FTL: a game about managing a spaceship in an infinite galaxy
- Thread starter MNC
- Start date
David Incorporated Esq.
Member
This is exactly what this game is. Gets my vote.
Duebrithil
Member
That one is nice. Maybe something using the adictiveness of the game and how time difference and relative velocity are related.
FTL | OT | No, that's not time dilation you're experiencing
FTL | OT | You will incur in time-debt
Maybe reference Star Trek AND Time loops?
FTL | OT | Cause and Effect in a Sea of Randoms. (Obscure Star Trek reference FTL)
or playing with the idea of time and randomness.
FTL | OT | What Happens When God Plays Dice
|OT| of neither Blame Space, not Time Dog.
or
|OT| of Blame the Space Time Dog
Sorry, sorry. Couldnt resist the bad joke.
Haunted
Member
I'm going to need a lot of time to learn the correct responses to the various random events, many of which are also influenced by your ship and crew (I think). A major part of mastering these games (like Spelunky and Isaac) are that while you have that random element, the game is really about managing the risk/reward, and making correct decisions/responses to the challenges introduced by the randomness.
Also, the game needs a last ditch FTL jump/ram manoeuvre button to at least take the enemy ship down with you when you know you're fucked.
Also, the game needs a last ditch FTL jump/ram manoeuvre button to at least take the enemy ship down with you when you know you're fucked.
Also, the game needs a last ditch FTL jump/ram manoeuvre button to at least take the enemy ship down with you when you know you're fucked.
RAMMING SPEED MR SULU
Still my favourite ship after unlocking 8/9 base designs and 4 B layouts.
I'm going to need a lot of time to learn the correct responses to the various random events, many of which are also influenced by your ship and crew (I think). A major part of mastering these games (like Spelunky and Isaac) are that while you have that random element, the game is really about managing the risk/reward, and making correct decisions/responses to the challenges introduced by the randomness.
Also, the game needs a last ditch FTL jump/ram manoeuvre button to at least take the enemy ship down with you when you know you're fucked.
Holy shit, if I could engage the FTL drive to ram another ship... lolololol
The polish of the game is really an inspiration to me since I'd like to make a game with graphics on a similar level (pixel-esque) with a clean and fairly easy-to-grasp interface.
For instance, the writing was already mentioned. Descriptions of things can be funny, and apparently the writer they got to look over things was worth it. Another thing is the sound effects, to me. For some reason the muted *thoom thoom thoom* of lasers, and the sound and visual of the enemy ship breaking into segments, are very satisfying.
For instance, the writing was already mentioned. Descriptions of things can be funny, and apparently the writer they got to look over things was worth it. Another thing is the sound effects, to me. For some reason the muted *thoom thoom thoom* of lasers, and the sound and visual of the enemy ship breaking into segments, are very satisfying.
The weirdest one of these was probably some slug that asked me a trivia question about how many moons were around a planet. Either I missed the clue to figure it out, or there's no way to know, and he teleported aboard and stole a bunch of my resources. What a jerk.
I completely agree, the aspect I look up to the most is how smartly the game is designed. You can learn it pretty easily, but still havent learned everything after a few hours, always learning something new and being constantly motivated. I am trying to dissect what makes this game so damn compelling to play to get my own lessons from playing it that I can use for my own game.
Notch immediately felt the same way as well. Shortly after it came out he posted on Twitter something like, FTL was amazing, people should get it, and add it to the list of games that have inspired 0x10c. And this was right after he was talking about how he was disappointed with his work on 0x10c because the functionality that was there did not seem fun. He said something about how he wanted to make it more immediately rewarding.
FTL is a game with a short but clear tutorial, and even though it doesn't explain everything, it feels like things are very quickly rewarding in some sense since you start unlocking and upgrading.
Haunted
Member
FTL | OT | FTL FTW
Sounds like the slug people version of Monty Python's bridgekeeper. "What's your favourite colour?"The weirdest one of these was probably some slug that asked me a trivia question about how many moons were around a planet. Either I missed the clue to figure it out, or there's no way to know, and he teleported aboard and stole a bunch of my resources. What a jerk.
I like this.
I've wrecked a few ships with the fire beam, it's especially effective against ships who send half their crew to board you.
Me too actually.
Are there weapons that ONLY cause fires? Cant remember those, but if they do neither damage to systems NOR to the enemy ships, that is pretty damn weak.
Edit: Ah, nvm.
