*** WARNING *** Regarding 1.3

[dognosh]

Be careful after 1.3 if you're returning with lots of data and don't go straight to sell them(i.e. you go through lots of inhabited systems to your sell point, or you sell in multiple systems)
The NPCs now have teeth !!!
I am not saying they are as skilled as a decent human player, but in Beta they are doing some funky maneuvers and doing "power management" .

TL;DR NPCs are tougher and deadlier !!!

 

[Jackie Silver]

It's also worth pointing out that you'll see a lot of Power-affiliated ships flying around, and if you pledge to a Power then its opponents (as things currently stand) like to pull you out of supercruise and start shooting.
AIUI you also get a Hostile status in space control by opposing Powers - I'm not sure entirely how that works but it seems to be carte blanche for people to shoot at you.

 

[dognosh]

It's also worth pointing out that you'll see a lot of Power-affiliated ships flying around, and if you pledge to a Power then its opponents (as things currently stand) like to pull you out of supercruise and start shooting.
AIUI you also get a Hostile status in space control by opposing Powers - I'm not sure entirely how that works but it seems to be carte blanche for people to shoot at you.

Excellent points !!!!

Hence why I sell at the edge of space facing the core, I go through 1 anarchy system to get to it, and I don't stop to refuel in my last 6 jumps.
I sell at a high tech (with most modules) belonging to the empire called EKONDHRI , worth a look on the map

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Yeah, I think its wise to head home and cash in before PP drops. I'm not a fan of the core aspects of 1.3 at the moment, but at least ED is finally getting some teeth.

I thought NPC wings in 1.2 would have added some danger for returning explorers, but then FD promptly went and removed all NPCs from the frontier badlands

Hopefully 1.3 will see them return.

 

[Zieman]

I thought NPC wings in 1.2 would have added some danger to returning explorers, but then FD promptly went and removed all NPCs from the frontier badlands

Hopefully 1.3 will see them return.

Not in such numbers as they were back then!

As rare encounters to spice things up a bit, sure.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Not in such numbers as they were back then!

As rare encounters to spice things up a bit, sure.

Agreed. In the lore and in the books, the Frontier is often talked of as a place of mystery and danger. The new wild west.

But in reality its the safest place to be at the moment.

It should be home to outlaw bases and hideouts. NPC outcasts living on the fringe of colonized space making a living off prospectors and unwary travelers.

A few pockets of danger here and there should spawn from time to time until the law and bounty hunters discover them and eradicate the threat, and the threat spawns elsewhere. That's how the frontier badlands could be used. It would certainly get the old adrenaline going again when returning from a long expedition!

 

[Zenith]

Thanks for the warning.

Given the Cmdrs saying it, I'll take notice and start heading back.

 

[Rikk]

Cheers for the warning.

I think I'll be OK coming back in. FA off, pips to shield and engines, and booooost!

To think, on my way out I got interdicted every three to four systems to the point where I have about 150k in unclaimed bounties! Then 1.2 came and the NPC's went away. Now in 1.3 they re not as numerous but nasty none the less.

 

[domaq]

Dognash,

In your opinion, how bad is it? Do you recommend we:
a. Turn and fight - fill up the Asp's 6 weapon slots when going out into the deep
b. Run like a frightened child - fit a 4A power distro for quick boosts
c. Do nothing and just accept the increased risk

 

[Kancro Vantas]

Im not coming back in time most likely! Did they confirm release date?

Thanks for the warning dognosh. Not too worry as I'm fully armed and ready but still first thing is to not engage.

 

[Witzo]

It will be a couple of months before I return, but then I will ask for some assistence from my Explorer friends that I gained through Dognosh's where-is-everyone maps. I would like to deposit my data at an Alliance station. Alliance stars all seem to be surround by dubious factions.

 

[CMDR DoubleSkulls]

I guess, if you don't want to sell your data at the edge, then perhaps arming up at a high tech system would make sense.

Also don't forget solo if you are really worried.

 

[Arry]

Is this a retail or beta game discussion?

Arry

 

[Allitnil]

I came back late last week in anticipation of 1.3. Got bored by Sunday and headed back out again . Only a shortish trip though, and as long as it doesn't get released tomorrow I can get back before it.

As for the NPCs, I was disappointed to realise they had all but completely disappeared when I came home in April. There were immersion breaking aspects (eg Sidewinders 200 LY from a station even though they had no fuel scoop...) but they did make the return home exciting. As long as they are properly equipped and have some sort of reason for being there and attacking then I'm all for them being reintroduced.

 

[Ripster]

Be careful after 1.3 if you're returning with lots of data and don't go straight to sell them(i.e. you go through lots of inhabited systems to your sell point, or you sell in multiple systems)
The NPCs now have teeth !!!
I am not saying they are as skilled as a decent human player, but in Beta they are doing some funky maneuvers and doing "power management" .

TL;DR NPCs are tougher and deadlier !!!

Pah...

We laugh at danger....

 

[Dommarraa]

Pah...

We laugh at danger....

I feel I must concur. A more combat skilled AI is hardly a serious danger to an explorer. They only get a chance to interdict when you head for a station. If it is so dangerous to a stripped down Asp, a Sidey will never make it to Eravate.
The PP regions will can have little if any effect on non-PP members.

I may be proved wrong, but I dont think the Sky is Falling

 

[ScruffyBee]

A few facts.

I would not worry to much.
As long as you don't align yourself to a pp faction the others won't bother you.
You don't have to join a pp faction.
It is no harder to break intridiction than it was before.
Only if you get into a fight will it get a little harder.

 

[domaq]

I feel I must concur. A more combat skilled AI is hardly a serious danger to an explorer. They only get a chance to interdict when you head for a station. If it is so dangerous to a stripped down Asp, a Sidey will never make it to Eravate.
The PP regions will can have little if any effect on non-PP members.

I may be proved wrong, but I dont think the Sky is Falling

Thats what i was waiting to hear. Thx Dom.

 

[dognosh]

Dognash,

In your opinion, how bad is it? Do you recommend we:
a. Turn and fight - fill up the Asp's 6 weapon slots when going out into the deep
b. Run like a frightened child - fit a 4A power distro for quick boosts
c. Do nothing and just accept the increased risk

It is a tad difficult for 90% of explorers to do option A when they are not armed.
And 90% of explorers do not care for option C when they have been out there for over 1 to 6 months of game time.
(90% is a guess and could be very wrong)

If this thread saves one running frightened child from losing their data,I have succeeded

To recap,including other replies, do one or more of these :
Don't join PP
Dock asap and sell, or dock and pick up a fighting ship before going to another system
Get help from us when near home(escort)
Explore in a ship capable of combat

- - - Updated - - -

Is this a retail or beta game discussion?

Arry

This is regarding when 1.3 is released

 

[Varrag]

I thought NPC wings in 1.2 would have added some danger for returning explorers, but then FD promptly went and removed all NPCs from the frontier badlands

Yep, they have this habit to go from one extreme to another: at first, aggressive NPCs were populating whole galaxy, now they are nowhere to be seen until you enter inhabited systems.