I've tried the game for a few minutes, and I have no clue what to do. Watched CdrDave's vids but that was TC, not AP. I wonder if this game has a tutorial? I tried the Humble Merchant start and followed the tutorial ship's instructions, but he wanted me to shoot a cargo container and I got no weapons. How should I go about learning this game?

And should I even bother, or just skip everything and install the XRM mod?

Ice, go to egosofts forums, they have a crap load of sticky's and they should get you up and running in no time. I ahve literally played X3 since 1999 well it was XBTF and Xtension, but still the same universe. The first 3 days is a grind but in Ap and X3-tc once you get enough credits for a TL you can make bucks installing stations. TL is a transport ship, very large bay and can only dock in equipment docks, HQ's and Shipyards.
I know in TC they ahd ships you could claim I am not sure about AP. Since you ahve a frieghter I would restart and go thru the plots, they give ships away and help you get aquainted with the verse... I hope this helped in some small way.





Bullet

Never fear. CdrDave's videos still hold true for AP.

Bullet, I've been to the forums but don't know where to start. Might register there to get more specific help, but just wondering what the SimHQ crowd has going for them at the moment.

doc, thanks for that assurance.

Now, should I bother playing with the default game or should I just skip it and mod straight away?

I started by hauling E-cells from SPPs in the Wall to ore mines in Herron's Nebula. Something like that. And then pick some ore and drop it somewhere else. Those vids help a lot, also this site. I don't know how much time i passed there, just looking at different ships, weapons, missiles, stations,...

http://eng.x3tc.ru

Ice,
Did you see all the sticky's from trading to fleets? I am registered so maybe I am seeing more. Also not to take away from this forum but they are a helpful bunch over there too.
Thanks CTR I just booked mark that too . I really enjoy the sand box, but some of the mods are amazing. XTM turned it a much harder game and enhanced several areas of it. I have 3 vinalla games that to this day I jump in and play. Hell I have 1.5 billion credits in TC and still do not have my HQ,lol. Pathetic I tell yea.
Ice, seriously it can be a grind, but once you get past it and get UT's (Univeral traders) and a couple complex's generating credits, you can roam and kill till your heart is content Now stick close to some of the pirate and race sectors, you will see some loot drop after some battles and that can help with credits and upgrade weapons.I start out near Alena's Fortune and Split fire. be careful pirates get cranky sometimes,lol.



Bullet

Haha! The question now for me is do I take this slow and follow the tutorials or do I dive in head-first (like I usually do) and make my mistakes along the way?

Can't wait for combat, but see the "wisdom" in establishing a proper financial base first. Hmmm....

I feel the best part about these games, you can do what ever you feel like, and always start over if you lose to much. As I have said in TC I do not even have my HQ yet and I have 3 complexs churning out frickin chips, but they make obscene amount of credits . I hope you get as much enjoyment as I do once you have established your self.




Bullet

So, is there a story to this game? Is there an "end mission"? Or do you just play on and on forever with the goal of owning the entire universe?

There is a story but I wouldn't bother with it as it's horrible and badly voice acted etc. Just a sandbox universe to fly around in and trade and fight.

The plots are actually good at getting you in to the game and give some decent ships. Mace is right they are poorly acted!!!





Bullet