Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => General Discussion => Topic started by: BonhommeCarnaval on March 26, 2012, 01:08:46 PM

Title: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: BonhommeCarnaval on March 26, 2012, 01:08:46 PM
Once in a while when playing Starfarer I learn a sneaky little trick or piece of information that had eluded me for a long time. I always feel like I should let the community know, just in case they hadn't noticed either. This thread is for everyone to leave their little nuggets of useful information about the game. Eventually if the list gets long I will regroup all the information into the original post and new players and vets alike can search this thread for some useful game knowledge.  :)

I'll start out with a small but useful realization that I had recently and that inspired this thread :

On many ships, fitting the Resistant Flux Conduit hull mod will give you more flux venting for the same amount of OP as if you had spent them on flux vents directly. In that case, the resistance to EMP damage is just a nice side effect (which comes in handy versus Salamanders)!

Your turn people.  8)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: CaptanSpudsy on March 26, 2012, 01:24:05 PM
Clever, I'm going to put this very well known one out there for noobs, and my own one.

Shift-clicking will get you only one item at a Space station.


If you have a newish fleet (2-3 frigates) always try to target Buffalo MK.2s, they're easy to kill and give you lots of money and loot.




SPUDSY
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: cp252 on March 26, 2012, 01:31:02 PM
Did you know it took me an hour to learn the shiftclick?
Fleets with nothing but Buffalo Mk2s and escorts are easy pickings even with just 2 frigates, as long as you can deal with the fighters  :D
My tip: if you're taking on slowmoving low-techs in a high-tech ship, raising shields and ramming is a great way to speed up overloading and to break armour. Loosing off harpoons at point blank range is awesome too. And shoving a dead condor along as a shield, then flinging it into another ship is really, really fun.  ;D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Tribula on March 26, 2012, 01:58:55 PM
As you know, activating shields reduces you max speed. However, if you get to full speed and then release acceleration, you can then drift at full speed with your shields fully active. This is useful for the capital ships that have slow shield activation times. :)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Thaago on March 26, 2012, 02:04:03 PM
I had to ask in the forum to know about shift-click... :-[

Hmm how about:
Railguns are a very good weapon - I actually think they are better than any medium mount ballistic kinetic because they cost only 7 OP. This is open to debate.

Turrets/fighters do target lead, but it is heavily dependent on crew level. Try to get veteran and elite crew into fighters/craft that rely on ballistics for damage (veteran lashers last about twice as long against missiles than regulars).

Pirate fleets labeled "Armada" or "Carrier fleet" or some other impressive name that only have a few ships in them probably just got their ass kicked - run them down early and you might get a free cruiser. Similarly, look for other damaged fleets, they often don't have enough crew and the extra ship will surrender. This will probably change in future versions.

Armor not only absorbs damage, but also reduces it. I believe the damage done is something like (D^2)/(BA+CA) where D is the damage of the shot, BA the base armor, and CA the current armor of the segment getting shot. This might be incorrect as I'm just remembering off the top of my head from some other forum post - if someone knows the exact formula I'd love to see it :D. Neighboring armor sections also matter, so shoot for the middle of where you've allready blown out the armor.

High single shot damage is more useful than spread out damage against both shields and armor: shields overload longer and armor reduces less. You usually have to pay more OP for weapons that do this.

If you don't press A or W or strafe you will coast at whatever speed/direction you were going before, regardless of flux levels/burnout. Nebulae will still slow you down. Ex: get an Onslaught up to 75 going the direction you want. Coast, then turn on shields, and slam through an enemy line. Enjoy! (Note: you can still turn when coasting, just not strafe or accelerate/decelerate)

[EDIT] Ninja'd on the last one :D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Flare on March 26, 2012, 02:39:34 PM
If you don't press A or W or strafe you will coast at whatever speed/direction you were going before, regardless of flux levels/burnout.

I thought it was possible to turn while retaining that speed advantage.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Iscariot on March 26, 2012, 05:02:53 PM
Remember that sometimes, lowering your shields is a good idea.

For example, with omni shields, often lowering and re-raising shields is the best way to reposition them. It is often better to take sabots on the armor rather than on the shields, and if your target is overloaded or the guns facing you are down, the extra flux from not having your shields up is often the difference between victory and defeat.

Don't be a *** Tri-Tachyon captain; shields are not a final line of defense, they are a median defensive tool.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: C-Station on March 26, 2012, 05:12:17 PM
In High Tech Ships, energy weapons tend to use a whole lot of flux to kill an enemy ship's shield. However one torpedo can shred an enemies shield right off, allowing a barrage of energy weapons to be fired at the enemy. This can really help against ships with very good shields and high flux reserves but low health, like an Aurora, a flux advantage is arguably more important than a damage advantage.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: CenturionGMU on March 27, 2012, 10:53:29 AM
Rally your carriers behind nebulae. The slowing on your fighters is negligible but the slowing effect on big ships who might slip by might mean the difference between losing your carriers and keeping them, by buying your ships enough time to escape.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: OrangeLima on March 27, 2012, 11:35:21 AM
This will blow all of your minds... if you press tab and space very fast togethe, almost at the the same time, you will be able to see ships and fleets flying around on the solar map. Makes it really handy for determining course of prey, because you maintain speed by holding down click without shift on, you can direct which way you go.

