Game too hard? Try this.

[Drain]

I see a lot of people saying the game is too hard, and on Normal, they're basically right, because Normal is far too gamble/luck focused. Most ships simply aren't strong enough to get far without a very lucky run to power up. I love this game, but it's frustrating on Normal to be very good yet often still get screwed just because of bad luck. So I thought I'd share this mod to unaware players. This mod will boost your starting power and makes the game less about winning the lottery for the first half. Game is not changed in a significant way; you're just better at the start. On Easy it might make the game a joke, but on Normal it'll just make the game more reasonable. What you use it for however and how you use it is up to you. The main goal is to make the game easier starting out for any user that is having trouble. It has selectable options, so it's not just one big infinite hack or huge boost that makes you unstoppable.

With the mod, you can choose one of the following to add to any ship when the game starts:
1) +2 Zoltan and Sensor Aug(Normally on first stealth cruiser)
2) +2 Mantis and Pre Ignitor(Instantly charges all guns once at the start of a fight)
3) +2 Engi and Healbot Aug(Normally on first Engi ship)
4) +1 Human and Scrap Recovery Arm(+10% all Scrap gained)
5) +1 Rockman and Glaive Beam(Can be used or just sold for a raw Scrap boost)
6) +50-75 Scrap(Raw Scrap boost for the start but nothing else)
7) +175-200 Scrap(Bigger boost, but this option requires a fight for it, unlike the rest)
8) Big box of NOTHING(Keeps the Mod installed but the option avoids its use on that run)
^ You can choose which one you want, but only 1 of them. This allows you to boost your ship in a number of ways to give you the edge you feel you need. It's not an "infinite Scrap" or such mod(those do exist), just a selectable starting boost. It has various options so you can pick the one you want. If the game still isn't survivable, you could try a heavier option. If it becomes too easy, try a lighter one.

To Install:
http://www.ftlgame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11094
Get Grognak 1.6, as 1.7 DOES NOT WORK. You can try 1.7, but if it doesn't work, switch to 1.6. That solved the problem for me.
Put Beginning Scrap.ftl in the Mods folder in the Grogs directory.
Run the Grog exe and patch the mod into the game. Do not double patch it with Scrap Advantage, another mod that's in Grog by default. Delete that or leave it unpatched. Patch Beginning Scrap only.
If it patched, it should then be working when you start the game and you should see the added choices on the first beacon.

Game is far more fun with it; I highly recommend it. If you pilot a Zoltan Ship, you can get more crew and the Sensor to avoid asteroids that wreck your shield. Ships that start with Crew Ports can start out with +2 bugs and a Pre Ignitor to instantly wreck their Medbay and port in bugs. If you really want to be evil, you could take the Pre Ignitor with Stealth Cruiser B and instantly fire the Glaive Beam every fight. If nothing else, you can take a Scrap boost that you need to get out of the early game gutter and power up soon. Scrap Recovery Arm at the start alone might be enough for most players to turn the game around. Enjoy.

[Mazey]

Looks like a cool mod, but I do have to take issue with one thing you've said:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Drain:

I see a lot of people saying the game is too hard, and on Normal, they're basically right, because Normal is far too gamble/luck focused. Most ships simply aren't strong enough to get far without a very lucky run to power up. I love this game, but it's frustrating on Normal to be very good yet often still get screwed just because of bad luck

You say you're very good at the game, and also say that you can't beat the game without getting lucky. Do you honestly not see the contradiction there?

There are people who beat the game on normal almost every time, even when they have bad luck.
Given that, isn't it quite possible that the times when you lose aren't so much to do with the luck of the game and more to do with you not being as good at it as you think you are?

[Drain]

It's not a contradiction. The game is very luck driven due to random scripted events, rewards, and encounters. On one run I can totally plow the game, while on another, get utterly destroyed, both with the same ship. Some runs will shower you with good guns, crew members, and augments, while others leave you with barely anything and struggling for every upgrade. That is the very definition of a luck driven game and if you've played it extensively, you should know. Simply knowing how to play isn't enough for Normal mode; you have to be lucky as well, mainly on the first half of a run in order to power up for the second half and the boss. Regardless, if you think I'm really a bad player, you still could have kept that to yourself. You didn't need to come post it and try to debate whether the game is luck based when it very clearly is. But if you are so skilled and don't believe it has any luck to it, then simply don't use any mods for it.

[Mazey]

I feel that you thought I was attacking you and got defensive because of that, but I was not.
I never said you were bad at the game, not once, nor did I mean it. I did consider writing an extra paragraph into my post preemptively explaining that, but I felt it would be patronizing.

