Ground zone combat need to be redesigned

Weapons automatically broadcasting simulated audio cues for potential opponents to detect is insane. There is no rational justification for this, it's unabashedly, obtusely, surrealistic. The handwavium with ship mounted weapons is understandable as there tends to be many signatures that passive sensors could pick up on in open space, but this is not the case with infantry combat. If the sensors could accurately identify the weapon being discharged, surely it could also pinpoint the source of that discharge and we wouldn't have NPCs stumble around, not knowing what hit them, as they drop like files.
That one always makes me go 🤔 hmm I do like when you run out of energy and the sound is muffed.
 
I did my first on foot combat zone by night yesterday, and while I didn't stop to check whether it was low, medium or high (only just realised that's a thing on foot), it paid just over 2.5 mill Cr for a win. Then did a medium by daylight, and a win gave barely a mill. Finally a high, where we were trounced, with poor winnings, but it's so hard to know whether at this stage, dumb luck is the deciding factor.

On the basis that 'you make your own luck', I'm working on perfecting the sniper rifle, as it's serving me well, but my bottleneck is ionised gas, and chemical superbase. I tried to go down the exchange route, only to be told that I have 'no chemicals to trade'. Looking for answers by Google gave me threads from May/June, which didn't answer the question, and I don't want to resurrect those discussions.

I presume that most players know where to get those [commodities?], or at least the chemicals to trade for them? After the G5 upgrade, there's the 10x scope modification, and the 2x range, and we're talking site domination.🎯
 
Although that begs the question, should I wait for the Modified Plasma Sniper Rifle..?
The gas you can find in most settlements where you need to clean up scavengers, or better yet find a mission that don’t give you a place, but only a system to find where x fraction is hiding. You will find loot in those missions every time. Another way is to look on the mission board and filter the missions and look for what you need and just take the missions with the materials you need.

G5 exterminator with extended mag is the way to go, forget the suit just find one that is G3 and leave it there. You want your weapons to be as high as you can get them unless you’re like me who like the challenge.
 
Thanks. When I looked up 'scavengers' for Elite Dangerous, I got Thargoid scavengers, but I assumed that isn't what's required?

I found a video which promises well for ionised gas at settlements, but will take much relogging. I'm guessing I'll find other chemicals, which I'll be able to trade, to push things along...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5eEE9gFYik
For Ionized Gas, target the Industrial settlements - they'll typically have higher numbers of Ionized Gas containers in general than just the PWR centers of Tourist settlements like the one featured in the video. They'll be in the Production / Industrial buildings in the locked lockers in addition to the PWR center. An example of such a settlement would be Menariya Chemical Depot over in 25 Nu-2 Draconis.

Also, a big note - Relogski does not work. Relogging directly at a settlement will wipe every lootable object/data type in the instance (except for Samples inside of Sample Containment devices). To get the items to respawn, you'll need to force an instance reset by going back into Supercruise for a moment and then drop back to the settlement... which is basically relogging but with extra steps 🙃
 
Thanks. When I looked up 'scavengers' for Elite Dangerous, I got Thargoid scavengers, but I assumed that isn't what's required?

I found a video which promises well for ionised gas at settlements, but will take much relogging. I'm guessing I'll find other chemicals, which I'll be able to trade, to push things along...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5eEE9gFYik
Don't need to relog, just look at the mission board filter for materials, find mission where it's the material you need, if you're in an industrial system it's very common to find as a reward, then just stack the missions and happy hunting.
 
Cheers, and that might be the way to go, as Nona really highlighted the absurdity of having to break the law, and even commit multiple murders, to acquire the materials to do an upgrade, when one has the funds to buy and equip a corvette several time over, without killing anyone.

One piece of good news. We updated Nvidia settings and it didn't seem to work initially. But the next day, when the computer was booted up, I had the full screen, including the charge and O2 bars and magic wheels. Did two satisfying CZs, and then tried Nona A2, which was a waste of an hour, and demonstrated that AI guards are real arses. Though not as much as when I did a mission for a guy who wanted what turned out to be saucy videos delivered. I didn't see anything about this being illegal, but when I was scanned, the guard immediately started shooting. Over-reaction, much?

