Newcomer / Intro Interact With Hub Missions

[Random Player]

Hello

Question please... I am not really into doing general missions, unless they are required for something, but I'm kind of bored and have noticed something that, seems to me, to be a new requirement for some missions, a lot of missions actually in the "Assassinate" category at least.

So, take the mission below... I am supposed to go kill this dude but it tells me to Interact with some hub on a planet. I notice that a LOT of these say to "Interact" with some planetary base hub terminal or whatever. My question is, do I really need to "Interact" with some planet hub? When doing these "kill" missions, I am always in a Combat ship with no SRV to go "interact" with any hub, assuming that's what they mean. I can't see what else it could mean.

Anyway... it used to be, just go and kill so 'n so, and they'd usually find you before you found them anyway. So, I am wondering, why the new requirement to interact with some planet base hub now, in almost all of these Assassinate missions, and, can I just ignore that and assume dude will find me and pull me out of SC, like is usually normal for these missions?

Thanks!

 

[Ashnak]

Those missions are for terrorists (the other side might call them freedom fighters), venerable generals (be very careful with these) and similar guys who are not regarded as hostile by everyone. So no, these will not pull you from supercruise or lurk around in a nav beacon - you'll have to go out and find them. New is also relative - these missions have been around for quite some time.
As for your problem with scanning the data terminals: any small and most medium ships have no problem with getting close enough to these terminals to scan them with the ship's datalink scanner. Also, nowhere in the mission description (or any other mission requirement) does it say that you have to use the same ship for scanning the terminal, taking down the target and collecting your reward.

 

[Random Player]

Those missions are for terrorists (the other side might call them freedom fighters), venerable generals (be very careful with these) and similar guys who are not regarded as hostile by everyone. So no, these will not pull you from supercruise or lurk around in a nav beacon - you'll have to go out and find them. New is also relative - these missions have been around for quite some time.
As for your problem with scanning the data terminals: any small and most medium ships have no problem with getting close enough to these terminals to scan them with the ship's datalink scanner. Also, nowhere in the mission description (or any other mission requirement) does it say that you have to use the same ship for scanning the terminal, taking down the target and collecting your reward.

Thanks! I was wondering, if I could just use my ship's Data Link Scanner to "interact" with this hub. Appreciate it! I guess maybe they have been around for awhile, but just noticed them a few months ago. I am at a Depot right now, where almost ALL combat missions are Interact with Hub missions, along with the "Kill 72 Pirates from Blah Blah" missions

Thanks!

 

[Random Player]

I may as well ask you one other question, I've been curious about @Ashnak, if you don't mind. These mission that are Recommended Wing Missions... is that because of just the Force I am going to encounter or something else I am not getting? Why, exactly, are they "Wing" recommended missions? Thanks!

Sorry, just not really into missions, but thought I would jump into doing some.

 

[Ashnak]

Try it .

Ok, wing pirate missions get you, in addition to a juicy target (IIRC a 'vette in the case I tried) a bunch of rather high level guys who are friends with the target. So if (e.g.) you can't take down an Elite 'vette while being under fire from four Dangerous Vultures, better don't accept these missions on your own.

 

[Random Player]

Try it .

Ok, wing pirate missions get you, in addition to a juicy target (IIRC a 'vette in the case I tried) a bunch of rather high level guys who are friends with the target. So if (e.g.) you can't take down an Elite 'vette while being under fire from four Dangerous Vultures, better don't accept these missions on your own.

o7 CMDR! Thanks! I did one mission, and thankfully I was in my Vette, where I took out a "Politician" or someone like that. When I found him, he had like 20 other ships with him. This was NOT a "Wing" mission. I just melted him pretty quickly, as all other 20 ships opened up on me, and bailed out without a scratch. I wonder how this "Wing" mission will compare. What the hell, may as well give one a try Thanks again!

 

[Faded Glory]

Just to add to Ashnak's response...

Yes, you can use your ships data link scanner to interact with the beacon on the planet. You will need to get within 100 meters for the scan to work, and depending on how quick you are you may get shot at by the planetary outposts anti ship turrets. I do the scanning bit in an iCourier as it's nice and quick. You will also get a fine, likely a small bounty for every terminal you scan.

Pirate lord wing missions are in fact an FDL with two to four escorts. The main target has engineered weapons and is tough, the escorts less so. I don't do these often, but when I do I use a Krait MkII with my NPC fighter crew and a fire at will turret and the rest of the weapons are long range pulse lasers and rail guns. The SLF and turret take on the escorts while I snipe the FDL from further than 3km so it cannot touch me with its weapons. Otherwise you will need absurdly strong shields to absorb the main target's fire.

 

[Random Player]

Just to add to Ashnak's response...

