Orbits, planets and shore leave

[Guest Tekar]

I recently purchased a copy of BC3000AD, and although it took a little bit of effort to patch it up to working order on my computer, this game is definitely worth the effort! I'm still finding my way around it, but it seems to be everything I've felt has been missing from space action sims, and BM looks like it'll be much more.

I am having a few difficulties, particularly with planets. I know Earth should have one base (a starbase at the blinking mission zone in the Middle East, if I've read right) However, I never manage to find any buildings on the planet, either on TacOps maps or by scouting about the area in a shuttle. I do put the radar on ground mode, but I still never find any bases.

Also, the manual says that it's possible to use the 'o' key to lock your ship into orbit, but it never seems to work for me. I know that you can just halt right in front of the planet, but I'm a stickler for ambience-type extra controls if they're available.

One last thing: Is there any way to 'fast forward,' like if you're just waiting around for your mining drones to finish or crew members to rejuvenate? The cockpit display mentions a time compression factor but I've not found a way to manipulate it.

[This message has been edited by Tekar (edited 12-22-2000).]

[Eclipse]

You have to search around a tad to find it ,but it should be labled as "Earth" if my memory serves me right.

orbiting was removed or was never there in BC3K.

Time Compression isn't there, I think one of the patches removed it.

Hope this helps

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Commodore Kyle Antilles

ICV-Eclipse, Destiny Starstation (Nevuela)

Commanding Officer, Destiny

Spectre Fleet

"You can only love or hate something you truly understand"

[Guest Tekar]

I've patrolled the zone enclosed by flashing "starbase" box on Earth quite a few times, and I even tried going to coordinates that were listed on screen shots in the picture gallery, but I still have yet to see any buildings. Do they just appear randomly, and do the even ever appear on radar at all? Neither the radar nor any targetting categories onder to "Fly to..." order ever turn up anything fruitful.

Also on the matter of time... does that mean you have to actually spend hours at game time = real time if you're waiting for something to get done? Is there anything besides repairs that allows you to spend extended periods at a starbase? It seems rather odd that there'd be no way to speed things up, if you were waiting for something.

[Steve Schacher]

quote:

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Also on the matter of time... does that mean you have to actually spend hours at game time = real time if you're waiting for something to get done?

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Yes and no.

The game is a simulation, not a shooter, so if it takes a long time in real life it will take a long time in the simulation. But there are some things that you can do.

If you are waiting for mining drones to finish loading, then go somewhere else and come back in a while. If you are waiting for your crew to rest, the best thing to do is to place them all off duty, dock at a station and make repairs. The repair routines estimate the total time to repair and will advance the game by that amount when you leave the station. Your crew should be rested if your damage resulted in a long-enough repair time.

[Guest Mikel]

On to the questions:

quote:

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I am having a few difficulties, particularly with planets. I know Earth should have one base (a starbase at the blinking mission zone in the Middle East, if I've read right) However, I never manage to find any buildings on the planet, either on TacOps maps or by scouting about the area in a shuttle. I do put the radar on ground mode, but I still never find any bases.

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Do you have the latest patch? If you do, are there any blinking boxes? If not, well....

quote:

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Also, the manual says that it's possible to use the 'o' key to lock your ship into orbit, but it never seems to work for me. I know that you can just halt right in front of the planet, but I'm a stickler for ambience-type extra controls if they're available.

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AFAIK, it was never in BC3000AD.

quote:

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One last thing: Is there any way to 'fast forward,' like if you're just waiting around for your mining drones to finish or crew members to rejuvenate? The cockpit display mentions a time compression factor but I've not found a way to manipulate it.

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RTFM, if time compression is enabled, then it'll be in there (take a look at BC300ADDocs)

PS: Welcome

[Guest Remo Williams]

Make sure you are patched up to v2.9 and have bc3kmappak.exe installed and you should have no problem finding buildings in the mission zones.

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Cmdr. Remo Williams

GCV-Lexington, Genisis (MOON)

Prime Fleet, Gamma Wing, 1st Squadron

[Guest rtoolooze]

Tekar, go into your BC3000ad dir, look for bldmaps exe. , double click on it to install, and you should have no trouble finding buildings. I had the same trouble myself, once, he he.

[Guest Tekar]

Thanks rtoolooze! That map building mechanism did the trick. Planets are much cooler now.

[Guest]

Now that you have the buildings and areas for attack, go to a station and buy a couple of orbit to ground nukes. Go into Tacops, pick an insurgent base to blow away. Launch that puppy and watch the carnage.

The SC did a great job on the screenshot for this, when the nuke is coming down you will be pulled back from the target area, and watch the mushroom cloud. IT IS SOOOO COOL!!!

I could just sit up there in orbit and bombard, JUST for that screenshot, it is TOOO cool!!! It's expensive, but boy is it worth it!!! Have fun!!!

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CMDR Jaguar

GCV Excelsior

This is not just a game, It's a life unto itself!!

[aramike]

quote:

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Go into Tacops, pick an insurgent base to blow away.

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Them's fightin' words. You'll be in MP, right?

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Vice Admiral Michael Kristophers

ICV-Intrepid, Spectre (Antis)

Fleet Leader

Spectre Fleet

"You can only love or hate something you truly understand."

Official Tester, Battlecruiser Series

Leader, Team 1