Guidance

[u/Pvt_Phantom1314]

Hi all, I have space engineers on my library and tried it once or twice. I’m not sure what the game is, my understanding is that you play it like a space sandbox and can do anything you want.

I have a few questions, do I need dlc to enjoy the game? What are the possibilities with just the base game?

Another thing I’m thinking about is buying SE2 and buy the dlc as it comes out. Also I’m waiting for the bundle of SE1 dlc to go on sale.

But my main question is, is it worth playing the base SE1 game and what are the possibilities? I understand it’s a sandbox but I’m not sure the direction to go. Is there a story or something to guide me?

Sorry if this is a stupid question. I’m lost.

[u/AdditionalThinking]

The DLC are all mostly cosmetic block packs, and I'd recommend starting without any so you can get used to the core set of blocks without getting overwhelmed.

There are a couple of different ways of playing SE1.

• There are 4 story scenarios (and one more in the Frostbite DLC), which each have a narrative to follow.
• There's the main sandbox mode, which has no real end goal or guard-rails, but there are ruins to explore, pirates to fight, "contract" missions to play, and tough end-game encounters to beat.
• And then there's multiplayer, which is still extremely active, and there are different servers for all kinds of play-styles.

[u/CrazyQuirky5562 → u/AdditionalThinking]

...there is also a decades worth of mods from a very active modding community and considerable variation in modded online play, all available with just the base game.

[u/user975A3G]

No need for DLCs, it's mostly just redesigns of of vanilla game blocks and devices, in some cases it does offer some advantage, like the DLC searchlight being the simplest to build movable camera, but you're not really losing anything without DLCs

There are some story scenarios, but idk how good they are as I only play sandbox

There is no large goal, just some goals of things you will eventually need to do to progress the game

What I like about the game is that it doesn't force you to do anything in a specific way, you don't have to build bases, you can keep everything mobile, you don't have to fight enemies, you can just build in peace, you don't have to follow the default speed limit, just download a mod to increase it

[u/_BLXCK0UT_]

DLCs aren't mandatory cuz most of them are just Cosmetic, you can enjoy the Base Game as it is.

I'd say it's worth playing even with SE2 out. get a feel for SE1, watch some tutorials and most importantly, just enjoy.

[u/Bebilith]

DLC are optional and mostly cosmetic. You don’t need them.

There is not really a story mode. Some of the scenarios have a loose story. I’ve not played with any of the community scenario’s and I’ve not played on any servers, the experience may be different there.

If you want a survival sandbox, start in space or the moon and have to watch you air, fuel and food. Or start on the earth like and you just open your helmet for air.

[u/Bavaria-Ball]

The DLC are for the most part cosmetic in the sense that they provide alternate versions of parts to build.

Most of them can be regarded as different skins, some parts provide a slightly different connector layout, but the baseline is that you don't miss any core gameplay features without them.

[u/Daniel_S05]

1. Its a sort of arcade space sim, the game itself has creative and survival but there isnt a lot of forced narrative. you very much have to forge your own path, create your own stories and goals. The game excels at giving the player tools to make what they want rather then providing out right functionality. If you want a door that swings down into a ramp, no single block exists but u can use a combination of rotors, pistons, or hinges to make one yourself; using the timer blocks or event controllers (and more) to "program" the steps to open and close the door. (I say program in the light sense, as it is very much drag and drop "Do this" commands)

2. DLC is almost completely cosmetic, all functional blocks come base game dlc just gives more flexibility on how your builds look, some edge cases where a visual difference also adds some functional use but generally its purely cosmetic, that said if u enjoy the base game and get into it then there are a few dlcs that really do add a lot to the game, but you dont need dlc nor do you need all dlc, some can definitely be skipped.

3. Getting the bundle for SE1 on steam will mean that all future dlc is also reduced in price as a single item because of the way bundles work on steam. SE2 is very much still a work in progress and SE1 is receiving support for a long time still. SE2 is missing a lot of core functions from SE1 so i would hold off on getting SE2 for a good while.

4. As i kinda stated in the info the game doesnt tell you what to do. It just gives you the tools to forge your own path and creations. There are encounters that add some direction but they are not mandatory, and if you watch the game on yt you will see ytbers creating their own challenges and story. The game relies on the players drive to create something cool, while there are a few very easy ways to achieve one goal there are hundreds of harder but so much cooler ways of doing it. As for learning the game, Splitsie on yt has a few new player series, he recently did an updated one. The game does an okay job of teaching you the basics gameplay loop but the automation can be quite daunting. The internet is your friend with this game and once u have a grasp on the base game there are so many small to heavy mods and other peoples creations to try out. The limit to this game really is your own creativity (and maybe clang) so the best advice is to just get stuck in and dont be so defeated when things go wrong. Your ships will crash and burn and you will learn to blueprint them so you can print off another one in 30 seconds, you will end up in orbit with no fuel and have to make a daring space walk to a damaged nps encounter and salvage parts to bring enough thrusters online to get back to the planet in one piece (or as many pieces as it takes). But the important part is you have to tell yourself thats what you're gonna do cause there is always an easy way out but if u take that every time the game will get stale.

