How to escort a mate?

lollo1572 · Jan 18, 2015

Finally I met a mate, I'd like to follow him to defend against pirates during his travels. How to do? If he is interdicted how can I manage to fight for him?
Is there something of automated?

Jack Schmit · Jan 18, 2015

I think your only hope currently is to be using some sort of voice chat with the guy, and when one of you screams for help the other must turn around to assist. To the best of my knowledge there is no way to slave your FSD jump to a friends so that you exit at the same time.

Morbad · Jan 18, 2015

You jump to the same systems at the same times, then you follow him in SC. If someone interdicts him, you use the resulting low energy wake to follow them into the same instance.

lollo1572 · Jan 18, 2015

Thanks! Chat is possible too? Probably I must exit supercruise and look for the nearest unidentified source?

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Morbad said:
You jump to the same systems at the same times, then you follow him in SC. If someone interdicts him, you use the resulting low energy wake to follow them into the same instance.

Sorry, what "low energy wake?"

Tettric · Jan 18, 2015

Whenever someone drops out of SC (or is interdicted) they leave a wake.

You can drop out on this wake as you would for a station or USS.

Keep close formation is SC with the escort flying a couple of light seconds behind the cargo ship. That way you should be able to target and drop out on the wake fairly quickly.

As of now it's all manual but in the coming months wings will be implemented and you'll be able to slave your drive.

Morbad · Jan 18, 2015

lollo1572 said:
Thanks! Chat is possible too? Probably I must exit supercruise and look for the nearest unidentified source?

Chat is possible, though often doesn't work correctly if you are in different instances.

Unidentified signal sources aren't the same thing as low energy wakes.

avow555 · Jan 18, 2015

Currently it's not really doable, although when the Wings game expansion arrives proper grouping will be a reality.

Phier · Jan 18, 2015

Why people use ingame chat in anything is beyond me unless your friend is one you only just met in game. Use TS or Skype or ANYTHING. Save in game chat for other players you don't know.

lollo1572 · Jan 18, 2015

Ok, thanks very much to you all! This game is very cool!

JeffRyan · Jan 18, 2015

Saw title, thought this was about something else. I had some phone numbers ready too.

Scottworld · Jan 20, 2015

It sort of works.... but its a bit random that you will get into the same instance when you drop out. Often I drop in and can see my mate, who is fighting a ship which I cant see. He is screaming for help and I can see him but not the Python / Anaconda that is fighting him. Its a a bit random at the moment.

Hoping Wings / MP enhancements will start to tie all the islands together a bit more logically.

Whiterose · Jan 20, 2015

Apologies....thought this topic was about something else entirely................

blacky75 · Jan 20, 2015

Jack Schmit said:
I think your only hope currently is to be using some sort of voice chat with the guy, and when one of you screams for help the other must turn around to assist. To the best of my knowledge there is no way to slave your FSD jump to a friends so that you exit at the same time.

never tried, but... whilst your mate to protect gets interdicted... couldn't YOU start an interdiction ON the interdictor?! The hunter becomes hunted?! Does that works?

salad · Jan 20, 2015

Talk to your friend first, I once wasted 600 dollars on a TOP Esco-.... oh wait.

nielsvaes · Jan 20, 2015

Tettric said:
As of now it's all manual but in the coming months wings will be implemented and you'll be able to slave your drive.

Is there an official source of this statement?

Heater · Jan 20, 2015

What we do is as follows:
Voice Comm's (we us Team Speak)
Plan the route we will take
Once we are in the same instance we lock on to the one we will be escorting (this is a bit of a pain as once you are in supper cruise it's very easy to over take if you are not watching your speed try to keep the speeds matched up as close as possible i.e. you do not need to go wide open, but keep in in the "blue band")
Watch the scanner (you can see if someone it trying to get in to position to interdict someone)
once he calls the the interdiction is underway (fight it as long as possible or summit if that is what you want) but once the interdiction is complete, (your escort should now see the low energy wake) lock on to this and dropout at the same point.

Zed · Jan 20, 2015

Tettric said:
Whenever someone drops out of SC (or is interdicted) they leave a wake.

You can drop out on this wake as you would for a station or USS.

Keep close formation is SC with the escort flying a couple of light seconds behind the cargo ship. That way you should be able to target and drop out on the wake fairly quickly.

As of now it's all manual but in the coming months wings will be implemented and you'll be able to slave your drive.

I'm pretty sure drive slaving isn't going to happen. I'll know for sure in a about 2 weeks when it goes to beta.

Shads · Jan 20, 2015

Morbad said:
You jump to the same systems at the same times, then you follow him in SC. If someone interdicts him, you use the resulting low energy wake to follow them into the same instance.

In theory, in practice this is next to impossible.

erbal · Jan 20, 2015

Shads said:
In theory, in practice this is next to impossible.

Yeah, I've spent ages trying to drop into a low-energy wake ... they're slippery little things, one second you're crawling up on one, and then whooosh, it's shot right past you

Heater · Jan 20, 2015

erbal said:
Yeah, I've spent ages trying to drop into a low-energy wake ... they're slippery little things, one second you're crawling up on one, and then whooosh, it's shot right past you

yes, but slow down and keep the approach counter (speed at around 6-7 seconds) then you can drop out right on top of it.