Community Event / Creation Buckyball Run A*: What do you do when a mountain is there? Move it.

[FoxTwo]

I hate to tell you this, but it's not that simple.

I hate to tell you this, it IS that simple.

Majority of players don't care to know the nitty gritty of how Powerplay works. Most will just pledge and want to grind to get the rewards. A select few, like you, will find out more about how it works and maximise it ( I wouldn't use the word "exploit" but essentially, to get the most out of it).

So, my test is valid in the sense of someone new and more or less Joe Layman with some idea that Powerplay works "somehow" and it "affects things".

As for your assertion that control systems has more interdictions - while it may be true, like how Anarchy systems are supposed to be more dangerous than Corporate States, in practice it's almost no difference. Zeland is a control system in my test - no interdictions there. I didn't check whether Sol, EZ Aquarii and Lave were control systems, but I know Zeland was. And I was interdicted twice only in Sol, nowhere else. And it's not like I made a dash for the station when I arrived at EZ Aquarii, Lave and Zeland... I hung around, did a sightseeing tour, flew to 2 or 3 of the planets... basically spending about 10 to 15 mins at each system.

10 to 15 minutes, not 30 seconds. Plenty of time for interdictions to occur, regardless of "control systems" or not I'd say.

As for number of powers hostile to you - well I got "HOSTILE" tag everywhere except in Zeland. What you say is true. What happened is not what is expected in a hostile system - no interdictions, no hostilities, no red ships.

So Rankaze, you are probably 100% correct on every detail at the technical level (how it should work) but in practice, the result is what I got (how it really is). And it's negligible.

Anyway I'm currently "out there" right now and since I've also just clicked "LEAVE ALLEGIANCE" yesterday, I need 6 more days before I can do another test and confirm/deny your assertions regarding control systems and exploited systems. I'll even video-record the whole thing this time around (gonna be over 1 hour long I predict) and you can see for yourself how I was basically painting a big bullseye on myself to say "come get me! I'm an intruder!".

 

[Rankaze]

I hate to tell you this, it IS that simple.

Majority of players don't care to know the nitty gritty of how Powerplay works. Most will just pledge and want to grind to get the rewards. A select few, like you, will find out more about how it works and maximise it ( I wouldn't use the word "exploit" but essentially, to get the most out of it).

So, my test is valid in the sense of someone new and more or less Joe Layman with some idea that Powerplay works "somehow" and it "affects things".

As for your assertion that control systems has more interdictions - while it may be true, like how Anarchy systems are supposed to be more dangerous than Corporate States, in practice it's almost no difference. Zeland is a control system in my test - no interdictions there. I didn't check whether Sol, EZ Aquarii and Lave were control systems, but I know Zeland was. And I was interdicted twice only in Sol, nowhere else. And it's not like I made a dash for the station when I arrived at EZ Aquarii, Lave and Zeland... I hung around, did a sightseeing tour, flew to 2 or 3 of the planets... basically spending about 10 to 15 mins at each system.

10 to 15 minutes, not 30 seconds. Plenty of time for interdictions to occur, regardless of "control systems" or not I'd say.

As for number of powers hostile to you - well I got "HOSTILE" tag everywhere except in Zeland. What you say is true. What happened is not what is expected in a hostile system - no interdictions, no hostilities, no red ships.

So Rankaze, you are probably 100% correct on every detail at the technical level (how it should work) but in practice, the result is what I got (how it really is).

You only tested three systems. Small. Sample. Size. Period.

I have actually been PLAYING PowerPlay, both in the Beta and on Live, since it came out. Trust me, it makes a Very Large Difference in how much you get interdicted.

 

[FoxTwo]

You only tested three systems. Small. Sample. Size. Period.

I have actually been PLAYING PowerPlay, both in the Beta and on Live, since it came out. Trust me, it makes a Very Large Difference in how much you get interdicted.

