Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?

[Leadfoot]

Victories in Cao Tzu, HIP 19757 and Muncheim! Asletae and Minawara to follow, then both Alerts at HIP 2422 and Wolf 121; I would quite like to know whether those Alerts are being driven mostly by research samples, general combat, Orthrus-hunting, salvage or trades.

I headed to Wolf 121 Friday and did some hunting but not much was there. Didn't get a chance to log in on Saturday (that other game called Real Life got in the way again). Was about to continue Wolf 121 so let's see how much damage can be done there.

FYI, for anyone picking up escape (and damaged) pods, there is apparently only one planetary base with Search and Rescue operations still running there, so remember this if you're looking for a quick drop off point for those. Otherwise you'll get chased around by NPC's looking for that "tasty cargo" every 20 minutes.

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

I would quite like to know whether those Alerts are being driven mostly by research samples, general combat, Orthrus-hunting, salvage or trades.

I sold over 250 interceptor samples in Wolf 121 by yesterday (probably around total 350-400 today) and selling 30-40 always seemed to move the progress up by few pips eventually.

 

[Neilski]

escape (and damaged) pods

I have some in my carrier that I've been meaning to drop off. Which location matters - the place they're found or the place they're handed in?

 

[Spaceman-FXL5]

Just as a small issue, looking at your OP update on post #1, there are COUNTLESS Invasions over 2%.
I do realise that the CG has just ended on Thursday, so more are returning to the war effort, I would guess, BUT to me this looks like a first-time schoolboy football team with no coaching/strategy/team set-up - just everyone chasing the ball, all trying to score.

Surely this means we are too spread out to make any meaningful headway and most are reacting to wherever they see an attacked system.
Imagine if all these efforts were (re)directed to a few systems the top of the list from Friday/Sat onwards!

 

[yttrbio]

I have some in my carrier that I've been meaning to drop off. Which location matters - the place they're found or the place they're handed in?

The location they are found matters. According to the patch notes and the livestreams, they must be turned in to rescue ships.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Surely this means we are too spread out to make any meaningful headway and most are reacting to wherever they see an attacked system.
Imagine if all these efforts were (re)directed to a few systems the top of the list from Friday/Sat onwards!

It's possible that this week will be atypical, but it's not generally that important an effect. Even assuming that all percentages are completely fungible - which they aren't, for various reasons - the total surplus at the end of the week would only be enough for another 3-4 systems even if it had been piled up perfectly from the start of the week.

That's a small enough amount - the Thargoids have been consistently winning net 70 systems a week, so it might get it down to 65 in absolutely ideal conditions - that it's not going to make any significant difference to the course of the war.

Put another way, well over 75% of effort does end up contributing to a system that's won, which is I think amazingly strong coordination given the nature of the problem. And the other 25% might not achieve anything as such ... but equally, this isn't Powerplay, it's not actually harming the war effort compared with them not doing it at all.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Asletae, HIP 2422 and Minawara! We have many upcoming Alerts and some great ways to win them now; please check this excellent thread if you are interested in assisting there!

Top targets at 19:40 19th March 3309:
Wolf 121 Alert 76% — Leigong 29 Ly, 1708 Ls starport, 4243 Ls outpost
Vukurbeh Invasion 60% — Taranis 24 Ly, 4 ports, 1737 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Neites Alert 52% — Hadad 26 Ly, 2004 Ls starport, 2055 Ls outpost, 2002 Ls planet
Bormuninus Invasion 44% — Raijin 24 Ly, 3 ports, 45 Ls 0.19g planet attack, 63 Ls 0.19g planet damage
HIP 4617 Invasion 44% — Oya 28 Ly, 0 ports, 3677 Ls 0.19g planet damage
Ebisu Invasion 42% — Taranis 21 Ly, 5 ports, 105 Ls 1.2g planet + 2987 Ls 0.15g planet attack, 105 Ls outpost + 2998 Ls 0.2g planet damage
HIP 20492 Alert 38% — Indra 24 Ly, 3308 Ls starport, 3168 Ls outpost, 5791 Ls planet
Isla Invasion 32% — Raijin 24 Ly, 1 port, 888 Ls starport attack, 888 Ls 0.13g planet + 1649 Ls outpost damage

I sold over 250 interceptor samples in Wolf 121 by yesterday (probably around total 350-400 today) and selling 30-40 always seemed to move the progress up by few pips eventually.

