Ship upgrades

[76561198292631324]

The question is simple: what is your favourite and most commonly used set of ship upgrades? Further, what is your single favourite upgrade? On the other hand, which is the least used one from among the available ones?

Regarding challenges that the upgrades can be helpful in dealing with, I am currently at level sixteen or seventeen - therefore the five main slots in the ship configuration panel are unlocked - but I believe the game lacks any device that could reduce the dazzle caused by exploding nukes. If it verily is missing, it should be introduced - maybe level six ship configuration or part of some extended set, preparing for Apocalypse mode? Because the nukes is a major pain, almost a certain death unless if to use magic.

My typical set for the mid-game is the Jump Storage combined with the good old Magnet. I am currently searching for the best model perhaps including the discovered Turning Jets, which seem very handy, especially while on boost. The least chosen one is the Battery - even though I can see it useful in Apocalypse. I would take the Portal Storage for sure if the Portal pickups were more common, because for now it is a waste of the slot. Pity there are so few ship configurations!

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EDIT - ten minutes later:

Regarding the mentioned Battery, what is the philosophy in surviving five or ten seconds longer when the sun has set, wasting the ship upgrade slot for something futile like that? Does the game include any commonly appearing passages, long and shadowed to the point of turning the ship down? I think the Battery should be changed to something else, if such a modification is in the range of devs good will.

[76561198292631324]

Just a loose thought: a ship configurations DLC, available right off the bat after downloading. Hard to tell, yet, whether it would actually be okay. But maybe a DLC with another twenty five levels to beat and the further ship configurations to unlock, would be nice. Certainly it would be good to better gear up against the Apocalypse mode.

[76561198292631324]

Wow, level 25. It went pretty fast. In the mid-game, I must say I was immensely lucky to have encountered a "Sky Machine" portal world, where basically points accumulated like hell, without even touching the controls. Also the environment looked beautiful, like mists of Io.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=814041203

Regarding the ship upgrades with full capabilities unlocked, three attachements is good. I must also point out that in latter regions, without Turning Jets, it is rather unlikely to be bearable. Therefore it seems like a must. The games achievements mention touching the clouds, therefore certainly the advanced Jumping Storage is a wise choice. Empowered Magnet is nice when collecting pickups is the aim, while it is understood points do matter. Therefore we have a trio.

The further two are the Battery - which eventually becomes a super-duper Battery - as well as the advanced Portal Storage. Portal Storage is the thing, in combination with Jumping Storage can make a good defensive arsenal, even though the Portal pickups are the most rare thing to come across. The better version of Battery, even though understood in a world where solar energy and shadows play major role, still is the choice to discard.

[76561198292631324]

I arbitrarily state that the Battery upgrade is utterly useless and ought to be removed without further ado for the sake of implementing something useful, such as blindshields against nukes or anything that would help both in Apocalypse mode, as well as in further regions of standard play. Any ideas what that could be instead?

[76561198292631324]

The Battery - both the basic and extended versions - in their actual state could be unlockable features in the course of level advancement, such as warps and portal worlds for example. The brief shadowenduring function changes so little at the moment that I think it is fully excusable to push it right there. Perhaps the Battery would be impressive if it gave an exact real-time one minute of extra flight even when the sun has entirely went below the horizon line. Then it would make sense. Ship modules ought to be crucial.

[76561198292631324]

If I had to choose only one attachment, I would need to set my priority, as well as the range of available choices. Lets say all attachments are available. Magnet is the basic one and for a good reason. Dynamic Thrusters are a must if we talk about going anywhere further. Both types of Storages are useful, but taking how many achievements mention gathering point-beacons in the air, as well as touching the clouds, I suppose Jumping Storage is the tactical choice. Even though Protection Portal is more efficient when it comes to trouble.

If the goal is to take as many regions as possible, I would go for Dynamic Thrusters. If the point is to gather as many points as possible, I would go for the Magnet. If I want a universal solution, I go for Jumping Storage, which is in my opinion the most useful of all the ship upgrades in the game, taking that Jump pickups are common, in contrast to the Protection ones.

Blindshields would be an Apocalypse-minding upgrade, allowing to travel through nuke dazzling blasts. Each level of their extension should embetter the effect they give. If the Battery allowed for a real deal longer journey without any sunlight at all, I would go for it.

[76561198292631324]

Originally posted by "wHAT":

Blindshields would be an Apocalypse-minding upgrade, allowing to travel through nuke dazzling blasts. Each level of their extension should embetter the effect they give. If the Battery allowed for a real deal longer journey without any sunlight at all, I would go for it.

In such an idealistic case, my trio of upgrades for the Apocalypse would be: Blindshields, Battery and Dynamic Thrusters. Jumping Storage would be most useful, if the Apocalypse was a place where gathering and accumulating anything on the longer run was any handy.

[76561198292631324]

Originally posted by "wHAT":

The Battery - both the basic and extended versions - in their actual state could be unlockable features in the course of level advancement, such as warps and portal worlds for example. The brief shadowenduring function changes so little at the moment that I think it is fully excusable to push it right there. Perhaps the Battery would be impressive if it gave an exact real-time one minute of extra flight even when the sun has entirely went below the horizon line. Then it would make sense. Ship modules ought to be crucial.

