federation in history (second only to the great mutant parsnip invasion over three centuries ago).
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 27, 2012, 09:48:40 pm
Scourge's log, update 5:

Now we're talking, I got some good action today! When we ran into a Mantis fighter, two boarders just up and beamed onto the Bastion. I greeted them with open claws, with which I attempted to remove their heads. If I read their markings right, the two Mantis were from clan Krzzigspiffy, also known as the 'rotund-and-ill-suited-for-mating' clan. I informed them of my opinion, which I believe angered them; It was hard to tell by those vacuous, stupid eyes they have.

Anyway, they fought well enough, and I made a tactical retreat to the medbay, while NGTM-1R "Weps" set a trap in the gunnery station. A short time later, I was joined by "Weps". He told a harrowing tale of cunning and hand-to-claw combat while the med-bot reattached his left arm. Still, fighting a pair of angry, stupid Mantis is a tall order for a squishy Human, so props for that. Once we were patched up, we finished the Mantis off easily.

And then, suddenly, Rockman! All up in the medbay! Those guys are slow, and I was able to take it down single-clawdedly, with an assist from the med-bot.

Also we jumped wayyyyy to close to a star for a battle with another Rock ship. What is with those guys? Also FIRE! But we're cool now.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 29, 2012, 03:36:32 am
Remember, our mission is to MEET new life forms, not SHOOT them!

(http://i.imgur.com/YyLRY.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/YZQLu.png)

Finally, a break from constant battles!  Orpheus, NGTM-1R, and Trashman all chip in to fix and upgrade the ship.  Scourge is told in no polite terms that he is not allowed to help with those sharp claws of his.

(http://i.imgur.com/rqcQ6.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4IXKk.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/iLx1Y.png)

The Federation’s mission may be peaceful contact, but for whatever reason they always find themselves being shot at.

(http://i.imgur.com/QGOWr.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/of7hU.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/54YNf.png)

Naturally, the assault ship cloaks right off the bat and then fires off a huge missile immediately after decloaking.  Our defense drone shoots the missile down.

(http://i.imgur.com/DDe2W.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/e2Xa0.png)

FireSpawn orders a cannon volley aimed at the bridge to show that the Rock captain shouldn’t get too comfortable in his fancy dreadnought.

(http://i.imgur.com/Gl9Le.png)

Direct hit, but the damage is quickly repaired.

(http://i.imgur.com/ElcL4.png)

The ship is now officially on fire.  Afflicted areas are vented into space.

(http://i.imgur.com/sMv62.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/sfGJh.png)

The Rock Dreadnought has jumped!  Can we manage a bit of repairs before passing through the next solar flare?

(http://i.imgur.com/JiWDp.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/gZa2R.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/QSUe2.png)

NGMT-1R Scourge begins slicing everything in the medbay in half in a futile effort to fix it.  Also, that solar flare is our cue to get out of here.

(http://i.imgur.com/2iLAt.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/7HgKG.png)

Admirals, I tell you, with their invincible dreadnoughts and huge shipyards.

(http://i.imgur.com/OQSLy.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/3Jy3V.png)

Oohh, rock armor!  Think I’ll replace my reloader with this for no other reason then because I can.

(http://i.imgur.com/XlxTZ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/o4rZD.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/mDROl.png)

While Orpheus attempts to repair the damage NGMT-1R did to the medbay, lemme show you the new ship in the hangar.

(http://i.imgur.com/0eIKa.png)

And the Shivan variant.

(http://i.imgur.com/WBIYD.png)

Utilizing incendiary components that put thermite to shame, the Fire Bomb truly is a terrifying weapon.  The enemy will learn the true meaning of terror as they watch their compatriots get consumed by the raging inferno.  Sure, there may be more powerful weapons, but few are as capable of tapping into such primal fears as this one.

(http://i.imgur.com/mwEOQ.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 29, 2012, 04:15:45 am
niclely done unlocking the rock cruiser
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 29, 2012, 05:13:42 am
niclely done unlocking the rock cruiser
Was a bit underwhelming actually.

