Newcomer / Intro Solutions to deal with sociopath players ?

[ethelred]

Hello, I'm a newcomer.

I was very excited to join the multiplayer mode for all its avantages over playing alone. But only after a few hours, my experience has been more than mitigated.
The only commanders that I've met killed me for no reason (no cargo). Such a toxic behaviour doesn't make me enthusiastic about what's coming next.
Open questions :

- are there any game mechanics to prevent this from happening ?

- More generally, does it exist a way to play without being continually killed (by the same players) in the most visited locations ? (I would have liked to settle in the Diaguandri system)

Thank you in advance for your answers !

Welcome to Elite.

If you choose to keep Open as your mode of choice you'll need to do the following:-

1. Don't fly what you're not OK with losing. Whether that's a ship with inadequate insurance, lots of exploration data or cargo, choose Open only if you're willing to gamble.
2. There's different levels of risk depending on where you are. Community Goal (CG) Sytems are always risky (check mission board in any station) as are Engineer systems (especially Deciat, as it is often the first engineer unlocked) and Powerplay capital systems. Lave, Diso and to some extent Earth can also be busy, as can notable landmarks or other "famous" systems.

As unlikely as it may seem given your experience, the tools you have in the ship you fly, plus the mechanics of the game give you, the defender, a massive advantage. In addition there are many out of game tools that can make your experience easier in terms of information and data on where attacks are happening.

If you're a strict "in game only" player, then this is right on the edge, but pressing CTRL-B gives you a bandwidth number. Should that number be over, say, 100 consistently then you will be instancing with another CMDR. Your next step is to determine whether or not they are hostile or not. This is where your eyes and scanner come in. You need to find them ASAP (they are hollow squares or triangles) and determine if they are moving in on your 6, are hostile or merely passing through.

The easiest way to avoid destruction is to likewise avoid any ships that looks hostile. Getting to a particular station despite other CMDRs trying to stop you is one of the most rewarding and difficult aspects of Open play.

If you get to the next stage - the interdiction stage - then you're already quite far down the route in favour of your attacker, but it's not certain you'll die yet.

It's best to submit, boost towards and past your attacker and hope you have a shield and hull capable of withstanding the 10-15 seconds you need for your FSD to come back online. You need to not panic, definitely not try and fight back and ideally to have a nearby system you can jump to, to get safe. Most CMDRs will not follow you if you High Wake (=system jump) out. If you Low Wake (=enter supercruise) it's very likely you will be interdicted again.

I'm an old, bold pilot who has died many times, but each time I have got better at evading all sorts of others and most of the time I can get to where I need to be. I don't use the block function, but I do use https://edrecon.com/

There is a discord community set up to help you avoid being "ganked" and can help you practice the above until it's second nature.

 

[GroG79]

Empathy much?

Indeed.. A single sample is no good for statistics

Been ganked enough in Engineering system.. And I am an experienced pilot

 

[Morbad]

Indeed.. A single sample is no good for statistics

Been ganked enough in Engineering system.. And I am an experienced pilot

It was never a question of statistics.

I don't know how many people are being shot down at Engineers, but I'm sure it's a lot.

However, I'm even more sure that those being shot down were being reckless or lazy and that trying to block one's way around one's own recklessness or laziness is probably both more work and less reliable than just paying attention.

 

[Ethaidan]

You can gear up, skill up, hiwake away from where you intended to go - but there really is no Open PVE in Elite Dangerous.

What a load of . I've played thousands of hours of Open PvE. In that time I can count about a dozen PvP encounters vs hundreds/thousands of non-PvP encounters.

@OP As a new player, you need to equip yourselves with some basic knowledge & skills.

1. Open can be a dangerous and unforgiving mode to play in. It is also the most populous mode.

2. There are 10s of thousands of systems in the bubble, which makes running into other Cmdrs often quite rare, with the exception of...

- CGs: These weekly events attract thousands of Cmdrs to a single system, and you can pretty much guarantee there will be scum and villainy among them. Participating in Open will be a challenge for a new Cmdr in a sub-par ship.

- Engineer Bases: Unsurprisingly, the few places where you can make your ship survivable vs Cmdr attacks, attract scum & villainy. Going to these in Open could be difficult for a new player.

- There are a handful of other popular systems which can also attract scum & villainy, such as Shinrata, Diagundry, PP core systems, etc.

- There are also a handful of popular Mat/Data sites that can attract scum & villainy, such as Jameson's Cobra, Dav's Hope, etc.

Imo your best option is to learn how to survive in Open:

• Awareness of other Cmdrs
• Caution (or PG) in certain systems
• Designing & Engineering ships
• Flight/Evasion skills

 

[TruthSeeker]

 

[Ethaidan]

Open Play is basically PvP server. Why would you go there, as a new player? Of course you will get PKed on every corner. No one go's there solo.

Another blatant pack of lies.