Mind = Blown?

TBH this should just be a real feature though. There is no reason why you couldn't just stare at a radar.

Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: cp252 on March 27, 2012, 12:52:56 PM
Radar minimap would be lovely... sigh.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Flare on March 27, 2012, 05:15:05 PM
This will blow all of your minds... if you press tab and space very fast togethe, almost at the the same time, you will be able to see ships and fleets flying around on the solar map. Makes it really handy for determining course of prey, because you maintain speed by holding down click without shift on, you can direct which way you go.

Mind = Blown?

TBH this should just be a real feature though. There is no reason why you couldn't just stare at a radar.

You can un-pause on the map screen while in dev-mode already. You can practically un-pause just about anywhere in dev-mode.



Shift and holding down the LMB allows you to increase flux vents and conduits much faster.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: PsychoWolfen on March 28, 2012, 12:43:42 AM
When Starting out, Ignore any and all 1 Triangle Tri-Ships. Tempests and Wolf-Classes are known for being very very destructive on small class hauls and can wipe out ALOT of fighter classes. Its best to keep destroying Pirate ships until you can afford Destroyers and then start moving out on Tri ships
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: jdb1917 on March 28, 2012, 06:20:48 AM
here's a nice one, if your flying a ship with an omni shield, leave your shield down unless being directly shot at, you can just rapidly turn it on while pointing at incoming missiles and you wont generate flux. this also allows you to activate your shields on all sides without waiting for its rotation. i have survived many missile barrages using this.

enjoy ;D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Iscariot on March 28, 2012, 11:47:26 AM
When Starting out, Ignore any and all 1 Triangle Tri-Ships. Tempests and Wolf-Classes are known for being very very destructive on small class hauls and can wipe out ALOT of fighter classes. Its best to keep destroying Pirate ships until you can afford Destroyers and then start moving out on Tri ships

If you're not really certain about your skill, I agree with this, but if you're in the mood to take a gamble, nabbing a Tempest early game will mean that you have a big advantage all the way into the end-game.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on March 28, 2012, 12:17:00 PM
Shift clicking and holding on inventory screens will open up a slider that lets you pick up any fraction of the pile.

Don't forget my favourite UI feature: shift on the system map will speed time.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Nanostrike on March 28, 2012, 12:24:57 PM
In High Tech Ships, energy weapons tend to use a whole lot of flux to kill an enemy ship's shield. However one torpedo can shred an enemies shield right off, allowing a barrage of energy weapons to be fired at the enemy. This can really help against ships with very good shields and high flux reserves but low health, like an Aurora, a flux advantage is arguably more important than a damage advantage.

What?  NO.  Torpedos are all High Explosive.  Which means that they're essentially trash against shields but wreck armor.

Maybe you're thinking of Sabot Missiles, but Torpedos against shields is a waste of a torpedo.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on March 28, 2012, 12:34:50 PM
It isn't ***, precisely, it's half damage. Half of 4000 is 2000, which is often still worth doing. Apparently it works for C-Station. Though possibly it would work better to hit the shields with energy and the ship with the torpedo...I'd have to try it. I often use assault guns on shields just to make them overload faster than my kinetics alone can do.


The armour calculation is here. (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=23.msg920#msg920) It's D * [D/(D+A)] An assault chaingun, 266 dps but only 40 per shot, does about 2 damage a shot (15 dps) on a Paragon's 1500 armour, even after the explosive damage boost.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Wyvern on March 28, 2012, 12:35:21 PM
Torpedos are high explosive, yes.  But they also do a lot of damage; using one against shields to trigger an overload is a perfectly valid tactic - especially if you can follow it up with more torpedos.  I tend to use them as trap weapons: When the AI gets high on flux, it tends to drop shields; fire a torp then, and it's faced with the choice of eating the torp with shields and overloading, or letting the torp through and taking massive damage to armor.  Either way, I win.

That said, the original quote applies mostly to low-tech ships.  Trying to overload a Paragon with a torpedo or two is pretty much a waste of ammunition.  Trapping one with a combined torp + sabot salvo once it's high on flux, though...
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alex on March 28, 2012, 03:03:06 PM
The armour calculation is here. (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=23.msg920#msg920) It's D * [D/(D+A)] An assault chaingun, 266 dps but only 40 per shot, does about 2 damage a shot (15 dps) on a Paragon's 1500 armour, even after the explosive damage boost.

Quick note: the armor never reduces damage to below 25% of the base vs-armor damage. So for the ACG, it's 40 per shot, meaning 80 per shot to armor, so 20 minimum per shot.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on March 28, 2012, 04:37:27 PM
Replace whatever key for taking screenshots with the ` key. Makes for easier screenshot taking.

