TVR wrote:Time spent planning how to play the game could be used to actually play the game.
Yes, but I am not that impulsive. I prefer to read the manual, or equivalent, before playing a game. If the game features character select, I like to (quickly) analyze my options, then, combined with popular tropes games tend to follow and past experience from other games, make a decision.
TVR wrote:Think of it this way, each ship starts off with a bonus non-weapon device slot until the first reactor upgrade (which does not have to be Nova-25 or even Nova-50). It does have utility - cargohold, solar panel, shield, and a collimator is a nice way to build credits in a Wolfen.
Why would I see it as a bonus? When I see Wolfen on ship select, I see three non-weapon slots available for expansion. Soon, once I find out that one of them must be used on a reactor, if I want to use anything more powerful, as I wrote before, I felt robbed. I would prefer the default reactor increase its power, without the reactor forever consuming a slot; but given the way the game is written, I do not think that will happen. The next best thing is make stock reactors slotless, let them stack their power with the ship's default reactor, or whatever it takes to make reactors not a slot tax.
The maximum power requirements of a starter Wolfen is 10.5 MW. They need a Nova-25 or better as soon as they can afford one. It is probably #3 or #4 item on my upgrade list. First is solar panel or armor, so I do not waste money on fuel. Second is targeting program ROM, because no targeting is VERY frustrating! Possible three is cargo expansion because 35 tons is not enough space (but slow speed and two weapons on EI500 hurt more until endgame).
TVR wrote:Under the "reactor slot requirements-1 & total slots-1" proposal, there would be no difference (or more accurately, no increase) in free slots, whereas the issues with slotless reactors are more severe than unexpectedly taking up a slot.
The end result is the ship select will say Wolfen has two non-weapon slots available for upgrades instead of three. Provided other game mechanics stay the same, this will tell the player how many slots he really has for upgrades, instead of a "Gotcha!", you really have one less slot than you were told.
Download and Play in 1.9 beta 1...
Drake Technologies (Alpha): More hardware for combat in parts 1 and 2!
Star Castle Arcade: Play a classic arcade game adventure, with or without more features (like powerups)!
Playership Drones: Buy or restore exotic ships to command!
Other playable mods from 1.8 and 1.7, waiting to be updated...
Godmode v3 (WIP): Dev/cheat tool compatible with D&O parts 1 or 2.