AX Conflict Zone bonus credits question
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The AX CZ has 3 stages after which you get completion bonus. That is if it doesnt bug! First stepp is in the range or 300k-750k, depending on low-medium0hihg-very-high level of the CZ. Final stage is Hydra(ae)
I still find it hilarious that the culmination to a LOW rated AX CZ is “hey, here’s two Hydras to take on simultaneously” …
To my mind the progression should be something like:
- Low would be entirely Scouts with a single Cyclops at the end as the “bonus”. Yes that would be “easy” but surely that’s the point of a LOW?
- Medium would be Scouts plus the occasional Cyclops followed by two Interceptors as the “bonus” where each could be either a Cyclops or Basilisk
- High would bring Basilisk’s in during the main combat and then “bonus” at the end would be two Basilisk / Medusas
- Very High would up the Interceptor count during the main combat and then have the two Hydras at the end. Or twelve? I dunno, whatever it does now, I guess? There is zero chance I’ll ever end up in one of these!!
To my mind the progression should be something like:
- Low would be entirely Scouts with a single Cyclops at the end as the “bonus”. Yes that would be “easy” but surely that’s the point of a LOW?
- Medium would be Scouts plus the occasional Cyclops followed by two Interceptors as the “bonus” where each could be either a Cyclops or Basilisk
- High would bring Basilisk’s in during the main combat and then “bonus” at the end would be two Basilisk / Medusas
- Very High would up the Interceptor count during the main combat and then have the two Hydras at the end. Or twelve? I dunno, whatever it does now, I guess? There is zero chance I’ll ever end up in one of these!!
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Low isn't two hydras, only one.
Interesting … so is a station defence “scenario” technically a Medium?
Either way, ending a Low CZ with the hardest enemy that exists in the entire game seems a little odd.
I think stations are highs.
Its a good question. Station currently dont have an indication of the CZ level, as far as I know. But in normal CZS the low is 1 Hydra. Also....keep in mind that there are some of us that can clear Solo a Very High AX CZ and we would like the end of very high to be 3 or 4 Hydrae!
Low CZ only gave 100K for scout clearance
medium pay 300K
High pay 500K scout clearance
very high pay 750K scout clearance...
If your not getting 750k then the location is not rated very high...
The max number of Interceptors that enter the location at the same time are also capped based on the rating. Those that fly into deep space still count to the max number... Untill there killed they will limit the others...
medium pay 300K
High pay 500K scout clearance
very high pay 750K scout clearance...
If your not getting 750k then the location is not rated very high...
The max number of Interceptors that enter the location at the same time are also capped based on the rating. Those that fly into deep space still count to the max number... Untill there killed they will limit the others...
I saw a station last night with 50mil final completion, which means very high
Absolutely fine for very high CZs to be upped to provide a challenge for the really skilled folks. Just feels like the “starting point” is somewhat aggressive on the Lows.
For Solo yes. But CZ by design is meant for many fighters and being explosed to high level variant is good for learning too! But i get what you mean!
There’s no “learning” I can do that will let me survive for more than 10 seconds against a Hydra. I simply have neither the appropriate hardware or co-ordination (or time!) and I’m not about to drop a few hundred quid on a HOTAS on the off chance that I suddenly become amazing after re-learning to fly.
That’s not a complaint - I’m 100% comfortable with my own ability ceiling and I don’t want the game nerfed just so I can one- entire maelstroms or anything! It just feels a bit crap to have to bail at the end of a CZ unless there are a metric ton of other CMDRs available.
If you want my opinion, first learn to kill solo the variant one by one, then enter a CZ. More rewarding, more fun, more money. Thargoid warefare isnt a "lets all merry kill" situation. Its probably the most difficult boss in gaming (or amongst) and has a tremendous learning curve. But with proper guidance (AXI) you will progress fast and easy.
Thanks - I do appreciate it and think that is good advice.
For context, I’ve killed a few Cyclops essentially solo. One was bugged and never released a swarm (sooooo much easier …) but that was quite some time ago - before maelstrom’s and all of that nonsense!
More recently, I’ve taken out a couple in CZs where I was the only CMDR and one, in particular, that I led off away from the main area so there was minimal NPC involvement.
I’ve also taken out the occasional Basilisk, Medusa and Hydra when contributing as part of a team (the first two with 2-3 other CMDRs the latter with a lot more at the end of a CZ) but have never succeeded solo. I think I got 3 hearts off a Basilisk solo the other day but was down to <20% hull and no GMRPs by that point so bailed …
My main issue is lack of access to all of the trajectories required for the tougher variants without buying new hardware or switching to mouse (not gonna happen!) and then relearning the entire flying process. If I thought I had the requisite co-ordination to do that, I would consider buying a HOTAS but I’m a relatively casual player and am 100% sure that I still wouldn’t be capable / have the time to learn.
My other issues are potentially more solveable and just require sorting the mechanics out:
- I pretty much always get clobbered by the shutdown field which obviously leaves me open to damage. Now that I’m flying shieldless, I have equipped a Field Neutraliser and and learning to use it.
