Tell me the proper way to play Starflight

[Zomg]

I'm gonna play the shit out of some Starflight. Tell me about any broken dick scenarios where I've ruined the game by eating the turkey leg or putting a dwarf in the party, or whether such and such skill is worthless. I don't want like min/maxing advice, and I really don't want spoilers, I just want to avoid realizing some minor decision was crippling after ten hours in. Also, DOS version, Sega version, what?

 

[Damned Registrations]

IIRC ship parts sell for the same price you bought them for, so you can't really fuck that part up too bad. All planets also have an infinite supply of minerals so you're safe that way too. I only know of a couple ways to fuck your game over permanently, and you'd have to be a raging moron to do them. Might want to avoid sticking either the lizard or plant guys in your crew, they're at war with each other and can detect who's in your crew. Not game crippling, but rather annoying.

Play the Sega version. Graphics are much shinier.

 

[oldmanpaco]

Also there is a time limit so don't spend all your time dicking around. And don't use the Black Eggs unless you really need to blow up a planet.

 

[phanboy_iv]

Also there is a time limit so don't spend all your time dicking around. And don't use the Black Eggs unless you really need to blow up a planet.

This. Also be prepared to potentially swap out crew members when you meet certain races.

 

[elander_]

Don't trust aliens, specially when they are trying to trick you into blowing someones home planet with a black egg.

 

[Zomg]

Is there a reason to ever bother with mining anywhere besides that first planet inside the first solar system? Am I missing something?

Also, what does the radar upgrade for the lander do?

 

[oldmanpaco]

Is there a reason to ever bother with mining anywhere besides that first planet inside the first solar system? Am I missing something?

Also, what does the radar upgrade for the lander do?

Mining gets the minerals you need for repairs and money for ship upgrades. You also find fuel/artifacts/clues from searching the planets.

I don't remember the radar upgrade but I would imagine it allows you to see minerals/bio from farther away.

 

[Zomg]

Mining gets the minerals you need for repairs and money for ship upgrades.

Obviously, but I'm wondering why you would ever bother when the best place for it is in the home solar system. It has like an 85 mineral rating and no storms or earthquakes, decent minerals, and the trip back to the home base is quick. If you're thinking you can mine it out, you can't - everything respawns as soon as you go back to orbit. The lander stuff seems very fleshed out to be so easy to trivialize.

You also find fuel/artifacts/clues from searching the planets.

Are you ever expected to just search a planet without getting a hint on coordinates? I got the email saying there were ruins on the third planet in the home system but fuck if I'm searching a planet for a ruins icon.

I don't remember the radar upgrade but I would imagine it allows you to see minerals/bio from farther away.

Nope.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Yeah, you don't always get coordinates of the ruins. Usually you do though, or there will be a lot of ruins on the planet. It's definitely a pain combing a planet for ruins blind though.

Pretty much the only reason to mine other planets is if you need material for emergency repairs. Different parts require different elements. There's also a planet or two out there that are stuffed with really valuable stuff that makes the starter planet look like a pile of mud. Once you've tacked on a bunch of cargo space making a long trip for the more valuable stuff can be worthwhile.

 

[Zomg]

I think I'm going to drop it. Tired of finding a new race, exhausting all of the conversation lines over and over to get new notes, then solving the traveling salesman problem. I'd probably think of this game as a Darklands type of critical darling for being so unique, despite many glaring design errors, if I hadn't played Star Control II which is the same game but better. It does take a lot out of my SC2 appreciation to see how blatantly it iterates Starflight, even down to style, tone and alien personalities/dialog.

How are the sequels?