Conflict zones tougher ?

Zen100

Z
Has anyone noticed conflict zones becoming noticeably tougher over the past week.

Just had my Anaconda destroyed twice in two days in a low intensity zone. Previous to this, I had never lost an Anaconda in a conflict zone at all.

Similar pattern both times - would suddenly get swarmed by 6+ targets with all them going all guns blazing. Stripped my three shield rings in seconds.

Even with dual shield cells - I couldn't deploy the cells fast enough to keep the shields and had to run, but I couldn't escape. They damaged my FSD as I was running.

Out of insurance buffer now, so a few days of trading grind to build it up again.
 
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Siddius

Siddius
i saw someone mention this swarming before, they said it seemed to happen once they'd earned about 250k - 300k in combat bonds, if that helps any.
 

The Librarian

The Librarian
I find that most of the time, things are as they used to be (pick a target, destroy target, lather/rinse/repeat), expect for the Anacondas. It seems every time I start shooting at one, three of his mates start attacking me (no, they are not winged). That and if you follow a ship away from the main battle area and a new batch spawns in whilst you are away from the fray, the new batch of reds will make you target number one, two and three all added together. I suppose this might be because I'm in a big'n'juicy Python, so I might try later in a Viper to see if this behaviour is constant.
 

Zen100

Z
Seen it happen at all times, even just after starting.
.
My first hull loss even happened yesterday just as I was leaving the area. I retracted hardpoints, boosted out - initiated FSD, then suddenly - wham - I was set upon.
.
I thought I might have been careless - not checking around that it was safe to leave. But it happened again today - several times, just after I arrived in the CZ. Each time I was able to get out - just - but the last time, a Python managed to get my thrusters down to zero - very frustrating - managed to outrun all the other hostiles, but with thrusters at zero, you're basically dead.
 

Stolas

Stolas
I live in the CZ's and yes they have gotten harder - its a good thing. I think it has to do with the type of ship your piloting and the new AI. For example if I take my Cobra into the CZ's I can pick and choose my targets as I think I may not rank high enough on the "Threat Chart". If I take my Vulture in I get swarmed by Pythons and seem to get a steady stream of Anacondas. I know that when I engage the Anacondas, again in my Vulture, I have to watch my back as I am liable to get hit by Eagles, Vipers, and Asps. I think, but still need to test, they may have implemented a "Threat Meter" in the new AI. The better class the ship the higher your threat and the more likely you are to be attacked.

Its great because in the Vulture if I can keep my canopy from being blown out and can survive the swarms I can make literally millions with my faction and at rank 5 I get a very healthy bonus to bounties - also affects combat bonds.

I do need to do more testing but I am fairly sure that is what is going on with the new AI. IMHO it is well overdue and a welcome addition.
 
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Siddius

Siddius
the 20% bonus to bounties in that old ladies space applies to combat bonds as well? (very happy if that's the case, as I went to her space lookin for RES and had to settle on CZ out of impatience)
 

Zen100

Z
Stolas said:
I live in the CZ's and yes they have gotten harder - its a good thing. I think it has to do with the type of ship your piloting and the new AI. For example if I take my Cobra into the CZ's I can pick and choose my targets as I think I may not rank high enough on the "Threat Chart". If I take my Vulture in I get swarmed by Pythons and seem to get a steady stream of Anacondas. I know that when I engage the Anacondas, again in my Vulture, I have to watch my back as I am liable to get hit by Eagles, Vipers, and Asps. I think, but still need to test, they may have implemented a "Threat Meter" in the new AI. The better class the ship the higher your threat and the more likely you are to be attacked.

Its great because in the Vulture if I can keep my canopy from being blown out and can survive the swarms I can make literally millions with my faction and at rank 5 I get a very healthy bonus to bounties - also affects combat bonds.

I do need to do more testing but I am fairly sure that is what is going on with the new AI. IMHO it is well overdue and a welcome addition.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am not adverse to the change, just it was a sudden surprise.
.
I am starting to adjust how I approach it - keeping a distance from the bigger ships - and picking off the smaller ships first to try and avoid the swarming. Also keeping at least 2 shield rings - and hitting the shield cell banks asap upon swarming...
.
I just need more cash now before I can go back, which is frustrating because there is a CZ in the planet I use for my trading run.
 

Garagiste

Garagiste
Limping my Vulture away with 20% Hull after failing to take out one of the two I had for the CZ mission - yes, I've noticed!
Got them eventually, but took some forum browsing while the shields recharged.
I'm good with it though, it could be argued that they were way too easy before.
 

Stolas

Stolas
Zen100 said:
Yes, I am not adverse to the change, just it was a sudden surprise.
Click to expand...

