Answers questions about anything 2.4 related - also there is a timeline for 2.4 in post #2:
INRA Bases
INRA were the shady organisation who in previous games went up against the Thargoids using the Mycoid virus to attack them. They also attempted to gain access to the superior Thargoid technologies (e.g. ECM comes from thargoid tech)
Where can I find Thargoids?
Non-Human Signal Sources (NHSS) in area around Merope. They appear at random, often when flying between or around planets. They do not appear to be localisd to particular panets within a system. You will encounter 1 or more thargoids (normally 1 in an NHSS). Deploying weapons / approaching is not advised, be prepared to run. Normally the Thargoid will come over and scan you at around 350m, once this is done it is best to reverse away to 500m, or the Thargoid will get annoyed. Scan the Thargoid with your Xeno Scanner while it is scanning you. Don't get too close to any canisters that are around as the Thargoid will probably want to collect them, and being too close can cause it to go aggressive. Cyclops appear in NHSS5 (within 149 Ly around Merope), Basilisk appear in NHSS6 (41 Ly around Merope), Medusa appear in NHSS7 (34 Ly around Merope). There is a map showing systems where they have been found.
You can also get Hyperdicted (pulled out of hyperspace) by Thargoids - especially within 150Ly of Merope but also towards Sol. In this case there may be between one and four Thargoids, and they will probably try and disable you (an Anti-EMP device can be handy).
Finally when you visit a wrecked mega-ship or a Distress Call there may be a Thargoid in the area collecting stuff.
Guide to fighting (from GluttonyFang): https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...ceptor-Video?p=5963833&viewfull=1#post5963833
NHSS Threat Types
Type 2, 5, 6 and 7 - 2 contain Thargoid Sensors. 5 are Cyclops (green - easiest) type, 6 are Basilisk (red - harder types) type- 7 contain Medua Interceptors (hardest). All can be empty, or contain solitary Thargoid sensor (TS) or Thargoid Probe (TP). If you scoop these a Thargoid will often appear, and want them back.
info about encounters. Threat 2 appears to be a source of UP (Unknown Probe) / TP (Thargoid Probe) and are found close to Ammonia Worlds. Type 2 are rare(r).
Classifying Thargoids
Station Attacks
Thargoids have started attacking stations. This results in damage to the stations, disables some station facilities, and changes the missions. Stations also get different visuals and voice acting - worth a look. When a station is attacked a Rescue Megaship appears nearby. These Megaships will often have passenger cabins available. Ships that were in the station are still there, and can be transferred out. The Megaships only have one large dock, so queuing is usual if playing in open. The inside of the attacked stations are hot and you will take heat damage, many pack heatsinks.
There are missions available:
There is an option to show Attacked stations on the Galaxy Map - look at the last tab on the left. It is disabled by default.
After a week the attacked stations switch to a 'repairing' state, and have a list of cargo they want you to ship (the set of materials for all repairing stations is available in Galnet). Station repair is a large undertaking - none have been successfully repaired so far.
Ships
T10 is now available from Alliance Hi Tech systems (eddb). 120k CR
Modules
** Remember modules can go out of stock **
There is a Research Limpet to collect samples from Thargoids - available from Founders World in Shinrarta Dezhra, also Brestla 'at the surface port', Schlegel Keep in LHS 3980, Noctrach-Ihazevich Research Facility in Pleiades Sector AB-W b2-4 (closest to Maia). These collect tissue samples which can be sold. They are corrosive. Try Military Bases with Outfitting - change the Reference System to where you are.
(Example usage with video)
AX Missiles used for fighting thargoids - needed to take down armour and allow access to the thargoid hearts. Note that you can only fit up to 4 AX Weapons (of any type) to a ship. These are available from Military, Hi Tech and Industrial Surface bases.
You can fit up to 4 and they use Hardpoints.
