Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?

[Aleks Zuno]

Looking at the Spire drive for Col 285 Sector PB-E b12-3 yesterday, I am not at all sure how Spire progress works now. It was just over 5% initially, close to 15% in the hour before leaving, 17% in the morning, and now almost 20%—yet I see not much movement for the farthest ten M. Thor Control systems.

Definitely there is individual effort at HIP 18702, but I am interested much more in some of the others:

• Synuefe OU-D b45-0 is the tenth-farthest with only ~2%.
• Col 285 Sector SI-T d3-89 and HIP 19501 have ~8%, but have only gained ~2% since ending the previous week with a carried ~6%.

We are told this:

Additionally, we have a clarification to this point from the 18.06 update notes:

• Fully taking a spire system will always result in spread pushback to the equivalent of 85% of 10 systems

This means that no matter which activity is undertaken within a spire system, by the time the spire system has hit 100%, spread pushback to the equivalent of 85% of 10 systems will have occurred – there is no ‘completion bonus’.

That did not quite clarify exactly how 100% at the Spire translates to 85% elsewhere, but to list a few possibilities:

1. The first 85% of the Spire drives progress, then the final 15% is just to clear the Spire system.
2. The Spire drives progress proportionally, driving progress at 85% of its own progress rate.
3. The last 85% of the Spire drives progress, with the initial 15% required to get it started.

Adding 15% progress for Col 285 Sector PB-E b12-3 while watching Synuefe OU-D b45-0 gain only 2% seems to contradict 1 and 2. The trouble is that M. Raijin has three progressed Spire sites with ~2%, ~3% and ~19% and a quite nice periphery of ten systems all having at least ~24%, contradicting 3.

A possible explanation is that the Spire progress takes more time to appear, although I think overnight should suffice!

 

[Grimscrub]

So... https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threa...indra-vulnerable-thargoid-war-changes.626366/

Important Changes to the Thargoid war balance​

Following your feedback we have implemented the following changes with the Thursday maintenance.

Thargoid War Strategy

• Alert/Invasion
  • Titans will now directly invade populated systems, skipping the traditional probing state
  • Unpopulated systems will no longer enter an alert state
  • Several populated systems will still enter an alert state
• Counterstrike Port AXCZs
  • Following your feedback, we are enabling an option for port Anti-Xeno Combat Zones to play an offensive role against the Thargoids:
    • In previously populated counterstrike systems, one port will reactivate and will have an AXCZ available
      • This port will have repair/rearm available, but will not offer missions
      • Planetary ports will be favored. If no suitable planetary ports are available, a space based port will reactivate instead
    • These systems can be identified on the Galaxy Map as stacked counterstrike and port under attack icons as below:
      
      
      

The future looks decidedly busy.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Indeed! That omits to mention what does happen to empty systems, if anything, and I imagine it will be too late to get an answer prior to witnessing it. Much of the other changes are long overdue, including some from feedback 6–12 months ago:

• Finally, Counterstrikes get a purpose which ought to have been the case when they were first introduced! The rescue-related purpose was welcoming, but very obviously not anything to do with the original idea.
• Having some populated systems go directly to Invasion is something I suggested in December 3309, and doubtless it was not a novel idea by then.

Having restock available in Control systems is a first and may not have been needed necessarily, but limiting it to Counterstrike systems seems sensible and definitely many Commanders will enjoy it!

 

[Kira Goto]

definitely many Commanders will enjoy it!

It will certainly be welcome, by saving on the necessity to either use synthesis or jump out of the system to a carrier to rearm/repair even while fighting around a station. Glaive trios will also not be quite as much of a nuisance to people using modified Guardian weaponry, then. (Both aspects having made me prefer to fight low intensity conflicts when there weren't people around to fight at a port, prior.)

If unpopulated systems also now skip alert entirely, definitely does raise the question of "Will they go straight to control or simply just never get attacked again"... and I am going to remain cautious about making any assumptions in that regard until tomorrow.

(It wouldn't be unwelcome if this wasn't the only thing the Thargoids do when down to their final three Titans, however.)

 

[Ian Doncaster]

If unpopulated systems also now skip alert entirely, definitely does raise the question of "Will they go straight to control or simply just never get attacked again"... and I am going to remain cautious about making any assumptions in that regard until tomorrow.