Don't care about whatever the ` key was used for, you don't need that anyway.  ;D

( ` is that ~ key)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Uomoz on March 28, 2012, 04:46:33 PM
Replace whatever key for taking screenshots with the ` key. Makes for easier screenshot taking.

Don't care about whatever the ` key was used for, you don't need that anyway.  ;D

( ` is that ~ key)

Here in Italy we don't even have that key. I got big problems with the Source console (that's binded to that key).
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Nanostrike on March 28, 2012, 10:01:08 PM
It isn't ***, precisely, it's half damage. Half of 4000 is 2000, which is often still worth doing. Apparently it works for C-Station. Though possibly it would work better to hit the shields with energy and the ship with the torpedo...I'd have to try it. I often use assault guns on shields just to make them overload faster than my kinetics alone can do.

If you're using a Capital Ship or Cruiser that gets multiple torpedos, then yeah, I suppose.  I should've been more clear.

I'm talking Destroyer and Frigate-level stuff.  Where you only get one Reaper or 2 Atropos per missile slot for the ENTIRE BATTLE.  Sure, you can do 2000 damage against shields and maybe overload a Frigate or shield-taxed Destroyer.

Or you could time it for when the shields are down and do the full 4,000 damage.  I prefer to use them to their maximum potential.  Saving them for an Overload or when the enemy turns it's shields away from you tends to work better for me.  Half a dozen of those things getting past the shields will cripple even a Paragon or Onslaught and a pair of them launched together can 1-shot most things smaller than a Cruiser

Anyways...this was for tips...so lets see...


If you ever see the AI launch Harpoons (Missiles with a Blue exhaust.  You'll learn to recognize them FAST), immediately stop firing and prepare to shield.  They usually launch them when they think you'll be stupid and keep firing, which would keep your flux high enough for them to overload you can kill you with the Harpoons.  This is probably THE #1 way newbies die in the game.

Pressing X will Hold Fire on all of your weapons, stopping all flux buildup except from damage to your shields.  Take the Harpoon hits to the shield, THEN resume firing.  You CANNOT tank Harpoon hits to the hull.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: VikingHaag on March 29, 2012, 03:28:58 AM
Use mods. They enhance the game's fun by 300%.

Avoid using the hound unless you don't mind exploding easily.

Sabots are cheap and effective, just use them at point blank range.

Flaks alone won't kill fighters effectively. Pair them with energy pd weapons, possibly burst damage.

Bomber wings aren't of much use until you get faced with capital ships and cruisers.

Wasp wings destroy most other fighter wings.

Also, always set PD to autofire, they're much better than you could ever possibly get.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: sdmike1 on March 30, 2012, 09:22:06 AM
Avoid using the hound unless you don't mind exploding easily.
Hounds, useless I resent that! With 4 hounds using hyper v drivers and light needles with point def AI along with 4 talon wings= bye bye pirate attack fleet!
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: lordgiza on March 30, 2012, 10:06:04 AM
Hounds, useless I resent that! With 4 hounds using hyper v drivers and light needles with point def AI along with 4 talon wings= bye bye pirate attack fleet!
Using this tactic with several Condors or other carriers for more fighters works very well, though it does slow you down. Usually what you want to do to win is fighter spam, this is ridiculous in the vanilla game but with the right mods it can still be tough, especially since you will usually finally lose a very good fighter wing and almost never be able to replace it. Also you will usually lose more Elites than you gain but you can buy more Elites with the money and loot you gain.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Nanostrike on March 30, 2012, 11:13:28 AM
Use mods. They enhance the game's fun by 300%.

Avoid using the hound unless you don't mind exploding easily.

Sabots are cheap and effective, just use them at point blank range.

Flaks alone won't kill fighters effectively. Pair them with energy pd weapons, possibly burst damage.

Bomber wings aren't of much use until you get faced with capital ships and cruisers.

Wasp wings destroy most other fighter wings.

Also, always set PD to autofire, they're much better than you could ever possibly get.

Hounds are good harassers.

Wasps tend to get swatted down by superior fighters (Thunders, Gladius', Xyphos').

Flak does pretty well alone and doesn't typically need much help.

Bomber wings' missile spam can overwhelm Frigates and Destroyers.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: CaptanSpudsy on March 30, 2012, 01:34:36 PM
All heavy fighter wings will massacre almost any other kind of fighter (bombers included) and will usually be able to take down low to medium tech frigates without much difficulty.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Doom101 on March 30, 2012, 08:38:19 PM
ASTEROIDS PEOPLE!

use the asteroids on a field to your advantage especially if your outnumbered, out gunned, or out piloted being behind an asteroid or even a ship hull will cause the enemy to either circle around which you can easily dodge by doing the same.
or 2 cause ships to WASTE AMMO. if you can make a ship running solely on ballistics run out of ammo its essentially dead already. the really big weapons often don't carry much ammo so you could easily drain the ammo on an onslaught's bigger guns then take him out with anything with unlimited ammo or enough shots to make it through his thick armor
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Thaago on March 30, 2012, 09:26:06 PM
...