MrCompletely
Member
Does the rebel fleet move more slowly through a nebula sector? I think i just noticed this, unless I'm just being crazy.
Yep. Even says so in the description somewhere I believe when you hover over a nebula way point.
Yeah fire bombs iirc. And I think a beam?
One game while trying to get the Kestrel achievement for 1hp (never got it); my second jump gave me the glaive beam.
Yeah, that didn't work out great because of power requirements, and when I did have the juice, I had no weapons aside from the three default laser ones lol.
TOLD YOU!
Some other layouts even have different augmentations from the first one, making them play rather differently. Crew members often make a huge difference as well.
Kestrel B is boss though. The only ship that gets the right to be named without a name.
Mengy
wishes it were bannable to say mean things about Marvel
I've had my eye on FTL for awhile now, but hadn't been terribly eager to buy a new game (too many others to play). Until I watched a WTF video by TotalHalibut Saturday morning where he played FTL for half an hour. I bought the game within minutes after that, lol.
So, I've played somewhere around six hours of it so far, and the short version of my feelings are that this game is fantastically awesome and super addicting.
Now for the long version of my feelings.
Pretty much from the moment I finished the tutorial, I was hooked. I haven't even made it into sector 5 yet. I've played three games of FTL so far, all ending in spectacular ruin for me, but man am I having a blast. Each new game is a learning experience, in this way FTL reminds me of Binding of Isaac so much. My last game I was doing so well, until my ship (The USS Halifax) stumbled across a Mantis ship close to a star belching solar flares in Sector 4. I managed to take down the enemy ship, and then cleaned up the boarding party but lost two of my own crew in the battle. Then I spent a few minutes trying to repair various systems while fighting to contain fires. It got to the point where we were losing and the star was winning, so I made the decision to warp out of there just to escape the angry star, hoping to finish repairs in the next solar system. Unfortunately I warped right next to a pirate ship who immediately started to attack. With my ship still damaged and on fire, we fought a valiant battle but it was just too much for the USS Halifax, and soon my crew was dead and my ship destroyed.
This is one of the most engrossing games I've played in a long time. Each new game of FTL plays out like a space opera that you are in command of. Much more strategic than it appeared to be from all the screenshots over the previous few weeks. The player is constantly making decisions, and you just know that sometimes your choices mean the difference between life and death for your crew and ship. The game conveys that feeling VERY well. I'm surprised at how well it does that actually.
So worth the $8.99 I spent on it. I could easily see me playing this for dozens of hours, at least. Can't wait to start my fourth run tonight and see where my space travels lead me and my crew this time...
Made it to the boss with the 4 basic lasers. Got a few drones along the way, but those things are still rather effective at taking out shields/weapon systems.
Really amazing how many different approaches are valid in this game. A certain unlocked ship starts with a teleporter and some slugs. Gotta make a "ONLY INVADE RUN" at one point, to see how far I can get.
I got to sector 5 in my third run, unlocked some ship, about to return to it now and give it another shot.
I managed to get more crewmen this time, a couple of slaves manning the ship really seemed to help out. I'm loving this despite generally having no idea what I'm doing.
OT? Awesome.
FTL | OT | Make it so
I managed to get more crewmen this time, a couple of slaves manning the ship really seemed to help out. I'm loving this despite generally having no idea what I'm doing.
OT? Awesome.
FTL | OT | Make it so
That's a great one. And totally mooching off that idea, we could also do:
FTL | OT | Engage
I hate ion storms so much
That and the Sun's environmental damage. My love/hate relationship with this game hinges upon how many crew members I lose to fires.
You'd think that an advanced space faring ship would have fucking sprinklers.
MrCompletely
Member
had a boarding party focused run.... you really do get a lot more scrap but its tough to manage... need to significantly weaken the enemy crew by targeting the manned stations of the enemy ship and also be careful about not destroying it. I usually disable my weapons when the I beam the boarding party over and just let them clean it up.
Of course, there's always the risk of the enemy ship jumping away with your crew members on board, that's always hilarious. See ya.
Of course, there's always the risk of the enemy ship jumping away with your crew members on board, that's always hilarious. See ya.
Do you set priorities for what systems you take down first during a boarding party run?
Like, first Shield, then Weapons, then Engine?
Mengy
wishes it were bannable to say mean things about Marvel
FTL |OT| To Boldly Go where no Starship Commanding Game Has Ever Gone Before...
FTL |OT| Command a Starship, Make it so, Engage, It is very cold in space...