Those are two very different powers, certainly.

Straight to control allows an extremely rapid advance (by Thargoid standards) because they can infill and extend a lot of territory while everyone is busy with the invasions, and every attack generates a system which can itself immediately attack.

Ignoring uninhabited systems entirely pretty much stops Thor in its tracks and even the other two which are large and well-connected might find themselves struggling to find enough perimeter at times.

I'd say "straight to control" is the slightly more cohesive interpretation of what they said, but it could very easily be the other.

 

[Kira Goto]

I'd say "straight to control" is the slightly more cohesive interpretation of what they said, but it could very easily be the other.

I guess we'll just have to find out... unless they tell us just before the maintenance, anyway.

None of that will get in the way of Indra blowing up, though, I expect. Unless it decides to take a bunch of systems well past the usual attack rules (which it would have to if the cooldowns are not ignored), but I doubt (or at least assume) Frontier are (not) going to do something like that again as they did with Oya.

 

[SergMx]

Having restock available in Control systems is a first and may not have been needed necessarily, but limiting it to Counterstrike systems seems sensible and definitely many Commanders will enjoy it!

Not clear why there are 2 icons there, can land ports be in other systems ? Or is it to have more icons on the map ?

 

[Kira Goto]

Not clear why there are 2 icons there, can land ports be in other systems ? Or is it to have more icons on the map ?

It's the Counterstrike icon and the "Attacked Port" icon, to inform players that there is an active station under attack present in system. In that case, because humans reactivated one as part of the pushback against the Thargoid forces.

 

[SergMx]

It's the Counterstrike icon and the "Attacked Port" icon, to inform players that there is an active station under attack present in system. In that case, because humans reactivated one as part of the pushback against the Thargoid forces.

Choose your options:
1. I see the attacked port icon, why do I need another icon ?
2. The attacked port icon can be on systems where there is no counterattack, and even if it is, why do I need this information ?

 

[Aleks Zuno]

1. I see the attacked port icon, why do I need another icon ?

Counterstrike also means that Titan rescues help the system! Some systems can be progressed that way without any ports being present, much less an attacked port being present.

2. The attacked port icon can be on systems where there is no counterattack, and even if it is, why do I need this information ?

Attacked ports have repair and restock available! All ports in Control systems now seem to have a AX Conflict zone at least, but only those systems with the attacked port icon will have an active port where you can dock.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Week 84, 4th July 3310​

Report
Three Alerts repelled at Isla and HIPs 117177 and 40786.
Six Invasions defended at Nibelaako, Asletae, Ixbaksha, Vistnero, Picenile and Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-11.
Seven Control evictions at Hosan, Hupang, Pegasi Sectors XQ-J a10-0, XQ-J a10-1 and SP-L a9-1, Attada and HR 8536.
In addition to the defended Invasions, three recaptured systems starting Recovery are Hosan, Hupang and Attada.
Titan Thor has overheated.

