COMPLETED CG Repel the Thargoid attack in the Witch Head Nebula (AX-Combat)

[judemccullers]

At first I thought top 75% was a bit harsh on new Cmdrs going after the GFSD unlock, as to reliably get there they needed to be able to kill Cyclops' at least.

However, what if the point (from FDevs view), was to encourge players to take the step up from scouts to Interceptors and try and generate a bit more interest in the AX war?

In that respect it seems to have worked. Every wing I've been in has had at least 1-2 new AX players in it asking for advice and looking for build advice.

Regardless of whether Tier 5 is achieved or not I think that come the next battle there'll be plenty more capable pilots looking to pitch in and contribute.

Do you want to know more?

Well sure every CG has to have some complaining so I guess it's my turn... 52 scout kills and it's touch and go whether I'll make top 75%, I'm hoping we'll hit Tier 5 before I get pushed out but who knows.

I'm not really complaining (although it's gonna sound like it right now lol) but what's the deal with offering Guardian tech as a reward when to get that reward you already need Guardian tech to fight Interceptors rather than Scouts? idgi

 

[BDelacroix]

I find that I can just ignore the swarm while concentrating of the Cyclops'. I know that it is getting me into bad habits for graduating to the higher interceptors, but it works for the CG.

The PD seems to shoot down the swarm missiles, so its not totally wasted on an AX build.

Yea, I can tank the swarm now days, but it hurts more. A new person probably isn't going to have the hull.

 

[ADAMtheWELSHMANz]

Well sure every CG has to have some complaining so I guess it's my turn... 52 scout kills and it's touch and go whether I'll make top 75%, I'm hoping we'll hit Tier 5 before I get pushed out but who knows.

I'm not really complaining (although it's gonna sound like it right now lol) but what's the deal with offering Guardian tech as a reward when to get that reward you already need Guardian tech to fight Interceptors rather than Scouts? idgi

Most the Cmdrs I've randomly winged with have had only AX mc's and little hope of solo'ing a Cyclops.

However, after surviving the fight they have a much better idea of what to expect, what works and what doesn't, and crucially most seem genuinely keen to unlock gauss now they understand the mechanics better.

We've had a few deaths along the way but on the whole those that have winged up, and especially those that joined voice comms seem enthused and more comfortable with every fight we have.

Good luck vs the scouts. According to Inara you'll need at least 415,000 of bonds to hit Top 75%, plus a bit extra as a buffer as CG is still ongoing.

 

[aRJay]

Well sure every CG has to have some complaining so I guess it's my turn... 52 scout kills and it's touch and go whether I'll make top 75%, I'm hoping we'll hit Tier 5 before I get pushed out but who knows.

I'm not really complaining (although it's gonna sound like it right now lol) but what's the deal with offering Guardian tech as a reward when to get that reward you already need Guardian tech to fight Interceptors rather than Scouts? idgi

I have no Guardian weapons tech and am comfortably in the middle of the 75% band just using AX multicannons and scouts so we don't need it it just makes things easier.

 

[Vetinari]

Does the ECM or whatever its called stop the Tharg missiles?

 

[tolm]

Well, I’m about done for this CG and it’s been a blast! Taken out about 100 Scouts solo and winged up with some new friends to give 9 Cyclops a good whacking. Been great to get stuck into some new (to me!) content and Thargoid combat is way less scary now I’ve been able to prepare and learn from more experienced CMDRs. Don’t quite feel ready to solo any Interceptors but it’s so satisfying knocking a heart out when you land all your Gauss Cannon shots from a single volley!!

Agree the caustic stuff is a major irritation. I started out with decon limpets but quickly found having an extra (engineered!) HRP and an AMFU provided better survivability and that burning off the acid with Silent Running / FSD (after combat) or mental Gauss Cannon usage (during combat) was actually easier.

So, my Krait MkII, aside from just hitting as much hull (3500) and bi-weave shields (740) as I could wound up with a couple of preferred loadouts:

• Scouts: 2x C3 AX MC, 1x G5 OC MC, 2x Gauss
• Cyclops: 2x C3 Efficient / TV Beams, 3x Gauss

Seems to do the job rather nicely and I can probably improve both hull and shields with further engineering when I can.

Currently squeezed myself into the top 25% which I’m not sure will hold until the end of the CG but was a rather pleasant surprise!!

 

[Vetinari]

I'm not really complaining (although it's gonna sound like it right now lol) but what's the deal with offering Guardian tech as a reward when to get that reward you already need Guardian tech to fight Interceptors rather than Scouts? idgi

Balance - any tech given as a CG reward to only a few players (or not everyone) cannot be so OP that it changes the game or those players would have a permanent advantage. So all 'rewards' must be a bit naff, its the only fair way, its just an extra enticement. Presumably they hoped / thought that enough of the 75% are newer and wont have the tech yet so it will be valuable to them and yet still not OP in any way....and tbf it does look like a lot of new AX players so it has worked, or peeps were just waiting for an excuse, or players will do whats on offer that week regardless of what it is. Either way, nice one Frontier & the CMs.

