UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn
- Thread starter Yaffle
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13aCSB0JGrgUnmT5A9QmUAo9e_yF_RD8c81UiB-FzM74/edit?usp=sharing
Here's a real basic spreadsheet with each galactic coordinate for each sighting averaged (I posted it earlier, but this thread is already long). I've done two versions, on where I count each time the UA is spotted system, giving that system more weight in the average and just an average of each location. The results are inconclusive. I'm going to try to go back and use the EDDb to get more accurate coordinates for each system and then take a close look at each resulting average in game. Problem is that I'm not sure I have an accurate list. And, the more UAs that are caught in HR 1185 the closer the average will move to the Pleiades. It's very dependent on where people are looking for SSSs. I'd also like to make a time plot but it's hard without a way to play around with the galaxy map outside the game.
Hi folks,
haven't read the thread to be honest, and so don't know if this is old news for you, but I just met a Fed convoy in Bolg that had an UA on board. Sadly I was too much chicken to attack the 2 Condas and 3 Vultures on my own to get to the T9
But maybe a wing of you want to check the SSS in Bolg. Good luck!
haven't read the thread to be honest, and so don't know if this is old news for you, but I just met a Fed convoy in Bolg that had an UA on board. Sadly I was too much chicken to attack the 2 Condas and 3 Vultures on my own to get to the T9
But maybe a wing of you want to check the SSS in Bolg. Good luck!
Are you finding it impossible to find an Unknown Artefact? Bored of sitting alone for hour upon hour, looking at huge expanses of, well, nothing? Willing to help provide a communal asset for all of us working together on the UA mystery? Well, look no further, because it's...
OPERATION: BISCUIT BARREL II - BISK HARDER!
Sunday 23rd August - 1700hrs BST - 109 Virginis - Canonn (Recommended) - 4+hrs
Sunday 23rd August - 1700hrs BST - 109 Virginis - Canonn (Recommended) - 4+hrs
Bizarrely, the basics are unchanged. Arrive at the system, wing up, position yourself 100ls into Deep Space, drop into every Strong Signal Source you can, get lucky, call in your wingmates, get the UA, job done, have a brag.
If you've not joined in on one of the mass-camping exercises before, it is likely that there shall be others around who have, and shall be able to give you some pointers. I'll cover some things below but there will be things missed, so just ask somebody on the day.
Ultimately, the more of us there are, the more chance we have of acquiring one or... dare I say it... more Unknown Artefacts.
There are really only two 'rules' to be observed.
1) If it's not the right kind of SSS, just leave. You'll just be wasting your time, and worse yet quite possibly putting yourself out of the running should a wingmate spot one. The more time spent in supercruise waiting to find the right SSS, the better.
2) Be sure to let prospective wingmates know your UA intentions. Selling it, long-term ferrying it around and conducting an expiration test, to name but three, can't be handled by one UA and better to be winging with others of the same mind than risk ill-will upon successful nabbage.
For those wondering how mass-camping wing-ups like this came to be part of the response to the UA mystery, it's quite simple. Honestly, if I can follow this maths stuff, you can. Basically, rather than having one commander camping for 100 hours, it's proven successful for several commanders camping out together for, well, nowhere near 100 hours. (There's more to it than that but I left my PhD in my other incarnation.)
These wing-up exercises have also proven an excellent social opportunity to share UA gossip and theories and, perhaps most importantly, improve many commanders' chances of getting a sniff of the rarest thing currently to be encountered in the galaxy.
There is some bad news. We've lost our original sponsor. But I've got it covered, as noted below in the prize section.
Why 109 Virginis?
The success of previous Barrels is reasoned to be largely due to being conducted in a system already known to spawn UAs. We could do it in Timocani again but Timocani's word-of-mouth profile continues to attract many hunters and should we be successful in 109 Virginis it will help to broaden our options for hunting. It is also to perhaps see whether UAs are no longer to be had in 'older' spawning grounds. (There is a chance of failure; it's just that after the phenomenal success of other Barrels, well... We'd be silly not to do it again.)