If you ever see the AI launch Harpoons (Missiles with a Blue exhaust.  You'll learn to recognize them FAST), immediately stop firing and prepare to shield.  They usually launch them when they think you'll be stupid and keep firing, which would keep your flux high enough for them to overload you can kill you with the Harpoons.  This is probably THE #1 way newbies die in the game.
...

This is still the number one way I die... :-[
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Doom101 on March 31, 2012, 01:11:57 AM
...

If you ever see the AI launch Harpoons (Missiles with a Blue exhaust.  You'll learn to recognize them FAST), immediately stop firing and prepare to shield.  They usually launch them when they think you'll be stupid and keep firing, which would keep your flux high enough for them to overload you can kill you with the Harpoons.  This is probably THE #1 way newbies die in the game.
...

This is still the number one way I die... :-[

it doesn't matter how much you know the harpoon those things are bloody dangerous to anyone. the last time i died my own harpoons doubled back, lost fuel and hit me instead XD then a reaper hit me while my shields were down. that was it. game over man
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: D0vahkiin on March 31, 2012, 01:18:52 AM
...

If you ever see the AI launch Harpoons (Missiles with a Blue exhaust.  You'll learn to recognize them FAST), immediately stop firing and prepare to shield.  They usually launch them when they think you'll be stupid and keep firing, which would keep your flux high enough for them to overload you can kill you with the Harpoons.  This is probably THE #1 way newbies die in the game.
...

This is still the number one way I die... :-[

it doesn't matter how much you know the harpoon those things are bloody dangerous to anyone. the last time i died my own harpoons doubled back, lost fuel and hit me instead XD then a reaper hit me while my shields were down. that was it. game over man

Yup, the AI will wait. Usually in a frigate 1v1, I forget that the AI hasn't fired it's missiles. Just as the enemy is few hits away from death and you have to vent, they fire all of them. EVERY SINGLE ONE. 6 harpoons coming your way while venting, gg.

I have lost many battles where I had a massive upperhand, but forgot they havn't fired their missiles yet :(
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: cp252 on March 31, 2012, 02:54:56 AM
The tendency to fire ALL THE HARPOONS annoys me actually. When there's a lone Aurora cruising ahead of the system defence fleet, I don't want my Lashers to launch 40 Harpoons at it. (not an exaggeration. They just run out of ammo immediately.)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: D0vahkiin on March 31, 2012, 03:06:35 AM
The tendency to fire ALL THE HARPOONS annoys me actually. When there's a lone Aurora cruising ahead of the system defence fleet, I don't want my Lashers to launch 40 Harpoons at it. (not an exaggeration. They just run out of ammo immediately.)

Yup, it would be cool if the AI would evaluate how many Harpoons killing the craft would take, and then launch one or two more in case there's a miss/they get shot down. If 2 Lashers are attacking the target, only 1 should fire the Harpoons and that should be the one in the better position, ie. not facing the shields.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Iscariot on March 31, 2012, 03:08:18 AM
Or, you know. Communicate with its fellows on a proper plan of action.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: D0vahkiin on March 31, 2012, 03:12:33 AM
Or, you know. Communicate with its fellows on a proper plan of action.

That's what I said.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Nanostrike on March 31, 2012, 05:14:06 PM
That's an AI issue in general.  They'll waste every single one of their missiles when they see an opening.

They do it with Torpedos as well.  I cringe every time I see an AI-controlled Destroyer fling 4 Reaper Torpedos out to kill a Buffalo.


Also...

PROTIP: Buffalo MKIIs die with one Reaper or 2 Atropos torpedo hits.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Doom101 on March 31, 2012, 05:34:34 PM
That's an AI issue in general.  They'll waste every single one of their missiles when they see an opening.

They do it with Torpedos as well.  I cringe every time I see an AI-controlled Destroyer fling 4 Reaper Torpedos out to kill a Buffalo.


Also...

PROTIP: Buffalo MKIIs die with one Reaper or 2 Atropos torpedo hits.

its funny because buffalo's are so easy to kill i made a ship variant for the tempest called the buffalo hunter, it has 2 heavy blasters and harpoons :D that thing wrecks.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Nanostrike on March 31, 2012, 09:32:25 PM
They're a royal pain if you don't take them out ASAP.  Those suckers can fire 3 pilums and 3 Salamanders at the same time.

But like I said, just put a Reaper Torpedo in one of your hardpoints, fly to point blank range, raise your shields, and fire.  Instant kill.  You'll take some minor shield damage from the Torpedo explosion and the Buffalo explosion, but the buffalo is toast.

Even a Lasher can end up taking out a pair of buffalos in just a few seconds.


Unfortunately, the AI is brain-damaged with Torpedos.  They'll fire the Reapers a mile away and either miss or get them shot down by PD.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 01, 2012, 03:23:26 AM
Pressing the "Esc" key in the very first pop-up screen allows you to exit it without having to actually starting the game. FINALLY figured that one out.

