X3: Reunion

[Lord_Leperman]

Fictional background of my player character:

I sold everything I owned. All my belongings, my computer components, my entertainment chips, and even my last stock of Argon Meatsteak Cahoonas from my little food stand I once owned, all sold and gone. I left everything behind, my living quarters, people I knew, and everything from the past. I sold all my possessions just to buy myself an Argon Buster and be free from everything. I didn't care about the Xenon or the K'hack that threatened the very existence of the galaxy, nor that they were responsible for the destruction of populated star systems. I didn't care if pirates try to take my ship and leave me for dead... I wanted a new life...So I struck a deal with a shady shipwright, who promised the best deals in all of Argon Prime, and right before I could say "deal" he ran off with my money and left me the ship. Everything I once had now buys this ship, she is fast, sleek, and beautiful, and all I have left are 5000 credits, and a dream to make it big... And I just made the biggest mistake of my life. I brought the ship that I now call home and almost no money in my pocket.

However, fate judges an individual not by how high he has soared, but how high he can reach after taking a fall. I abandon my dreams and traded my ship for an ugly and slow freighter. I take my chances with the pirates, the K'hack, and the Xenon out there, and start buying low and selling high, only time will tell if my gamble has paid off...

I now own 10 Frigates, 8 of which I stole from pirates, 1 super transporter ship larger than most space stations, an ore mining space station, and a fleet of smaller space tankers that consist of my galactic trade empire. My military strength includes a powerful Destroyer that once took on 2 heavily defended star systems and emerging victorious in the end on its own, a large Spacecraft Carrier with 24 autonomous fighters, A powerful corvette/frigate hybrid once owned by the leader of a large galactic empire, and hundreds of loyal marines and cyborgs ready to board any ship at a moment's whim. I also bought back the little shuttle I pawned for the freighter, and I use it to take trips around space.

I welcome you to a place where your dreams can come true. I welcome you to the world of X3: Reunion and X3: Terran Conflict.

X3: Reunion and its standalone expansion X3: Terran Conflict are space simulation and trading games. You essentially pilot your ship and do whatever you want with its capabilities in the universe. You can trade, complete side quests for money, build a military armada, hunt down pirates, wage wars with star systems, build a galactic trading empire, or just explore and admire the universe on your own. The universe is your sandbox, and you can create anything from it.

The beauty of X3 is that all of the ships and structures are shown to scale. You can literally step out of your ship, do a space walk, and compare yourself to how big your scout fighter is to your giant carrier. The difference is simply big and properly to scale. If a carrier can hold 60 spacecraft, it's really portrayed at a size that can hold 60 spacecraft, if a scout can hold 1 person, you can stand beside it ans see that it can really just hold 1 person.

However, this game may not be for everyone as there is virtually no tutorial and the player is bombarded with lot of menus. The manual for the game contains at least 80-90 pages. After getting past the learning curve, X3 is a very rewarding experience that will eat your time. I highly recommend this game if you like sandbox and space simulation games, play for the ships as well, they're all well designed as well. I'm also letting you guys know this game has been taking my time and no one could really talk to me ever since I started playing this game. :p

[Grim]

This sounds really, really good.

I'll be a space pirate.

[clonezero]

I saw x2 (never got to pay it on my dinky com) and hearing this I anm so very tempted to hi jack a high end pc

[Lord_Leperman]

Be warned though, the learning curve is very steep. I actually tried playing the game last year, only to be discouraged by the complexity of its interface. I gave it a shot after finishing Fallout 3 (Which was around the end of June) and I am hooked till this day. In the end it was all very rewarding, I urge you to keep on learning the ropes once you start playing the game because it really is worth playing this game for hours despite the overwhelming interface. It feels great owning your first "Big Ship". After which you'll start wanting 2 of them and next thing you know, you want bigger ships under your command. :p

[Hempire]

space is terrifyingly awesome!

[clonezero]

don't worry boss if and when I play it I'll be ready besides who doesn't want to have their own galactic empire XD

[NiX]

Puro ships and space lang ba pwede or may surface battles and factory management din?

[Mjting]

^thinking starcraft.

[NiX]

Hahah no I'm actually thinking more of Star Wars: Rebellion.

[Lord_Leperman]

Just space Nix :p. If you want ground combat along with the space combat try Universal Combat (it even has FPS portions) though the reception for that game is much more mixed than X3.

There's lots of factory management in X3 as well, since you can buy space stations and produce various goods for trade or for usage. For Example, the Argon Meat steak is produced in Cahoona Bakery stations which need Energy Cells, and Argneu Beef, where they get from other stations that produce those raw ingredients. You then will have to get those ingredients as a station owner, or if you have enough money just post a price setting that's high enough so that NPC ship will trade with your station instead. For a trader, it would be helpful to know which space stations can produce these raw materials more efficiently in order to maximize profits from buying low and selling high.

