A Thought on Helping People Who Trade and Don't Do Combat

I see people here fighting over the AI. Some argue that it's perfect. Others, mainly traders, are complaining they can't get away from the high ranking AI that now stalk anyone with cargo through a system. A thought occurred to me, what if the trade vessels got a speed buff? Enough to where escaping in a Type 7 or a Type 9 became feasible. Such a buff wouldn't affect game balance horribly seeing as pure trade vessels are god awful in any sort of combat scenario. It wouldn't require an AI nerf, which one side apparently doesn't want anything to do with, and it allows people who want to bring stuff from one place to sell at another to have a far better chance at doing so in one piece. Thoughts fellow Cmdrs?
 
I see people here fighting over the AI. Some argue that it's perfect. Others, mainly traders, are complaining they can't get away from the high ranking AI that now stalk anyone with cargo through a system. A thought occurred to me, what if the trade vessels got a speed buff? Enough to where escaping in a Type 7 or a Type 9 became feasible. Such a buff wouldn't affect game balance horribly seeing as pure trade vessels are god awful in any sort of combat scenario. It wouldn't require an AI nerf, which one side apparently doesn't want anything to do with, and it allows people who want to bring stuff from one place to sell at another to have a far better chance at doing so in one piece. Thoughts fellow Cmdrs?

Escape in a T7 and a T9 are already feasible.
 
Thoughts fellow Cmdrs?

That you are trying to fix something that isn't broken. Many cmdr's have given advice on simple steps to either escape or fight back against Elite combat ships. For some strange reason many commanders blatantly ignore the advise and carry on making new topics on how to fix things.
 

Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
Yep.

Still in my T9, I have yet to die since 2.1 despite being interdicted a lot. A half decent set-up and a clear plan of action allows for escape every time. Full integrity of hull and shields is not guaranteed.
 
The T6 is quite fast and can outrun many pirates, but normaly a big, heavy and fully laden tradingship shouldn't be all that fast.
 

Deleted member 115407

D
Many cmdr's have given advice on simple steps to either escape or fight back against Elite combat ships. For some strange reason many commanders blatantly ignore the advise...

Perhaps it's the delivery? Much of the advice I've seen has an air to it of "You're so dumb, lol". Maybe along with the livestreams and community goals, there should be some tactics and survival stickies in the forums.

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Perhaps it's the delivery? Much of the advice I've seen has an air to it of "You're so dumb, lol". Maybe along with the livestreams and community goals, there should be some tactics and survival stickies in the forums.

Let me fix that. I know it probably gets tiring to type the same advice over and over again, so maybe along with the livestreams and community goals, there should be some tactics and survival stickies in the forums.
 
That you are trying to fix something that isn't broken. Many cmdr's have given advice on simple steps to either escape or fight back against Elite combat ships. For some strange reason many commanders blatantly ignore the advise and carry on making new topics on how to fix things.

We are just past Towel day but Douglas Adams nailed it

“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.”
 
Even for those who insist on doing everything wrong, "dirty drives level 3" should give a more than sufficient speed buff and it only takes an evening to get it. My Asp does 448 m/s now (along with its 38LY jump w/weapons etc)..
 
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Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
A mission board where the traders could hire fighter protection would also be useful, bringing the two groups together in one big warm hug.

Yes. This would be a good feature - especially if we could hire NPC help as well as human.
 
You can also give npcs carho even after they are shooting at you drop them 1 at a time cheap bait cargo.

Its something that I tested out as I focus on combat.
 
By definition, trade vehicles are heavy and slow. They are haulers, movers of lots of goods, therefore, not designed with speed in mind.

3 posters here, are experienced players and 'understand' the rules and how to make the most of them. So for them running away in a T-7 or T-9, is just a matter of routine. However: The OP, has a history of issues with the nemesis of traders.

