First interceptor encounter: build review and tips

[Nerix]

The big day has come where I want to be part of saving humanity and don't cowardly run away when I see any petal shaped objects in space (ok, at least I've supported science by collecting some tissue samples so far)...

It took me some time to prepare, this is the result of my efforts (not optimized, but I think good enough for a first solo try): http://edshipyard.com/new/#/L=C60H4...KVEqKVIqKV15OG5H50wPc4ypDAphXEphXIphX4-E112G0

A few questions:
1. I want so start with a Cyclops. Where can I find them (only one!), NHSS threat lvl 5?
2. Which SLF would you recommend? I've unlocked all three guardian fighters.
3. Not sure how to use my SLF most effectively. When should I launch it, what should be the target mode (defending, fire at will...)?
4. Is the above build ok for a start, what would you optimize (I guess 7A shield, 8A PP, get rid of fuel scoop, one more booster)?
5. Any further tips for a first-timer? I'm a bit worried, as my rebuy is 20mln (and I've only 50mln left, this military hull is so expensive...). Any survival tips for the first encounter?

 

[ZAKALWEINC8876]

Hello, my first and foremost tip is plot a route to a nearby system (preferably one with somewhere close for repairs) before you drop into an encounter.
Interceptors mass lock you if you try to jump into supercruise but not into a different system. The last thing you want is to be 10% hull and faffing around trying to plot an escape route.
NHSS5 is where to look (or an megaship, or take a Vanguard/Acropolis cyclops mission, these are a bit buggy tho), i personally prefer the Trident or Lance SLF.

Drop in, sit still, scan it when it comes over, let it move off. Deploy SLF, light up the cyclops. If you are getting wupt, run away to fight another day!

Good luck o7

 

[Nerix]

Thanks. What kind of fire group layout would make sense? Right now I have the two flak launchers on one trigger and the four gauss cannons on the other. Second fire group are scanners, stuff like heatsinks / scbs have a dedicated button.

The flak cannons are vs the swarm and gauss vs the hearts, right?

 

[Kzak]

If you get hit with a caustic missile, it will gradually eat away at your hull and modules. There are three ways to get rid of the caustic effect:

1. Disengage from combat, return to a starport and dock, repair your ship.
2. Engage Silent Running and fire your weapons to overheat your ship to ca 180% - this will burn away the caustic effect.
3. Carry a decontamination limpet controller (and limpets!) - move away so you're not getting fired upon, launch the limpet, let it clean off your ship so you can return to combat. This also lets you keep your shields (unlike step #2).

 

[ZAKALWEINC8876]

Thanks. What kind of fire group layout would make sense? Right now I have the two flak launchers on one trigger and the four gauss cannons on the other. Second fire group are scanners, stuff like heatsinks / scbs have a dedicated button.

The flak cannons are vs the swarm and gauss vs the hearts, right?

Yep, flak launchers are for the swarm, gauss will both exert then kill hearts. If you have a xeno sxanner you can target individual hearts in the targets sub systems (only one heart exerts at a time) once scan is completed.

Good luck o7

 

[BDelacroix]

A few questions:
1. I want so start with a Cyclops. Where can I find them (only one!), NHSS threat lvl 5?

Either go to plieades (where I don't know) and find the NHSS 5? I don't know because I don't do it this way.
OR
Go to one Acropolis or Vanguard and hope to find a kill interceptor solo mission. Often it will even say Cyclops. Then you go to the place it indicates.
OR
if system under siege has a megagship ruin, go there and keep entering until you get a cyclops. Don't hit the broken megaship because you get wanted status.

2. Which SLF would you recommend? I've unlocked all three guardian fighters.

Guardian fighters are fun, but they aren't quite as good as the imperial rogue if you are using it as a swarm distraction. Higher fighter pilot experience is better. That said, I use the gauss gun one but any of them should do since you don't actually want them shooting the ships. They try to anyway.

3. Not sure how to use my SLF most effectively. When should I launch it, what should be the target mode (defending, fire at will...)?

