Oolite FAQ - Revision history

Cholmondely: Added picture!

2021-07-12T23:22:08Z

Added picture!

Cholmondely: Tagged as Help page

2021-07-12T19:15:28Z

Tagged as Help page

Cholmondely: Updated link

2021-04-23T12:21:45Z

Updated link

Cholmondely: /* Getting Started */ Added ref to Oolite RS

2021-04-23T11:23:36Z

‎Getting Started: Added ref to Oolite RS

Cholmondely: /* Other Questions */ Link!

2021-01-25T20:29:49Z

‎Other Questions: Link!

Cholmondely: /* Getting Started */ Updated link

2021-01-25T19:11:34Z

‎Getting Started: Updated link

Cholmondely: /* Gameplay */ Fixed link

2021-01-25T17:17:19Z

‎Gameplay: Fixed link

Cholmondely: /* Gameplay */ Links!

2020-11-26T02:19:36Z

‎Gameplay: Links!

Cholmondely: /* Gameplay */ Links!

2020-11-24T03:14:21Z

‎Gameplay: Links!

Cholmondely: /* System Requirements */ fixed curly brackets

2020-10-27T08:31:26Z

‎System Requirements: fixed curly brackets

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 12 July 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:Oolite-IconBW.png \| right \| width=90px \| height=90px ]]
	== Getting Started ==		== Getting Started ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 12 July 2021
Line 124:		Line 124:


−	[[Category:Oolite]]	+	[[Category:Oolite]][[Category:Help pages]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 {{FAQ|question=If I believe that sizes and distances in [[Oolite]] are given in meters, it is so ''unrealistic''. The planets have a diameter of only 30–50 kilometers, and the suns are only 1000 kilometers away. Can't we get a little more realism in space, please?|answer=First of all, remember that Oolite is a ''game'', not a ''space simulation''. This is because it ''wants to'' be a game, not a sim. So yes, sizes and distances are all messed up. Ships and stations are too big, planets and suns are too small, and too close to each other. But this is ''deliberately'' so, and we are not going to change it.
-The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite. But you may care to look [[User:Stranger|here]] and [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20730 here]}}
+The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite. But you may care to look here: [[Distance (Oolite)]]}}
 == Expanding the Game ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:23, 23 April 2021
Line 12:		Line 12:

	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}		{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}
		+
		+	{{FAQ\|question=Where do I find quick reference pages?\|answer=See '''OoliteRS''' (Reference Sheets) and '''AdviceforNewCommanders''' which came as .pdfs in your original game download. Probably worth printing out!}}

	== Gameplay ==		== Gameplay ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:29, 25 January 2021
Line 115:		Line 115:
	== Other Questions ==		== Other Questions ==

−	{{FAQ\|question=I have a question not answered here, where can I get help?\|answer=Post your queries onto [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php the friendliest board this side of Riedquat™]. Satisfaction is not guaranteed, but then what is, in this mixed-up universe? Help keep the board friendly by making sure your question isn't already answered here!
		+	{{FAQ\|question=I have a question not answered here, where can I get help?\|answer=Try one of these:
−
		+	*Post your queries onto [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php the friendliest board this side of Riedquat™]. Satisfaction is not guaranteed, but then what is, in this mixed-up universe? Help keep the board friendly by making sure your question isn't already answered here!
−	If you want to report a bug, please read [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3778 this]. Yes, all that work is a drag, but if nobody reports the bug it probably won’t get fixed.
		+	*Check [[How do I ...]] a collection of Help and guide pages on this wiki.
−
		+	*If you want to report a bug, please read [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3778 this]. Yes, all that work is a drag, but if nobody reports the bug it probably won’t get fixed.
−	Or join us in #oolite, or #oolite-dev if you're working on Oolite or OXPs, on irc.oftc.net or ipv6.oftc.net.}}	+	*Or join us in #oolite, or #oolite-dev if you're working on Oolite or OXPs, on irc.oftc.net or ipv6.oftc.net.}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:11, 25 January 2021
Line 11:		Line 11:


−	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[~~Linux~~ Joysticks ~~and~~ ~~Gamepads~~]].}}	+	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}

	== Gameplay ==		== Gameplay ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:17, 25 January 2021
Line 42:		Line 42:


−	{{FAQ\|question=I’m using [[ECM~~-hardened~~ ~~missile~~]]s, but enemies are still able to destroy them! I never seem to be able to destroy enemy hardheads, though. What gives?\|answer=ECM-hardened missiles are not ECM-proof. The probability of a hardened missile being destroyed by [[E.C.M. System\|ECM]] is 10%–34% depending on range, and if it is destroyed, there’s a 50% chance that it will detonate. This applies equally to hardened missiles fired by computer-controlled ships and those fired by the player. The most effective use of hardened missiles is to use them against relatively slow targets at moderate range, and only use them on nimble ships if you desperately need to force them to break off an attack. Also, don’t use your ECM until a missile is close to blast range (250 metres).	+	{{FAQ\|question=I’m using [[ECM Hardened Missile]]s, but enemies are still able to destroy them! I never seem to be able to destroy enemy hardheads, though. What gives?\|answer=ECM-hardened missiles are not ECM-proof. The probability of a hardened missile being destroyed by [[E.C.M. System\|ECM]] is 10%–34% depending on range, and if it is destroyed, there’s a 50% chance that it will detonate. This applies equally to hardened missiles fired by computer-controlled ships and those fired by the player. The most effective use of hardened missiles is to use them against relatively slow targets at moderate range, and only use them on nimble ships if you desperately need to force them to break off an attack. Also, don’t use your ECM until a missile is close to blast range (250 metres).

	Specifically, the ECM sends out four pulses with different ranges, at half-second intervals. Each pulse has a 10% chance of destroying each hardhead it encounters. For a missile fired at close range, that’s 1 - 0.9<small><sup>4</sup></small> = 34.39% chance of being destroyed within two seconds.}}		Specifically, the ECM sends out four pulses with different ranges, at half-second intervals. Each pulse has a 10% chance of destroying each hardhead it encounters. For a missile fired at close range, that’s 1 - 0.9<small><sup>4</sup></small> = 34.39% chance of being destroyed within two seconds.}}

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Gameplay ==
-{{FAQ|question=What do the various colors represent on the radar?|answer=White - unpowered items that can't mass-lock the in-system drive (jumpdrive). Green/Yellow - navigation buoys. Yellow - powered craft. Red - powered craft identified as hostile. Green - space stations. Green/Red - thargoids. Purple - police. Blue/Red - police on intercept. Red/Yellow - active mine (about to detonate). Blue/Cyan - witchspace wormhole. See [[IFF System]]}}
+{{FAQ|question=What do the various colors represent on the radar?|answer=White - unpowered items that can't mass-lock the in-system [[Torus Drive|Torus jump-drive]]. Green/Yellow - navigation buoys. Yellow - powered craft. Red - powered craft identified as hostile. Green - space stations. Green/Red - thargoids. Purple - police. Blue/Red - police on intercept. Red/Yellow - active mine (about to detonate). Blue/Cyan - witchspace wormhole. See [[IFF System]]}}
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
-{{FAQ|question=It takes so long to get to the station after each jump. Can I do anything to speed the trip up?|answer=Well, space is huge. It is vast. I mean, have you ever imagined a football-field with an orange in one of the goals and a walnut in the other goal? If you haven't, then don't. It takes you nowhere. As will your ship's engine at normal speed. But then that's what your Torus/jumpdrive is for. Hit '''J''', and your journey speeds up. Unfortunately your Torus/jumpdrive doesn't work when other masses, like ships or planets, are nearby. They will 'lock' it. And in the 'corridor' between the witchpoint and the planet you are very likely to meet other ships. On the other hand there is no rule that you have to stick to the corridor. Just leave it sideways in any direction with your jumpdrive engaged for about 10-15 seconds, and head for the planet then. Makes your voyage much smoother. If you're a bounty-hunter and eager to meet lots of pirates, however, this is not your method of choice.}}
+{{FAQ|question=It takes so long to get to the station after each jump. Can I do anything to speed the trip up?|answer=Well, space is huge. It is vast. I mean, have you ever imagined a football-field with an orange in one of the goals and a walnut in the other goal? If you haven't, then don't. It takes you nowhere. As will your ship's engine at normal speed. But then that's what your [[Torus Drive|Torus/jumpdrive]] is for. Hit '''J''', and your journey speeds up. Unfortunately your Torus/jumpdrive doesn't work when other masses, like ships or planets, are nearby. They will 'lock' it. And in the 'corridor' between the witchpoint and the planet you are very likely to meet other ships. On the other hand there is no rule that you have to stick to the corridor. Just leave it sideways in any direction with your jumpdrive engaged for about 10-15 seconds, and head for the planet then. Makes your voyage much smoother. If you're a bounty-hunter and eager to meet lots of pirates, however, this is not your method of choice.}}

