Newcomer / Intro Attacked Twice in Solo Play When Carrying Meta Alloy

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

I first started ED:Horizons back in 2018, played a few weeks then moved on.

It's 2024, and I'm giving it another try. I'm amazed I was able to get back in after 6 years away. I figured I'd play Horizons till I get better since I already own it, then later consider Odessey.

So, I'm very new as far as experience. I only play Solo because I wanted to get some experience and learn how I want to play. It was said I wouldn't encounter any other players in Solo. Cool, ain't got time for immature kids playing stupid games and harassing people.

I have the beginner Sidewinder, a Cobra MKlll, and a Type-6, so I outfit my Cobra MKlll and off I go to try to start making some money, and get that Farseer engineer unlock for the FSD. After 6 years, I still had about 17 million in the bank. Pennies but it's something to start back playing. Making money when new is...tough.

No attacks, nothing until I finally found a source for the Meta Alloy for Farseer. Got a load of alloy (11), was going to sell 10 and the other to Farseer, though where I found them was a hike to get to Farseer Inc. No sooner than I was leaving the planet, I got scanned and killed because they said I had valuable cargo, it was quick and they caught me before I could spool up my FSD. I have never done any combat so I'm clueless how to deal with fighting.

So, I have stayed away from Open to avoid pirate players, never have played Open, and I finally find meta alloy, only to be killed just as I'm leaving the planet by the GAME? what?

I'm like, okay back to the surface to reload with meta, I load up with 14 this time. Make it to a carrier to get ready to head to Farseer, I get 3 jumps way from Farseer Inc, almost there, and get attacked as I exit a station from doing repairs and fuel. I had managed to sell 13 of the meta, keeping one for Farseer. And of course, no sooner than I leave the station I get scanned and attacked as I leave the no-fire zone. Fortunately, I avoided death and limped back into the station to repair (was down to 1% hull).

So, I'm sitting at the station trying to learn what I can do to get this dang meta alloy to Farseer without getting killed again and losing the meta alloy. I know where the forest is that I found the meta alloy, but it's a fairly long run there. It would really suck to go all the way back, and try again for one freaking alloy!

What are the odds? No attacks at all this whole time in Solo. Then as soon as I get meta alloy on board, BOOM, I'm scanned and killed by the game itself! Not one attack, but twice.

I guess I mistakenly assumed that Solo was a safe environment to learn and just enjoy not being messed with.

Punk players killing others is just juvenile and should be dealt with. It's not emersion, it's players with no self-esteem trying to feel good about their miserable lives.

It's just a game? I've heard that from players for many years, which is a pathetic excuse for bad attitudes. Nothing more than digital bullies that drive decent people away from gaming. And now we have a game basically doing the same thing!

/rant.

 

[Factabulous]

With cargo on board you should not hang around outside stations to be scanned. Boost away - and plot your course before you get out of the station.

En-route you need to practice escaping the interdictions - as long as you are not in a T-9 you should easily escape any NPC interdiction as long as you are playing attention - just aim for the target and you will be able to escape.

And when you get to your destination - also don't hang around to be scanned.

If you're having issues with meta-alloy just practice with gold - should get a similar response from NPCs and it is easier to find.

You might also want to post your build, people like to advise you on that.

 

[Lhorndra]

En-route you need to practice escaping the interdictions - as long as you are not in a T-9 you should easily escape any NPC interdiction as long as you are playing attention - just aim for the target and you will be able to escape.

+1. It also helps a bit to put your throttle to 50% while trying to evade interdictions.

 

[colprice2002]

From my experience, one way of building credits is to run delivery missions of data for one faction. As your reputation grows, the rewards increase.
Similarly, passenger missions can be (very) rewarding, again, build a reputation, check destinations carefully, and passenger criminal status!

 

[Rebel Yell]

It's just a game?

Yes...

 

[aRJay]

The only hazard of the game that you won’t meet in Solo or most Private Groups is other players.

If you have any cargo in your hold other than limpets NPC pirates will try to take it off you if they can. With Meta-Alloys there is also a chance that a wandering Thargoid will attack you.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

With cargo on board you should not hang around outside stations to be scanned. Boost away - and plot your course before you get out of the station.

En-route you need to practice escaping the interdictions - as long as you are not in a T-9 you should easily escape any NPC interdiction as long as you are playing attention - just aim for the target and you will be able to escape.

And when you get to your destination - also don't hang around to be scanned.

If you're having issues with meta-alloy just practice with gold - should get a similar response from NPCs and it is easier to find.

You might also want to post your build, people like to advise you on that.

Yeah, I don't hang around. Each time I was exiting the no fire zones getting ready to jump as soon as I can. And yes, I do plot beforehand. I know better than to float around trying to decide what to do! Both times I got caught before I could get up to speed, the second one I did escape, barely with 1% hull.

The only reason I want the meta alloy is for the FSD Farseer engineer. That has to be completed before any other Engineer unlocks, correct? Besides, at this stage, I need all the speed and distance I can get.

