eltanan

I have to agree. Avorion feels like a game I've been waiting for for a long time, and I've played most of the games the OP mentioned, though I'd have to say Freelancer has the strongest vibe for me, with X3 influences coming in second. I'm coming up on 120 hours played now, and as fun as the game is in its current state, what really blows my mind is when I imagine what it'll look like next year, or 2 years from now. Fully functioning AI economy? Player empires and systems changing hands in faction warfare? Multi-station factory complexes? And it feels like that's just barely scratching the surface. After seeing the kinds of things modders can add to games in the FTB-sphere, entire new systems of gameplay and tech trees and layers upon layers of more STUFF to do... the potential for modding in this environment that Avorion provides is mind-bogglingly cool. I can't wait to see where this is all going, because this is gonna be good.

I'd be in favor of just massively increasing thruster power across the board so we need fewer of them overall, period.

For me it's been laser modulators. Can't find those dang things anywhere. Are there even factories for them? I only ever see them offered (very rarely) at trading posts, and they're almost always out of them. My last several play sessions have been nothing but jumping to system after system, checking my trade interface and waiting for the hyperdrive to refill. Well, at least I've got a lot of the galaxy explored now...

Additionally, the game continues to charge you money to pay crew who are in other sectors, who aren't even loaded, and aren't even DOING anything because they don't exist until you go back there. And yet, you have to keep paying for them, which is grossly unfair. Another reason to NEVER bother building a station. You can't take it with you, and you'll be paying for it FOREVER regardless of WHAT you do.