Ep10 How much Money is Enough : X4 Foundations

I think we can safely say money is sorted for now and for the foreseeable future. Defence platforms, shipyards and SETA for the win. We have so much resources now I think it's time we do a bit of a demolition.
Included DLC
Split Vendetta
Cradle of Humanity
Tides of Avarice
Kingdoms end
Credits Song
Rise of the protectorate by Alexei Zakharov
Save file :
/ francisjohn
Discord server : / discord
X4: Foundations is a huge space sandbox simulator that lives and breathes within your gaming system. Thousands of ships and stations trade, mine and produce, all realistically simulated. In this universe, you can grow from being the lone pilot of a fighter ship, to managing a vast empire, commanding your fleets and designing colossal space stations. Transition seamlessly from first-person action, boarding ships and visiting their bridges, to an expansive strategy and management simulation. Choose your own path at your own pace. The decisions are yours. Trade - Fight - Build - Think.

[@mitechko]

"Bad Dragon"... Oh, God, I got that reference...

[@shadamethyst1258]

I was eating dinner when I heard that

[@tinsoldier314]

ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum-dum-disss

[@theheadone]

I had to look that one up, I got a big red flag that safe search was off and knew it was going to be good, lol. apparently it's a company that makes fantasy themed "marital aids"...

[@derAtze]

I was like he said that so dry and just brushed over it, do y'all think its possible he doesn't even know what it means? 😂

[@Silver_Semtexagon]

Those two words caught me so off guard i spat some of my coffee out.

[@bmartin6701]

"Bad Dragon" Thanks for making me spew my coffee AGAIN

[@Spectre06Gaming]

ITT: Francis names his ship something and everyone giggles like a small schoolgirl as he wonders what's so funny. Can't wait to find out what he looked like when he found out.

[@KainYusanagi]

"A BAD DRAGON" Oh my GOD Francis, PLEASE tell me you are aware of what the actual reference is there?!?!

[@FrancisJohnYT]

It got a lot of thumbs up as a suggestion in the last video, I did not realize it was an adult toy brand!! Can't really edit that out now, but I figure if people DONT get the reference they won't be annoyed, if they DO get the reference they are already floating that way anyway so hopefully it will slip by.

[@QuiranPup]

Of course people upvote such naming, because the people who know think it's a funny thing to upvote. It's the adult version of boaty McBoatface. Those who know chuckle, and think its funny. People who don't know think oh cool. I had a giggle and needed to find the comment about "you are aware" comment. And even more wonderful you responded to it, and I'm sorry you found out thanks to the wonderful suggestion crew from the comment section

[@notchhero11]

Not me just thinking it was some reference to Shrek, when Donkey and Dragon got together... 🤣

[@andrzejnadgirl2029]

@@notchhero11 I had a trip there back in the days after SsethTzeentach video, where he mentioned it as a fantasy games review site. Yeah... Though knowing his content I can't blame anyone by myself xd

[@vineheart01]

Yuuup....knew there had to be a comment about this. My reaction to hearing him say that was "Ok, either he honestly doesnt know and got duped by the masses, or he is playing it super innocently to make us think that" lol

[@kmfdm303]

Your next capital ship should be called "Hold my Beer"

[@David-cm4dr]

Francis is like the one shipyard that supplies its ships to both the empire and the rebels in star wars.

[@RecoverForest]

A Pavice is a large medieval shield used primarily by crossbowmen. The Genoese were famous for these.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Someone knows their history there. Most people wouldn´t even know it´s a shield.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

If someone has played Medieval total war then they know what a pavise crossbow man is.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@FrancisJohnYT Yes but not everyone has.

[@francisdoherty5580]

25:00 @FrancisJohn has gone to Plaid. Lol 🤓🙃🤣🐶🐕

[@gregcarterii2357]

Loving this series. I love the games where you can set up to run through on 8x speed, go to bed, and everything's still only partially done. Don't have the time for them, but love 'em!

[@V1ctoria00]

the music was amazing this time round. LOL Imagine the whole video was just a timelapse of that happening with your vocals in the background.

