Squiddy McSquids possibly short life - {Possible spoilers inside}

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NUKLEAR-SLUG
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Squiddy McSquids possibly short life - {Possible spoilers inside}

Post by NUKLEAR-SLUG » Mon, 10. Nov 08, 13:02

I thought I might try a new start with a ground rules in place to make things a little more interesting. I've seen a few people try a dead-is-dead approach so I thought I'ld give that a go and pick the Boring Boron start since that's the one that seems to start you off with the least to your name.

Rules:
1. Dead-is-dead
2. No buying ships. If I want it I have to persuade the owner they'ld quite

like to donate it.
3. No reloads. If I lose an expensive ship then that's tough.
4. Personal ship repairs only, anything else gets paid for.

So this is going to be the exciting (if possibly quite brief) series of events to follow.

Zero-time puts me in Kingdom End, a nice tune playing in the background.

Total Assets:
1x Octopus
1x 1 Mj shield
2000cr

Right, I've got no weapons, a miniscule hold that can only hold S-class freight and bugger all cash. This severely limits the mission options available. Looks like it's going to be a trader start for me.

So with that in mind I decide to head down to Herrons Nebula and see what the current price for space-fuel is. On the way I stop at Three Worlds equipment dock, sell my 1 Mj shield and buy a duplex scanner. I'm working to the theory that if I die it's game over so the more intel I have the greater my chance of not having something nasty creep up on me. Seems my luck is in and SFD-beta has rock bottom prices. Spend a little time zipping back and forth with the trading station selling fuel and slowly upgrading my Octopus. Eventually some git comes along and buys up the lot but not before I've made 28,000cr and upgraded some.

Space-fuel trade opportunites are a bust so what to do next? I really don't fancy trading e-cells in an Octopus so I decide to head down to Elenas Fortune and see if the pirates are causing any trouble. Might be able to pick up a few dropped missiles. Decide to stop off on the way and grab a couple shields and IREs. You know, just in case...

Elenas Fortune seems kinda quiet. I'm assuming that's due to the Titan, three Cerberus and two dozen escorting smaller craft that are stationed around the south gate. I pop down into Split Fire to see what's around. Seems the pirates are all blue to me at present and really aren't interested in me so feeling brave I head into Brennans Triumph. Again pirates have no interest in me but are jumping the odd transport group. Manage to snag a couple missiles from destroyed escorts. Continue on into Dannas chance and going thru the gate take a hit from the rear turret of a Paranid transporter which puts my hull to 85%. Good thing I bought those shields or that would have really hurt! Note to self: be wary of Paranids.

A quick run away and repair and I'm into Nopileos Memorial, which seems to have changed colour these days. Think I preferred the blue. Paranid task force in the distance, Deimos and escorts. I'm wise to them this time so trail along behind at a respectable distance. Halfway thru the sector I get a missile-warning. Gravidar says I'm clear, sector map says nothing unfriendly nearby. Bleeps are getting faster. Looking ahead I suddenly spot the missile, so a quick turn and run. Target computer says it's a Tomahawk. Encyclopaedia says it does 625k damage. I have 2mj shielding. It's moving faster than I am...


{Topic title amended - Nanook}
{moved from X-Universe; see note - Carlo}

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Re: Squiddy McSquids possibly short life

Post by Mopy » Mon, 10. Nov 08, 13:10

NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:Target computer says it's a Tomahawk. Encyclopaedia says it does 625k damage. I have 2mj shielding.
Your thread title made me giggle, but I have to admit, that one achieved the old drink/nose thing quite nicely ;)

Did you get squished, or is there a part 2 coming up?
Sig

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Post by JCTiger » Mon, 10. Nov 08, 13:25

Damn cliffhangers!
Peow Peow!

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Post by NUKLEAR-SLUG » Tue, 11. Nov 08, 01:41

Fortunately the Tomahawk was still a few km out so I've got time to do something about. I've got a couple IRE's so spamming fire at it is an option, on the other hand I've watched the AI hit things with them before and they seem to make quite a bang and I'm not entirely sure if they have a blast radius. So plan B, hide behind a rock. Fortunately Nopileos has quite a few asteroids so a quick jink to put one between me and it and all was well. There was a hell of a bang behind me. I didn't look but I suspect there wasn't much of that asteroid left.