Targets updated at 19:40 18th August 3310
HIP 39468 Control 84% *84.8% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 719 strength
Col 285 Sector OS-T d3-82 Control 78% *78.2% — Cocijo 32 Ly, 1020 strength
Col 285 Sector US-H b11-5 Control 78% — Cocijo 33 Ly, 1027 strength
Col 285 Sector TC-J b10-0 Control 78% — Cocijo 32 Ly, 1028 strength
HIP 39186 Control 78% — Cocijo 34 Ly, 1018 strength
Col 285 Sector DA-E b13-1 Control 76% *77.6% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 1061 strength
Daisla Alert 76% *77.3% — Cocijo 32 Ly, 278 Ls outpost
Col 285 Sector US-H b11-1 Control 76% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 1142 strength
Col 285 Sector YY-F b12-6 Control 76% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 1140 strength
Pegasi Sector KH-V c2-25 Control 64% *65.3% — Raijin 28 Ly, 1681 strength
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-3 Matrix 52% *52.9% — Raijin 24 Ly
Col 285 Sector XT-Q c5-18 Matrix 40% *40.4% — Cocijo 11 Ly
Pegasi Sector KC-U b3-1 Control 38% — Raijin 28 Ly, 3009 strength
Col 285 Sector OS-T d3-143 Matrix 34% *34.3% — Cocijo 16 Ly
Tagin Control 34% — Raijin 23 Ly, 7347 strength
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-9 Matrix 30% *30.6% — Raijin 14 Ly
Pegasi Sector ON-S b4-2 Control 28% — Raijin 27 Ly, 3497 strength
Pegasi Sector LC-U b3-4 Control 24% *24.6% — Raijin 27 Ly, 3661 strength
Col 285 Sector VY-Q c5-23 Control 18% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 3904 strength
Pegasi Sector PE-N a8-1 Control 16% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4081 strength
Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-18 Control 14% — Cocijo 30 Ly, 4096 strength
Pegasi Sector KC-U b3-4 Matrix 12% — Raijin 18 Ly
19 Puppis Control 12% — Cocijo 27 Ly, 4302 strength
Col 285 Sector KM-V d2-72 Control 10% *11.5% — Cocijo 28 Ly, 4273 strength
Pegasi Sector JH-U b3-4 Matrix 10% *11.3% — Raijin 7 Ly
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-7 Matrix 10% *10.9% — Raijin 11 Ly
Pegasi Sector NN-S b4-2 Matrix 10% *10.4% — Raijin 5 Ly
Col 285 Sector ZT-F b12-3 Matrix 8% *8.9% — Cocijo 17 Ly
Col 285 Sector VN-H b11-1 Matrix 8% *8.3% — Cocijo 15 Ly
Pegasi Sector VK-L a9-1 Control 8% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4471 strength
Pegasi Sector BQ-Y d101 Control 6% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4572 strength
Pegasi Sector TK-L a9-3 Control 6% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4568 strength
Mapon Control 4% *5.4% — Cocijo 18 Ly, 11k strength
Pegasi Sector WK-L a9-3 Control 4% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4669 strength
Pegasi Sector FW-W d1-104 Control 4% — Raijin 27 Ly, 4671 strength
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-5 Control 2% *3.8% — Raijin 24 Ly, 4798 strength
Col 285 Sector YT-F b12-4 Control 2% *2.7% — Cocijo 24 Ly, 4845 strength
Pegasi Sector GW-W d1-115 Control 2% *2.3% — Raijin 23 Ly, 10.9k strength
Pegasi Sector RE-N a8-1 Control 2% *2.2% — Raijin 26 Ly, 4796 strength
Col 285 Sector OS-T d3-102 Control 2% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 4802 strength

Notes
Following the Thargoid War Changes, up to three attacks per Titan now become Invasions directly.
These are Picenile, Asletae, HIP 40786, Theemim, HIP 16954, Vistnero, Nibelaako and Isla.
Update 18.07 on Friday will improve the Anti-Guardian Zone Resistance modification.
The Alert report lists predicted attackers.

Week 83, 27th June 3310​

Report
Twenty-six Alerts repelled at Koko Oh, HIPs 18513, 113698 and 117762, Pegasi Sectors HW-V b2-0, NY-O a7-4, JS-Q a6-2, EB-W b2-3 and LY-O a7-4, Col 285 Sectors KB-O c6-10, KB-O c6-11, HF-G b11-2, WC-C b13-2, DA-E b13-3, OM-J b10-1, OS-T d3-68, GP-H b10-3, JG-O c6-15, WN-H b11-4, HL-O c6-5, AF-P c6-16, PM-J b10-1 and OM-J b10-0, Sukurbago, Kissi and Chibis.
Eleven Control evictions at Hyades Sectors RT-Q b5-3, RT-Q b5-4, TO-Q b5-4 and FB-N b7-2, HIPs 20086, 20082, 21138, 20357 and 20563, Arietis Sector KR-V b2-2 and Balak.
Two Matrix systems cleared at HIP 22350 and Arietis Sector KR-V b2-1.
Two recaptured systems starting Recovery are HIP 21138 and Balak.
Maelstrom Indra is depleted!

 

[Doctor Dread]

Week 84, 4th July 3310​

Alex, can you see where these newly announced AX-entry-level thingies are?

