Escape from New York 

4/05/2004 8:55:19 PM
Came in to Rochester base New York, and found the a light fighter ship and only $5000.  So I first purchased nanos, shields and countermeasure and went to Manhattan to join LSF.

First mission I found out my purchases were not a good idea.  I had no trouble hitting the Xenos but I needed a little more firepower as I was going through too many nanos (not that I had that many ;-)). So I survived but with no money or nanos.

OK time to rethink and restart.

I deleted character and restarted - this time took another weapon and shields and nanos (mostly nanos)

First mission (Lev1) was a kill a character and read the dropped docs. Took out the ship and made it back. A little bit hard without counter measures (CM) but a lot of dodging and I cruised back to Manhattan.

Purchased counter measures, shields and nanos and found I had picked up a Xeno neuronet interface (~$1450) which was worth as much as the mission.

Second mission same type (Lev 1) - succeeded

Came back and docked with Manhattan

Next mission - a capture. Got a little hairy, but no real problems except for getting away - but used around 30 CMs ;-)

4/05/2004 8:55:19 PM

But this mission was much too costly – between nanos and CMs lost, I think I made a loss even with the dropped whatever.

At this point I’m looking for the exploit to earn cash. By exploit I don’t mean cheat, but rather the fastest method of acquiring cash.

In TNG 1.7, it’s dropped high level weapons in combat – get a few of them and bolt them on and suddenly the AI NPCs are no trouble – 3 hours to get my preferred fully fitted ship. In Rebalance 3.0, it’s a particular trade route that gets me to my preferred ship in around 1hr 7 min. Asylum 51 it’s mainly missions etc etc.

So in this mod I decided I need to take out more ships and pick up the goodies. In other words, the exploit here is to actually kill the ships – the more you kill, the better the rewards (dropped neuronet etc). How refreshing ;-)

Started next mission – another capture. Then got a server maintenance warning in 5 min - shut down. Not enough time to complete, so aborted and redocked.

4/05/2004 9:04:04 PM (server around 5:04 am)

Can’t find server, even though web page says up. Look up my stats – very cool - if embarrassing. It probably says it in the documentation but I found using the Total War shortcut which does the checking and download seems to be the only way to get in. (doh)

Restarted FL with the Total War shortcut and got in – now I’m [noob]TonyMcS

Damn. Went out on next mission (shoot-em up) didn’t look at nanos or shields – had none, of course. I also had around $4k  so had to go back and reload. Luckily mission stayed active while I reloaded nanos.

4/05/2004 9:38:01 PM
Now that was better a cleanup mission. Around 8 fighters in 4 waves got 7 Xeno neuronet – only thing makes it worth it ;-)

I’m also totally paranoid about losing my ship and life. I’m extra careful in commodities shop about what I’m selling ;-). In much the same way some people imagine themselves jumping from a high place I’m imagining hitting the Sell button for my life ;-)
4/05/2004 9:40:27 PM

OK a couple more missions like that and I upgrade to that cheap light fighter ($20k)

4/05/2004 9:54:59 PM
Finished mission – the same type as before - A lot easier now.

I’ve become lazy with big ships and other mods, so I find my usual habit of stopping dead at 2.4k and shooting each enemy while strafing and circling takes forever and I’m obliged to do the old dog fighting - which appears a lot safer and gives faster kills. Damn – who knew I’d have to use skillz again ;-)

I’ve now decided that the quick earner is clean-up missions. The others just don’t return enough drops at the moment – the more ships the better.

4/05/2004 9:56:19 PM
I now have reached $20k – one more mission and I might swap ships. In the mission, I tractored a thruster and 8 neuros. I also got finally got caught with the cargo hold being used by everything (didn’t have a lot of cash before). So I reduce nanos – finding around 16 nanos and 2 shields is adequate.

4/05/2004 10:17:20 PM
Purchased the Viper – perhaps I should have waited another mission so I could afford more weapons - but we’ll see. Damn why is everything a optional add-on? ;-) Hasn’t Joe heard of bundling ;-) Basically got a 4.0 speed gun , a 2.0 speed (with large shield damage) and a slug thrower.

