Newcomer / Intro Question about Conflict Zones, Combat missions and ships.

[CmdrLordValcar]

So to complete these missions like kill 30 pirates in CC zones, nav beacons, etc. What is bare minimum ship and spec id need to do these solo?

Right now Im running this

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

coriolis.io

I seem to be taking a lot of damage and am able to maybe get one ship before Im really hurting.

 

[metatheurgist]

CZ (war) missions are a totally different level to pirate massacres. Ships in CZ are fully tanked for combat, with some engineering at higher ranks. The higher CZs will have spec ops that are fully engineered. You will have trouble doing CZ massacres in anything less a fully dedicated combat ship with engineering.

Pirate massacres can be done in any combat capable ship.

In either case I wouldn't bother with the interdictor or the manifest scanner. You should be bringing an absolute bare minimum of no combat modules into CZs (really I wouldn't bring the collectors unless you are specifically farming mats).

 

[CMDR D Noize]

CZ Massacres & Pirate Massacres require different targets.

For CZs Massacres you specifically need to go into Conflict Zones.
And to survive in Conflict Zones you’ll need to start working on engineering.
Ships in CZs have varying levels of engineering as they’re designed for more experienced combat pilots which I why there seem considerably harder than your average Pirate.

For CZs I would build a dedicated combat ship or I would start by removing all those Limpet Modules (except maybe your smallest Collector if you really want the mats), FSD Interdictor and replace them with more Hull Reinforcements.
I’d also advise a smaller Cargo Rack, you’ll need to re-arm and repair long before you use 32 limpets in a CZ.

And the Manifest & Wake Scanners are no use in a CZ, swap them for something defensive like Chaff or Point Defence.

 

[Hawk of Battle]

Yeah, as the guys above said, CZ are a different breed of combat. You have a good ship, the Chieftain is my current favorite combat ship by far, but to seriously fight in a CZ, you need to do two things to it;

1) Strip out all those useless modules. Anything that's not helping you kill faster or survive damage is pointless and needs to be stripped. Add more armor, more shield boosters, and the best weapons (not personally a fan of missiles, but run whatever you want I suppose).

2) Engineer it. CZs are all engineered vessels. Against anything running just basic modules they'll easily overpower you. As a comparison, here's my own Chief that I run for CZs, bounty hunting and occasional assassinations. Bear in mind even this is not fully optimized, I'm still running a KWS and interdictor when I should probably remove both and just run more defense, but even still, you can see what just adding more armor, buffing shields, and engineering it can do.

 

[CmdrLordValcar]

Yeah, as the guys above said, CZ are a different breed of combat. You have a good ship, the Chieftain is my current favorite combat ship by far, but to seriously fight in a CZ, you need to do two things to it;

1) Strip out all those useless modules. Anything that's not helping you kill faster or survive damage is pointless and needs to be stripped. Add more armor, more shield boosters, and the best weapons (not personally a fan of missiles, but run whatever you want I suppose).

2) Engineer it. CZs are all engineered vessels. Against anything running just basic modules they'll easily overpower you. As a comparison, here's my own Chief that I run for CZs, bounty hunting and occasional assassinations. Bear in mind even this is not fully optimized, I'm still running a KWS and interdictor when I should probably remove both and just run more defense, but even still, you can see what just adding more armor, buffing shields, and engineering it can do.

What weps should I replace missles with?

 

[Dragsham]

Multicannons or beams.
Beams use alot of power and get hot.
Mcs use little power but have limitations namely ammo.
Elite is a trade off. You can't have it all even engineered ships compromise heat and power usage distribution etc.
Experimentation is your best bet. Try railguns. Sniping enemy ships powerplants life support etc can destroy them quicker than just pew pew.
Find your niche.
Rails, plasma accelerators, frag cannons, all require training and getting gud.

Good luck.

o7

 

[CmdrLordValcar]

Multicannons or beams.
Beams use alot of power and get hot.
Mcs use little power but have limitations namely ammo.
Elite is a trade off. You can't have it all even engineered ships compromise heat and power usage distribution etc.
Experimentation is your best bet. Try railguns. Sniping enemy ships powerplants life support etc can destroy them quicker than just pew pew.
Find your niche.
Rails, plasma accelerators, frag cannons, all require training and getting gud.

Good luck.

o7

Check out my updated build and tell me what you think. Is it ok to have all weapons on the same mouse button?

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

coriolis.io

EDIT Welp after accepting a massacre mission and going to the low intensity CZ THREE times. I was fighting hard and got what I thought were obvious kills of mine. Then looking at my active mission I have zero kills out of 9 lol. EVERY SINGLE TIME I GOT NO CREDIT FOR THE KILL! The freakin NPCs even congratulated me on the kills!

This is beyond stupid and frustrating now and just makes me want to play somethin else.