I would say, if the OP cannot build and work with the heavy T-9, then get a Clipper. If you can afford a T-9, you can afford a Clipper. Yes that means a drop in cargo mass and therefore a drop in profits and I think that that is the OPs problem. They are looking for maximum profits and I believe, the 3 experienced players here, will agree, that these days, profits, in the short term, have to take a hit. Whatever, your ship, or profession here in the game; defence and speed capabilities, have to be improved. Cutting down on cargo space, in exchange for things like shields, will make profits in the long term, due to reduced losses.
 

Deleted member 115407

D
You can also give npcs carho even after they are shooting at you drop them 1 at a time cheap bait cargo.

Its something that I tested out as I focus on combat.

This isn't a guaranteed solution, though. I dropped what I had the other day - 9 units of water - and was told that it wasn't good enough. So I dropped my remaining limpts, all 12 or so of them, and was promptly insta-killed by an OP NPC.

No, not insta-killed. Insta-murdered. It wasn't fun.
 

Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
By definition, trade vehicles are heavy and slow. They are haulers, movers of lots of goods, therefore, not designed with speed in mind.

3 posters here, are experienced players and 'understand' the rules and how to make the most of them. So for them running away in a T-7 or T-9, is just a matter of routine. However: The OP, has a history of issues with the nemesis of traders.

I would say, if the OP cannot build and work with the heavy T-9, then get a Clipper. If you can afford a T-9, you can afford a Clipper. Yes that means a drop in cargo mass and therefore a drop in profits and I think that that is the OPs problem. They are looking for maximum profits and I believe, the 3 experienced players here, will agree, that these days, profits, in the short term, have to take a hit. Whatever, your ship, or profession here in the game; defence and speed capabilities, have to be improved. Cutting down on cargo space, in exchange for things like shields, will make profits in the long term, due to reduced losses.

Yes, indeed. From my point of view I've never flown shieldless, but since the new level of aggression from pirates (no more submit, cooldown, wake, then they start firing) better shields are needed. Trying to fight, for me, in a T9 is a waste of time. I am simply not good enough. I've recognised that, and have a clear plan for fleeing with maximal chances of survival.

There are a few tactics. Deathwatch notes that dumping some cargo will distract them.

I always submit to the interdiction so the cooldown is faster, but note the ship after me first. Will it mass-lock me or not? If yes, I'l high wake. If no, I'll low wake and resume the journey.

Submit, boost, spin, twirl, (well, it's a T9 so more lumber, but even the T9 has lateral and vertical thrusters.) pips to shields and engines, wait for the cooldown, punch the wake button, get out. Remember you are invulnerable once the countdown starts.

Unless you get unlucky with a buggy one-shot killer NPC it is easily survivable every time.
 
My T-6 know when and how to run when its best and fight if it needs, there is and has been from the start a whole raft of options in outfitting that allow every Cmdr to individually balance there ships already... So no extra balance requirements are required.

Besides regardless of playing in open a group or solo, there should still be an element of risk in trading. The whole core of the game is "its a dangerous universe". The skilled trader is one who makes the effort to learn how to balance risk against reward its a dangerous universe, and all the tools are in the game to allow this from outfitting your ship correctly, detailed mission information, a galaxy map that shows you what's happening politically and militarily and last but not least Galnet.


While there may occasionally be game mechanic issues that are code rather than design issues these are few and generally identified and dealt with quickly.
 
I see people here fighting over the AI. Some argue that it's perfect. Others, mainly traders, are complaining they can't get away from the high ranking AI that now stalk anyone with cargo through a system. A thought occurred to me, what if the trade vessels got a speed buff? Enough to where escaping in a Type 7 or a Type 9 became feasible. Such a buff wouldn't affect game balance horribly seeing as pure trade vessels are god awful in any sort of combat scenario. It wouldn't require an AI nerf, which one side apparently doesn't want anything to do with, and it allows people who want to bring stuff from one place to sell at another to have a far better chance at doing so in one piece. Thoughts fellow Cmdrs?

Thoughts? Stop wanting to make the game easier than it is. If you are dying a lot then you are not paying attention to the finer points.
 
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