Yoo Hoo. a little better SPEED finally. Have I mentioned that a 500 cruise is only fast compared to standard FL? – I feel like I’m flying through treacle – remind myself of Glock’s explanation of why too much speed is a BAD thing and practice more Zen. The cruise appears slightly better than my previous ship but I could be mistaken.

4/05/2004 10:27:12 PM

Mission was easy – level 3 around 8 or so ships but hardly got scratched. Like the new weapons, but not as easy to use as I hoped. The 4.00 speed guns seemed to stop occasionally (probably moving outside their firing arc)– anyway got some more of the 30/15 slug throwers – nice effect and sound

4/05/2004 10:29:57 PM
Oops forgot to get a mission and exited Manhattan – there’s bad Xenos out there ;-) redocked

4/05/2004 10:39:13 PM
Just did a level 6 – took no damage picked up some weapons and 4 neuros and thrusters

4/05/2004 10:41:02 PM
Up graded one thruster to a 54

4/05/2004 10:55:15 PM
Spoke too soon ;-)

Had to abort a level 6 mission - no nanos or shields left – don’t want to lose my ship!!! Such a change from my usually behaviour in FL mods – usually I’d just fight it out – but no way I’m losing the ship now.

I also tried out a missile. Missiles suck or at least my use of them does ;-) Probably only of use early in the mission – certainly useless in a dog fight unless I get real close and time it just right. Replace missile with another 4 speed gun.

4/05/2004 11:11:04 PM
Just did level 8 mission - cleanup – no real probs

4/05/2004 11:12:13 PM
Another Lev 8 mission
Dumped the slug throwers – nice and fast but a bugger to use and they throw off my aiming of the big guns. Swapped out the slug guns for more 4.0s
Now Im Level 8 and 9 green with LSF
15 Xeno neuros in cargo – now have 20k

The weapons are annoying me - the slug guns are a bugger to aim with the 4.00 and the 2.00 speed guns

4/05/2004 11:15:30 PM
Gonna take a break ;-)


4/05/2004 11:24:34 PM
Another 30 min and that’s it ;-)

OK I’m now Level 11

4/05/2004 11:31:16 PM
Well that was quick. Only a Lev 3 mission available

4/05/2004 11:38:30 PM
Another Lev 3 job. Kill the man - read the docs. Now up to 40k

4/05/2004 11:44:24 PM
Finished another Lev 3 – 53k. I’m Level 13 now

Wondering how do I get better jobs? Can I venture outside and survive? ;-)

4/05/2004 11:59:17 PM
Just finished a Lev 9 mission I got from a guy at the bar ;-). It appears you should check a guy at the bar for the bigger missions.  Coming in and out of the bar changes the missions available from the patrons.

Now $73k Level 15

Ok gonna try popping out without mission.

5/05/2004 12:01:19 AM
Hmmm just 2 pathetic Xenos that got creamed.

I’m bad with Xenos but ok with others. I’ve been careful of missions – don’t want to alienate too many ;-)

5/05/2004 12:13:56 AM

Just did a Lev 8 mission. Now have about $100k and at Level 17

Something a little strange – I couldn’t pick up neuros. There were some floating nanos and 2 Xeno neuros. I had 21 nanos and no shields (lost around 4) and 6 Neros already but I could not pick up the neuros.

My cargo appeared was full. So I dumped some nanos and then picked the neuros up and refilled with nanos – next wave of Xenos came in and had no trouble with picking up neuros.  Must have just needed to drop a nano as neuronets appear to take up less cargo space than a bot or batt.

5/05/2004 12:23:43 AM
Another Lev 9 from the guy at the bar but only got me to $107k – had too much help and not enough drops.

5/05/2004 12:43:34 AM
Ok time to go touring. Trenton Outpost is green so off I go. The jobs are better and a guy at the bar gives me a level 12 from Trenton Outpost. Get back with 22 Neuros (which are around $1450 each)

5/05/2004 12:45:58 AM
Enough for now.

I’m Level 18 with 130k in about 4 hours. Probably at least another 3-4 to amass a bribe – but should I go for the bigger fighter? And what other things lurk in NY?

