Young gun / Then another game start (I cant remember which I chose) / Custom game
The custom game is the one I am currently on, chosen because we can meddle with Faction Rep', and increase the chances of more friendly factions by the time you get to what most people consider to be end game at an advanced stage. For me thats where I like to be so its more like game start for me because I can play feeling a bit more chilled out ..
.. and hopefully I dont get rudely interrupted with a heart failure inducing Existencial Crisis when 7 goes live
I will probably try something else in a few years if I get the urge to, unless X5 comes along first which will no doubt then take my full attention. Trouble with trying to get me to participate in other game starts is I take literally a few years at least on one playthrough, so eventually run out of time to try more because the next game in the X series is calling my name seductively.
I have, in the past, but I tend to create a custom start for myself these days. I'll turn off Highways and start with just a basic ship, no Blueprints or anything else. Sorta like it that way. If a "No Highways" option was present in regular game-starts, I'd be far more inclined to use them.
I've played all the base game starts and some of the DLC ones -- my system isn't well suited for the load X4 generates as the game gets older, even moreso with DLC.
Anyhow, there seems to be some quirks between the base game starts as mentioned here in the v7.00 beta forum.
Mostly trivial and I've come to think the HQ plot M ship maybe randomized (Teladi start gave a Gorgon in my latest game) but the teladi start lacking EC production and s few 'usual' module BP does make that start a bit different.
I voted "no", even though I have launched 3 different games during this time. Usually I restart game after new DlC released.
- Young Gun (was my first game when X4 released). But before this start seems I started as Paranid but after several mins abandon it. For the first time it ssems that ship too strong and money is too much. I wanted start with minimum equipments.
- Teladi Start (when SV is released. Just started a new game after new DLC released. Also I very like how Teladi looks )
- Terran Cadet (My current gamestart after CoH released.)
My reaason why I didn't start much new different games that my games continues very long time (usually until new DLC) and also I play not only X4 all this time but in other games. So my conditional 200 hours in X4 can be reached for ~1 year. I think that I is "Player of one save game" it means that in sandbox games I create my first world and just playing in this save/world without restarting.
Also I sometimes want to try different gamestart but always I put it off until later, but in the end I don’t even launch it to at least watch it.
Have played 8 of the gamestarts (9 games overall), most of which lasted between around 20-35 in-game days. Total elapsed game time to date is about 10.5k hours, although a fair bit of that time was played while the game was paused; designing stations, configuring order queues for ships (particularly manually operated freighters), modding ships at the shipyard/wharf workbench, etc.
Young Gun
Played this one twice. 1st time as my initial v1.0 generic anything goes game (i.e. no self-imposed rules on what I could do, which ships I could own, etc) just to try things out. 2nd time was a v3.0 game where I wanted a specific Argon start for a war against HOP with both Argon factions as allies, using only Argon ships & equipment. This gamestart worked fairly well for both purposes.
Unworthy Entrepreneur
This was my v2.0 game, focused much more on operating a manual trade fleet with a bit of station building, as seemed appropriate for a Teladi start (main reason I chose it). Minor gripe for me with this start was that the station provided is well off the beaten track & I ended up doing virtually nothing with it. The stations I built for myself were much more centrally located.
Fires of Defeat
Played this one using Split ships/equipment only. Thoroughly enjoyed thrashing ZYA while I was going through the plot. Starting mission to smash a fleet patrolling FRF territory was fun. Rather enjoyed having to steal a lot of ZYA ships in the early game because my own Split faction didn't make them.
Spear of the Patriarch
Main rule for this one was Split ships + whatever I could steal from the Argon factions. Probably my favourite of all the gamestarts I've played to date. Think the horrendous geopolitical situation for Zyarth was an inspired decision by the devs. Had a great time with initially providing logistical support for ZYA's shipyard & wharf, then helping to defend the borders, before finally assisting ZYA with the conquest of nearby Argon sectors & recapturing most of the north from the Xenon. Was an immensely satisfying way to play X4.
Project Genesis
Played this one as a loyal Terran, using only Terran ships & equipment. Very much enjoyed the different perspective on Boso's experiment & theft of the HQ. Had a fair bit of fun littering the map with numerous Terran Vanguard stations (then Asgarding rival claims to each sector). Was hoping at the time this might lead to a bit of Terran expansionism, but sadly that did not occur.
Terran Cadet
Played this one as a Terran Defector, using mostly Yaki & Teladi ships (latter were the first faction to offer me a capital ship license). Sided with the Yaki during the plot & resolved all plots in what I perceived to be the most detrimental outcome for the Terrans. This was partially a response to the effect of Intervention on the Xenon in the previous game (almost completely wiped them out). Intervention found that a significantly harder task to perform while also at war with ANT/ARG.
Smuggler's Paradise
By far my shortest game to date, only lasted 5 in-game days. Plot's ok, just not a fan of the junk ships aesthetic (asymmetric engine placement in particular really bugs me). Found the scrap mechanic an interesting way to rapidly become self-sufficient in construction materials, though it swiftly became superseded by conventional methods for hull parts & claytronics production. Was not so keen on the Closed Loop production method - in particular making missiles out of nothing but batteries just seemed daft.
Queen's Herald
Current game, still ongoing. Enjoyed the odd jobs the Borons had me perform in the early game - good way to get the player to visit a fair sized chunk of the universe. Thresher was an interesting choice for a starting ship, though did swap it for a Hydra fairly quickly. Ultimately though have ended up flying a Ray most of the time due to the lack of a Boron frigate (essentially S docks won when I was evaluating the relative importance of different features of potential alternatives, in most games I have a strong preference for flying a frigate).
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