Yes, you can use your ships data link scanner to interact with the beacon on the planet. You will need to get within 100 meters for the scan to work, and depending on how quick you are you may get shot at by the planetary outposts anti ship turrets. I do the scanning bit in an iCourier as it's nice and quick. You will also get a fine, likely a small bounty for every terminal you scan.

Pirate lord wing missions are in fact an FDL with two to four escorts. The main target has engineered weapons and is tough, the escorts less so. I don't do these often, but when I do I use a Krait MkII with my NPC fighter crew and a fire at will turret and the rest of the weapons are long range pulse lasers and rail guns. The SLF and turret take on the escorts while I snipe the FDL from further than 3km so it cannot touch me with its weapons. Otherwise you will need absurdly strong shields to absorb the main target's fire.

My Vette has 7000+Mj Prismos and when I did the Politician kill, there was literally an armada of ships surrounding him, all of which started firing on me. Luckily he died fast, like less than 30 seconds with two Huge ENGed Beams cooking him, took him out like nothing. I think maybe the outer ring of my shields got a little lighter, but other than that, not a scratch. I like the gimbaled Beams, on the Vette and some other ships. I could take in an FDL or Python, something with PAs and Rails, but it just takes too long, for me and my skill with fixed weapons, to really make fast work of anything of equal value. The rails I am pretty good with, but the PA's, even my faster firing Advanced ones, just take too much work to land shots, although when they do hit, it's near instant shield drop, and usually take along some Packs to finish up the Hull.

 

[Faded Glory]

My Vette has 7000+Mj Prismos and when I did the Politician kill, there was literally an armada of ships surrounding him, all of which started firing on me. Luckily he died fast, like less than 30 seconds with two Huge ENGed Beams cooking him, took him out like nothing. I think maybe the outer ring of my shields got a little lighter, but other than that, not a scratch. I like the gimbaled Beams, on the Vette and some other ships. I could take in an FDL or Python, something with PAs and Rails, but it just takes too long, for me and my skill with fixed weapons, to really make fast work of anything of equal value. The rails I am pretty good with, but the PA's, even my faster firing Advanced ones, just take too much work to land shots, although when they do hit, it's near instant shield drop, and usually take along some Packs to finish up the Hull.

I think with those shields you'll be fine. I don't have any shield tank ships (or any large ships), nothing north of 1,000 MJ, so I needed a different approach. I have come to quite enjoy sniping. With your setup I think you'll do best to just go for the pirate lord, not the escorts, (s)he'll have somewhat engineered shields from memory, but nothing too drastic.

Have fun.

 

[Random Player]

I think with those shields you'll be fine. I don't have any shield tank ships (or any large ships), nothing north of 1,000 MJ, so I needed a different approach. I have come to quite enjoy sniping. With your setup I think you'll do best to just go for the pirate lord, not the escorts, (s)he'll have somewhat engineered shields from memory, but nothing too drastic.

Have fun.

Thanks! o7

 

[MishaTX]

A slightly more "cheesy" way of going about assassination missions (not the wing kind) is to drop into your target's location, find him and start ramming the snot out of him. This won't aggro his friends or him until he reaches around 30% hull or so, at which point he'll start spooling up his FSD. At this point, melt him and make like a tree. His friends won't start chasing you until you actually open fire, so you'll be gone with barely a scratch.

 

[Random Player]

A slightly more "cheesy" way of going about assassination missions (not the wing kind) is to drop into your target's location, find him and start ramming the snot out of him. This won't aggro his friends or him until he reaches around 30% hull or so, at which point he'll start spooling up his FSD. At this point, melt him and make like a tree. His friends won't start chasing you until you actually open fire, so you'll be gone with barely a scratch.

I ram with my Vette all the time. It's almost always an instant shield drop, and on small ships like Cobras and Eagles, almost always an instant kill if I get a good ram. Thanks! I will try that on the assassination missions Speaking of Vettes, how come you never see a Vette or a Cutter at a NAV, Comp NAV or haz res sites? I see almost every other ship (NPC) but hardly ever Vettes or Cutters. I've seen maybe two Vettes on assassination missions and several in Conflicts, but that's it. Not sure why Vettes and Cutters hardly ever show up, in NPC land. Just flying through systems and scanning ships, hardly ever, if ever, do I see a Vette or a Cutter. Anyway, thanks!

 

[MishaTX]

Speaking of Vettes, how come you never see a Vette or a Cutter at a NAV, Comp NAV or haz res sites?

Can't say that I know for sure, but I suspect it's because the NPCs spawning at NAVs and RESs are bog standard ones, and the Vettes are rank locked. Unlike CZs and missions, which are "special" cases.