@OP Don't let the hyperbole trolls put you off Open. There is loads of PvE, random wing play, and far more Cmdrs that will not attack you. At least according to FDev, who have informed us that Open is the most populous mode, and a only a small minority of Cmdrs engage in PvP.

That friend request you received could have been something other than you might have assumed. I understand that many gankers send friend requests and proceed to then offer advice on how to better evade and prepare your ship. If you think they are using it to track you, just unfriend them.

 

[ethelred]

Can you name this advantages please.

Open Play is basically PvP server. Why would you go there, as a new player? Of course you will get PKed on every corner. No one go's there solo.

Do like you do in any other MMO. First find a Squadron, join their Private Group - play with them, learn to fight as a team, than join PvP server as a team and have fun PvPing ( after you engineered your ship ).

Fundamentally untrue. I won't say it's always easy to survive, but it is survivable and quite honestly you rarely meet other CMDRs (excepting some hotspots)

 

[jonisapp]

I can't really imagine what the difficulty would be in being shot down on occasion where being shot down is optional, of negligible consequence, and not a gross context violation.

So no, I do not grasp the perspective well enough to empathise with it.

I've also tried to sympathize with those who find being shot down offensive enough to want to start blocking people for it, but since there is nothing less contextual than solving in-game problems via the menus and because I've never seen anyone get shot down who wasn't an active participant in a fight, or doing something I thought was really dumb, I'm pretty sure that's also beyond my abilities.

It's good to have your point of view. Maybe you could consider that for people who don't have your credits this is not "of negligible consequence".
You seem to have a lot of advantages but everyone is not you, so everyone is not supposed to handle a situation as you do.

 

[Morbad]

Can you name this advantages please.

Being able to meet other players and their characters, which, far more often than not results in mutually beneficial entertainment, often in the form of cooperative gameplay.

Open Play is basically PvP server. Why would you go there, as a new player? Of course you will get PKed on every corner. No one go's there solo.

Do like you do in any other MMO. First find a Squadron, join their Private Group - play with them, learn to fight as a team, than join PvP server as a team and have fun PvPing ( after you engineered your ship ).

Well, that certainly doesn't line up with everyone's experience, which makes it hard to credibly present as an absolute.

It's good to have your point of view. Maybe you could consider that for people who don't have your credits this is not "of negligible consequence".

My CMDR had fewer credits than many and credits have been so meaningless for so long that if you emptied my CMDR's account, it wouldn't make any difference...they'd still fall into his lap faster than he could reasonably spend them.

You seem to have a lot of advantages but everyone is not you, so everyone is not supposed to handle a situation as you do.

Maybe not, but people should at least consider all the options the game presents to them.

Half of what I have my CMDR do as a matter of course doesn't even seem to occur to many people bringing up the sort of issues you have...they come asking for advice and get hyperbolic stuff that presents failure as inevitable, that says what I experience every time I play as a pipe dream...and if they follow that advice, they'll never have the 'advantages' I have.

 

[jonisapp]

I've learned more here than any "5 best ED tricks" on youtube, so I would like to thank you all for your answers.

 

[Para Handy]

.........
Open Play is basically PvP server.
.........

You know that is absolute nonsense.

 

[TruthSeeker]

 

[Morbad]

You mean when they position them selves between you and your target while you are firing lasers?

No.

Or the recent trip in to no-where on the Fleet Carrier? - i guess that didn't happen?

Something happening and something being inevitable, or even common, are very different things.

This is why this people advise you to try Open Play, so they can gank you over and over again until you quit the game, because that is there form of entertainment.

That's a pretty outlandish claim.

 

[ethelred]

You mean when they position them selves between you and your target while you are firing lasers? Doesn't seem like much entertainment for the new players. Or the recent trip in to no-where on the Fleet Carrier? - i guess that didn't happen?


This is why this people advise you to try Open Play, so they can gank you over and over again until you quit the game, because that is there form of entertainment.

Go the Squadron route Private Groups - you'll learn there much more from players that actually willing to help you, instead of from random PKers in Open.

It's a nice fiction and I'm sure it's comforting to have other people confirm your particular world view, but if you check my posting history you will find the same thing:-

Open is easily survivable and with a little skill and practice, you need never fear any hollow dots again.

If you don't want to run the risk, then choose another mode. No one cares.

Plenty of CMDRs here can give advice if you want to take it.

 

[jonisapp]

That's a pretty outlandish claim.

That's rather reallity in many games . But fortunately this kind of players are easily identifiable by their arrogant and selfish nature.

 

[Diguelo]

Online MMP have always had a calling to people who just love to shoot others by whatever means is available. Personally I cant be bothered with them and play in private group and SOLO mode. These people (Im being polite because others are reading this) often have only one goal "Look how cool I am" in front of their mates and encouraging others to behave the same. Ive told my kids from day one. Theres only one difference between Cool and Fool thats one letter, Every MMO game suffers with it, enjoyment is made by throwing masses of money at it, Uber at all costs. They are usually the last ones playing when the game servers are closed due to lack of interest because of their behaviour

 

[Chaparral]

What a load of . I've played thousands of hours of Open PvE. In that time I can count about a dozen PvP encounters vs hundreds/thousands of non-PvP encounters.