AX Multi-canonn - effective against Thargoid hearts, not against the armour. Available from Military, High Tech, Industrial and Refinery Planetary bases. Note that you can only fit up to 4 AX Weapons (of any type) to a ship.
Remote Release Flak cannons
Useful against Thargons, hold trigger to delay flak. Note these are not AX weapons, so do not count towards the limit of 4 AX weapons. Available from Military, High Tech, Industrial and Refinery Planetary bases
Xeno Scanner for scanning Thargoids - attaches to Utility Points. These are available from Military, Hi Tech and Industrial Surface bases.
Shutdown Field Neutraliser. Takes up to 1 second to charge, protects against thargoid's disabling EMP. Depletes system capacitor, so make sure your power distributor is string enough. Available from Military and High Tech Planetary bases
AX Fighter. Comes with AX Multicannons, and needs a Fighter Bay. Only available an Founder World (Shinrarta Dezhra) - which requires a permit, and at I Sola Prospect in Brestla.
Size 3 AX Weapons (Missiles and Multi-cannon). Apparently very effective. Availability: Surface Military bases.
Decontamination Limpets remove Thargoid contamination - available from ground bases with military, high-tech, refinery, industrial or extraction-level economies
Thargoid Types
It appears there are different marking on the Thargoid Ships (ref) but they don't have a meaning yet. The 'inner' markings appear to correspond to the interceptor type - three per type. Variants are Cyclops (3 hearts, 32 thargons), Basilisk (4 hearts, 64 thargons) and Medusa (5 hearts, 96 thargons). Cyclops are easiest, Medusa the hardest.
Message on Thargoid Ships
The Thargoid ships display sets of numbers that change. These are octal numbers which map to ASCII codes. These are sets of three letters that can be rearranged to say 'HULL STRESS FACTOR UNCERTAIN'. This is a reference back to the origibal Elite description of Thargoid Ships: https://archive.org/stream/Elite_1985_Firebird_Software/Elite_1985_Firebird_Software_djvu.txt (ref). You will not see these numbers once you have a Xeno Scanner installed, as the scanner decodes the message into an image for you.
What are they interested in?
They ignore most foodstuffs, Soontil Relics etc but will scoop Slaves and Imperial Slaves, Escape Pods. They attack Ancient Relics (and possibly you, if you carry them). Also attack if you carry thargoid stuff (TS, Meta-alloys, UP)
Systems Unlocked
None - HIP 22460 permit is unchanged. Regor / Col 70 etc : no changes in permits seen
New Missions
People are seeing missions with large payouts to ship Thargoid stuff around Maia region (Darnielle's is mentioned). (Not mentioned recently, assumed removed). The Palin mission from Obsidian Orbital in Maia is still available, and can pay up to 25 Million CR. The goods are corrosive, be fast, and expect your canopy to be blown! Not available while Obsidian Orbital is attacked.
Changes of Names
Unknown Artefects / Unknown Probes (and probably others) have been renamed - UA are now Thargoid Sensors (TS), UP are now TP (Thargoid Probe)
Changes in Thargoid Surface Bases
None reported. Thargoid devices working same as before. Scanning the uplinks will increase your 'Thargoid Imprint' stat (in the stats panel).
Barnacle Forests found
Barnacle forest found: Hyades Sector AQ-Y D81 , planet C 2, coords 9, -153 How the first barnacle forest was found (note this method has been patched and no longer works)
Another forest Found at Pleiades Sector PN-T b3-0 A5 Lat: -4.4946,Long: 145.6557 (link) And a third Pleiades Sector SP-N B7-0 - Planet B2 35.96, -104.40 (link)
New USS Content
Now with Empire / Thargoid encounters (link)
Thargoid Megaship encounters
Several attacked Megaships have been found. Sometimes Thargoids are seen at the attack site
A ship (GCS Sarasvati) with historical info about the first thargoid encounters found at IC 4604 Sector FB-X C1-16 A 1A - see https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship
A Thargoid Scout (seemingly an old design) has been found: https://canonn.science/codex/crashed-thargoid-scout/ (HIP 17125 A 3 a at -65.8228, 48.8618). The 2.4 trailer showed this and also a crashed Cobra (which has also been found on HIP 12099 1B, Coordinates : -54.36, -50.36). (original find). A video shown during the charity livestream appears to show a different scout. This has now also been found at Pleiades Sector LN-T c3-4 2 a at -60.880077,42.56736 (link)
More Mega-ships have been attacked in the California Sector. These do not appear to be Thargoid related, but have been attacked by (human) pirates and in systems with Alliance bases. Probably related to a subsequent CG (link).