- That darned swarm … in CZs there are other targets that it might choose to go after, which is why I prefer those to solo. Solo, my success has essentially come down to whether I’ve been lucky enough for the swarm to ignore me! So, I could try and learn the Flak launcher but that’s not ideal on a FAS with only 4 hard points so may be where my Krait comes in. But against a Hydra? That swarm has taken my hull integrity from 70%+ to zero in one pass more than once now … so I’m not sure there’s anything to be done about that!!
The ax warefare needs a proper guidance in order to progress with minimu frustration and be efficient. There is specific way where you fight the Goids and things to do in steps. I suggest you join AXI discord and check the flight school channel for more details! Just to give you an idea, swarm management will be very easy for you after some training. And Shutdown field is a joke to handle (just boost away in faoff).
That's because learning is in steps. First you need to kill other variants, and not just kill, kill with min damage and synths needed for your ship. Technically, if you learn your ship and orbit the goid below 20 C , you should take zero damage. Just keep in mind tha spesifically for Hydra, we almost all had that feeling initially. Of "thats not for me". But the big secret behind Hydra is this: Up until Medusa you fight the goids. In Hydra you fight against yourself. By perfecting your orbiting and gauss fire, you will finally get hydras for joke. It will take practise cause the brain needs these synapsis, but the reward is to belong to the true Elite. Of course stopping at Medusa level or Basi is also fine! Also you dont need mouse or expensive gear. I fly with a 50 euro stick and keyboard.
Thanks - I have joined the AXI discord and read / watched various things.
I get the principle of orbiting but I don’t see it happening for me for the simple reason that I don’t have enough axes available on a gamepad and I’m not (presently) prepared to buy a HOTAS and learn to fly the ships again from scratch.
I can use heatsinks / TV beam in conjunction with down thrust and rolling to avoid a fair bit of damage from the Interceptor but It’s quite far from actually orbiting around it cleanly as I have no lateral thrust to match the direction of the Interceptor so I end up sort of just spinning vaguely around it on various different paths. Which is fine - it keeps me going a bit longer and is how I got 3 hearts on a Basilisk, solo. With some more practice and getting more accurate I should be able to get the hearts quicker.
Shutdown field I did always used to run away from but lately it keeps getting me. Has the range increased? I swear they’re using it more … gonna practice with the neutraliser.
Swarm is an interesting one. I resent having to give up an entire hardpoint just to practise with the only effective weapon against it but may have to bite the bullet on that at some point. As I say, I think one for the Krait, perhaps.
The overall issue with CZs is that if I build for Scouts I have zero chance against an Interceptor but a dedicated Interceptor build will be hugely frustrating against Scouts. So I end up with a compromise without the TV Beam or Flak.
Heck … I might end up flying a Chief again which will just depress me …
I get the principle of orbiting but I don’t see it happening for me for the simple reason that I don’t have enough axes available on a gamepad and I’m not (presently) prepared to buy a HOTAS and learn to fly the ships again from scratch.
I can use heatsinks / TV beam in conjunction with down thrust and rolling to avoid a fair bit of damage from the Interceptor but It’s quite far from actually orbiting around it cleanly as I have no lateral thrust to match the direction of the Interceptor so I end up sort of just spinning vaguely around it on various different paths. Which is fine - it keeps me going a bit longer and is how I got 3 hearts on a Basilisk, solo. With some more practice and getting more accurate I should be able to get the hearts quicker.
Shutdown field I did always used to run away from but lately it keeps getting me. Has the range increased? I swear they’re using it more … gonna practice with the neutraliser.
Swarm is an interesting one. I resent having to give up an entire hardpoint just to practise with the only effective weapon against it but may have to bite the bullet on that at some point. As I say, I think one for the Krait, perhaps.
The overall issue with CZs is that if I build for Scouts I have zero chance against an Interceptor but a dedicated Interceptor build will be hugely frustrating against Scouts. So I end up with a compromise without the TV Beam or Flak.
Heck … I might end up flying a Chief again which will just depress me …
If you get a Krait with 4 modified plasmas or a chally with 3, you can clear scouts and interceptor easily, part from Hydra.The overall issue with CZs is that if I build for Scouts I have zero chance against an Interceptor but a dedicated Interceptor build will be hugely frustrating against Scouts. So I end up with a compromise without the TV Beam or Flak.
Heck … I might end up flying a Chief again which will just depress me …
Yeh, I like those on my FAS albeit they’re a little sub-optimal against hearts due to lack of targeting (I tried trailing mode but wasn’t keen) so I tried pairing with Mod Shard and a few other combinations. I’ve currently got the following equipped to try out on my next session:
- 1x C3 EAX MC for Scouts
- 2x C2 Mod Plasmas for Interceptor hull
- 1x C2 Gauss for Hearts
I could switch the MC for another Gauss and rely on Plasmas for Scouts but having the MC is convenient for easy Scout clearing. Likewise I could flip to a single Plasma and two Gauss but I feel like having more FP against hull would be better?