6 Interdictions in Solo mode in a single supercruise run seems a little excessive .

[wrmiller]

Haulage missions are broken in Elite and are not great for many reasons. The constant (and super boring and unchanging) wave of 4 deadly Anacondas spawning to interdict you is just one of the problems. Space Trucking in Elite needs a serious amount of love. I’ve been pleading with Frontier on these forums for a few years to throw space truckers a bone. Let’s see what the new era has I guess.

One example: If Frontier had single missions that could fill the hold of larger ships, like 400-700t missions for example, that would do a lot to reduce these interdictions. Stacking a bunch of 120t - 180t missions really does increase the rate of NPC interdictions a lot. Haulage is actually fun in the early game when you can fill your ships hold with a single mission. Once you get above the Python though doing haulage loses all of its appeal. I never heard any response from Frontier as to why haulage maxes out at 180t. (Wing missions are not a thing for solo space truckers like me). If Frontier even fixed this one problem it would make the game way more enjoyable for me.

Stacking haulage missions in a Type-9 for pilots are are not highly skilled is not advisable given current game mechanics. If you learn to avoid the interdictions I guess you could do it. I deal with the NPC spawning 4 Deadly Anacondas issue by doing these missions in my engineered Imperial Cutter which is basically invincible to NPC’s. I can take out the 4 Deadly Anacondas that always spawn because I have 8 zillion shield HP’s. It’s not fun at all though. Just a chore. I don’t even like the look and feel of the Cutter really, I wish the Type-9 was more practical for this kind of play but it just isn’t.

I too would like larger tonnage missions. But not TOO large, as then I'd have to fly a Cutter, and I don't really care for that ship. With the current limitations on the mission tonnage, I can get two 180t plus one 120t mission stacked in my Corvette. I like to do this because the interdicting ships can carry some rather nice trinkets that I scoop up. I'm always gathering mats...

 

[SpaceScania]

I too would like larger tonnage missions. But not TOO large, as then I'd have to fly a Cutter, and I don't really care for that ship. With the current limitations on the mission tonnage, I can get two 180t plus one 120t mission stacked in my Corvette. I like to do this because the interdicting ships can carry some rather nice trinkets that I scoop up. I'm always gathering mats...

I do think there should be haulage missions that can fill the cargo hold of any ship in the game. I really feel strongly about that. If you want to do haulage in a Vette that’s cool, but there should be a trade-off.

Also, I do acknowledge some players like the interdictions to gather mats. In low security systems there should be a lot more of that kind of thing so you can go looking for it if you want it. But seriously, enough with the identical waves of 4 Deadly Anacondas. It’s just so boring and repetitive.

 

[Florenus]

I deal with the NPC spawning 4 Deadly Anacondas issue by doing these missions in my engineered Imperial Cutter which is basically invincible to NPC’s. I can take out the 4 Deadly Anacondas that always spawn because I have 8 zillion shield HP’s. It’s not fun at all though. Just a chore.

Don't do it in a Cutter then.
You've made every effort to made the game easier and then you say it's not fun...

I stack cargo missions in my T9 and it's usually a bit of adrenaline rush. I leave the Cutter for CG's in Open.

 

[wrmiller]

Oh, and I'd like more missions to large ports or planets. I really don't like delivering to those rinky-dink outposts.

 

[SpaceScania]

Don't do it in a Cutter then.
You've made every effort to made the game easier and then you say it's not fun...

I stack cargo missions in my T9 and it's usually a bit of adrenaline rush. I leave the Cutter for CG's in Open.

I am in the Elite as ”Euro Truck Simulator in Space” camp. A space trucker. I play the game to relax, not for the adrenaline rush. The game is big enough that you should be able to find the adrenaline if you want, but if you don’t want that there should be styles of play that allow for the more relaxed experience as well.

When bulk trading this isn’t even a problem really. Bulk trading is fine. This is when you want to do haulage missions. In that context the endless waves of 4 deadly Anacondas go from boring to annoying if I am not in my Cutter which is not an improvement. It’s certainly not worth the rewards that the missions offer.

I am not saying there isn’t a place for piracy and interdictions in the game. But haulage missions make it way too common regardless of the security level of the system. I do think that if you risk going into an Anarchy system for example, taking missions there should be a rough ride. But a high security system should allow for more relaxing gameplay if you want to just do some haulage.

But yeah, it would even be nice if the NPC’s had a little more variety like they do when you are merely bulk trading.

 

[wrmiller]

I do think there should be haulage missions that can fill the cargo hold of any ship in the game. I really feel strongly about that. If you want to do haulage in a Vette that’s cool, but there should be a trade-off.

Also, I do acknowledge some players like the interdictions to gather mats. In low security systems there should be a lot more of that kind of thing so you can go looking for it if you want it. But seriously, enough with the identical waves of 4 Deadly Anacondas. It’s just so boring and repetitive.