As for why HR 1185 is not being used, it is clearly a drag for many commanders to use up module space to get to, takes longer to get to and, well, it's a bit much to get several commanders to rendezvous there when they may very well be coming away from less UA-specific activities.
As to whether we should consider (as on the 9th) a change of system if there is a civil war or other kind of in-system strife going on, I'm going to say it's not necessary. Civil war was ongoing in Timocani on the 9th and 11th during previous Barrels and those participants there at the time had minimal problems and also saw success in 90 and 25 minutes respectively while, regrettably, there was a wee bit less luck to be had in Bast during the exercise. So, 109 Virginis.
Where in 109 Virginis?
One thing that is not known is whether a greater frequency of SSSs might be had closer to the star or to the station. If you are frustrated by a low rate at one after perhaps an hour, try the other. Although, with it being a fair trip between the two, perhaps some point between as well. Other than that, as ever, good luck and go with your intuition or the hunting experience of wingmates.
As for why HR 1185 is not being used, it is clearly a drag for many commanders to use up module space to get to, takes longer to get to and, well, it's a bit much to get several commanders to rendezvous there when they may very well be coming away from less UA-specific activities.
As to whether we should consider (as on the 9th) a change of system if there is a civil war or other kind of in-system strife going on, I'm going to say it's not necessary. Civil war was ongoing in Timocani on the 9th and 11th during previous Barrels and those participants there at the time had minimal problems and also saw success in 90 and 25 minutes respectively while, regrettably, there was a wee bit less luck to be had in Bast during the exercise. So, 109 Virginis.
Where in 109 Virginis?
One thing that is not known is whether a greater frequency of SSSs might be had closer to the star or to the station. If you are frustrated by a low rate at one after perhaps an hour, try the other. Although, with it being a fair trip between the two, perhaps some point between as well. Other than that, as ever, good luck and go with your intuition or the hunting experience of wingmates.
The Canonn private group is to be the primary but not only venue. For those of us with access to it, it is recommended since it will vastly cut down time with pre-winging introductions and also, as with Mobius in previous Barrels, remove any PvP interference from the equation. The job is to get as many man-hours crammed into waiting on SSS spawns as possible, and anything else is just a pain in the rump. It's just an efficiency thing, really, since if you are in the private group you know the only other commanders you see - even if you have yet to meet them out in the black - are there for the same reason you are.
As for Mobius, that is still obviously valid for similar reasons, and certainly affords the option of joining in for commanders not wanting to be directly aligned with the Canonn group.
During the first Biscuit Barrel, we were camped in two systems, mostly in Timocani but with a wing operating simultaneously in Bast as mentioned above. Mobius sufficed then, but with a seeming upswing in wider attention on Biscuit Barrels there is a fair likelihood of commanders turning up who do not entirely intend to join for the same reasons.
As far as I am concerned, even as a Mobius member, I'd rather fly with people I can automatically assume are there for the same SCIENCE! even if I don't know science from a hole in my canopy. It's going to be a long old evening for many of us so the less time wasted on that the better, I feel.
That said, a Mobius choice is by no means viewed with any disrespect.
Besides, I'm actually an evil sod. I like the idea of Derthek being membership spammed even more.
Oh, okay, I'll play fair: if you've yet to get your name into him for Canonn group membership and hope to make use of it for this exercise, please do so soon to avoid frustration. He may be his own future self from the past or whatever the hell happened with the Canonn time device, all quite beyond me, but last I heard he's only human.
As for Mobius, that is still obviously valid for similar reasons, and certainly affords the option of joining in for commanders not wanting to be directly aligned with the Canonn group.
During the first Biscuit Barrel, we were camped in two systems, mostly in Timocani but with a wing operating simultaneously in Bast as mentioned above. Mobius sufficed then, but with a seeming upswing in wider attention on Biscuit Barrels there is a fair likelihood of commanders turning up who do not entirely intend to join for the same reasons.
As far as I am concerned, even as a Mobius member, I'd rather fly with people I can automatically assume are there for the same SCIENCE! even if I don't know science from a hole in my canopy. It's going to be a long old evening for many of us so the less time wasted on that the better, I feel.
That said, a Mobius choice is by no means viewed with any disrespect.
