Colony Ship Early Access Release Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Alphons]

I think I did everything there's currently to do.
Hopefully some extra side quests (not related to factions) are added, because some areas feel a bit bare.

I'm very excited about the Mainentance and the monks coming in the next update.

Finally got new blunt weapons and found something better than utility bar!

 

[Pink Eye]

Hopefully some extra side quests (not related to factions) are added, because some areas feel a bit bare.

Do you mind specifying which areas in particular that you feel were barren? Just want the developers to have some feedback they can work with. I saw a similar comment on steam forums where a user thought the same.

 

[lukaszek]

were there any changes to initial release CS leveling up? I recall it being hard to keep up as sneaky murder hobo who wouldnt get into 'proper' combat much

 

[Pink Eye]

My memory is terrible but I think they only changed how tags work and how much experience it takes to get to next skill level. There's going to be another system update though after Habitat so it might get changed again.

 

[Alphons]

Do you mind specifying which areas in particular that you feel were barren?

The Roof.

And it's a shame, because it looks great.

 

[Marat]

Is the maintenance area under the Habitat in this update?

 

[Alphons]

Is the maintenance area under the Habitat in this update?

Next one with the ECLSS monks and overclocking implants.

 

[agris]

Wait the squad leader implant isn’t going to add a companion slot in the future?

 

[Pink Eye]

Nope. It's getting changed to add initiative instead with the accuracy bonuses.

 

[Jaedar]

In the factory area, need help to get past a door

Spoiler

There's a door behind some frogs. When I try to enter the game says there's a spore cloud and that "the first casualty is my respirator", and I can't seem to do any thing. Is this a plot door or is there some item somewhere?

 

[Pink Eye]

Ya can't enter it currently.

 

[Diggfinger]

Some little liberal shits are trashtalking 'Codex.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/648410/discussions/0/3275816470976888088/?ctp=4

Who can blame 'em?

Especially after we got that donut button...

 

[Jaedar]

Ya can't enter it currently.

And it seems there's as of yet no return to "open world" once you take the elevator down into the factory. This character wasn't quite strong enough to kill the enemy party guarding the force field in mission control, but I think I otherwise cleared most of the content.
Is there actually a way to build a good smg/pistol user? I've tried a few times but it always ends up feeling totally inferior to rifle/shotgun.

Wait the squad leader implant isn’t going to add a companion slot in the future?

Probably good. +1 squad size is kinda op for a single slot.

 

[Pink Eye]

Is there actually a way to build a good smg/pistol user?

Try it on Faythe. Shes get enough penetration to where she can shred most targets. Don't forget to get Sharpshooter on her though.

 

[Alphons]

And it seems there's as of yet no return to "open world" once you take the elevator down into the factory.

It's planned for Act 2- once you deal with the Habitat you'll return to the Pit to witness the consequences of your choices.

You'll get access to the lower levels of Armory and Mission Control plus Yellow and Red Zones of Hydroponics.

You'll have the option to travel freely between Pit, Habitat+ Shuttle Bay and the Heart (mutant town) until you progress MQ to access the Bridge, which will lead to Act 3 and then Epilogue.

 

[Parabalus]

Anyway Squad Leader apparently won't increase party size soon so PER would go to 4 and CHA to 8. Maybe even 9 at this point.

What are they gonna nerf it to?

 

[Jaedar]

Is there actually a way to build a good smg/pistol user?

Try it on Faythe. Shes get enough penetration to where she can shred most targets. Don't forget to get Sharpshooter on her though.

I meant for the PC. I'm not a fan of faythe. Considering the hard encounter you need to beat to recruit her, she feels like a burden in the fights beyond.

So I guess I might as well type up some general feedback. I haven't really played since the game first came out on early access I think. It feels like skill gains have slowed down a lot, and that the game has become a bit harder overall(I remember it used to be once you get over the hump you could waltz across most remaining encounters), but that might just be because I'm not used to the new balance and contents. Tagging skills and maxing them from the start feels more relevant, as even with int 10 and skill monkey I was not able to raise most of my nontagged skills enough to do all the checks currently in the game. It might have gone a bit too far though, as even with eg computer tagged (putting me at basically maximum learning rate possible) I still occasionally felt stumped on computer checks at various times. A very tricky balance to achieve. I often felt "I wish I had tagged X", which is probably good c&c, but I guess this also makes skills like steal and sneak stand out, as I never really felt that way with them (I assassinated plenty with 8 dex and the ghost perk, and the only steal check I noticed missing was a (probably cruddy) pistol in the factory).