Ram Tah Mission
Payout back to 100 Million. Probably a bug. In fact probably not even back to 100 Million
Anything missing - let me know!
INRA Bases
INRA were the shady organisation who in previous games went up against the Thargoids using the Mycoid virus to attack them. They also attempted to gain access to the superior Thargoid technologies (e.g. ECM comes from thargoid tech)
- #1 Hollis Gateway : Hermitage 4a (-53.75, 157.61) Found by: site 2 message
- #2 Stuart Retreat : HIP 15329 A 3c (-62.61, -44.26) Found by: site 1 message
- #3 Klatt Enterprises : Alnath A 2aa (4.0186, 133.5426) Found by: site 2 message
- #4 Mayes Chemical Plant : HIP 59382 1b (11.41, 177.06) Found by: site 3 message
- #5 Hogan Depot : HIP 7158 A 2b (-44.63, -63.78) Found by: site 4 message
- #6 Velasquez Medical Research Center : LP 389-95 7 (57.96, 50.03) Found by: site 5 message
- #7 Almeida Landing : Conn A 3a (73.38, 102.37) Found by UCB Teegarden's Star 2
- #8 Carmichael Point : HIP 16824 A 2f (73.87, 61.87) Found by UCB HR 1188 A 2
- #9 Stack : HIP 12099 1a (-72.62, -67.52) : Found by UCB HIP 8887
- COBRA JJ-386 : HIP 12099 1b (-54.36, -50.36) found by: near site 9?
- #10 Taylor Keep : 12 Trianguli Planet A 1 (-51.57, 130.6) Found by UCB Ain 2
Where can I find Thargoids?
Non-Human Signal Sources (NHSS) in area around Merope. They appear at random, often when flying between or around planets. They do not appear to be localisd to particular panets within a system. You will encounter 1 or more thargoids (normally 1 in an NHSS). Deploying weapons / approaching is not advised, be prepared to run. Normally the Thargoid will come over and scan you at around 350m, once this is done it is best to reverse away to 500m, or the Thargoid will get annoyed. Scan the Thargoid with your Xeno Scanner while it is scanning you. Don't get too close to any canisters that are around as the Thargoid will probably want to collect them, and being too close can cause it to go aggressive. Cyclops appear in NHSS5 (within 149 Ly around Merope), Basilisk appear in NHSS6 (41 Ly around Merope), Medusa appear in NHSS7 (34 Ly around Merope). There is a map showing systems where they have been found.
You can also get Hyperdicted (pulled out of hyperspace) by Thargoids - especially within 150Ly of Merope but also towards Sol. In this case there may be between one and four Thargoids, and they will probably try and disable you (an Anti-EMP device can be handy).
Finally when you visit a wrecked mega-ship or a Distress Call there may be a Thargoid in the area collecting stuff.
Guide to fighting (from GluttonyFang): https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...ceptor-Video?p=5963833&viewfull=1#post5963833
NHSS Threat Types
Type 2, 5, 6 and 7 - 2 contain Thargoid Sensors. 5 are Cyclops (green - easiest) type, 6 are Basilisk (red - harder types) type- 7 contain Medua Interceptors (hardest). All can be empty, or contain solitary Thargoid sensor (TS) or Thargoid Probe (TP). If you scoop these a Thargoid will often appear, and want them back.
info about encounters. Threat 2 appears to be a source of UP (Unknown Probe) / TP (Thargoid Probe) and are found close to Ammonia Worlds. Type 2 are rare(r).