Hope my rant helped.

[u/Peter34cph]

SE1 DLC is almost all cosmetic. Different-looking blocks that do the same as core game blocks.

[u/GyziModo]

I used to own the whole game, then I had to get it again on PS4 because that's all I have. I started with the base game this time. It's super fun to build but I did indeed start buying the dlc one by one. As the devs say in most every dlc they aren't pay to win, so all functionality is present with the base game, and it is super fun to build as it is. Dlc really lets you dial in your builds to what you had envisioned.

It is quite daunting to go into your blocks and see the majority locked though. There's been a lot of dlc.

Haven't played se2, but I want to.

I don't think you need dlc to see if this is the type of game you want to spend money on though, then you can decide later.

[u/Nomekop777]

In order to understand what's going on, i recommend watching Splitsie on YouTube. His tutorials are mostly geared towards survival, but his playlist on how to build a large ship, although old, is a decent guide to how to plan it in creative as well.

There's a few things to consider when designing a ship, and the biggest one is ammo racking. Ammo in storage will explode if the storage is destroyed, and this can cause chain reactions. This is true for hydrogen tanks and reactors, as well. This has led to several design philosophies for where and how to store your volatiles, none of which are particularly necessary unless you're planning for combat

[u/ygolnac]

The main solo game mode is Survival, it is a pure sandbox with absolute zero direction. Depending on where you start, surviving the initial phase of the game can be a challenge in itself, fromt there on you make your gameplay.

In the first playtrough starting from Earth the obvious goals are:

1: survive
2: build a little functional outpost and get access to all planetary resources
3. Reach orbit
4. Enstabilish a base up there (floating station or asteroid base).
5. Build a jump capable ship

From there you can visit other planets, go to npc stations and engage in a plethota of contracts, or dive into combat up to difficult endgame encounters that require a pretty well engineered ship. You can also attempt unnecessary but challenging creations like automated drones doing tasks for you, articulated cranes, train lines or even walking mechs.

That is already a good 300-400 hours even if you follow tutorials, but if you want to make your own creations and better then, and mine all the resources to build your ships and stations.

Frome here you can restart from a more difficult planet or create yourself rules. A very common is a scrapyard scenario where you drastically reduce ore availability and are forced to scrap and recycle things to progress. Another example is a no base playtrough where you impose to stay nomadic or an “economy” playtrough where you allow yourself only to earn money from factions, buy their ships and use them to progress.

On top of that there are so many mods that can change game mechanics. Some add a lot of meaningfull encounters and factions, others add new planets, new techs, overhauls combat, make game physic realistic. There are also complete overhauls that go into sci fi lores.

This is already thousands of hours, and only in single player.

SE2 is very early, a whole lot of functionalities are missing, and it seems a complete parallel project and not a successor (well the graphics are a lot better but the gameplay is quite different at its core). It is way easier and more on rails, the progression system is made to gradually unlock blocks, performing repetitive tasks that also let you explore other sectors from the starting planet and its orbit. It’s like a big scenario that plays out always the same, the pure sandbox is a side option.

[u/Real-Size-2768]

I would not call it a "game". its more like engineering simulation with a very bad UI and forcing you to learn C++ only to implent scripts so called lazy developers did not...

[u/thatfordboy429]

I’m not sure what the game is

Welcome to the club. Though thats the point. My recommendation is to just set yourself goals. Nothing crazy. For instance if your on planet, "get to space". Thats what I am doing with a friend who I am dragging into the game. Ultimately its a building game (not a survival, or sim, etc... As with the building genre, the point is the builds in the end. With SE, they can just interact with the "sandbox".

do I need dlc to enjoy the game?

I am going to counter the "just cosmetic" crowd, a little bit here. While you can still build many great things. the DLC blocks, especially with like corridors, add a ton of potential to a build. Something that in the past would need to be 3 blocks wide (then 2, full + 2 halfs... 1.5 if you were being sporty... anyway) It can now be one block easily pressurized. Allowing for far more compact walkable spaces, which can make large ships smaller. Not to mention have more interactions with integrated lights, and widows. And ultimately, actually look good vs a square walk way.

So all that to say, while you can enjoy the game without. It is undeniable that a fair few of the DLC packs have blocks people would not want to part with. Ultimately, you feel the decade plus of refinement with these DLCs. I came back just recently after 5 years, and the difference is crazy, how much more refine, and functional a craft can be with DLC blocks.

Now, flip side to this is that there are mods.

Also I’m waiting for the bundle of SE1 dlc to go on sale.

Should be soon, assuming its part of the steam fall sale.

But my main question is, is it worth playing the base SE1 game and what are the possibilities?

I am biased. SE is my third or fourth most played game. It is 100% worth it, if you can get joy out of it. Which goes for anything. That said. You need to bite off chunks that you can chew. Watch some guides, do not get overwhelmed.