There is a trade-off: I can't haul as much as you can in a Cutter.

And while I agree the one-at-a-time conda thing is a bit boring, every now and then things get a bit interesting. Last night I was interdicted by a wing of a conda and a mamba. I was about half-way done with chewing through the conda when another wing shows up. Made me sit up and pay attention for a bit.

 

[Florenus]

I am in the Elite as ”Euro Truck Simulator in Space” camp. A space trucker. I play the game to relax, not for the adrenaline rush. The game is big enough that you should be able to find the adrenaline if you want, but if you don’t want that there should be styles of play that allow for the more relaxed experience as well.

When bulk trading this isn’t even a problem really. Bulk trading is fine. This is when you want to do haulage missions. In that context the endless waves of 4 deadly Anacondas go from boring to annoying if I am not in my Cutter which is not an improvement. It’s certainly not worth the rewards that the missions offer.

I am not saying there isn’t a place for piracy and interdictions in the game. But haulage missions make it way too common regardless of the security level of the system. I do think that if you risk going into an Anarchy system for example, taking missions there should be a rough ride. But a high security system should allow for more relaxing gameplay if you want to just do some haulage.

But yeah, it would even be nice if the NPC’s had a little more variety like they do when you are merely bulk trading.

If you take away pirate attack, space trucking in Elite (doing cargo missions) is rather uneventful. Because missions are usually one jump away, you just high wake and aim at destination. With SC assist and autodock you almost don't need to do anything else.
Pirates serve important role in the game - not only they provide something for you to do and prepare for - without them you could just set up a bot and leave the game on autorun.

Elite is not Truck Simulator, where getting from point A, to point B requires your constant attention. I wish SC navigation would be more engaging, but it isn't.

I wouldn't mind improvement in cargo mission area - more long range cargo missions for example - supply runs to distant outposts (cargo equivalent of passenger missions), etc. or actually more local cargo missions, with destinations in the same system.

Anyway, I just think of Space Trucking in Elite as like being truck driver in Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan or place like that.

As for High security systems - with FSD drives, when every ship can just disappear within seconds after committing crime - I don't think you should expect those places to be pirate free

 

[SpaceScania]

If you take away pirate attack, space trucking in Elite (doing cargo missions) is rather uneventful. Because missions are usually one jump away, you just high wake and aim at destination. With SC assist and autodock you almost don't need to do anything else.
Pirates serve important role in the game - not only they provide something for you to do and prepare for - without them you could just set up a bot and leave the game on autorun.

Elite is not Truck Simulator, where getting from point A, to point B requires your constant attention. I wish SC navigation would be more engaging, but it isn't.

This is a really good point. Yeah I am not advocating for no pirates at all. For bulk trading the rate and nature of piracy is fine (you even get varied NPC’s like the odd Type-10). However, I do think the rate of interdictions when you stack haulage missions is too high. I’d also say that these interdictions being so frequent and being the same makes them uninteresting. The interdiction mini-game isn’t super interesting as well I would argue.

You make a strong core point though. SC flying is boring. I’ve thought about a few things that could spice up trading and haulage that would vary the gameplay, like dangerous goods which could destroy your ship if your hull gets damaged in certain ways, or fragile cargo that would lose most or all of its value when damaged. Areas where there is dangerous radiation requiring you to get through the area quickly to avoid exposure and so on. There is much Frontier could do to add variety to the gameplay, but I think they took the lazy way out with the waves of identical NPC’s because coding that is easy and it doesn’t take creative game design.

If the economic tools in the game were better that part would be fun too. If you could apply some skill and use the in-game tools to find trade routes that were rewarding that would be really great. You can kinda do that now but not really.

I wouldn't mind improvement in cargo mission area - more long range cargo missions for example - supply runs to distant outposts (cargo equivalent of passenger missions), etc. or actually more local cargo missions, with destinations in the same system.

Yeah I totally agree here.

Anyway, I just think of Space Trucking in Elite as like being truck driver in Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan or place like that.

As for High security systems - with FSD drives, when every ship can just disappear within seconds after committing crime - I don't think you should expect those places to be pirate free

No I never said pirate free, though my last post may have seemed that way. I do think some areas of the game should be more dangerous than others. To become a broken record, I don’t think constant waves of 4 Deadly Anacondas is a good thing when you are forced to stack missions just to get a decent Cr/h rate in the end game ships. I am supremely frustrated at the state of haulage in the game right now and I have been for probably 2 years.

Ironically enough I started a new CMDR recently and he’s doing haulage missions in an Adder. It’s telling that it is way more fun for me to the do the missions in the Adder than in my T-9, Anaconda, or Cutter. I can fill my hold with a single mission and for the stage I am in the game the rewards are meaningful. Because I don’t need to stack the missions the rate of NPC attacks is reasonable. It’s the end game phase of haulage that I find to be really broken.