Thank you! Given the Frontier announcement, I had a sneaky doubt in mind that there might not have been a connection between the Research testing last cycle and the progress this cycle, but that sounds as expected. Given the modest jump I am almost certain I proceeded to cause in Neites earlier, I believe I can finish that system myself if it comes to that, very much thanks to all of you testing it!

If interested, the shopping list was 3 Thargoid sensors (1 stolen), 6 Scout, 118 Cyclops, 25 Basilisk and 3 Orthrus samples, and it moved Neites around 10%.

 

[Leadfoot]

If interested, the shopping list was 3 Thargoid sensors (1 stolen), 6 Scout, 118 Cyclops, 25 Basilisk and 3 Orthrus samples, and it moved Neites around 10%.

Currently in Wolf 121, have yet to see an Orthrus or any probes that they're supposed to collect. I assume I should just look for NHSS threat 4, correct?

 

[Kayvan]

Generally you shouldn't be using a beam when attacking. The thermal vent effect is going to be negligible compared to the heat generated by firing the weapons, so using heatsinks is mandatory - and then the beam isn't required anyway, so turn it off to save the distro power.

I beg to differ; you can use the beam to conserve heatsinks during an attack run, at least when you can take your time. When you're cold, a single 3-shard salvo won't spike you above 20%; then you can wait for the beam to cool you down again, and repeat. It takes a few seconds longer but it works well enough at least on the smaller ceptors (with low regen rate).
When I played my Chief with the 2 small Plasmas, I'd use only these against the hull, generating very little heat, and keeping cold with the beam all the while; only using the shards when the heart is exerted. It's a slow and steady approach.

---

AAR:
Fought an instance in Isla together with a buddy tonight, and boy did we draw a ticket. I didn't keep track completely but there definitely were 2 Medusas and about 3-4 Basis, plus however many Clopses. It was in Open but we were alone the whole time. Was quite a piece of work and each of us got almost RIPped at least once, but we managed not to die. Took about 1.5 hours and made us about 280M richer. But then when three Hydras showed up in the bonus stage, we bailed. oÔ

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Another 124 Cyclops and 15 Medusa samples for Neites jumped it from 74% to 82%—this can be quite fun, where obtaining said samples is in effect a new type of encounter, and the outcome is observable immediately. Also spotted was a @DemiserofD helping out there (thank you!); I had to decline the Orthrus signal offer, not having a Neutraliser, though it sounded as if I was not the only one!

Fifteen new systems join the fight...

Top targets at 02:40 20th March 3309:
Wolf 121 Alert 94% — Leigong 29 Ly, 1708 Ls starport, 4243 Ls outpost, 1666 Ls planet
Neites Alert 82% — Hadad 26 Ly, 2004 Ls starport, 2055 Ls outpost, 2002 Ls planet
Vukurbeh Invasion 82% — Taranis 24 Ly, 4 ports, 1737 Ls 0.14g planet attack
Ebisu Invasion 62% — Taranis 21 Ly, 5 ports, 105 Ls 1.2g planet + 2987 Ls 0.15g planet attack, 105 Ls outpost + 2998 Ls 0.2g planet damage
Bormuninus Invasion 58% — Raijin 24 Ly, 3 ports, 45 Ls 0.19g planet attack, 63 Ls 0.19g planet damage
HIP 20492 Alert 46% — Indra 24 Ly, 3308 Ls starport, 3168 Ls outpost, 5791 Ls planet
HIP 4617 Invasion 44% — Oya 28 Ly, 0 ports, 3677 Ls 0.19g planet damage
Jaoi Alert 44% — Oya 25 Ly, 317 Ls starport, 237 Ls outpost, 432 Ls planet
Cabarci Invasion 38% — Leigong 25 Ly, 2 ports, 633 Ls 0.2g planet attack, 614 Ls outpost damage
Isla Invasion 38% — Raijin 24 Ly, 1 port, 888 Ls starport attack, 888 Ls 0.13g planet + 1649 Ls outpost damage
Gamil Invasion 36% — Hadad 30 Ly, 2 ports, 1271 Ls 0.11g planet attack, 887 Ls 0.11g planet damage

Currently in Wolf 121, have yet to see an Orthrus or any probes that they're supposed to collect. I assume I should just look for NHSS threat 4, correct?

To find an Orthrus, yes—although I suggest not planning to wait around for those. In Neites I have been jumping in, looking around for nearby signals with potential to visit one if I think it might be interesting, but ultimately I summon a Thargoid by attempting a jump to an Invasion system. In my case I am using it for Research samples, although simply killing it also works and helps the system faster than chasing signals around. Consider taking a look at How to progress Alerts most effectively!

