X3 playing order?

[djadmoros]

I got myself the X3: Reunion/TC/AP steam bundle. Are these three completely separate games, so if I'd finish one of them I start from zero in the next one? Or is it more like Europa Unversalis: one engine plus several plugins? If the games are all separate, I take it that I would play the newest one of them, AP.

What are the X3 veterans doing? Building their empires over 1K hours three times in a row from scratch?

[Laptop]

They are seperate games when you play them yes.

There is a story and it does follow through the 3 games... but I'll be honest the story is not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the X games.

You don't have to do them in order, as far as X3 goes people tend to play either TC or AP. AP is the newest one in terms of the engine, so if you're going off that then AP would be the one to play. There is a war going on in many sectors in AP, so bear that in mind if you're new to the game as flying through lasers / missiles being shot at each other is quite common.

[djadmoros]

Ok, that's what I've been suspecting - so it seems I'm going to start with AP!
Thanks for your answer! :-)

[Laptop]

Originally posted by djadmoros:

Ok, that's what I've been suspecting - so it seems I'm going to start with AP!
Thanks for your answer! :-)

As you wish, there have been other threads on this in all three game Steam forum sections, so if you search around you may find more answers on this from other people with the same question.

Regardless make sure you grab the bonus packs DLC from the Steam store pages for all three games.

[CTHOMP]

Start with tc. More plot missions, you get to do corporate missions, and half the galaxy isn't in a giant war. TC allows you a humble merchant start where you can learn trading and building up your trade empire and having loads of money before you do any real combat missions.

Also, make sure you watch cdrdaves. X3 tutorial series on youtube. A must watch for new players.

[ayrtep]

Probably best to start with TC best intro, unless you want to follow the plot and start with X3R.

AP has better GUI, so if you just want to sandbox and are not interested in the plots start with AP.

[Tiberius]

Play x3ap with TC story mods.

[Pridesfall]

A little late but you should start with X3R since you bought the bundle. Finish the plot then move on to X3TC. You won't want to move backwards.

[BDK]

I started with X3 TC and I don't really feel like I missed out on anything. It's more sandboxy which I like. TC also have all the content that X3R has, but it's more polished and more open (more sandboxy again) according to the Internet. AP I have yet to play, even though I purchased it in 2012 .. I don't really feel like I want to start again from scratch, I have so much going for me in TC and ALMOST done with that horrid hub plot

[Pridesfall]

I agree with you BDK. Reunion just makes sense since the guy bought it.