Besides, I'm actually an evil sod. I like the idea of Derthek being membership spammed even more.
Oh, okay, I'll play fair: if you've yet to get your name into him for Canonn group membership and hope to make use of it for this exercise, please do so soon to avoid frustration. He may be his own future self from the past or whatever the hell happened with the Canonn time device, all quite beyond me, but last I heard he's only human.
Obviously, with direct cross-platform cooperation being unavailable to us, there's a snag here. But the Barrels have worked well for the PC/Mac brigade and should pay the same dividends on XBox.
It's hoped that XBox groups such as the Nova Fleet can run a parallel exercise so that the sharing of any successes and observations will benefit us all, whichever platform we play on. The underlying ethos of these Biscuit Barrel events has been cooperation and coordination with a fair bit of enthusiasm thrown in, so why shouldn't we extend that across all platforms?
If you represent an interested group on XBox, feel free to PM me for any waffling help you think I might be able to provide in nailing down any queries that come your way. (Please, though, not individual XBox commanders. I'm not Derthek. I don't have PM spam fetish and will, frankly, likely just not bother to reply.)
It's hoped that XBox groups such as the Nova Fleet can run a parallel exercise so that the sharing of any successes and observations will benefit us all, whichever platform we play on. The underlying ethos of these Biscuit Barrel events has been cooperation and coordination with a fair bit of enthusiasm thrown in, so why shouldn't we extend that across all platforms?
If you represent an interested group on XBox, feel free to PM me for any waffling help you think I might be able to provide in nailing down any queries that come your way. (Please, though, not individual XBox commanders. I'm not Derthek. I don't have PM spam fetish and will, frankly, likely just not bother to reply.)
There's been a hitch with the sponsorship from Shiva DiGrassi Salons of Vega. They've not been returning my hails since they figured out we're not the Fuel Rats. (Damn those pesky, selfless Fuel Rats!) But fear not, Commanders and Sciencers. We don't need those preening, scienceless, botox peddling pigs.
Best not to ask how, but I've recently come by a hoard of incriminating documents which I've leveraged into alternative sponsorship from...
So, the Speed Record prize of 50t Palladium is back up for grabs for all members of a wing successful in snagging a UA during the exercise. A cargo transfer rendezvous to be arranged after the exercise winds down.
Remember: the time to beat is 25 minutes.
(Since I'm playing PC/Mac, this will obviously not be available to XBox players.)
"Do we get the prize even if we don't successfully acquire an Unknown Artefact?"
Hahaha. Haha, you're funny. No. Please report the sighting here on the forum but... hahaha. No.
Best not to ask how, but I've recently come by a hoard of incriminating documents which I've leveraged into alternative sponsorship from...
Sir Virgil J Panini & Sons
- Honourably baking all kinds of stuff for the Imperial Estates since 3228 -
Larval Studios
"Give us the rights, we're give you a credit. It's how it works, trust us!"
Mad Harriet's Distributors and Landing Gear Bargain Salvage Sales Emporium, Sirius
- If you feel the need to ask awkward questions, you've clearly never been to Sirius before... -
- Honourably baking all kinds of stuff for the Imperial Estates since 3228 -
Larval Studios
"Give us the rights, we're give you a credit. It's how it works, trust us!"
Mad Harriet's Distributors and Landing Gear Bargain Salvage Sales Emporium, Sirius
- If you feel the need to ask awkward questions, you've clearly never been to Sirius before... -
So, the Speed Record prize of 50t Palladium is back up for grabs for all members of a wing successful in snagging a UA during the exercise. A cargo transfer rendezvous to be arranged after the exercise winds down.
Remember: the time to beat is 25 minutes.
(Since I'm playing PC/Mac, this will obviously not be available to XBox players.)
"Do we get the prize even if we don't successfully acquire an Unknown Artefact?"
Hahaha. Haha, you're funny. No. Please report the sighting here on the forum but... hahaha. No.
Any advice?
Well, you will be outnumbered, even in a wing, but one thing most quickly comes to mind, and I'm sure others will share their experience on the day concerning other aspects of Biscuit Barrelling but, yeah, there is one thing...