 

[Speedcuffs]

Well, I’m about done for this CG and it’s been a blast! Taken out about 100 Scouts solo and winged up with some new friends to give 9 Cyclops a good whacking. Been great to get stuck into some new (to me!) content and Thargoid combat is way less scary now I’ve been able to prepare and learn from more experienced CMDRs. Don’t quite feel ready to solo any Interceptors but it’s so satisfying knocking a heart out when you land all your Gauss Cannon shots from a single volley!!

Agree the caustic stuff is a major irritation. I started out with decon limpets but quickly found having an extra (engineered!) HRP and an AMFU provided better survivability and that burning off the acid with Silent Running / FSD (after combat) or mental Gauss Cannon usage (during combat) was actually easier.

So, my Krait MkII, aside from just hitting as much hull (3500) and bi-weave shields (740) as I could wound up with a couple of preferred loadouts:

• Scouts: 2x C3 AX MC, 1x G5 OC MC, 2x Gauss
• Cyclops: 2x C3 Efficient / TV Beams, 3x Gauss

Seems to do the job rather nicely and I can probably improve both hull and shields with further engineering when I can. Top Stuff!

And this^^^^ is why I think this has been a good CG.

 

[CMDR Jago Kain]

I've got all the discounted Guardian unlocks I can manage tonight so you guys can go ahead and wrap it up now.

Seriously though, it's a very impressive result from the AX combat. I did not think the momemtum would hold up past the weekend.

 

[aRJay]

Does the ECM or whatever its called stop the Tharg missiles?

The Thargoid missiles I have encountered have hit almost immediately after the warning about them, ECM requires at least 10 seconds to charge so even if it could stop them in theory it is going to be too late in practice.

 

[BDelacroix]

Does the ECM or whatever its called stop the Tharg missiles?

Scout missiles or interceptor missile?

Scouts missiles are fast and you just basically have to take the hit.

Interceptors fire slow ones and all you need to do is go faster than them. Never been hit by a interceptor fired missile (not talking about the thargons that turn into a missile but they don't do caustic damage).

 

[BDelacroix]

Is there a drug testing lab I can send my SLF pilot to?
We stopped for our daily interceptor kill and she claimed she never saw one of those before.
She saw one just two days ago. She even had the final shot at one three days ago.

I think she may be spending her paycheck on drugs which are beginning to have ill effects on her mental capacity.

 

[Jingseng]

Is there a drug testing lab I can send my SLF pilot to?
We stopped for our daily interceptor kill and she claimed she never saw one of those before.
She saw one just two days ago. She even had the final shot at one three days ago.

I think she may be spending her paycheck on drugs which are beginning to have ill effects on her mental capacity.

She had an accident that changed her. It all changed after her child went missing. So the best way to find them is to sign up with a stranger and go zipping all over the galaxy on their whim. She’s harmless, but she single handedly took out an entire faction of pirates. Her name is still randomly generated with fear in some parts.

 

[Speedcuffs]

And it's over!

 

[Konan]

Great job commanders

 

[Speedcuffs]

Right, Crystalline Shard sites anyone?

 

[PaulieWotsit]

Thoroughly enjoyed this CG, found out how far my skillz could take me (lvl 4 risk) and made it into the 75%, with no guardian tech (although I spent 5 - yes, FIVE - hours earlier this evening at a guardian site figuring what the hell I was supposed to be doing...then found out I needed to be elsewhere for a "key") and made it back to put in a last 60k to make sure I was in the 75%, which was just as well as I had slipped down a peg...and cashed them in, came through to the bedroom and found out it had finished during the walk from the living room to the bedroom, about 20 paces, so that was damn good timing!

Well done FDev, and well done cmdrs!

 

[The Golden Knight]

"This is Anne Werner, reporting from the Witch Head Nebula. With news breaking about the reports around the Thargoid incursion, the response from the Pilots Federation community has been nothing short of ENTHUSIASTIC! We've witnessed thousands of participants and many Elite pilots in those ranks, as well as aspiring Elite pilots...and a significant quantity of proud 'Alien Hunters' dominating the 'friendly competition' of the so-called 'Community Goal'. The human pilots have achieved TOTAL VICTORY against the invasion. Jason Blaze, Commander Golden-Knight, has added a comment:

'I am excited and proud to be doing my part, not just for the Alliance who incited our call-to-arms, but for the entire human race on the whole! This was an exhilarating display of unity that politics can't even attempt to compete with. All in all, even if I can't dream of reaching the top bracket of pilots, I am still satisfied and proud to say...I'VE DONE MY PART!'

More reports as they come though. This is Anne Werner, Alliance News Network."

 

[Oldviboy]

Here my part, 42 interceptors in total and some scouts .... good CG, I didn't think we were going to complete it totally.

 

[ZAKALWEINC8876]

I put nothing past FD by now to be honest.
Maybe the lack of an AX story push is because (judging by the twitch stream yesterday) most of them have never really tried AX combat before?

...Well done CMDRs! The CG was completed so we know you really like the status quo as it is and want nothing to change.
We will now not bring back AXCZs to keep you all happy and save you from being exploded by those naughty Thargoids. o7...

Or something like that?
Please be wrong. Please be wrong. Please be wrong.