[@diante50]

I'm so glad you picked my name choice, that honestly made my day. I'm so sorry but also you're welcome 😂 As an apology you've now got another paying subscriber.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

It's kind of funning seeing how many people recognize the name. I am mildly curious how the name is so well know.

[@Plasmafox]

@@FrancisJohnYT Mostly meme power, I'm pretty sure more people have bought them as novelties rather than their, ahem, intended use. Leave them in the backgrounds of photos to derail threads on 4chan and things like that. And the brand rolls with it doing silly things like making tide pods themed products when that was the meme du jour.

[@SentOnFriday]

I love how the plasmas go "Woop Woop" XD

[@Koshea69]

When you were buying the Terran engines you said they were pretty bad and would talk about it later, whole video later and I'm still waiting. Terran Engines are awesome, they accelerate to top speed in WAY less time than all the other races do, they may have slower top speed but getting up to top speed faster is much better in most situations. Lookup a video by Alectus "Large Engine Travel Mode Drag Race" if you want a great comparison of Terran vs other race engines.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

Oh yeah in Large non combat ships they are amazing, large miners and traders should all be Terran engines if possible due to speed gains. (We did not have the terran parts) But for combat ships it's Split engines all the way, combat speed, boost, acceleration all are king on the Split are engines. Terran stuff comes bottom of the barrel.

[@RandomGuy928]

@@FrancisJohnYT TER engines are still extremely good on smaller ships; they just fly differently. It's deceptive because the in-game UI doesn't show like half of the relevant stats. More specifically, TER combat engines have best in slot travel acceleration (different stat from "acceleration" in UI), the best deceleration in the game, and the most efficient boost in terms of shield damage. This means that while they lack raw speed, they have extremely high agility. They can use short boosts more liberally without draining as much shielding, they can leverage short bursts of travel mode in combat (assuming they don't get hit for a few seconds) infinitely more effectively than other ships, and they can actually decelerate fast enough to not lose control with all their rapid bursts of acceleration. In AI hands the travel drive acceleration helps them escape from threats, and the low boost shield drain helps them not kill themselves with the boost button. In player hands, TER engines are night and day compared to anything else. SPL engines definitely aren't wrong - especially for generic AI fleet fighters, the raw speed is very useful. However, TER engines are definitely not bottom of the barrel. They're actually optimal for a lot of maneuvers in the game; it's just the stats TER engines are good at aren't shown in the UI. I always bias towards TER engines on player ships if I have the option.

[@spyke1890]

I am taking notes on how to become an intergalactic arms dealer. It's like a Masterclass. CH1: Funding CH2: Ramp up production CH3: Make sure your customers are evenly matched CH 4???

[@r4tch3t]

You can accept all the X vs Y mission things. You get the same kind of missions as the Terran/Argon vs Xenon just for other factions. Allows you to find the exceptional mods quicker. For the defence stations you can build bigger, the requirements are the minimum requirements. Also once the station has the required amount of modules it will be handed over. So you can leave a dock to be built last so you can maximise the return with additional defence modules. You can also add a whole bunch of extra modules and the AI will continue building it after taking possession, say some ship parts their wharfs are missing?

[@JoshSweetvale]

Endgame, it might be wise to have your bases decentralized. An exclusive shipbuilding factory in the capitol of each of your customers, so there's no scuffles near your bases. Multiple methane-rich systems set up to fabricate basic components. A *central* parts manufacturing hub. Your (teleporting) asteroid lab home base to fabricate and maintain your own ships. That would, however, require a _big_ trade fleet. Having multiple shipyards in species's home systems would also allow you to influence the tide of war by supplying more or fewer ships, cheaper or more expensively. Nobody will have to go extinct (except the Xenon), and they can all have their petty wars. Meanwhile your fleets in your mining systems, ostensibly to deal with kha'ak infestation, get bigger... and bigger... and bigger...

[@lisstem8135]

Maybe you should start the Free Families questline before you wipe them out. It will unlock an additional sector. Also you are missing some shields on your Odysseus E.

