Explorer having a break in the bubble

Leif_Erikson · Jan 16, 2018

After a few years exploring and just coming home briefly just to sell data I decided last month to stay in the bubble and not leave until I had engineered my FSD to maximum and obtain Master ranking in combat.

One of these missions has been achieved but I think I'll be setting off into the black with the same combat ranking as for all the battles I've been in, all the kills (and being killed) I've only managed a 20% rise in Expert. I can't remember it been this hard last time I did combat and these NPCs now seem far better equipped and talented than before. Any NPCs Dangerous or above are making a meal of me and now to get a kill from them I have to wait around in a CZ until their ship is half wrecked and start shooting and hoping I get the winning shot in

Now this is not a complaint of the game as if they had nerfed combat like they've done in exploration and trading then the path to triple Elite would be a well worn out path by now!

I'm just glad they raised the exploration data value last year as all the creds I've spent on repairs and rebuys since I've been back in the bubble would otherwise have put me in the poor house and I may have had to be forced to start trading again.

bnrgator · Jan 16, 2018

I finally hit Elite in exploration so am also taking a long break in the bubble. I'm waiting for some better exploration mechanics before heading back out.

What ship are you using for combat? With all of that exploration data, you should be able to get a good combat ship. I'm currently using either an FDL or Python. I don't have to run often.

Aasgard · Jan 16, 2018

Enjoying the FAS after a while exploring.
Will be a few more months before I head out again as FAS is fun!

Sapyx · Jan 17, 2018

Since you're going to be waiting around anyhow, and since the next Beta is arriving in a couple of weeks, I'd recommend waiting until the next Update drops before venturing out again. FD have a nasty habit of making exploration glitchy with their updates. I'm nearly back from my own eight-month voyage and don't plan on leaving again until after Beyond is fully stable.

Mengy · Jan 17, 2018

Hah, I'm also doting around the bubble and taking a break from exploring, which I'm totally feeling burned out on. Just bopping around doing all manner of odd tasks while I wait for color to return to the planets in a few months.

Once the beta goes live next week I'll probably do a lot of testing and not log back into the main game until the Q1 patch goes live.

Mrat13 · Jan 17, 2018

For increasing combat rank, conflict zones are good, with the amount of ships they spawn. But, come prepared in case you get attacked by multiple ships, and stick to high intensity zones, where friend and foe numbers stay equal to each other.

Spacecat · Jan 17, 2018

I'm doing the reverse. Just recently became elite at trade and combat. Now I'm heading to Sag A for the triple (hopefully).

V'larr · Jan 17, 2018

Just remember to avoid wing/crew entirely if you care at all about combat XP gains....

I totally agree with the feeling that even without that in play, the combat XP grind is atrocious and too long. Individual kills really don't feel like they have meaning when you have to get thousands of them to show signs of progression....

Leif_Erikson · Jan 17, 2018

bnrgator said:
What ship are you using for combat? With all of that exploration data, you should be able to get a good combat ship.

As I've made nearly 2 billion from exploration I do have cash to splash out and currently have a FAS fully loaded.

I have read somewhere that this can be a disadvantage when getting kills for combat rank gains as killing in a smaller ship ranks quicker than a larger one.Is this true?

Riverside · Jan 17, 2018

Leif_Erikson said:
As I've made nearly 2 billion from exploration I do have cash to splash out and currently have a FAS fully loaded.

I have read somewhere that this can be a disadvantage when getting kills for combat rank gains as killing in a smaller ship ranks quicker than a larger one.Is this true?

The size of your prey doesn't matter, only their rank relative to yours.

If you are pushing for Combat Elite try to take out as many ships ranked higher than yourself. Optimal would be to only target Elite NPCs.

However as your own rank increases the random NPC interdictions will also be of increased rank, which will become a factor for your exploration ship (leaving & approaching civilisation). I explore in a fully equipped & armoured ship, ready to deal with an unending supply of Elite Anacondas & FDLs that come after me

If you pay attention in supercruise they are relatively easy to avoid though.

Leif_Erikson · Jan 17, 2018

Riverside said:
However as your own rank increases the random NPC interdictions will also be of increased rank, which will become a factor for your exploration ship (leaving & approaching civilisation). I explore in a fully equipped & armoured ship, ready to deal with an unending supply of Elite Anacondas & FDLs that come after me If you pay attention in supercruise they are relatively easy to avoid though.

Interdicition never worry me while exploring as I trottle down and boost when interdicted always work on NPCs.

I've also noticed this coming back to the bubble that interdictions happen more often than before but when fighting it I always win them now and if you have no cargo NPCs just don't bother shooting at you.Have they made interdiction avoiding easier from when I started playing at the beginning?

kofeyh · Jan 17, 2018

Hop into a Resource Extraction Site [High], tail the cops, and be their bestest best friend. Chillax, enjoy the view, and when a high rank ship appears (Dangerous, Deadly, Elite) let the cops do most of the work, then tag the bad guy as they are close to punching it's ticket. A couple shots, here and there, once the perp is down to about 25% armour - until they send it to valhalla.

You'll gain the experience from doing so (and some cash!). Do this, for a while, and you'll see that rank start to climb. By letting the local constabulary 'pull agro', you're extremely safe, and can tag the bad guy a little bit as they get low in health. As long as the cops are rolling in number, and are pulling agro, the AI will mostly ignore you. By pull agro, I mean the security forces are actively engaging a ship, and thus it's purely focused on them (and not you).

Just don't take a big ship in (or you'll be considered the primary threat) something nimble fast and strong like a Viper, iCourier or DBS will do the job really well. Cheap fun and if you miss time and get blasted at, you can bail out before they catch you (or laugh at the paltry rebuy).

Don't bother going 1v1 against endless Elite ships, if combat isn't your thing; just let the cops do most of the work, and profit from their ruthless efficiency (when in number). Ignore what the ship is, it's the rank that matters. So, be the very best friend to cops, hang out, chillax, and get into a bit of the old pew pew as a much higher rank ship is being blasted.

This is an opportunity to learn how to fight a little too, and gain some confidence; it's also a good way to learn your own limits, and how much you can push them. Don't be too worried about rebuy, a DBS A rated with the most expensive armour is still only 200k rebuy or something, so it's just not the end of the world if you end up buying the farm. You'll keep progressing rank regardless.

Also, have fun. Good chance to get a bit of action going.

Riverside · Jan 17, 2018

Leif_Erikson said:
Have they made interdiction avoiding easier from when I started playing at the beginning?

It's currently about as bug-free & winnable as it's been ime, I arrived in Colonia from a year long tour a month or so ago so I'm not that much more current than you

If you're comfortable with the random interdictions then sure, go for the higher ranked NPCs if you can