 

[aRJay]

Can't say that I know for sure, but I suspect it's because the NPCs spawning at NAVs and RESs are bog standard ones, and the Vettes are rank locked. Unlike CZs and missions, which are "special" cases.

That was my first thought but it cannot be right because we see lots of Couriers, Clippers, Drop/Gunships and FASs all of which are rank locked.
It might be because they are also much more expensive.

 

[d8veh]

o7 CMDR! Thanks! I did one mission, and thankfully I was in my Vette, where I took out a "Politician" or someone like that. When I found him, he had like 20 other ships with him. This was NOT a "Wing" mission. I just melted him pretty quickly, as all other 20 ships opened up on me, and bailed out without a scratch. I wonder how this "Wing" mission will compare. What the hell, may as well give one a try Thanks again!

There's an easy way to do those or at least get a big advantage:

Spoiler

When you ram the target, they don't seem to realise that you're doing it, so you can ram them repeatedly until they're down to 30% hull before opening fire to finish them off. Ramming works best when you first encounter an enemy ship that tries to scan you. It'll sit in front of you while it scans, which gives the perfect opportunity for the ram. The ram disrupts the scan, so the target ship will reposition itself in front of you so that you can ram it again and again until you're ready to shoot it. Ramming is the best way to take out the leader of a wing in most circumstances. Obviously you beed decent shields. SCBs can help if you don't have enough shields to do the whole job.

Also, if you set your fighter on the target ship and wait for it to fire on the target, the ship will go for the fighter rather than you, so you get a good prolonged sideways shot on the target to finish it off before it turns on you. That works for any ship and it considerably speeds up RES bounty farming.

 

[djadjok]

That was my first thought but it cannot be right because we see lots of Couriers, Clippers, Drop/Gunships and FASs all of which are rank locked.
It might be because they are also much more expensive.

My guess is a bit more simple explanation: Corvettes and Cutters were released later (not on the official start), and that's why for "classic" ED POI's (as res sites, beacons) they are not included in the npc "generation" pool. And that's why at the same time they can be encountered around planetary settlements (they have been available already with the release of Horizons for adjusting new spawning mechanics around those POI's)

 

[aRJay]

My guess is a bit more simple explanation: Corvettes and Cutters were released later (not on the official start), and that's why for "classic" ED POI's (as res sites, beacons) they are not included in the npc "generation" pool. And that's why at the same time they can be encountered around planetary settlements (they have been available already with the release of Horizons for adjusting new spawning mechanics around those POI's)

But we do see and get shot at by Kraits and The Alliance C type ships, which are newer still, at the RESs.

 

[djadjok]

But we do see and get shot at by Kraits and The Alliance C type ships, which are newer still, at the RESs.

In fact, you are right. However that can be also explained that when Kraits and Alliance type ships have been released they have updated the tables/code for all spawning mechanics, and that was not the case during the first year of Horizons (ships near surface POI's have appeared with the one of the first updates, not from the very beginning. Engineers were much more important at that moment than the spawning mechanics). And Corvettes with Cutters have been... forgotten and not included in that "new update". Human factor, as one can say=)

 

[Random Player]

There's an easy way to do those or at least get a big advantage:

Spoiler

When you ram the target, they don't seem to realise that you're doing it, so you can ram them repeatedly until they're down to 30% hull before opening fire to finish them off. Ramming works best when you first encounter an enemy ship that tries to scan you. It'll sit in front of you while it scans, which gives the perfect opportunity for the ram. The ram disrupts the scan, so the target ship will reposition itself in front of you so that you can ram it again and again until you're ready to shoot it. Ramming is the best way to take out the leader of a wing in most circumstances. Obviously you beed decent shields. SCBs can help if you don't have enough shields to do the whole job.

Also, if you set your fighter on the target ship and wait for it to fire on the target, the ship will go for the fighter rather than you, so you get a good prolonged sideways shot on the target to finish it off before it turns on you. That works for any ship and it considerably speeds up RES bounty farming.

The Vette I use has 7,000 Mj Prismo Shields. I sit, like right now in Pollox, at a Comp NAV and just ram and ram. Does nothing to my shields, no matter the ship. The Corvette is almost TOO good. Last night, I sat in this Comp NAV and killed a few hundred ships with no damage to me at all, and ramming as much as I could. I don't think there's an NPC ship in the game, except for maybe on a mission, that can put a hurt on the Vette. It's an incredible ship. Slow, but doesn't matter, just soaks up anything, PA's, Rails, Beams, Missiles ... anything that an NPC throws at it just "bounces" off this ship. I freaking LOVE the Vette! I used to use my Krait MKII as my "main" ship, but changed to my Vette! It has Prismos shields, REF+HiCap, but I wonder if standard A-Rates would have worked just as good. IT's a beast in any case