 

[MishaTX]

Check out my updated build and tell me what you think. Is it ok to have all weapons on the same mouse button?

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

coriolis.io

EDIT Welp after accepting a massacre mission and going to the low intensity CZ THREE times. I was fighting hard and got what I thought were obvious kills of mine. Then looking at my active mission I have zero kills out of 9 lol. EVERY SINGLE TIME I GOT NO CREDIT FOR THE KILL! The freakin NPCs even congratulated me on the kills!

This is beyond stupid and frustrating now and just makes me want to play somethin else.

Did you remember to pick sides when it popped up in the comms panel?

 

[aRJay]

Check out my updated build and tell me what you think. Is it ok to have all weapons on the same mouse button?

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

coriolis.io

EDIT Welp after accepting a massacre mission and going to the low intensity CZ THREE times. I was fighting hard and got what I thought were obvious kills of mine. Then looking at my active mission I have zero kills out of 9 lol. EVERY SINGLE TIME I GOT NO CREDIT FOR THE KILL! The freakin NPCs even congratulated me on the kills!

This is beyond stupid and frustrating now and just makes me want to play somethin else.

I usually run all my weapons on one trigger except when my second weapon is seeker missiles, I never run three weapon types or fixed weapons so would replace the rails with lasers. But that build looks much better, at least there is enough power to run your weapons now.

In a Conflict Zone you need to sign up to the side opposing the one you are hunting otherwise everybody will try to kill you.
You should see the words Mission Target appear when you have locked on to one of the ships you are after.

 

[CmdrLordValcar]

Did you remember to pick sides when it popped up in the comms panel?

I didnt even know I had to do that? I attacked one side and the other said good to have you commander. They congratulate me on kills. Maybe I joined the wrong siide? Goin bck to try that.

Oh and my rail guns keep getting damaged. Do i need another module reinforcement?

 

[CmdrLordValcar]

Well I figured it out. I was fighting for the other side lol. Man these guys are hard. I can only take out one at a time then I have to repair or ill possibly die as ive been finding out. You guys say I need to be engineered but hell im doin these missions so I can get mats for engineering!

 

[Hoshizoku]

Oh and my rail guns keep getting damaged. Do i need another module reinforcement?

1 MRP absorbs 30% of the dmg to weapon modules
2 MRPs absorb 42% of the dmg to weapon modules
3 MRPs absorb 46.8% of the dmg to weapon modules

On another note, why a C shield but not biweave?

Here'd be my take on a unengineered CZ Chief:

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

It has a smaller PP to save half a mil rebuy but a 6A can give alot more weapon choices.
In CZ u dont fight alone and theres always a target with low shields, so i prefer MCs to quickly rip through the hulls.

 

[fishevi]

Chieftain, great ship, good choice.
I see your build is not engineered, so if you don't have access to them yet, maybe leave cz's a side for now. For combat, I would advise RES zones, preferably close to some station for rearm and repair. There you determine the pace so it's easier to figure things out.
Rails (and any fixed weapons) need practice to be efficient, so unless you want to git gud with them asap, usual beginner setup would be gimballed lasers for shields and gimballed multi's for hull.

And most important : have fun doing it.
Don't go into all those "most efficient" videos, min max builds etc.
It will take you to the neverending grind.
Do your stuff, fly what you like, explore the game and galaxy, ask for help/advice if you get stuck and don't get frustrated with some responding posts. After all, we are all bunch of anonymous strangers on the internet.

Did I mention have fun?!

 

[CmdrLordValcar]

Chieftain, great ship, good choice.
I see your build is not engineered, so if you don't have access to them yet, maybe leave cz's a side for now. For combat, I would advise RES zones, preferably close to some station for rearm and repair. There you determine the pace so it's easier to figure things out.
Rails (and any fixed weapons) need practice to be efficient, so unless you want to git gud with them asap, usual beginner setup would be gimballed lasers for shields and gimballed multi's for hull.

And most important : have fun doing it.
Don't go into all those "most efficient" videos, min max builds etc.
It will take you to the neverending grind.
Do your stuff, fly what you like, explore the game and galaxy, ask for help/advice if you get stuck and don't get frustrated with some responding posts. After all, we are all bunch of anonymous strangers on the internet.

Did I mention have fun?!

Oh im having a lot of fun with the space combat. I dont need to rush anything. I just want to know im moving in the right direction which appears to be gaining the best engineering mats.

So Im running the Multi's for the large points now and the rest are pulse lasers. Should I go see the engineer to overcharge my multis first?

 

[MishaTX]

Well I figured it out. I was fighting for the other side lol.

Common mistake, CMDR, did it myself

 

[aRJay]

I didnt even know I had to do that? I attacked one side and the other said good to have you commander. They congratulate me on kills. Maybe I joined the wrong siide? Goin bck to try that.

