Difference between sectors

Mikeck

M
Ok, I've figured out how to land, fight....all that stuff. I'm ready to head out and play some multiplayer. I see there are like 4 sectors (asteroid belt, free for all, Etc) is there a sector I can fly to where I can shoot up NPC ships for cash? Either bounties or pirating? I'm not ready to fly in a sector and take on real pilots with cobras and such....I also don't want to attack someone wen I'm not supposed to.

For example: the asteroid belt. Is that for people who just want to mine? Are there NPC ships there to blow up? How do I know?
 

ZeeWolf

ZeeWolf
Mikeck said:
Ok, I've figured out how to land, fight....all that stuff. I'm ready to head out and play some multiplayer. I see there are like 4 sectors (asteroid belt, free for all, Etc) is there a sector I can fly to where I can shoot up NPC ships for cash? Either bounties or pirating? I'm not ready to fly in a sector and take on real pilots with cobras and such....I also don't want to attack someone wen I'm not supposed to.

For example: the asteroid belt. Is that for people who just want to mine? Are there NPC ships there to blow up? How do I know?
Click to expand...

If you choose federal combat bond then you can shoot npcs. You will be joined by other players but they are supposed to help you. Usually when you enter the sector you will see a massive capital ship and some pirates attacking it. The pirates will be red on the scanner however very often when you first arrive they are just yellow neutral targets and will ignore you, just shoot at one and they all turn red. 300 credits for each pirate you dispatch, they are not much trouble as they don't help each other out and only seem interested in attacking the capital ship until you fire on them.

Other players can be identified by the hollow markers on the scanner. Any solid markers on the scanner are probably pirates in combat bond.

The federal combat bond scenario is a bit buggy though, if the frame rate drops and you see two capital ships trying to intersect each other either quit the game or try to hyperspace out.

here is some video of federal combat bond
 
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ZeeWolf

ZeeWolf
Mikeck said:
For example: the asteroid belt. Is that for people who just want to mine? Are there NPC ships there to blow up? How do I know?
Click to expand...

The asteroid belt has npc Sidewinders and Anacondas going about their mining business. In the current Alpha other players can't mine. But you can choose to be a pirate and attack the miners for their cargo. You will need to learn to use the scoop for that (make sure you have the scoop key bound to something).

If you are able to obtain some cargo you can sell it back at the station.

If you do that, you'll get a bounty on your head. Other players might attack you for the bounty. You can also choose to hunt other players in the asteroids and be a bounty hunter yourself. It's also the perfect location to try out the stealth mechanics
 

Roland2

R
ZeeWolf said:
If you choose federal combat bond then you can shoot npcs. You will be joined by other players but they are supposed to help you. Usually when you enter the sector you will see a massive capital ship and some pirates attacking it. The pirates will be red on the scanner however very often when you first arrive they are just yellow neutral targets and will ignore you, just shoot at one and they all turn red. 300 credits for each pirate you dispatch, they are not much trouble as they don't help each other out and only seem interested in attacking the capital ship until you fire on them.
Click to expand...

A word of warning though. Some players don't follow the only shoot npcs. I got attacked by players in Cobras both in the federal combat bond and the station shortly after launch. Also got attacked by a player in a sidewinder at the federal combat bond.
 

Mikeck

M
Aside from how they appear on radar, is there any way to make out whether a ship is an NPC looking at it? Read somewhere that above the ship will say "commander..." Whereas NPC ships will not. Just don't want to start out wrong.

Thanks for the responses...I think I will try the federal area first for some combat
 

Cmdr Eagleboy

Cmdr Eagleboy
Mikeck said:
Aside from how they appear on radar, is there any way to make out whether a ship is an NPC looking at it? Read somewhere that above the ship will say "commander..." Whereas NPC ships will not. Just don't want to start out wrong.

Thanks for the responses...I think I will try the federal area first for some combat
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Human pilots have CMDR at front of their commander names. NPC does not.
 

Paulo_B27

P
Roland2 said:
A word of warning though. Some players don't follow the only shoot npcs. I got attacked by players in Cobras both in the federal combat bond and the station shortly after launch. Also got attacked by a player in a sidewinder at the federal combat bond.
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Absolutely! NPC's are too easy so now I just cruise around looking for Noob's to slaughter in all locations, including Zelada.

Mwahahahahahahahahaha.

Great fun!!!
 

Paulo_B27

P
Bullying

Hmmm... I genuinely think I may be having a moral crisis about picking on the new kids in space!

But then, it's dog eat dog, and I do get killed every so often myself so it definitely comes back around.

:)
 

Mikeck

M
Like all things though...moderation. If I can't trade or do anything because I'm always getting attacked=no fun. Needs to be some type of limit like EVE. Certain sectors are free fire...others not so much
 

Mikeck

M
Paulo_B27 said:
Absolutely! NPC's are too easy so now I just cruise around looking for Noob's to slaughter in all locations, including Zelada.

Mwahahahahahahahahaha.

Great fun!!!
Click to expand...

This is why I don't play multiplayer. 3 times tonight I get blown up. 1 time I'm cruising around the asteroid belt just looking at stuff and all of a sudden commander so and so (who shows green on scanner) just starts shooting me with his cobra. I die

So next two times I go to the federal zone where we are all supposed to be on the same team. I'm shooting NPC pirates and both times a player (showing green) shows up, skips the pirates. And just blows me up.

