Money

[Richter]

I am really confused. I have recently bought this game and when I play I die before I ever get enough money to purchase a new ship to prevent that death. It always seems like all of my money goes towards repairs to my ship and I only make it a few hundred turns on challenging. I have heard that the key to money fast is exploring, but then I feel like I got left behind in levels because I spent so much time getting money.

It almost feels like I'm missing some really obvious hint out something because surviving and making a profit at the same time seem impossible.

[Slide87]

Yes,exploring/harvesting is the simplest way,but it's useful following Shortages/Surplus rumors^^ anoher way is to rank up and take delivery(or assassination/capture if u are a good fighter) contracts,often at higher ranks the pay is huge(eg delivery contract to a 20+ AU destination gives a 20k+ compense)

[Cory Trese]

There are several great quick start guides out there.

Depending on what class and difficulty you prefer, Richter, we should be able to find one that is enjoyable for you.

There are many optimal ways (and many non-optimal) to play Star Traders. Some people stumble on a way that works for them and others put one together from a variety of tips. Some people get lucky a few times and go with that. Depends on your style.

I will tell you as the creator, the game wasn't designed to be easy or forgiving =)

[fallen]

@richter - one important piece of advice: the difficulty levels in Star Traders are _serious_. Don't just think you can play on Hard or Challenging without training up on Easy and Normal! This game has amazing depth, sharpen your teeth on easier difficulty levels and then climb the ladder as you master different professions and tactics

[andersh]

I totally echo what Fallen has said. It's taken me a game on Easy, Normal and a dead captain on Challenging before I even started to develop anything that even slightly resembles a successful strategy.

Early on in the game it did seem hard, but I was going into battle against every hostile ship. No shame in ignoring/retreating I've found. I started getting serious cash when I concentrated on contracts, but each to their own, which is the beauty of this game. I've find the planets near the edge of the map tend to offer contracts that are further away, which equals more money!

[Cory Trese]

Oct 30, 2011 21:02:33 GMT -5 @Richter said:

I am really confused. I have recently bought this game and when I play I die before I ever get enough money to purchase a new ship to prevent that death. It always seems like all of my money goes towards repairs to my ship and I only make it a few hundred turns on challenging. I have heard that the key to money fast is exploring, but then I feel like I got left behind in levels because I spent so much time getting money.

It almost feels like I'm missing some really obvious hint out something because surviving and making a profit at the same time seem impossible.

Were you able to make any progress using the tips and ideas on this thread?

[nyktos]

Oct 30, 2011 21:39:06 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

There are several great quick start guides out there.

Depending on what class and difficulty you prefer, Richter, we should be able to find one that is enjoyable for you.

There are many optimal ways (and many non-optimal) to play Star Traders. Some people stumble on a way that works for them and others put one together from a variety of tips. Some people get lucky a few times and go with that. Depends on your style.

I will tell you as the creator, the game wasn't designed to be easy or forgiving =)

non-optimal ALL DAY LONG!!! - fork it, i'm playing!!!

*thinking PIRATES from the old days of the hallowed NES*

[Richter]

Yes I have changed my style of play to meet what I thought would go with a Zealot, meaning doing only contracts. I am nearing my 1000th turn on demanding as a zealot and have acquired a Royal Class to prove my success. I appreciate the time it must have taken to spell out something most people find to be simple. Looking forward to new updates and taking on some new challenges. The thing I think I would be most happy about might be a map expansion?

[slayernz]

That's the great thing about ST ... nothing really is truly simple until you've sat down and spent hours/days figuring out things. Then you think, hey, that's really easy, everyone should be doing $300k+ per trade and mopping up the opposition during combat. In reality the games compel you to experiment, research, risk life and limb (of your captain and/or the crew) until you figure out what works for you.

Of course, the next thing you have to do, Richter, is actually become a member of this forum proper ... definitely rewarding, and often a laugh <grin>.

[Cory Trese]

I do not foresee an additional map expansion coming to ST RPG 1.

Right now the design of ST RPG 2 calls for a hilariously huge map, so there is that =)

[slayernz]

I've always laughed when I am flying through the current map - especially when I come close to Steel Song territory. Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to giggling uncontrollably with ST RPG 2....

