Development Info Escape Velocity Nova for Windows released

[Vault Dweller]

Oookay, thanks. So does that mean that any faction-related missions ( I was a courier at some UPS place) are gone as well? Are there many non-main quest factions?

 

[DrattedTin]

There are! But the Vell-os quest seems to lock them all out. I'm not sure if you gain them back at the very end or not, but you may wish to make a new pilot if you don't feel like flitting around in a Vell-os dart for a long time.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Thanks again, I wonder why they did it, the game gets very linear without missions, upgrades, and factions.

 

[DrattedTin]

It's a rather unique gameplay opportunity, that's all. I think it makes a good deal of sense, I just wish they had more clearly made you understand what you were getting into, since it's rather obtuse at the beginning.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Whoa. :shock:

I downoaded the shareware version, and am playing trough it with the spare time i have. Goodness gracious, what a compelling and addictive little game :D So far i have a Sigma Heavy Cruiser and have been doing BBS missions (deliveries, mainly). Between being given tips by nearby ships, fending off some unprovoked attacks, dodging destroyer/cruiser (or whatever that giant ship was :shock: ) blasts and trying to (unsuccesfully) blast said destroyer with my punny blasters... its being much more fun than what i could play in the Freelancer demo... Freelancer's only triumph over Escape Velocity so far seems to be the 3D, and at least a visualization of your main character. But it soon goes out of my system the minute i get deep into the combat and trade mechanics of EVN. I think i might spend some more time with my lovely shareware, and in a month (possibly... still trying to scrounge up some $$$), i'll definetely get it :D

From what i read above i'm on the Vell Os story arc, where they asked me to search and find a way to their home. Luckilly i can still take on other regular missions, but i still haven't been contacted by any other "faction". Stuck, am i? Oh well, nothing a little replay won't solve

One thing though, prolly because this is the shareware version... when Harry told me to get into earth's orbit and try to board the ship lying there, i couldn't get in (Boarding chance 0%). I could only take energy from it. Why couldn't i board it? Because its shareware or because i didn't have any mercs?

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Boarding is difficult. You should probably get some marines on there.

 

[Vault Dweller]

From what i read above i'm on the Vell Os story arc, where they asked me to search and find a way to their home. Luckilly i can still take on other regular missions, but i still haven't been contacted by any other "faction". Stuck, am i?

Not yet, but you're getting closer to the main story. A word of advice though, before you go to talk to Fry-something dude, get a good ship, I am not sure if they let you keep a very powerful one, but it looks like it's your last chance to buy one and spend all your millions

Why couldn't i board it? Because its shareware or because i didn't have any mercs?

Because it's a shareware. It says so on the boarding window.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

The Vellos missions are supposedly a newbie campaign, but you get some good stuff out of it.

Speaking of upgrades, there's one that affects hyperdrive and how far you can be from the system center. Anyone know where that one is? I've found it before, but I can't seem to find it again.

I just registered.. w00t.

 

[Vault Dweller]

The Vellos missions are supposedly a newbie campaign, but you get some good stuff out of it.

Newbie campaign? Did you just call me a newbie? But what about telepathic stuff? I'm T4 now and the benefits have been added to my ships weapon screen. Don't know how or when they work though.
Btw, what kind of ships did you guys get by now?

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

I have a Pirate Manticore. I'd really like a Polaris Freighter, BUT.. I managed to piss them off by starting on the Wild Geese string. Whoops.

 

[Greenskin13]

There are! But the Vell-os quest seems to lock them all out.

Oh thank God. I thought people just stopped hiring me because I messed up three shipping jobs in a row.

 

[Mad_Dog]

I turned down the Vell-Os story arc, and now the Feds are attacking me whereever I go... FUcking annoying. :evil:

 

[Spazmo]

Yeah, I got burned by that one, too. I had to restart the game since I wanted to be friendly with the Feds.

 

[Lemon]

The Vellos missions are supposedly a newbie campaign, but you get some good stuff out of it.

Speaking of upgrades, there's one that affects hyperdrive and how far you can be from the system center. Anyone know where that one is? I've found it before, but I can't seem to find it again.

I just registered.. w00t.

Directions

Sol>Kerella>Procyon>Trishka> and planet Misfire

 

[Spazmo]

It incredible. EVN is the first game ever to make me take notes. I've been carefully cataloguing what different planets have to buy and sell all day looking for good trade routes. I wouldn't be surprised if I reproduce a great big starmap on my wall.

 

[Walks with the Snails]

*scratches head* Sorry, I just don't quite see it. It feels like a glorified Space Invaders to me. For all its faults, Freelancer was better just because where you spend most of your time, the cockpit, was more enjoyable.

 

[Ibbz]

Turning down the Vell Os story line will get the Feds after you, but if you go into Auroran space and visit a bar, you can start the Polaris story line, getting access to arguably the best ships in the game.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

It incredible. EVN is the first game ever to make me take notes. I've been carefully cataloguing what different planets have to buy and sell all day looking for good trade routes. I wouldn't be surprised if I reproduce a great big starmap on my wall.