There are some RTS elements in X3 in the form of a galactic map where you can order your various ships around to defend or destroy various elements in real time, but often times it is better to see the action yourself by going into the sector and watching the battle unfold before your eyes. You may also choose to personally participate in that battle as well if you have a capable ship.

[Lord_Leperman]

No one plays X3 in RR *weep*. Here's the latest in my gameplay if you are all interested. A fan fic of sorts, I added screen caps to help you get a picture of what I may be talking about.

Operation Pinocchio

Three Worlds, a star system on the Argon-Boron border, looks peaceful today.

Populated with life from various races, the feeling of peace is in the air despite news reports filled with how the Argon space navy is down to 30% from Xenon invasions and how the Kingdom of Boron are retreating from Split aggression in its borders. I overhear people working in the space docks talking about how life seems to be safer these days, though it may seem to be the case in high-society prosperous systems such as this Free Trade Station.


Navigating the insides of the Free Trade station while inside my Valkyrie

Reality though, was much less optimistic. Common folk fear the Xenon and Ka’ack threats, and with the federation’s sudden lack of ships, reality sets in after the destruction of the star system President’s End in the hands of the Ka’ack. Stopping by to get my Valkyrie refueled, I pick out a fancy bar and restaurant in the high-end district of this gargantuan space station called Schorshi’s.

The restaurant Schorshi’s was decorated in a style reminiscent of the early Argon colonization project, a carry over from the original progenitor Terran culture. Contact was recently re-established with the Terrans after 800 years, despite their xenophobic tendencies. Schorshi’s, priding itself on being an “Old-Fashioned” bar and restaurant, sports bright lights, dark tones, an atmosphere of sophistication, and touting an authentic Terran feel even for this system’s high standards. A grand mixture of Earthtopian ideals of a bright and shiny future in space is the overall theme that bombards the senses of its visitors. Ye old’ Earth Cheeseburger, hailed as the ancestor of the Meatsteak Cahoona is touted as its specialty and I place an order to one of the Boron waiters wearing a fancy suit, his garbled voice due to his liquid breathing apparatus, confirms my order.

A holo-projector in the center of the room plays the live broadcast from the news.

Initial reports talk of decreased pirate activity in trade routes between the systems Akela’s Beacon and Elena’s Fortune. “De Gaia family halts all pirate activities” was the headline, and coming up later in the program was his live press conference from the star system “The Wall” to which hopefully questions about the family’s change in direction will be cleared. A broadcast special is currently being aired about the life and times of one of the most powerful pirate clan leaders, Don Monroe de Gaia.

Don Monroe de Gaia owned the Espagula, a Galleon class carrier exclusively created and owned only by the wealthiest and most powerful pirate families. Escorted by a full complement of fighter wings, and four pirate Reavers, as well as owning various space stations, he has built a reputation in various trade routes as a man who gets what he wants, and someone not to be trifled with. His military might is comparable to full Argon carrier mobile battle group, with enough ships to siege a border level star system and win. Despite his reputation, there aren’t any bounties on his head. No rewards posted by any of the Argon, Split, Paranid, or Boron authorities, and no individuals posting about threats of his pirate activities. One can only guess that no one dares to challenge his position, and anyone who does gets eliminated.


The De Gaia family armada

A notorious celebrity of some sorts, De Gaia is best known for securing the dangerous trade routes of Noptiliose’s Memorial, known throughout the galaxy as one of the most dangerous trade routes and a haven for pirate activity. Popular stories suggest that he once fought his way through the various pirate clans claiming control over the system, taking over smaller pirate families one at a time until he reached the top.

People sometimes pass by his ship, navigation computers constantly warning them of his pirate faction IFF, his escort ships repel passers by from getting a closer look. I’ve never seen Don Monroe de Gaia’s face myself except in pan galactic news broadcasts, and tall tales of the noble pirate, or the disgraceful warmonger, grace the tap of the pubs in various locations and depending on who you listen to. The talk of the town however, is his announcement of an unconditional end of all the De Gaia clan’s pirate activities. Rumor point the cause as surrendering to a nameless organization forcing the pirate clan’s surrender, by diplomacy or at gun point, is anyone’s guess. The room is buzzing with why one of the most powerful families with the power to take on whole star systems, suddenly cease their pirate operations.

I laugh a little bit inside… The captain of my HCF Fat Uncle talked about how marines aboard his ship joke about how they literally found Don Monroe De Gaia with his pants down and choking on a piece of chicken in his quarters when they boarded the Espagula. His wife trying to remove the piece of meat from his fragile body was assisted by one of the marines in a rather awkward moment where the invaders act as rescuers.


