I'm a newbie and trader, just got killed by pirates, help appreciated

[[VR] Dr Gentech]

So I am not very good at combat, died the first time I tried it, previously I've managed to win the interdiction minigame pretty much every time while trading, but now my trade rank is "Entrepreneur" and I think the pirates are getting harder; I was losing the interdiction so I submitted and tried to boost away and run. I'm not sure what interdicted me, it was all pretty confusing but it said mass lock or mass factor 23 or something and there were two of them. I am in a type 9, no weapons, I have a shield and a chaff launcher and a point defence and a shield booster but that's all my power plant allows. I'm currently doing missions that don't really need the full cargo hold of my T9, so I'm considering saving up a little more (total worth of ~160m, have to pay off 2m in fines from when the pirate killed me) and buying an Anaconda and outfitting it for trade? I've got an engineered fsd (6A) on my type 9 that should fit in an Anaconda too if I'm reading it right, and that's the only engineered thing I have so switching shouldn't be too bad. I want to get an Anaconda at some point anyway, I've just figured out should keep the extra cargo space in the Type-9 until I figure my credit situation out and have enough to be comfortable

So yeah, basically I would appreciate advice on not dying immediately or maybe how better to avoid pirates. I've heard people mention high waking as a cure-all for being killed but I have no idea how to do that

Thank you for your time and help everyone!

 

[DragonIV]

The T9 is definitely the least agile ship when it comes to avoiding interdictions. That said, I run an unshielded T9 (and Python and Cutter and a few other ships) in private groups so I'm only dealing with PVE pirates. Yes, they get tougher as you gain in trade rank.

The Type 9 has a much lower mass lock than it should have, so yeah, you can get mass locked during an interdiction. In an unengineered T9, you can escape from any AI interdiction but ones against Elite or Dangerous enemies will definitely not be easy. Here's what I'd recommend in case you plan to submit to the interdiction, or will fail it. Interdictors generally always send you a chat message--the second you get that, pick a jump target from the target panel that is close by. This will be your escape vector. Hopefully, you have your hostile target button mapped. Click that to see what is interdicting you. If it's a larger ship, we're going to assume a mass lock. If it's a smaller ship, plan on just going to supercruise.

Then, as soon as you decide you'll lose the interdiction, drop your throttle to zero to submit. This will keep your ship from spinning upon entry to local space, plus reduce your FSD recharge time, which is crucial.

Back to the mass lock thing: FSD charge to jump out system takes a bit longer but is not subject to mass lock delay. This is that high-waking you've heard about. So, if you think you are going to be mass locked, this is why we targeted the nearby system earlier--you will not have to futz with the menu and can simply just jump out of the system.

Anyhow, when you return to local space, max throttle, four pips to engines, two to systems, and boost away. Fire off chaff if you've got it, especially if it's a big ship (likely to have turrets/gimbals). Engage your fsd as soon as you can--supercruise if you think there is no mass lock, system jump if there is. Do not turn to the system jump target until your fsd is just about charged.

**** if your interdictor is a mission target ***** you probably want to high wake regardless. If you go back to SC, they will re-interdict you almost immediately. Standard cargo pirates don't usually do that and despawn instead.

Final recommendation: practice evading interdictions. They are beatable--every one of 'em, but it takes time to get skilled enough to do that. It's not so bad tho--far easier to learn than, say, learning to fly FA-off!

Good luck!

 

[Xious]

You could also try giving the pirates some cargo.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Agreed with most of these tips, but I'd disagree here:

Anyhow, when you return to local space, max throttle, four pips to engines, two to systems, and boost away. Fire off chaff if you've got it, especially if it's a big ship (likely to have turrets/gimbals).

In a T-9, yes, fire chaff if you have it, just don't expect it to do much good as you're a big enough target to be hit anyway. Fitting an extra shield booster will generally do more good.

Your pip settings for escape should be 4 to SYS and 2 to ENG - the extra shield strength this gives is far more important for survivability than being able to get an extra boost in, especially since you should only need to survive maybe 30 seconds.
(This is true for most ships, but especially so in the T-9 which even at 4 pips to engines and boosting is still going to be outrun by just about everything which attacks it, so you don't even get the benefit of opening distance and weakening their weapons)

Additionally, don't boost away, boost *towards*. In an NPC interdiction, you've got a few seconds before the NPC drops into the instance with you. They'll appear approximately behind you, so use those seconds to turn around. When they appear, boost past them - you now get a few seconds more where they can't shoot at you with anything stronger than turrets because they're facing the wrong way. If you just boost away from them, you're an easier target.

 

[Crank Larson]

You could also try giving the pirates some cargo.

