Newcomer / Intro Very frustrated with PvE combat

AceMcKool

AceMcKool
Hello, new player here (~6 weeks):

So I'm working on unlocking engineers. For Juri Ishmaak I need to claim 50 combat bonds. Big UGH, since I'm not in this game for the combat.

After some research (guides, tutorials, etc), I outfit my Cobra 3 with this build, my own version of the one suggested by ED Tutorials here.

Why the Cobra, you ask? Low rebuy cost. My first attempt at combat in my AspX cost me +3 million in rebuy costs, plus another +35 million (yes, thirty five) in lost exploration data, which at the time I didn't know it's lost on death. Yes, noob mistake. Lesson learned. Moving on.

I go to a "Low Intensity" Conflict Zone. All NPCs –and I mean ALL of them– are Expert or Deadly, way above my combat rank of Novice, earned by sheer chance while killing Guardian sentinels.

After spending the better part of two hours barely scratching the paint of NPCs and boosting away every 5 minutes to avoid death, I miraculously get two kills for a whopping two bonds.

Then it turns out that to claim the bonds, I have to go to another system two jumps away, in a station sitting +15.000 ly from arrival point.

Not. Fun. At all.

So.. what am I doing wrong?
-
EDIT: Please read my update on this post. Thank you.
 
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Morbad

Morbad
AceMcKool said:
So.. what am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

Some people are going to vehemently disagree with me here, but the Cobra III is not the ship for this, even among cheap ships. On top of that, you're taking a multi-purpose build with weapons unsuitable for taking apart armored hulls into a conflict zone.

While I couldn't say for certain without more information, I strongly suspect tactics are another issue. If you're an underdog in a CZ, you'll need to avoid groups of enemies, pick off weakened foes, and drag anything that focuses you to your allies.

There is also likely to be a more convenient location to turn in your combat bonds, even if you have to use interstellar factors, and if there is not, there are always other conflicts one can participate in, if the extra five minutes in SC is a problem.
 

Tiili

Tiili
You can always ask for help from other players too, its multiplayer after all, a lot of things are very tedious and hard when alone in this game for a beginner.

It's also pretty fun to do stuff with pals.
 

Dommarraa

Dommarraa
You need a military grade ship for a Combat Zone. The NPCs all are.
Small ships are just about viable, but they need pretty specific builds and/or a decent amount of skill/experience
 

metatheurgist

metatheurgist
Your Cobra build says "Hey, I went into a warzone with my Soccer Mom transporter. You know, the one with the drinks holder and the nifty parking assist module and plenty of room for the kids, and for some reason it got totally ripped apart!"

"Razor Crest" could not be more woefully misnamed. I'm reminded of a mini-poodle named Vicious.

All those empty racks should be filled with HRPs, MRPs or shield boosters. All those non-combat modules need to be replaced. You want kinetic weapons in the medium HPs because weapons take a size penalty against hull and not against shields (this is less of an issue with engineered weapons).

There are easier engineers you can get that will seriously increase your odds of surviving a CZ before you do that engineer.
 

CMDR D Noize

CMDR D Noize
Even low intensity CZs can be quite tricky for a new player.

If you’re just trying to scrape enough combat bonds for an engineer my advice would be to hang around with the ally NPCs and pick off the ships they’re attacking.

As long as you do enough damage when an enemy ship pops you’ll get a combat bond.
 

MickyG1982

M
AceMcKool said:
Hello, new player here (~6 weeks):

So I'm working on unlocking engineers. For Juri Ishmaak I need to claim 50 combat bonds. Big UGH, since I'm not in this game for the combat.

After some research (guides, tutorials, etc), I outfit my Cobra 3 with this build, my own version of the one suggested by ED Tutorials here.

Why the Cobra, you ask? Low rebuy cost. My first attempt at combat in my AspX cost me +3 million in rebuy costs, plus another +35 million (yes, thirty five) in lost exploration data, which at the time I didn't know it's lost on death. Yes, noob mistake. Lesson learned. Moving on.

I go to a "Low Intensity" Conflict Zone. All NPCs –and I mean ALL of them– are Expert or Deadly, way above my combat rank of Novice, earned by sheer chance while killing Guardian sentinels.

After spending the better part of two hours barely scratching the paint of NPCs and boosting away every 5 minutes to avoid death, I miraculously get two kills for a whopping two bonds.

Then it turns out that to claim the bonds, I have to go to another system two jumps away, in a station sitting +15.000 ly from arrival point.