When you find one and you've called your wing in, don't dither about waiting for it to jump so you have fewer escorts to contend with. Glitches happen. Connections fail. Better by far to take it in 109 Virginis when you see it. You shall, after all, be in a wing, so with one of you scooping when they get their opening, the others can keep the escorts busy.
For those of you playing the 'blocker' role in your wings, try to vary your targets across the escorts, to better ensure they keep their attention on you. The requirement is not to kill these poor Navy schlubs but to keep them off the scooping wingmate and high-wake out as soon as they confirm they have the Unknown Artefact in their hold.
But don't dither. Get in position, and have at it sooner rather than later.
Four pips to shields is advised. Running away is hardly the plan, and we're not going there to kill them like some terrorist group. Stay alive, in one piece and the rest falls into place. Then, just bug out.
Also, do be prepared to have your ship destroyed during a heist. Some of us have huge, ugly tanks. Not all of us are so blessed. Have your insurance in hand. I can't think of a ship loss that occurred during the previous 1-and-a-bit Biscuit Barrel exercises, but you might be flying under an unlucky star come this Sunday.
Remember: these are Navy escorts, not off-the-rack weekend pirates or shoot-and-jump trader vessels. They can take more of a pounding than your average Joe McDogfight. The Navy has deep pockets.
Should we take any particular modules?
See above for my recommendation not to bother with Frameshift Wake Scanners. Also, feel free to take them if you know you're going to be plannng on letting the escorts disappear between jumps. (But that really isn't something I'd advise.) Other than that, approach it as a heavy-fire piracy raid. While many of us are inexperienced in piracy, it's ultimately straightforward. Get the Type-9's shields down (when you are all in position and ready) and deploy Hatch Breaker Limpets to get it to spill its cargo. Shield Cells and Boosters are advised for all commanders if possible, particularly if you know you aren't very swift at scooping and shall likely be falling into the "I'm getting shot by every Anaconda and Vulture in the universe all at once, please hurry up and scoop the damn thing!" role during the heist.
Is it boring?
Hell, yes, the camping itself is, and repetitive, going in and out of the wrong kind of Strong Signal Source again and again, but that's another reason why going in wings is to everybody's benefit. However, and this is perhaps the clincher for some not quite sure yet whether they want to participate: there is nothing quite like flying in the coordinated (and outnumbered) wing raid on one of these UA Convoys, fire blasting left and right, a job to do, wingmates to cover. It was the most fun I've enjoyed out there in the five or six months since I first blasted off in my first stock Sidewinder.
It may be 'only' PvE but it is the rarest experience to be had at the moment. If you're into such things, it's a big score on the bragging rights leaderboard.
Indeed, it is one of the tertiary aims of Biscuit Barrel II to help get commanders the chance to enjoy that rarity to its fullest. Plus, it's all about the SCIENCE! and... well... pew-pew that almost no commanders get the chance to experience. (Their loss.)
So, yeah, it's boring and then it stops being boring real quick if you're lucky. It is down to luck. But it's a lucky chance known to be multiplied by operating in such an exercise as this.
Should we give the UA to somebody else?
Not me.
There are former Bearers and other Canonn volunteers to be found if you do not want your schedule to be bogged down in tests and travel.
Honestly, and excuse my bias here, to my mind the Canonn really is intent on eliminating possibilities and pursuing theories. Anarchic, sometimes too much tinfoil, an addiction to biscuits, yes - but dedicated. It is the reason the Canonn was formed. But, it's obviously up to any wings who succeed on the day. All we ask is that this thread is used to keep us in the loop on any tests, discoveries and theories as we all work together to nail this ruddy mystery down. (And kick it in the chops.)
What about instancing problems?
These have not been a problem during previous Barrels. That's not to say they weren't there, it's just that they quickly become a moot point once people have managed to wing up.
Even if we see a sizeable increase in participants (which would be superb for everybody involved) the instancing problems should not be immune to a little patience prior to winging up - and if they remain a problem, simply drop into the same instance as all your wingmates and then back into Supercruise. If that doesn't fix any problems, well, there's always other ways to work around problems as they arise.
