Newcomer / Intro Combat - doable in the sidewinder?

[CooterCrickets87]

I just started a week ago and been doing data runs to get some quick and easy cash while I get the feel for the game.

Well I have been getting killed by an NPC player that has been tasked to hunt me down and destroy me for the data Im transferring.

Still havnt bought an upgrade ship yet but have modded the Sidewinder with a few upgrades.

Making the run to Duke station (I think that is the name) I keep getting blown up by this NPC

Is it a waste of time upgrading the Sidewinder or should I just get another ship more combat worthy (I do know not to fly a ship if you do not have the cash to replace it)


I thought the Sidewinder would get me by in solo mode but Im beginning to think not

 

[Cmdr Effie Trinket]

Hi,

There are more qualified folks here than I, but if you choose to take a mission with a big payout, it will tend to invite bigger, stronger, more aggressive NPC's to attack you. The bigger the reward the greater risk.

The Sidewinder's OK, if you keep the Missions sensibly low rent.

07

 

[Mo Ronik]

I've made millions in my Sidewinder. Just gotta learn how to evade interdictions and you won't get destroyed. I still have my original Sidewinder, MSS Sunrise, and I have no desire to sell her mostly because I still like to take her out to run data/courier missions once in a while. If you want a ship that packs more punch, can evade interdictions like a champ with the right skills and hauls more cargo then you might take a look at the Adder. The Adder was my 3rd ship... MSS Ying Yue. She's kind of a do all ship. I ran cargo and data missions with her for a while and then added passenger cabins and hauled refugees and tourists around the bubble. Good bubble taxi and decent step up money from the basic data/courier missions and the very limited cargo capacity of the Sidewinder.

MSS Ying Yue... Ying Yue is Chinese for reflection of the moon. She's now my system trader ship and all I use her for is buying and selling commodities in my system and close neighboring systems.

 

[Maenden]

If you get a bigger ship they may just send bigger ships to attack you.
Upgrade the Sidewinder.

Sounds like your best bet is to try to avoid the attacker.
When you leave the star approach the spaceport in a deep curve - this will keep you out of the shipping lane and make you more difficult to find.

In order to interdict he has to get behind you. When you get the warning message try zig-zagging sharply while still heading in the general direction of the spaceport.

When interdicted try to avoid interdiction by chasing the blue circle thingy.

When interdicted put 4 pips to power, 2 to the shields and head away at full power hitting the booster constantly. The increased distance makes you more difficult to hit and may reduce the efficiency of his weapons.

When the FSD cools down and comes back on line jump away and head for the spaceport again.

 

[D.D.Hariman]

I just started a week ago and been doing data runs to get some quick and easy cash while I get the feel for the game.

Well I have been getting killed by an NPC player that has been tasked to hunt me down and destroy me for the data Im transferring.

Still havnt bought an upgrade ship yet but have modded the Sidewinder with a few upgrades.

Making the run to Duke station (I think that is the name) I keep getting blown up by this NPC

Is it a waste of time upgrading the Sidewinder or should I just get another ship more combat worthy (I do know not to fly a ship if you do not have the cash to replace it)


I thought the Sidewinder would get me by in solo mode but Im beginning to think not

How is an NPC managing to repeatedly kill you.

A Sidewinder should easily be able to beat EVERY interdiction attempt. You cannot get killed as long as you stay in Supercruise. Besides, learning to stay on the Escape Vector is the best free training you can get for staying on a target later when/if you do get something that can actually do more than tic an NPC off.

If the attack is happening at the station your action should be to boost toward the station as soon as you drop out of SC. That gets you into the NO FIRE zone so the local Gendarmerie will appear almost instantaneously and waste him. If you are close enough to the station, it's big guns may even fire up.

I went from Sidewinder, to Adder, to Dolphin in my quest for ever greater jump range to do data runs in. The Dolphin essentially has no offensive weaponry since both small hardpoints are in the middle of the underbelly of the ship so I didn't even bother to carry them just to get the bit of added jump range.

BUT, do put on all the chaff launchers you can. If the attack is occurring at the delivery station. Do the boost and as you are waiting for the Engine capacitor to recharge for another boost, do 75% throttle back-flips or somersaults with a bit of yaw and Pop a Chaff every 12 seconds to keep the punk from being able to target you until the Gendarmerie waste him.

 

[Old Duck]

I once defeated another player in my Engineered Sidewinder. He was flying an Alliance Chieftain.

I can afford any ship I want, but I'm a minimalist so I actually own very few ships, one of which is is a Sidewinder. IMO, it is one of the most fun ships to fly. The key is to use your speed and maneuverability. Target modules. My personal favorite weapons for the Sidewinder is dual gimballed burst lasers, engineered for piercing (lets you hit above your weight, also extends the range).