[blackgauntlet]

I can understand why ST is funny. But the forum? This place is a serious place where we discuss sombre topics with straight faces. Really.

[Slide87]

Really,no laughs,no smiles,we are very serious people...

*background voices*...
"Simo porca merda tira fuori due soldi che a forza de stà in Liguria sei diventato peggio de Zio Paperone" //Simo holy sh@t take out some money that resting in Ligury U are became worse than Scrooge McDuck!!
"ma che stai a dì lurido non c'ho i soldi manco pe piagne!!"// WTH ARE U TELLING? I have no money,neither to cry!!!
*chainsaw background sounds*...

[rabidbite]

Alright Richer ... money.

Now depending on the difficulties I can advice different classes to play:

1. At lower difficulties (Demanding, challenging, Normal): The explorer, start trader is viable option. (Remember talking about personal experience, there are sure to be better players out there)

Explorer/Star Trader/Merchant
Use your own criteria with the stats that you think will keep you going.

Faction is, again, personal choice.
Personally, faction wise, I suggest going Javat/House Thulu because their starting areas coincide a lot with the early exploration/harvesting spots and because Hause Thulun has some gooood merchant ships. One thing I did was get positive faction with EVERYONE and buy a trade permit with all of them. Usually I did this by doing 3 or so contracts versus Independents or versus a faction where I have a ton of reputation already and who's reputation loss will not affect me that much.

As an explorer who wants to keep good faction with just about everyone, I found the SCOUT/SMUGGLER officer very useful for its harvesting and exploring bonuses.
The Political Officer as well, since the gorgeous blond gal warns me before I do an OOPS and sell a ton of artifacts to a trade enbargoed faction.

Why get good faction? Because if you get Rank with a faction AND good rep, the privateers/pirates of that faction mostly ignore you. You'll have to ALWAYS be careful of Independents.

I've found it useful to have an escape shuttle ready, just in case. BUT, that's a personal choice.

Remember that SURRENDER, saves your ship a lot of damage. If you see a Sword class ship, do so early on. You might win the fight, but the damage you'll take will be ridiculous.

Once in a while ALL factions will suffer embargo at the same time. That's when you go into independent air space and hang out for a while. But ... beware ... independent pirates WILL be hostile.

Pirate: (Excellent class)

As a pirate I picked 2 factions to be hostile and the rest I gained rep with. You won't need so much cargo space at the beginning, so I suggest an agile ship and a fast ship. Thus, I started off with the Tempus Fugit. 45 cargo, ONLY 18 crew (yum lower water consumption) Pretty fast bugger.

DO NOT buy a Death Warrant early in the game. Stronger bounty captains means damage you can't absorb just yet.

Get Trade Permits from the factions you want to keep positive, but take your time with this. Not something you'll accomplish right away.

What you'll focus on is Stealth and Piloting. Stealth is the equivalent of defensive shields (aka attacks miss) and Piloting helps a ton with closing ranges, outmaneuvering, fuel consumption, etc. Both very useful AND both under Quickness!

Attack and destroy independent ships with impunity for more cash. If taking on faction ships be careful not to screw you reputation. AKA look a lot at the CONFLICT tab in your cargo display.

When you can, get a Pilot Officer (so it stacks with your own skills), an Alien Hunter/veteran hunter (So that when you get to face aliens you do so fully prepared) and the third one is whatever you want. All officers have their uses.

Try not to buy ships. Find the ones you want and switch ships BUT be careful! Only do this when you have the cash and only when you are close to where you can purchase the upgrades you'll require to succeed.




Anyways that's my 2 cents on the subject. i hope I was able to help on some way.

[blackgauntlet]

For me, Cadar Bounty Hunter on Impossible. Stealth all the way till level 15 and start to distribute points between Stealth and Pilot till level 20 each. THEN distribute XP between Stealth, Piloting and Warrior till 25.

I've probably mentioned somewhere that I had to live like a frog at lower levels. Staying at a Cadarian homeworld, do some rounds, hit Cadarian Pirates and Smugglers, cache their stuff if it's cheap or immediately turn in a profit if there's a demand rumor.

W/F consumption is horrid in Impossible and takes up a LOT of cargo space. Without proper planning on caching (and ALWAYS remember to top-up the cache) W/F, you WILL die. Horribly.