Well, you will be outnumbered, even in a wing, but one thing most quickly comes to mind, and I'm sure others will share their experience on the day concerning other aspects of Biscuit Barrelling but, yeah, there is one thing...
When you find one and you've called your wing in, don't dither about waiting for it to jump so you have fewer escorts to contend with. Glitches happen. Connections fail. Better by far to take it in 109 Virginis when you see it. You shall, after all, be in a wing, so with one of you scooping when they get their opening, the others can keep the escorts busy.
For those of you playing the 'blocker' role in your wings, try to vary your targets across the escorts, to better ensure they keep their attention on you. The requirement is not to kill these poor Navy schlubs but to keep them off the scooping wingmate and high-wake out as soon as they confirm they have the Unknown Artefact in their hold.
But don't dither. Get in position, and have at it sooner rather than later.
Four pips to shields is advised. Running away is hardly the plan, and we're not going there to kill them like some terrorist group. Stay alive, in one piece and the rest falls into place. Then, just bug out.
Also, do be prepared to have your ship destroyed during a heist. Some of us have huge, ugly tanks. Not all of us are so blessed. Have your insurance in hand. I can't think of a ship loss that occurred during the previous 1-and-a-bit Biscuit Barrel exercises, but you might be flying under an unlucky star come this Sunday.
Remember: these are Navy escorts, not off-the-rack weekend pirates or shoot-and-jump trader vessels. They can take more of a pounding than your average Joe McDogfight. The Navy has deep pockets.
Should we take any particular modules?
See above for my recommendation not to bother with Frameshift Wake Scanners. Also, feel free to take them if you know you're going to be plannng on letting the escorts disappear between jumps. (But that really isn't something I'd advise.) Other than that, approach it as a heavy-fire piracy raid. While many of us are inexperienced in piracy, it's ultimately straightforward. Get the Type-9's shields down (when you are all in position and ready) and deploy Hatch Breaker Limpets to get it to spill its cargo. Shield Cells and Boosters are advised for all commanders if possible, particularly if you know you aren't very swift at scooping and shall likely be falling into the "I'm getting shot by every Anaconda and Vulture in the universe all at once, please hurry up and scoop the damn thing!" role during the heist.
Is it boring?
Hell, yes, the camping itself is, and repetitive, going in and out of the wrong kind of Strong Signal Source again and again, but that's another reason why going in wings is to everybody's benefit. However, and this is perhaps the clincher for some not quite sure yet whether they want to participate: there is nothing quite like flying in the coordinated (and outnumbered) wing raid on one of these UA Convoys, fire blasting left and right, a job to do, wingmates to cover. It was the most fun I've enjoyed out there in the five or six months since I first blasted off in my first stock Sidewinder.
It may be 'only' PvE but it is the rarest experience to be had at the moment. If you're into such things, it's a big score on the bragging rights leaderboard.
Indeed, it is one of the tertiary aims of Biscuit Barrel II to help get commanders the chance to enjoy that rarity to its fullest. Plus, it's all about the SCIENCE! and... well... pew-pew that almost no commanders get the chance to experience. (Their loss.)
So, yeah, it's boring and then it stops being boring real quick if you're lucky. It is down to luck. But it's a lucky chance known to be multiplied by operating in such an exercise as this.
Should we give the UA to somebody else?
Not me.
There are former Bearers and other Canonn volunteers to be found if you do not want your schedule to be bogged down in tests and travel.
Honestly, and excuse my bias here, to my mind the Canonn really is intent on eliminating possibilities and pursuing theories. Anarchic, sometimes too much tinfoil, an addiction to biscuits, yes - but dedicated. It is the reason the Canonn was formed. But, it's obviously up to any wings who succeed on the day. All we ask is that this thread is used to keep us in the loop on any tests, discoveries and theories as we all work together to nail this ruddy mystery down. (And kick it in the chops.)
What about instancing problems?
These have not been a problem during previous Barrels. That's not to say they weren't there, it's just that they quickly become a moot point once people have managed to wing up.