That said, I don't know if you'll easily unlock those engineers in a Sidewinder... During my original play through, I quickly upgrade from a Sidewinder to an Adder, which I used to compete in a CG and earn enough credits for a Keelback, which is another favorite ship of mine. My love for the Sidewinder came after I had unlocked Felicity, Todd, and The Dweller.

 

[Ashnak]

Had to smile at your question. Short answer first: yes, you can. Check out the videos of Archon Fury on Youtube (ok, that sidewinder he's using probably runs around 3 MCr. or more, and he's a very good PvP player).

Longer answer: with NPCs, and especially in a Sidewinder, you don't have to do combat. Learn to win the interdiction minigame:
step 1: throttle in the middle of the blue, go for the escape vector
step 2: when you have the escape vector centered, go full throttle
repeat until you're clear.

And: such a combat Sidey is probably some way off for you - you'll need the money and, more important, the engineers. So, if you want to fight NPCs, you're better off starting with an Eagle or a Viper. Oh, and keep in mind that mission specific NPCs are scaled to the mission level, so if you accept an Elite/Tycoon ranked mission, you will have a high level Anaconda or Fer-de-Lance after you. I would strongly suggest you avoid being succesfully interdicted by them

 

[Rock Hunter]

When the interdiction begins put your throttle to 50%, in the middle of the blue section of your throttle power indicator, this will give you the maximum turn rate/agility.

You’ll then need to follow the blue interdiction indicator to avoid being interdicted. Don’t worry too much, when you start out there’s so much to remember.

Are you using a joystick, gamepad or keyboard and mouse. Players use all with great success but you may find one better than the others. I switched from keyboard and mouse to a joystick and then on to a full throttle and stick (HOTAS) and have never looked back.

The Sidewinder can be used for anything, combat and exploration included, but you’ll need to know it’s strengths and weaknesses. In this case I’d recommend avoiding the interdiction rather than trying to fight as that takes practice and help in a ship that weak when you aren’t experienced.

Search for videos on how to avoid interdiction and you’ll see some good run through.

Edit - ninja’d

 

[aRJay]

Just to emphasize the point.

If you are flying around without any missions the NPCs you meet will be based around your ratings, the NPCs that are part of the mission will be based on the missions rating and as a general rule the higher paid the mission the higher its rank. Higher ranked NPCs tend to fly and fight better and have better/better equipped ships.

But as the others have said you can beat NPCs in a Sidewinder but it won't be easy at first.

 

[Chaparral]

Yes.

Find a low res zone or regular res zone in the ring of a gas giant. Wait for the cops to attack a wanted target. Make sure you complete your scan to verify that the target is wanted. Ping away along with the cops on the target. When the target pops, you'll get a notification you have earned a bounty. This money does not go directly into your account. You have to go to the nearest station and hit the contacts tab. Then the authority tab. Turn in your bounty vouchers for credits. Use the credits to upgrade your modules and your ship.

The sidey is a great ship but a bit squishy. Your next upgrade should be an eagle. Repeat the process.

Good luck commander!

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Humnnn.. I have never been able to change the ships speed after the interdiction starts. I try to set 5% speed as soon as I detect that I am being stalked.

Here is why I set throttle to 5%. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UfwiG4zNJfMzZpRmtYZHlnVmc
This forces the interdicting ship to have to be closer to you. The closer they have to be, the smaller the area of the cone behind you they have to maneuver in to try and drag me off the escape vector. Also the slower they have to be traveling so they have less "inertia" to drag me around.

Yes, I was in an AspX but the Sidewinder can almost run rings around an AspX.. How to evade the interdiction in the first place and 20 seconds to beat it.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UfwiG4zNJfXzQwR19pakFGUVk


Here is an evasion in a Dolphin.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RG0HOwFKJgj522cb8NXZLjkk_otZ3vS0

Here is video of 6 straight evasions in the same system. Again in an AspX. I don't think I kept any in the Sidewinder because they were all so simple.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=12E5CHeT3mq2JUCF6pEx0R5dwxgQvuao5

Enjoy
YMMV

Ok, Found an old thread where I made a similar long post about interdiction.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/374068-Interdiction

My post is #15

 

[CooterCrickets87]

Interdiction is how he is getting me. I wasn't familiar with that but watched some vids on how to avoid it.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Powderpanic]

Hi Noobie,

You can get out of a Sidewinder and into something a little strong like an Adder or Viper, really cheaply and with enough rebuys to learn with.

LEARN ABOUT REBUYS NOW!

A D rated Viper or Adder will be hugely stronger than a Sidewinder will be and allow you to run much bigger missions

https://s.orbis.zone/1o7m

Powderpanic
The Voice of Griefing

 

[CooterCrickets87]

What about buying an Eagle?