FTL |OT| Ever wanted to command a starship? Here is your chance...
Ack, I was doing so well.
Had a stable crew of 4, picked up some new weapons, a defense drone (how do I use it?), only to be tricked into a distress beacon by those mantis things. They boarded, and I killed them off with oxygen starvation but alas, their evil commander destroyed my oxygen supplies and my crew died, fighting to the last.
Had a stable crew of 4, picked up some new weapons, a defense drone (how do I use it?), only to be tricked into a distress beacon by those mantis things. They boarded, and I killed them off with oxygen starvation but alas, their evil commander destroyed my oxygen supplies and my crew died, fighting to the last.
Ack, I was doing so well.
Had a stable crew of 4, picked up some new weapons, a defense drone (how do I use it?), only to be tricked into a distress beacon by those mantis things. They boarded, and I killed them off with oxygen starvation but alas, their evil commander destroyed my oxygen supplies and my crew died, fighting to the last.
Already bought the drone station? Costs 80 or something in the stores. Equip the drone in the ship menu and then click on it in the right lower screen if you have enough power.
"Hey Crew."
"Yes, sir?"
"I need to you to teleport on that unmanned ship over there."
"Uhm, sir?"
"What else? This is of UTMOST importance! Get your ass moving!"
"Well...but... sir..."
"NO BUT, they dont even have any crew you might need to be afraid of. Now GO or I'll kick you out into space."
"..."
A good crew makes a huge difference, my best run (died to boss at the end level) had an Engi dude running around as repair support and an energy dude (Zoltan?) on the weapons station for a free point of energy. The rest of the human crew was all there from the start and had maxed out their respective skills. I use the first guy as pilot, second as shields, third switches from engines to weapons as needed.
Ah, I see. Thanks. I don't think I've seen a drone station in any stores yet.
Usually they only appear when you can't afford them.
So I'm a little late to this one, but I have just have to say that this game is great. It does exactly what Civ 4 does for me: I keep on checking out one more system.
I was on a great run last night, feeling confident and slowly building up the ship, when my last jump brought me face to face with some ship that I couldn't target. He blasted me to hell. I find the game really hard, but not at all frustrating.
So glad that I Kickstarted this one.
I was on a great run last night, feeling confident and slowly building up the ship, when my last jump brought me face to face with some ship that I couldn't target. He blasted me to hell. I find the game really hard, but not at all frustrating.
So glad that I Kickstarted this one.
Although there are probably millions of ways this game can pan out - and you could write fiction of your adventures - the finest moments usually come down to dumbassery from the Captains chair. Mine would be:
Captain: "Hey Crew."
Crew "Yes, Sir?"
Captain: "One final Volley to send that ship to oblivion."
Crew: "But, Sir!"
Captain: "No buts, shoot them!"
Crew: "On your orders Sir.
*BOOM"
Captain: "OK that sorts that out. Now beam back the Away Te...."
Crew: - collective facepalm
Sounds like a cloaking device. You can buy them too. Basically it let's you charge up your weapons, while your opponent can't charge his. Also being immune to attacks, it's great for repairing damage. It is very expensive though at 150 scrap.
Looking into the forum atm, nothing too spectacular but this mod might interest some:
http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2286
It makes the game easier by allowing you to have the rebels retreat in varying degrees if you beat one of their ships (which is a feature that should have been incorporated into the game anyway). With this you can either set them back by 1-10.000 turns. Tempted to use the 1 turn option as that wouldnt be too out of place and might offer at least a small chance to survive such an onslaught. Fighting the rebel ship without getting any rewards, but paying fuel is enough of a disadvantage in my opinion.
If you put it to 10.000, you basically have an "explore at your own leisure"-mod, which of course makes it way easier since you can get way more scraps.
Edit: Another reminder that I still would love for someone to try his hand at the OT banner.
http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2286
It makes the game easier by allowing you to have the rebels retreat in varying degrees if you beat one of their ships (which is a feature that should have been incorporated into the game anyway). With this you can either set them back by 1-10.000 turns. Tempted to use the 1 turn option as that wouldnt be too out of place and might offer at least a small chance to survive such an onslaught. Fighting the rebel ship without getting any rewards, but paying fuel is enough of a disadvantage in my opinion.
If you put it to 10.000, you basically have an "explore at your own leisure"-mod, which of course makes it way easier since you can get way more scraps.
Edit: Another reminder that I still would love for someone to try his hand at the OT banner.