The screen where you can choose resolution and what mods you want.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: VikingHaag on April 01, 2012, 10:25:35 AM
Snip

Bomber wings can spam thei missiles, ok, but remember what happens to bombs after a while?
They will explode with anything they contact with, so my fleet won't use them, not after the friendly bombs damaged my broadside so badly i had to ram the enemy to finish him off. I lost 300 veteran crew in the blink of an eye, not funny.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: RawCode on April 01, 2012, 11:46:51 PM
always attack damaged fleets and lone ships, this allow to farm hulls and money very fast, in some cases large ships like paragons surrender with all weapons you you merely need 500 greens to start grinding sector.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Doom101 on April 02, 2012, 01:01:39 AM
if your really good at kiting get a tempest you will win practically every battle, or if your poor a shuttle will do as well
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 02, 2012, 01:35:10 AM
A Cheat is found!

Open file ./data/config/settings.json
Search for: "fogOfWar":true,
Edit it to: "fogOfWar":false,

No more fog of war for you.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: K-64 on April 02, 2012, 01:41:06 AM
Is that little trick activatable like for specific missions and the like?
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 02, 2012, 01:47:06 AM
Is that little trick activatable like for specific missions and the like?
Don't know. But you can change it before you start the program each time.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Flare on April 02, 2012, 01:47:24 AM
It removes fog for everything.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: K-64 on April 02, 2012, 01:58:39 AM
Hmm, that may complicate things. Was wanting some way to have my modded missions having no fog of war, since weapons may have quite a considerable range
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 02, 2012, 02:08:30 AM
Another cheat found, you'll like this one.

Open the file ./data/world/factions/player.faction
Find: "fleetCompositions":{
Below this, find: the start 1 and start 2

Switch those numbers and you'll start out with a rather nice fleet.
Switch as in, delete the number 1 and replace it with a 2, do the reverse for the other.

You'll get a damn nice starter fleet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this is too powerful I got another that I think will work, have not tried it myself.

In the same file, in the same section where we just were, you can see this: "ships":{
Below that is a small list of ship names. If you delete the names of the ships you don't want you'll probably end up with the ship you do want every time.
You can probably also add ship names to it.
As long as you don't forget to add the numbers that you see listed there. Those influence the chances of you getting the ships, I think. You should be able to start with any number of ships you like with any of the available weapon load outs that are in the game.

If you don't know what you're doing just backup the file in case you *** up. Should be safe to mess with.

PS: You can also use this for modding.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 02, 2012, 02:11:29 AM
Hmm, that may complicate things. Was wanting some way to have my modded missions having no fog of war, since weapons may have quite a considerable range
It's possible to change the setting with mods, at least that's what the file itself says, I don't know how it's done.

Probably by adding such a file to your mod, that's what it looks like in other mods. Don't know anything else.

EDIT: Sadly I can't add the fog:false to a mission file, that just gets me an error.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: K-64 on April 02, 2012, 02:26:00 AM
Ah well, was worth a shot I suppose.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on April 13, 2012, 06:32:31 AM
Exploit the fact that you can't autofire certain missiles to effectively create another weapon group, by, for example, putting Harpoons in the PD group.


Use the shield to stop after using the speed boost. Slowing down with the shield up instantly cuts your speed to the normal maximum.


If you click on a planet, you'll follow it, but still have time to run from fleets that pop out of it.
Fun with the pirate planet - it's easy to have a big enough fleet to scare everything away from landing on it, creating a cloud of oscillating fleets.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Zani on April 14, 2012, 10:57:24 AM
If you're struggling to start games as you constantly die, sell your ship and all its contents so you respawn with another. Keep repeating until you get enough credits. Easy way to get an early cruiser of  pretty much your choice if you have patience.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: arwan on April 14, 2012, 12:46:05 PM
you will get a diminishing return doing this and eventually will lose more money "for respawning" than what you make for selling your ship.

the amount of money you lose when you die is a precentage of all the money you have when you respawn.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: armoredcookie on April 14, 2012, 01:45:12 PM
But at this point, you could probably outfit a hammerhead or a comparable destroyer. Personally I never liked frigates and for new saves, I always do this to set up a hammerhead and then go on my way from there. Then from this, I tack on a venture (great ship) and a few fighters.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on April 14, 2012, 01:57:00 PM
If you didn't save twice, there's a backup file in the save's directory that contains the previous save. You'd have to replace campaign.xml with campaign.xml.bak which should still be your original save.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on April 19, 2012, 02:41:35 AM
Ctrl-click will buy or sell an entire stack, I found out after unloading the pirate base of 30k or so of supplies.


Graviton beams have a slight kick (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=23.msg7023#msg7023) to them, not enough for anything frigate sized or larger to notice. Wrecks fighters.



Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: defry on April 21, 2012, 09:00:32 PM
if you want to take out capital ships like a beast, use a dominator class ship with plenty of anti-shield weaponry and three typhoon reaper launchers. ram the enemy ships with your shields (recommend upgrading them with hull mods) and overload their shields. finally, launch some reaper class torpedoes while ramming them so their pd weapons cant shoot them down and say good bye. oh and try not to be blinded by the explosions!
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Aleskander on April 22, 2012, 04:55:02 PM
For any fast frigate with any small missile launcher a full-on charge can typically kill a cruiser if you fire torps at close range.
I got a venture down by doing this once.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: SwipertheFox on April 23, 2012, 08:44:22 AM
Another cheat found, you'll like this one.

