6 Hours searching for Military Supercapacitors - Zero Found! 90 Military Grade Alloys found instead!

[Susanna]

Conclusions so far...

So, my conclusions so far in this matter...

1. I remain unconvinced that it makes any difference whether the system state is War, Civil War or some mix of the two... All states seem to drop both MGAs and MSCs ... to what ratios remains unknown...

2. Aashenfox posted this comment #136 https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...und-instead!?p=6497546&viewfull=1#post6497546

Which appears to be the most authoritative comment on finding HGEs so far here...

3. I have visited a manufactured Mats trader and exchanged up some of the MGAs to MSCs as I have no real need of the MGAs. These are principally used for Shield Generator - Enhanced Low Power Grade 5:

https://inara.cz/galaxy-component/109/

(The other blueprints being Lightweight Armour Grade 5 https://inara.cz/galaxy-blueprint/36/ and Lightweight HRP Grade 5 https://inara.cz/galaxy-blueprint/23/ both of which are next to totally useless...)

https://inara.cz/galaxy-blueprint/20/

As for the Shield Generator - Enhanced Low Power Grade 5. This modification is mainly aimed at Cmdrs who need low mass and power draw rather than shield strength (Explorers, Racers etc). I have a couple of ships that need this mod (JC, DBX AspX ...). I'm hoping the remaining 38 will be enough to mode 3 Shield Gens!

 

[Aashenfox]

Pretty sure it's "deep space" that you need, which can be anywhere really. When I farmed mine my sweet spot was 5-10kly out from the main star.

I'd agree on 5000ls, but 10000 always dramatically reduced USS spawns for me. Yes, being in a shipping lane, prior to 2.4 simply meant you wouldn't get HGE spawns, but flying 100kls out from the system would net you absolutely nothing, so I feel sure there is some kind of zoning (OR, it just happens that a set of arbitrary criteria are fulfilled by being 2kls abovce the star, by pure coincidence), and in fact, toward the end of 2.4 I started to think that the zones sizes and positions may be related to the size of the main star and/or system overall, as sometimes I'd get better results at 3000ls or a bit higher. I definitely decided that going over 3500ls reduces the USS spawns in general, but possibly not hte ratio of HGE to other types.

This ISN'T scientific and it definitely COULD be down to random chance, but I'm talking about a LOT of testing, and it would be a hell of a coincidence that I get 50% better results in a specific zone, seemingly always. I'm not saying I'm definitively right (who could? lol), but it is definitely my starting point when advising others.

P.S. It is in the patch notes, that HGEs can and will now spawn in shipping lanes. So far I have seen only one HGE in a shipping lane.

 

[Susanna]

As an aside, and for general public amusement, I was on the way back to Shin when I passed through the System of Buriges. I have found 4 HGEs with Proto Heat Rads in... All without even trying (around 800Ls out from the primary star on route to Kutjara should you wish to try). I now have maxed out the PHRs so they too will get traded - to MSCs... You can't make this stuff up! Let alone Teach it!

 

[John Xenir]

As an aside, and for general public amusement, I was on the way back to Shin when I passed through the System of Buriges. I have found 4 HGEs with Proto Heat Rads in... I now have maxed out the PHRs so they too will get traded - to MSCs... You can't make this stuff up! Let alone Teach it!

This is why my Chieftain is named "The Opportunist" and is equipped with:
- 64T cargo hold;
- SRV;
- some lasors for good measure;
- wake scanner;
- xeno scanner;
- xeno EMP counter-something.

I guess the name of the ship says everything: don't run around looking for what you need. Keep doing everything else and it'll pop up on its own when you least expect it.
But at least you'll be prepared

But I hear ya, this game sometimes...

 

[Susanna]

I'd agree on 5000ls, but 10000 always dramatically reduced USS spawns for me. Yes, being in a shipping lane, prior to 2.4 simply meant you wouldn't get HGE spawns, but flying 100kls out from the system would net you absolutely nothing, so I feel sure there is some kind of zoning (OR, it just happens that a set of arbitrary criteria are fulfilled by being 2kls abovce the star, by pure coincidence), and in fact, toward the end of 2.4 I started to think that the zones sizes and positions may be related to the size of the main star and/or system overall, as sometimes I'd get better results at 3000ls or a bit higher. I definitely decided that going over 3500ls reduces the USS spawns in general, but possibly not hte ratio of HGE to other types.

This ISN'T scientific and it definitely COULD be down to random chance, but I'm talking about a LOT of testing, and it would be a hell of a coincidence that I get 50% better results in a specific zone, seemingly always. I'm not saying I'm definitively right (who could? lol), but it is definitely my starting point when advising others.

