This replaces the earlier post whose embedded video stayed stuck processing on Reddit. The gameplay and progression figures are unchanged.
I am developing World of Frontiers at FloriM Studios: a free-to-play browser space MMO inspired by DarkOrbit. For this dev diary, I wanted to show the starter economy with actual numbers and gameplay.
For this diary, I had a fresh pilot checked in the current local development build, using the normal game rules: no Premium, no purchased Nova and no admin-granted equipment. This is an early-game check, not a timed newcomer benchmark or an endgame test.
Here is the actual budget:
• Starter grant: 1,800 Credits and 5 Nova.
• October 22 daily reward: another 600 Credits and 1 Nova.
• Five NPC kills, three salvaged containers and three completed missions added 517 Credits and 3 Nova beyond those grants.
That left 2,917 Credits and 9 Nova before upgrades. A second Pulsar I laser, Aegis I shield generator and Flux I engine cost 1,250 Credits altogether. After equipping them, the hangar's damage stat went from 70 to 115, shield capacity from 500 to 850, and speed from 348 to 366 m/s. The pilot still had 1,667 Credits and all 9 Nova.
An important detail: the starter grant alone already covers those basic upgrades. This is not 1,250 Credits earned through grinding. The pilot was still level 1 with 302/1,000 XP; the next hull, Kestrel, needs level 2 and 8,500 Credits. All eight core hulls currently have Credit prices, but this small test does not establish how long the later progression takes or how competitive a free account is in PvP.
The shop also needs a clear explanation: Nova can be earned or bought and can purchase equipment and ammunition. Premium includes +10% Credits/XP and convenience benefits. Spending can accelerate progress; the shop is not cosmetic-only. I want feedback on that trade-off, not just on whether the first upgrades are affordable.
The 23-second clip contains normal-speed excerpts from this local starter test and a still of the final hangar. Music: our original “Fremde Signale,” a different track from the previous clip. Development and some assets use AI assistance.
Play free in your browser: https://florim-studios.itch.io/world-of-frontiers
What would make a free-progression test useful to you: the first ship unlock, equipment choices, or a longer account comparison?