[zonination]

I'm not sure if this bug/exploit has been posted or noticed before. But I'd like to see the reactions of people who have never seen this, or who already have (if applicable).

I noticed, about eight to nine years ago (when I started playing this game) that you could set up your own weapons loadout (genius, really. Forgive me, I was in sixth grade). It took me a few run-throughs in the FS1 demo to notice it, but as soon as I saw that you could change your loadout, I immediately had to experiment.

So I eventually decided to have some fun: I started out with a zero-primary loadout on an Apollo. Yes. I emptied both primary weapons banks, and then hit "Commit." I thought it was sort of funny, flying around with no primaries, trying to beat the first mission with nothing but missiles. But urgent to complete the mission, I called in a support ship, so I could reload my secondaries and continue cleaning out the battlefield.

That's when I noticed something odd. I saw that, as I got reloaded, the support ship gave me two primary weapons: an ML-16 laser, and an Avenger cannon. That's when I said, "Wait, Zoni, didn't you loadout with no primaries? And furthermore, isn't the Avenger cannon restricted until later in the game?" That's right. I got an Avenger cannon on my first mission in FS1. I later found this trick useful against the Shivans when they first appeared.

Remembering this now, I got curious. I started experimenting with other ships at empty-primary loadout, in both FS1 and FS2. These are my findings on what the support ship gives you:

= Freespace 1 =

Apollo:
- ML-16
- Avenger*

Valkyrie:
- ML-16
- Prometheus*

Athena:
- Avenger
- Flail*

Medusa
- Avenger

Hercules
- Avenger
- Disruptor

Ulysses
- Avenger
- ML-16

Ursa
- Avenger
- Avenger


= Freespace 2 =

Myrmidon
- Prometheus R*
- Subach HL-7

Hercules Mark II
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

Boanerges
- Prometheus R

Medusa
- Prometheus R

Ursa
- Prometheus R
- Prometheus R

Perseus
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

Hercules Mark I
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

Loki
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

Artemis
- Subach HL-7

Artemis D.H.
- Subach HL-7

Zeus
- Prometheus R
- Prometheus R

Pegasus
- Subach HL-7

Serapis
- Prometheus R
- Akheton SDG

Horus
- Mekhu HL-7
- Morning Star

Thoth
- Prometheus R

Tauret
- Mekhu HL-7
- Mekhu HL-7

Ptah
- Mekhu HL-7

Seth
- Mekhu HL-7
- Mekhu HL-7

Erinyes
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

Ares
- Subach HL-7
- Prometheus R

* = Weapon can be used before it is unlocked.


So here's a recap:
1. Remove your ship's primary weapons banks in the Weapons Loadout section after briefing.
2. Commit.
3. Request rearm.
4. Enjoy your ship's default weapons, as listed in the table above.

Unfortunately, this method doesn't do anything for empty secondary banks.


Also, years ago, I noticed a different exploit while playing the FS1 demo: you can actually target non-targetable objects. This is extremely useful in some missions. However, it requires the use of wingmen and/or cruisers. Simply hit "F", which targets the nearest friendly ship, and then hit "J", which has a default setting of "Target target's target." It's kind of a haphazard method, but it's better than being left in the sensory dark. This exploit, along with the default weapons table, is useful for defending the GTSC Plato in FS1.

So there you have it. Two exploits of the game I discovered a few years back, fully experimented with and documented.

Let me know if you have any questions, or need assistance activating these.

[Droid803]

Hehe. The support ship gives you the default primary weapons specified in the ships.tbl entry.
That's a nifty exploit though - getting an Avenger before its even developed

Notably less useful in FS2 because the Prom R is everywhere, and its a piece of crap. I'd take Subachs any day.

[zonination]

Hehe. The support ship gives you the default primary weapons specified in the ships.tbl entry.
That's a nifty exploit though - getting an Avenger before its even developed

Notably less useful in FS2 because the Prom R is everywhere, and its a piece of crap. I'd take Subachs any day.

Mehh. I knew it had something to do with ships.tbl. I wonder if I can change the .tbl file and set some of the defaults to the Kayser or SSL, then use the exploit to kick ass and take names.

Also, agreed on the Prometheus R.

[Jeff Vader]

I wonder if I can change the .tbl file and set some of the defaults to the Kayser or SSL, then use the exploit to kick ass and take names.

Yes.

[Droid803]

that's the same as cheating.
However, FS1 doesn't think its cheating and it'll let you continue

[Snail]

However, FS1 doesn't think its cheating and it'll let you continue

If you're going to change the tables to cheat you may as well give the ML-16 the same stats as the SSL.

[Aardwolf]

I've never actually tried, but what happens if you remove your wingmen and try to fly a mission?

[Akalabeth Angel]

I've never actually tried, but what happens if you remove your wingmen and try to fly a mission?

       You lose your meatshields?

[eliex]

And gain more glory! 

Or rather an increased kill-count.

[Stormkeeper]

I've never actually tried, but what happens if you remove your wingmen and try to fly a mission?

It'll mess up the storylines.

[Jeff Vader]

I've never actually tried, but what happens if you remove your wingmen and try to fly a mission?

It'll mess up the storylines dialogue.

Fix'd for Great Justice.

[eliex]

It'll mess up the storylines.

Does anyone still laugh if Command says things that dead wingmen are supposed to say?