Must be a lot of fun for you guys in your maxed out cobras to swoop in and ambush a noob in his sidewinder with pulse lasers. Just trying to leave everyone alone and get some credits to upgrade. Sheesh

It's part of the game but when you are just trying to fly around and learn the ropes, it's annoying to get jumped. I spend more time reloading than I do flying. I mean, if you want to just shoot everyone, isn't that what the free for all zone is for? Guess you can't get behind a friendly and start blasting him there though.

Not trying to whine but when you work and have family stuff and only get 3 hours or so of game time a week, you can't upgrade as fast. IDE like to enjoy the game without constantly being attacked. Oh well. That's what single player is for I suppose
 
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Zarkon

Z
I feel your pain. Avoid the asteroids for a while because it's meant to be PvP only. Federal Bond is supposed to be no PvP but the griefers can't stop themselves, even during alpha. If you play Contested Space or FFA, watch for any hollow icons on your radar. If it's an enemy player, either attack immediately or hyperjump out.
 

Mikeck

M
Zarkon said:
I feel your pain. Avoid the asteroids for a while because it's meant to be PvP only. Federal Bond is supposed to be no PvP but the griefers can't stop themselves, even during alpha. If you play Contested Space or FFA, watch for any hollow icons on your radar. If it's an enemy player, either attack immediately or hyperjump out.
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Yep, I'm just blowing up pirates in federal bond until I get enough cash to upgrade...then I'm going in for some revenge!
 

Avago Earo

Banned
Avago Earo
just been playing beta (at the moment i guess that's alpha 1) loving it. just want to say hi Zeewolf. 'til now been playing oolite. loved your posts on youtube. getting used to flight mechanics. to be honest I've been a bit lazy and just got laser happy. works though dunnit? trained at Lave class of '85. Don't know how long I'll last though with all that power distribution. Oh well. Time Space will tell eh?
 

AaronTee

AaronTee
I love a good challenge, but like you've all said already, it's no fun when the chips are stacked against you. It would be nice if there was some control over what happens in each sector, but until there is, it will just have to be us 'noobs' getting smashed every few minutes (in between every load screen) lol
 

CMDR Texas Stu

CMDR Texas Stu
Fly to Federal Bond and just earn credits, buy a Gimbaled pulse laser or beam laser when you can afford it and make sure you save enough for the insurance for when you die. If you are being picked on on Bond and it's not from stealing someone's kills just try asteroids or contested. Getting enough for a cobra is secondary to acquiring skills flying and combat for you (and testing). It's frustrating getting killed but a sidewinder can kill a cobra. If someone gets through your shields try silent mode combined with running away and hyperspacing. Gimbaled weapons can't easily lock on you if in silent mode. Watch your heat though.
Unfortunately some commanders would rather attack someone who can't defend themselves well rather than an NPC or commanders who can. Like the schoolyard bully. Once you can give them a black eye they'll often go find someone else to pick on though.
Try to enjoy though and just look at the unpleasant part as the downside for now. It will soon change. See you in game
 

AaronTee

AaronTee
Stu2 said:
Fly to Federal Bond and just earn credits, buy a Gimbaled pulse laser or beam laser when you can afford it and make sure you save enough for the insurance for when you die. If you are being picked on on Bond and it's not from stealing someone's kills just try asteroids or contested. Getting enough for a cobra is secondary to acquiring skills flying and combat for you (and testing). It's frustrating getting killed but a sidewinder can kill a cobra. If someone gets through your shields try silent mode combined with running away and hyperspacing. Gimbaled weapons can't easily lock on you if in silent mode. Watch your heat though.
Unfortunately some commanders would rather attack someone who can't defend themselves well rather than an NPC or commanders who can. Like the schoolyard bully. Once you can give them a black eye they'll often go find someone else to pick on though.
Try to enjoy though and just look at the unpleasant part as the downside for now. It will soon change. See you in game
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Well said mate, you're spot on there.
I am also in the same position as the other people posting here where I operate a company and have a family so my time is very sparing to play so I want to enjoy it as much as I can. But what you say is certainly a good point to consider when the battle is focused on my hull lol
 

Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
Yaffle
AaronTee said:
Well said mate, you're spot on there.
I am also in the same position as the other people posting here where I operate a company and have a family so my time is very sparing to play so I want to enjoy it as much as I can. But what you say is certainly a good point to consider when the battle is focused on my hull lol
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There is (currently) an exploit you can do where if you end the task in task manager you will repspawn with your ship and credits intact upon reloading. You'll lose some reloading time, but it may be better than the credits. Clearly a cheat, but shooting up new players in sidewinders hardly seems like playing or testing to me either.

The other day I had a peculiar sound bug, some sounds were not working, and I was trying to work out which, and under what circumstances, so I sat trying all functions in different combinations. I was destroyed by a green beam laser wielding PC when my hardpoints were not even deployed. Thanks for that - I hope whatever you were testing was more important.

I've taken to going the "ignore" route, I let them shoot me up, I usually stop and retract hardpoints if they were deployed. If they feel happy and like a big man for doing it, then well done them. I am very happy for them, but also sympathetic that life is so empty that's the sole way they can get their kicks.

But, hey, this is alpha. The instruction was "anything goes" so it does.

I hope you get to the cobra before Alpha 4 for your own satisfaction. It's interesting seeing a different layout and feel of a ship.

Just to add, I don't know if he's still doing it, but Stu was hanging around in the asteroid belt destroying anacondas for less equipped players so they could collect the cargo. If he is, that may help you out.
 
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