Don't do it!

 

[mistohise]

Don't expect to hop into an anaconda and suddenly be invincible. It doesn't really work that way. If you want to fight back, there are less expensive ships to practice in.

 

[Wyaston Hypatia]

@OP: As you say you aren't filling the T9, have a look at the T7. You won't have the capacity of a T9 but I've heard that is a wonder in evading interdictions.

 

[Kaocraft]

@ OP: High-Waking is when you jump to a different star system to escape. As opposed to low-waking, which is where you go into Supercruise. The benefit of high-waking is that you won't be delayed by mass lock, so you can escape much quicker.

If you need to do a high-wake escape you'll want to pick a new jump destination from your left hand panel and then FSD jump to it.

 

[Crank Larson]

Can I interest the OP in a Python?

 

[Stigbob]

Escapology guide via high-wake:

Do this

Submit to the interdiction, your cool-down is faster (not applicable to escaping a fight).
As soon as you drop out of super-cruise max pips to engines 2 to shields in a nimble ship, 4 to shields and 2 to engines in a slow ship.
Start boosting at full throttle away from the hostile (or back past it if it's a less maneuverable ship than yours).
Spam chaff.
Select a nearby system and start your jump (can't be mass-locked).
Evade whilst boosting until you jump.
Once you've jumped drop out of super-cruise select another nearby star and jump again (repeat if necessary).
Return to desired course.

Do not

Waste time wondering who he is or what he wants (interdiction is hostile).
Waste time talking.
Fly without shields.
Combat log.


EDIT : added pip management for freighters

 

[MadDogMurdock]

Can I interest the OP in a Python?

The undisputed Diva for mission running - I approve this post.

 

[Marra Morgan]

You could also try giving the pirates some cargo.

This is the easiest solution, especially in situations with player pirates.

 

[777Driver]

This is the easiest solution, especially in situations with player pirates.

Not an option if you are running mission cargo, the cargo is mission specific and cannot be replaced.

@Op - Good advice all around, if you are running shields then the escape technique is 4 in SYS 2 in ENG, keep boosting towards the target during the cooldown, less time spent in the firing arc.. DO NOT TRY TO RUN WITH 4 IN ENG, perform a high wake. Interdictions now have been tamed so much that they are almost impossible to lose if you know what you are doing.

I'd suggest loading your T9 with a few tonnes of high value cargo, and practice the escape technique.


Now a method that I have been promoting for many years, fight back, there is a weird logic in the AI, if you fight back they will go evasive, in Open this will obviously not work, A T9 Vs Anaconda will result in the Anaconda knowing they have the upper hand, they will keep attacking because they know they have the advantage. NPC's don't operate the same, An Anaconda attacking my T9 will go evasive if I start firing back. A bit of a silly logic, NPC's should know when they have the upper hand, but I'm not complaining.


Basic examples below from a month ago to a few years back, it really is a case of 'Hammer your target and they will run away' With shields it is even easier, minimum 600mj for NPC's, just keep hammering them with seekers.

I prefer heat sinks to chaff on a freighter, heat sinks cause the attacker to lose lock, and heat sinks are a freighter pilots best friend in normal ops.

As demonstrated, by fighting back I had cleared the cooldown time, with plenty of time to spare to high wake if I wanted. If I had flown away in a straight line my thrusters would have been shot out.
[video=youtube;iNa6vX11qS4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNa6vX11qS4[/video]

[video=youtube;F8qre-cT2zk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8qre-cT2zk&index=37&list=UUXm79fS4PrZYTT_SxqSI7zQ[/video]

[video=youtube;gtAqjkho1ro]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtAqjkho1ro&list=UUXm79fS4PrZYTT_SxqSI7zQ&index=36[/video]

 

[Pville_Piper]

If you're looking for another ship then I'd get a Python. She can dish out and take it when properly outfitted/engineered.

Some good tips here. I usually don't have an issue with losing interdictions when flying the T9, but always submit if you're going to loose the interdiction. Immediately select a nearby star and jump to it. I run a size 7a shield on my T9 as it will give you a little more time before it drops.

I would also recommend that maybe you try joining a player group if you have a mike. You can get some pretty good information from them and it makes the game more enjoyable to fly with others even if you're not winged up.

Another good resource is 777Driver, the Zen Guru of the T9, he is always helpful and very knowledgeable.

Good Luck CMDR!

EDIT -Ninja'd by the master himself!

