I'm a little hesitant to pick up contracts where I have to land on a planet because I won't be able to escape from npc's as easily.
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Newcomer / Intro Can you get attacked while flying suborbital?
- Thread starter Harrowdown
- Start date
not usually - even if you get a message saying they are after you they won't interdict when you start heading into the gravity well (when the 'height' indicator appears).
ofc if they interdict you just before then you can be slammed into the planet, which can be fun
Once you get to the surface .. depends on local conditions - mission NPC won't usually be around, but there may be randoms around some targets.
ofc if they interdict you just before then you can be slammed into the planet, which can be fun
Once you get to the surface .. depends on local conditions - mission NPC won't usually be around, but there may be randoms around some targets.
If you're just talking about heading for planetary bases it probably won't happen at all.
If you make a good approach you come in at high speed and drop out pretty close to the base.
When you leave you can head directly for your next system, if you can see it, and hit the FSD as soon as the mass lock is gone. So practically zero change of getting caught.
If you have to go for the 'Escape vector', because you can't see your target destination, then lock onto the next system when you can see it and again you're gone fairly quickly.
If you're just wandering around the surface it's not common. I think it's happened to me twice in about 12 months of playing.
If you make a good approach you come in at high speed and drop out pretty close to the base.
When you leave you can head directly for your next system, if you can see it, and hit the FSD as soon as the mass lock is gone. So practically zero change of getting caught.
If you have to go for the 'Escape vector', because you can't see your target destination, then lock onto the next system when you can see it and again you're gone fairly quickly.
If you're just wandering around the surface it's not common. I think it's happened to me twice in about 12 months of playing.
Thanks guys. Much appreciated. 
Planetary fighting would however be very cool in my opinion. That one little element of danger would make things very interesting.
I have read that some of the bases you break into to steal/recover things from or hack can have a ship parked nearby that will attack and you can attack NPCs you find flying around below the drop height or landed. But although I have had the usual warnings I have never had an interdiction attempt on me when exiting a planet with cargo but then I will be close to the drop altitude while skimming around the planet to line up with the jump marker.
Here's the deal: if your Attacker Of The Mission intercepts you in your target system, you MAY escape his Interdiction.
If you do, he will definitely attack you when you come out of SC over the planet.
FD doesn't believe in letting storylines go to waste.
If he does, rejoice. Get LOW over the surface, shoot at the attacker, get him to attack from above and watch him smash to pieces when he slams into the planet - it's hilarious!
Take pics!
You can escape NPCs on the surface bases pretty easily. If you taking some surface base scan mission you just land outside of the base safety perimeter (I believe it is 5 km) and drive right into the base on your SRV. Scan your target and run. Base defenses will attack you as soon as you complete your scan but you just drive at max speed with 4 pips on shields and you'll be just fine. Board your ship and leave without any unnecessary confrontation, pay your fine for trespassing at nearest interstellar factor and claim your reward. If you fire back at surface defence forces you will gain bounty. You can be attacked by NPC ships at any stage of your flight up to the surface and even if you're landed. Just keep your eyes open and if you don't feel like fighting just jump away.