Below is a list of the main story lines (including those from DLC’s), and how/where to find or activate them including known preconditions.
See also: main Story Lines starting point, for a discussion of how these story lines fit in the X4 experience.
See also: the Missions section for information about the randomly generated radiant mission system (unrelated to story missions).
Main / Player Headquarters
Requires: none
Activate by: Varies depending on game start and whether or not you have the Kingdom End DLC installed.
With Kingdom End:
- default: the default is fly to Heretic’s End sector.
- alternate: for Terran/Pioneer game starts, follow mission prompts when given and end up at a project in Brennan’s Triumph sector.
Without Kingdom End: the default is to scan station signal leaks until you get a conversation with a Boron.
See also: Main Quest
Hatikvah Trade Revolution
Requires: none
Activate by: Fly anywhere near the sector Hatikvah’s Choice.
Paranid Civil War
Requires: completed Hatikvah story, Dal Busta on player HQ, and positive relations with both HOP and PAR factions (one at least -9, the other at least +10).
Activate by: Dal Busta will contact you.
See: Paranid Civil War
Split Civil War
Requires: Split Vendetta DLC, completed Hatikvah story, Dal Busta on player HQ, and positive relations with both ZYA and FRF factions (one at least -9, the other at least +10).
Activate by: Dal Busta will contact you.
See: Split Civil War
Terran Solborn Militia
Requires: Cradle of Humanity DLC, +5 relations with TER faction
Activate by: flying into a Terran sector (e.g. Asteroid Belt)
Note that the Terran Cadet game start leads you into this story automatically.
Terran Covert Ops
Requires: Cradle of Humanity DLC, completion of Solborn Militia to start, Player HQ eventually
Activate by: talking to terran contact (the woman from Solborn Militia plot).
See: Terran Covert Ops
Terran Yaki Investigation
Requires: Cradle of Humanity DLC, completion of Solborn Militia to start, Player HQ eventually
Activate by: talking to Terran contact (the woman from Solborn Militia plot).
See: Yaki story details
Empyrean Curs (“VIG”)
Requires: Tides of Avarice DLC, possession of an illegal item, either in personal inventory or in ship’s cargo.
Activate by: flying into Windfall I sector.
Note that the Captured game start beings this plot automatically.
Northriver (“Avarice”)
Requires: Tides of Avarice DLC, none to start, Player HQ eventually
Activate by: flying into Avarice I sector.
Note: Events occur when you first enter Avarice. If you ignore the message about a ship in distress, you may or may not be able to begin this plot by returning later. (It requires a ship that exists in Avarice, and ignoring it may cause that ship to be destroyed before you return.)
Note: there is a teaser mission, “Stealing water” that occurs in Windfall III. This is not actually part of the Avarice/Northriver plot, and can be ignored if you wish. Its function is to set the stage with some story information, and to encourage you to visit Avarice I.
See: Northriver / Avarice
Provinces Adrift (“Boron”)
Requires: Kingdom End DLC
Start by: flying near dormant gate in Heretic’s End sector.
Note that the Boron game start begins this plot automatically.