Oh and my rail guns keep getting damaged. Do i need another module reinforcement?

When you arrive in the CZ head towards the centre, at about 7.5km you should get messages to join either side choose the on that puts your targets on the other side about half the ships on your scanner should turn green they are your allies don’t shoot them the rest should turn red they are the enemy.
Listen to the chatter depending on the grade of CZ you are in there can be some dangerous or tedious ships drop in the chatter warns you that is happening.
Dangerous Spec Ops heavily engineered attack ships with exotic weaponry that fight as a wing.
Tedious reporters and enemy captains, their ships tend to be engineered for maximum defence and can take forever to kill.

I tend to have equal amounts of hull and module reinforcement, I will also run away from the fight if my shields go down to allow them to recover then rejoin after they have so favour bi-weaves and or the fast recharge experimental.

 

[fishevi]

Oh im having a lot of fun with the space combat. I dont need to rush anything. I just want to know im moving in the right direction which appears to be gaining the best engineering mats.

So Im running the Multi's for the large points now and the rest are pulse lasers. Should I go see the engineer to overcharge my multis first?

I use OC(overcharged) for multi's and frags and LR(long range) for lasers. LR lasers just to G1(3600m range/no damage loss), no need for more because of the jitter, they miss a lot on longer range.
Here's my multirole Challenger just to give you idea of difference in engineered stats, not the most effective build but works for me. https://s.orbis.zone/bv55

 

[d8veh]

Well I figured it out. I was fighting for the other side lol. Man these guys are hard. I can only take out one at a time then I have to repair or ill possibly die as ive been finding out. You guys say I need to be engineered but hell im doin these missions so I can get mats for engineering!

Your approach to doing these CZs is not going to be very successful. You'd actually do better in a Sidewinder. Without an engineered ship, the trick is to use a fast ship with the longest range weapons that you can get and the longest range sensors.

The techniques is to keep towards the edge of the battlefield. Make sure that every red is in front of you at all times as far as practical. Keep watching your radar. If a single red manoevres behind you , it'll attack, then won't leave you alone. Generally, the reds prioritise the highest risk ships, so they tend to leave small fast ships alone, especially if you don't shoot anyone.

Keep scanning all the targets until you see one likely to die soon. You can also look at all the weapons traces to see who's shooting who and if you see a gang of greens focused on a red, you can dash in, finish the kill and dash out again. A Vulture or Imperial Courrier is a good ship for this.

If you come under persistent fire from a better ship than you, jump out of the CZ and jump back in again.

There are all sorts of scenarios that can play out depending on whether capital ships or special ops turn up and who's side they're on. If the reds seem to have the upper hand, jump out and back in again. When the greens get the upper hand, ganking every red that drops in, you can fill your boots for a while, but don't get cocky. Always watch the radar and don't let any new reds get behind you.

The Pirate massacre missions are much more straight forward as long as you can find where they congregate - basically, the same as RES bounty farming. The ship you have now will be fine, if you get rid of the scanners. If it's the money you want, ditch the collector limpets and strengthen your ship a bit.

 

[CMDR SleepyDelegate]

Not sure if it was mentioned here, but a quick tip: for multi cannons, you do not need to go to the station to rearm... You can manufacture the ammo from within your ship... Also, when fighting NPC's, it is no shame to manufacture premium ammo - 30% more damage... And yes, engineer your MCs - overcharged and one of them corrosive is a good choice...

 

[Maelstrom5K]

I would advise against premium ammo in CZ for the same reason it is frowned upon in PvP - it just eats up your materials and makes you grind more. Better use those mats for blueprints for a permanent 30% damage boost.

You also can start engineering your modules a bit right away, according to the materials you have right now, giving you a much more natural progresson, than aiming for the G5 mods right away.

Engineering gives you diminishing returns (higher grades need more rolls of higher quality materials, for less improvement over the previous grade).
So if you throw in a few G1 blueprints, you already get yourself a nice boost (like +30% damage with overcharged or +24% hull reinforcement and some res on the HRPs). Plus it gives you engineer reputation, which gives you knowledge of other engineers and their access requirements (around halfway through grade 3 acess), as well as better rolls on your future crafted items.
Even if you have to re-engineer your modules in the future, you basically lose nothing, because G1/G2 mats are so cheap (just trade down for them).


Putting all weapons on a single button takes away options from you for performing better, e.g. if your PD weapons energy is low, to fire only your MCs at the shieldless enemy (and keep them firing, instead fully draining it with lasers).
A sensible split in your example would be primary Lasers, secondary MCs. Then a second fire group with primary lasers, secondary rails. Laser & MCs for close combat, and Rail Guns and Lasers for long range engagement because they are hit-scan-weapons.