Fought an instance in Isla together with a buddy tonight, and boy did we draw a ticket. I didn't keep track completely but there definitely were 2 Medusas and about 3-4 Basis, plus however many Clopses. It was in Open but we were alone the whole time. Was quite a piece of work and each of us got almost RIPped at least once, but we managed not to die. Took about 1.5 hours and made us about 280M richer. But then when three Hydras showed up in the bonus stage, we bailed. oÔ

Isla contains a Starport attack, the Conflict Zone for which I believe is the same as Very High, which I imagine accounts for the heavier Thargoids and definitely accounts for three Hydras. I think the planetary port Conflict Zone is merely the same as High.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Wolf 121, Neites and Vukurbeh! Yet more Alert activity in Namayu, and I see more Control testing occurring in Col 285 Sector AU-F b12-5.

Top targets at 20:10 20th March 3309:
Ebisu Invasion 84% — Taranis 21 Ly, 5 ports, 105 Ls 1.2g planet + 2987 Ls 0.15g planet attack, 105 Ls outpost + 2998 Ls 0.2g planet damage
Bormuninus Invasion 68% — Raijin 24 Ly, 3 ports, 45 Ls 0.19g planet attack, 63 Ls 0.19g planet damage
Jaoi Alert 66% — Oya 25 Ly, 317 Ls starport, 237 Ls outpost, 432 Ls planet
HIP 20492 Alert 62% — Indra 24 Ly, 3308 Ls starport, 3168 Ls outpost, 5791 Ls planet
HIP 4617 Invasion 50% — Oya 28 Ly, 0 ports, 3677 Ls 0.19g planet damage
Cabarci Invasion 46% — Leigong 25 Ly, 2 ports, 633 Ls 0.2g planet attack, 614 Ls outpost damage
Gamil Invasion 46% — Hadad 30 Ly, 2 ports, 1271 Ls 0.11g planet attack, 887 Ls 0.11g planet damage
Hyades Sector LN-K b8-3 Alert 46% — Leigong 25 Ly, empty
Isla Invasion 46% — Raijin 24 Ly, 1 port, 888 Ls starport attack, 888 Ls 0.13g planet + 1649 Ls outpost damage
Yemaki Invasion 42% — Oya 29 Ly, 3 ports, 3397 Ls 0.6g planet attack

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

Hyades Sector LN-K b8-3 Alert 46% — Leigong 25 Ly, empty

I just dropped off another ~100 samples from there so it should be ~20% higher after it updates soon.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

I just dropped off another ~100 samples from there so it should be ~20% higher after it updates soon.

Very much so! I just sneaked a peek at the Galaxy map from the crew seat of this Gunship I am with, and a quick count of 15 missing tells me it is at 70%. Thank you!

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Ebisu and Jaoi! That makes nine Invasions and four Alerts with more to follow; I think we can take 2–4 more Invasions, hopefully one Control, and at least three more Alerts. Fresh Alert activity seen in Col 285 Sector YY-X b15-3, and HIP 38235 joins the fight!

Definitely we need Commanders, those who can fight an Interceptor now and who seek a transformed challenge, to try moving systems via Research samples. There is a definite progression to it; at first one ends up with ten or so, then typically 15–20 as the Swarm dueling starts, then gradually higher as one gets better at thwarting it while not losing any limpets due to range from the Interceptor. I took 56 from a Cyclops yesterday!

Top targets at 08:20 21st March 3309:
Bormuninus Invasion 84% — Raijin 24 Ly, 3 ports, 45 Ls 0.19g planet attack, 63 Ls 0.19g planet damage
HIP 20492 Alert 76% — Indra 24 Ly, 3308 Ls starport, 3168 Ls outpost, 5791 Ls planet
Hyades Sector IM-L b8-5 Control 72% — Taranis 26 Ly, empty
Hyades Sector LN-K b8-3 Alert 70% — Leigong 25 Ly, empty
Cabarci Invasion 62% — Leigong 25 Ly, 2 ports, 633 Ls 0.2g planet attack, 614 Ls outpost damage
Isla Invasion 56% — Raijin 24 Ly, 1 port, 888 Ls starport attack, 888 Ls 0.13g planet + 1649 Ls outpost damage
Yemaki Invasion 56% — Oya 29 Ly, 3 ports, 3397 Ls 0.6g planet attack
HIP 4617 Invasion 54% — Oya 28 Ly, 0 ports, 3677 Ls 0.19g planet damage
Col 285 Sector WN-Z b14-6 Alert 50% — Hadad 29 Ly, empty
Gamil Invasion 50% — Hadad 30 Ly, 2 ports, 1271 Ls 0.11g planet attack, 887 Ls 0.11g planet damage

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

Hyades Sector LN-K b8-3 Alert 70% — Leigong 25 Ly, empty

Posted right after I dumped more stuff again, that should be at 88-90% now.

