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Author Topic: Beating the game differently  (Read 42272 times)
FalconMWC
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Beating the game differently
« on: January 22, 2004, 05:47:00 pm »

Has anyone beaten the game without going to the starbase? (Except for the end of course) I am almost there and was curious who else did it. It gets really boring because you have to go really slow and a probe pops up every day. I admit to cheating though. This is my second time through, but the first time I did it. I used a ship editor to give me a idea what it was like and were to go first. The second time (The one I am on now) I am trying to talk to the mycon homeworld, but before I get there I am swarmed by LOTS of mycon ships. I have to end up fighting them all because if I warp out another will take its place and without starbase, fuel tends to be a problem at times, before you get the caster. the year is jan. 2158

Another problem is crew. Since you can not recrew and upgrade your lander, (I don't have enough credits yet, since buying that tech involves buying useless tech such as shriva, and PLD and, you get the idea....) So that results in a lot of  excess saving, since your men tend to get fryed, smashed, and in generally killed - forget all the combat deaths. Such as, When you "rescue" Fwiffo he kills 8 of your crew men. Then you want to recrew him that is another 29 crew. (As he is the only ship that is half decent at killing probes at that stage in the game.) So just picking up Fwiffo costs you 37 in crew!                                                                        


I am not sure how advanced what I am doing is, like - have you all done it or just some or am I the first one to get this crazy idea in my head?

I also beat the final battle with just the precursor vessel. (I had a set up of three Shriva's, 1 crew pod, one hellbore) but I know this time that I am not the first person to do this.

So, can anyone give me advice or tell this forum about a few other interesting ways to beat the game?

EDIT: Why is no one posting? Was it something I said Wink . Oh - I know, everyone ran home and tried it.  
« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 06:41:36 pm by FalconMWC » Logged
FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2004, 07:01:58 pm »

Sorry for the double post, but I have a question to a programmer. (As I have not gotton this far in the game)  As we all know, the rate of the probes before talking to STARBASE is 100% per day. Now, what happens if I turn off the probes before talking to star base? Will they go down 2% every ?30? days like normal? (At that rate they will still be about a 40% per day at 2160)

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Death 999
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2004, 07:38:07 pm »

How do you turn off the probes? With a saved-game editor?
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2004, 07:43:33 pm »

I never did, I am just asking what would happen if I did. (It is tough enough to try and beat the game without the starbase, trying to do the nessecary quests (let alone the hard ones) This second try that I am on, I am not using the save game editor at all.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 07:44:14 pm by FalconMWC » Logged
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2004, 08:50:47 pm »

How do you warp out without going to the starbase?  Don't they give you the emergency warp tech?
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2004, 08:55:31 pm »

You can't warp out at all. That is what makes it so hard to get the sun device. The only time you can talk to their homeworld is telling them about the new world. Also, after you get the talking pet, you can't go back to get the umagh ships or bio credits because you will end up being attacked by the homeworld.
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Nic.
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2004, 09:05:25 pm »

The probe check, as currently written, is something like this: (presented in pseudo-code for greater readability)

Code:
IF NOT starbase_is_allied_with_you
THEN probability = 100%;
ELSE probability = magic_pixiedust_formula();
ENDIF

So even if you made it all the way to the Slylandro homeworld, told them about their wacky probes, and got the destruct code, you'd still meet 1 probe per day (i.e., they cannot be "turned off" without going to the starbase proper).  Only now you'd have the self-destruct code and wouldn't have to fight the probes.

Not that I think the idea is at all feasible in the first place, mind you.  Wink
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2004, 09:50:49 pm »

Quote

Not that I think the idea is at all feasible in the first place, mind you.  Wink


Well, I am on my way (slowly). Anyway, my first question stays the same. Has anyone else done it? Or am I walking (or trying to walk) were no UQM fan has gone before?

(Nic, I wan't you to know that I think you have stuck your neck out to far. Now, DJ, and all the others that don't exactly like you are going to try as hard as they can to prove you human)

As for beating the end with the precursor vessel, it only took me about 150 tries to do. (Literally, I mean I was very frusturated)

Anyway, what other feats have you guy's done in UQM?
My most recent feat is defeating a Chmmr with a Earthling cruiser. Yes, you are reading right! I got extremely lucky when I did a gravity whip away from the Chmmr and it followed. Well we were both at the same speed and about 3 1/2 inches away from each other. Anyway I was in laser range, but at that place in between where he would turn and fire the laser (kinda hard to explain, maybe you know what I am talking about) I was just out of range from the ZipZats, but jsut in range for the PD. So I turned on my PD and one half hour later (The enemy ship was on easy so it did not use its tractor beam) all the ZipZats were gone. Then I let loose the nukes and vola! one dead Chmmr and one very lucky cruiser!  

 
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Deep-Jiffa
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2004, 11:22:06 pm »

I don't know about the others... but not me. Don't blame me in something I didn't do! Besides that, I know for sure that you can't finish the whole missions without the warp device. Remember Tanaka?

Another thing, you start with 10 fuel units. How the hell you think you can finish the game with only 10 units?

Oh and about the crew problem: Go to the pkunk and use the ressurection to get crews.

And one last thing: Getting the Umgah caster is impossible. You need the Burvixe caster and it is far far far far far far away...

But... after all, I think it is possible!You will be left with only few turning jets and thrusters until you can start collecting bios but as hard as I can think, it is possible!
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2004, 11:29:46 pm »

Sorry for double posting but....

You better hurry, I started to beat the game without save-editor. I have my strategy ready and I am pretty sure I will beat it in 4 days. Beware muhahahaha.

