Newcomer / Intro Does being pledge to a power hurt trading?

[Gavin Burke]

Hi, I'm currently pledged to Zachary Hudson so been moving stuff from Nanomam to wherever, but then took a small break to earn some CR instead.

I've been shipping cargo from a few jumps in Zachary Hudson space to a system a few jumps into Edmund Mahon's space, and have noticed that I am getting intradicted a lot more than I'd expect (I have never done trading before).

Is this effect due to me being aligned to a power, or just what happens so often when flying with 100+ tons or cargo?

I generally get away unscathed but last night got caught with cargo I spent 560k on, which is almost a tenth of my network so a little concerned on trading now.

 

[goemon]

yes, pledging to a power comes with interdictions, more so in enemy territory.

on the other hand, some powers come with trading bonus' - hudson is not one of them.

 

[Gavin Burke]

yes, pledging to a power comes with interdictions, more so in enemy territory.

So if I wasn't pledged, then I wouldn't get interdicted so much? Or are pirates still just as active?

The messages that pop-up from the NPC's are always "I want you cargo" rather than "We are Zach follower killers"

 

[Codger]

You'll still get the regular pilots, plus the PP ones coming after you. Unpledging will not eliminate interdictions, but it will reduce them. Interdictions are just something you need to deal with as a trader. Escaping is a good skill to have

Here's a link to a video that shows a good method of escape, in case you haven't seen it yet.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/261478-Defensive-Piloting-1-The-Escape-Route

 

[[VR] Zakk]

I would also love to know what effects pledging to a power has on the 'normal' playing style.

Right now, I established a home base at a system that is controlled by Arissa Lavigny-Duval, and fly missions mostly for the controlling faction, who recognize me as allied. What effects would it have if I pledged to Aisling Duval? Would I still be regarded a friend in that system, or would my popularity drop immediately?

Also, can I chose which systems I would like to "turn around" for the power I pledged to, or does that work like missions, i.e. I have to accept jobs that are being offered to me?

 

[Gavin Burke]

Escaping is a good skill to have

Here's a link to a video that shows a good method of escape, in case you haven't seen it yet.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/261478-Defensive-Piloting-1-The-Escape-Route

I hadn't seen that but I'm always interdicted when I still have a station or whatever locked but coming outta SC puts a cooldown on my FSD so I cannot jump systems. My usual method is to max speed and constantly boost with full pips on engines using a bit of thrusters to laterally avoid fire, but this Dangeours ranked Vulture made minced meat of my 90 armor of my type-6.

I thought next I'd try stopping, waiting for my FSD to fully cool before starting the run, see if I can hang out the charge, though guess I'd be heavily mass locked if I was stopped with the enemy right behind me....

I also have 0 shield as that reduces cargo space, but essentially this guy says submit immediately, charge at the guy whilst waiting for my FSD to cool and jump systems?

 

[Chris Simon]

I hadn't seen that but I'm always interdicted when I still have a station or whatever locked but coming outta SC puts a cooldown on my FSD so I cannot jump systems. My usual method is to max speed and constantly boost with full pips on engines using a bit of thrusters to laterally avoid fire, but this Dangeours ranked Vulture made minced meat of my 90 armor of my type-6.

I thought next I'd try stopping, waiting for my FSD to fully cool before starting the run, see if I can hang out the charge, though guess I'd be heavily mass locked if I was stopped with the enemy right behind me....

I also have 0 shield as that reduces cargo space, but essentially this guy says submit immediately, charge at the guy whilst waiting for my FSD to cool and jump systems?

Yes, submitting is essential, because your FSD cools down much faster.

And I would definitely recommend at least some shielding. Don't be too greedy. A bit of a lost cargo space can save your skin.

I would also love to know what effects pledging to a power has on the 'normal' playing style.

Right now, I established a home base at a system that is controlled by Arissa Lavigny-Duval, and fly missions mostly for the controlling faction, who recognize me as allied. What effects would it have if I pledged to Aisling Duval? Would I still be regarded a friend in that system, or would my popularity drop immediately?

Also, can I chose which systems I would like to "turn around" for the power I pledged to, or does that work like missions, i.e. I have to accept jobs that are being offered to me?

If you pledge to an Empire power, you'll be still considered a friend in other imperial powers.
However in all Alliance and Fed space you'll be marked hostile. (which for example means that they can legally kill you even if you aren't wanted.)

If you keep in the imperial territory, nothing much is changed, but you will be interdicted more often by other powers' ships and regularly shot at.
I can really recommend powerplay only if you have a ship that can handle that.

