He just keeps getting better and better! Muchas Gracias, Senor Isles! You are indeed the Master of Plugins!! (All bow down to the Master of Plugins!) Great ships. Great weapons. Excellent missions! Excellent playability! Although, at times, I can see Tim's prior plugs in here (Confed vs Faction vs.../Terrans vs Weave vs.../ Aliens that want to take over the Galaxy...) There is also the fact that the aliens happen to make use of humanoids to carry out their plans. Also, we see the "biological" aspect of the alien "ships." Add to that the fact that Tim must have been influenced by EV Nova in his design of the alien ships (living creatures that are born and grow, becoming more powerful in the process!) Here we also have an antivirus used to destroy the aliens. I didn't care for the antiviral cannon, though. Much too weak. I eventually went back to missiles. I would like to know where the alien ships' designer found the designs for these "bugs?" Next time, how about giant, spacegoing cockroaches? I did notice one thing: Several times when I was about to dock with Gateway Station, I was scanned and attacked for carrying illegal goods, when in fact I had no cargo at all! Overall, I give it a 9! Good job, Tim!

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"Just once, I wish we would encounter an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets"
- Dr. Who

I have been playing this plug-in for some time and I came to a stop at Fringe Beliefs IV. To be honest, a maxium of one to two cheat plugs can be used. You have left some missions incomplete that I had to go back and complete them.

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Which missions are you referring to, kauthor? I was able to play through from beginning to end. A rather enjoyable plug, I think. Although, that part where you (the captain) gets captured and your first officer takes command felt a bit strange, having to play the captain and first officer at the same time (sorta). I still don't understand why I was scanned and fired on when I had no cargo at all! Like I said before, there are lotsa parallels between his previous plugs and this one. I'm just surprised there wasn't a set of "T.A.G." group missions. But what with the various groups/factions and their parts to play, who has time to play T.A.G.? IMHO, though, that Antiviral Cannon was a disappointment. I did enjoy beating up on Atinoda while flying one of their (BHMG's upgraded) ships! Flew that until I got one of Maskirovka's new cruisers (loyalty and all that). Did it seem to you that the Confed forces were somewhat "weak" in the defense/offense department? It seemed at times as though I was having to destroy all the enemy ships by myself! I'm eagerly looking forward to Tim's next plugin!

~Ace

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"Just once, I wish we would encounter an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets"
- Dr. Who

sigh Thanks for all the spoilers, cap'n...

On another note, after the mission Fallout IV I was told that I could now purchase some Confederation technology. I checked all around Sol, but nothing new was available. What gives?

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Write your complaints here: O
Please don't write out of the space.
(url="http://"http://www.evula.com")-(/url)(url="http://"http://www.zombo.com")-(/url)----------------
(url="http://"http://www.homestead.com/lukenj/index.html")"It's spelled Luke, but it's pronounced 'Qkrnxtl.'"(/url)

Sorry 'bout dat, Luke! I assumed most of us had played through it already. As to why no Confed tech was available, I have no idea. Like I said, even though the Confeds have nice-looking ships, their weaponry sucked. That's why I went with the GMBH Terminator, then with the Maskirovka Cruiser. I'm playing through on the Faction side now, in my GMBH Terminator! That Atinoda really makes some mean-looking ships, don't they?

~Ace

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"Just once, I wish we would encounter an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets"
- Dr. Who

I too have a Terminator; it's infinitely better than any other ship I have encountered and takes out entire Faction invasion forces with ease. I'm still curious as to what the Confederation special tech is like, whether or not it's actually useful to me.

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Write your complaints here: O
Please don't write out of the space.
(url="http://"http://www.evula.com")-(/url)(url="http://"http://www.zombo.com")-(/url)----------------
(url="http://"http://www.homestead.com/lukenj/index.html")"It's spelled Luke, but it's pronounced 'Qkrnxtl.'"(/url)

I think the only weapon Confeds have that would be of any use would be that heavy laser (forgot what it's called) used by the Confed cruisers and destroyers. What might your fav. weapon be? I really like the missile. I think I use it most of all. However, I was just given access (at Faction HQ) to buy entry-level ships (transport, fighter, and frigate) and weapons. Instead of buying a new ship, I just loaded up on Faction Fusion Torpedoes (just to see how good they are). Do you plan on playing the Faction-side afterward?

~Ace

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"Just once, I wish we would encounter an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets"
- Dr. Who

My favorite weapons are the plasma drivers, followed closely by scatter gun turrets. I do intend on playing the Faction side when I'm done with Earth.

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Write your complaints here: O
Please don't write out of the space.
(url="http://"http://www.evula.com")-(/url)(url="http://"http://www.zombo.com")-(/url)----------------
(url="http://"http://www.homestead.com/lukenj/index.html")"It's spelled Luke, but it's pronounced 'Qkrnxtl.'"(/url)

The Confed Heavy Laser sucks beyond belief. Most everything the confeds have is bad (except for their hull upgrade which gives you more armor than they have on their Battleship). On the other hand, when you get access to the Accelleron tech, you will find their Compressor beam to beat out just about anything. By far my favorite weapon! I'm also happy that the Neutron turret is almost as powerful as it used to be originally (in the first 3 plugins I mean). Well, I'm off to upgrade my new Syndicate Behemoth! That is quite a plot twist getting access to them.

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I do not smirk. But if I did, this would be an excellent opportunity to do so.

I am back at last, having brought my comp along i have played through the faction and at least half of Earth. A warning to MacDevil, sell those turrets that it comes with! You'll thank me later I'm sure.

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Insanity has its advantages

You mean the shockwave turrets? I ditched those. While they are more powerful than Neutrons, they are too slow and inacurate to be truly useful. Other than that, the ship has been great.

BTW, does anyone know when Tim is going to update his site?

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I do not smirk. But if I did, this would be an excellent opportunity to do so.

(This message has been edited by MacDevil (edited 12-03-2002).)

One thing I can't stand (though I deal with it) is every time I enter Darven system, I'm attacked by pirates! I thought I was working with them! Usually (since I do work with them) I just disable their bigger ships and try to disable the fighters (which often end up getting destroyed anyway).

~Ace

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"Just once, I wish we would encounter an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets"
- Dr. Who

I believe the Pirate govt has the "Always Attack player" flag set. While the ownership of the Darven system is "Moderate Pirates" the actual pirate ships are (I think) of the govt that owns the bad pirate stellars like Draco and others. Thus no one will care if you kill them.

What irritates me is in one of the FMG missions in the Confed string appears to raise my status with the Moderate Pirates who are the enemies of the Confeds. So now Earth ships attack me in the Darven system even though I am a Role Model in all of the Confed systems.

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I do not smirk. But if I did, this would be an excellent opportunity to do so.