Some Item Questions

[Phileosophos]

Maybe there's a wiki for this sort of thing, or a manual, or a reference, or something, but I can't seem to find it so I'm stuck asking here. I've run into a few different types of equipment, and I'm not sure what they do. Any explanation/advice would be appreciated.

First, the afterburner drive: I thought it would help me go faster more quickly, but all it seems to do is drain my energy and fuel when I use the afterburner. Can somebody tell me how this thing is supposed to be used?

Second, how about the constructor/builder thingies? I've looked at the menu, so it's clear to me that the game will let me build various things, but what I don't understand is (1) what the various things will do for me, (2) how permanent they are, and (3) how they limit me or what cost(s) they bring. is there some information about that somewhere?

Third, what about "regenerative missiles"? I've found those in a few systems, and they're expensive enough to make me think they provide an unlimited supply of missiles, but that seems like a pipe dream. What do these things do?

Fourth, is there some resource where I can get information on all the different pieces of ship's equipment? It isn't clear to me what several of them do, and I don't even know how to use them (do I need to activate them, are they passive, etc?).

Thanks in advance!

[Edited on 9-27-2010 by Phileosophos]

[SeeJay]

Hello Phileosophos. Here are some info:
http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmerce ... iverse.htm

Also the EL Strategy guide helps a lot:
http://www.starwraith.com/evochronlegen ... uide.htm#1

Also fly the training missions in game. They help a lot.

[Edited on 2010-9-27 by SeeJay]

[DarK Rogue]

You can look at the links provided by SeeJay.
But I can give an overview:
The afterburner drive helps boost the acceleration of the after burner by a slight amount 40-70%-ish.
The contructor/builder thingies are tow things:
-Deploy Constructor: Construct temporary useful stations:
-Fuel Processor to get fuel from your energy
-Sensor Station to scan for ships and objects with twice
the range of probes
-mining probes that will mine for you, you come back after
the timer runs out to pick up items
-Shield Array that will make a force field that will block all
incoming fire
-Repair Station repairs your ship for free
-Energy Station gives you energy
-Build Constructor: Construct permanent structures:
-Trade Stations (limit: 1 per sector) will allow you to buy
stuff and missions
and what-not, just like the other trade stations
-Constructor Stations (limit: 1 per sector) will allow you to
convert basic stuff
to more advanced stuff, there are some of these in the
game already
-Reasearch Stations improve the tech level of the area (for
advanced technology)
-Energy Stations - supposed to help get energy products
-Ore Processor - bigger range of items in sector

Excaliburs are a missiles that you will have an neverending supply of, just a 3 minute wait between uses (regerantive missiles)

The last question, just check the first link provided.

[Whytephyre]

Excalibur missiles are quite powerful & useful, but it takes them 3 minutes to regenerate after you fire, & all eight fire at once. I like them for some missions but generally prefer exodus missiles.

Constructors can either deploy (temporary), or build (permanent).

Deploy items like sensors show all ships in two sectors in real time on your map, you can regenerate fuel or hull integrity, or you can deploy a force field to protect a small area.

You can build trade stations (creating new places to dock, trade, & take contracts). Trade stations also alter AI flight patterns & trade routes. Ore procrmessors, energy stations, & research stations affect technology levels, market conditions, & faction strength/presence in the area.

Not a fan of the afterburner drives except in large slow vessels, it eats up too much power for not enough oomph. Also, i would prefer to use the power for my weapons or stealth generator.

[Phileosophos]

Wow. Great stuff. Thanks for the links, SeeJay! I wasn't aware of that stuff. Thanks too to DarK Rogue for the descriptions. I knew players could build stations, but I guess I didn't realize it was that easy. It took a lot more work in X3: Terran Conflict, so I guess I was expecting that with EM as well. Oh, and thanks for the comments, Whytephyre. I may have to see about buying a couple of those excalibur pods. I go through missiles so fast, probably because I suck so badly at dogfighting.

[SeeJay]

We all had problems in the beginning. I'm still learning. There are a few threads in this forum that teaches combat tactics. I learnt a lot from them. See ya out there!