I tested based on a Buckyball Run. 4 to 6 systems, supposed to be "dock and go" but I hung around when I realised I wasn't getting interdicted by the time I hit Zeland.

You tested by "playing Powerplay" as I said. You maximise the various aspects to benefit you.

Racers just wanna get there, dock, screenshot, and get out.

Gimme 3 to 6 systems where you ALWAYS get interdicted, I'll make the next test a Buckyball test - meaning a "dock and go" one, on those HEAVILY interdicted systems. I'll even join the same power as you.

 

[Rankaze]

I tested based on a Buckyball Run. 4 to 6 systems, supposed to be "dock and go" but I hung around when I realised I wasn't getting interdicted by the time I hit Zeland.

You tested by "playing Powerplay" as I said. You maximise the various aspects to benefit you.

Racers just wanna get there, dock, screenshot, and get out.

Gimme 3 to 6 systems where you ALWAYS get interdicted, I'll make the next test a Buckyball test - meaning a "dock and go" one, on those HEAVILY interdicted systems. I'll even join the same power as you.

There is no system where you ALWAYS get interdicted. I said that earlier! But sometimes you get interdicted MULTIPLE TIMES. It's not about any particular system. It's not about something happening all the time! It's about the chance of being interdicted being significantly elevated.

I have been interdicted by enemy Power agents on several occasions when just passing through a control system while fuel scooping. Seriously. I've seen that happen with pirates, too, once or twice, but I've had it happen several times in the last two weeks by Powers agents.

I'm not logged in at the moment (as I have a sinus headache the size of Manhattan and playing games doesn't seem like very much fun right now), so I can't remember the station name or how to spell the system name, but I can tell you that I very frequently get interdicted (upwards of 50% of the time) when returning to Arissa's HQ system Khamadenu (again, might be spelled wrong). I usually dock at the nearest station to the star, I forget the actual name, something like Shajn, I think? The one that isn't Couper Port. It's 465 ls from the star. Couper Port is farther, something like 800-900 ls out, I think?

Typically when I am doing Preparation for Arissa, I set out from there, carry a full hold of reports to some other system, and I come back empty (because I am too lazy to find a viable cargo for the return route). So, I'm returning to the HQ system with an empty hold (meaning, no longer directly involved in any activity for my Power) and proceeding directly to the station - and that is when I frequently get interdicted.

It was also really bad in beta when I was pledged to Mahon and would return to his HQ system (Gateway). Trying to get to any of the stations in that system would frequently get me interdicted (in fact, before they nerfed the interdiction rate in Beta 6 or so, I was typically getting interdicted 3+ times on every trip! Thankfully it's not nearly that out of hand anymore!)

Anyway, I'm done discussing this, because I don't want Z to have to throw the flag on us and I know he's going to want to after reading all this >.> Also, I feel like crud and thus my temper is shorter than usual and I don't want to let it get the better of me.

All I'm saying is this: Those of you who are pledged, expect it to cause problems on future BBR's. Don't let it stop you from running... I don't intend to let it stop me, for certain. But be prepared for some frustration when some of your runs get messed up, because based on my experiences it's pretty likely that they will.

 

[FoxTwo]

Anyway, I'm done discussing this, because I don't want Z to have to throw the flag on us and I know he's going to want to after reading all this >.> Also, I feel like crud and thus my temper is shorter than usual and I don't want to let it get the better of me.

Noted and continued in PMs.

Don't worry, I've noted the system names you have posted here too, for my next test.

 

[ElectricZ]

Anyway, I'm done discussing this, because I don't want Z to have to throw the flag on us and I know he's going to want to after reading all this >.> Also, I feel like crud and thus my temper is shorter than usual and I don't want to let it get the better of me.

Noted and continued in PMs.

Don't worry, I've noted the system names you have posted here too, for my next test.

Thank you gentleman. The ref was indeed about to reach into his pocket and throw a hanky/whip out the card. I finally got some time in with PP today... Boy howdy does it suck being on the Alliance side of things where everybody's gunning for you. I hope my main man Mahon can start working the diplomatic side of things or he won't be around long. But I digress...

