The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

challenge games to spend more UQM time on.

Ironman Challenge
- never buy fuel from the starbase
- complete the game

Minimalist Challenge
- in your flagship modules, you can only have thrusters, turning jets, 1 fuel tank(smaller one), 1 crew pod, no guns allowed
- complete the game

Stoneman Challenge
- never associate/come into contact with the melnorme
- complete the game

Peacekeeper Challenge
- never destroy a ship, except for the sa-matra and its guardians
- complete the game

Speedman Challenge
- complete the game in the shortest time possible

Hermitman Challenge
- after your initial stop at the human starbase, you must never return to the starbase
- complete the game

Are some of those even possible?

Surely you can't make the Utwig bomb without visiting the Starbase??

You have to visit the starbase at least once: after the Chmmr have been freed in order for them to install the Precursor/Utwig Bomb on your flagship.

I thought so!  ;D

initiating 'Smug Mode'  8)

oh right.

Is there a way to beat the game without fighting? I thought
there were some places where it was required....unless you
wait until the Kohr-Ah destroy have the races and then
run around collecting artifacts.
Can you get things like the sun device and bomb without
waiting for the races to be killed?

The final Sa-matra battle can't be avoided at all. To get the Bomb, the Druuge hoarding it have to be killed by the player or the Kohr-Ah. The same applies to the Mycon guarding the Sun Device. If you really don't want to fight, you'll have to let the Kohr-Ah do your dirty work.

There was a big thread on here one time describing game variant ideas (and another describing super-melee game variant ideas).

The main game variants made it to this page:
http://uqm.stack.nl/wiki/Gameplay_Challenges

How about "Fight every battle with an Earthling Crusier only."
That would certainly make some battles, especially the final
one, a bit more challenging.

I think I'd have trouble with that  ;)

I'm too used to my Spathi Eluder!!  ;D

Strangely enough, it won't affect the Druuge or Thraddash battles; and the Mycon remains easy. Just about the only really nasty one is the Umgah. And of course the final battles. Yikes. Kohr-Ah are very hard with cruisers.

try to hit a generator with those homing missile.
Man, thez always land way off course!!!

Is it possible to win the game without the talking pet?  If not how about getting the talking pet but not using him for the diversion of the ships guarding the Sa'matra?  Meaning having to fight them instead.

It isn't possible to win without him; the Sa-Matra's guard is infinitely large.

-Bob

I have to admit I find the Earthling vs. Mycon battles difficult. I think
it's because their relative speeds are so close. Chasing a ship
that can re-generate crew is a pain.

But you're right that the Drugge battles would be fairly easy with
a Cruiser. Nothing like watching their vew go up in smoke. :)

i thought you just had to fight that ring of ships... and once you kill the first batch of 6 you are invunerable for enough time to pass through the rest, right?

But i have never tried it :-)

I really don't think you can get to the Sa-Matra by attacking the infinate ring  :)

Not only is there the massive ring of ships (not infinite btw, it's been emptied out before) present at the Sa-Matra, it also has a homeworld guard like Admiral ZEX or the Aqua Helix planet unless you use the Pet.

Before I played UQM (during SC2 original, that is), i used the talking pet only after I was in the view with the Sa-Matra, so it is quite easy to break through the ring. it is just like any inter-system engagement. After each fight with a battlegroup you get a few seconds of contact free time, in which you could fly to the close-up view of planet and moons.

But you cannot win against the Sa-Matra Guard without the Talking Pet.
But the Kohr-Ah will not destroy that cuddly, sweet little fellow. Luckily...

 Enjo-Y
M-A-R-T-I-N

NOW-LEAVE-ME-ALONE!

My fifth attempt at posting this *gritting teeth*

My thoughts:

Ironman Challenge - easy enough I would think if you can survive along enough to get credits with the Melnorme for the fuel.

Minimalist Challenge - Not a challenge at all if you can fight.

Stoneman Challenge - Not hard either, unless you want Zex's creature.

Peacekeeper Challenge - not possible, unless you wait on the Kohr-Ah.  Otherwise to complete the game, you need to destroy 10 Umgah, 6 Mycon, and 5 Druuge, besides the Sa-Matra and guardians.

Speedman Challenge - been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Hermitman Challenge - there are people on here that claim they have played through the entire game without going to the starbase the first time (of course, the Chmmr send you there afterwards).

No. IIRC there isn't a "first six" -- that ring *itself* is an infinitely large battlegroup where you keep on fighting until you die or escape.