I was expecting, I dunno, some huge ship-consuming inferno, or at least for the rock ship to stay around longer then it did.  The solar flares were hardly given any time to pick apart my ship - most normal battles last longer.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: crizza on September 29, 2012, 05:28:50 am
How did you unlock the second pattern?
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: headdie on September 29, 2012, 06:01:43 am
niclely done unlocking the rock cruiser
Was a bit underwhelming actually.

I was expecting, I dunno, some huge ship-consuming inferno, or at least for the rock ship to stay around longer then it did.  The solar flares were hardly given any time to pick apart my ship - most normal battles last longer.

I dont think I have even found that encounter yet.  sofar have:
kestral and it's alt layout which kicks ass in the early game
Engi ship which is a good alrounder once you get a burst laser to complement the Ion, and it's alt layout
stealth ship, lots of potential in that one but cant seem to get the best out of it
Zoltan Cruiser which is very meh imho but then only run it once so might not be giving it a fair chance
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on September 29, 2012, 03:43:48 pm
You should have kept the reloader and ditched the drone recovery arm.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on September 29, 2012, 06:32:05 pm
How did you unlock the second pattern?
All alternate layouts for ships are unlocked through ship-specific achievements.

I dont think I have even found that encounter yet.  sofar have:

Engi ship which is a good alrounder once you get a burst laser to complement the Ion, and it's alt layout
The Type B Engi Ship doesn't allow for the same type of drone spam as the Type A does.  Can't really ditch those sys repair and anti-personnel drones when you start with only 1 crewmember. In fact, even with four crewmembers you might still want to keep at least some of those drones.
The Type A, on the other hand, can make very good use of a drone recovery arm.  I understand your line of thinking, and yes sometimes you have to improvise, but the Ion Blast II is pretty good at getting through shields on its own.

stealth ship, lots of potential in that one but cant seem to get the best out of it
Stealth Ship is very much a glass cannon, especially the Type B variant which comes with a glaive beam (!)  Your top priority should be saving up for and buying a shield system, although with the Type B Stealth Ship finding a weapon pre-igniter early on would lead to much hilarity.

Zoltan Cruiser which is very meh imho but then only run it once so might not be giving it a fair chance
Type A Zoltan Cruiser is absolutely horrid for damage control, and trying to put out fires in particular.  The Engine Room, Shield Systems, and Weapon Systems are all right next to each other, and arranged in such a way that venting the engine room into space will also vent the weapons and shields!
While meanwhile the bridge and medbay are way on the opposite end of the ship, a fair distance from the weapon and engines.  A system repair drone might be more useful on the Zoltan Cruiser then it would otherwise be.

You should have kept the reloader and ditched the drone recovery arm.
Too late, already recorded a huge segment of my playthrough :P  Can't use any of your so-called 'advice' in this run :D
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 30, 2012, 04:55:17 pm
Scourge's log, update 6:

It'll be a short one today. On our next jump, we ran into a Rock captain who didn't immediately try to shoot us down. Sure he threatened, but he indicated that there would be some sort of reward for winning a duel or something. We upgraded the Bastion, got a briefing (apparently I'm forbidden to slice these guys to pieces. Idk, but I won't be responsible if they happen to teleport on).

So we go in, do our little duel right next to another star (seriously, what's the deal with that?), and escape with minor damage. The medbay caught on fire a little bit, and I got sent in to fix it when it was out.

I think the heat got to Commander Heartnet though, he kept calling me NGTM-1R, and he's all "Fix that medbay!" and I'm all "Dude! Claws here, and I'm working on it!" and he's all "Whatever, NGTM-1R" and then we jumped out again.

At least I won't be taking the blame for the condition of the medbay, heh.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Sandwich on October 02, 2012, 08:14:08 pm
I'll just toss this in here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1nwDzKRRPE
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on October 02, 2012, 08:29:19 pm
I'll just toss this in here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1nwDzKRRPE

I somehow went from that to listening to dubstep.... :wtf:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Mongoose on October 02, 2012, 10:40:23 pm
In the grand HLP tradition...the Osprey looks like a wang. :p
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 02, 2012, 11:36:50 pm
Chasing after that rock cruiser means that we are going to have to backtrack a bit.

(http://i.imgur.com/rNB7o.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/x6ph0.png)

Aha, road rage at its finest.  You bump into somebody, and get shot up for it.

