Terran vs Argon starts. (Not dlc starting missions)

[RazgrizAC]

Another question from me, but I'm so darn excited to play.

So I understand the Terrans and Argons (anytime i mention argon, i mean the wider universe) have different economies, minus rep to each other etc.

I know the rep is easy to solve but i'm trying to decide whether to start as Terran and branch out, or start as Argon and visit the terrans. In the grand scheme it's not a big deal but for the first 20 hours or so i expect you'd probably not interact with the other.

Could people give me some experiences and pro's/ cons of starting in either.
Like the Terrans have a different economy on unique items, does it make it hard if you set up operations then move outward, or too easy?

The ships (not looking for spoilers of X is op Y is garbage), but for early to mid are there any particularly differences.

I know it's a bit vague and frankly this is the second time i've done this post, the first one disappeared and this one isn't nearly as eloquent.

But early to mid game thoughts and opinions would be great. Terran vs Argon is my last decision before i sink my teeth into this beast!

[Farrel]

The game economy is pretty much standard across all game starts. Although there is some randomness in it. The biggest difference is a question of reputation, as you know.

The only helpful thing I can think to suggest is that the Terrans have a nice, safe area off to one side of the map, not an awful lot goes on there, although the resources are stretched a bit thin, and the sectors are slow to travel across by comparison.

The Argon sectors are more central, but also more under threat of attack from Paranid and Xenon mostly. However, those sectors are largely on or near the highway making travel and trade rather easier.

I'd give opinions on what ships I like more ;) But you asked for exactly not that... So... Good luck!

Edit: Bleh, I'm tired and not thinking clearly... Yes, the terran economy is unique, Terrans use a simplified economy ,but much of it can't be shared with the commonweath factions (Read: everyone else) ... Argon construction uses all standard parts and you'll be able to make almost every other kind of station with their materials.

If you start terran tech, you'll probably find it a bit more difficult to break into the commonwealth economy.

[Wraith]

Originally posted by Farrel:

The game economy is pretty much standard across all game starts. Although there is some randomness in it. The biggest difference is a question of reputation, as you know.

The randomness can be pretty huge

I had a game where the deficit goods wasn't advance electronic (major shock) and all the wharfs/shipyward were adequately filled without my intervention

Then I had a game where nothing was filled

[Farrel]

Yeah, really, it's the randomness that makes it easier or harder... Both starts are viable, even with awful randomness, but of the two I personally prefer the argon start.

[Persony Person]

As a Terran you start off with poor relations to pretty much everybody except Segaris, the Teladi and Hatikvah , so you can't dock in most of their stations. The Terran economy is incompatible with most of the rest of the universe, but you're in a mostly safe area. You also get some additional Terran Cadet missions which an Argon start doesn't provide. Because the Terrans are always sending fleets out, their economy won't stagnate, so you can make a lot of money there, but you need to increase relations in order to get licenses to access their more valuable systems that house their wharfs/shipyards

As an Argon, you've got positive relations with pretty much everyone except HOP and some pirate factions (would be more if you had DLC), but you're far more likely for your stuff to get attacked by pirates and Xenon, but you can easily trade with the rest of the Commonwealth. It is easier to get your economy going with this start because the number of opportunities instantly available to you is greater.

In terms of ships, there are significant differences between the two factions, pros and cons for each, but it's hard to outline those differences if you don't want spoilers. Best if you play to find them out.

In the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter which start you choose, most of the story plots are open to you and it's not really that difficult to increase relations with poor relation factions. It just takes a bit more time to start interacting with the opposing sphere.

[daemonworks]

Originally posted by Wraith:

Originally posted by Farrel:

The game economy is pretty much standard across all game starts. Although there is some randomness in it. The biggest difference is a question of reputation, as you know.

The randomness can be pretty huge

I had a game where the deficit goods wasn't advance electronic (major shock) and all the wharfs/shipyward were adequately filled without my intervention

Then I had a game where nothing was filled

Yeah... the start state variance can be wild. My very first game, terran cadet start, an hour so in I get to that one defence base to do one of the very first steps in the question chain, and watched get wiped by a pair of the largest xenon ships.

[Zloth]

Originally posted by RazgrizAC:

But early to mid game thoughts and opinions would be great. Terran vs Argon is my last decision before i sink my teeth into this beast!