 

[JetsonRING]

So I am not very good at combat, died the first time I tried it, previously I've managed to win the interdiction minigame pretty much every time while trading, but now my trade rank is "Entrepreneur" and I think the pirates are getting harder; I was losing the interdiction so I submitted and tried to boost away and run. I'm not sure what interdicted me, it was all pretty confusing but it said mass lock or mass factor 23 or something and there were two of them. I am in a type 9, no weapons, I have a shield and a chaff launcher and a point defence and a shield booster but that's all my power plant allows. I'm currently doing missions that don't really need the full cargo hold of my T9, so I'm considering saving up a little more (total worth of ~160m, have to pay off 2m in fines from when the pirate killed me) and buying an Anaconda and outfitting it for trade? I've got an engineered fsd (6A) on my type 9 that should fit in an Anaconda too if I'm reading it right, and that's the only engineered thing I have so switching shouldn't be too bad. I want to get an Anaconda at some point anyway, I've just figured out should keep the extra cargo space in the Type-9 until I figure my credit situation out and have enough to be comfortable
So yeah, basically I would appreciate advice on not dying immediately or maybe how better to avoid pirates. I've heard people mention high waking as a cure-all for being killed but I have no idea how to do that
Thank you for your time and help everyone!

[noob] A Type-9 is not a ship with which a newer player should try and win battles especially if fitted out as a trader or cargo hauler. Be the rabbit and Run rabbit, RUN! Go online, find an appropriate YouTube video and learn the "submit & run" method of escaping interdictions. Yes, as you RANK up, higher RANKED opponents will be added to your mix of pirates.

Spoiler

Start polishing up those combat skills! Get yourself an Eagle (a good, inexpensive ship to learn combat with, you might get blown up several times), A-rate everything, have it Engineered and go find a RES site. Follow the local cops around the RES, when they start shooting at a WANTED criminal, scan him so his status shows in your HUD, wait for his systems to drop to around 50% and then join in, the cops will help you finish him off and you will get paid for it! DON'T SHOOT THE COPS, even accidentally! It is just as important to learn when NOT to shoot as it is to learn when to shoot. As your combat and interdiction avoidance skills improve, the interdictions will continue but they will bother you less and less because (1) you will learn to escape with ease and (2) you will learn how to kill them back! o7

 

[StiTch]

Just save up the money to upgrade your ship so it isn't paper thin. If you have a weak shield, one booster and presumably everything else low-graded...well, as a wise man once said: "there's your problem".

 

[IndigoWyrd]

If you're dying in a Type-9, you'll be back here for sure posting about how you spent all your credits on an Anaconda, died and can't afford your rebuy, which will net zero sympathy around here. So don't do it.

If you want an inexpensive (relatively speaking) trading ship with a thick hull and a lot of firepower, buy a Python.

It will fly circles around a Type-9 multiple times.

And if you want to improve at beating the interdiction game, find me or any of The Killer Whales out there and ask to start a game of Interdiction Tag. It's fun and good for the skills.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Can I interest the OP in a Python?

Doubt he has the 160million to buy and outfit a Python and it cuts his cargo hauling abilities down over 60%. Bad move.

If you're dying in a Type-9, you'll be back here for sure posting about how you spent all your credits on an Anaconda, died and can't afford your rebuy, which will net zero sympathy around here. So don't do it.

If you want an inexpensive (relatively speaking) trading ship with a thick hull and a lot of firepower, buy a Python.

Inexpensive? lolcopter. And again, he'd only be able to haul a 3rd of what he is able to now. Bad move. If he doesn't have the money to a rate his T9, he damn sure can't a rate a Python.

 

[777Driver]

If you're dying in a Type-9, you'll be back here for sure posting about how you spent all your credits on an Anaconda, died and can't afford your rebuy, which will net zero sympathy around here. So don't do it.

If you want an inexpensive (relatively speaking) trading ship with a thick hull and a lot of firepower, buy a Python.

It will fly circles around a Type-9 multiple times.

And if you want to improve at beating the interdiction game, find me or any of The Killer Whales out there and ask to start a game of Interdiction Tag. It's fun and good for the skills.

The thing with PVP interdictions is they behave nothing like NPC interdictions. Also not really a great idea telling someone to downgrade ships, OP just needs to learn to defend himself, it isn't exactly hard, just takes a little practice and more importantly discipline, it is easy to just start mashing buttons and trying to run when all hell is breaking lose.. All it takes is to remain calm and follow a procedure, no need to downgrade cargo space and switch to a Python or Anaconda.

 

[Crank Larson]

Doubt he has the 160million to buy and outfit a Python and it cuts his cargo hauling abilities down over 60%. Bad move.

While the money could be an issue, the cargo hauling certainly isn't. You can pick up lucrative delivery missions to/from outposts, which the T-9 can't do. And you can also defend or run much more easily.