Best post 3.0 HGE signal source search technique?

[Aashenfox]

Because of the overwhelming number of complaints and confusion over HGEs in 3.02, with many of those complaints being lodged by veteran players who know this mechanic VERY well, I think the logical conclusion to draw is that the current system is bugged.

I am certainly not seeing the increased spawn rates claimed in the 3.02 patch notes. I am also noticing a major drop in the predictability of the G5 material provided based on the system state.

Hopefully, whatever went south in the HGE code in 3.02 gets corrected in 3.03. This next point update is supposedly due out either Thursday of this week, or Tuesday next.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/413563-Community-Feedback-and-3-0-3-Update

There's no difference between 2.4 spawn rates and 3.0 spawn rates. Some people are claiming it's better, I haven't seen anyone claiming they are worse (who had a solid technique in 2.4). Unless you are simply saying that they failed to 'improve' the spawn rates, that I would agree with, but I don't think anything is bugged.

 

[Sylow]

There's no difference between 2.4 spawn rates and 3.0 spawn rates. Some people are claiming it's better, I haven't seen anyone claiming they are worse (who had a solid technique in 2.4). Unless you are simply saying that they failed to 'improve' the spawn rates, that I would agree with, but I don't think anything is bugged.

.
Hmm. For me personally it's better, but i would also guess that it's not actually a change in the mechanics, but that i operate with some more experience. It seems like even i am able to sometimes learn and improve a little bit. For sure i wouldn't say that things have gotten worse.
.

 

[MottiKhan]

I'm finding the ratio of HGEs to other USSs slightly better in 3.0 in deep space, but not enough to be statistically significant. It's probably about the same, but my own optimism makes it seem better.

 

[AbsinthSvK]

all this nonsense should be temporary fixed with material trader and 1:1 ratio to cross grade 5 materials.
I dont want to wait half year to see new system of spawning. [noob]

 

[Aashenfox]

I'm finding the ratio of HGEs to other USSs slightly better in 3.0 in deep space, but not enough to be statistically significant. It's probably about the same, but my own optimism makes it seem better.

It's good to hear the same thing from someone on my list of 'people who generally know what they're taking about'. Not because I like being right or making others wrong, more because there's always an inkling of doubt when it comes to ED, because RNG, so reinforcement makes us all feel better, lol.

.
Hmm. For me personally it's better, but i would also guess that it's not actually a change in the mechanics, but that i operate with some more experience. It seems like even i am able to sometimes learn and improve a little bit. For sure i wouldn't say that things have gotten worse.
.

Yeh, the nature of the beast requires too much data to glean meaningful statistics, but as I said above, it's good to hear that we who discuss mechanics regularly are basically seeing pretty much the same thing (you're on my list too. )

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I simply collect what comes up in front of me while traveling. No search pattern. That would be *organized*...

 

[GG7]

There's no difference between 2.4 spawn rates and 3.0 spawn rates. Some people are claiming it's better, I haven't seen anyone claiming they are worse (who had a solid technique in 2.4). Unless you are simply saying that they failed to 'improve' the spawn rates, that I would agree with, but I don't think anything is bugged.

The spawn rate of the "State Specific" Material is most definitely bugged. I see it, and dozens of other ED vets with years into the game see it. Not going to debate that one. Sorry.

As for the HGE rate being the same or lower than 2.4. I am finding it to be lower than 2.4. And having spent the last 2 weeks of 2.4 collecting many of the mats only found in HGEs, I think that puts me in a prime position to judge the difference.

We will have to just agree to disagree. But the variability from one player to a another is simply too large for you to be making absolute statements about any of this "Functioning as Intended".

I am also not a fan of people trying to shut down an investigation into a potentially bugged game mechanic based on their singular myopic experience. If they are wrong, ("T-10 landing bug debate FTW") and FDEV ignores the reports, then everyone looses.

If everyone who knows how to find these in their sleep were having no issues, then you would have a point. That is not the case. Not by a long shot.