I'm currently using a Cobra MKlll. Most everything is 3 or 4, though I do have a 5A cargo. No weapons, not into getting into fights. I prefer to avoid conflicts. Of course an SRV. And no, I do not have any added armor.

More CR equals better equipment! I've done some passenger missions, and transporting items, but want to get into exploration. I've made a few CR selling cartograph data. This last couple of trips I made over 1.5 million CR for my trouble.

Now that I know where a barnacles planet is, it has 8 sites, I thought about selling meta alloys, but getting them to where I can sell them for a decent price is a LONG trip. I can carry 16 of them. I sold 13 and made 2.1 mil CR just to get rid of them since my goal was one for Farseer. Considering the risks of hauling those things, I prefer to try out exploration for now.

Thrusters 4D...Shield Gen 3E...FSD 4A...Power Dist 3D...Adv Docking Comp 1E...Fuel Scoop2B...SC Asst 1E...Sensors 3D...2 Heatsink...Power Plant 4D...Cargo Rack 4E...DSS...Ad Planetary Approach...Data Link...Comp Scanner...Discovery Scanner...No Hard Points...No Utility Mounts.

I play ED:Horizons only for now.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

+1. It also helps a bit to put your throttle to 50% while trying to evade interdictions.

Thanks for the tip.

How does that help? Seems contrary to running away.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

The only hazard of the game that you won’t meet in Solo or most Private Groups is other players.

If you have any cargo in your hold other than limpets NPC pirates will try to take it off you if they can. With Meta-Alloys there is also a chance that a wandering Thargoid will attack you.

Thanks for the clarification. I did know about the Thargoids risk. I just wasn't aware that I could get attacked just as I exit a Federation Station, a faction that I'm most "cordial" with. I knew I wouldn't encounter other players. I didn't think there would be such a thing as NPC pirates taking advantage of players as they exit no fire zones, which is really lame. Waiting just outside the harbor as a boat exits is the way of a coward. I'm ex-US Navy by the way.

Now I know better! Thanks again.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Are you signed up for Powerplay?

I cannot recall ever being attacked leaving the no-fire zone of a station.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

...

No attacks, nothing until I finally found a source for the Meta Alloy for Farseer. Got a load of alloy (11), was going to sell 10 and the other to Farseer, though where I found them was a hike to get to Farseer Inc. ...

The last time I restarted a commander (not long ago) - Farseer was already unlocked, no need for the meta alloy. A couple of others were also already unlocked (can't remember which ones).

I remember that Flic was unlocked because I had gone to Maia, grabbed a MA, flew to Deciat, landed at Farseer and I saw I had level 1 access. I never thought to check before that and that is when I noticed a couple of other Engineers on the list were open.


So have a check on your RH interface, Engineers button and see what the Engineers list shows. I hope you have a nice surprise.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

The last time I restarted a commander (not long ago) - Farseer was already unlocked, no need for the meta alloy. A couple of others were also already unlocked (can't remember which ones).

I remember that Flic was unlocked because I had gone to Maia, grabbed a MA, flew to Deciat, landed at Farseer and I saw I had level 1 access. I never thought to check before that and that is when I noticed a couple of other Engineers on the list were open.


So have a check on your RH interface, Engineers button and see what the Engineers list shows. I hope you have a nice surprise.

Nope, just checked. Two of three boxes checked. Says I need a unit of meta.

You may have done something else that caused her to be unlocked? Don't know.

I have one meta. Now I need to travel 46ly more to get it to her, without dying!

 

[the100thmonkey]

The last time I restarted a commander (not long ago) - Farseer was already unlocked, no need for the meta alloy. A couple of others were also already unlocked (can't remember which ones).

I remember that Flic was unlocked because I had gone to Maia, grabbed a MA, flew to Deciat, landed at Farseer and I saw I had level 1 access. I never thought to check before that and that is when I noticed a couple of other Engineers on the list were open.


So have a check on your RH interface, Engineers button and see what the Engineers list shows. I hope you have a nice surprise.

The transactions-to-unlock initial engineers like the Dweller and Leu Cheung are completely unlocked. Farseer is a distance-to-unlock engineer with a transaction as a secondary condition. I had to donate the meta-alloy to unlock her, and the Soontill Relics to unlock Martuk.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

Are you signed up for Powerplay?

I cannot recall ever being attacked leaving the no-fire zone of a station.

No, not yet. I feel I need to get a better handle on the basics before committing to a faction, though Federation is the friendliest so far. I'd like to see more time pass to see how Powerplay does.

Wish I could prove it, but yes, as I exited the no fire zone, twice. Once from a planet where I died, and the other from the Federation station I'm at now that I barely survived and managed to dock again and repair.

 

[K Olley]

Thanks for the tip.

How does that help? Seems contrary to running away.

As soon as the interdiction starts throttle to middle of blue this gives max manoeuvrability allowing you to turn faster, at the same time you have got to turn trying to keep the blue circle in the middle of the screen.