Classifying Thargoids
Station Attacks
Thargoids have started attacking stations. This results in damage to the stations, disables some station facilities, and changes the missions. Stations also get different visuals and voice acting - worth a look. When a station is attacked a Rescue Megaship appears nearby. These Megaships will often have passenger cabins available. Ships that were in the station are still there, and can be transferred out. The Megaships only have one large dock, so queuing is usual if playing in open. The inside of the attacked stations are hot and you will take heat damage, many pack heatsinks.
There are missions available:
- Passenger Evacuation missions from the station - lots, low pay, passengers get annoyed if you are not fast. Economy cabins required.
- Salvage missions available from Rescue Megaship - lots, but salvagable goods not always available from the attacked stations. If you know of nearby attacked megaships they may be better sources of goods.
- You can also supply Medicines (Basic and Advanced) to the station as they are in demand
There is an option to show Attacked stations on the Galaxy Map - look at the last tab on the left. It is disabled by default.
After a week the attacked stations switch to a 'repairing' state, and have a list of cargo they want you to ship (the set of materials for all repairing stations is available in Galnet). Station repair is a large undertaking - none have been successfully repaired so far.
Ships
T10 is now available from Alliance Hi Tech systems (eddb). 120k CR
Modules
** Remember modules can go out of stock **
There is a Research Limpet to collect samples from Thargoids - available from Founders World in Shinrarta Dezhra, also Brestla 'at the surface port', Schlegel Keep in LHS 3980, Noctrach-Ihazevich Research Facility in Pleiades Sector AB-W b2-4 (closest to Maia). These collect tissue samples which can be sold. They are corrosive. Try Military Bases with Outfitting - change the Reference System to where you are.
(Example usage with video)
AX Missiles used for fighting thargoids - needed to take down armour and allow access to the thargoid hearts. Note that you can only fit up to 4 AX Weapons (of any type) to a ship. These are available from Military, Hi Tech and Industrial Surface bases.
You can fit up to 4 and they use Hardpoints.
AX Multi-canonn - effective against Thargoid hearts, not against the armour. Available from Military, High Tech, Industrial and Refinery Planetary bases. Note that you can only fit up to 4 AX Weapons (of any type) to a ship.
Remote Release Flak cannons
Useful against Thargons, hold trigger to delay flak. Note these are not AX weapons, so do not count towards the limit of 4 AX weapons. Available from Military, High Tech, Industrial and Refinery Planetary bases
Xeno Scanner for scanning Thargoids - attaches to Utility Points. These are available from Military, Hi Tech and Industrial Surface bases.
Shutdown Field Neutraliser. Takes up to 1 second to charge, protects against thargoid's disabling EMP. Depletes system capacitor, so make sure your power distributor is string enough. Available from Military and High Tech Planetary bases
AX Fighter. Comes with AX Multicannons, and needs a Fighter Bay. Only available an Founder World (Shinrarta Dezhra) - which requires a permit, and at I Sola Prospect in Brestla.
Size 3 AX Weapons (Missiles and Multi-cannon). Apparently very effective. Availability: Surface Military bases.
Decontamination Limpets remove Thargoid contamination - available from ground bases with military, high-tech, refinery, industrial or extraction-level economies
Thargoid Types
It appears there are different marking on the Thargoid Ships (ref) but they don't have a meaning yet. The 'inner' markings appear to correspond to the interceptor type - three per type. Variants are Cyclops (3 hearts, 32 thargons), Basilisk (4 hearts, 64 thargons) and Medusa (5 hearts, 96 thargons). Cyclops are easiest, Medusa the hardest.