[@lacolo]

Francis you only put 1 out of 2 main shields on all the Odysseus E's you ordered, just a heads up. Loving the series!

[@bullzeye1014]

I'm not sure if you know this, but I have noticed that when you design ships, half the time you only assign 1 shield generator, when usually it lets you build more. For example at 43:27, you only assigned one large shield generator, instead of 2.

[@justneb1995]

TBF a brick crammed up a cow is probably fairly agile. At least it would be compared to being in a wall

[@Thesilentone88]

25:00 ludicrous speed GO!

[@mattgrostick1499]

TDIL about a line of toys for adults. Thanks comment section!

[@Minalkra]

I gotta say, I was not interested in the X4 playthrough at first - I'm not that keen on space sims (even though I used to LOVE Privateer back in ye olde days). But I sat down and binge-watched the series and it's almost inspiring me to get on Steam and install this game. I own it - for some reason - but I don't think I've ever given it a shot before. Also, I am now going to keep up with your playthrough. So yeah, good job on this one. If I ever do play it, I'm going to be stealing some techniques you've shown off in this series. EDIT: Clarity.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

It's an amazingly deep game in many ways and also really shallow in others. Like the missions are mostly all the same so you have done one you have done them all. But on the other hand it got an entire 3D factory game with trade mechanics and mining built in. Crazy.

[@warburd]

This is both staggeringly impressive and incredibly depressing as I can't even imagine having the brain capacity to build such massive stations 😀 Amazing work!

[@romeo162006]

Good humor.....actually great.

[@truezulu]

More Francis. MOAR!

[@Justathought81]

very entertaining watching you build the ultimate hugs for everyone machine

[@josefrees]

This game gives me hope for gaming lol

[@EbolaWare]

Trading with two enemy factions... And Francis becomes an arms dealer with ambitions of war profiteering. Nothing to see here!

[@Smo1k]

Don't Make Me Come Over There... Iain Banks would definitely have approved 🙂 Edit: Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick - Theodore Roosevelt would have approved, if he could wrap his head around people playing games on tools named the same as a job title in his day and age 😄

[@FrancisJohnYT]

Just tell Theodore we trapped lightning in rocks that we tricked into thinking.... you know what I'm sure he would have bigger questions like about time travel 😁

[@DawidSikora]

Thanks to the comments i now know what a Bad Dragon is

[@tedarcher9120]

Today is a bad dragon day I guess

[@steveg7368]

Hi, loving your input, funny as well. Not sure if you are aware or if someone has already pointed it out, but once you have your own wharfs and shipyards, all mods there are free. Ah, yes I see you got that one. Problem for me here, is you have so many vid's I have to carch up on. Where have you been hiding, it's only a few days ago you have been flagged up to watch. KZbin can be wierd like that !

[@Paul-ll6el]

I really enjoy your videos, ONI ones more than any others, have you considered trying out Kingdoms Reborn? It looks like something you could figure out and seems decent. Either way keep up the great work!

[@DarksFails]

Figures that Dr. Venture goes to wipe out a faction.

[@JPEaglesandKatz]

Enjoyed the series a lot... would love to get my hands on your save game to see how you did things.... :)

[@FrancisJohnYT]

Save game file is linked in the description of the last episode if you want to have a look though. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKWTlXqcoMaeoLcsi=8Ny2auNLPsWyDOjh

[@DinzelAnaoamori]

With your sector named "18 billion" it is only aproprite to get that sum on your hands :D

[@wilshireanasurimbor3068]

Started playing because of this series, and I'm at around 100 hours and starting to wonder if I want to keep going. I'm pretty near the point you were at 100ish hours, which was like 5 videos ago or something, and I'm kind of waiting to see what ridiculousness happens at the end game state you are approaching to see if I want to continue. The biggest issue I have with the game is everything just takes forever. Its been a ton of fun so far, but beginning to feel grindy. Maybe I should take out a medium modded ship out and complete a bunch of story missions, to change things up from factory expansion and piloting a L destroyer.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

I am sorry I did not do more story missions. Once you get too big they feel less useful. I totally overbuilt once you can build 3 or 4 destroyers an hour I think you have more than enough to finish any enemy.