The stealth minigame is fun, although it can certainly feel like wasted feats when you're not given the option for stealth to resolve an encounter.

Is there a way to see how much smoke/flash/gas resistance enemies have? And to see what slots a piece of armor actually takes up before equipping it?

 

[agris]

I'm not a fan of faythe. Considering the hard encounter you need to beat to recruit her, she feels like a burden in the fights beyond.

This was my take as well, but Pink Eye has pointed out there are a lot of strong Faythe builds. I think that we both just didn't "get" the right build for her.

I know I tried to make her a skill monkey which left her feeling useless in combat. I think next time I will try to do something more combat-oriented with her.

And to see what slots a piece of armor actually takes up before equipping it?

Not trying to be a smartass here, but you mean like what body slot does an armband occupy? Or boots?

 

[Technomancer]

What are they gonna nerf it to?

Party wide initiative or smth. Read above. I don't care particularly before it's in, could always change.

 

[Jaedar]

Not trying to be a smartass here, but you mean like what body slot does an armband occupy? Or boots?

Some helmets take up all head slots, some armbands prevent coat, some armors prevent coat... that sort of thing.

Edit: also, are there any upgrade kits for biomods in the game yet? Will upgrade kits consume slots or are they "free"?

 

[lukaszek]

anyone tried dual sneaking throught the game with faythe? Are there any situations when it helps to execute 2 targets in single turn?

 

[Pink Eye]

This was my take as well, but Pink Eye has pointed out there are a lot of strong Faythe builds.

I think I have the most builds submitted for her at this point. At least in that steam build thread. Also tried every single weapon class and as many feat combinations as I can on her. Faythe's main strengths are two fold: 1) Her Assassin Feat that allows her to be built in a variety of ways (She gets free +10 innate penetration, +5 CS, and Extra melee damage which makes for low Str) 2) Starting tags - her starting four at the start allows you to tag on defensive skill, or both if you want, i.e armor handling + evasion; and one combat skill. While also having enough to tag another civic skill. The reason why that's significant is because tagging a skill immediately bumps it up by two levels. This means she's combat ready from the start. In the past I had to really maximize what encounters I did in order to get Faythe to "grind" her combat skills on easy fights. Nowadays this isn't really that necessary.

In regards to that other point of her being flexible I'd like to share a couple of builds I did on her. Now this isn't meant for you copy pasta, or me showing off, just trying to showcase what you can pull off on her.

Recently I did a "Reaction" themed build on her:

That was pretty fun. She managed to get 100+ Reaction Chance with a nice Revolver from Habitat and Braxton's HUD which grants reaction bonus too. Could have taken it even further with Caption feat which would have granted another +20 bonus.

Another was the Rifle/Initiative:

Between Heavy Armor Faythe and Initiative Rifle - this one is my favorite because of how much AP she's able to get at start with Fast Draw then quickly triggers Second Wind by one tapping enemies. Comes in clutch in big fights like the double pysker encounter at Hydro.

Ooh! This is another one of my favorite. The Bloodlust SMG Faythe

I made a mistake there. I picked Master Blaster feat instead of Sharpshooter though. Ended up hurting a bit though, not too much though. Couple of good SMGs with innate penetration.

Lastly there's Basher Faythe too. Synergies so nicely with her Assassin feat:

 

[Parabalus]

What are they gonna nerf it to?

Party wide initiative or smth. Read above. I don't care particularly before it's in, could always change.

Not a horrible idea tbh, currently having to take CHA for a combat party build is a bit boring.

 

[jackofshadows]

Tagging skills and maxing them from the start feels more relevant, as even with int 10 and skill monkey I was not able to raise most of my nontagged skills enough to do all the checks currently in the game. It might have gone a bit too far though, as even with eg computer tagged (putting me at basically maximum learning rate possible) I still occasionally felt stumped on computer checks at various times. A very tricky balance to achieve. I often felt "I wish I had tagged X", which is probably good c&c

Reminder that int doesn't affect learning points, only xp. It's all about mastermind again (currently). Moreover, I assume mastermind stacks with skill monkey which seems as quite overkill in terms of skills. I haven't played nearly enough in the current version but the skill balance seems as "you won't get enough for any serious checks in act 2 and further w/o extra learning point feats" which is more than reasonable approach I'd say.

Also, currently you can tag skills much later in the game meaning to gain immensely more lp by it. Works with educated at least and I didn't try but I imagine you can set uneven int at the start and later install int implant thus trade the lost bonus xp for lp.

 

[Technomancer]

Also, currently you can tag skills much later in the game meaning to gain immensely more lp by it

How so? I think I asked devs that and they said that it doesn't work like that.