Even if we see a sizeable increase in participants (which would be superb for everybody involved) the instancing problems should not be immune to a little patience prior to winging up - and if they remain a problem, simply drop into the same instance as all your wingmates and then back into Supercruise. If that doesn't fix any problems, well, there's always other ways to work around problems as they arise.
I am not 'in charge' of this exercise. You are, or at least each wing is in charge of its own strategy and intentions.
Yes, I, like others are still hopeful that a dedicated expiration test can fully put to rest the resurgent calls for one. Which may seem a waste but the more things that are roundly discounted, the fewer things the Bearers need to spend their time on. It just keeps coming back, the call to watch it die under certain circumstances - however much I agree with others that expiration won't likely give us anything but a nice video of an Unknown Artefact slipping from our collective use. There again, there is strong reasoning behind a push to accelerate location-based testing since we now have more UAs available than ever before.
That being true, it's up to you. It really is. It's not like I or anybody else can order you. Make sure you're in-step with your wingmates' intentions and you can't put a foot wrong. Nobody here is going to second guess your intuition during a heist, nobody is going to take your UA away from you.
Autonomy is king, just as it likely is elsewhere for non-Canonn commanders and long standing associates planning on joining in; if you're doing things under orders you don't like, to hell with that, you're in the wrong group.
Anyhow! To wrap this wall of text up...
As ever during Biscuit Barrels, I shall be happy to assist any participants having trouble finding wingmates or with queries. Good luck to us all come Sunday, commanders!
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Sorry bout that... Can't promise I won't torture you again tonight. Or my liver.
*rage quits*
A nice smoky Islay malt would do nicely. I may just try dumping the content of an ashtray into some meths.
Bruichladdich!
Can the UA detect things we can't see and tell us with morse?
We may be able to test this, just before first find tags where introduced MD released a file with all first finds in game upto feb:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109599
after checking my first find I noticed a few comets!
search Puppis Sector ON-T b3-5 on this site: http://dump.bass-speaker.com/discovery.php
Other people noticed them too and MD told us they were in the game but the visuals weren't good enough yet (I suspect they just used it for ships in SC lol)
If I remember correctly some of the comets were orbiting planets, we might be able to pic one up using UA.
unfortunately I cant check file from thread to locate a suitable candidate and the site doesn't show anything if you just search comet.
We may be able to test this, just before first find tags where introduced MD released a file with all first finds in game upto feb:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109599
after checking my first find I noticed a few comets!
search Puppis Sector ON-T b3-5 on this site: http://dump.bass-speaker.com/discovery.php
Other people noticed them too and MD told us they were in the game but the visuals weren't good enough yet (I suspect they just used it for ships in SC lol
)If I remember correctly some of the comets were orbiting planets, we might be able to pic one up using UA.
unfortunately I cant check file from thread to locate a suitable candidate and the site doesn't show anything if you just search comet.
Hi folks,
haven't read the thread to be honest, and so don't know if this is old news for you, but I just met a Fed convoy in Bolg that had an UA on board. Sadly I was too much chicken to attack the 2 Condas and 3 Vultures on my own to get to the T9
But maybe a wing of you want to check the SSS in Bolg. Good luck!
Perfect. Thanks.
Bolg should be noted down for those who maps out the area.
IMHO, it's just RNG as usual. It can be encountered anywhere there are SSS.
Bless you!
There is an alert, it will do something similar to new message.
Muchas gracias, Padre!
I like the geometry angle, i originally thought three or four UAs together would open up the thargoid stargate but i can see its five that we need now.
And give them some healing waters of shintara, and a biscuit to dunk in it.
Never notice it.
Oh God please no.
Open comms.... "We don't want him, you took him, you keep the smegger!"
I must say, that Hathor goddess has a lot going fo her: http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/hathor.html
Goddess of the Milky way, born the day Sirius rose to the sky, married to Sobek, friends with Bast, represents Pleiades in the form of the seven Hathors and lots more.
Read the page. Good stuff.
Goddess of the Milky way, born the day Sirius rose to the sky, married to Sobek, friends with Bast, represents Pleiades in the form of the seven Hathors and lots more.
Read the page. Good stuff.
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