(http://i.imgur.com/qLj0B.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/sfS8S.png)

Eh, solving one mystery is enough for one playthrough.

(http://i.imgur.com/KyEmk.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/MrXdA.png)

Escort Mission!  Yay!

(http://i.imgur.com/Z3H8u.png)

Let’s see.  If I jump to this shop, I will just barely have enough time to get to the exit before the rebels arrive.

(http://i.imgur.com/JaGVU.png)

Teleporter!  Double Yay!

(http://i.imgur.com/Qpohc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4DW4s.png)

Okay, it looks like there in fact wasn’t enough time to get there.

(http://i.imgur.com/whRbS.png)

Maybe this rebel fighter will be a cakewalk like the last one.

(http://i.imgur.com/X0BJY.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ksYi9.png)

Or maybe it’ll just blow up our drone systems.

(http://i.imgur.com/cikzv.png)
Target the enemy’s weapons with a full missile salvo!  FIRE!

(http://i.imgur.com/6smdt.png)

Naturally, the missiles never hit when you need them to…

(http://i.imgur.com/Tet0Z.png)

Scourge, quit sitting idle and chop up the drone bay.  Maybe cutting a few loose wires might fix it…

(http://i.imgur.com/a0ncT.png)

I decided I didn’t want to risk getting hit by that MKIII Burst Laser.

(http://i.imgur.com/qqQN5.png)

Jump drive is online, let’s get out of here.

(http://i.imgur.com/Y9umt.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/1cKIX.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/8bv9M.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Hades on October 02, 2012, 11:58:03 pm
Oh BTW Steam is using the screenshot of the "Shivan" paintjob on the store page for the game. Congrats!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on October 03, 2012, 12:00:29 am
Oh BTW Steam is using the screenshot of the "Shivan" paintjob on the store page for the game. Congrats!

It was doing that on release day. I think they're just hard to tell apart.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Hades on October 03, 2012, 12:02:40 am
Oh BTW Steam is using the screenshot of the "Shivan" paintjob on the store page for the game. Congrats!

It was doing that on release day. I think they're just hard to tell apart.
Whoops yeah, there's a slight difference in that one UI window is up on Hartnet's and not theirs. Nevermind, I'm a derp. :(
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on October 03, 2012, 07:41:48 am
Captain's Log:

I ended up drinking that crate of space-booze that we picked up several days ago, and ended up tripping balls up until now. I have no idea what I have commanded my crew, nor the situations that we have been in. All I know is that I have one hell of a headache and no hangover cure in sight, as it seems a certain claw handed crewmember has cut up the medbay and shredded the anti-hangover field emitter.
Sincerely considering to jump the ship into a star, just to get rid of this headace.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 07, 2012, 06:15:01 am
The Slug Nebula is a treacherous place, a shining example of capitalism gone horribly wrong.  One doesn’t even have to set foot in the nebula to find themselves under attack.

(http://i.imgur.com/l8f8s.png)

I don’t like the looks of those duel beam cannons.  Better hope the shields hold.

(http://i.imgur.com/jS98C.png)

One missile barrage later, their ship is set on fire.

(http://i.imgur.com/dM8pS.png)

Unfortunately, Drone Control just got hit with an Artemis missile, leaving our ship vulnerable to ion and missile fire.  This could get very painful very quickly if our shields get taken down…

(http://i.imgur.com/twkcQ.png)

The slug pirates waves a white flag.  Our defenses are offline, there’s a hull breach in the shield array, and I generally don’t want to see the fight go on longer.  After all, the slugs won’t try and deceive us.  Right?

(http://i.imgur.com/UXdgg.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/dlSsw.png)

…What?  Grrr!  Can I go back to shooting him?  What do you mean, I can’t?

(http://i.imgur.com/hJ6nK.png)

Suddenly, a wild a distress signal appears!  Chop chop.

(http://i.imgur.com/fzDfk.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/3kd98.png)

Here is our intended escort destination.  At least it won’t be a trap this time

(http://i.imgur.com/YFPaj.png)

Well, darn.  Power up weapons.

(http://i.imgur.com/m7kGo.png)

Some intruders were kind enough to pick the airlock as the spot to teleport into.  Airlock rooms can be vented especially fast.