PP could very well make it hard for some people to race but we'll just play the field. Who knows, maybe a grand tour of the capitol systems is in order. People shooting at me is no big deal as I suspect it is for most of us. What I'm really curious to see is how the whole ramming thing works out. Crash into someone in the slot and do damage, and the system drops the banhammer on you for seven days, does it not? That could effectively end a pilot's race if he/she can no longer dock at a checkpoint or start/finish line. To my way of thinking, that's the price ya play for Sunday driving. It'll up the pucker factor nicely, I think. Most of us have trained ourselves pretty well to hit the station instead of other ships anyway. But oh, lordy, if putting a dent in a station ever becomes a crime are we in big, big trouble.

 

[FoxTwo]

What I'm really curious to see is how the whole ramming thing works out. Crash into someone in the slot and do damage, and the system drops the banhammer on you for seven days, does it not? That could effectively end a pilot's race if he/she can no longer dock at a checkpoint or start/finish line.

I tested this too. You pay the fine off and everything's fine again. No 7-day thing.

Although, I only tested as far as shield-scrapes go. Didn't crash hard enough into my friend to cause hull damage. Shield scapes costs 400 cr and have no lasting consequences. Shooting an opposing power ship in their backyard has a lasting WANTED tag.

 

[Rankaze]

Thank you gentleman. The ref was indeed about to reach into his pocket and throw a hanky/whip out the card. I finally got some time in with PP today... Boy howdy does it suck being on the Alliance side of things where everybody's gunning for you. I hope my main man Mahon can start working the diplomatic side of things or he won't be around long. But I digress...

PP could very well make it hard for some people to race but we'll just play the field. Who knows, maybe a grand tour of the capitol systems is in order. People shooting at me is no big deal as I suspect it is for most of us. What I'm really curious to see is how the whole ramming thing works out. Crash into someone in the slot and do damage, and the system drops the banhammer on you for seven days, does it not? That could effectively end a pilot's race if he/she can no longer dock at a checkpoint or start/finish line. To my way of thinking, that's the price ya play for Sunday driving. It'll up the pucker factor nicely, I think. Most of us have trained ourselves pretty well to hit the station instead of other ships anyway. But oh, lordy, if putting a dent in a station ever becomes a crime are we in big, big trouble.

Yeah, they actually fixed this... well, pretty much exactly the way I asked for it to be fixed in the original dev update thread. I have to give FD credit for listening on this one, I'm quite satisfied with the fix (and you remember how riled up I was about the original version!) Though I think I wasn't the only one who suggested the idea... if you do damage, it's a fine (shield damage is a small fine, hull damage is a bigger fine) It's only if the other guy explodes you get a bounty. And it probably won't quite be 7 days, even if you do get the bounty, simply because the murder bounty is usually under 7k credits, and bounties below 7k credits scale up on time until they hit 7 days at 7k credits (and stay at 7 days above that).

Since, in my experience, collisions are usually only lethal if you square someone up, just be sure that if you can't avoid someone that you do your best to make it a glancing collision. I can't say I've ever actually destroyed another ship in a station collision (except for once on purpose during beta testing), so... I'm not worried about it. FD did fine by us.

EDIT: Had to correct myself. I have definitely destroyed other ships in collisions in combat...

 

[Alec Turner]

Checking in with a quick progress report as I just passed the halfway-back point today (12,500ly from SOL). Jeez, it's been over two weeks, it only took 15hrs to get there, how can it take soooooooooooo long to get back?

Anyway, couple of postcards ...

Spoiler

Another day, another nebula.

Spoiler

I bloody love hyperspace jumping me, can't get anough of it!

 

[Rankaze]

Hmm. Now I've got to decide whether to sell the Haulin' A* or not.