Let's make that a little harder than, shall we? Here's more stuff to read.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2954241930

I think you said you've played before, so you'll probably get a nice little boost in the budgeted start.

[RazgrizAC]

Thanks for the responses so far guys!

just to add another query. How big is the Terran system, i'm guessing you know what I mean by that. And also if one started in Terran how long until you'd likely branch out into the wider world?

finally if you start terran, is going into the main terran plot first before the other DLC's a fine thing to do?
A few reccomended that quest orders tend to put terran then yaki at the end of the story list.

[flywlyx]

TER, or the Terran economy rebalance, serves as the game's easy mode. Developing within the Sol system likely progresses 5 to 10 times faster compared to other systems. You encounter fewer enemies, enjoy better prices, and encounter more lucrative trading opportunities. Once development in the Sol system is complete, you essentially become the dominant force in the universe.

Originally posted by RazgrizAC:

Thanks for the responses so far guys!
just to add another query. How big is the Terran system, i'm guessing you know what I mean by that. And also if one started in Terran how long until you'd likely branch out into the wider world?

It's entirely up to you; during the TER plot, you'll need to venture into the ARG space, but there's nothing stopping you from bringing along 10 Asgards.

Originally posted by RazgrizAC:

finally if you start terran, is going into the main terran plot first before the other DLC's a fine thing to do?
A few reccomended that quest orders tend to put terran then yaki at the end of the story list.

You may consider completing the PHQ plot before delving into the Yaki plot and ARG plot. One of your trusted friends won't be available until you finish that plot.

[blackphoenixx]

ARG pilots get higher pilot skill, Terran ships generally cost twice as much despite being worse and being near the highway ring is a big help with early trading.

Terrans main upside is that you can mine in Saturn 2 and Oort Cloud without getting hassled by Khaak and that their space is generally pirate-free, but that doesn't exactly require you to start there.

[Wraith]

Originally posted by blackphoenixx:

ARG pilots get higher pilot skill, Terran ships generally cost twice as much despite being worse and being near the highway ring is a big help with early trading.

Being worst at dogfight yes but Terran ships are actually very good alpha strikers because of the Meson Stream and the fact that their basic fighter have a 3 weapon slot allowing you to put on Meson stream with 2 proton barrage.
The Pioneers ships make up for the lack of interceptors on the Terran side anyway

Take a squad of Kukri with this loadout and they just delete other fighters before they can fight back.
Have a squad of Takoba to back them up and then your good to go

[blackphoenixx]

Originally posted by Wraith:

Being worst at dogfight yes but Terran ships are actually very good alpha strikers because of the Meson Stream and the fact that their basic fighter have a 3 weapon slot allowing you to put on Meson stream with 2 proton barrage.

Considering meson costs as much as the entire fighter and how expensive terran ships are you could get 4-5 commonwealth fighters for every meson-equipped Kukri.

Meson alpha strike is good but it isn't that good. Against S ships it's mostly just a lot of overkill.

As for Takobas they're great but they still cost twice as much as a similarly equipped Nova or Perseus and don't significantly outperform them, so they're not a good choice in the early game when money is still tight.

[Zloth]

You can get out of Terran space very quickly. In fact, I tried leaving it almost immediately to go do the quest in Heretic's End. Terran Command yelled at me.

I don't know about Terrans being easy mode. ANYONE can make stuff in their territory once they get friendly, and its easier to become friendly with the Terrans than to have to get friendly with just about everyone else.

[flywlyx]

Originally posted by Zloth:

I don't know about Terrans being easy mode. ANYONE can make stuff in their territory once they get friendly, and its easier to become friendly with the Terrans than to have to get friendly with just about everyone else.

TER fleet missions can easily net more than 50 million credits, whereas similar war missions in other Commonwealth factions typically offer only 10 to 20 million credits. Additionally, the TER economy is notably simpler, making it easier to fill warfs and shipyards.

[Zloth]

Originally posted by flywlyx:

TER fleet missions can easily net more than 50 million credits, whereas similar war missions in other Commonwealth factions typically offer only 10 to 20 million credits. Additionally, the TER economy is notably simpler, making it easier to fill warfs and shipyards.

So? Terran fleet missions and economy are not limited to Terrans.

[lefty1117]

The terran ships and station assets look so much better than Argon, that alone makes me go Terran more often than not!