(http://i.imgur.com/mFTv8.png)

Scourge almost manages to fend off the intruders off by himself.  Unfortunately for him, ‘almost’ doesn’t count for much.

(http://i.imgur.com/Fza44.png)

Thankfully, the intruders suffocate to death in a futile attempt to gain access to the weapons grid.

(http://i.imgur.com/6atKL.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/5zGAs.png)

This battle is going well.  Scourge, into the teleporter bay!

(http://i.imgur.com/3xYWo.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/6T43k.png)

For the sake of awesomeness, Scourge is beamed out just as his position gets shelled.

(http://i.imgur.com/H669Q.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/0DWwG.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/2TxBu.png)

The last thing I need is a missile killing an injured crewmember before he can reach the medbay.  Cloaking device engaged.

(http://i.imgur.com/cj387.png)

With only one enemy crewmember left, mopping up is easy.

(http://i.imgur.com/04olc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/mzI3G.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on October 07, 2012, 10:48:40 am
Why do you only send 1 guy over to board? I?m sure oyu cna spare one more from one of the less important positions.

I volounteer for boarding suport.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on October 07, 2012, 11:39:44 am
Scourge's Log, update 7:

While we got a teleporter installed last week, we haven't gotten a chance to really demonstrate it yet. Until today that is.

First, though is the incident from yesterday. We've found so far that slugs tend to be cowardly and treacherous. Slugly, in a word (that I just made up). One of them called for help and the commander, kind soul he is, offered it. The slugs claimed that they were having trouble with their O2 scrubbers, and I volunteered to put my growing skills in reverse-demolitions to use. I sauntered over and found the O2 unit remarkably un-needing-repairs, and a trio of slugs with daggers and blasters standing in the doorway. Heh. The survivors surrendered.

And then today we ran into a Rebel Fighter. They teleported a couple dudes over, and after dealing with them I got to test out our teleporter. A couple jumps back and forth for healing, and they were all dead and decorating the corridors their insides.

And with that, I hereby declare myself: Scourge, Marine Captain! I like the sound of it.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 07, 2012, 01:31:20 pm
Why do you only send 1 guy over to board? I?m sure oyu cna spare one more from one of the less important positions.

I volounteer for boarding suport.

This is Sector 7 6.  At this point, all the crew positions are important.

Edit:  Can't count
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 24, 2012, 08:06:34 pm
(Sorry for the long delay between posts – being ill sucks.)

Oh look!  It’s the slug that tricked us earlier, flying what must be his spare ship!  Finally, a chance to get revenge!

(http://i.imgur.com/eqaws.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/aN5gd.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/wRcHm.png)

With the rebel fleet nipping on our tails and a store beacon nearby, the logical thing to do is to jump into the nebula.

(http://i.imgur.com/m7ZCg.png)

Sadly, the store does not have much to offer except repairs.  The scrap metal instead goes towards upgrades.

(http://i.imgur.com/WZgTx.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/9w4o3.png)

Another shop!  And I just spent most my my scrap…bugger…

(http://i.imgur.com/V6jYV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/dnRbm.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/4Cxx1.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Qxyyl.png)

...Wait a second.  What did we just purchase?

(http://i.imgur.com/aSTBT.png)

Bah!  Evil lawyers, with their fancy 'contracts'!  Power up the teleporter, and flush the intruders out of the airlock!

(http://i.imgur.com/9TkKk.png)

NGTM-1R shoots the intruders at point blank range as they force their way through the door.

(http://i.imgur.com/ZywJR.png)

The slugs should really connect the life support system with the rest of the ship.  But then again, isolating the life support does mean that slug shipyards can sell more used ships…

(http://i.imgur.com/J0TNT.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/5rzwq.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/kXNv0.png)

Alert!  Intruder on deck….oh wait, it’s just Jabba the Hut.  Cancel the alarm.

(http://i.imgur.com/4CrLs.png)

Guess it won’t hurt to ‘hire’ a human ‘worker’.  Perhaps sell the Pegasus and Artemis missile launchers in the hold, and….ooh!  Glaive beam!

(http://i.imgur.com/fFvkr.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/b2wfp.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/vOEG5.png)

Guess I will hire another worker with my remaining scrap.  A pleasure doing business with you, Jabba.  Really.  You had just what I required.

