Just...wow

goodgimp · Post by **goodgimp** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:20 pm

So, I had never heard of Evochron Legends before this week. I stumbled upon a post regarding it on the Demigod game forums and immediately had to go check it out.

I have been pining away for a multiplayer space-based sandbox game for... literally a decade. I grew up playing Elite on my Commodore 64, and I've been fascinated by the concept ever since. While games like Wing Commander and Privateer were fun, they never really scratched the itch for me.

I always liked the X games okay, but the lack of multiplayer drives me off. I love this kind of game, but more than anything I've just wanted the ability to play it with my friends. Reading through the feature list for this game, it was like someone someone had listened to every conversation I'd ever had about what my "Perfect Game" would feature.

Anyway, after reading the feature list I immediately bought the game without even trying the demo first. Even if the game wasn't very fun, I wanted to support the idea. Lo and behold, I get into the game and on top of having the list of features I've always wanted, it's also a fun game to boot!

I'm getting ready to really start getting into the game for the first time when I LAN with my friends this weekend. I haven't been this excited for a game in a long, long time, so I wanted to thank the developers for making it available!

Now, with my first real game coming up, and with it being multiplayer with 3 of my friends to boot, does anyone have any recommendations/advice for a new player? I don't mean in the way of spoilers or strategies, just basic tips and advice from all you vets

Thanks!

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:23 pm

Hi goodgimp, welcome to the forum and the game. Hope to see out there in space.

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:27 pm

Hello, glad you're enjoying the game.

Early in the game, it's generally best to stay in Sapphire for a while until you can upgrade your ship to the next frame, a few weapons, and better shield. If you like to race, that can be a fun way to earn some quick credits. Cleaning solar panels can pay well, it can just catch you off guard if you're not really careful about cleaning every panel. Clearing asteroids pays pretty well and offers nice fireworks, but can be slower at earning credits than some of the other options. Locating lost items and recovering them can be a fast way to make credits. If you like mining, recover ore in Sapphire, then deliver it to Rivoch (still in the Sapphire solar system) for better trade value.

Once you're friends join in, combat will become much more feasible early in the game through coop and you might want to lead your team to Olympus and try some entry level combat missions. As you build your tactics, move into more hostile and powerful systems to increase the challenge at a rate you prefer.

Steel Wraith · Post by **Steel Wraith** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:38 pm

make a few mill in the starting system saffire, pick a suitably far away system, then run there as fast as you can and buy any tasty tech you find and bug out before the reds catch up with you!

combat contracts are great with friends, while someone is busy trying to dodge a swarm of missiles the others can close into gun range. just be careful though, the reds wont blindly follow their first target while getting shot at.

just remember to turn and burn and spam those counter measures when the missiles come your way

also check out the beacon quest for the fun of exploration. oh and the races are a good way to get a feel for how your ship handles.

welcome to the Sim, i hope you have as much fun in here as i am. i started on frontier then frontier first encounters, and i too had the same itch for ages

spelk · Post by **spelk** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:35 pm

Welcome to the StarWraith Community!

Tpol · Post by **Tpol** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:45 pm

Welcome Goodgimp!

Knight Rider · Post by **Knight Rider** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:14 pm

Welcome Goodpimp.

LOL

[Edited on 3-4-2009 by thetiebers]

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:33 pm

Sorry Knight Rider, ment to "Quote you" lol x 5000

wolis · Post by **wolis** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:44 pm

Hi Goodpimp,

Same history to me, and probably many others.

I was thinking of doing a screen-shot comparison between Elite and EL one of these days "Here is a space station with a planet behind", "Here is a crate drifting in space" etc..

My tips.. use a program like FRAPS to capture screenshots quickly - I spend most of my time sight-seeing.

Remember the default Space bar toggles you IDS and Inertia modes so go into inertia and default TAB to go as fast as you can. I like going into Inertia when in a gate to a hostile destination.

Oh.. and to know if a destination is hostile.. Press default F1 as soon as you arrive through the gate.. Or read the messages by the side of the gates.

Your F2 drive is your friend when you need to travel (no time-dilation)

Remember you can adjust power to your shields or weapons/engines with default [ and ] keys.

Press ~ while in multi-player to see who is where.

Learn how to read the co-ord system so you can find your way around - Im still learning.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:57 pm

OK Guys and Gals I believe its "goodgimp " not " Goodpimp" lol

:):)

InterFaced · Post by **InterFaced** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:24 pm

I stumbled upon evochron recently too (since the release of legends).. and felt exactly as you do, even down to the same frustration with the X series. Vice has something special on his hands here. Spread the word!..bring friends, and jump on multiplayer.