Open the file ./data/world/factions/player.faction
Find: "fleetCompositions":{
Below this, find: the start 1 and start 2

Switch those numbers and you'll start out with a rather nice fleet.
Switch as in, delete the number 1 and replace it with a 2, do the reverse for the other.

You'll get a damn nice starter fleet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this is too powerful I got another that I think will work, have not tried it myself.

In the same file, in the same section where we just were, you can see this: "ships":{
Below that is a small list of ship names. If you delete the names of the ships you don't want you'll probably end up with the ship you do want every time.
You can probably also add ship names to it.
As long as you don't forget to add the numbers that you see listed there. Those influence the chances of you getting the ships, I think. You should be able to start with any number of ships you like with any of the available weapon load outs that are in the game.

If you don't know what you're doing just backup the file in case you *** up. Should be safe to mess with.

PS: You can also use this for modding.

Thank u for this one.  I was able to create a bigger starting fleet and a more "moddest" recovery fleet after I get my "bleep" handed to me.   ;D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Aleskander on April 26, 2012, 02:17:48 PM
Right now the hard startup is my favorite part of the campaign. When you have a huge fleet and can slaughter any factions fleet, the game is quite repetitive. Another reason I can't wait SF to progress.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Shendao on April 27, 2012, 02:04:10 AM
Dont just follow enemy fleets.

Step 1. Fly in the opposite direction of the enemy fleet (you)--> <--(them)
Step 2. Almost at the last moment, start intercepting.

No more running away from you, even with a big & slow fleet. 
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: hadesian on April 29, 2012, 03:49:27 AM
If you're on a mac, rebind shift for speeding up time to caps lock (works in minecraft too for sneaking) for toggling rather than hold.
Buy thunders. As many as possible. They're absolutely brilliant with AI for harpoons (especially vet or elite, waiting to overload shields) and swarmers pack a decent punch with 12. Ion cannons rip up shields and flux. Enjoy...
Order your fleet in terms of skeleton crew to maximize the spread of elite and veteran crew (so fighters first, frigates etc.).
Onslaughts are best armed at the front two large hardpoints with Gauss Cannons for a quick overload of smaller ships and to take down retreating ships faster than you. They kinda tend to own when armed with a decent number of Hephaestus assault guns.
Make use of the conquest's four large turrets as Gauss Cannons and Hypervelocity Driers for long ranged support that creates a very nasty area for ships to go through.
It's sometimes better to angle a smaller frigate like a wolf so that Pilums miss than to take it on shields.

What I've realized so far
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: SwipertheFox on May 01, 2012, 10:20:39 AM
Buy thunders. As many as possible. They're absolutely brilliant with AI for harpoons (especially vet or elite, waiting to overload shields) and swarmers pack a decent punch with 12. Ion cannons rip up shields and flux. Enjoy...

Ohhhh   ;D  THUNDERS are the BEST!!!
I usually have 4 to 8 squads of these.  Gives me that geeky Babalon 5 moment!!!   ;D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Tindahbawx on May 01, 2012, 01:48:46 PM
Anyone know how to turn accidents off, for now, while I get the hang of this?
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on May 02, 2012, 12:47:38 AM
You can get to the codex in battle from the tactical map. The ship context menu has info (I). From there you can hit 'top' to navigate to wherever you want to go.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: factotum on May 02, 2012, 06:35:52 AM
Anyone know how to turn accidents off, for now, while I get the hang of this?

You can't, unfortunately.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 02, 2012, 08:55:03 AM
TIP: You can trip enemy ships into lowering their shields.

As long as you are not actively targeting them with your weapons they will not raise their shields, if you then quickly hit them on the side (shields are always raised from the middle) then you can just hit them.

This is most obvious when using a Tachyon Lance against capital sized ships.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 03, 2012, 11:40:01 AM
you can exploit the storage facility to get infinite credits / supplies / crew. simply store your entire fleet and then leave. since you have no active ship the game treats you as being defeated and gives you a new starter ship. repeat the process and you can amass an army of starter ships in a few minutes.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: sdmike1 on May 03, 2012, 11:55:07 AM
this is amazing!
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: j01 on May 03, 2012, 06:03:38 PM
While the game is paused, you can right-click to raise or lower your shields, and it will make the appropriate sound effect. Once unpaused, the shields will raise or lower.

I find this extremely useful in situations where I can't hear the shield sound effect because of explosions and such, and am not sure my shield has engaged or disengaged, for example, right after venting flux. Also, during tense moments where I've paused and need whether or not, or when to direct my omni shields towards close incoming attacks.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 05, 2012, 08:55:15 AM
You can add ships to your simulator battles by editing the "sim_opponents.csv" file.

