Download of PotentialAE here: http://pulpaudio.com/ftl/PotentialAE.ftl
(if you have trouble downloading, try right clicking and selecting "save link as..." in the menu)
Download the old version (NOT FOR ADVANCED EDITION!) here: http://pulpaudio.com/ftl/Potential.ftl
(if you have trouble downloading, try right clicking and selecting "save link as..." in the menu)
This ship replaces the Kestrel. It also modifies the game in several ways so you should only have it loaded when you're playing it, then uninstall it afterward. This ship is NOT compatible with Captain's Edition. It will probably work, but there are likely beacons in CE that I don't know about that could crash the game.
ATTENTION: YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CRASH THE GAME WITH THIS MOD. That includes Zoltans and Ion storms. Hire Zoltans at will and feel free to frequent nebula sectors and beacons all you want. I've removed ion storms from the game for this mod so you'll never encounter one.
note: Zoltans won't help much, except in keeping things from getting ioned. You'll never actually need their power though
NEW as of 2015/08/16:
Scanners! Because I wanted to
1st Weapons Upgrade costs 50 now, so you have a flat decision to make with your first 50 scrap, weapons or shields or (several) engines?
Mini Beam in storage. You can't power it, but "all" it takes is 50 scrap.
Drones cost what they cost in stock now, instead of costing 20 scrap more to purchase at stores.
Gibs! I took the old gibs from the original Potential and added them to the new one. The ship will again collapse into its black hole when you die. Yay!
All in all, these changes make the ship easier. It's still pretty hard in hard mode, but you actually have a shot at seeing the final boss now. In Normal and Easy mode it will be MUCH easier, but this ship is optimized for HARD MODE.
NEW in version AE:
60 power More than enough power to power EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME. Mostly becasue...
No ion storms! Ion storms were actually beneficial to the Potential in the old version. In the new version, they crash the game. So, I removed them
Power-12 Systems! Both Weapons and Drones can be powered up to level 12. Yes, that means you can have 3 Vulcans if you want. And can afford them.
Power-10 Shields! Always wanted 5 shields? Well enjoy. If you can afford it.
The Potential is my attempt at not-overpowered, but overly powered ship. It comes with 60 power to start with. How, then, is it not overpowered? Well, it doesn't come with much else.
This ship will sometimes die in the first encounter. It will also sometimes meet the final boss so decked out that the battle is a laugh. How you get from one to the other makes for a pretty unique experience each time. Everything the ship has to start (other than the 60 power) is there because it's nearly impossible to play without it. That includes the Engi and the door control.
Thanks to:
Jeff's Custom Ship Hulls for the original hull.
Chrono Vortex for a better, more normal cloak.
TaxiService for a cleaned up hull image.
To do:
Nothing?
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Back Story:
The stolen Rebel Rigger, billowing smoke from multiple hull breaches, coasted into the hangar and hit the deck with a loud clang. It slid to a stop in the middle of the large, empty room. The ship had seen better days; it was shot up and scarred with the wounds from dozens of beam hits. Several weapon mounts were utterly destroyed, and a single mini-beam dangled from what used to be its own mount. The airlock opened, creating yet another hole for smoke to escape but also allowing a single figure to fall out, coughing. He didn't look to be in much better shape than the ship.
"Clancy!" the Mechanic yelled while running up to the collapsed figure. An Engi, the only other living thing on the entire base, lumbered up as well.
"Did you get it?" The Mechanic asked. "The data?"
Clancy rolled onto his back and pulled a data pad from his breast pocket. He grinned and coughed. "Got it. Full stats on the Rebel Flagship." He looked around. "Where is everybody?"
The Mechanic's smile faded. "All gone. They abandoned the outpost. The entire fleet's making their final stand in Sector 8."
"It's gotten that bad?" Clancy asked.
"It's gotten that bad."
Clancy thought for a few seconds. "But... why did you stay?"
The Mechanic grinned. "I knew you'd come back."
Clancy laughed, and the laugh turned into more coughing. He rolled onto his side, and coughed up some blood.
"You need a med bay..."
"No," said Clancy. "The Rebels are right behind me. We need a ship. This one's spent."
The Mechanic looked over the smoldering hunk of metal that Clancy had somehow piloted back to the base. "I think it's a bit more than spent."
Clancy looked around from his position lying on the ground. "I don't see any ships."
"Like I said, they're gone. All gone. They all went to Sector 8."
Clancy's eyes turned down. "Then all is lost."
"Well..." started the Mechanic.
"Well what?"
"There is... one ship. But it's not ready yet."
"It'll have to do. I can fly anything." He coughed again, wincing in pain as more blood spilled onto the flight deck.
"Well, you're not flying anything until we patch you up," said the Mechanic.
"Someone has to fly it! What ship is left?"
"The Potential."
Clancy frowned. "That prototype? Is it working?"
"Well... it works. I mean, the drive came up and it's registering 60 power units."
Clancy's eyes widened. "60!? That's over double what any other ship's got!"
"But that's all that works. I mean, it's only got half of the base systems! It's missing cloak... drones... Just today we installed the sensors..."
"Those are all luxuries," Clancy grunted in pain. "What kind of shield?"
"Basic. And the thrusters are barely there. For all that power, it's going to move like an office building. It does have a nice big med bay, though... Look, we need to get you to the med bay."
Clancy nodded, panting. "Okay. Patch me up and I'll fly this office building for you. You can man the guns. It's got guns, right?"
"A dual laser."
"...and?"
"...and that's it."
Clancy shook his head, a bit sad. "I think the mini beam on my ship still works. That, and the radio are about all that does. Help me up..."
He got on his hands and knees, then pushed up to stand. The Mechanic helped him to his feet. Immediately, though, Clancy collapsed, his head swimming. "I think..." he stammered, "I'm worse off than I thought."
"Come on," urged the Mechanic. "You need to fly us there, remember?"
"I'm not going to make it, pal. You're going to have to do it."
"ME!? I can't fly a shuttle, little alone a cruiser!"
Clancy coughed up more blood. "It's easy. Vertical pedal on the right and keep the yoke steady. Jumps go to beacons automatically. Shields will take the lasers but you gotta dodge the missiles."
The Mechanic blinked. "Dodge? I... I can't."
Clancy forced himself into momentary clarity. "You HAVE to."
"It's barely spaceworthy! It needs work on every single system!"
"Do it on the move," wheezed Clancy. "Hit shops. Upgrade. That ship's got a great name for what she is."
"What do you mean? It's named after the potential field between the white and black holes in the engine core."
"But she's also perfect for upgrading. She can do ANYTHING. She's got... potential." He coughed again, weaker. He was fading fast. "Infinite potential."
The Mechanic looked back at the door to the prototype hangar. Was it possible?
"Do you really think I can do it, Clancy?"
When Clancy didn't answer, the Mechanic turned back around.
Clancy was dead.
The Mechanic turned to the Engi, the only other living being on the base. "I guess it doesn't matter if I can do it or not. Like he said... I HAVE to."
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