(http://i.imgur.com/CKiA2.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Dbr2F.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on October 24, 2012, 08:58:18 pm
Captain's Log:

I like to think of myself as a tolerant and open minded federation officer. I have a multi species crew, and my roomate back at the academy was an Engi (that sonofacoffeemachine new more about astronavigation than the instructors, and was one hell of a party animal. Hell, even the other Engi cadets were amazed by the fact that he both managed to obtain several quarts of depleted reactor gel but also didn't suffer any adverse effects after he drunk it all, all his attempts to copulate with the air-con aside...But I digress). But the Slugs? Them, I can barely stand. We've been in this Slug nebula for a couple of days now, and we've faced numerous counts of back-stabbing and piracy. Add to that, their psionic abilities and the sensitive infomation I have, we end up with a possible problem.

In other news, I've been recieving complaints from several members of the crew that their is a fowl smell coming from a closet in the weapon bay, which has been equiped with a no-standard mantis locking mechanism and reinforced with a spare hull plate. Due to my lack of knowlege of Mantis customs, and an attatchment to all my limbs, I will task NGTM1R with the investigation.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on October 25, 2012, 12:07:34 am
Scourge's log:

Slugs. Yep. Love 'em. I think the standard practice from here on should be: If they're not on your payroll, always assume you're going to need to cut them into gooey fillets. Even if they are on your payroll, keep an eye on 'em. I say this because we got boarded by a few of them while the captain was chatting with a Slug about some possible acquisitions. Took care of them easily enough.

Trashman's been looking a bit green recently, I wonder if he can smell my closet? I emptied it out a few jumps ago, but I guess there's some bits I missed? I should sneak in there and swab it down sometime. Or, better yet, make our new Slug do it! Yes.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on October 25, 2012, 03:39:07 am
TrashMan's log:

Two new crewmembers joined our motly crew. Now I'm not the greenest here (unless you count my skin color near Scourges locker. What the hell does he keep in there that can stink so impossibly bad? Serisouly. We should weponize that s***!)

One of the new crewmembers is a slug.. Yeah, you can all see where this is going, no? No one really trusts him and I can't say I blame them given all our experience with that species. I kinda pitty the guy. He's going to have to work really hard to earn the crews trust.

The good news of today is that the other new crewmemeber is a woman! Finally. I was getting tired of the sausagefest anyway. Had a nice long conversation with her. Which reminds me... grub time. Better hurry to meet her in the mess hall!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Mongoose on October 25, 2012, 05:20:21 am
Oi, no shipcest! :p
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 25, 2012, 08:11:09 pm
So, any takers for Lana or Marin?  Otherwise, I might have to play Lana, and my posts will be divided between me posting the next part and me playing as Lana.  And besides, Trashman probably won't much like me playing Lana - if current trends continue, he'd have to lock himself in the advanced medbay half the time.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: NGTM-1R on October 26, 2012, 01:03:48 am
Long may the Slugs continue to make mistakes in their design.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 27, 2012, 10:37:36 pm
Lana's Log:

Men!  I just don't get them!  Even out here in the middle of hostile space, they only ever seem to have one thing on their mind.  I tried having a nice, long conversation with him, but he was such a jerk!  Even the slugs were more courteous then this!

At least now that I have that blaster magnum, I won't have to rely on using that steak knife I found in the mess hall to chase him away.  Come to think of it, I can't even find him anywhere.  Hmm...

The captain had me undergo a medical examination in the rather impressive medbay.  The medbay computer kept saying something about a 'mutation', whatever that is.  Much of been a computer glitch or something, as I was declared fit to serve anyway.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on October 28, 2012, 04:34:35 am
Ok, not that's just rude.

My log sez nothing of the kind - just a "nice, long chat".

I should sue you for deliberate character villanization! Viscious slander. I am nothing but a perfect gentelman!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on October 28, 2012, 12:59:32 pm
*Engage Ship Announcement System*
Now hear this. Under the Federation Navy Doctrine article 5-N, sub section 45/a; "During a combat situation, all crew are to keep all interactions to a professional level as failure to do so may result in breaks in discipline and the chain of command."