On the left hand side of the big circle on your screen you will see some green tabs that indicate how well you are doing, and on the right will be some red tabs witch show how the interdictor is doing, If you can keep the blue circle as near to the center as possible you will see his red decrease and your green increase and when he runs out of reds or time he looses and you carry on going.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

As soon as the interdiction starts throttle to middle of blue this gives max manoeuvrability allowing you to turn faster, at the same time you have got to turn trying to keep the blue circle in the middle of the screen.

On the left hand side of the big circle on your screen you will see some green tabs that indicate how well you are doing, and on the right will be some red tabs witch show how the interdictor is doing, If you can keep the blue circle as near to the center as possible you will see his red decrease and your green increase and when he runs out of reds or time he looses and you carry on going.

Cool, thanks.

 

[the100thmonkey]

No, not yet. I feel I need to get a better handle on the basics before committing to a faction, though Federation is the friendliest so far. I'd like to see more time pass to see how Powerplay does.

Wish I could prove it, but yes, as I exited the no fire zone, twice. Once from a planet where I died, and the other from the Federation station I'm at now that I barely survived and managed to dock again and repair.

I don't doubt you! I'm just trying to work out what's going on.

Were you by any chance a bit of a bad boy in your previous time in the game?

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

I don't doubt you! I'm just trying to work out what's going on.

Were you by any chance a bit of a bad boy in your previous time in the game?

No, I don't play like that. Piracy, assassins, stolen goods, not interested.

And what passenger missions I've done, all profiles were checked. I don't know of any other way to check other than their profile. Never transported anything illegal, people or goods.

That said, I do have a few violations and one bounty, all were settled back in 2018. Recently for going too slow out of a station.

The dialog that popped up in Chat was that my cargo was valuable to them and they gave me 15 seconds to dump the cargo. I chose to disagree. Both times they said basically the same thing.

 

[nemolomen]

...

The dialog that popped up in Chat was that my cargo was valuable to them and they gave me 15 seconds to dump the cargo. I chose to disagree. Both times they said basically the same thing.

Yeah those are standard NPC pirates. Hard when you're new, but there's plenty of good advice in this thread so far on how to deal with them.

When I first read your post, I was reminded of a segment of the 10 Year Anniversary video where David Braben said (video is at time):

Source: https://youtu.be/WqjZXckQGe0?t=88

And that really is the essence of the game, the game is out to get you, whether its the environment or its denizens...

 

[shockbait]

Thrusters 4D...Shield Gen 3E...FSD 4A...Power Dist 3D...Adv Docking Comp 1E...Fuel Scoop2B...SC Asst 1E...Sensors 3D...2 Heatsink...Power Plant 4D...Cargo Rack 4E...DSS...Ad Planetary Approach...Data Link...Comp Scanner...Discovery Scanner...No Hard Points...No Utility Mounts.

Erm, I mean no offense, but this is bad outfitting.

In order to not die hauling cargo, you either need speed, or shield/hull tank. (or much more piloting experience)
You have neither. (219/290 top speed, 58 shield strength, stock armor)

Things that would help: 4A Thrusters, 4A Shields or 4C Bi-Weave Shields(If you were playing in Open I would also suggest a MRP and ECM)

The fact you have ADC and SCA equipped however, makes me think you're probably flying incredibly incredibly slow, both in real space exiting space stations, and while traversing supercruise, which seems like the real problem. (With better piloting skills, even this unoptimized ship should be able to get away from most NPC pirates)

Are you letting the docking computer fly you out of stations? If so, as soon as it lines you up with the mail slot, you need to take manual control and put all pips to ENG, and boost directly away from the space station to get out of mass lock as fast as possible, then engage FSD and begin lining up the jump. If you begin taking fire at any point, pips to SYS, and boost towards your jump destination. If you are truly a "Harmless" combat rank, it should be rare that you are accosted by pirates fast and large enough to mass lock you.

Now a brief explanation of navigating in Supercruise:
DO NOT JUST POINT AT A DESTINATION AND USE SCA STRAIGHT AT IT.
This is SLOW, SLOW SLOW!
Pirates will catch you, and make your life more difficult.

Now a more in depth explanation of navigating in Supercruise:
You travel faster the further out of any gravity well you are. Stars and planets(among other things, I think) create gravity wells. When you approach a planet, you'll see rings expanding outward, this signifies you are entering its gravity well, which will begin slowing you down.
When you first jump into a system containing your destination, aim directly away from the star, avoiding any gravity wells you see to pick up speed. Once you are moving at a decent speed, then begin aiming towards your destination, again avoiding any gravity wells between you and the target. With nothing be clear space between you and your destination, now you are free to engage SCA(if you must).

Others have already given advice on how to deal with interdictions once they occur, but I'll add, flying in a corkscrew pattern towards your destination makes you much harder to interdict, and once you learn to spot threats on the radar you can easily avoid ALL interdictions, however this strategy requires not using SCA, or at least not relying on it entirely.