Oolite Bulletins

OK, so I am now Elite. What do I do for an encore? In particular, what OXPs should I be looking at? I've been playing without them up to now, since I wanted to get through to this point without extra help etc., but maybe it's time for a change.

My feeling is that I want to go on playing more or less as I am, trading and fighting, and not get into e.g. asteroid mining, the fuel business, etc. At the same time I'd like things to be a bit different and more challenging, and maybe find some use for my current 2.7 million bank balance

My immediate thoughts are the Anarchies and Thargoid Wars OXPs to toughen things up a bit, some textures etc. to improve the look... and then what? Any suggestions?

Anarchies OXP, Random Hits, Thargoid Wars, Galactic Navy, any ships you want (with 2.7 million you can probably afford any ubership you want)

If you want challenging, you can get Skilled NPCs or Hard Ships.

I presume that you've completed all the core missions - as you're in G5, maybe try a mission OXP like Xeptatl's Sword?
 Skilled NPCs is a must have for any self-respecting Elite combateer - and one of the NPC-toughening OXPs.

 Escort Formations is good to have too - interesting variety.

Thanks - I think I'll start off with Thargoid Wars and Skilled NPCs, see how that goes, add more once I'm more up to speed.

If you're ready for a real trading challenge, try cim's  New Cargoes, and for something different in the way of combat, life as a bounty-hunter gets interesting.. for which  Random Hits fills the bill nicely! I often combine Random Hits with  Escort Contracts, as it provides some fill-in jobs on the way to the target system for the "hit".

Something else worth thinking about is upgrading your HUD. There are lots out there to choose from, many of which are specially geared for combat, and some of which even switch between different layouts according to alert level. In this regard, all I can do is suggest you look them over and try out any that sound interesting.

Something which changes the entire look and feel of the Oolite interface, making it much more modern looking, improves the sound effects (including appropriate background sounds as you move around the station when docked), improves the witchspace jump sequence and docking/undocking sequences, all in one package, is  BGS, the Background Set. BGS requires the  Cabal Common Library, (a collection of pre-built routines to make creating OXPs easier) and I recommend you combine it also with  Snoopers, a Galactic Newsbulletin Service, which provides some great atmosphere. Then, to make all the above easily configured to how you prefer them to look and act, install  OXPConfig, which is a great gadget that makes customising quite a few OXPs easier.

Oh.. and, of course, there's the "must-have" OXP..  Random Shipnames. You'll find yourself IDing everything in sight, just to find out what they've called themselves.. very entertaining.

New cargoes looks interesting, worth considering since I have cash to play with.

Not very keen on changing the HUD, I've been playing since the original BBC version and really don't want to learn it again.

The others all look fun, especially random shipnames.

ffutures wrote:

... especially random shipnames.

That OXP should probably come with a health warning - one can get too caught-up in name scanning. It is thoroughly excellent! [twangin' guitars]

Cody wrote:

ffutures wrote:

... especially random shipnames.

That OXP should probably come with a health warning - one can get too caught-up in name scanning. It is thoroughly excellent! [twangin' guitars]

One wonders why it isn't merged into core game

I think the best if you start at the beginning: here is my Basic and Lookout collections which conatins many polishments without changing the game (downloads in [wiki]OXP_List[/wiki]). You can choose also a planet set and a HUD.

A new shipset is essential but you must choose your favourite to use as a replacement of original ships, other sets can be installed in addition version.
If you are using the previous OXPs only then your results are as much valuable as in the core game imho.

After this point you can go into more direction:
* adding highly detailed ships which are not so far but not exactly within the power range of core ships,
* more dockable stations (and ships),
* many missions to do,
* and the powerup section is where you will find challenges as an experienced fighter.

At this point you are still at the half of the possibilities only.

If you want a short "best of" list with links then I made one from the recent additions.

Join me in the Honorable Guild of Assassins.

Or attempt to gain peerage and nobility in the Feudal States. The House of Esceso is always recruiting.

OK - I've gone for Thargoid Wars, Cabal Common Library, BGS, Skilled NPCs, New Cargoes, Random Shipnames, and Snoopers. I've decided to steer clear of Anarchies for now. Maybe I'll look at more when I've got up to speed with them.

Which is the best ships graphics package that doesn't mess anything else up too badly? E.g. the first one I've tried wasn't too bad, but put a horrible font on screen.

ffutures wrote:

Which is the best ships graphics package that doesn't mess anything else up too badly? E.g. the first one I've tried wasn't too bad, but put a horrible font on screen.

In my opinion,  Griff's shipset (plus his station bundle) is the best - but there are others.

ffutures wrote:

put a horrible font on screen.

Try to rename oolite-font.plist file in your AddOns/DeepspaceShip.oxp/Config folder (or so).

Looks like Griffs slows things enough to give me problems, unfortunately. This computer doesn't have a graphics card, and the motherboard graphics are OK but not up to the load Griffs seems to impose.

Never mind, game play is the important thing, and the other add-ons are fine. You know you have smart NPCs when you need to get your Naval Shields repaired twice in four flights! Now being a LOT more cautious!

ffutures wrote:

Looks like Griffs slows things enough to give me problems, unfortunately.

Ah... have a look at Smivs' shipset, and others, here.