Since the Hauler class record has been put out of my reach, I really don't have a use for her anymore. We had a great adventure together, and sentiment suggests keeping her, but... that's six million credits I could put into my Fer-de-Lance fund...

I hate decisions like this.

 

[mw_aurora]

Hmm. Now I've got to decide whether to sell the Haulin' A* or not.

Since the Hauler class record has been put out of my reach, I really don't have a use for her anymore. We had a great adventure together, and sentiment suggests keeping her, but... that's six million credits I could put into my Fer-de-Lance fund...

I hate decisions like this.

Yeah, tough one. I solved that by not bringing her back, Running Bare's remains have been added to the mass of Sag A*

If I was you, I would keep Haulin' A*, but strip her back to base spec if you need the cash (screenshot her build) - its what I do with my beloved Cobra that spends long periods in storage (a sort of easy access savings pot). I rationalise it as parts need replacement as they wear out anyway...talking of which, I need to raise some cash to take one of these fancy Asps for a test drive...

 

[Rankaze]

Yeah, tough one. I solved that by not bringing her back, Running Bare's remains have been added to the mass of Sag A*

If I was you, I would keep Haulin' A*, but strip her back to base spec if you need the cash (screenshot her build) - its what I do with my beloved Cobra that spends long periods in storage (a sort of easy access savings pot). I rationalise it as parts need replacement as they wear out anyway...talking of which, I need to raise some cash to take one of these fancy Asps for a test drive...

She's not exactly easy-access, though, seeing as she's currently hangared in Galileo, and I'm operating out of Princess Arissa's territory... the locals in Sol ain't what you'd call friendly (even if they haven't bothered to revoke my permit, and even though I'm still technically Allied with the Federation!), so... if I actually get into a situation where I need money, it might be kinda tricky.

 

[Raiko]

She's not exactly easy-access, though, seeing as she's currently hangared in Galileo, and I'm operating out of Princess Arissa's territory... the locals in Sol ain't what you'd call friendly (even if they haven't bothered to revoke my permit, and even though I'm still technically Allied with the Federation!), so... if I actually get into a situation where I need money, it might be kinda tricky.

You could wait until BB-8, depending on the race style Haulers might be really competitive.

I've got one minor question for Rankaze and FoxTwo regarding PP (sorry Z, I think this bit is kind of Buckyball related though) :

Were you playing in open or solo? I know that FoxTwo normally plays solo and I also know that there's a lot more NPCs spawned in open.

I don't think PP should affect the organisation of Buckyballs at all, it's up to each runner if/who they pledge to. I'm staying independent for the moment, but I am interested to see what effect it has on competitors in the next race.

I'm really glad they tweaked the collision fines.

 

[c64orinoco]

Most of us have trained ourselves pretty well to hit the station instead of other ships anyway. But oh, lordy, if putting a dent in a station ever becomes a crime are we in big, big trouble.

Expert advice from my attorney (and copilot; inflatable; ibid. all my previous posts) suggests that while under Einsteinian-based quantum-relativistic law scenarios, we should be able to sue the station for putting dents in us.

She said something about it all being relative, and quantum-manifold jurisprudence; honestly I just glazed out, gave her some more helium and myself some more vodka.

Problem solved.

 

[FoxTwo]

I've got one minor question for Rankaze and FoxTwo regarding PP (sorry Z, I think this bit is kind of Buckyball related though) :

Were you playing in open or solo? I know that FoxTwo normally plays solo and I also know that there's a lot more NPCs spawned in open.

The conditions of my test was enclosed inside spoiler tags but to answer the question, that test was done in Solo. My reason at the time was that I wanted to see the reaction of NPCs, and from there I infer how "it should behave". Players can kill/attack other players for no other reason than "lulz you suck!".

I don't think PP should affect the organisation of Buckyballs at all, it's up to each runner if/who they pledge to. I'm staying independent for the moment, but I am interested to see what effect it has on competitors in the next race.

And that was the whole point of my test.