[@wilshireanasurimbor3068]

@@FrancisJohnYT Yup that's what I figured out as well. Its kind of funny, the game drives me to want to build and economic engine ASAP, but that engine kind of kills the game. I might download that big starwars mod to see if it changes things up enough for another hundred hours.

[@7DeadlyJinxs]

"A Bad Dragon" oh no...

[@grandfremdling3841]

43:52 you might have not fully equipped the swarmship with all shieds possible, or am I wrong? The bar is only halve filled?

[@Rikard_Nilsson]

You might want to reconsider renaming the erkling that… that’s the name of a brand of ehhh …dragon inspired …neck massagers …you know, that are mostly for women.

[@davidcharles9252]

Who suggested "Bad Dragon?" I'm not sure if you know what that is.

[@tedarcher9120]

Probably Honest Trailers

[@FrancisJohnYT]

It was someone called "diante50", I should have thought to google it before I used it.

[@diante50]

Me! 😂 Honestly this made my day. Francis I'm sorry but also you're welcome.

[@yaemz123]

@@FrancisJohnYT Why should you have bothered? Just because a company has used a name doesn't make it ubiquitous to that company. The Erlking has massive firepower, and is huge, much like a bada** fire breathing dragon. Folks who don't watch "Those" types of things wouldn't make the connection automatically.

[@iamdoingthistobeabletocrea4559]

I did not know you can get the materials for modifications back. I thought losing them is the price of re-rolling.

[@tyw4439]

you get the main expensive/rare part back, just lose 2 of the 3 "supporting" components that are much more common to find laying around after combat.

[@theheadone]

I vote "Greasy Joe's" should be renamed to "Messy Joe's" in honor of The IT Crowd :)

[@mattgrostick1499]

Messijos? Is it Mexican food?

[@aagwfan]

Is there a planet you can Terraform in your home sector. Only worth it for excess.

[@sunstormer5064]

Good luck with your war Francis! Just keep in mind you will still need a workforce for your stations as there's no such thing as slavery in X4 (this isn't Rimworld) Oh and you may want to look into how Faction AI needs to be dealt with in order to stop it continually rebuilding stations/ships (it can be quite a pest if you don't put it out of it misery)

[@ShadowWolfTJC]

So you've decided to wage war against the Split Free Families, eh Francis? What have they ever done to offend you? I mean, the Zyarth Patriarchy seemed more like warmongering imperialistic pricks than these guys, since besides the Free Families, they're at war with nearly everyone, and require reputation grinding in order to get into good enough reputation to be able to do business with them, while the Free Families seemed content with minding their own businesses. If it's the resources found within their systems, then like with the Teladi within Eighteen Billion, I'm sure that the Free Families wouldn't've minded seeing their sectors exploited for their resources, especially if you were planning on providing security to them (and your mining operations) against Kha'ak and Xenon incursions.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

I have nothing personal against them, they are great as far as I'm aware. As for peaceful co existence that is also very possible. But we are about to have 100 unemployed destroyers on our hands and they need a target. A resource rich area could be an option. But again I am open to suggestion.

[@ShadowWolfTJC]

@@FrancisJohnYT I've stated before that I would've liked to have seen the Vigor Syndicate taken out 1st, since all they are is a good-for-nothing space cartel who are oppressing the Riptide Rakers with their confiscation of food supplies (which I'd imagine the Riptide Rakers would've paid good money for), and unlike the Zyarth Patriarchy, the Holy Order of the Pontifex, or the Terran Protectorate, whom have been openly admitting their hostility towards many of the other powers in the universe, the Syndicate are also harassing the rest of the X4 Universe by sponsoring piracy, like they're trying to wage some Russian-styled "Hybrid Warfare" BS. Thus, I nominate taking them out 1st. Afterwards, I'd nominate the following factions for the chopping block: - The Zyarth Patriarchy, in order to humble their expansionistic ways. Besides, who's to say that they aren't being led by someone with a Napoleonic complex, like Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Benito Mussolini, or other various dictators during World War 2? - The Holy Order of the Pontifex might as well be the equivalent of one of those authoritarian dictatorships (such as Iran) who use religion and scapegoating to maintain power. - The Terran Protectorate, whom might view themselves as being, like China historically (and arguably nowadays), the center of the universe, and because of this, would probably view all other factions as being subordinate to their divine rule.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@FrancisJohnYT Well there is that Xenon sector when you go from Heretic´s End up and then left, they come down there almost wiping out the Paranids there. They can even get down and threaten the Split, the Argons and the Borons. And i´m generally for clearing the path that connects Frontier Edge down south under The Void through Atiya´s Misfortune and Faulty Logic to Holy Vision. Lots of resources there as well, and more enemies to get your destroyers to work.