5/05/2004 9:31:47 PM
On again – alone again – I’ll have to start playing earlier .. :'(

5/05/2004 9:46:39 PM
Did a level 8 mission from Trenton Outpost

5/05/2004 10:04:16 PM
Decided to investigate NY. Looked at patrol lanes map and went to what turned out to be Newark station – impressive installation. Did a mission - Xenos again

I am now Level 20 with $168K

5/05/2004 10:13:07 PM
Another mission then hung around with some fighters trying to find Battleship Missouri who kept telling me they were en route from there but obviously never wanted to return.  Getting nowhere – enough for tonight.

6/05/2004 11:57:48 AM
Back on – Not feeling great today so stayed home from work and I thought I’d distract myself with a game. Players are actually on the server!!!!


6/05/2004 12:00:05 PM
These missions are pretty lame – Lev 3 and the guys at the bar are about the same – time to find bloody Battleship Missouri – but worried about Vic’s fart (a large nebula I believe) ;-) where is it? I’ve heard It’s near Missouri so find that first.

Level 20 $180K
 

Have installed older version of Ventrilo (had to remove V2.2 first which means I’ll have to try and reinstall 2 versions so I can still converse in the other mods – will I ever hear Glock’s dulcet tones again? :'( )

6/05/2004 12:12:26 PM
Didn’t find Missouri – found Buffalo Base – bad mistake. I wasn’t too concerned with 2 class 5 enemies – so I took out one and then another 6 turned up. Decided discretion was the better part of valour and tried to get away – succeeded on my third attempt – memo to self: buy more CMs.

Decided to head for Baden Baden as I’m green with the Bund. Saw Friburg station on the way there so I docked – after taking out 2 Xenos who were attacking station.

FID messages that he has given me the password so I join the other players in Ventrilo.

6/05/2004 12:20:07 PM
Level 6 mission from Friburg

6/05/2004 12:27:56 PM
Well that was over quickly. Started to go towards Baden Baden but looked at patrol lanes and noticed one out to nothing – went there – turned out to be Bonn station. Still just taking Xeno missions so I’m still good with Bund and LSF.

Ok better thrusters here so I upgrade my 2 to 80s

6/05/2004 12:31:57 PM
Hmm looked at the ships – wouldn’t mind upgrading to the medium fighter – but does this mean I’m then Bund?? Leave it for the moment and see if I can find bloody Missouri ;-)

6/05/2004 12:34:44 PM
Forgot to trade in my 9 neuros – ah well I’ll do it later heading up to Newark through a blank area I haven’t been yet.

6/05/2004 12:37:37 PM
And that’s why it’s a good idea to always get rid of your cargo pick-ups – ah well, had to happen – I died. Took on 3 Xenos as I was travelling, took them out, but inadvertently hit a Bund, suddenly I have 3 or 4 Bund hitting me (and their weapons hurt since I’m in a LSF ship) who took me out ;-)

Now to see what the damage is ;-)

6/05/2004 1:03:12 PM
I’m at Rochester. Ouch! No ship of course – but I still have 140k. I now want to try that Bund medium fighter, so I buy a very light fighter at Rochester – no weapons - and go to Bonn to get a medium fighter.

Do a quick level 3 from Bonn – that’s a lot easier. The Bund weapons look like green sperm, but are pretty effective.

For no good reason, decide to go to Trenton Outpost

6/05/2004 1:12:11 PM

Do a quick Lev 6 mission and back – I think I might go to Bund again as I have a Bund ship.

Nah do another Lev 5 mission instead – I need better missions

At Level 17 $57K

6/05/2004 1:31:11 PM
Level 18 $67K

At Bonn station. Is this better? Maybe time to start taking some LSF missions.

6/05/2004 1:54:20 PM
Waiting for Vic to join me in NY – taking a Lev 15 mission. Not too hard surprisingly.

Level 19 $97K

6/05/2004 2:25:05 PM

Vic joined me in NY and we did a few missions with Ventrilo on. Fighting LSF now and the tactics are slightly different. Missions are a lot easier with 2 people. Vic stays for a few missions then has to go – I thank him for the help ;-)

Just looked at my web stats and I’m finally positive – it appears I'm finally getting my performance rating up

Break time...

6/05/2004 3:20:40 PM
Back again $150k doing missions from Baden Baden

Hmmm an assassination – but only about 5 ships. I do think that the shoot everyone missions are better. The assassination and capture missions are occasionally the same, but I often have the target in the first wave and when I take them out there are usually only another 4-6 ships.