Need I remind you all that while I may be a little lax on this particular rule, the system AI has access to all logs made by the crew and will notify me of any cause for concern. I understand that we face death in the eye for every second we traverse the void, but I will not allow us to fall prey to our baser instincts that may cause problems in the future!
Remember all those lost in the battle of Calypso Prime! Remember the fall of Vega! REMEMBER THE BURNING OF THE GARDENS OF IOR!

WE, are the keystone for the final battlement against the oncoming sqaull of injustice. WE, are the spearhead for the lance of freedom. WE HOLD THE FUTURE OF THE GALAXY UPON OUR BACKS! Nobody else knows what we do. Nobody else can carry this burden to the finish, and come out victorious.

Remember that despite species, gender or any other differences we may have, this crew is Family. Not of birth, but of blood. Blood spilt together in the course of completing  this mission. Not of birth, but of deed. As each of us have and will put our crewmates before ourselves.


We have almost reached the end of our journey, and the outcome is not something that I can foretell. But know this: Though we may head towards out death, we will die with our brothers and sisters beside us as we carve a wound into our enemy that our names will be spoken only as whispers in darkened rooms. And we will know that throughout our mission, we were the ones to carry the flames of hope for the Federation.

FireSpawn: Out.

*Announcement End*
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on October 29, 2012, 01:58:45 am
TrashMans log:
Date....whatever.

I warned them. I warned them not to buy those mashrooms and eat them. That vendor was shiftier than a slug, why was the only one to see it?
Ya know, I expected the crew to be sick or chained to a restroom for a while, but what happened was crazier. Can you say halucianations? Those shrooms got everyone high and the effects started manifestign suddenly.

One minute I'm talking to Lana, the next minute she's swinging a knife at me and sprouting obscenities that would make a truck driver recoil in disgust. Scourge was having a staring contest with his shadow. NGTRM ran around naked. Firespawn was making long, winded speeches to an empty room.
It's crazy.
The only ones unafected were me and the slug. Me because I didn't eat them and the slug..I guess his biology works differently.

It's gonna be a chore sorting this out when the crew gets back to normal. For now I barricaded myself inside the security room. From here I can watch what is going on and react if something happens, while at the same time safe from the crazy out there.
Hmmm...better keep a close eye on slug boy. He might try something now. Oh yes, I have my eye on you slug boy!

Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 29, 2012, 02:16:38 am
Lana's Log:

Oww.  My head.  Why do I feel so miserable...?

...I won't suppose the slug ship right outside the window has anything to do with this.

(http://i.imgur.com/R2my5.png)

Now where'd I put that steak knife...
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Mongoose on October 29, 2012, 02:30:49 am
I warned them. I warned them not to buy those mashrooms and eat them. That vendor was shiftier than a slug, why was the only one to see it?
Ya know, I expected the crew to be sick or chained to a restroom for a while, but what happened was crazier. Can you say halucianations? Those shrooms got everyone high and the effects started manifestign suddenly.
"Obnoxious little frog."
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on October 29, 2012, 02:33:22 am
Scourge's Log:

Well, it's happened. The shadow is back. I though I killed it long ago, but it came back last night. Just as I was really starting to feel at home and even reasonably safe around my crew, that shift, creepy punk came back. Oh, I gave him an ear full, and I think I scared him away for now, but I must keep vigilant.

The other day, Captain gave a neat little speech about family and crew and the glory of the Federation and stuff.

I didn't buy most of it, but...
For one thing, I'll be glad when this is over. These Rebel jerks are really making life hard.
On the other hand, I haven't really felt kinship since I left the Mantis homeworlds. These crazy, weird, squishy (especially the new slug) crewmates could actually be a family. If the new girl doesn't stab Trash's eyes out first. Ah, but I guess that's what family is for?

Oooh, enemy ship on sensors, time to sharpen my claws!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on October 29, 2012, 09:25:31 am
Captain's Log:
Just finished spying on monitoring some crew logs to make sure that all the crew are still mentally sound. Scourge seems to be suffering from some for of hallucinations, but I feel that until our mission is complete it carries little risk for the time being. Still, I wish we had the facilities on hand to deal with mantis psychology.