[@ye_olde_urizel]

@@FrancisJohnYT "There's no crime at which he will scruple, nor a risk he will not run if it gets him extra methane" - Space Marx, probably.

[@Alrion1704]

7:00 hi, arent most of your ships not in waiting position near your stations?

[@FrancisJohnYT]

I assume they are waiting for trade info, they take a few minutes to think after every trade from what I have observed.

[@megascoops]

If it hasn't already been started, i'm here to start the "battle brothers when" train

[@realityveil6151]

Oh god don't call it Bad Dragon, hahahahah

[@QuiranPup]

Can't wait for the ship to rip new holes in targets I'm sure there's a big Chance of it getting involved in a bunch of battles.

[@MegaReaperking]

what was the plan again? wipe out all factions? I'd like to see that!

[@KaptifLaDistillerie]

How is your computer not burning from the sheer size of these stations ? Jeez...

[@v44n7]

how do you avoid getting out of SETA while not on the PC? I get called by my miners every min and disengages SETA :( oh you answered it on 5:20 which is weird because i found on the forums that even the x4 devs were saying that you should be able to stop SETA from beign dissange when asked for help from your miners, because they dont want lazy players lol

[@aigarskauls9200]

You do know you dont pay that 250k in your OWN shipyard right?

[@sim.frischh9781]

Well given how much you pay FOR your shipyard...

[@FrancisJohnYT]

That I did not know, thanks for pointing it out. I used the info next episode to optimize our upgrades.

[@leftblank131]

I'd hate to see my electrical bill if i left my PC on with a game like this chewing power overnight.

[@josefrees]

I bet you lose like five ships

[@sim.frischh9781]

There´s a mod that gives you immediately the best possible result with mods. Seriously, such a kind of RNG-based money sink is really unnecessary in a single player gamer. I currently struggle with money in my game, as i went trying to construct too many stations too fast, so mechanics like this money sink are an annoyance to me. But the Erlkönig really i an insane ship, interestingly the main weapon is surprisingly useless. Turrets are where the main firepower lies. An amazing ship, yet i don´t like its looks. Asymmetrical and cobbled together. I can appreciate the style as fitting for the Windfall people, but i´m not a fan of it explicitely.

[@FrancisJohnYT]

Speed power and damage all in one package it's hard to say no to the Erlkönig. It's the second most damage in the game mounted on a ship that is faster than more Medium ships and can with the right mods travel faster than the Highway.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@FrancisJohnYT Yes, i have a friend who actually tried that. However the Highway reaches up to 24kps, not even the fastest ship in the game can reach that, much less the Erlking. ...actually, it should be "Elven King", because that´s what the poem was originally saying, before the transcription error. "Elfkönig" instead or "Erlkönig".

[@rickjamesbitch7632]

The best way to make credits... And get mods four ships is to Pirate dukes buccaneers... But you have to be an ace pilot just like met with cool shades 😎😁

[@rickjamesbitch7632]

You never have enough money in this game... If you are trying to do all the missions... And support your allies and doing the terraforming and building ships and stations...😁

[@rickjamesbitch7632]

I would not give them an a for anyting... Then again..🤔 A4 how the split ships look. And be for how the Boron ships look 🙄... But the final grade would be an (E) for a poor effort 😆.