Worst quests/beacons in the game.

[Slimane]

One thing that really ticks me off in this game is how dependant you are on getting good beacons, especially early beacons.

Some of them are so ridiculously bad. I'm thinking some boarder events in nebulas and the sort, not only did you waste your fuel going there but you got boarders that potentially cause lots of damage if you were unlucky with your crew AND you get 0 reward.

One quest that I got twice in the same game was especially horrible. You waste your fuel/beacon/exploration time getting a quest that sends you somewhere else in the galaxy, then you waste more fuel/beacon/exploration time finding that beacon only to get boarded, one of your crew becomes an enemy AND you get absolutely no reward. This one can be extremely hard if they "mind control" your only fighter or you've been unlucky with your crew.

How is this in any way shape or form comparable to getting lets say, the zoltan quest. Which gives you immense amount of scraps AND a godlike crew member without losing a single thing.

I feel this is the most arbitrary and annoying part of this game. Only solution is getting the scanner if you're lucky enough to find it.

[Dr. McWeazel]

If you don't have a Clone Bay or anything that gives a blue option, the Alien Spiders event is easily the worst in the entire game. An okay reward, if you get lucky enough that none of your crew gets devoured.

Now, the event that you're referring to can be very easily avoided (at least, the "One of your crew is an enemy" part) with a level 2+ Medbay. Not-so-sure about Clone Bays, though.

[Xiarn]

I think part of learning to play FTL is to learn which risks you can take. There are a couple bad things that can come out of nowhere and hurt a run pretty bad depending on the situation, but most of the time they can be avoided. I'd say that's balanced by some of the nodes that are just supporters giving you free stuff. Try to get any system you have to at least level 2, you get a lot more Blue options even if you don't have the power to run them all at once.

Risk assesment and being able to respond to emergencies are super important in FTL, and I've learned those things the hard way. I don't really get upset at the game anymore. It feels like every time I get messed up there was something I could've done.

I agree that the first time encountering certain situations can be a bit annoying, simply because you don't know what to expect and sometimes things that you're certain are positive (Quests) can end up being bad for your run.

[Slimane]

When your first few sector 1 beacons are utter crap like empty beacons, useless ressource exchanges, solar flare/asteroid field and boarders, it doesn't feel like you could of done much.

One game I decided to continu despite the horrible start, had about 40 scrap by sector 1. I restart and in my first 2-3 beacons I had already more scrap and a crewmember. When you get a horrible sector 1-2 the rest of the game tends to be horrible as well, since you're always scrap starved.

[Fat Ungrateful Squirrel]

I absolutely hate it when Im playing a Zoltan ship (or I complete their quest and I get their shield augment) and I get boarded via event, and all events say "They must have a Zoltan Shield Bypass!"

Where's the blue option that would skip those nasty boarders, its not there just to shove those boarders down your throat whether you want them or not.

[anarcher]

CE has teleport disruptor.

[Skinny Pete]

The worst is the beacon in The Last Stand sector that supposedly opens another repair beacon. But because of a bug, the beacon doesn't actually show up, so basically no reward at all.

[P@ran0id_Skiz0phr3n!k]

1st beacon asteroid field, didnt survive it. Another time solar field didnt survive that either. Seems when you have more experience you make it through. Sometimes I am emptying my wallet on repairs constantly.

[Slimane]

Once got a ship with 6 damage worth of weapons, half-way in sector 2. I still only had 1 sheild.

He had a 3 shot burst laser , a 2 shot burst laser and a 1 shot cannon. Literaly had every system more upgraded then I did. Lost 75% of my hull and had to waste all my scrap in repairs. Then in sector 3 I got a ship with 7 damage worth of weapons. Including 2 Ion weapons.

Lost most of my hull trying to beat it, just decided to consider that playthrough a lost cause. Getting down on so much scrap that early always means youll be lacking what you need for the boss.

[Xiarn]

Originally posted by AngryNeeson52:

Once got a ship with 6 damage worth of weapons, half-way in sector 2. I still only had 1 sheild.

He had a 3 shot burst laser , a 2 shot burst laser and a 1 shot cannon. Literaly had every system more upgraded then I did. Lost 75% of my hull and had to waste all my scrap in repairs. Then in sector 3 I got a ship with 7 damage worth of weapons. Including 2 Ion weapons.

Lost most of my hull trying to beat it, just decided to consider that playthrough a lost cause. Getting down on so much scrap that early always means youll be lacking what you need for the boss.

Generally you want level 2 shields as fast as possible. Start of sector 2 is a good berakpoint.

[P@ran0id_Skiz0phr3n!k]

Originally posted by Xiarn:

Originally posted by AngryNeeson52:

Once got a ship with 6 damage worth of weapons, half-way in sector 2. I still only had 1 sheild.

He had a 3 shot burst laser , a 2 shot burst laser and a 1 shot cannon. Literaly had every system more upgraded then I did. Lost 75% of my hull and had to waste all my scrap in repairs. Then in sector 3 I got a ship with 7 damage worth of weapons. Including 2 Ion weapons.

Lost most of my hull trying to beat it, just decided to consider that playthrough a lost cause. Getting down on so much scrap that early always means youll be lacking what you need for the boss.

Generally you want level 2 shields as fast as possible. Start of sector 2 is a good berakpoint.

I always leave level 2 shields until beginning of sector 3.

On easy I can take risks but on normal I avoid any risks at all. Its like "risk your lives and mission and we will give you this measly 15 scrap" - in which case I think is a waste of beacons. On easy I can do up my med room, scanners, oxygen and the other subsystems to get some blue options which is why I like easy mode more now - hence making use of alot more beacons. Edit - I still dont think you get much from the blue options neither - yes you can score big but some of us are just unlucky.

[Xiarn]

How are you avoiding risks by upping shields later? That's greedy play, not safe. Level 2 shields are a huge deal.

[Slimane]

Originally posted by Xiarn:

How are you avoiding risks by upping shields later? That's greedy play, not safe. Level 2 shields are a huge deal.

Voltan ship and engines.

[P@ran0id_Skiz0phr3n!k]

Level 2 shields by sector 3, late part of sector 2 if possible and a weapon. If I have not bought a defence drone then earlier. It has worked for me and some of the guides I have followed have taught this.
I need a scrap recovery arm, long range scanner, a weapon and a defence drone ASAP, level 2 shields can wait abit more. Problem with long range scanners is I might avoid the beacons with no ship and miss some goodies too but a fight usually gives more scrap or a good surrender and I can avoid any storms, ever had consecutive storms? Game becomes a chore, enemies with 3 and 4 shields consecutively makes me moan too.
Edit - reasone I make shields wait is because I can level up anytime but other things have to be in stock.

[Xiarn]

Originally posted by AngryNeeson52:

Originally posted by Xiarn:

How are you avoiding risks by upping shields later? That's greedy play, not safe. Level 2 shields are a huge deal.

Voltan ship and engines.

Ah. Zoltan ship's definitely an exception.

P@ranoid, that's a really, really specific set of things to look for. Yes they're all really amazing, but I wouldn't hold my breath for most of them, especially considering how (relatively) cheap level 2 shields are. I've found I end up having more scrap in the long run.

[P@ran0id_Skiz0phr3n!k]

Well I really wish there was a free roam because you only have a limited amount of jumps each sector and if you get all these bad/empty beacons then you are really paddling upstream. I mean the long range scanners help but as you said Xiam I cant hold my breath. Can someone make a free roam mod please? I will donate.