Decided cowardice was probably the best approach from here on in so scarpered back to Argon space to see if i could find any missions I could do. Found a couple ship recovery for 3-4k each rescuing M5's then hit the jackpot with an 11k recover Argon Express Hauler. That's handy, I've got a single octopus, in need of a transporter class and they want me to go recover a TP for them... and they expect to see it again.. Ok! Slight catch, it's in Empires Edge. Paranid territory. Same guys that just recently tried to shove a thermonuclear warhead up my jacksie.

Anyways I scoot on down there, all goes well. Express is right by the gate as I jump in, couldn't be better. As I'm busy securing it tho a couple of the local customs take an interest. Only an M4/M5 duo and I could probly take them ok if I wanted, but I'm doing crime and I'm trying to do my crime quietly and shooting up the place doesn't feature in that plan. Fortunately they seem only interested in me so I lead them off a ways while the Express slips thru the gate. I've only got 20 mins to get to the pirate base and the Express is so damaged that will only be just enough.

Next sector doesn't go so well, halfway across the sector and then border control shows up. This time it's two M3 and despite my best efforts to draw them off they decide they want my TP first and the Express goes down in a blaze of HEPT fire. Nothing for it, I'm going to have to run. I'm not thinking my client is going to be too happy and the rep-loss on a TP is likely to be painful. I'm pleasantly suprised however to get a message regretting the loss and small %10 payment for my time. No rep-loss! Guess they appreciated my attempts to bring their property back. Good thing they didn't realise what I had in mind for it..

Heading back to Argon space I pick up yet another recovery mission but this ones for 33k. I'm thinking it might be a problem but it's just an M5 and it turns out it's in the next sector over. Cakewalk.

Total Assets:
1x Octopus
2x 1 Mj shield
2x Ire
34000cr

Head up to Atreus Clouds Pirate base grab me a freight scanner and now I'm all set to do crime.

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Post by GCU Grey Area » Tue, 11. Nov 08, 01:52

Excellent stuff :thumb_up: eagerly awaiting episode 3...

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Post by NUKLEAR-SLUG » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 00:04

Right, Octopus is fine for tooling around but is very limited so what I really need is a TS to allow me to take on all these lucrative delivery missions.

Unfortunately I'm not thinking I'm going to find one just floating about which means I'm going to have to "liberate" one and be careful about doing it. I've got paper-thin hull and only one chance to get it right so careful target selection required here. What I'm looking for is a nice super-freighter, preferably under-shielded and no fighter drones on board. Parking up by the north gate I start scanning passing Split Caimans looking for a potential candidate. Sadly most of them seem to either have a boatload of drones on board or they've got escorts which is more than I'm inclined to tangle with in an Octopus.

After a bit a lone tech freighter wanders in scan range. Motherload. This guys got about 4 Mill in weapons and shields on board. Sadly most of it is M class so worthless to me. On the plus side tho he does have 10 Mass drivers on board, and they're S class.. Oh, and there's the small matter of the 9 MKII fighter drones. Now I've seen the MKII in action, a careless pirate group attacking a freighters that had some onboard and the pirates came off worse. But 10 Mass driivers.. Dilemma.

After some careful consideration unadulterated greed triumphed over common-sense and self-preservation as it so often does in these situations and I decided to implement a two-part plan of the utmost cunning. Part 1 proceeded well as I boldly blazed into action and hammered away the shields of my target... The Splits response was to yell abuse and jettison the MKII's at which point I implemented part 2 of the plan and ran away like a girl.

Now MKI drones are fast but weak. MKII's might be hard as nails but they're slow. A lazy trek around Atreus Clouds and they eventually ran out of fuel. Problem sorted. Caught back up with my target and we then negotiated from Rolks Fate south gate all the way to the Ceo's buckzoid west gate, me demanding he cough up the goods, him telling me to go take a long walk. Finally just as I'ld decided he wasn't going to cooperate and was going to let him escape thru to Ceo's he gave up and spewed crates all over the sector. Success!! 10 mass drivers worth a cool million. Time to head back to Rolks fate equipment dock and sell my ill-gotten gains.