Maybe I shouldn’t have taken out the guy straight away – but those class 5 and 6 NPCs can be a pain.

6/05/2004 3:38:32 PM
Ok took a Lev 19 mission – around 30 ships took a while and I lost 2 weapons – damn – picked up a few guns though and 29 Neuros – need more nanos

6/05/2004 3:52:37 PM
Did myself some damage with that last mission Level 21 $175

6/05/2004 3:57:12 PM
Stupid stupid stupid.

Did the classic. Get a mission, get out there, then notice I have 2 nanos and no shields (DOH!!!!!)

Run away. Lose mission, down goes my performance rating I think...

Load up and try again

Catching on finally – killing the LSF enemy ships gives you better priced drops than Xenos – on the other hand they are harder and there doesn’t seems as many ships – so maybe they are balanced. Suffering cognitive dissonance.

6/05/2004 4:03:07 PM
Another mission. Double idiocy – I forgot to purchase the weapons I lost last time so I’m 2 down. Thought that last mission was harder than usual ;-)

6/05/2004 4:09:04 PM
Got those guns. Just taking LSF target missions as high as I can get

Hmm Lev 5 capture mission. Target in the first wave and only three ships accompanying – took no time. Resolve to forget assassination and capture/read docs for the moment - want more ships to kill.

6/05/2004 4:21:36 PM
Stupidities come in 3s! Failed mission because I forgot to take escape pod back to Baden Baden. I docked at Bonn (as it was closer).


6/05/2004 4:43:35 PM
Lev 17 mission
Level 22 $230k

6/05/2004 4:49:37 PM
Hmm Lev 17 mission might be a bit too much at the moment (even though a Lev 19 before was doable). I barely got out alive and compounded matters by running to close to the station while docking. The station walls nearly took out what was left of my hull.

Memo to self: The Universe is a dangerous place.

Now have $200k

6/05/2004 5:00:29 PM
Must be getting tired – a level 8 and I had to run – another wave and I had no nanos left ;-) Failed mission.

6/05/2004 5:24:34 PM
Level 22 200k again

Been going backwards. I need to rethink my missions. While Lev 12 and up give me lots more drops (ships), they are fairly difficult and seem worse if it’s LSF – that may also be because I’m not used to fighting them. Time for a break…

6/05/2004 6:18:22 PM
On again

6/05/2004 6:36:58 PM
Doing Lev 3-8 but sticking at low level if possible. I can’t believe how cautious I’ve become in this mod! As loss of ship and money is the consequence of being too gung-ho, I think I’ll stick to the little guys.

6/05/2004 7:17:24 PM
Just kept doing a few Lev 3 and 4 missions.

I now have 320k so I think its time to blow this popsicle stand.

Don’t know whether I should explore NY more and either FID or Vic suggested I could try trading, but I’m eager to get into the real game. I hope I’ve learned enough lessons… ;-)

6/05/2004 7:22:44 PM
Just paid the bribe for Rheinland – nothing happened immediately. I presume I could just hit F1 and reload my character but decided to quit and restart.
6/05/2004 7:23:02 PM
Signing in.

Well I’m out of NY ;-)


IMPRESSIONS

Great fun – although dying wasn’t ;-)

Virtually all of my problems were caused by my own stupidities. Whereas standard FL and other mods are a lot more forgiving of occasional mistakes – this mod isn’t.

So...

Don’t forget to check your nanos/shields/cargo and for missing weapons EVERY time before you launch

Don’t take missions above what you can comfortably handle

If you are in a faction ship do not inadvertently shoot a ship from another faction – even if they are green – you do lots of damage which they will revisit on you immediately.

Death is a major inconvenience at lower levels – so much so that you’ll need to delete your character and start again. At level 20 with about $180k (I think) I lost my ship but still had the bulk of my cash (140k) so I was able to get another – in this case a better one.

Oh and I didn't find Battleship Missouri. I wonder if it might be easier when the info cards are finished ;D

All in all, a well balanced, integrated introduction to the game. I’m looking forward to fighting for Rheinland ;-)

Anyway time to look at that map and see where the @#$# Battleship Missouri is.