HCF Fat Uncle, boarding and marine frigate

The ship captain of my heavy destroyer Blank Rival gives me a full debriefing on the whole operation to secure all of the De Gaia’s assets, at least what’s left of it. 4 Reaver heavy frigates and the Espagula are all that’s left of this great pirate’s property. None of the space stations remain, and despite their brave attempt, none of the defending fighter wings of the Espagula survived their encounter with the Blank Rival and its sister ship, the Jupiter Francesca.

The news special ends, and moves on to the live conference. Don Monroe de Gaia appears to be in confident form. Still gracious even when defeated, he stands tall to give his reasons as to end his pirate business. He plans to relinquish control of trade routes under his name, and ensure safe passage for any and all incoming traders in those sectors.

I suddenly receive word of multiple Xenon clusters in Elena’s Fortune, reported by a ship from my trade fleet just a couple of jumps away from De Gaia’s news conference. This will disrupt a major shipment of Nividium to one of the stations across the boarder that produce arms for my ship factories.

I order the captain of the Blank Rival to jump into the infested sector, eliminate one cluster, wear down the rest, and jump out of the sector. De Gaia’s news conference gets interrupted by news of an invading Xenon force in sector Elena’s Fortune in the corner of the broadcast. As it happens, I tell all my ships from the sector “The Wall” including the Espagula to mobilize and prepare to fight the Xenon invasion force. Don Monroe de Gaia interrupts the broadcast and announces that he will directly face this Xenon threat in the defense of the Argon Federation. He turns back and heads for the Espagula via transporter, engages its jump engines along with his 4 Reavers to Elena’s Fortune. Not wanting to miss a beat, the news people follow.


Passing by the Blank Rival in my Valkyrie

The Xenon fleet ships, in their weakened state, were easy pickings for the De Gaia fleet. The news media were ecstatic; picking up every bit of the battle, they’re hailing this action as a turn around from notorious pirate to being defenders of the federation by the De Gaia clan. Media speculation foretells an alliance between various pirate clans and the federation in repelling of the remnant Xenon and the powerful Ka’ack starting with the De Gaia’s aid at the moment when the Argon Federation’s naval strength is at 30%. Instead of taking advantage of the Situation, the De Gaia family comes off as heroes.

The battle ends, and Don Monroe De Gaia with all his charm mentions that he has to go, but once again will be back in the time of need. Charismatically giving his speech, it seems that all of Argon hath forgiven him for what he has done despite being one of the most feared pirate leaders in the galaxy; one would think he’d be running for Senate in the council with all his promises. In the end it’s all for show, and he’s the perfect showman. “No one wants to look bad after all” I say to myself.


The once feared but now celebrated Espagula

I told his fleet to turn back to the adjacent system President’s End and await further orders. Back in the restaurant, the atmosphere was one of an optimistic hope for the future. Drunken Argons in the bar started singing the Federation Anthem, while another declares a toast in the name of Don Monroe de Gaia and buys a round of drinks for all. Cheers were on every corner of the room and everyone’s spirits seemed to be genuinely lifted by this event. In this grim time where defenders aren’t to be found, every little savior can count for something, even ones that were once enemies.

I walk out of Schorshi’s after paying my bill. On my way back to the dock I encounter a very familiar sight; a Meatsteak Cahoona stand. A feeling of nostalgia befalls me, and I could not resist the urge to approach my roots, as I was once a Meatsteak Cahoona vendor like him. I call out to the proprietor of the booth and order a batch as a take away. “How’s business?” I asked while he was preparing my Meatsteak to which he replied “Business as usual”. A reply most suited to the situation I am in right now.

I can't help but remember the time when I was utterly an insignificant player in this world, yet now I control the show from behind the curtains. I arrive at the docks finding that my Valkyrie missing. I eventually found out that my docking permit has expired, and my ship had to be moved outside the station because a De Gaia family representative was about to make a visit to the station. I simply smiled and merely complied, the guy probably thought I was a weirdo for doing so.


Me and my Valkyrie. The price of running the show from behind the curtains

To be continued...

Alright, that's just about it. Enjoy and hope some of you get to try the game out :p. The background story of Don Monroe De Gaia is completely fictional and not part of the X3 story line, though the systems, stations, and ships are part of the game.

[Mjting]

Hey, nice write up. I had fun reading it. please expand on this on your future write ups. Looks like I'm the only one following you on x3 here.

[NiX]

Eh? I'm reading this stuff too. Sobrang na addict na talaga ata itong si Rick. Sounds really awesome but I don't think I have the time anymore to engross myself in such a game.

[Grim]

I love it! The unseen hand behind the scenes.

By the way,

I laugh a little bit inside… The captain of my HCF Fat Uncle talked about how marines aboard his ship joke about how they literally found Don Monroe De Gaia with his pants down and choking on a piece of chicken

I laughed a little bit inside too.

[clonezero]

got to get a better computer