This kind of annoys me. There should be a way for the COMPUTER in the game to take care of this information for you since there's really no good way to do it other than writing things down on paper. Personally, I think that if the game makes you resort to penning stuff down frequently, there's a problem.

 

[Psilon]

Well, I registered last Sunday and have been playing religiously since then. Before the Wild Geese sent me into the Pirate storyline (with the commensurate capital ship and upgrades--you know what I'm talking about) I had a very nice Pirate Starbridge with several railguns and fusion cannons. Rather than do trade runs I just ran missions for folks; United Shipping frequently sent me 50000 credit and even 100K delivery runs!

The thing I'm flying now is a brick (despite all three engine upgrades--you guys left out the Overdrive), but it's a brick with turrets! And two sets of marines! Before doing the final Pirate lets-get-our-asses-kicked mission I had several stolen Valkyries and Starbridges for escorts, as well as four docked Pirate Thunderheads and an Abomination. Afterwards I still had two fighters, a Pirate Valkyrie, and the Abomination. Even though I disabled several Manticores, Thunderheads, and an Enterprise, I couldn't board them. I assume one can't board any plot-induced enemy ships?

Notes on what systems like what goods would be nice, but I'll tell you what would be nicer: an ignore target button a la TIE Fighter which works for all friendly ships, even those not technically your escorts. The mission where you and a bunch of friendly pirates spring an ambush drove me up the wall. It took at least sixty tries before I managed to keep the command Enterprise intact and board it without my "allies," the Feds, the Rebels, or even the bloody Aurorans blowing it up. That's why I like hanging out in neutral systems such as those adjacent to Koria; there's not much traffic and the governments rarely interfere with one's pirate-hijacking operations.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Just the other day as i kept advancing in the Vell Os arc i got this absolutely wicked mission, to drive 4 Destroyers (excuse my SWesque jargon on this one :D ) to the Courageous docking station, and cause enough destruction. So i had a VO Dart, and was walking around directing 4 huge ships... eheh. Kinda makes you feel important out there 8)

Upon reaching the system, to my amazement i'm overwhelmed with a heavilly armed welcoming comitee. There must've been about 4 destroyers or cruisers and about fifteen smaller combat ships. I got owned about 20 times before managing to win the situation by using the afterburner to draw enemy fire, then letting my 4 destroyers handle the fight (and also had them launch their own smaller combat ships), coupled with about other 4 to 5 escorts - by the time i had drawed enough enemy fire i sprinted back an immediatelly entered the station, caused mayhem, and ran away.

Mission successful :D

 

[chiefnewo]

Just the other day as i kept advancing in the Vell Os arc i got this absolutely wicked mission, to drive 4 Destroyers (excuse my SWesque jargon on this one :D ) to the Courageous docking station, and cause enough destruction. So i had a VO Dart, and was walking around directing 4 huge ships... eheh. Kinda makes you feel important out there 8)

Upon reaching the system, to my amazement i'm overwhelmed with a heavilly armed welcoming comitee. There must've been about 4 destroyers or cruisers and about fifteen smaller combat ships. I got owned about 20 times before managing to win the situation by using the afterburner to draw enemy fire, then letting my 4 destroyers handle the fight (and also had them launch their own smaller combat ships), coupled with about other 4 to 5 escorts - by the time i had drawed enough enemy fire i sprinted back an immediatelly entered the station, caused mayhem, and ran away.

Mission successful :D

I always find it amusing after a mission like that when I'm congratulated on my fighting - when all I did was sprint around the system like mad until my escorts took them all out.
I have no fighting skills, anytime someone fires missiles at me my ship crumples up, even with a Polaris jammer.

Btw, about that damn Vell Os arc, is there any way to avoid it? I restarted three times trying to avoid it and eventually I gave up and did a runner to the Polaris arc. Only another million before I have my very own Zephyr

 

[Astromarine]

Avoid any missions titled "Delivery to Earth", apparently

 

[Psilon]

Alternately, tell the Vell-os to STFU when he asks for your help. You'll then have to high-tail it out of Fed space with 4-5 angry destroyers on your tail, but the Aurorans will make mincemeat out of them. At that point, it's safe to return, even to Sol. The Vell-os storyline won't bug you again.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Telling the Vell os guy to piss off, then running to the nearest Auroran bar will get you in to a nice campaign.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Telling the Vell os guy to piss off, then running to the nearest Auroran bar will get you in to a nice campaign.

Actually i'm replaying again and have now an IDA Frigate ("Juspezwick", i named the lass ). I had a very-well equipped Pirate Valkirye, but the 20 cargo limit was decidedly annoying. Its speed and weapons did allow me to attack some pirates dead-on, and steal their precious cargo, ammo and most importantly, credits :D but i felt it was time for a change.

I've been getting these missions from some terra-forming folks who are now terra-forming UPHS-1002, iirc. Nice chaps, 25000 each cargo run. I found them at a bar, in Tryschia (sp?), was this what you meant, SP?

But now i'm trying to get some cargo runs and the maximum i've gotten until now was a 23 cargo-carrying run. Is there some nice planet out there in need of me carrying off 200 of cargo somewhere?