- In previously populated counterstrike systems, one port will reactivate and will have an AXCZ available
- This port will have repair/rearm available, but will not offer missions.

...and if you can, can you please place it/them in your fantastic Weekly report as such, so AX noobs like me can see where they can go and happily shoot Scouts and stuff within the safety of a nearby port?

Thank you.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Alex, can you see where these newly announced AX-entry-level thingies are?

This is a quite good point; port attacks in the new Invasion systems seem visible, and Counterstrikes also seem visible, but no systems appear to have both! The changes claimed that all populated Counterstrike systems will have an attacked port, but that appears not to be the case. One possibility could be that it happens only for the Titan with fewest Control systems, like with the new empty and Spire Counterstrikes from update 18.06, such that we will discover only after T. Indra explodes.

That said, there is also a suspicious lack of Counterstrikes around M. Cocijo, so it could be that some attempts to place port attacks failed, and indeed removed Counterstrikes instead—although that would be quite inconsistent with Counterstrike systems such as Varlawoth.

Until we hear more or discover more, I suggest simply visiting those eight Invasion systems instead—if you are not otherwise attacking T. Indra at HIP 20567, of course!

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Ignoring uninhabited systems entirely pretty much stops Thor in its tracks and even the other two which are large and well-connected might find themselves struggling to find enough perimeter at times.

Well, looks like it was this one.

While it lets them place a few invasions right now, it also allows all three (Raijin with more difficulty) to be essentially completely stopped in their tracks - at least until they realise they've made a silly mistake - because if they're relying on an uninhabited control to launch an attack on an inhabited system, the attack can be prevented permanently ... and there are far too few inhabited controls to launch a full set of attacks from.

I've put some updated maps in the map thread to show just how vulnerable the Thargoids have made themselves to some carefully-targeted recaptures of uninhabited systems.

Maelstrom Maps

Here are the current (well, aside from this afternoon's recaptures...) Control maps of each Maelstrom. - Matrix/Spire systems are shown in red, formerly-inhabited systems dark green, other uninhabited Controls light green - systems within 15 LY of the Titan get a thicker border, systems within...

forums.frontier.co.uk

 

[Cori]

Experiencing problems at Indra - the thermal core comes up but some people are just not being awarded any bonds (although other commanders in the instance are making millions).

Not even getting the thousand credits or so you used to get just for being in the instance with the previous Titans.

 

[Felix DiCestria]

Experiencing problems at Indra - the thermal core comes up but some people are just not being awarded any bonds (although other commanders in the instance are making millions).

Not even getting the thousand credits or so you used to get just for being in the instance with the previous Titans.

Have you tried Solo?

 

[Cori]

Have you tried Solo?

I haven't. (I have no confidence in my ability to do the vents and survive in solo.)

 

[Felix DiCestria]

I haven't. (I have no confidence in my ability to do the vents and survive in solo.)

 

[Aleks Zuno]

I have no confidence in my ability to do the vents and survive in solo.

While ultimately one can but try, I can offer at least a video of it with the first Titan attack at ~20 seconds! The Python 2 works incredibly well, or a Krait 2 should be quite fine; my loadout is this ¹. Freezing the vents also implies being agile enough that patrols are barely able to follow, attacking the core involves some risk due to stopping, but one can then back away into the asteroids and lose unwanted attention while flying around for the next attack.

1. I am still experimenting with Low Emissions grades 4 and 5 versus the Thermal Vent beam class 2 or 1. Low Emissions 5 is nice, but class 1 Thermal Vent can not quite maintain temperature while boosting and the shield is recharging.

 

[Phill P]

1. I am still experimenting with Low Emissions grades 4 and 5 versus the Thermal Vent beam class 2 or 1. Low Emissions 5 is nice, but class 1 Thermal Vent can not quite maintain temperature while boosting and the shield is recharging.

Running a Python 2 with Low Emissions grade 5. I'm not bothering with a beam laser at all, just popping heatsinks and synthing refills. Trading for mats for heatsink refills is no problem with the stockpile of mats from rescues, but it's also one of the cheaper trades so anyone with a half decent stock of manufactured mats can do the same. Much less hassle than using a beam and no chance of causing aggro to the Titan before you do a run.