I did not intend to imply that you were adverse to the new AI. If I did then apologies. You have adapted and now you have learned that you must choose your targets, use some strategy, not get drawn away from your faction and stay close to your NPC Anaconda if possible - this equals quick kills and faster $$$.

******************
I do however like the fact that folks are not able to park the war ship set turrets to auto and walk away for an hour, come back and rake in the bounties. If they were to do this now they would undoubtedly wonder why their ship was in the last port of entry with the insurance screen flashing. Not going to lie that thought makes me a bit warm inside like a good shot of Jameson.
 
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Klab

Klab
It does seem harder than before, the trick is to kill as fast as you can then rapidly attack the other guy who is shooting at you. It can get very manic at times, just bail out 20km if it does, grab a cuppa & a recharge & go back in full of beanz :)
 

Krawler

K
Stolas said:
I live in the CZ's and yes they have gotten harder - its a good thing. I think it has to do with the type of ship your piloting and the new AI. For example if I take my Cobra into the CZ's I can pick and choose my targets as I think I may not rank high enough on the "Threat Chart". If I take my Vulture in I get swarmed by Pythons and seem to get a steady stream of Anacondas. I know that when I engage the Anacondas, again in my Vulture, I have to watch my back as I am liable to get hit by Eagles, Vipers, and Asps. I think, but still need to test, they may have implemented a "Threat Meter" in the new AI. The better class the ship the higher your threat and the more likely you are to be attacked.

Its great because in the Vulture if I can keep my canopy from being blown out and can survive the swarms I can make literally millions with my faction and at rank 5 I get a very healthy bonus to bounties - also affects combat bonds.

I do need to do more testing but I am fairly sure that is what is going on with the new AI. IMHO it is well overdue and a welcome addition.
Click to expand...

How do u prevent ur canopy from being messed up? I didn't think canopy was a sub target?
 

Stolas

Stolas
@ Krawler

You are correct its not, on the Vulture however it seems to be the first thing to go. I have found that the best way to keep your canopy from getting blown out in the Vulture is to not get shot... Or at least do not let your shields go down.
Yep its an honest answer..LOL
 

Exiton

Exiton
Zen100 said:
Has anyone noticed conflict zones becoming noticeably tougher over the past week.

Just had my Anaconda destroyed twice in two days in a low intensity zone. Previous to this, I had never lost an Anaconda in a conflict zone at all.

Similar pattern both times - would suddenly get swarmed by 6+ targets with all them going all guns blazing. Stripped my three shield rings in seconds.

Even with dual shield cells - I couldn't deploy the cells fast enough to keep the shields and had to run, but I couldn't escape. They damaged my FSD as I was running.

Out of insurance buffer now, so a few days of trading grind to build it up again.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've noticed that myself too. Bots have acquired the nasty habit of teaming up against you. Came dangerously close to losing the ship several times.

You are fighting at CZ and all proceeds well up to the point when suddenly all the neighboring reds jump at you. Like this moment, when I'm being attacked by 6 bots simultaneously and frantically trying to get away.



I've noticed that this only happens when there are at least 2 enemy "Pythons" or "Anacondas" nearby.
 
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Vindris

Vindris
I only recently started getting into the combat zone thing within the last week. Been using a Vulture. What I typically do upon entering the CZ, I'll turn about and blast off, putting a good 6km between me and the nearest target. Then, I'll choose my faction. Ultimately, I want to target some Pyths and Condas for their big payouts, but I work my way to those ships by taking out everything small that crosses my path on the way to those big targets.

Regardless, I've noticed that sometimes Pythons will literally spawn behind you while you're in the middle of taking out an Anaconda. Kinda bogus. Especially after you've just taken all that time to clear a path.

However, usually it's not to bad. I'm typically able to stay in a combat zone long enough to get 1mil+. The most I've gotten in one go within a Combat Zone before returning to the port is about 3mil.

Obviously, you can FSD out and pop right back in to kinda reset things.
 

Soopyyy

S
Yes, I've had this happen a couple of times. Drop in and get targeted by nearly every hostile in the zone. There's nothing you can do to counter it either... Not something I consider fun if I am honest.
 

Ralph Vargr

Ralph Vargr
But, The AI's Are Pushovers! :)

- - - Updated - - -

Soopyyy said:
Yes, I've had this happen a couple of times. Drop in and get targeted by nearly every hostile in the zone. There's nothing you can do to counter it either... Not something I consider fun if I am honest.
Click to expand...

Welcome to 1 v infinity. Once NPC's got groups, any single target is in Big Trouble.
 

Soopyyy

S
Ralph Vargr said:
But, The AI's Are Pushovers! :)

- - - Updated - - -



Welcome to 1 v infinity. Once NPC's got groups, any single target is in Big Trouble.
Click to expand...

Just annoys me because its basically the game going "Whelp, you're gonna lose 5million credits now and there's not a damned thing you can do about it".
 
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