Found in ./data/campaign
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: CrashToDesktop on May 05, 2012, 10:33:47 AM
If you're on a mac, rebind shift for speeding up time to caps lock (works in minecraft too for sneaking) for toggling rather than hold.
I WANT TO DO THIS SO BADLY!!!  It's just that this big black box appears on my screen whenever I press caps lock.  IT gets in the way of my view, anyone know how to get rid of it?
(http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/650/23191720.png)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Faiter119 on May 05, 2012, 02:58:11 PM
Planets will give you a speed boost in battle, but decrease your speed on the campaign map. (*** logic)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: neonesis on May 05, 2012, 03:28:44 PM
If you're on a mac, rebind shift for speeding up time to caps lock (works in minecraft too for sneaking) for toggling rather than hold.
I WANT TO DO THIS SO BADLY!!!  It's just that this big black box appears on my screen whenever I press caps lock.  IT gets in the way of my view, anyone know how to get rid of it?
(http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/650/23191720.png)
If you are talking about Windows, and using a laptop, it's probably your laptop-specific software telling you that you have caps lock enabled. See if you can disable this overlay, or uninstall the software entirely.

Still, it should dissappear after a few seconds after pressing the key.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: neonesis on May 05, 2012, 03:31:30 PM
Planets will give you a speed boost in battle, but decrease your speed on the campaign map. (*** logic)
Planets will give you speed boost in battle...? I haven't seen any planets in battle, AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

Now, more seriously, do you mean nav bouy? It is supposed to speed boost, it's a navigation bouy.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Upgradecap on May 05, 2012, 03:41:36 PM
Planets will give you a speed boost in battle, but decrease your speed on the campaign map. (*** logic)
Planets will give you speed boost in battle...? I haven't seen any planets in battle, AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

Now, more seriously, do you mean nav bouy? It is supposed to speed boost, it's a navigation bouy.

No, he meant planets. Planets give you an enormous speed boost, making the onslaught reach speeds of 200+ in battle.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Faiter119 on May 05, 2012, 04:06:12 PM
Planets will give you a speed boost in battle, but decrease your speed on the campaign map. (*** logic)
Planets will give you speed boost in battle...? I haven't seen any planets in battle, AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

Now, more seriously, do you mean nav bouy? It is supposed to speed boost, it's a navigation bouy.

There is one in the "Sinking the Bis'mar" mission if you want to try it out. At the top of the map.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: neonesis on May 05, 2012, 04:56:22 PM
I take back my post.

I have no idea how I missed them. I played this mission a few times, but never noticed the planets! Maybe it's because they're so small, and you know, Onslaught is kinda absorbing ship to kill in a Hyperion ;)

Anyway, that's strange, this boost...
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Heavy Weapons Pony on May 06, 2012, 03:59:26 AM
Always Always ALLWAYS go at least 20% over your cargo limit with supplies IF you are not carrying weapons.*

I normally go about 10 supply above the accident cap** myself.***

*Feel free to disregard this information.
**when it starts to show "Low" accident chance.
***when flying a frigate
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 06, 2012, 03:56:59 PM
As a general rule:

If you are up against low-tech ships (Hegemony), invest in Capacitors for your ships over Vents.
If you are up against mid-tech ships (Indipendant), invest in both Capacitors and Vents.
If you are up against high-tech ships (Tri-Tachyon), invest more in Vents then Capacitors.

The reason for this is that low-tech ships specialize in ballistic weapons which do hard shield point damage which your shields can't 'heal' unless they are down, getting Vents is therefor useless and Capacitors allow you to deal with more damage, generally these ships are also slower so running to vent with shields down is a valid option.

High-tech ships specialize in energy weapons which more over deal beam damage to shields which 'heals' automatically depending on your rate of venting flux, not having a high flux capasity is rather irrelevent if you can just sit there with your shields up and passively vent all damage away, running from these ships is generally not possible anyway due to their higher speed.

Mid tech is a mix of both so you need to have enough of both to deal with them, their ships are also moderately fast so with some good maneuvers you could find time to vent with shields down.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Sanguinus on May 07, 2012, 01:48:18 AM
For easy(not really) additions to your fleet/loot, i usually camp the pirate, or Tri-Tachyon home planet. Whenever an enemy fleets tooltip says "Returning to Corvus Vii" i immediately jump on them. 9 out of 10, the fleet has no combat ready ships and is returning to repair itself. With no copmbat ready ship, you can immediately board or scrap any ships in the fleet. If the tooltip says "Resupplying" then they are capable of fighting back; even if the tooltip says "returning", the ships can still turn and chase you.

Just be careful if the fleet reaches the planet, because they will return later as a full fleet of plenty more ships then is comfortable.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: StahnAileron on May 07, 2012, 03:40:26 AM
A use for the Hounds: Cargo Pods with heavy engines ^_~ 3 FP, 10 Crew, ~180 Fleet/Combat Speed (w/o Augmented Engines), 75 Cargo Space. Great for keeping your fleet speed up while expanding your cargo space a bit.