If having such a battery, when one would enter a shadowed area, instead of "Solar energy depleted" alert raging all over, a transparent clock in the corner of a screen could appear. It woud count down the time ship can travel in the dark without the loss of speed or any other sideffect. If the sunligh was recontacted, the battery would gradually recharge, meaning the available time the clock indicates should slowly enough return to the maximum. Only when the battery energy runs out, the alert regarding the depletion of solar energy should pop up.

[Bullethead666]

Seriously, dude... quoting your own posts and replying to them? It's just a game.

Get outside more.

[76561198292631324]

Dude, if I am the only constructive person around to talk to creatively, tough that.

[Luna Starshine]

Originally posted by wHAT:

Dude, if I am the only constructive person around to talk to creatively, tough that.

Ignore him.

People just are rude and respectless nowadays.

Good thread.

[76561198292631324]

I oftentimes meet that on STEAM, it is a certain mindset. On the other hand, it is usually those one has an occasion to talk to, otherwise dead silence.

[Michiel]

Battery actually is a part of my go-to configuration because of the way it helps dealing with clouds. Without the battery your ship will go red quite often if you don't dodge the shadows casted by clouds - which slows you down like hell and lowers the sun a few centimeters each time. With the battery you won't have to worry about the clouds.

[Luna Starshine]

Originally posted by wHAT:

I oftentimes meet that on STEAM, it is a certain mindset. On the other hand, it is usually those one has an occasion to talk to, otherwise dead silence.

Yeah. I know those people who have 400 "friends" on their list.... and never talk or anything....

[76561198292631324]

Originally posted by "YouCube":

Battery actually is a part of my go-to configuration because of the way it helps dealing with clouds. Without the battery your ship will go red quite often if you don't dodge the shadows casted by clouds - which slows you down like hell and lowers the sun a few centimeters each time. With the battery you won't have to worry about the clouds.

That is a major point. But on the other hand, would I trade Magnet for Battery? Negative. Would I trade Jumping Storage or Dynamic Thrusters in favour of Battery? Perhaps one could do without the Thrusters if to well know the racecourse, but still the Battery seems to offer too little in comparison to any of the given three.

Originally posted by "♦ Crazy Diamond ♦":

Yeah. I know those people who have 400 "friends" on their list.... and never talk or anything....

True, myself I have couple of dozen of people on my friendslist, almost all of them from the Aliens versus Predator Classic declarative community. Few of them would laugh at you if asked whether they would play AvP Classic match now. Most gave up the game long ago, if ever having considered it seriously. Unfortunately I gave up the game too, because on multiplayer it was just too stressful. I guess I am a wrong guy for that type of action. But I am active on the community hub, as a declared offtopic guy. Few of the guys sill play. All in all, rarely do we ever talk to each other on friendslist. Friends-unknowns is typical of initiatives like massive "add me if you want to play" threads. But sometimes it helps to get a game running.

[Oliarco]

Originally posted by 76561198292631324:

My typical set for the mid-game is the Jump Storage combined with the good old Magnet. I am currently searching for the best model perhaps including the discovered Turning Jets, which seem very handy, especially while on boost. The least chosen one is the Battery - even though I can see it useful in Apocalypse. I would take the Portal Storage for sure if the Portal pickups were more common, because for now it is a waste of the slot. Pity there are so few ship configurations!

My setup is basically almost the same, except for the 3rd upgrade that depends on the circumstances:

1: Jump Storage
2: Magnet
3: ???

Battery/Turning Jets:
My standard choice when i just started a new game in a new day where i don't know nothing.
Usually i preffer the battery over the Turning Jet but there is no a logic reason for this preference. In fact i just don't like how the Turning Jets "ruin" the design of my beatifull Swallow. I know i'm stupid :)

Emergency Portal Storage:
If i'm able to memorize the position of at least 1 emergency portal pickup during the new day (especially if is within zone 4 and 5) i'll go 100% with this upgrade over the other 2 because 1 portal is guaranted and i'll have the chance to get others during that game.
Of course if i memorize more than 1 portal then portal storage becomes even more usefull :)

Originally posted by 76561198292631324:

Originally posted by "wHAT":

The Battery - both the basic and extended versions - in their actual state could be unlockable features in the course of level advancement, such as warps and portal worlds for example. The brief shadowenduring function changes so little at the moment that I think it is fully excusable to push it right there. Perhaps the Battery would be impressive if it gave an exact real-time one minute of extra flight even when the sun has entirely went below the horizon line. Then it would make sense. Ship modules ought to be crucial.

If having such a battery, when one would enter a shadowed area, instead of "Solar energy depleted" alert raging all over, a transparent clock in the corner of a screen could appear. It woud count down the time ship can travel in the dark without the loss of speed or any other sideffect. If the sunligh was recontacted, the battery would gradually recharge, meaning the available time the clock indicates should slowly enough return to the maximum. Only when the battery energy runs out, the alert regarding the depletion of solar energy should pop up.

I truly love your idea. In my opininon It's fantastic from a design point of view.

It makes sense with the upgrade (it's a battery!) and makes it immensely more useful.
Usually when the sun is going too down i finish to use all my Jumps and Emergency Portals in the desperate hope to find a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ yellow booster :)

Instead with this new battery i could stay relatively calm during that scenario and beside i would be immune to any shaded area (mainly because of clouds)