Yes, there is a lot of luck in this game, but that is not the same thing as it being only possible to win by getting lucky.

Someone else gave a good explanation I saw once:
This game has a lot of luck in it, but also a lot of skill and, on top of that, is very hard. This effectively splits the game into three skill groups:

The "lower" skill group find's it near impossible to win at all, even when they get lucky. As such this group tends to see the difficulty as the biggest part of the game.

The "middle" skill group is good enough at the game to win moderately often, but often loses too and, for obvious reasons, the difference between the wins and the losses comes down to luck in what events occur for the player and what weapon appear. As such, this group tends to see the luck as the biggest part of the game.

Lastly, the "higher" skill group tends to win most of the time, even when the luck goes against them. As such, this group tends to see skillful play as the biggest part of the game.

This isn't an insult or an attack. It's just an explanation. No, I did not need to state it in the this thread but the idea that this game is primarily luck based is a misconception that occurs frequently, and so I do like to offer an opposing view point when it does come up.

[Mymes]

I don't mean to get involved but I feel that the first post was entirely unecessary as all this guy is trying to do is help out others that are finding the game difficult. You haven't provided him with any constructive critisism on what his post is about (the mod) and instead you've gone on about your own personal vendetta with people that say luck has a big part in the game. So instead of writing essays on view points of the game why don't you try out the mod and see if it's any good :)

[Drain]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von xtbox_headshot:

I don't mean to get involved but I feel that the first post was entirely unecessary as all this guy is trying to do is help out others that are finding the game difficult. You haven't provided him with any constructive critisism on what his post is about (the mod) and instead you've gone on about your own personal vendetta with people that say luck has a big part in the game. So instead of writing essays on view points of the game why don't you try out the mod and see if it's any good :)

Wasn't going to justify all that crap with another response and encourage him to type more of it, but if I did, this is basically what I would have said. Thanks.
Edit: See, he posted more of it because you responded.

There are a lot of other Mods for this game fyi that basically cheat at full scale. You can start with max power/upgrades, 9999 scrap, 9999 health, no fleet pursuit, or such things. I specifically picked one to share that just eases the difficulty on starting out and has choices that allow extra customization. It doesn't remove all challenge, has scaling options for varying player skill, the ability to skip its use at all without having to turn it on/off, and many players will still die even after using it. It's more of a boost, really. I could have just as well shared a 9999 scrap mod if I wanted, but going over board like that would sap the fun out of the game IMO unless you just want some kind of sandbox god mode run.

A lot of people post about the game being too hard, so much so that you shouldn't even bother buying it, so I share a boost mod that helps with that problem. Most people should enjoy it.

[Mazey]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von xtbox_headshot:

I don't mean to get involved but I feel that the first post was entirely unecessary as all this guy is trying to do is help out others that are finding the game difficult.

Yes, which is why my first line of my first post was "Looks like a cool mod".

I have no issue with the mod, nor anyone who uses it. I think it's a good addition and potentially valuable to a lot of people.

Yes, my post was almost entirely focused on my "personal vendetta" because that was the part I had an issue with. (Obviously)

For example, your own post gives no actual comment on the mod itself, and so, by the exact same principle, your post, responding to mine, commits the exact same sins. Yet you felt the need to post it anyway because you took issue with things I had written. Which is exactly how it should be.

Was my post "unnecessary"? Quite possibly, but I didn't post it because it was needed, I posted it because I wanted it to be said. Just like you did yours.

[Mazey]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Drain:

all that crap

May I request to know what exactly it was that I wrote that was "crap"?
I felt it was quite well explained, so I would certainly like to know what parts you had issue with so I can learn.

There are a lot of other Mods for this game fyi that basically cheat at full scale. You can start with max power/upgrades, 9999 scrap, 9999 health, no fleet pursuit, or such things. I specifically picked one to share that just eases the difficulty on starting out and has choices that allow extra customization. It doesn't remove all challenge, has scaling options for varying player skill, the ability to skip its use at all without having to turn it on/off, and many players will still die even after using it. It's more of a boost, really. I could have just as well shared a 9999 scrap mod if I wanted, but going over board like that would sap the fun out of the game IMO unless you just want some kind of sandbox god mode run.

A lot of people post about the game being too hard, so much so that you shouldn't even bother buying it, so I share a boost mod that helps with that problem. Most people should enjoy it.

That's great and, as I said from the start, the mod looks really good. I am entirely in favour of optional things that improve people's enjoyment of the game.

[ApexPredator]

Guys relax, this is a game forum, not a legal court :D

[DarkMyau]

Very interesting idea there. I am havin loads of trouble using the Mantis B. I keep having to run for it every time I see a scout or a zoltan.

