Newcomer / Intro Very frustrated with PvE combat

[Dillon Fallon]

Cannons were fun at on time....

It's a shame that they're locked so far up the chain of engineers. I mean, they are fun, but compared to an incendiary g5 multicannon which is unlocked at tier 1, it seems like a lot of work especially with how useful the rest of the Fed engineering is.

Actually, looking at the Alliance path of engineering, you've got some real differences here with what superpowers offer and not much reason to care about who is part of what if all you're after is a well engineered ship.

 

[Alone Wulff]

I did some CZ,s in an unengineered Krait 11 all A Rated and it was not simple and Ive spent a lot of time in Cz,s in an Engineered ship so the difference was very noticable

If I could afford a Krait I would get one collect bounty,s at a low res site fit a collector limpit and cago rack for limpits hoover up the mats from the ships you kill and open Tod and get 3 large multi.s overcharged , that and a couple of lasers on the two mediums get the FSD and Dirty Drives Power Plant and Shield Boosters done then go for CZ,s chalk and cheese

I'm not sure why overcharged multis are the go-to. Try G4 short range with auto loader. Multis have a fall-off of 1.8km so there's no point having a range much above that. Also, the shot speed is too slow for sustained dps contact above 2km especially on a strafing target. Short-range blaster uses less distributor and provides more dps than overcharged. It uses a bit more heat but on a Krait especially, you'd never notice.

 

[Pristine_Bump]

I'm not sure why overcharged multis are the go-to. Try G4 short range with auto loader. Multis have a fall-off of 1.8km so there's no point having a range much above that. Also, the shot speed is too slow for sustained dps contact above 2km especially on a strafing target. Short-range blaster uses less distributor and provides more dps than overcharged. It uses a bit more heat but on a Krait especially, you'd never notice.

I use the multis only after sheild stripping at close range (usualy under 1kl) and use an SLF with fixed beam or plasmas to help It reduces reloads also I didnt get into special effects but I use one corrosive and one incendary and an auto loader .

My first mistake was to go for Efficient which meant i needed more mats later

 

[Yingnei Gasua]

I am a newbie (5 days) and found out the hard way that even a low CZ will kill my 10m credit ship. For combat bonds, best way is to go to a Low Risk extraction zone and follow the Space Police/Security. They will shoot the wanted targets and I just join in. Even if I get 1 shot in, I get the bounty when the Police destroys the target.

 

[Yingnei Gasua]

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.

See my post above? I dont have a good combat ship but by relying on the Security Forces, combat bonds are not hard to rack up. Just go to extraction sites.

 

[Hawk of Battle]

I am a newbie (5 days) and found out the hard way that even a low CZ will kill my 10m credit ship. For combat bonds, best way is to go to a Low Risk extraction zone and follow the Space Police/Security. They will shoot the wanted targets and I just join in. Even if I get 1 shot in, I get the bounty when the Police destroys the target.

Those aren't combat bonds though, they're bounties. Combat bonds can only be acquired at Conflict Zones.

 

[Yingnei Gasua]

I see, thanks. Noob is me! So what are combat bonds? Do I get them by randomly jumping into a CZ and shooting someone? Or I need to get a mission first? Is an un-engineered/un-guardianed Python going to get murdered in a CZ?

 

[Para Handy]

I see, thanks. Noob is me! So what are combat bonds? Do I get them by randomly jumping into a CZ and shooting someone? Or I need to get a mission first? Is an un-engineered/un-guardianed Python going to get murdered in a CZ?

Combat bonds are rewards you are paid for successfully destroying an opposition's vessel in a combat zone.

NO - do that and die as everyone turns red.

You do not need to do a mission to partake of pew-pew in a CZ.

Yes - probably.

When you arrive in a combat zone you get a message in your comms panel - there you pick which side you want to fight for. Icons change colour - go shoot at red ones. When one you are shooting goes pop you get a message about being awarded xxxx credits combat bond.

 

[Pristine_Bump]

I see, thanks. Noob is me! So what are combat bonds? Do I get them by randomly jumping into a CZ and shooting someone? Or I need to get a mission first? Is an un-engineered/un-guardianed Python going to get murdered in a CZ?

Since you wont (hopefully) have a dog in that fight you can use your statergy from res sites to look on your contacts for "enemy" (red) ships that already have significant damage ,smaller the better and pick a CZ low doesnt matter if your side wins or looses for the engineers its just amount of bonds and total, take your time, run away when needed and dont get killed before you cash in

 

[Patrick_68000]

And welcome to the great family of the Elite ! Cmdr.