However I shall endeavour to run a new test, with parameters as specified by Rankaze. What it would be, would be a "worst-case" scenario if EZ screwed up and picked the most dangerous of places for each of the BBR checkpoints. I aim to start in the HQ of a power I pledged to, then hit 6 (out of 9?) of the other HQ worlds. Can't get much worse than that.

However for my original test I feel it was pretty representative of what a Buckyball would be like with PP - EZ would prolly pick out-of-the-way places that is easily accessible by all (or as much people as possible) and yet not requiring any special permits. So if my original test did not have all "control" systems, it would jive with the spirit of Buckyball - we'd be racing in and out in any case, whether or not it was a "control" or "exploited" system.

EDIT - Actually, come to think of it, I'll run 2 tests. First will be as what I've stated - 6 control systems, all HQ of a power. Then I'll run a second test, starting at the HQ of a power I DID NOT PLEDGE TO, then hitting 5 exploited systems (no control systems), then returning to the start system (6 systems in total). And I'll do them in Open. All checkpoint systems will be in various powers and factions of course, eg 2 Fed 2 Emp 2 alliance, but I'll try to hit a different power within each.

Would be interesting to see the results.

 

[Raiko]

Okay thanks, I was in a rush and so didn't click all the spoilers when I was catching up, sorry.

Spoiler

I think that you need to take into account then that each player spawns their own NPCsin open, but these NPCs interact with ALL players in that instance.

So a busy system in open has many more NPCs, it's not just a question of aggressive players).

 

[Raiko]

Expert advice from my attorney (and copilot; inflatable; ibid. all my previous posts) suggests that while under Einsteinian-based quantum-relativistic law scenarios, we should be able to sue the station for putting dents in us.

She said something about it all being relative, and quantum-manifold jurisprudence; honestly I just glazed out, gave her some more helium and myself some more vodka.

Problem solved.

Are there fines if you hit the station?

I've seen some players claiming that they been fined for hitting the slot, but it was in a whining thread so I don't trust 90% of what I read.

I've not been in the bubble since 1.3

 

[Esvandiary]

Are there fines if you hit the station?

I've seen some players claiming that they been fined for hitting the slot, but it was in a whining thread so I don't trust 90% of what I read.

I've not been in the bubble since 1.3

Nope, can 100% confirm there is no fine for hitting the station in 1.3. I've been doing some trading in Rhonda, and I am not very good at flying an Anaconda yet when obstacles are involved.

Also - crumbs, I go to bed on page 121 and wake up on page 123!
Re. interdictions, I'd say I have definitely encountered more since 1.3, particularly from powers' agents. I've only played in Open, so that's all the experience I can offer.
Whether it'd happen enough to make a difference? *shrug* If it's the usual case of "do as many runs as you like" then it's probably fine - it might ruin a run or two, but certainly not all of them.

Worth noting: you are hostile only in powers' control and exploited systems, not anywhere inside their "bubble" - so that could afford more options when it comes to route choosing.

 

[mw_aurora]

Are there fines if you hit the station?

I've seen some players claiming that they been fined for hitting the slot, but it was in a whining thread so I don't trust 90% of what I read.

I've not been in the bubble since 1.3

I didn't get one a moment ago when I missed the slot, and I was 'speeding' as well. Luckily I wasn't in a crazy, paper-hulled racing ship and actually had shields. Which reminds me, how long before they start enforcing the speed limit? It could get expensive visiting civilization in the future

EDIT: ninja'd by Alot

 

[Raiko]

I didn't get one a moment ago when I missed the slot, and I was 'speeding' as well. Luckily I wasn't in a crazy, paper-hulled racing ship and actually had shields. Which reminds me, how long before they start enforcing the speed limit? It could get expensive visiting civilization in the future

EDIT: ninja'd by Alot

The collision fines/bounties are the speeding fines, so you're free to fly as fast as you like so long as you don't hit anyone.

Personally I think that you should probably be fined for boosting inside the station, although it wouldn't stop any of us would it?