P.S. It is in the patch notes, that HGEs can and will now spawn in shipping lanes. So far I have seen only one HGE in a shipping lane.

And with any RNG mechanic, best guess is about as good as we are likely to get... It's good and welcome advice Aashenfox!

I do suspect the same though, that the system geometry may play a very big part in the HGE zoning... A small system make be very different to a sprawling system with a load of Gas Giants. The Mass and type of the Primary star may also be a factor! Have you graded your findings relative to the bodies in the system? Are we talking about preferring K, G and F class stars for example?

 

[Aashenfox]

And with any RNG mechanic, best guess is about as good as we are likely to get... It's good and welcome advice Aashenfox!

I do suspect the same though, that the system geometry may play a very big part in the HGE zoning... A small system make be very different to a sprawling system with a load of Gas Giants. The Mass and type of the Primary star may also be a factor! Have you graded your findings relative to the bodies in the system? Are we talking about preferring K, G and F class stars for example?

Not done it scientifically at all yet, because I knew things would change in 3.0 (I was planning to do a huge engineering and materials gathering guide back in 2.4), but then with engineering no longer requiring any thought process, I thought I'd wait for the dust to settle on materials gathering then write something solely about that.

I thank you for prompting me to get started on data gathering as of now-ish.

 

[Muetdhiver]

The simple fact that this thread exists is depressing.

And a perfect example with everythign wrong with the signal source "gameplay".

Imagine....

You entre SC, you see 6 different signals in your contact list in different part of the system. Even better, you know which types...
Imagine you can drop in the distress one, get back to SC and then drop into the salvage one you spoted earlier.
Better still, interesting missions that integrate HGE's (for example) in their path...*

*For example recovering experimental medicines from a wreck that *also* contains PI's. Arrive while pirates are starting to loot the medicine.
See, not that hard to come up with *anything* better than RNG based SS spawns.

 

[GG7]

I wanted to mention that some systems seem incapable of putting you into a SHIPPING LANE. I went back to NITIKUDI last nignt and despite having found a nice amount of Pharmaceutical Isolators there, when I tried to put my ship into the Shipping Lane to take advantage of the published increase in HGE spawn rate, I was never able to find any shipping lanes.

This despite flying from the main star to an outpost, or a planet and back again.

Despite this, the system was still spawning HGEs to an acceptable amount and I was able to obtain an additional 18 PIs.

 

[Susanna]

This is why my Chieftain is named "The Opportunist" and is equipped with:
- 64T cargo hold;
- SRV;
- some lasors for good measure;
- wake scanner;
- xeno scanner;
- xeno EMP counter-something.

I guess the name of the ship says everything: don't run around looking for what you need. Keep doing everything else and it'll pop up on its own when you least expect it.
But at least you'll be prepared

But I hear ya, this game sometimes...

I can't subscribe to your approach to the game I'm afraid. That said, I just found another 4 LHRs in a HGE, none of which I can pick up because I'm already max out on PHRs...

This is one SICK game!

 

[Aashenfox]

The simple fact that this thread exists is depressing.

And a perfect example with everythign wrong with the signal source "gameplay".

Imagine....

You entre SC, you see 6 different signals in your contact list in different part of the system. Even better, you know which types...
Imagine you can drop in the distress one, get back to SC and then drop into the salvage one you spoted earlier.
Better still, interesting missions that integrate HGE's (for example) in their path...*

*For example recovering experimental medicines from a wreck that *also* contains PI's. Arrive while pirates are starting to loot the medicine.
See, not that hard to come up with *anything* better than RNG based SS spawns.

Actually, I think you're exactly right, the solution to this is to triple the spawn rate of USSes and have most bear some kind of threat level (like you say, fight the vultures off the carcass so you can have the mats to yourself).

 

[Susanna]

I wanted to mention that some systems seem incapable of putting you into a SHIPPING LANE. I went back to NITIKUDI last nignt and despite having found a nice amount of Pharmaceutical Isolators there, when I tried to put my ship into the Shipping Lane to take advantage of the published increase in HGE spawn rate, I was never able to find any shipping lanes.

This despite flying from the main star to an outpost, or a planet and back again.

Despite this, the system was still spawning HGEs to an acceptable amount and I was able to obtain an additional 18 PIs.

My understanding was that HGEs DO NOT spawn in shipping lanes... Are you saying this perceived wisdom is wrong?

 

[Aashenfox]

My understanding was that HGEs DO NOT spawn in shipping lanes... Are you sawing this perceived wisdom is wrong?