@OP As a new player, you need to equip yourselves with some basic knowledge & skills.

1. Open can be a dangerous and unforgiving mode to play in. It is also the most populous mode.

2. There are 10s of thousands of systems in the bubble, which makes running into other Cmdrs often quite rare, with the exception of...

- CGs: These weekly events attract thousands of Cmdrs to a single system, and you can pretty much guarantee there will be scum and villainy among them. Participating in Open will be a challenge for a new Cmdr in a sub-par ship.

- Engineer Bases: Unsurprisingly, the few places where you can make your ship survivable vs Cmdr attacks, attract scum & villainy. Going to these in Open could be difficult for a new player.

- There are a handful of other popular systems which can also attract scum & villainy, such as Shinrata, Diagundry, PP core systems, etc.

- There are also a handful of popular Mat/Data sites that can attract scum & villainy, such as Jameson's Cobra, Dav's Hope, etc.

Imo your best option is to learn how to survive in Open:

• Awareness of other Cmdrs
• Caution (or PG) in certain systems
• Designing & Engineering ships
• Flight/Evasion skills

I suppose we might have different experiences based on time zone? The last 5 times I have logged in engaging in PVE activities in Open, I have had a pvp encounter. I was not looking for a fight, there are simply folks hanging around in Shin, Deciat, Sirius, CGs, etc. looking to fight. If you spend all of your time at sea and not in port, your proportions of time encountering port dwelllers are going to be reduced. I grind tons of mods gearing ships (which I find the most interesting part of this game), which means I am at mat grind sites, and at engineers picking up secondaries. As a result, I see a fair number of people in game.

I apologize that my strategy for managing gankers offends you. It is a game mechanic, in the same way as assymmetric gearing and ineffective C&P are mechanics. The OP is a player that has had the same experience as mine in game, and you call that a "load of".

Rather than denying the realities of the game, and the actual use of an effective tool to manage it, you might focus your ire on the developers that have created this situation.

 

[Morbad]

Rather than denying the realities of the game, and the actual use of an effective tool to manage it, you might focus your ire on the developers that have created this situation.

I blame the developers for allowing contextless tools to influence in-game events.

 

[Chaparral]

I can't really imagine what the difficulty would be in being shot down on occasion where being shot down is optional, of negligible consequence, and not a gross context violation.

So no, I do not grasp the perspective well enough to empathise with it.

I've also tried to sympathize with those who find being shot down offensive enough to want to start blocking people for it, but since there is nothing less contextual than solving in-game problems via the menus and because I've never seen anyone get shot down who wasn't an active participant in a fight, or doing something I thought was really dumb, I'm pretty sure that's also beyond my abilities.

IF the game had effective C&P as per context, IF instancing permitted effective player community policing, IF high security meant high security in context, IF the game had effective counters to snare, cripple and burst mechanics (balance is a thing in actual combat focused MMOs) then we could talk about context validity.

That is a nice construct you wrap all of your arguments in. If it doesn't meet your personal definition of what is appropriate for your interpretation of context, then it is not a valid inclusion in the game mechanics.

I know, for example, that you don't approve of system permits. It is a baked in design mechanic, but it is bad because it violates your sense of context.

From my perspective, ineffective C&P, p2p instancing, unbalanced game design without effective counters to snare, cripple and burst combat tools violate my sense of context.

Block is a stupid out of context solution, but it is what new players, and players not interested in silly out-of-context combat harrasment have to avoid combat.

 

[Morbad]

IF the game had effective C&P as per context, IF instancing permitted effective player community policing, IF high security meant high security in context

Mechanisms like modes, blocks, and the like, combined with negligible consequences (impersistence is part of that), are the prime cause of all of these issues.

IF the game had effective counters to snare, cripple and burst mechanics

I think it does.

If it doesn't meet your personal definition of what is appropriate for your interpretation of context, then it is not a valid inclusion in the game mechanics.

I'm not even sure how that's a criticism.

If the goal is to play a character that is not me in a setting that is not my reality, how could my interpretation of context not be the overriding factor for what I'd consider valid gameplay mechanisms?

I know, for example, that you don't approve of system permits. It is a baked in design mechanic, but it is bad because it violates your sense of context.

I have no problem with system permits.

I have a problem with them relying on baked in design mechanisms (though I'd consider this mechanism a rather overt oversight/flaw), rather than contextual enforcement.

Block is a stupid out of context solution, but it is what new players, and players not interested in silly out-of-context combat harrasment have to avoid combat.

It is one solution. I'm having difficulty imagining a scenario where it's the best solution, however.