Low Intensity Combat Zones - Has FD gone to far this time ? ;-)

mp1963 · Jun 12, 2015

It comes to something when you visit a low intensity CZ and find your nice shiny Python being ripped apart by a novice Viper. Has FD given the NPCs some new godlike powers which totally negate your shields/shield boosters/etc ?

Has FD gone too far in making the CZ's too difficult for amateurs like me ?

ste · Jun 12, 2015

NPCs got a boost, not sure how you got killed by a novice Viper in a python though. They didnt get that much of a boost.

Grecian · Jun 12, 2015

being relatively bad in combat, I have to say the answer is YES.

Arksun · Jun 12, 2015

CZ have become a lot tougher yup. There was a post somewhere about how they're still checking the balancing and things may still get adjusted. Who knows maybe todays little update will also affect CZ as well.

Badben · Jun 12, 2015

mp1963 said:
It comes to something when you visit a low intensity CZ and find your nice shiny Python being ripped apart by a novice Viper. Has FD given the NPCs some new godlike powers which totally negate your shields/shield boosters/etc ? Has FD gone too far in making the CZ's too difficult for amateurs like me ?

Your misfortune pleases me immensly, thank you for sharing this.

Lord_Crazy · Jun 12, 2015

We definitely know (and feel!) that NPCs are now better at shooting at us. But a Viper versus Python... Have you tried deploying your hardpoints?

Yomamas Fett · Jun 12, 2015

Flight Assist Off.

Use it, the NPCs now do, oh and they like to use Chaff, so stop pouring gimples and turnips onto your ships, learn to fight with fixed weapons (redo the combat training if you've came to the Python from being a trader) and FA Off 50% of your combat time and you'll be rulling a CZ.

That being said, bloody Eagles and fixed weapons, am I right?

Monk · Jun 12, 2015

Lord_Crazy said:
We definitely know (and feel!) that NPCs are now better at shooting at us. But a Viper versus Python... Have you tried deploying your hardpoints?

Python vs. Viper? No need for weps....RAMMING SPEED!!!!

Ransurias · Jun 12, 2015

Combat zones aren't unmanageable in a nicely kitted Courier or Vulture, but I wouldn't recommend going into them in anything below that. High intensity conflict zones in particular are nasty, since you'll often be getting ganked by multiple NPCs (most of which, for some reason, seem to be Pythons) at once. If your shields can't take a TON of damage, you're going to have a hard time.

Monk · Jun 12, 2015

Yomamas Fett said:
That being said, bloody Eagles and fixed weapons, am I right?

When I see Eagles, and then hear rail guns....Code Brown

Narase · Jun 12, 2015

Well, for people who are really bad in Combat (like me) small ships are really horrible. Just have been knocked out by a cmdr in a Cobra, because I just couldnt get him in front of me (not even with FA off).

Innigo · Jun 12, 2015

Nah, I was in an High intensity zone in a DB Scout and came away no problem. Definitely more situational awareness needed and pick your battles. A Dangerous Viper gave me a run for my money - that was fun, and about as hairy as it got.

Stick close to your allies, don't let yourself become isolated or the enemy will quickly tear you a new one.

Personally, I think they're about right now.

- - - Updated - - -

Narase said:
Well, for people who are really bad in Combat (like me) small ships are really horrible. Just have been knocked out by a cmdr in a Cobra, because I just couldnt get him in front of me (not even with FA off).

What were you driving?

Privata · Jun 12, 2015

I dont want to sound mean or condensing , but the warzones in both high and low are far , far , far to easy.... I love this game I think it the best space sim of all time and nothing will ever be close to it , but damn the combat it easy

SirGirard · Jun 12, 2015

mp1963 said:
It comes to something when you visit a low intensity CZ and find your nice shiny Python being ripped apart by a novice Viper. Has FD given the NPCs some new godlike powers which totally negate your shields/shield boosters/etc ? Has FD gone too far in making the CZ's too difficult for amateurs like me ?

IMHO...yes they have gone too far!

mp1963 · Jun 12, 2015

The Viper didn't kill me .. he met a sticky end but the damage to my ship was incredible for a solo Viper

Monk · Jun 12, 2015

Innigo said:
Nah, I was in an High intensity zone in a DB Scout and came away no problem. Definitely more situational awareness needed and pick your battles. A Dangerous Viper gave me a run for my money - that was fun, and about as hairy as it got.

Stick close to your allies, don't let yourself become isolated or the enemy will quickly tear you a new one.

Personally, I think they're about right now.

I think so too. Going w/o escort in a large ship with poor maneuverability should be a big risk when there are many superiority fighters around. Kinda validates the roles I expected the Python and Anaconda to have, rather than the "dominate all NPCs" role they had before.

Innigo · Jun 12, 2015

Privata said:
I dont want to sound mean or condensing , but the warzones in both high and low are far , far , far to easy.... I love this game I think it the best space sim of all time and nothing will ever be close to it , but damn the combat it easy

This begs the question; what are you driving?

Luponator · Jun 12, 2015

For combat I stick to my Cobra (can't afford a Python and I'm nostalgic) and the combat zones are pretty interesting now. For me, a lot of situational awareness is now required- had two angry Pythons go after me while trying to knock out an Asp, that was no fun. Then again, if you manage to lure an lone Anaconda out and have an ally with you, it's all good.
The really scary part is that so far, I've only encountered Mostly Harmless and a few of them are really, really mean. I wonder what'd happen with a set of elite 'condas in there.

Long story short I guess it's a lot more difficult now but also, to me, a lot more fun. One of the changes that def. worked out well for my playstyle.

shadragon · Jun 12, 2015

You don't get better by fighting opponents worse than you.

It used to be Elite: Bouncy Castle in RES. Now, you work for it.

Gray Lensman · Jun 12, 2015

shadragon said:
You don't get better by fighting opponents worse than you.

It used to be Elite: Bouncy Castle in RES. Now, you work for it.

My 1.3 experience of resource extraction sites has mostly involved ships from Harmless to Competent ... none are harder to kill than 1.2 just different to kill. The solitary Elite Cobra I ran into was no tougher than 1.2.
Conflict Zone ships were always tougher than RES ships because they were better specced. Now I can't find anything above NOVICE in a CZ but the ships FEEL like Harmless to Elite. I think there's a labelling bug!