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Gameplay ==
-{{FAQ|question=What do the various colors represent on the radar?|answer=White - unpowered items that can't mass-lock the in-system drive (jumpdrive). Green/Yellow - navigation buoys. Yellow - powered craft. Red - powered craft identified as hostile. Green - space stations. Green/Red - thargoids. Purple - police. Blue/Red - police on intercept. Red/Yellow - active mine (about to detonate). Blue/Cyan - witchspace wormhole.}}
+{{FAQ|question=What do the various colors represent on the radar?|answer=White - unpowered items that can't mass-lock the in-system drive (jumpdrive). Green/Yellow - navigation buoys. Yellow - powered craft. Red - powered craft identified as hostile. Green - space stations. Green/Red - thargoids. Purple - police. Blue/Red - police on intercept. Red/Yellow - active mine (about to detonate). Blue/Cyan - witchspace wormhole. See [[IFF System]]}}
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 {{FAQ|question=How do I make decent profits?|answer=Trade between a Poor or Average Agricultural and a Rich or Average Industrial planet. Write down the prices for everything on both planets and find out where you make the most profit per ton.
-If you're not in the mood for making notes and calculating, you can download the [[MarketObserver | Market Observer OXP]]. The old-fashioned way would be to use the table of average prices in [https://github.com/OoliteProject/oolite/blob/master/Doc/OoliteRS.pdf Oolite Reference Sheet] to figure out whether you're on a buyers' or a sellers' market. The [http://wiki.alioth.net/images/9/9e/OoliteTradingChart2.zip Trading Chart] allows you to create your own statistics along your way. Pressing the ? key in Star Chart will cycle between a map of governments and tech levels, making it easy to pinpoint Poor Agricultural and Rich Industrial planets. [http://www.box.net/shared/bchkkloi32 This spreadsheet] highlights Poor Agricultural and Rich Industrial planets on a star chart (the spreadsheet is in .xls format and needs the Analysis Toolpak installed).
+If you're not in the mood for making notes and calculating, you can download the [[MarketObserver | Market Observer OXP]]. The old-fashioned way would be to use the table of average prices in [https://github.com/OoliteProject/oolite/blob/master/Doc/OoliteRS.pdf Oolite Reference Sheet] to figure out whether you're on a buyers' or a sellers' market. The [http://wiki.alioth.net/images/9/9e/OoliteTradingChart2.zip Trading Chart] allows you to create your own statistics along your way. Pressing the ? key in Star Chart will cycle between a map of governments and tech levels, making it easy to pinpoint Poor Agricultural and Rich Industrial planets. [http://www.box.net/shared/bchkkloi32 This spreadsheet] highlights Poor Agricultural and Rich Industrial planets on a star chart (the spreadsheet is in .xls format and needs the Analysis Toolpak installed). [[GalCop Galactic Registry]] also helps.
 Another option is to fit one or more [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Passenger_Berth Passenger Berths] in your ship and earn credits by transporting individuals who, for one reason or another, prefer not to use the commercial Passenger Liners to reach their destination.  As with cargo contracts, you can build your reputation up, which will result in your being offered more lucrative fares. Yet another option is to earn credits by taking cargo contracts - courier goods of varied type and volume between planets near and far.    The spreadsheet helps assess whether you will be be able to complete the contract on time, and so build your reputation as an outstanding courier.}}
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
-{{FAQ|question=I've got a trumble! First it was cute and fluffy. But then it started to multiply. Even worse, they started to eat everything on board and they are confusing my sights. I don't want them any more! How can I get rid of them? Help!|answer=First of all, don't feel embarrassed. It happens to all commanders sooner or later. I mean, they're really cute and fluffy, aren't they? But seriously, there are several things you could try. E.g. sell them to other unsuspecting noobs. If you don't find enough willing buyers, you could use your escape capsule and abandon your infested ship, hoping that they haven't yet made it into the escape pod, of course. I mean, you can always hope, can't you? If that all doesn't work for you, just remember the old Klingon saying: 'Revenge is a dish that is best served cold.' Now consider that for trumbles it's just the opposite. Want some BBQ-sauce?}}
+{{FAQ|question=I've got a [[Trumble|trumble]]! First it was cute and fluffy. But then it started to multiply. Even worse, they started to eat everything on board and they are confusing my sights. I don't want them any more! How can I get rid of them? Help!|answer=First of all, don't feel embarrassed. It happens to all commanders sooner or later. I mean, they're really cute and fluffy, aren't they? But seriously, there are several things you could try. E.g. sell them to other unsuspecting noobs. If you don't find enough willing buyers, you could use your escape capsule and abandon your infested ship, hoping that they haven't yet made it into the escape pod, of course. I mean, you can always hope, can't you? If that all doesn't work for you, just remember the old Klingon saying: 'Revenge is a dish that is best served cold.' Now consider that for trumbles it's just the opposite. Want some BBQ-sauce?}}