Its only gotten better since I've started.

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:32 pm

Welcome, enjoy your time. I remember the 'wow' from when I got here back in the Riftspace day, and I assure you Vice's creations don't cease to amaze.

goodgimp · Post by **goodgimp** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:32 pm

Originally posted by thetiebers
OK Guys and Gals I believe its "goodgimp " not " Goodpimp" lol :):)

Hey I'll take it, though

Lol

So is this whole shibang done by one person?!?!?? How can that be?

Also, how on earth (I sense a pun of some sort in there somewhere) is this game only ~45 megs? Are some of the graphics generated programatically?

Also, thanks all for the warm welcome. If you see someone bumping around space and running headlong into various space objects like a clueless halfwit, that'd probably be me... /hangs head in shame

[Edited on 3-4-2009 by goodgimp]

[Edited on 3-4-2009 by goodgimp]

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:34 pm

Wavey · Post by **Wavey** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:38 pm

Explore Saphire well ,theres a hollow asteroid that is very interesting and valuable:)

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:49 pm

Also, how on earth (I sense a pun of some sort in there somewhere) is this game only ~45 megs? Are some of the graphics generated programatically?

Yup, careful combination of code created content and compression.

Some details on the download size: http://www.starwraith.com/dsize.htm

PingBosun · Post by **PingBosun** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:02 pm

Welcome both newbie pilots.

Enjoy the game - Its stunning!!!

And the best Customer Service on the planet - and off of it!!

See you out there

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:16 pm

Also, thanks all for the warm welcome. If you see someone bumping around space and running headlong into various space objects like a clueless halfwit, that'd probably be me... /hangs head in shame

Don't worry. We all like to do that every now and then. Usually, at such moments, we're being chased by either Vice or one of the other ace pilots

.

Loki · Post by **Loki** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:07 am

Damn Goodgimp, It's like you were reading my mind. I too have been looking for this game for a very long time. I remember trading in my 20Mhz 386SX for a 40Mhz 386DX
just so I could turn my ship in Wing Commander without screen lag. (yes, I'm old) I've probably played just about every space based flight sim since and tho some were better than others they were all just so linear. One of my favorite aspects of Legends is that I don't HAVE to do anything. I sit down, fire it up and theres no script telling me what to do. I got my moneys worth out of this game the first day I played it. Every day since has just been more icing on the cake.
If that weren't enough Legends is written by the most interactive developer I've
ever heard of. I think I've downloaded 4 or 5 updates since Feb. 5th and 20% of the changes were minor bug fixes while the other 80% were user suggested improvements. Vice has done more to keep this community happy last month alone than most developers do in their games life cycle. Vice is a God.
I know I'm being a bit long winded but I haven't been this excited about a game in a long time. A final Kudo has to go to this whole community. I read this forum every day
and it never ceases to amaze me what a helpful good natured group of people contribute to this forum. I don't think I've read another forum with such an utter and complete lack of A-holes.

THANK YOU Vice for giving me the game I've been looking for for 25 years and to
everyone else for the help my dumb ass needed to make it enjoyable.

-Loki

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:55 am

A hearty Welcome to you new pilots, glad you found the game!

P.S. You can never say enough good things about Vice and his attention to the players and our off the wall suggestions!

nschafer · Post by **nschafer** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:09 am

Also, how on earth (I sense a pun of some sort in there somewhere) is this game only ~45 megs? Are some of the graphics generated programatically?

I seem to remember having the same feelings about Elite on the C-64. It loaded off the floppy and never accessed it again, had 8 Galaxies with 256 planets each and kept track of data on each planets economy, I forget how many ships it had, around 20 or so and different weapon systems. It was no where near as graphically and sound rich as Evochron of course, but consider they did all of that in 64k or less. Just amazing...

Vice has done an awsome job in the same style. Getting a lot of bang for the Megabyte. The only issue I have at all is the load time when I lauch, it seems to take forever, but once the game is up it's just amazing.

nschafer · Post by **nschafer** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:44 am

Have you checked out the latest?
http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4356

I just got done reading that thread. I'll be downloading it soon.

Thanks

Post by **Vice** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:56 am

Load times are about to get even faster before the build becomes official. I've got it down to about 45-50 seconds on my system, saving about 25-30 seconds. Some have reported reductions of 45 seconds with the current build and really fast systems might now load it as quickly as around 25-30 seconds total.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:56 am

Welcome aboard goodgimp

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:02 am

Welcome aboard.