I recently switched to a fast attack fleet. It's currently a Hyperion, 4x Tempests, and 3 Hounds. (I got tired of floating around in my Paragon fleet going 100 speed on the map and 33 during active fighting.)

With my current fleet, I have a fleet speed of 150, low crewing requirements (95 skeleton crew), low FP usage (40), yet still plenty of space for supplies and cargo (300-something cargo space). With 100 crew and 150 marines, I use only 1.5 supplies a day. I can catch up to/outrun most fleets (the exception being mainly lone/small Tempest- and Hound-only fleets). I have enough cargo space for about 3-5 fleet fights before I need to unload. The fights are more exciting/dynamic. And when in doubt, I can EASILY run the hell away ^_~

I currently do have some problems against heavy Destroyers and bigger ships (taking on anything with more than a single cruiser or a couple of heavy Destroyers will hurt), but it's MUCH easier and faster when hunting small-medium Pirate fleets. This is a nice fleet for those time when you need/want speed on the map.

NOTE: I just got my copy of the Gunrunners mod mostly working, so if I start a new game, the Helioses from that mod will help rectify the larger ship problem I currently have. ^_^
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 09, 2012, 09:08:49 AM
The simpliest way to fix that is to go in you game save file, and seek fleet point, I always put it at 1000 so I never get an issue having huge fleet.

In the save file, its normally after your credit amount, or around it.

You know, I don't know why that didn't occur to me to suggest this :) Sure beats editing fleet point costs all over the place.

Just search for
<maxFleetPoints>100.0</maxFleetPoints>
and replace 100 with whatever you like. Note: it gets reset if you lose your fleet and respawn.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on May 13, 2012, 06:55:16 AM
If your ships are being skittish, an intercept or engage command (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=2426.msg32771#msg32771) will make them attack like they mean it.



The order you put your weapons in the weapon groups matter for autofire. If you run out of flux, the weapon group numbers are also the priority for first come first serve.



Because of the way armour cells work (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=1015.msg24456#msg24456), fighters don't have less armour even though they only have four armour cells in their sprite.



Hardened shields (http://fractalsoftworks.com/forum/index.php?topic=1869.msg30425#msg30425) are especially good against beam weapons. It can potentially put you over the necessary dissipation to overwhelm being grav'ed or tac'ed.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Madao on May 16, 2012, 10:13:44 AM
I dunno if this sound noob but I have found that 6+ wings of Talons makes the harass option an instant kill for most ships. The trick is the get most of the talons to hover around a carrier before they fight so they don't go of and individually suicide in vain. Then harass or engage and pow, ships die within 10 seconds. Onslaughts and other capitals excepted. And if they die you can always replace them at a pirate station. My 2 cents anyway.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on May 16, 2012, 03:33:54 PM
I dunno if this sound noob but I have found that 6+ wings of Talons makes the harass option an instant kill for most ships. The trick is the get most of the talons to hover around a carrier before they fight so they don't go of and individually suicide in vain. Then harass or engage and pow, ships die within 10 seconds. Onslaughts and other capitals excepted. And if they die you can always replace them at a pirate station. My 2 cents anyway.
This is basically true for all fighter wings. Except for the replacing part.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on June 02, 2012, 03:29:30 PM
You don't have to worry about losing your mission scores from missions given to you by mods, you can safely turn off those mods and Starfarer will still remember their associated scores the next time you re-activate them.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: armoredcookie on June 02, 2012, 03:32:12 PM
Ion cannons kill crew really well, but don't really damage armor or hull.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Avan on June 02, 2012, 03:53:06 PM
There needs to be a global setting for max fleetpoint size XP
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Vandala on June 02, 2012, 04:01:31 PM
There needs to be a global setting for max fleetpoint size XP
Post it in the suggestion forum, this is not the place for it.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: CrashToDesktop on June 10, 2012, 07:21:49 PM
Holding control (ctrl) in a station will automatically move the selected item into the sell or purchase box without dragging.  YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS HAS SAVED ME.
;D
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on June 20, 2012, 08:59:05 AM
In windowed mode, holding shift to speed up time and then clicking off the window or otherwise alt-tabbing will preserve the sped-up state. I use it for flying to stations across the solar system.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: sdmike1 on June 20, 2012, 10:39:12 AM
In windowed mode, holding shift to speed up time and then clicking off the window or otherwise alt-tabbing will preserve the sped-up state. I use it for flying to station across the solar system.
that is so helpful thank you  :)
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Faiter119 on July 09, 2012, 08:46:18 AM
If you are buying a ship that you are not going to pilot, test it in the simulator by pressing U and check how good it fares.
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Wriath on July 09, 2012, 10:22:14 AM
Rally your carriers behind nebulae. The slowing on your fighters is negligible but the slowing effect on big ships who might slip by might mean the difference between losing your carriers and keeping them, by buying your ships enough time to escape.
Hadn't thought of that before, really good one!
Title: Re: Community list of random tips and tricks!
Post by: Alrenous on September 08, 2012, 08:53:38 AM
Targeting an enemy ship will reveal all damage done to it by allied ships.