Total Assets:
1x Octopus
2x 1 Mj shield
2x Ire
800cr
10x Extremely hard fought for Mass drivers.

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Post by Yeorin » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 00:52

This is awesome! Keep it coming :D

You've inspired me to do something simmilar for my next game which I plan to play as a pirate.

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Post by Necrosexual » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 01:10

This is very entertaining. The way you play it truly X at it's finest! Bravo!
Please continue.

''BUMP"

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Post by stg1969 » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 01:41

Great stuff mate, quick question, are you going to continue piracy, or will you settle into something else when youhave bit more dosh..

Ive often fancied piracy, problem is when you get big and get assets, your ships cant go anywhere without seas of red everywhere, Do you plan to only piss off 1 or 2 races?
Cargo Bay now contains "Your Cold Dinner"

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Post by Necrosexual » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 02:27

Great stuff mate, quick question, are you going to continue piracy, or will you settle into something else when youhave bit more dosh..

Ive often fancied piracy, problem is when you get big and get assets, your ships cant go anywhere without seas of red everywhere, Do you plan to only piss off 1 or 2 races?
I object to this post! We will have to wait and see as the story continues.

I don't want him to spoil it. For him to answer that question then post the next chapter would be ludicrous!

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Post by Aloid » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 03:12

Necrosexual wrote:
Great stuff mate, quick question, are you going to continue piracy, or will you settle into something else when youhave bit more dosh..

Ive often fancied piracy, problem is when you get big and get assets, your ships cant go anywhere without seas of red everywhere, Do you plan to only piss off 1 or 2 races?
I object to this post! We will have to wait and see as the story continues.

I don't want him to spoil it. For him to answer that question then post the next chapter would be ludicrous!
I object to your objection!

In fact I object to the original post in this thread as it glorifies piracy...

which I find objectionable!

:)

Aloid

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Post by em3e3 » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 06:58

And people say that there are no challenges in the game...

Way to go NUKLEAR-SLUG!
8^)

Online Complex Calculators - X3:TC • X3:R • X2
Online Ship Compurator - X3:TC

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Post by mattythedrunk » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 10:40

U write well, keep it coming.

Particularly liked the thermonuclear warhead reference.

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Post by Tiedyeguy » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 11:12

NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:Found a couple ship recovery for 3-4k each rescuing M5's then hit the jackpot with an 11k recover Argon Express Hauler. That's handy, I've got a single octopus, in need of a transporter class and they want me to go recover a TP for them... and they expect to see it again.. Ok!
If you keep the ship, when the timer runs out, the rightful owners will report the ship stolen and it will considered a pirate vessel by ALL races' police forces. It will be hunted down, destroyed, and you will lose significant rep for "possession of stolen property" :( sorry to burst your bubble mate, good luck in the mean time though, sound great!

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Post by jp » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 18:55

Tiedyeguy wrote:
NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:Found a couple ship recovery for 3-4k each rescuing M5's then hit the jackpot with an 11k recover Argon Express Hauler. That's handy, I've got a single octopus, in need of a transporter class and they want me to go recover a TP for them... and they expect to see it again.. Ok!
If you keep the ship, when the timer runs out, the rightful owners will report the ship stolen and it will considered a pirate vessel by ALL races' police forces. It will be hunted down, destroyed, and you will lose significant rep for "possession of stolen property" :( sorry to burst your bubble mate, good luck in the mean time though, sound great!
Fortunately the TP got destroyed on route with no rep loss and a compensation to boot.

Looking forward to the next installment :)

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Post by NUKLEAR-SLUG » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 19:19

stg1969: Truthful answer, I've no idea I'll just take it as it comes. But since one of my set rules requires no ship purchases then getting more ships pretty much garuntees I'll be off someones xmas card list.

So, cruising back down thru Rolksfate to sell my ill-gotten gains I bring up the sector map and set autopilot for the equipment dock. Except I don't. Because it's not there. Pause for a couple seconds while I contemplate that one and recheck the factory listing. Nope, no equipment dock. Flick back to universe map to make sure I am actually where I think I am and yes, this is indeed Rolks fate which I passed thru fairly recently and which definitely had an equipment dock earlier because I distinctly recall docking at it to flog a couple missiles to make room for all those mass drivers I fully planned on bringing back. This confuses me some.