Message on Thargoid Ships
The Thargoid ships display sets of numbers that change. These are octal numbers which map to ASCII codes. These are sets of three letters that can be rearranged to say 'HULL STRESS FACTOR UNCERTAIN'. This is a reference back to the origibal Elite description of Thargoid Ships: https://archive.org/stream/Elite_1985_Firebird_Software/Elite_1985_Firebird_Software_djvu.txt (ref). You will not see these numbers once you have a Xeno Scanner installed, as the scanner decodes the message into an image for you.
What are they interested in?
They ignore most foodstuffs, Soontil Relics etc but will scoop Slaves and Imperial Slaves, Escape Pods. They attack Ancient Relics (and possibly you, if you carry them). Also attack if you carry thargoid stuff (TS, Meta-alloys, UP)
Systems Unlocked
None - HIP 22460 permit is unchanged. Regor / Col 70 etc : no changes in permits seen
New Missions
Changes of Names
Unknown Artefects / Unknown Probes (and probably others) have been renamed - UA are now Thargoid Sensors (TS), UP are now TP (Thargoid Probe)
Changes in Thargoid Surface Bases
None reported. Thargoid devices working same as before. Scanning the uplinks will increase your 'Thargoid Imprint' stat (in the stats panel).
Barnacle Forests found
Barnacle forest found: Hyades Sector AQ-Y D81 , planet C 2, coords 9, -153 How the first barnacle forest was found (note this method has been patched and no longer works)
Another forest Found at Pleiades Sector PN-T b3-0 A5 Lat: -4.4946,Long: 145.6557 (link) And a third Pleiades Sector SP-N B7-0 - Planet B2 35.96, -104.40 (link)
New USS Content
Now with Empire / Thargoid encounters (link)
Thargoid Megaship encounters
Several attacked Megaships have been found. Sometimes Thargoids are seen at the attack site
- Sanchez Class in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 near planet 1
- Naphtha Class tanker Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 near planet 2 b
- Henry Class bulk cargo AR-005 Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 near planet 4 a
- Banner Class Bulk Cargo BTG-237 Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 in orbit of 5 A close to The Oracle.
- Thomas Class Bulk Cargo Ship at Pleiades Sector IH-V C2-5 at 1 A
- Aquarius Class ships in HIP 17962 3 A and then moved to HIP 17225
- Alcatraz Class Prison Ship JJF-048 around HIP 17692 A 3
- Lowell Class science vessel attacked at Pleiades sector OI-T c3-7. Planet B-8
- Demeter Class Agricultural Vessel KSL-878 attacked by and drifting around Pleiades Sector HR-W D1-57 A5
- Hogan Class Bulk Cargo Ship PTK-179 Electra 6
A ship (GCS Sarasvati) with historical info about the first thargoid encounters found at IC 4604 Sector FB-X C1-16 A 1A - see https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380074-GCS-Sarasvati-early-Thargoid-lookout-megaship
A Thargoid Scout (seemingly an old design) has been found: https://canonn.science/codex/crashed-thargoid-scout/ (HIP 17125 A 3 a at -65.8228, 48.8618). The 2.4 trailer showed this and also a crashed Cobra (which has also been found on HIP 12099 1B, Coordinates : -54.36, -50.36). (original find). A video shown during the charity livestream appears to show a different scout. This has now also been found at Pleiades Sector LN-T c3-4 2 a at -60.880077,42.56736 (link)
More Mega-ships have been attacked in the California Sector. These do not appear to be Thargoid related, but have been attacked by (human) pirates and in systems with Alliance bases. Probably related to a subsequent CG (link).
- Gordon Class Bulk Cargo Ship FPR-42 in HIP 18077
- Thomas Class Bulk Cargo Ship KS-92 in California Sector JH-V C2-12
- Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship AK-302 in California Sector BV-Y C7
- Demeter Class (or Dionysis) vessel in Synuefai LX-R D5-28
- Aquarius class tanker WKS 559 at California Sector BA-A E6 4
Ram Tah Mission
Payout back to 100 Million. Probably a bug. In fact probably not even back to 100 Million
Anything missing - let me know!
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