OR should I just wait for the cash to fund a Viper?

 

[Sylow]

What about buying an Eagle?

OR should I just wait for the cash to fund a Viper?

The eagle is a nice small upgrade over the Sidewinder, but comes at a price. You loose a bit of speed and one utility slot, but you get increased turn rates and a third hardpoint. For the beginner, i advise to put a gimbaled multi-cannon into the hardpoint on the back. Use lasers to drain an enemies shield, then use the multi-cannon to destroy the hull. For NPCs, especially lower tier, the principle of lasers against shields, kinetic against hull is still true, after all.

Of course, with only one utility slot, you don't have too many options there. Just pack a chaff launcher for survivability. On such a small and agile ship, chaff can make a huge difference.

That all being said: neither the Sidewinder nor the Eagle are invincible. Never get in front of a large enemy or you're in trouble. On the same note, avoid fighting badly outnumbered in these ships. But they have good handling, making them nice ships to learn combat in. Their vulnerability forces you to learn evasion, and defensive tactics, which will also help you when you get to bigger ships. And also: they come cheap. Which is a big advantage. Everybody makes mistakes when new to combat. Mistakes are paid for on the rebuy screen. Cheap ships thus are the cheap and easy way to make those mistakes and learn from them.

 

[JetsonRING]

Sidewinder is a GREAT little ship . . .

I just started a week ago and been doing data runs to get some quick and easy cash while I get the feel for the game. Well I have been getting killed by an NPC player that has been tasked to hunt me down and destroy me for the data Im transferring. Still havnt bought an upgrade ship yet but have modded the Sidewinder with a few upgrades. Making the run to Duke station (I think that is the name) I keep getting blown up by this NPC Is it a waste of time upgrading the Sidewinder or should I just get another ship more combat worthy (I do know not to fly a ship if you do not have the cash to replace it) I thought the Sidewinder would get me by in solo mode but Im beginning to think not

[noob] A Sidewinder can handle combat perfectly well . . . against other Sidewinders. You have to learn to pick your fights. A huge part of Elite: Dangerous, especially for newer players is learning when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away and know when to RUN!

It is not the arrow that wins battles, it is the Indian. No matter what ship you are flying, your skill as a pilot CMDR will do more to affect the outcome of a fight than which ship you are flying. That being said, even among Sidewinders there are "levels". A shiny newbie CMDR, in an unmodified, non-upgraded "starter" Sidewinder and with zero combat experience will generally not prevail against an A-rated, engineered Sidewinder piloted by a CMDR with months or years of combat experience. Git Gud and as your combat skills improve you will find that you depend more on those combat skills to win battles than you do on your ship.

Learn to evade, defeat and escape interdiction attempts, learn to win the interdiction mini-game and live to fight another day. Learn to read the data in your HUD about your opponent, what ship he or she is flying, their combat ranking and their ship's capabilities before committing to a fight. Learning to do all this will take a while since, as a newer CMDR you are still learning how to land without dying. Get the basics down first, build some muscle-memory and spend most of your time running away from fights until you gain some experience and can afford to make your ship more capable and competitive (and until you are more capable) . My Sidewinder can fly sideways faster than yours can fly forwards but at this point even if you were flying my ship, a more capable CMDR in a less capable ship will probably still defeat you in combat. [arrrr] o7

 

[D.D.Hariman]

[noob] A Sidewinder can handle combat perfectly well . . . against other Sidewinders. You have to learn to pick your fights. A huge part of Elite: Dangerous, especially for newer players is learning when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away and know when to RUN!

It is not the arrow that wins battles, it is the Indian.
Learn to evade, defeat and escape interdiction attempts, learn to win the interdiction mini-game and live to fight another day. Learn to read the data in your HUD about your opponent, what ship he or she is flying, their combat ranking and their ship's capabilities before committing to a fight.

I tidbit not in any of the manuals that I know of. While you are being interdicted, the interdicting ship is considered HOSTILE, so, if you have a key bound to TARGET NEXT HOSTILE, it will lock then and then you can, maybe, look at the lower left panel and see all that stuff in the quote above.

I have TARGET NEXT HOSTILE as a Voice Attack Macro using the word "PUNK". The NPC's are all just punks.

 

[aRJay]

What about buying an Eagle?

OR should I just wait for the cash to fund a Viper?

Personally I prefer the Imperial Eagle, not as agile as either the Eagle or the Sidewinder but a lot quicker and has more power which is needed for a medium hardpoint it is also slightly tougher than the Eagle MkII, unfortunately it is more expensive as well.

 

[angusmadmac1]

Source: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AnwjQN7K0XU


A few years back but still shows what can be done