P.S to prove it, where should I take screen shots?
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2004, 11:39:18 pm »

Quote
I don't know about the others... but not me. Don't blame me in something I didn't do!

Sorry DJ.  I thought it was you, but I am happy to say it was not! Someone else had talked about proving Nic wrong and him being alway right.  But as I said before it was not you, so I am sorry.

Quote

Besides that, I know for sure that you can't finish the whole missions without the warp device. Remember Tanaka?

So? - That just means you can't get Termenators  Cry

Quote

Another thing, you start with 10 fuel units. How the hell you think you can finish the game with only 10 units?

Very carefully! - I will tell you after beat it.

Quote

Oh and about the crew problem: Go to the pkunk and use the ressurection to get crews.

Thanks for the advice! - But You lost a lot of Phuck ships that way and you only get 4 a year.


Quote

And one last thing: Getting the Umgah caster is impossible. You need the Burvixe caster and it is far far far far far far away...

The Umgah caster is not immpossible to get! You just have to know when to go to the spathi homeworld as the starbase can not tell you.
Also the Burvixe caster is not that far away. It is called the portal spawner.

Quote

But... after all, I think it is possible!You will be left with only few turning jets and thrusters until you can start collecting bios but as hard as I can think, it is possible!


Thanks for the vote of confidence!
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2004, 11:45:27 pm »

I am also sorry for double posting, but I did not see DJ's second post.

Quote
Sorry for double posting but....

You better hurry, I started to beat the game without save-editor. I have my strategy ready and I am pretty sure I will beat it in 4 days. Beware muhahahaha.

P.S to prove it, where should I take screen shots?


Well, considering that I can only play about 45 min a day, you stand a good chance of beating me, but don't forget I am pretty far through it.

OK - I found out how to prove it. This is what you do, During your game, go to the moon and investgate the base. (DO NOT GO TO THE STARBASE) After coming back you will find that you have a item called ?Moon Base?. (If you go to the starbase that item will disapear) Get ALL items that you need to complete the game (forget side quests as the Slyrandro is useless (exept for the destruction code) and you are not able to complete the shofixti one without a warp unit which you get from starbase. Once you have all those items go to the Chmmr homeworld and save. Take a screen shot of your saved game. (The moon base item will act as proof that you have not been to starbase.) Ok - Have fun DJ and all others that are in this race/challenge.

EDIT: The Starbase located in Grin BugJuice Grin is of course allowed, as it is impossble to complete the game without it.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 11:55:24 pm by FalconMWC » Logged
Nic.
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2004, 12:43:12 am »

NOTE:  IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEATEN THE GAME, AND DO NOT WANT SPOILERS, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS POST

If you are going to try, my advice would be to head directly for Beta Corvi to get the probe destruct code in order to mitigate crew attrition from probe fights as soon as possible.

I would also suggest looking up the "minimalist victory" thread(s) that exist on this forum, and only completing the smallest subset of tasks that you can get away with whilst still beating the game.  (e.g., no Pkunk, Yehat, Shofixti, or Zoq-Fot-Pik quests)  To attempt any more is to risk running out of time.

On that note, the following bears specific mention:
  • Your starship in its initial configuration can take over a day in game time to set its orientation in Hyperspace (if said adjustment involves a 180-degree turn)
  • Any/every contact with a vessel in hyperspace resets your orientation to "north"
  • Any incursions into alien spheres of influence would cause them to take notice of you and come a-running for you.  In your initial configuration, they will catch you every time; which means that you would need to go around spheres of influence when at all possible, adding to travel time even further
To spell it out even further, every meeting with a probe (and there are, erm, quite a few if you don't make nice with the Earth starbase) and the Melnorme, for that matter, for fuel will cost you a day in game time, on average, as your auto-pilot re-adjusts itself after every encounter.

This says nothing about the delays in waiting for the Melnorme when one is out of fuel, and the slow speed of interplanetary exploration with a "stripped-down" flagship.  Put simply, I don't think there are enough days of game time available to win; even with the Portal Spawner I can see the Ultron quest taking well over a year to complete (especially when one considers that the Rosy Sphere cannot be accquired through slave trade as you propose to play the game, and the eggshell worlds are a bit of a stretch, to put it mildly, from the nearest portal.)

I'm not saying that you shouldn't try, I just happen to think that it is technically impossible to do as described.  But please, prove me wrong if the process of doing so entertains you.  I'm all for people having fun, and I happen to be wrong a lot.  Just ask my wife  Smiley
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FalconMWC
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2004, 12:49:24 am »

To me - Beta Corvi is just a waste of fuel and time. It takes a long time to get up there, and combat takes up NO time. So you can fight as long as you want with the probes. I personally just ignore Beta Corvi and fight it out with Fiwffo. And yes, when someone does it, they will do it in the nick of time. But I for 2 (As far as I can see) am going to try it.  
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Re: Beating the game differently
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2004, 01:35:43 am »

Having a total database complete with threat levels would help someone complete this type of game.  If you went (mostly) north first to Beta Corvi and stopped at any easy-bio or rainbow planets along the way, probes wouldn't slow you down too much, and you'd get bio enough to pay off the Melnorme Fueling service (can't remember if they let you sell your ion gun first if you're out of credits and bio or if they choose your thrusters).

Once you have the destruct code, you can go south and try to get the portal spawner (maybe have to sit in arilou space for a month; not a waste considering your speed).  With the code protecting you from probes and the spawner (and save games) protecting you from errant alien enemies and fuel shortages, you could make your way through the rest of the game virtually unmolested.
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