No offense... Stuff like this happens like clockwork after every major update. It would be unusual if we didn't have at least a handful of previously functioning features go south like the HGEs have.

A few more years in the ED saddle and you will see what I mean.

 

[GG7]

I simply collect what comes up in front of me while traveling. No search pattern. That would be *organized*...

That is always a good plan Ralph! -- Especially now that we have so much additional materials inventory to use.

 

[Red River]

not sure if it's my luck but I just spent like a few hours and not a single was HGE.
I went thru 3 or more different star systems and scanned like dozens of unidentified signal sources...
I've never had such bad luck before last big update.

 

[Vardaugas]

I simply collect what comes up in front of me while traveling. No search pattern. That would be *organized*...

Same. I just scan every USS and drop into every combat aftermath, encoded and high grade I come across. On top of that, I hoover up the occasional combat remnants. Planning to eventually even things out at a material trader.

 

[Ian Skippy]

FWIW: drop tables have changed. Scored quite a few PIs in a RES.

 

[Aashenfox]

The spawn rate of the "State Specific" Material is most definitely bugged. I see it, and dozens of other ED vets with years into the game see it. Not going to debate that one. Sorry.

As for the HGE rate being the same or lower than 2.4. I am finding it to be lower than 2.4. And having spent the last 2 weeks of 2.4 collecting many of the mats only found in HGEs, I think that puts me in a prime position to judge the difference.

We will have to just agree to disagree. But the variability from one player to a another is simply too large for you to be making absolute statements about any of this "Functioning as Intended".

I am also not a fan of people trying to shut down an investigation into a potentially bugged game mechanic based on their singular myopic experience. If they are wrong, ("T-10 landing bug debate FTW") and FDEV ignores the reports, then everyone looses.

If everyone who knows how to find these in their sleep were having no issues, then you would have a point. That is not the case. Not by a long shot.

No offense... Stuff like this happens like clockwork after every major update. It would be unusual if we didn't have at least a handful of previously functioning features go south like the HGEs have.

A few more years in the ED saddle and you will see what I mean.

Lol. If I had just one more year in the saddle I'd have had it before beta, but that's hardly relevant when we are comparing the major updates released in the last year now is it. So put your willy away please.

Several experienced players in this thread agree no change to spawn rate of hges, so sure I'll agree to disagree on that one, but 'not spawning the right materials' is something I'd like to know more about please?

 

[Aashenfox]

FWIW: drop tables have changed. Scored quite a few PIs in a RES.

Yeh I've been getting some cdcs from combat too.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

I'm finding the ratio of HGEs to other USSs slightly better in 3.0 in deep space, but not enough to be statistically significant. It's probably about the same, but my own optimism makes it seem better.

This is pretty much where I stand.
I tend to be pretty "lucky" with these to begin with and I haven't had any trouble finding them since 3.0.

That said I do find them close to bodies and in shipping lanes now which I never did before, but my HGE/hr seems about the same, perhaps slightly better.

 

[5AnaHalfHatsize]

I still haven't finished editing the accompanying video, so here is the text of the short version of my guide which will be posted in full somewhere on this forum soon...

First check Inara for the material you are looking for. Inara will state certain criteria for the best chance to find the material. This usually includes a system state and possibly an allegiance.

Take CDCs (Core Dynamics Composites) for our first example. Inara says they are found from ship salvage of combat ships, found in HGE USSes, and a higher chance in Federal Boom systems.

One of the reasons I chose CDCs as the first example is because of that 'Boom' thing. Yes, the boom state is supposed to spawn CDCs, however, the boom state more frequently spawns HGEs containing PRAs (Proto Radiolic Alloys), PHRs (Proto Heat Radiators) and PLAs (Proto Light Alloys).

Therefore, you must consider the level of dilution and other circumstances that might cause frustration of finding HGEs, but not the right materials in them.

In the case of CDCs, you can dramatically increase your yield by going to a Federation system in a state of 'None'. This is because a Federal system in a state of none, can ONLY spawn CDCs and Proprietary Composites, so every HGE will contain a variation of those.