I toss mine out the door after the first heart is broken and I'm doing the 3km lure while waiting for the panic shield to come down. I send it directly to the swarm.

4. Is the above build ok for a start, what would you optimize (I guess 7A shield, 8A PP, get rid of fuel scoop, one more booster)?

Haven't looked at your build yet but in general I went for >3k shield and >2k hull. I have more than that now. You can try flak guns to take out the swarm. I'm not so good at that myself. A good build to look at is fang's. ALso saying that, I use a cutter. Obviously find what works for you.[/quote]

5. Any further tips for a first-timer? I'm a bit worried, as my rebuy is 20mln (and I've only 50mln left, this military hull is so expensive...). Any survival tips for the first encounter?

Only advice I can give in this regard is there is no prize won for sticking it out in a known losing situation. I left many cyclops wounded before killing the first one. Leave when you think it isn't going well. That point is obviously going to be a personal choice.
Once you have the process down, it becomes much better.

EDIT: Just looked at the shipyard link. You have an anaconda so you can alternatively use the 4 shard cannon fast kill. Also probably requires some sort of process. From what I see is you get close and blast away as fast as you can so that all 4 hit the interceptor before it finishes its startup maneuver.

Short of that, with 4 gauss, you are going to heat up. You have a heat sink, you'll need it. Weapon convergence is key, all of those guns hit the pin point and you'll be golden.

 

[Nerix]

Thanks for the tips, had two tries so far. First was bad (no hearts destroyed), second a bit better (two destroyed. But got away with 20-30% hull, once I had to reboot because my fsd was badly damaged. Will try again

Kind of annoying that all stations nearby are damaged, so that I can't repair my ship. With a 4c fuel scoop and a limited range it isn't fun to make 10 or more jumps to the next station...

Btw, what are the criteria for NHSS spawning? I know Pleiades is the right region, but is there a way to find specific systems where are thargs close to a running station where I can get repairs? EDDB doesn't cover if a station is under repair, as far as I can see.

 

[Tassier]

Thanks for the tips, had two tries so far. First was bad (no hearts destroyed), second a bit better (two destroyed. But got away with 20-30% hull, once I had to reboot because my fsd was badly damaged. Will try again

Kind of annoying that all stations nearby are damaged, so that I can't repair my ship. With a 4c fuel scoop and a limited range it isn't fun to make 10 or more jumps to the next station...

Btw, what are the criteria for NHSS spawning? I know Pleiades is the right region, but is there a way to find specific systems where are thargs close to a running station where I can get repairs? EDDB doesn't cover if a station is under repair, as far as I can see.

Sounds like a good start to me.

Last night I was in merope and found quite a few NHSS5s around so can recommend there, the station is good for repair / restock.

Your edsy link doesn't work for me so not sure what you have at the moment. The definitive resource on building ships for this is GluttonyFang's one here:

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...nitiative-and-Ship-Outfit-Suggestions-for-All

Basic rules are;
Max out your shield power, use hd shield boosters and forget resistances.
Max out your hull, use loads of HRP and one or two MRPs
Fighters are great for a distraction if nothing else.
AX weapons are good but take time for a kill, last night I used Guardian gauss for the first time and they made for a much quicker victory.
Corrosive damage can kill, run away from the Thargoid after killing the 3rd and 4th hearts to avoid missiles, and when you finally destroy it completely retreat to 3.5k to avoid the cloud.
Have fun!

 

[Nerix]

Thanks to your tips, I did it in my third attempt.

It was a quite tanky approach, mostly ignored the attacks and focused on attacking myself. Would appreciate comments on the video below how to improve from your point of views.

My main problem was the heat mangement and failing heat sinks due to module damage. Another drawback was, that I'm not used to fixed weapons, so my targeting was horrible. The scenery is very nice though, with a ringed gas giant in the background.

[video=youtube;eFBrzzfQmoE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFBrzzfQmoE[/video]

 

[BDelacroix]

Using fixed gauss on scouts helped me get better at aiming.