Some questions

[Rushino]

Hi,

I am new here, i was looking for a nice space sim (for quite some time) the last one i played was Freespace 2 which i really loved and this quite reminded me of this game. This is basically the year of space sim :-) The genre seem to regain popularity after some years (which is good!).

After playing the demo of Arvoch Alliance, i had some questions. (Btw.. i loved the demo so far)

1. Does the game support multiple devices gamepad such HOTAS (which have seperate USB), i plan on buying the X55 HOTAS from Saitek ?
2. I have seen you could transfer energy from a shield direction to another.. can you actually transfer energy to weapon or other subsystem ?
3. I have looked at Evochron Mercenary and i was wondering.. it is the kind of game where i can take only combat missions, buy new ships, equip my ships and so on ?
4. Can you attack ship subsystem like in Freespace 2 ?
5. Where do you actually buy fuel ?
6. What do you do when your out of fuel ? I have actually used all my fuel in the tutorial
7. Is the multiplayer rather active (does some poeple actually play multiplayer) ?

Thanks a lots!

[Busch]

Hello Rushino.

Arvoch Alliance and Evochron Mercenaries both support a wide range of control devices. The X55 HOTAS is a good stick to use. Check the "Configure Controls" toggle from the Options Menu, for either of the game/sims.

The bracket keys "[" & "]" let you adjust the power bias between shields and weapons. Those are the only two systems currently scalable with the energy bias keys.

Yes, Mercenaries offers four starting roles at initial spawn-in. Mercenary, Miner/Trader, Combat Pilot, and Racer. Each begins with a basic ship frame, game cash, and equipment load-outs. But, you're not 'locked-in' to any of them. You can purchase other ship frames on the civilian side. And earn military rank in conflict and war zones by performing/completing the missions there. Each rank increase, up to a point, unlocks the next military frame. You can equip your ships to suit the contracts and missions you wish to perform.

Yes, you can attack particular ship sub-systems. When you've targeted a ship you wish to attack, toggle the keyboard 'U' key. This action serves to high-light each of the three main sub-systems: Engines, Navigation, and Weapons.

Fuel Units can be purchased at all trade stations, converter stations, and military carriers.

When you run out of fuel, should you be on-line on one of the MP servers, shout out for help. We're a fairly helpful community here, someone will come to your rescue and transfer fuel to you, while in flight. If you're out of fuel in Solo Play, try reloading your last profile save point, prior to running out of fuel.

There's about 5 or so, MP servers that are up and hosted. One in the UK, one in the EU, one in Australia, and several state-side. Population/activity varies with the location and time zone. Lots of 'new folk' and 'veterans' routinely fly the head-space.

Hope to see you out there some time!

[DaveK]

Hi,

I am new here, i was looking for a nice space sim (for quite some time) the last one i played was Freespace 2 which i really loved and this quite reminded me of this game. This is basically the year of space sim :-) The genre seem to regain popularity after some years (which is good!).

After playing the demo of Arvoch Alliance, i had some questions. (Btw.. i loved the demo so far)

1. Does the game support multiple devices gamepad such HOTAS (which have seperate USB), i plan on buying the X55 HOTAS from Saitek ?
2. I have seen you could transfer energy from a shield direction to another.. can you actually transfer energy to weapon or other subsystem ?
3. I have looked at Evochron Mercenary and i was wondering.. it is the kind of game where i can take only combat missions, buy new ships, equip my ships and so on ?
4. Can you attack ship subsystem like in Freespace 2 ?
5. Where do you actually buy fuel ?
6. What do you do when your out of fuel ? I have actually used all my fuel in the tutorial
7. Is the multiplayer rather active (does some poeple actually play multiplayer) ?

Thanks a lots!

Hi Rushino - welcome to the game and thecommunity

You can move energy around between shields: numpad 2 - 4- 6 - 8 move energy to that direction (keep tapping thekey; numpad 5 equalises the energy between keys

It's a sandbox game - you can do whatever ou wnt - trade - explore - go sight seeing - build up the tech level of new systems (there are hundreds of uncharted systems - experiment - race . . . here's some sugestions:

1. learn to survive combat - the new AI are really mean
2. hone your combat skills in the expansion, then do the hard combat contracts solo - many bragging rights!
3. go to Sol system, also Riftspace and Vonari space and the Andromeda Galaxy!
4. go to Sol system and land on earth (in one piece!)
5. Learn to use the Weapon Lab and then write a tutorial to help the rest of us
6. you can start changing your reputation in the systems by doing quests for navy/energy, to change them to "Good", so there won't be any more hostiles in there
7. get maximum rank both for civilian and for military
8. get into orbit around a star
9. you can change the economy of systems by building stations (of all types) in those systems (trade stations, research stations, ore stations, energy stations, etc.) See what kind of impact that has. Raise economies! Create good trading systems for relatively new pilots
10. join or create a clan
11. become a baddy and join Clan Vonari
12. Fly around and help pilots (SAR missions and general help and assistance)
13. Explore. Either looking for new systems on your own (especially by using a deploy constructor which you can use both for refuelling, and the sensor array which helps you scan the present sector for other AI and human ships)
14. declare war on a clan - LL will defend it's territory to the death (probably yours) - other clans will give you a good run for your money
15. Find all the places that sell a Stealth Generator - the reusable sort and other bits of hard to find equipment and U2U the locations to me please (for this hints guide)
16. There are hundreds of uncharted systems, several asteroid caves with a variety of goodies inside
17. try flying straight through a trade station @ >4000
18. Visit the server (9999,9999,9999)
19. Or, just load up the coordinates from the many hidden systems already found by other players and go there, see what's there.
20. run your own MP server - create a Universe that's a bit different
21. try doing contracts in different ways (try a scanning contract without firing a shot)
22. organise community activities like a "last man standing" competition
23. Do the quests (Quest for Peace or Over the Hill) - write a story about it - the community loves FanFic
24. create a quest - there are people who will help you code it when you've got the story line sorted.
25. find an uncharted system with a planet or two and upgrade the technical level in one part of it. You have just created a trading system where decent profits can be made in a quiet environment for newer players (or for you!) Post its location in the forum of a treasure hunt or cryptic clues
26. check out some of the "facts" bandied about on the forum; how long can a C1 particle cannon fire for non-stop. Does it depend on the frame? How does it compare to a C10 etc Does a beam weapon really hammer shields? where's the sweet spot for taking a capital ship down?
27. If you have the flair, turn some of your adventures into stories for others to enjoy
28. Create the ultimate cannon and/or missile in the Weapon Lab - sell it for fame and fortune!

As well as buying fuel you can fit a fuel converter and harvest fuel from nebula clouds and star corona. You can also deploy a fuel station (you need a deploy constructor) if you are in an area of space where there are no stations. You need to refuel before you actually run out or you can't manouvre to a station!

If you are stuck, log into a multiplayer server and ask for help - someone will do a SAR on you and sell you some fuel to get you going again!


Multiplayer activity is variable because the community is international spread across time zones. Mid - late evening (GMT) catches a lot of USA players and some insomniac Europeans

When you get the list of available servers you can use the right hand mouse button to see if anyone is on each of the servers - I have a look and join an occupied one

[SeeJay]

LOL. There is nothing more than to welcome you I guess. Welcome!

2 excellent answers already!;)

[Marvin]

Despite its verbosity, I think Dave missed: (1) race against another player or group of players; (2) engage in planetside combat and/or recovery contracts; (3) explore asteroid caves. And, about that second one, transitioning from planet to space is done without cut scenes ... which, all by itself, puts Evocrhon Mercenary a big step above most other space games.

[Rushino]

Thanks a lots for all theses answers! I didn't expect we could do that much with the game. Very interesting thanks!

What is different in the game between a mercenary and a combat pilot ?

[Edited on 3-26-2014 by Rushino]

[Busch]

The starting ships for each, their equipment load-outs, and game cash. Combat Pilots get a Ferret; Mercenaries get a Talon (same-same with the Miner/Trader and the Racer roles. Check out the game instructions. There's a listing for each.)

[Edited on 3-27-2014 by Busch]

[Marvin]

Also, unless it has changed while I was sleeping, the combat pilot won't get the default quest message until he swaps out his military ship for a civvy one.

[picommander]

Isn't the combat quest line part of the main quest line? I started as a miner, followed the main quest and now I'm sitting in a military vessel doing military quests. If the military quests are eventually finished, will the main quest be continued (in my case, dunno how it works for military carriers)?

[Marvin]

It's a "mercenary" quest. At some point, you work for the Navy ... and you can buy military ships from a naval carrier.

[picommander]

Hmm, I might have been a little unclear. I'm already doing the Navy contracts (still in a wraith) as a (former?) miner and right now have finished the "final" (?) test in Sierra. Now the quest leads me to Pearl, is this still a military quest or am I back on the mercenary (or miner, it's same I guess?) track then?
Awesome game btw!

p.s. I solo'ed all quests up to here but to be honest, I'm a lousy pilot. Solved all problems in a kind of "chess-player style", mainly with brain and patience.
No bragging rights though...

[Edited on 27-3-2014 by picommander]

[Marvin]

You're heart is always with the mercenaries ... no matter how far you roam.

[picommander]

I was somewhat confused by the fact that there was no faction reputation in Sierra WZ (just an overall "good" reputation).
So I falsely inferred I might have been a pure Navy pilot now.
Meanwhile I believe there're just no factions in war zones except navy, right?

[Marvin]

It's the old adage of "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." In a war zone, you all fight as one against the Vonari.