Now, once you've identified the best states/allegiances to look for, the next criteria is population, and playing a much smaller role, economy type.

Many believe that high population increases the spawn rate of HGEs. This is not entirely accurate, Mr President. High population increases the USS spawn chance in general, so naturally, more USSes gives the illusion of more HGEs, but I do not believe there is a direct relationship. OF course that still means that high population systems are better for farming HGEs, simply because of a higher rate of USSes.

This is somewhat muddied by the fact that you can often find HGEs aplenty in lower population systems, which brings me to economy. It does seem to be the case that High Tech and Industrial economies particularly, spawn more HGEs per USS, however, again this is a red herring, as I've farmed untold HGEs from Agri and REfinery systems (take Sol for example, it's Refinery/Tourism, and you will never be short of HGEs, I believe this is simply because of the MASSIVE population.

Therefore, the (I admit it's still weak evidentially) conclusion is that if the population is huge (billions), then it doesn't really matter what the economy is, but if the population is only a few million, then economy might play a larger role (particularly High Tech) concerning the quantity of USS and/or HGE spawns.

The actual technique to get an HGE to pop, is very simple, and very reliable. It is an easier technique to use in a system with only one star, but it does work on systems with two or more, provided you follow the rules carefully (and it's not always obvious how these rules translate to complicatedly laid-out systems, such as Sesuang, which has two stars and THREE different orbital planes for the bodies in the system).

Drop into the chosen system. Have orbital lines ON, and take a quick look around, so you can orient yourself with the orbital plane. Now point your ship 90 degrees straight up away from the star, so that the orbital rings and the star are getting smaller and smaller behind you. KEEP THE STAR TARGETED, so you can see how far away you are, and for purposes of orientation (this will be much clearer when I upload the video), until you reach about 2000ls 'above' the orbital plane. Now you want to level off and simply fly large circles around the star which is now way below you, kinda like a fly circling a plate of food, or a vulture circling a carcass, and you STAY between 1700 and 2000ls distant, flying at between 20 and 30c, and you wait for USSes.

If you get 5 USSes in a row that are not HGEs, either drop throttle to zero and drop into normal space, then return to supercruise to reset the instance, or log off and back on again. It's worth doing this in SOLO (or PG), because if you do it in Open, you may be matched in the supercruise instance with another player, which means that when you drop and re-enter supercruise, the instance will NOT reset, because you just joined the same instance as the other player again (which is persistent from the other player's point of view).

I hope this helps, and like I say I have a vid and a more detailed body of text incoming to serve as a guide for all forum users. I have already verified the effectiveness of this technique in 3.0, I have had no trouble getting HGEs with the goods I want. There are other techniques that work just as well, but I have never found one that works better, and I am 100% confident in this advice to both old and new players. I'ts something I've spent a lot of time observing. Good luck!!

This^^ works.

Spent a good couple of hours faffing around trying to get HGEs to pop and managed a grand total of one.

Followed this advise and got four in about half an hour, including the time to collect all the goodies.

 

[4gui4]

sheet please

 

[ForeverN00b]

Grade 5 mats have been dropping from Anacondas in RESes (probably CZs too).

I'm thinking that going to an anarchy system or CZ and killing anacondas might be more effective for overall g5 manufactured mat farming. Probably not as good for targeting a specific mat as the USS method though.

 

[Quantis Trap]

Grade 5 mats have been dropping from Anacondas in RESes (probably CZs too).

I'm thinking that going to an anarchy system or CZ and killing anacondas might be more effective for overall g5 manufactured mat farming. Probably not as good for targeting a specific mat as the USS method though.

I'd like to see the overlap, or more importantly what doesn't overlap, between what drops from Anacondas and Dav's Hope.

 

[SkyB]

I just fly around randomly in a very high populated system hat has the necessary state and controlling super power while praying to rngsus.
It usually works.

 

[ajburr]

This is total crap! This is supposed to be fun? I've spent more time researching how to get HGE's than actually playing the game. I draw the line there.

I quit, until they fix this.