And due to the log entry of another crew member, I feel the need to state this: My speeches aren't long winded! They are inspiring and, and...Ah who am I kidding, what my roomate D3KK3R said back at the academy was right. He said "Bro, it's much easier to do your job if you're smashed. Now you should try some of this reactor gel, it tastes like 01100101 01101100 01100101 01100011 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101110 01110011."

Ah man, things were a whole lot simpler back then. Who'd have thought that it'd all go to sh- *ALERT ALERT*

DAMN! ALL CREW TO BATTLE STATIONS, HOSTILE SHIP INBOUND!

All Non-Essential Programs Will Now Be Terminated In Accordance With Combat Protocols: LOG #113449322-A1 Terminated
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on October 29, 2012, 08:59:05 pm
The slugs that have been telepathically manipulating the crew of the Bastion die a slow death.

After spending a bit of time in the advanced medbay, the crew is fit for action again.

(http://i.imgur.com/6qiP3.png)

Huh wha?  Free stuff?  In a slug system?  Yeah, right.

(http://i.imgur.com/LbsQe.png)

Now, this is yet another lightly armed slug interceptor.  You get three guesses on what happened to it, and the first two don’t count :P

(http://i.imgur.com/94WV3.png)

Yet another slug ship’s failed attempt at trickery.  Good thing we upgraded our life support systems.

Unfortunately, our heroes have gotten too accustomed to fighting tiny interceptors.  The mere thought of something that can fight back is quite terrifying indeed.

(http://i.imgur.com/zfU7Z.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/XuSWN.png)

The top-of-the-line MKII Defense Drone fails to shoot down a low-tech Artemis Missile.  Scourge, Lana, and the Slug ‘help’ Orpheus repair the engine room.

(http://i.imgur.com/FAmXv.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Y482i.png)

One laser barrage later, things start to go horribly wrong.  The fire in the stern airlock is quickly put out, but the defense drone is barely functioning and Trashman is trapped in the middle of a blazing inferno.

(http://i.imgur.com/4flYc.png)

In classic HLPX-COM fashion, the high-powered missile never actually hits the target when you need it the most.

(http://i.imgur.com/bgCCf.png)

Put out one fire, and the slugs just set off a firebomb in another room.  This encounter would have been hugely unpleasant if we didn’t have our O2 systems working.

(http://i.imgur.com/WwNkK.png)

NGMT-1R demonstrates his brilliant firing solutions.  And when I say ‘brilliant’, I mean ‘might as well just power the darn missile launcher down’

(http://i.imgur.com/rzBdf.png)

And now our defense drone is offline.  When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

(http://i.imgur.com/xtP1w.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/hg3qV.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/tcB3L.png)

We may not have won that particular battle, but at least we are still alive.  Orpheus performs some ‘minor’ upgrades while everyone else attempts to put out a blazing inferno with tiny fire extinguishers.

(http://i.imgur.com/0Yo8j.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/2YzZL.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on November 09, 2012, 05:59:03 pm
Sector 7!  Would be a shame to die so close to the end now, would it?

(http://i.imgur.com/CsX0x.png)

A trap!  But for whom?

(http://i.imgur.com/txbBk.png)

Even the slug assault ships are flawed, it seems.  This one has painful weapons, but no medbay.

(http://i.imgur.com/2Yenh.png)

I probably should have just sent my guys in there to begin with, but oh well.

(http://i.imgur.com/GU9q7.png)

Our journey through Sector 7 continues to be relatively uneventful, with several slug ships either getting boarded or outright destroyed.  Until…

(http://i.imgur.com/RDB9r.png)

Judging from the hilariously bad Mantis costumes the slugs boarding us are wearing, this would appear to be yet another Slug trick.

(http://i.imgur.com/FrWBN.png)

I stupidly try to block a bomb-type weapon with a defense drone.  Doesn’t exactly work well.

(http://i.imgur.com/xcjRk.png)

Meanwhile, our Mantis imposters beam out, but it appears one of them has been fatally wounded…

(http://i.imgur.com/1V2lU.png)

By the way, our drone control system is still on fire.  Do something about it, guys!