I am. It's in the 3.0 patch notes! "HGEs can now spawn, albeit rarely, in shipping lanes", or words to that effect. But shipping lanes are everywhere, and spawn the greatest variety of USSes, so looking in shipping lanes will definitely NOT increase your chances. I believe the purpose of this was to ensure that we all come across HGEs 'occasionally' without going looking for them. It is now (unfortunately, cos its a chore) worth checking every USS you see, wherever you are.

 

[Imgran]

Yeah. Only trouble is assuming they are a cross-type trade at G5, those 90 military supercapacitors become just 15 military alloys.

True, which is annoying, but it's 15 more than you were able to find "in the wild" as it were.

 

[Straha Yeagar]

I am. It's in the 3.0 patch notes! "HGEs can now spawn, albeit rarely, in shipping lanes", or words to that effect. But shipping lanes are everywhere, and spawn the greatest variety of USSes, so looking in shipping lanes will definitely NOT increase your chances. I believe the purpose of this was to ensure that we all come across HGEs 'occasionally' without going looking for them. It is now (unfortunately, cos its a chore) worth checking every USS you see, wherever you are.

The exact quote...

Increased the spawn rate of High Grade Emissions USSs in shipping lanes and by planets

 

[Aashenfox]

The exact quote...

Thanks. I love the wording. "Increased spawn rate", I wonder how much they increased it from zero? lol.

Cos we all know how much zero increases by when you multiply it by 50%.

Seriously though, I have run across ONE random HGE in and around the major lanes of a system. I think the spawn chance is still very, very low compared tot he HGE zone in deep space.

 

[Susanna]

I am. It's in the 3.0 patch notes! "HGEs can now spawn, albeit rarely, in shipping lanes", or words to that effect. But shipping lanes are everywhere, and spawn the greatest variety of USSes, so looking in shipping lanes will definitely NOT increase your chances. I believe the purpose of this was to ensure that we all come across HGEs 'occasionally' without going looking for them. It is now (unfortunately, cos its a chore) worth checking every USS you see, wherever you are.

OK - Thanks! I had missed that one. So HGEs can now pop up pretty much anywhere... I'm not convinced that is an improvement. Does this dilute the number of HGEs to be found elsewhere?

 

[Straha Yeagar]

Thanks. I love the wording. "Increased spawn rate", I wonder how much they increased it from zero? lol.

Cos we all know how much zero increases by when you multiply it by 50%.

Seriously though, I have run across ONE random HGE in and around the major lanes of a system. I think the spawn chance is still very, very low compared tot he HGE zone in deep space.

Oh, the whole "Twice nothing is still nothing" was the very first thing that crossed my mind when I read that

It does feel as if something has changed with regards to these drops, though I can't exactly say what. Just feels different. In the week or so before the 3.0 drop, I was hitting these pretty hard so as to make use of the mat traders, and the reliable methods were quite reliable.

Since 3.0, it seems to be very much feast or famine in just getting them to drop, period, to say nothing about what they actually contain. As you noted, I think I too have only found one in a shipping lane. Anecdotally, it seems as if degraded signal sources are far more common now than they ever were before, and while there may possibly be more USS spawns, the percentage of HGE I have found seems to be down over all.

 

[lovely lovely]

No offence taken

Oh yeah, when 3.0 dropped I reported here that HGEs were spawning in the shipping lanes in Deciat - very nice indeed.

I'll be back on in 5 (out for 3 hours) to see if I was just lucky with the RNG at Narim

 

[Macros Black]

Spent 1 hour yesterday in an Outbreak system and got 2 HGE's. I'm not overwhelmed by the increased spawn rate, but I guess a 0.0001% increase could still technical be called an increase.

The term "Soul destroying activity" is a very fitting term for hunting HGE's.

 

[Susanna]

I had the same "fun" with pharmaceutical isolators despite following all the advices I got (and there are plenty of advices). They just wouldn’t spawn. After some time I just gave up. Luckily I can trade them in now. Still the whole "tree" of chemical items just seem to spawn very little for me. While I am drowning in exquisite focus crystals.


I observed these weird rng bugs in other games too were some stuff would spawn super common for some folks and other normally common stuff just wouldn't pop up. Dunno if its a programming bug or just confirmation bias. In anyway it's really not a nice experience.

Sometimes I wonder if they originally planed this game as free to play and we were supposed to buy “material loot crates” and “credits boosters” at some later point. Definitely feels like it with all the forced grinding.

Just... Don't go there ok!

Nice Avatar btw