I feel that the mantis ships are a bit too crap. The game was already hard enough without sending you out there with crappy weapons or no weapons at all!

As for the luck factor: Case in point. I had 4 runs with the zoltan A. First 3 runs didnt find a single weapon. Made it to sector 5 each time though. 4th run, found weaapons and beat the game.

[Drain]

Zoltan and automated ships are a problem for Mantis Cruisers. Should know though that with a Lvl 2 or 3 Teleport, you can drop in and out of an automated ship before suffocating. This means you can still use crew to destroy them, just port back before your boarders die. As for Zoltan, you need to have some kind of dummy weapons to burn the shield. The issue is getting them.

As for the Mod; it's very good. The Scrap can give you the money you need to actually use the first shop or 2, where as you normally can't. Or you can just take an Augment and some extra crew. It has 7 or so different choices so you can edit your start with different ships.

[Cougarific]

Ahhh, a civilized debate with good info from solid players, with the bare minimum of ire and name-calling.

Honestly it's a big part of what I love about this game - it attracts and rewards thoughtful gamers. The "lower skill group" mentioned above falls by the wayside relatively quickly, keeping the herp-derp posts and trolling/baiting to a minimum.

Forgive the interruption, gentlemen - please proceed. :-)

[StudMuffin]

I'm seeing a lot of controversy over the difficulty of the game. Yes, it is a strategy game and it will require some planning and some skill and if you don't have either of those, a little bad luck can lead you to the game over screen. I am what you would consider a "medium" level player. I used to suck but I kept playing because it is very addicting. Anyways, you all should check a out this guy's youtube channel. His name is Zzandrio (not sure if it's exactly spelled that way). I watched a few of his videos while I was playing FTL and his walkthrough videos for FTL are very helpful and give good tips to beginner level players.

Some tips are:
1. Always, ALWAYS, go for their weapons/drones (any offensive weaponry) right off the bat and focus on them*.
2. If their weapons will not be able to breach your shields (ie. you have level 2 shields and they only have one dual laser) focus on their shields and engines to disable their ship and make them a sitting duck.
3. If you are boarded, (first pause) open all the doors on you ship to vent the O2 out, then move your crew to your medbay (if you have more than three crew members, keep them on the other side of the ship in a sealed room), unpause the game and the enemy will go to your medbay, then close your doors and open the medbay doors and your dudes will figth in the medbay which will keep them from dying.

Thier are many more helpful tips I got from watching those videos I mentioned earlier, so I advise any new players to the game to see those.
*Forgot to mention beam weapons. They will really mess up your ship if they get through your shields. Beam weapons are probably one of the most powerful weapons in the game if used correctly. It is hard to describe through text so again, I advise new players to watch those FTL walkthrough videos. If you want to see some beam weapons in action, watch his ZoltanA no pause challenge video (starts with Halberd Beam and Leto missiles).

[matte]

Does this still work as of 2014?

[StudMuffin]

Wow, this was awhile ago. If what you're asking is if these are still applicable to FTL: Advanced Edition, then the answer is yes. While I'm not going to contradict myself from my previous post, there are a lot of things I've learned since I posted it. So first of all, FTL is a game of micromanagement, and if you want to survive for very long, it would be a good idea to get comfortable using the pause function.

For defense, you usually want to either get to level 4/5 engines or two layers of shields from around the end of sector one to the beginning of sector two. For protecting against boarders, the medbay trick is still viable, but usually what you'll want to do is vent the oxygen out of the side of the ship the enemies are on while having a crew member man the doors to bolster their strength. Having level 2 doors and manning them to upgrade them to level three will usuallyt do the trick. If the enemies have an ion weapon of some type, and then a laser/beam weapon to go along with it, what you can do to combat that is to deactivate your shield so they don't take the ion hit. But make sure to put power back into your shields about a second or two after the enemy's ion weapon fires to get your shields online quickly.

For offensive, what I said usually holds true, but it can change from situation to situation.

Another channel I would recommend is VoV (Vanguard of Valor). I watch his FTL content regularly and I learn a lot from his play throughs. Gingerdragon89 (I believe that is how you spell it) is another channel I would recommend for FTL content. Watching someone play is one of the best ways to learn because it lets you see what they're doing right and wrong.

But besides that, trial and error is the best way, if not the most fun way to learn the game. Try to read and learn all of the events so when you play you know how to avoid losing a crew member and taking unecessary hull damage too. Sorry for any spelling errors I missed.

[BCS]

Is there a mirror of the Beginning Scrap mod?