Epiphany strikes me in the form of a blossom of red on my gravidar and in my main view I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. .. or it could have been Khaak beams around Plankton Farm L alpha. Just as I'm starting to realise where the equipment dock has gone and that I might be in trouble here a purple pineapple looms out of the pea-soup low on my right and confirms beyond any doubt that yes, I am indeed hurtling into the middle of a Khaak taskforce and that's not generally a good thing to do. There's really only one thing to do at times like these and that's run screaming like a girl, so I do. In fact I'm beginning to suspect that this is something I may be doing a lot in this game so henceforth this will be known as the RSLG maneuver.

Giving the centre of the sector a wiiiiiiide berth it appears there's 3 KM2 and a bunch of scouts busy wrecking the place. While I've no intention of tangling with them I'm certain I can outrun the scouts so sit back and watch the fireworks.

After a while a Thresher and escort appears to the south and heads after one of the KM2's that has split from the rest. Now he may have some escorts but I'm thinking KM2 v M7? my moneys on the Khaak for this one but I nosy on over to see the action. As it happens it seems the Thresher packs a mean punch because even tho the KM2 is doing damage the Thresher is winning. Looks like 1-0 to the boron, unfortunately it seems the Thresher captain is a little target-fixated because he doesn't bother to slow down, or evade. Consequently there's an almighty crash and the Thresher comes off the worse for it, going down in flames. The final impact tho does strip the remaining shields off the KM2 and the Thresher escort makes short work of a shieldless destroyer. Sadly they then go after the other two KM2's and without capital support promptly get shredded in short order so bit of a pyrrhic victory there.

Anyways, nothing further I can do here so I head back down to Atreus, sell my Mass drivers at the military post and go back to hunting for a vulnerable transport. Deciding what I really need to help out here is something to thin the fighter drones out I nip off and pick up some mosquito missiles which lets me go after transporters with more drones on board and knock a few out safely while running away until they're at more manageable numbers. End result of picking on half a dozen or so energy traders is a Caiman Superfreighter large-type bails for me.

Success, not only have I got the first TS I need to do the bigger payout missions but I transfer a cargo life-support over to the SF and go pick-up the ex-owner. This guy is now my first marine, or at least he will be once I figure out how to get him trained for it.

Time to look for a few more ship recovery missions while my SF heads for Argon space and gets himself repaired and upgraded for duty.

Total Assets:
1x Octopus
1x Caiman SF (83%)
2x 1 Mj shield
2x Ire
1,000,000+ cr

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Post by bulletstop » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 19:38

Wow, great story. Please keep it coming, great to hear things like this.
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Post by Aetius » Wed, 12. Nov 08, 20:00

Yeah, this is great. Looking forward to seeing this progress.

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Post by Tiedyeguy » Thu, 13. Nov 08, 05:02

This sounds like the old Diablo/Diablo2 game style of "Live off the Land" ("LotL" or "LoL"). There, one can't buy anything or do anything requiring gold from the in-town merchants. Players can only use what drops from monsters "in the Wild". http://www.angelsofhell.com/lol.html

Using LotL rules in the X-Universe would be quite a bit harder as guns and such only "drop" from the rare capship kill and Weapons Dealer kills, as well as 'surviving' gear on caps. Personally, when I finally start a LotL game in X3:TC, I would allow myself to purchase Cargobay/Rudder/ETs from Pirate Bases just because a player can't "find" this or get them to "drop" (Except maybe Pandora ?). Also possibly Marines/Training. Except for these few things, buy from stations would be considered "Using Town".

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Post by phoenix-it » Thu, 13. Nov 08, 06:10

Please don't tell us ya got too close to a capital ship trying to pick up missiles and got ganked by a stray flak! It's been a great story so far.

I have a question for you... You said you weren't going to by ships from shipyards... What about used? Great deals don't happen all the time and they're completely random. I was completely surprised when a Boron offered to sell me a Hydra with 53% hull for a measly 201,000 credits; I jumped on it of course.

I think the repair laser was a great addition, but it makes things a little too easy sometimes. So I see why your using it on your ship only. I think it would have been better if you needed Teladianium in the hold to repair ships larger than an M4.

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