Oolite Bulletins

JazHaz wrote:

CapnSkweek wrote:

I'm not a tech genius, but I'd seen word about the wiki being updated, I wasn't aware that it had to go offline to do that.

Normal updates, such as updating a page, can be done on the fly. Maik was talking about big updates such as setting up copies to his backup wiki, which entails taking the wiki down.

In this case it was actually an upgrade of the MediaWiki software to a new version.

Talisker wrote:

...what absolute must-haves have I missed? I have a few in reserve (Commies and suchlike, Random Hits, UPS courier, Planetfall, jellies) that change gameplay but I'm still learning the ins and outs of vanilla to start with.

Very wise.

UPS Courier can go in without changing gameplay in a significant way - it is just delivering packages once in a while (but you may as well start building your reputation with them now, it starts nice and slowly). halsis and Hawksound change the sounds for the better. I like RandomDockingMusic but you'll need to find (or create) some free .ogg music but there is lots online. I find TalkativeCompass a help and you may want to try out the different HUDs available. I don't think Welcome-Mat is cheating and it is one of those "It wasn't in the original game?" add-ons.

The longer you resist using the ConStores or other add-ons that provide very easy ways of making loads of cash, the better. But when you want to go that way, Galactic Navy is a good one to start with. Their missions are interesting and challenging, and if you want cheap stuff from them, you have to pay for it by buying shares (or some such). Dictators and Commies both give extra places to dock and extra ships and new kinds of activity. I like those two a lot because they add interest.

I'm not sure where the Seedy Space Bars come from - Random Hits? By the time you have that installed you can make money faster than you can spend it by trading in-system, which strikes me as unrealistic. Having achieved Elite once, I have started again and I am resisting installing any of these add-ons. (When I do, I think I may tweak them so they have the same or similar prices to the main station.)

Anyway, welcome!

There's also the wiki to explore and the IRC channel to chat on.

Hi Talisker,
Welcome to the Friendliest Board this side of Riedquat. <Raises a glass of Skye's finest in salute >
Everyone has their own 'must have' list of OXPs, and they will all be happy to share them with you! The general advice is to start with eye-candy, then add in OXPs one at a time so you can get used to them and what they do before adding more. It's also a good idea to check the OXP Table from time to time to make sure you have the latest version, and of course new releases are mentioned here on the forum in the Expansion Pack thread.
And don't forget, even if your computer doesn't support shaders there are some good ship/station OXPs that still have some lovely lighting effects etc. My Accessories and my 'interactive' Smivs'Shipset are good examples. </ blatant plug>
You can see them on YouTube here.

Aha, cheers - have traded in the DeepSpace ships (cool though they were) for the pretty lighted Smivs ones, and dropped in UPS and the backgrounds pack. Now, we are cooking with gas.

The game is starting to look a bit shiny now though! Might have to ease off on the candy for a bit

Smivs, which ships does the 'Add' version of your shipset, er... add? All of the ones from your website? In the interests of vanilla(ish) gameplay I'm sticking to the 'Replace' version for the moment but we all know that won't last.

In case you haven't seen them, I should mention ClymAngus'  Vector Map pdfs. Excellent for plotting trade routes, exploring etc!

Talisker wrote:

Aha, cheers - have traded in the DeepSpace ships (cool though they were) for the pretty lighted Smivs ones, and dropped in UPS and the backgrounds pack. Now, we are cooking with gas.

The game is starting to look a bit shiny now though! Might have to ease off on the candy for a bit

Smivs, which ships does the 'Add' version of your shipset, er... add? All of the ones from your website? In the interests of vanilla(ish) gameplay I'm sticking to the 'Replace' version for the moment but we all know that won't last.

Hi Talisker,
All the ship sets have 'add' and 'replace' versions now after a recent discussion. The way it works is that the 'replace' one simply replaces the default ship textures (and sometimes models). The 'add' version allows you to add the shipset to the default ones, or any other shipset.
In other words you could keep the Deepspace Ships and have mine as well. Use the replace version of one (to replace the default textures), and the add version of the other (to add it to the first) and both should appear. You should get ships from both sets in more or less equel numbers.
My other ship OXPs are available seperately, not as part of any shipset. The Clippers are particularly popular - my 'main' Commander flies a Boa Clipper.

OXPs = Oolite eXpansion Pimps.

SandJ wrote:

OXPs = Oolite eXpansion Pimps.

<smirks>

Well, a Guy's got to earn a crust! (Oh, hold on...I don't get paid for this )

SandJ wrote:

OXPs = Oolite eXpansion Pimps.

JazHaz wrote:

Unless you are referring to bandwidth used when downloading the 23 megs of Oolite 1.76?

That was the bandwidth I was referring to. I'm so used to games of all sorts being into the gigabyte range for size, with patches running into the hundreds of megabytes. I figured this game would be at least in the 500megabyte range, I was happily wrong.

Welcome Talisker. For me, I don't run any AddOns, I fooled around with Hoopy Casino, but didn't really like it, so now I'm running bare bones, though I am looking into new vessels.

G'day Talisker, and welcome!

All this talk of eye-candy and nobody mentions Griff's Shipset? If your graphics card handles shaders, Talisker, you really should check them out!

CapnSkweek wrote:

For me, I don't run any AddOns, I fooled around with Hoopy Casino, but didn't really like it, so now I'm running bare bones, though I am looking into new vessels.

May I suggest you at least consider the Background Set? It changes nothing in gameplay (except some sound and hyperspace effects), but provides a much more immersive atmosphere and interface when docked.. Perhaps also Halsis, which lets the ship computer talk to you, and supplies some improved sound effects..