Greetings, and a couple questions

Rangoon · Post by **Rangoon** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:17 pm

Just wanted to say hello and ask a couple of questions. I'm enjoying a little time in space with EM finally. I have been meaning to get to this one, and am glad I finally did.

Overall, how does EM compare with X3? The main thing I'm drawn to is the space flight physics. It feels so right to me, using the FPM, drifting around, and coping with zero gravity flight. I have my CH controls set perfectly for analog control of pitch/roll/yaw/throttle as well as vert/horiz thrusters and fore/aft inertial thrusters. Really fun piloting the ship. Clearly sitting in the cockpit and flying a spacecraft is superior in EM.

I always enjoyed X3 for its vast AI/economy and storyless campaign potential. Seems like EM goes for that as well. Does it compare well with X3 in that area?

Or what should I be looking for to emphasize what EM does well compared to X3?

Now I have to go figure out how to win a simple space dogfight....

Post by **DaveK** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:29 pm

Welcome to the game and the community, Rangoon! - EM is is a totally open sandbox - do what you want, where you want and how you want with as much or as little help and assistance as you want - how does that compare to X3?

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:02 pm

(1) In X3 you can't travel directly from one star system to another ... in X3 you must use jumpgates to get from one "square" to another. In Mercenary, you simply call up the Navigation Console, input Destination coordinates for any location in the Evoverse, and engage autopilot. Or, you can also use jumpgates ... but only when visiting among the "gated" systems.

(2) Disaster strikes if you attempt to land on a planet in X3. Disaster only strikes in Mercenary if you try to maneuver within a planet's atmosphere at speeds which would cause your ship to burn up. So be careful when approaching a planet (in most situations, your ship's computer will warn you).

(3) Combat is a bit different ... depending on the techniques you developed in X3. In Mercenary, bad guys utilize more than one tactic ... sometimes they fight as a team, sometimes they bug out (forcing you to hunt them down) and sometimes they pummel you with missiles.

Rangoon · Post by **Rangoon** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:46 am

Thanks, guys. I'm slowly getting the hang of combat enough to feel like I know when to evade and when to stand and fight. That means it's time to go exploring....

I'm a huge fan of games that are heavy on sandbox and light on story prodding, so it sounds like this is the place to be!