As for "turning around" some system, it's not that easy. I would recommend finding your power's reddit and also join their Discord channel. There is a lot of info about what can an individual do and what needs to be coordinated. Powerplay is really a team effort. Alone you'll do nothing and even can hurt your power if you unknowingly work agaist the effort of the group. (not all systems that look good are profitable for a power, for example)

 

[Gavin Burke]

So less cargo, more shield, submit early then hyperspace to another system?

And leave power if I want a more peaceful trading?

Does throwing 1 x cargo out whilst FSD cool down help or just start evasive manouvers immediately?

 

[Chris Simon]

So less cargo, more shield, submit early then hyperspace to another system?

And leave power if I want a more peaceful trading?

Does throwing 1 x cargo out whilst FSD cool down help or just start evasive manouvers immediately?

1) Yes. T6 will never be a tank, but she's quick. Shields will help you to survive the initial assault and prevent them from, for example, damaging your FSD, which can have some serious consequences.
Submit and immediately boost. If you're lucky, you'll be already 1-2km away when they drop after you. Keep four pips in ENG (good power distributor charges the pool quicker than you can boost) and keep boosting away, targeting your escape system. If they start shooting, immediately put 4 pips into SYS. That more than doubles your shield's resistance (= your life) You can equip a chaff launcher if you want and use it as well to tamper their targeting, but by the time they start shooting at you, your FSD should be already cooled down and you can jump away.

2) Yes, if you are just a trader, powerplay is pointless. You can make more money more safely if you leave. I'm not saying PP is bad. But, even for hauling stuff around (which can make you some good PP royalties) you need a ship that can defend herself effortlessly and repeatedly.

3) From my experience pirates only stop bothering you if you jettison ALL cargo. So don't bother.

 

[Gavin Burke]

1) Yes. T6 will never be a tank, but she's quick.

2) Yes, if you are just a trader, powerplay is pointless.

3) From my experience pirates only stop bothering you if you jettison ALL cargo. So don't bother.

1 - Cool, will throw a 3A shield on there, give myself some shelf life
2 - Maybe I'll give up on powerplay until that's what I wanna do as it's not made me anything except a few thousand CR
3 - I'll keep all my cargo and follow 1

Cheers for all the tips!

 

[[VR] Zakk]

If you pledge to an Empire power, you'll be still considered a friend in other imperial powers.
However in all Alliance and Fed space you'll be marked hostile. (which for example means that they can legally kill you even if you aren't wanted.)

If you keep in the imperial territory, nothing much is changed, but you will be interdicted more often by other powers' ships and regularly shot at.
I can really recommend powerplay only if you have a ship that can handle that.

As for "turning around" some system, it's not that easy. I would recommend finding your power's reddit and also join their Discord channel. There is a lot of info about what can an individual do and what needs to be coordinated. Powerplay is really a team effort. Alone you'll do nothing and even can hurt your power if you unknowingly work agaist the effort of the group. (not all systems that look good are profitable for a power, for example)

Thanks, that info is very helpful!

I heard that powerplay will increase the combat activity, which I don't mind, as I play missions that beg for interdictions all the time.

But the fact that I basically can't enter Alliance or Fed space anymore is good enough for me to step away from powerplay for the time being, and remain independent.

 

[Chris Simon]

Thanks, that info is very helpful!

I heard that powerplay will increase the combat activity, which I don't mind, as I play missions that beg for interdictions all the time.

But the fact that I basically can't enter Alliance or Fed space anymore is good enough for me to step away from powerplay for the time being, and remain independent.

I oversimplified it. You won't be KOS in Alliance and Federation space. You'll be marked hostile, but normal NPCs will behave the same as before, towards you. You'll get pestered by powerplay NPCs, though, on top of notmal pirates and bounty hunters (depending on what you did and where ).
The thing about killing apply more to the other commanders you may run into (And you will, in the focal points of PP). It's good that PP actions are partially removed from law (You can for example kill a clean, but hostile commander in your power's systems to defend your home without having to worry about cops, which is a good thing, becasue although they were clean, they may still plot against your power) but one has to count with it when signing up for the powerplay.

 

[Codger]

1 - Cool, will throw a 3A shield on there, give myself some shelf life
2 - Maybe I'll give up on powerplay until that's what I wanna do as it's not made me anything except a few thousand CR
3 - I'll keep all my cargo and follow 1

Cheers for all the tips!

Chris Simon is right on the money, and you're on the way to success. Fly safe!