 

[Kayvan]

Definitely we need Commanders, those who can fight an Interceptor now and who seek a transformed challenge, to try moving systems via Research samples. There is a definite progression to it; at first one ends up with ten or so, then typically 15–20 as the Swarm dueling starts, then gradually higher as one gets better at thwarting it while not losing any limpets due to range from the Interceptor. I took 56 from a Cyclops yesterday!

I'm not familiar with this process, how exactly does it work? Is there a thread or a video that explains it?

 

[Neilski]

try moving systems via Research samples. There is a definite progression to it; at first one ends up with ten or so, then typically 15–20 as the Swarm dueling starts, then gradually higher as one gets better at thwarting it while not losing any limpets due to range from the Interceptor. I took 56 from a Cyclops yesterday!

Can't remember if suitable builds have been posted here but it might be worth adding one to the OP?

 

[Northpin]

Definitely we need Commanders, those who can fight an Interceptor now and who seek a transformed challenge, to try moving systems via Research samples. There is a definite progression to it; at first one ends up with ten or so, then typically 15–20 as the Swarm dueling starts, then gradually higher as one gets better at thwarting it while not losing any limpets due to range from the Interceptor. I took 56 from a Cyclops yesterday!

How many research limpets are you using?
And what build? I would assume a shield tank anyway...

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Goodness; indeed, this needs some collected details, and I wish I had captured video of the 56-sample encounter. Just before those first reports of Research samples working so well, I had actually planned a quick tutorial with a few videos for beginners to kill their first Cyclops with minimum equipment and effort, but I think this needs to come first. I added concise notes and links at the top of the thread the other day, though it will be as well to explain things a little.

I'm not familiar with this process, how exactly does it work? Is there a thread or a video that explains it?

There are two components here:

• Summoning an Interceptor. Rather than await and chase signal sources, we start from the target system then jump to nearby war systems (Alert, Invasion or Control) to induce a Hyperspace encounter. This reduces greatly the time between activity for Alert systems, including unpopulated Alerts.
• The actual research limpet "duel", where I think I will start calling it harvesting. This involves leaving the Interceptor alive, using a large heavy vessel which cares not about the direct damage, and can send at least ten research limpets with space to store ideally 48–64 corrosive cargo with another 48–64 regular cargo for doubling the limpets.

I will produce a video at some point, though definitely refer back to the one @yttrbio presented:

My current record is 47 cyclops tissue samples in a 15 minute interaction in this build. You can take a look here if you want.

Can't remember if suitable builds have been posted here but it might be worth adding one to the OP?

Potentially, though its place is more one which would link to a tutorial or something else which contains a build, given that it has never listed any particular anti-xeno builds. It has links to the How to progress Alerts most effectively though!

How many research limpets are you using?
And what build? I would assume a shield tank anyway...

Ten total with the class 7 Universal multi-limpet plus two normal Research limpets. This could become eleven without a Shield cell bank, though probably that would mean losing the Scanner for another shield booster. I am using this at the moment, where the hull seems far above one-ninth of the total shielding (including cell and SYS), though in practice I find that the shield gets a bit of recharging here and there.

Those who have the class 5–6 anti-corrision Cargo will be able to make a hull-only Anaconda for this; otherwise, the shield really is needed so that most of the internal modules can become class 4 anti-corrision Cargo.

 

[Northpin]

Ten total with the class 7 Universal multi-limpet plus two normal Research limpets. This could become eleven without a Shield cell bank, though probably that would mean losing the Scanner for another shield booster. I am using this at the moment, where the hull seems far above one-ninth of the total shielding (including cell and SYS), though in practice I find that the shield gets a bit of recharging here and there.

Those who have the class 5–6 anti-corrision Cargo will be able to make a hull-only Anaconda for this; otherwise, the shield really is needed so that most of the internal modules can become class 4 anti-corrision Cargo.

ah, i assumed the ULC can use a single research limpet at a time... my bad.
if ULC is working with 8 research limpets, things are way more simpler

isnt faster to just go in a planetary defense AX, scan a cyclops, plant the limpets then just frag it and wait for them limpets to finish?
the abundance of cyclops and no swarms isnt working for this task?