-{{FAQ|question=My keyboard doesn't have a particular key used by Oolite, or I even want to change the keyboard layout completely to my liking. What can I do to change the keys?|answer=Oolite reads a key configuration file called keyconfig.plist that you can find at /AddOns/Config/keyconfig.plist; that is the Config-folder that you find inside your AddOns-folder; which is where you put your OXPs. (PC-users have to create the folder /AddOns/Config/ first and then drop a copy of the keyconfig.plist found in /Oolite.app/Contents/Resources/Config/ to this folder.) You can open this file in any text editor and change the ASCII values of the keys used to suit your own preferences. Information on the default keys is also found in the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Oolite_Keyboard_Controls Oolite Keybord Controls-documentation] here on the wiki.}}
+{{FAQ|question=My keyboard doesn't have a particular key used by [[Oolite]], or I even want to change the keyboard layout completely to my liking. What can I do to change the keys?|answer=Oolite reads a key configuration file called keyconfig.plist that you can find at /AddOns/Config/keyconfig.plist; that is the Config-folder that you find inside your AddOns-folder; which is where you put your OXPs. (PC-users have to create the folder /AddOns/Config/ first and then drop a copy of the keyconfig.plist found in /Oolite.app/Contents/Resources/Config/ to this folder.) You can open this file in any text editor and change the ASCII values of the keys used to suit your own preferences. Information on the default keys is also found in the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Oolite_Keyboard_Controls Oolite Keybord Controls-documentation] here on the wiki.}}
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
-{{FAQ|question=I’m using ECM-hardened missiles, but enemies are still able to destroy them! I never seem to be able to destroy enemy hardheads, though. What gives?|answer=ECM-hardened missiles are not ECM-proof. The probability of a hardened missile being destroyed by ECM is 10%–34% depending on range, and if it is destroyed, there’s a 50% chance that it will detonate. This applies equally to hardened missiles fired by computer-controlled ships and those fired by the player. The most effective use of hardened missiles is to use them against relatively slow targets at moderate range, and only use them on nimble ships if you desperately need to force them to break off an attack. Also, don’t use your ECM until a missile is close to blast range (250 metres).
+{{FAQ|question=I’m using [[ECM-hardened missile]]s, but enemies are still able to destroy them! I never seem to be able to destroy enemy hardheads, though. What gives?|answer=ECM-hardened missiles are not ECM-proof. The probability of a hardened missile being destroyed by [[E.C.M. System|ECM]] is 10%–34% depending on range, and if it is destroyed, there’s a 50% chance that it will detonate. This applies equally to hardened missiles fired by computer-controlled ships and those fired by the player. The most effective use of hardened missiles is to use them against relatively slow targets at moderate range, and only use them on nimble ships if you desperately need to force them to break off an attack. Also, don’t use your ECM until a missile is close to blast range (250 metres).
 Specifically, the ECM sends out four pulses with different ranges, at half-second intervals. Each pulse has a 10% chance of destroying each hardhead it encounters. For a missile fired at close range, that’s 1 - 0.9<small><sup>4</sup></small> = 34.39% chance of being destroyed within two seconds.}}
-{{FAQ|question=If I believe that sizes and distances in Oolite are given in meters, it is so ''unrealistic''. The planets have a diameter of only 30–50 kilometers, and the suns are only 1000 kilometers away. Can't we get a little more realism in space, please?|answer=First of all, remember that Oolite is a ''game'', not a ''space simulation''. This is because it ''wants to'' be a game, not a sim. So yes, sizes and distances are all messed up. Ships and stations are too big, planets and suns are too small, and too close to each other. But this is ''deliberately'' so, and we are not going to change it.
+{{FAQ|question=If I believe that sizes and distances in [[Oolite]] are given in meters, it is so ''unrealistic''. The planets have a diameter of only 30–50 kilometers, and the suns are only 1000 kilometers away. Can't we get a little more realism in space, please?|answer=First of all, remember that Oolite is a ''game'', not a ''space simulation''. This is because it ''wants to'' be a game, not a sim. So yes, sizes and distances are all messed up. Ships and stations are too big, planets and suns are too small, and too close to each other. But this is ''deliberately'' so, and we are not going to change it.
-The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite.}}
+The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite. But you may care to look [[User:Stranger|here]] and [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20730 here]}}
 == Expanding the Game ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:31, 27 October 2020
Line 85:		Line 85:
	== System Requirements ==		== System Requirements ==

−	{{FAQ\|question=Does it work on Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) & 10.3 (Panther)?\|answer=Sadly, no. The minimum OS requirement for Oolite on the Mac is now Mac OS X 10.4. The previous stable version (1.65) is however compatible with Mac OS X 10.3.9}} but no longer works with (for example) Mac OS X 10.15.3	+	{{FAQ\|question=Does it work on Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) & 10.3 (Panther)?\|answer=Sadly, no. The minimum OS requirement for Oolite on the Mac is now Mac OS X 10.4. The previous stable version (1.65) is however compatible with Mac OS X 10.3.9 but no longer works with (for example) Mac OS X 10.15.3}}