 

[rgiles1818]

Oh, and I'd like more missions to large ports or planets. I really don't like delivering to those rinky-dink outposts.

I'm with you about more missions to large pads. I would also like to see mission unit sizes of around 700 instead of the ones 3k+.

 

[Krash]

Don't do it in a Cutter then.
You've made every effort to made the game easier and then you say it's not fun...

I stack cargo missions in my T9 and it's usually a bit of adrenaline rush. I leave the Cutter for CG's in Open.

I stack assassination missions of the same faction of my stacked massacre missions. Its great fun when 3 or 4 vettes/condas drop on me in the same instance. Once in a while a pirate will help me out vs the others, not sure what triggers that. But my challenge is to tag each of them and kill them before they jump away. Great for testing new weapon configs.

 

[rgiles1818]

I run most of the cargo missions in the Python instead of the Cutter since it's easier to deal with the interdictions with the Python.

 

[D.D.Hariman]

, I don’t think constant waves of 4 Deadly Anacondas is a good thing when you are forced to stack missions just to get a decent Cr/h rate in the end game ships.

Confused.... What difference does the rating of the NPC pilot make if you beat the interdiction??
You beat the interdiction,, he is gone,, never to be seen again.
Watch the comm panel. When the threat comes in. Slow to 5% and beat the interdiction in 20-25 seconds and get on your way.

Six back to back interdiction wins in a row in the same system, >>>> https://drive.google.com/open?id=12E5CHeT3mq2JUCF6pEx0R5dwxgQvuao5
Notice. In three of them I got slowed to 5% before the interdiction and it was easy. In three I didn't and it was harder. EDIT

Less than 20 seconds to win. >>>>>> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UfwiG4zNJfXzQwR19pakFGUVk

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Ok. A full loaded Python (202 tons + outfitting) beat a Python trying to interdict me in less than 30 sec.
Since my Python is fitted for long range mining it can neither fight nor run so had I tried the submit and run technique I would likely be dead and even if I did survive it would have taken me far longer than 30 seconds to get back on course to sell my LTD's at about 600,000+ cr per ton.
Also.
This was the ONLY interdiction I had to beat doing 19 jumps from where I was mining to where I am selling so I don't think there has been any change to the likelihood of being interdicted when just hauling something from one place to another so the OPS problems stem from greed and stacking dangerous missions.

BUT, again,, NEVER SUBMIT.. Learn to WIN!! 5% throttle is the key.

Enjoy

202 ton Python ~ 28 seconds 2020-02-10.mov

drive.google.com

Edit Added another video 18 seconds to beat the interdiction in a full loaded Python.
14 Jumps, 1 interdiction

Python 202T ~ 18 sec 2020-02-10.mov

drive.google.com

 

[rgiles1818]

I always stack missions in the Python & Cutter. Lately, I have only seen 1, maybe 2 interdictions in systems with Boom plus Civil Unrest, Civil War, Natural Disaster and Infrastructure Failure at the same time. In Ceos, I do normally see more interdictions than other systems with the same active environment.

 

[Caramel Clown]

You used to be able to run interdicting NPCs into the star and getting rid of them for good. What happened to that? Is it a lost art, or NPCs have learned to fly in SC?

 

[D.D.Hariman]

You used to be able to run interdicting NPCs into the star and getting rid of them for good. What happened to that? Is it a lost art, or NPCs have learned to fly in SC?

I noticed in my first video that it looked like he had run into the star. The marker disappeared and the CONTACT LOST message displayed, but, the marker reappeared and I got a NEW CONTACT message again almost immediately.

 

[rgiles1818]

You used to be able to run interdicting NPCs into the star and getting rid of them for good. What happened to that? Is it a lost art, or NPCs have learned to fly in SC?

The NPCs try to run me into planets, stars and rings.

 

[D.D.Hariman]

The NPCs try to run me into planets, stars and rings.

Another reason to set the throttle at 5% before they get you locked.

 

[rgiles1818]

Another reason to set the throttle at 5% before they get you locked.

Is that 5% within the blue throttle area or the complete throttle area?

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Is that 5% within the blue throttle area or the complete throttle area?

5% throttle total.. Thrusters are of no value in SC.. Search out my posts on interdiction.. Follow the link in my sig and look for interdiction.
The "blue" is only useful when in normal space as an indicator of where the thrusters will be most effective.
I have said it other places and I will keep saying it. The gankers are the ones that started telling everyone "submit and try to run" and "put thrust in the blue in SC to beat the interdiction".
The first one is obvious. they want you in normal space so they can kill you just because they can.
The second one is only obvious if you understand that the faster you are going in SC, the farther from you they can be and get the Interdictor to lock on you.
Also the farther away they can be, the more space they have in the 55 DEG cone behind you for their interdiction target to move around in so they can try to drag you off the escape vector.
SO.. 5% forces them (and the NPC's) to get very close to even get the lock, and it gives them less area inside the cone to maneuver to drag you off.