Astra Protocol 2 - What To Do & How To Play Your First Sessions

How to Start Playing & What to Actually Do

This is an exploratory experience, but it doesn't have to be completely opaque -- this guide will give you some direction to start exploring.

Locate the Manual

The Manual

Locate the instruction manual by navigating to wherever the game's .exe file is stored. By default with Steam it should be something like:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Astra Protocol 2

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Additionally, I recommend downloading the free audio DLC for atmospheric fun. Your config file should auto update to path music from the Audio folder after it's installed. If not, specify it yourself by entering "Audio". More about that later.

Set Configuration Preferences

Launching the Config Window

This game is about settling in to an experience, so before you play it is recommended that you tailor that experience for yourself by setting up your config file with your preferences:

In Steam right click the game in your library and select Properties. In the General tab enter -c or -config in the text box under Launch Options. This will launch the config window every time you play the game. To disable this for the future, just delete the -c or -config entry under Launch Options.

If you're not using Steam or have difficulty with the above and are on Windows, open a command terminal by typing cmd and hitting enter in your search bar on your desktop's taskbar. Then navigate to the folder with the .exe file for the game in it using "cd .." to move back a folder and "cd <folderNameHere>" to enter a folder. Then run the game by using the command:

"Astra Protocol 2.exe" -c

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For configuration I recommend setting the following:

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• Set a foreground and background color that's cool to you and easy on the eyes. I use 200, 235, 225 for foreground and 20, 10, 25 for background.
  
• Uncheck Enable Flicker and Radiation Jitter if you find screen movement disorienting -- there's a lot of screen movement in this game.
  
• Set Update Rate and CRT Refresh to higher numbers for less "lag" effects during play. I use 64, but 32 is also good. The game simulates running on old hardware by artificially slowing down your computer's computation of events. To speed these up, increase the numbers.
  
• Check the Use Ship Scaling option otherwise you may face off against incredibly dangerous enemies right away.
  
• Check the Auto Stabilize option so that whenever you use the command SET ENGINES 0 the computer will auto negate your inertia to actually stop you from moving and get your velocity to 0. It's really hard to do this manually otherwise.
  
• I recommend checking Run in Window and Second Screen. This allow you to keep the manual to hand for easy reference and the second screen can display your signal module for easier signal tracking. Set the Change Key to something useful like PageUp so you can quickly cycle what the second screen displays.
  
• If you've downloaded the free soundtrack DLC, check Play Music and make sure the directory is set to "Audio".
  
• The in game computer talks to you and it can be quite helpful in a chaotic situation, so check Voice Active and set Voice Speed to 2 so it speaks more fluently.

Click Apply to set these preferences for your current game session and click Save to save these preferences for every future session as well.

Begin Playing

Starting a Session

If you're playing in fullscreen and need to close the game, enter SHUTDOWN and then YES

When beginning the game enter the PAUSE command to give you the time to take in your circumstances and to enter in some preparatory commands. Use UNPAUSE or CONTINUE (your preference) to start the simulation running again and have your backlog of prepped commands take effect.

If There Are Hostiles Near You On Start

Enter these commands:

1. ENABLE LASERS they start as offline to protect your reactor
   
2. SET LASERS 75 you can keep them at max (100) but lowering them helps your reactor
   
3. SET LASER MODE CLOSEST you can specify a different mode as appropriate, refer to the manual for your options

You can fire missiles for additional combat support by first targeting with TARGET CLOSEST or another sub-command (FIGHTER, LIFEFORMS, etc.) and then using FIRE ALL. Once fired, you'll have to use RELOAD ALL before any other missiles can be fired.

You can also set your drones to assist you in combat, though note it may take them some time to return after they've been launched -- their pathing back to you isn't very efficient. To get your drone support use these commands:

1. SET FIGHTER MODE CLOSEST you can specify a different mode as appropriate, refer to the manual for your options
   
2. LAUNCH FIGHTERS

Once your fighters are done, you can call them back for docking and refueling with RECALL FIGHTERS.

When Not Under Attack

If you aren't under attack after starting the game and the space around you is fairly clear, your objectives are a bit more open:

• Scan and probe planets to note the presence of survivors if any
  
• Evade or destroy asteroids
  
• Dock and data link with stations to regain resources and submit the locations of survivors
  
• The main objective -- seek out the sources of signals and analyze them

Reactor Basics

While conducting any activity, managing your reactor is the most important to ensure you survive long enough to do something. The top number displayed under the reactor gauge is the current heat as a percentage. The bottom number displayed is the heat accrual rate -- how fast you're overheating. If it's over 100%, then your current heat is going to hit 100% quite quickly and you will meltdown and die.
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To keep your accrual rate down, turn off unnecessary modules like lasers -- if you're not in combat -- with the various DISABLE commands. Additionally, you can lower your current heat by using INJECT COOLANT (int) so long as your accrual rate is below 100%. Note: coolant works faster the fewer the amount of liters you inject, but the effect lasts longer if you inject more at a time.

Discovery & Navigation

To find your way around, use a combination of your scanning routines:

1. LONG RANGE SCAN
   
2. TARGET (option)
   
3. SCAN
   
4. LAUNCH PROBE -- note, probes bounce off shields so don't fire them at anything shielded.

You can navigate by using SET BEARING (angle) and SET ENGINES (+/- percentage) to move manually, or you can ENABLE AUTOPILOT and either PLOT ROUTE TARGET to path to a previously set TARGET command, or PLOT ROUTE (coordinate) to navigate to an untargeted position. Note: the autopilot doesn't manage your reactor for you and it will cause you to meltdown if you aren't careful. Swapping between ENABLE and DISABLE AUTOPILOT will help you get a nudge in the right direction when you need it without so drastically compromising your reactor.

To pursue a signal you have to fly around and watch your signal module to see if the signal intensifies or diminishes. Follow a signal's strength to its source to further your quest. It's a very manual process, but that's the game! As long as your velocity is below 100 you can use FILTER NOISE to clean up static interference from your visual and signal modules -- if you're moving faster than 100 you're going to have a hard time tracing a signal source anyway.

Save/Load & RP

This game is not a roguelike, it takes time to explore and survive. Use SAVE to save your current game and LOAD to load up a previous save.

Finally, take notes or Role Play as a space captain by using the LOG command.

I will update this guide as long as I play and remember to. Full disclosure, my longest run has been 38 minutes and I've never found a signal source yet -- this guide is as much for me as it is for you.

[nictheman123]

Thank you for the first explanation of managing the reactor that I've seen so far. That has thus far been the one thing I wish was in the manual that wasn't, you'd think that would be something we get a bit of explanation on. Reactor meltdowns have been my biggest headache thus far.

["George"]

Thank for your notes :) I'm trying to understand the game, I like the challenge !
I'll add stuffin the comments if I think of anything