(http://i.imgur.com/F2rOQ.png)

Bah, this blaze refuses to go out.  At least the blast doors are holding.  Maybe it would be better to vent that compartment into space…

(http://i.imgur.com/sZZea.png)

Our ship may be on fire, but at least the hull hasn’t been split into two.  The same cannot be said about the slug vessel…

(http://i.imgur.com/wwOsn.png)

Given all the grief that thing has caused me, I think it’ll be easier to just destroy it outright…

(http://i.imgur.com/LtzJu.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/cwJQD.png)

But there is still damage control to do, and according to the nearby computer console the fire is spreading!

(http://i.imgur.com/fOH6j.png)

Rather then fighting this blazing inferno, the crew chooses to instead vent nearly the entire ship into space and figure out how to fix the door control from there.

(http://i.imgur.com/UW2gC.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/Dq17n.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/VyL6O.png)

Good as new!  …If you don’t count all the wear and tear from the dozens of battles this ship has been through…

Burn marks, damaged tiling, jury-rigged systems, broken spanner halves, bloodstains…yep, this is a used ship alright.

(http://i.imgur.com/qanhI.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on November 09, 2012, 08:41:34 pm
And slug slime! Don't forget the slime! (No offense, new guy, you're cool!)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Veers on November 15, 2012, 07:37:31 am
Just curious, (I havent seen it mentioned yet. I probably missed it) but has anybody seen this yet?

A WIP Mod by the name of Faster than Hard Light (http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2939)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Mongoose on November 15, 2012, 08:39:29 pm
Woo, we're infamous!
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on November 19, 2012, 06:46:15 pm
There’s nothing left in this sector that can pose a threat to me!  La la la laalaalaala…huh  wut?

(http://i.imgur.com/KvcsG.png)

Fine, we will take you on with the teleporter.

(http://i.imgur.com/lW31n.png)

After all, what could possibly go wrong?

(http://i.imgur.com/w2knA.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/rRlOu.png)

Good thing we have that hull repair drone.

(http://i.imgur.com/sxHVc.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/E2E55.png)

Our eighth and final crewmember – another slug!

(http://i.imgur.com/NB5JQ.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/iU2r1.png)

And somehow, through all of this, the Bastion has manages to make it to the end without anyone dying.

(http://i.imgur.com/cj5Ow.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/roUDu.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/tGGXG.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/wEgEF.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Scourge of Ages on November 19, 2012, 09:01:19 pm
Scourge's log:

We're having slug burgers to-night, slug burgers to-night! Er, except for our fine sluggy crewmembers; they're having salad.

And tomorrow, we dine in hell! Sounds like fun.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on November 20, 2012, 03:01:38 am
It has come to this. The great battle of our time.
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on November 20, 2012, 06:37:22 am
*Intercom Activated*
"Alright crew, we made it. Good job to all of you. Soon our job will be finished once I pass on the infomation I have, then we can all be on our way back home. No mess, no fuss and no cliche "last stand" battles :nervous:. Let's wrap this up."
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: Alex Heartnet on November 20, 2012, 04:52:55 pm
One of the slugs is able to hitch a ride home.  Taking his place is some random Federation Redshirt.

(http://i.imgur.com/Odpc1.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/9to2j.png)

After all the trials of the past 7 sectors, a leisurely cruise back to base sounds nice and relaxing.  Safe within Federation space, with nothing shooting at us…

…Wait, wasn’t there an entire rebel fleet chasing us?  Well, it seems we found it.

(http://i.imgur.com/sDVgD.png)
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: FireSpawn on November 20, 2012, 06:21:42 pm
*Intercom Activated*
"Alright crew, mission accomplished! Let's all go home, drinks are on m- SWEET MINATURE GIANT SPACE HAMSTERS, THAT'S A BIG REBEL SHIP!

Battlestations! Seems like the universe just loves to dump every bloody cliche it has, right into our laps.
Okay, this is it. Win or lose, know that it's been a pleasure having you all as my crew.

LOCK TARGETS AND FIRE AT WILL!  :arrr:
Title: Re: HLP Productions Presents: FTL!
Post by: TrashMan on November 21, 2012, 02:51:45 am
Locking Will and fireing on targets Sir!

*I seem to forget what my station is. Wasn't I one of the boarders? TM SMASH PUNY WEAPON SUBSYSTEM!"