Patience and perseverance in the Elite environment are the best weapons.

Fly safe.

 

[varonica]

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.

Been here 5 years, still not unlocked him, not going to unlock him, I'm not in the game for combat either, you don't need him! It's alright to not unlock some engineers ever!

 

[Agony_Aunt]

My issue with CZ is that FD changed all the ships into massvie bullet sponges. I used to enjoy doing CZ in small ships, but now its just a chore. Fine if you are in a wing, but solo, you'll take ages killing anything that is bigger than you are.

And all because some people were AFKing them in turret boats... once again, a small minority of players ruining things for those who want to do have fun but challenging combat. There is nothing fun about plinking away at the same ship for 5 mins.

On the other hand, FD aren't blameless here, making them bullet sponges wasn't the only option open to them i'm sure. It was just the quick and dirty fix.

Anyway OP, i wouldn't advice CZ in small ships, except perhaps in something like the Vulture, with its large hardpoints, then at least you don't suffer the damage penalty against large ships. Especially if not fully engineered.

It is also worth keeping in mind that CZ aren't meant for new players really. They are meant to be a challenge. However, Low CZ should be doable if you use decent tactics (stay on the edge of combat, stick with allies, don't get sucked into combat against multiple enemies - at least the Cobra can boost away if you get into a tricky situation)

 

[AceMcKool]

Hey, guys:

UPDATE:

I went and got myself the Chieftain (build here).

Found a low intensity CZ next to Tanner City in V886 Centauri, 12 ly from Shinrarta Dezhra.

Got all the combat bonds required for unlocking Juri –and then some– in just a few hours.

Not to brag, but... it wasn't even a challenge. Not easy, no, but not too difficult either. I never was even close to dying. Not once. Hail the Chieftain!

Once I got used to the mechanics of it, it was fun. Lots of fun, actually.

Yes. Turns out combat IS fun, after all. So... I stand corrected.

Thank you all very much for your kind words of encouragement, and for all your advise on builds and combat techniques. It was very valuable indeed.

I share this achievement with all of you.

[*salute*]

_

PS: !!

 

[AceMcKool]

Oh dear. You seriously think that gaining loads of combat bonds is less of a chore than selling stuff at 5 black markets or mining some junk?

It was, actually.

 

[Johnny-0-Sunday]

Not sure on an easy way to get bonds, but as for combat missions in general;
Focus on assassination and massacre of pirates. Most of these instances will be a 1vs1, where you will only have to deal with the target you engage becoming hostile (*under threat level 3). CZs still give me trouble from time to time in a fully kitted Ana or Corvette, as the NPCs can be extremely well outfitted.

 

[NorthernDevo]

Been here 5 years, still not unlocked him, not going to unlock him, I'm not in the game for combat either, you don't need him! It's alright to not unlock some engineers ever!

I unlocked him recently only because I wanted access to The Sarge, and that because I decided to play with Cannons.
Honestly - 100,000 in CM's is not that difficult. Low-intensity CZ, choose a side, then run around like crazy looking for near-dead Reds. Pop 'em, move on - it should take no more than 4 or 5 kills.
In my case the Paradox is pretty heavily engineered so I'm pretty comfortable in Mild CZ's - the higher ones give you those Spec-ops bullet sponge Vultures. Not TOO hard to kill, just tedious.

 

[metatheurgist]

Pop 'em, move on - it should take no more than 4 or 5 kills.

I remember when Anacondas were worth 800CR in a CZ....

 

[Topheron]

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.

Actually, there is!

I did a google search for elite dangerous getting started, and watched the video. Look for the 2020 one.

The first thing that he shows you is how to take your sidewinder (!) with starter weapons and make 400,000 in Resource Extraction Site (High).

The secret is to target somebody that is being shot at, and wait... wait... wait... until they don't have sheilds and are most of the way dead. Then you swoop in and finish them off. Doing this in a sidewinder means there is no rebuy cost.

Great, beginner friendly combat training.

 

[Imo]

@AceMcCool: Tnx for joining us for three (!) minutes. If you'd stood a bit longer you'd probably already more successful.

 

[AceMcKool]

@AceMcCool: Tnx for joining us for three (!) minutes. If you'd stood a bit longer you'd probably already more successful.

Did you read my update?