Start Choices

"Start New Commander" screen

The Medium start (Cobra Mk I)

The Adder start! (Hard & Harder)

The Hauler start! (showing a non-beaten-up Python)

The Miner start (Transporter)

Overview

• When starting a new game, this oxp gives you some start-up choices of various difficulty. Choices make the start of the game easier or harder.
• Adder is changed to enable buying a 3 TC cargo expansion. This allows it to be fitted with a passenger berth allowing a career of Passenger Service.

The Choices

Vanilla game choices

• Normal Start. Start the game the way it has been started from the year 1984 - with a Cobra Mk III, tank full of fuel, pulse laser, 3 missiles and 100 credits.
• Easy Start. Start at Zaonce with 1,000₢ instead
• Tutorial
• Strict Mode. Oolite's take on Classic Elite. No oxp's

You still get the better graphics, the new vanilla game equipment, the contracts, etc. Note that this basic game is still very sophisticated (eg you develop a reputation which affects how different NPC's respond to you, their combat is more intelligent, etc.) - much more so than Classic Elite was.

Fast-track

Easy start for the impatient. Skip the slow start - and jump right into the action with a Cobra Mk III, fuel scoops, witchspace fuel injectors, a tank full of fuel, pulse laser, 3 missiles and 100 credits. With the fuel scoops you can go straight into mining or scavenging - and the fuel injectors will help you escape the pirates and clear the mass locks.

Medium

Cobra Mk I start: If you don't want to start the game with the best all-around ship, the Cobra Mk III, then start the game with a Cobra Mk I. Earn credits and then buy the Cobra Mk III. You will value it a lot more when you have to purchase it yourself. Your Cobra Mk I will have a tank full of fuel, a pulse laser, 1 missile and 100 credits.

Hard

Adder start: If you want to start from the bottom, then your choice is an Adder, the cheapest player flyable vessel in the game. Be prepared for a long game though, it will take a while to collect enough credits for a Cobra Mk I and eventually a Cobra Mk III. You don't have to go out there empty handed though, your Adder will be equipped with a pulse laser, 1 missile and a tank full of fuel. On top of that, you get 100 credits. Ain't that a deal or what?

Harder

Adder start: Want to go hard core? Then this game start is for you. An adder, a pulse laser, no missiles and no credits. It doesn't get any harder. On the other hand, it doesn't get much more rewarding either. When you finally have enough credits for that Cobra Mk III, it will feel that you've really earned it!

Note: in Strangers World, if you try this with Hard Way running, you will die! No fuel means you have almost no time after launching until your ship explodes! And you need to earn enough in that time to pay for a full tank of fuel and dock again!

Hauler

Want to start hauling cargo right away? Then start your game in a beat-up Python. The Python is in a pretty bad shape though, you might want to prioritize the maintenance overhaul over other upgrades.

Miner

Want to start the game with a ship that has no hyperspace capabilities? Then this is your choice. Mining Transporter, a mining laser, fuel scoops, witchdrive injectors and 100 credits. Want to change system? Hitchhike! After your first launch, an Anaconda trader with escorts launches and jumps to Zaonce. You might want to follow...

To make mining less dull and a viable career choice, you might want to check these oxps:

Asteroid Tweaks - tweaks the number of asteroids

Mineral Store Reset - sell more minerals at the orbital station

Mining Contracts OXP

Ore Processor - process your own splinters

Cmdr Cheyd on the "Adder Start" (Hard/Harder)

Want some fun? Try playing an Ironman game, but alter it so you start with an Adder. Oh, and you have to have Deep Space Pirates loaded too. Makes for a HELLUVA rough start. Escape Pod is worth more to you than that Beam Laser, I promise. And fuel scoops? (ROFL) I'll take Fuel Injectors thanks. Docking computer - Nope, better go for that extra energy unit so you can actually fire a laser AND hit the ECM within the same 5 minute period...

How do I know? You're looking at the proud captain of "The Briar Rabbit".

5 Kills, and proud of every damned one. Let those hot shot Jamesons drink in the zero G bars, running around in their new Cobra Mk III's... They'll be flotsam bouncing off your hull in a month. Me- I say you meet trouble, you RUN! Taking 17 tc of furs into an unstable multi-goverment rich industrial in this girl, and you'll know what white-knuckle flying is....

There's a reason I named the ship "The Briar Rabbit". I tend to run more than fight by a significant margin. And while the extra energy unit helps, if you're under 50% energy, recharge is SLOW. Recharge from 0 energy is OMG-SLOW. Had to do that one last night. It was rough as my opponent was still alive. I had to lock in on his 6 and NOT let go.

Requirements

Oolite v.1.80

Credits

• Compatibility fix for gsagostinho Adder variants by phkb
• Adder cargo tweak and difficulty definitions are from Switeck's Shipping OXP
• Fix for Oolite v.1.79 by Norby
• Miner start choice is greatly based on Zeke Mining Transporter oxp by Captain Patrick

Download

• Download the latest version from the in-game Expansions Manager.
• Download version 1.5.1 (for Oolite 1.77.1) from the box.

Links

• Career Options
• New Start Up Ideas (2018): Bounty Hunter, Smuggler & Navy Recruit.
• Realism

First Finance OXP

Other start oxp's

• Adder start (from 2010 or earlier) - not as good as this oxp
• Start Choices Addenda (expeditor & advanced miner starts)
• First Finance OXP (start with a loan!)
• Hermitage (start with your own Rock Hermit!)
• SOTL Exploration (Start in a new unexplored galaxy!)

Quick Facts

Version	Released	License	Features	Category	Author(s)	Feedback
1.8.2	2019-03-02	CC BY-NC-SA 4.0	Mechanics	Mechanics OXPs	Spara	Oolite BB