# FTL - Space Rogue-like hits Steam! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 14, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718 "2012-09-14T19:39:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/241 "2014-05-25T22:45:55Z")
Hey, Kestrel A is a lot harder than Kestrel B. You’re empirically more magic than I am. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/242 "2014-05-25T22:49:02Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > I also beat hard on my first run, but with the Kestrel A. I’ve been wondering - is there any interest in doing an ironman challenge on hard? You get a single run with type A(or other) of every ship(so 10 runs total), no restarts, and we can compare notes on results. The game has become slightly dull, and I thought this might liven it up again. I’d be up for that. I like more B versions of ships, though. We could have user choice for version maybe? ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/243 "2014-05-25T22:58:27Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Hey, Kestrel A is a lot harder than Kestrel B. You’re empirically more magic than I am. I think it’s quite close actually. The layout of B is better, but the burst laser 2 is great until the end of the game, but the B needs a whole new weapon system. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/244 "2014-05-25T23:03:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I’d be up for that. I like more B versions of ships, though. We could have user choice for version maybe? I don’t mind doing all type B(it could even be a mix of types), but I think it’d be better if we settled on a common set of ships. So if you prefer type B, I’m cool with that. If anyone else wants to play and has a preference, speak up now. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/245 "2014-05-26T00:05:57Z")
Sure, I’d be up for that. I’d prefer the B versions, too. You’ll probably have to spell out what an ironman competition is for me in more detail, though… ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/246 "2014-05-26T00:26:41Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > Sure, I’d be up for that. I’d prefer the B versions, too. > > You’ll probably have to spell out what an ironman competition is for me in more detail, though… You only get one run per ship. So you can’t restart a run if it’s going badly. If you die during that run, or choose to switch to a different ship, that run counts as a loss. If you beat the boss on your single try, it’s a win. Since there are 10 ships total, at the end of (and during, of course) 10 runs each of us will have a win/loss record that we can compare. It’s just a fun thing to do with the game when starting another run can seem pointless. The next 10 runs count. I’m just hoping I’ll have at least one win to show at the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/247 "2014-05-26T14:48:21Z")
OK. Are we going for number of wins, or should we compare our scores, too? That might be more interesting with the ships it is very hard to win with, like Engi B or Stealth B. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/248 "2014-05-26T19:07:07Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > OK. Are we going for number of wins, or should we compare our scores, too? That might be more interesting with the ships it is very hard to win with, like Engi B or Stealth B. Hmm. I’ve never really looked at the score at all, but you may have a point, and it may give something to gun for even when victory is looking impossible. So yea, sure, scores too. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/249 "2014-05-26T21:26:02Z")
We should split the challenge into another thread I think, so we can easily recruit people and lay out the rules and track progress. I’ll make it later if neither of you want to jump ahead on that. Btw, I think the overall scoring system should be something like (actual score of run) plus +1000 for beating each stage 1 and 2 of the boss, and +2000 for beating the boss. Something along those lines. Then combine all ten scores for an overall rank. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/250 "2014-05-27T16:58:49Z")
Sure, go ahead. Are you sure you want to give that much extra weight to beating the boss, especially since a typical score for making it to Sector 8 is usually in the 3,000-5,000 range? It seems like adding 100-500 extra points per stage would be more reasonable. Also, I take it we’re all doing these runs on Normal? ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/251 "2014-06-08T01:41:18Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I’ve lost crew to the “fire fighting” event and they are restored by the clone bay. However, I’ve also lost crew to the “abandoned diseased space station” event, and they couldn’t be cloned because “the disease would follow them into their next life.” So I think it’s not cut and dry, but the clone bay definitely provides protection against some forms of crew loss. > > Also, the clone bay will start cloning crew if they are on a ship when you jump away, I think. I tested it either with me leaving crew on an enemy ship or the enemy ship jumping away with my crew still aboard and it worked, I just can’t remember which scenario I tested. PSA: This no longer works. Leaving a crewman on an enemy ship when you or they jump away now results in loss of said crewmember. They must have patched it. I was instead hoping for an event where if you left a crewman on a crippled ship to create a clone they later came after you with the same ship to wreak vengeance. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/252 "2014-06-08T03:57:11Z")
on that note, here’s a relatively easy feature to implement: save a copy of your ship upon defeating the flagship and a) have it be the hidden boss in your next go round b) be used as some sort of email challenge you could send to your friend. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/253 "2014-06-18T02:28:17Z")
So **oft wears hats** thought it would be a nice thing to do this evening to play FTL in bed. Seriously, who could say no to that? I asked him which ship I should play, and he thought I should play the Kestrel A on normal, so, OK. I made the first jump, and saw an Engi ship with a quest that I’d never seen before! > [@](#): > > Another ship is already at this Beacon. A handsome man appears on your viewscreen. “Hello, do you have a moment?” The options were “Hear him out.” or “‘No! Arm the weapons!’” So I chose “Hear him out.” It continued– > [@](#): > > You boarded my heart and went right for the shields. And then the life support. And then the weapons. And then the shields. Oh wait I said shields already. Anyway…I love you. Will you marry me?" And then he had a ring, and everything!!! So now we’re engaged! YAY!!! Clearly, he is the right guy for me, because I had been toying around with the idea of proposing to him with an FTL quest, too. 😛 I spent some time exploring the blue options you can get with other systems. But stay tuned for the forthcoming reddit post with all the details! ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/254 "2014-06-18T12:00:08Z")
[And here is the link to the reddit post, with screenshot gallery!](http://www.reddit.com/r/ftlgame/comments/28gb9z/i_patched_her_game_while_she_was_in_the_shower/) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/255 "2014-06-18T13:58:12Z")
OMG this is THE GREATEST PROPOSAL EVER. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/256 "2014-06-18T14:25:40Z")
That is the definition of adorkable. Congrats to the both of you ! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/257 "2014-06-18T16:30:38Z")
Congrats! Very cool and clever idea. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/258 "2014-06-18T19:35:23Z")
Yes, very cool and everything, but can we get to the bit all the nerds really want to know…How _exactly_ did you do it, oft wears hats? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/259 "2014-06-18T20:29:56Z")
Thank you all for the well wishes! Someone wrote a Python script that unpacks the data.dat file into a ton of XML and TXT files that govern game content like quests and ship loadouts. You have to edit events.xml to make a custom event (I also had to edit some other files to customize the Engi ship for the event, and the sectors file to give the event a very high occurrence rate. There’s some modding guides that explain the basic event syntax, but it’s pretty straightforward. Once the mods are done, the same script packs them back into a data.dat file. Once I had tested the file, I waited for her to leave her laptop unattended, then I substituted my file in for hers, backed up her profile, and talked her into starting a game. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718/260 "2014-06-18T20:37:11Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > and talked her into starting a game. I did not need much convincing. Just sayin’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ftl-space-rogue-like-hits-steam/634718.md?page=14)