Xeptatl's Sword
A new updated version of Xeptatl's sword is finally out. There are one or two more tweaks needed before publication on the in-game Expansions Manager.
Contents
Overview
| Xeptatl's Sword Data | |
|---|---|
| Xeptatl's Sword (Organisations and Characters) | |
| Xeptatl's Sword (Ships, Stations and Objects) | |
| Xeptatl's Sword (Help) | |
| Xeptatl's Sword (Credits) | |
Xeptatl's Sword is an Oolite mission OXP which will take you twice round the 'Eight' on an epic quest to avert a full-scale colonisation of GalCop space by the Thargoids. You will face fearsome foes and make, and lose, some good friends during this mission during which you will be tasked with helping the shadowy Xeptatl Society to thwart the Thargoids' most audacious plan yet.
Historical footnote
The continual updating of Oolite and concomitant changes to the game mechanics (combined with the remorseless rise of cheat oxp's in varying forms) led Smivs to abandon this OXP back c.2014. He took down the website and the links to the oxp itself.
The promotional video is here
General Information
Xeptatl's Sword v2.3 requires Oolite v1.77. Xeptatl's Sword v3.0 requires Oolite v1.81.
Xeptatl's Sword is a mission OXP. It will start when you are in Galaxy Five, and have completed several jumps. This delay is to ensure that a player visiting G5 for the first time will have the opportunity to complete one of the 'default' missions before Xeptatl's Sword starts.
The mission has been designed so that it can be carried out with any of the commonly used 'core' ships. The only requirement is that the ship must have at least two pylons, and be able to scoop items.
The mission has also been designed to require only weapons and equipment provided by the 'core' game or this OXP. An experienced Commander will find Military lasers and Standard and ECM-hardened missiles will be sufficient to deal with all the situations you will encounter.
BGS enhances this OXP
Advice
There will be several occasions throughout this mission where equipment will need to be added to your ship's pylons. You will be informed during the mission when this is necessary, and you will be prompted in advance so you may clear pylons in good time.
As this mission involves multiple galactic Jumps you are advised to replace Galactic Hyperdrives as soon as possible after using them, and it is suggested you always have at least one GalDrivePod on board. These are available from TL12 and above systems.
You will visit several Xeptatl Society stations and installations during this mission. These will be marked with an 'X' on the Space Compass.
Save often! As with all missions it is advisable to save the game frequently and it is also advised that you keep 'old' saves. This will allow you to go back to previous parts of the mission if required. This may be necessary if you get 'lost' on the mission, but is also useful if you simply want to re-visit a previous part of the mission.
The mission could however be broken if the player arrives at a target system where characters/installations etc are spawned on exiting witchspace but then goes to the main station and saves before completing that part of the mission. Upon re-launch the characters etc may no longer be present.
If you are en route to a destination system, save before you get there unless your instructions are to go to the main station. In these cases it is safe (and wise) to make a save there.
A great deal of time and effort has gone into the graphics and visual effects in Xeptatl's Sword and it is very likely that you may wish to repeat certain sections just to 'enjoy the show'.
Download
The original links are all broken.
Spara's update
Spara developed a newer version (v.3.0, 2015-16, 20.3Mb) for newer Oolite versions - but with a couple of the old graphics still in place. That is File:XeptatlsSword.oxz. If you open it up you will see a list of his changes. It should work just fine with Oolite versions 1.81 onwards.
It also features a couple of cbr's new textures and the better known ships are now listed on the View ship specifications screen (accessed from the docked F4 screen (ship and system interfaces)).
Smiv's original versions
These do not work with Oolite v.1.81 and newer.
- Xeptatl's Sword can now be downloaded from Sword.zip here (2021)
- Older Oolite versions for which this older .oxp is not broken
Installation
Place the XeptatlsSword.oxp in your AddOns folder. If you do not already have GalDrivePod OXP installed, also place GalDrivePodv1.3.oxp (supplied with this OXP) into your AddOns folder.
Incompatibilities
- Variant .oxp versions of the Galactic Hyperdrives (such as Galactic Hyperdrive OXP or Switeck's Quantum Drive will destroy this mission oxp.
Version History
- Version 3.0 Release date 17th Dec, 2019 (Updated by Spara for v.1.80) - still needs a couple of textures upating
- Version 2.3 Release date 7th June, 2014 (Minor scripting bugfix)
- Version 2.2 Release date 1st February, 2014 Adds better dock graphics and BGS docking-tunnel effect for BGS users.
- Version 2.1 (never actually existed - don't ask!)
- Version 2.0 Release date 6th February, 2013. Oolite v1.77 compatible. Texture updates. Several bugfixes.
- Version 1.0.3 Release date January 2013. Max_version 1.76.1 applied to 'requires.plist' pending update.
- Version 1.0.2 Release date 17th December, 2011. Minor update to remove unwanted 'roles = none' in shipdata.
- Version 1.0.1 Release date:- 11th November, 2011. Update to resolve a few minor issues.
- Version 1.0 Release date:- 5th November, 2011
Licence
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit Creative Commons or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Links
- Xeptatl's Sword (Organisations and Characters)
- Xeptatl's Sword (Ships, Stations and Objects)
- Xeptatl's Sword (Help)
- Xeptatl's Sword (Credits)
- Authors:
Original Website
Xeptatl's Sword has an information and resource website where you will find much more information and background for the mission. There is also a 'Help' section and a full Credits list.
The website used to be at Xeptatl's Sword.com
This website was taken down by Smivs after Oolite v1.80 came out. See Wayback Machine for the various pages of it. Later dates have the other pages. Update! look here: Smitheman.org
BB Threads
- Official BB Thread (2011-date)
- 2015: The brokenness of version 2 with cim's newer versions of Oolite (v.1.80+) These were fixed by Spara
Note
The updated links are from Commander_X here and here.
Gameplay and Balance indicator
Very challenging mission