Not. Fun. At all.

So.. what am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

In the Cobra, go to a nav beacon, shoot wanted targets there. The enemies tend to be of lower quality and easier to kill. Also, follow the police about when they shoot something, make sure you have scanned it, shoot it too.
 

tolm

tolm
As others have said, CZs require a specialised combat ship: I’ve only recently started doing them in an engineered Corvette and Cheiftan, though I am probably more paranoid than most ...

What engineering blueprint are after from Juri? I simply haven’t bothered with them as there’s nothing I need on their list. Maybe G5 sensors ... but Lei aching does those as well as G5 shields and G3 shield boosters which have been very useful for me and was a much easier unlock.
 

alexzk

A
Ship modules are +/- correct, however I would put modules and hull reinforcements into 4th slots. Basically "modules reinforcement" changes combat a lot, you will have much less fails. Keep cargo racks into 2nd slots, as u will need cargo only for repair limpets.
Once you dropped below 70% hull - boost out and repair hull, it works if u're not attacked only.
2nd - try to assist npc, don't get attention, if u got - power on engine and boost out.
 

Ashnak

Ashnak
Ok,
Juri is a second-tier Engineer. In order to reach him, you need the recommendation from Felicity. In addition to Felicity, you also got four more first tier Engineers, all of which will be useful for a CZ build.
Then, a Cobra is not a combat ship. The equivalent combat ship would be the Viper MkIII, but the five first tier Engineers should also let you set up and engineer a decent Vulture build.

Something like this

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone s.orbis.zone
would be well within what you could set up with the help of the five first tier engineers. The frags take a bit of getting used to, and you need to be close to your target - but the latter is no issue for a Vulture.

edit:
P.S.: In coriolis, you can set up two builds against each other (the "Offence" and "Defence" tabs at the bottom. I took the liberty of pitting my Vulture suggestion against your Cobra.

😈

It's a mess.
Cobra would need 1:49 to chew through the shields and another 6:24 to chew through the armor (provided you bring enough ammo synthesis materials, I'd guess).
On the other hand, the Vulture would obliterate the Cobra's shields within 1 second. The Cobra's armour would last another 2 seconds. Yes, those Frags are murderous if you can bring them to bear.

edit2:
P.P.S.: Just be very careful with these Frags in a CZ. Your allies don't appreciate friendly fire....
 
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Factabulous

Factabulous
CZs aren't easy. But as with many parts of this game it has been discussed endlessly before. OP should really consider hitting up the googles with those "elite dangerous CZ for new players" etc queries.
 

alexzk

A
...also pick a side, so half of NPC will fight with you. It's common newbie mistake - they just start fight. Pick a side in chat then start.
 

aRJay

aRJay
After you have picked a side around half the ships will go green, fly with them and attack the red ships they are attacking.
Don’t bother about going after enemy captains or journalists those ships are usually tougher than the others you find in a CZ.

If you have fought some pirates or wanted ships before forget it, ships in CZs are built for war with all slots filled with strong weapons or defences/armour your ship needs to be the same.
 

Dragsham

Dragsham
Some good advice. A cheap alliance chieftain can hold its own in any conflict zone. With basic hull and a couple of module reinforcements. Plus a repair limpet. Small one is adequate.
Just put basic shields and boost with shield boosters. Im assuming all not yet engineered.
This ship will survive no problem if u heed the advice and shoot only what your side is shooting do not go toe to toe.
Be patient itll come. And feel free to engineer the ship too. Itll serve you well till you get a bigger ship.
Dont forget weapons. Yes try frag cannons or RAILS.
Buy a heatsink and use that to offset heat generated.
Good luck

o7
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
Just one piece of additional advice from me (I am lousy at combat):

Before picking your side, make sure you have a course set in for a nearby system (make sure it isn't obscured) - then when things start getting really runny, you can retract hardpoints, select "next system in route" and high-wake out of the poo.

* You do have that bound don't you - if not, why not?
 

AceMcKool

AceMcKool
Thank you all for your kind replies.

Bottom line: there's no low level, beginner-friendly combat in the game. Is either go pro or go bust. Got it. I don't like it, but it is what it is.

Again, I'm not in the game for the combat. My focus is exploration and trading. I just wanted to unlock the engineers in case I need them in the future. Thought it would be a fun thing to do.

I'm not gonna spend more valuable time and resources outfitting an ubber-build that I'm gonna fly once, tyvm.

So, yeah, that is all.
_

EDIT: Please read my update. Thank you.
 
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