Players may carp about the combat model, but it's clear that Odyssey is killing the 'immersion' in most departments. At least the CZs are fun for us less accomplished combatants. Never can find materials in them, though. The cupboards are always bare.
 
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Cheers, and that might be the way to go, as Nona really highlighted the absurdity of having to break the law, and even commit multiple murders, to acquire the materials to do an upgrade, when one has the funds to buy and equip a corvette several time over, without killing anyone.

Odyssey is not novel in this regard, the game has been like this since they introduced materials. It's still absurd either way, but it's an old absurdity.
 
Odyssey is not novel in this regard, the game has been like this since they introduced materials. It's still absurd either way, but it's an old absurdity.
True. Though I have to say that on-foot perspective makes the absurdity even more apparent as one literally steals power regulators, opinion polls and damn epoxy adhesive widely available in settlements while collecting space remains is somewhat more abstract process.
 
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For Ionized Gas, target the Industrial settlements - they'll typically have higher numbers of Ionized Gas containers in general than just the PWR centers of Tourist settlements like the one featured in the video. They'll be in the Production / Industrial buildings in the locked lockers in addition to the PWR center. An example of such a settlement would be Menariya Chemical Depot over in 25 Nu-2 Draconis.

Also, a big note - Relogski does not work. Relogging directly at a settlement will wipe every lootable object/data type in the instance (except for Samples inside of Sample Containment devices). To get the items to respawn, you'll need to force an instance reset by going back into Supercruise for a moment and then drop back to the settlement... which is basically relogging but with extra steps 🙃

I misspoke, what I meant was the supercruise dodge.

However, I also went to a few industrial systems, but I'm not sure I visited industrial settlements. I did check the material rewards at hubs, and found ionised gases nowhere, so I'm thinking I will just go straight to Menariya Chemical Depot now and check that out.

I did finally find some restore missions, so I know what Lysan meant by 'scavengers'. I'm getting the hang of restoring power and putting out fires, but those low lives are persistent. This one time, on a document recovery mission, a ship dropped a handful more off, then seconds later, another ship did the same. I drove back to my Corvette to prepare for a fight (its C4 lasers being pretty much useless at killing on foot targets*, and the nose getting stuck every time I try to squish somebody), and when I came out again, they'd vanished. Did they kill each other? I found the document in a crate, and split.

*Wonder if I should try using them to power up the settlement?
 
However, I also went to a few industrial systems, but I'm not sure I visited industrial settlements. I did check the material rewards at hubs, and found ionised gases nowhere, so I'm thinking I will just go straight to Menariya Chemical Depot now and check that out.
Just a heads up - Menariya isn't Anarchy controlled, so you will accrue bounties there:

20220103104833_1.jpg


After spending quite a bit of time working this system, I can definitely say that having bounties isn't really impactful on your normal day-to-day gameplay. Even the bounty hunters seemingly disappeared after a while. Only thing to look out for is getting a fine from your home faction while you still have Notoriety - they'll lock you out of the Mission Boards for up to 20 hours for Notoriety 10 🙃

Beyond that, you can tell what type of economy a settlement is by looking under Points of Interest -> Odyssey Settlements on the system map. Industrial settlements have that square logo. I haven't quite worked out how to tell how big the settlements are - your best bet is to find the ones with two IND buildings / one CMD center / one PWR center, but I can't remember which of the ones in 25 Nu-2 Draconis have that layout.

I did finally find some restore missions, so I know what Lysan meant by 'scavengers'. I'm getting the hang of restoring power and putting out fires, but those low lives are persistent. This one time, on a document recovery mission, a ship dropped a handful more off, then seconds later, another ship did the same. I drove back to my Corvette to prepare for a fight (its C4 lasers being pretty much useless at killing on foot targets*, and the nose getting stuck every time I try to squish somebody), and when I came out again, they'd vanished. Did they kill each other? I found the document in a crate, and split.

*Wonder if I should try using them to power up the settlement?
I had that happen once. I was minding my own business and next thing I knew I had a mini CZ dropping on top of me. Good thing I had my Intimidator with me...

Outside of Dumbfire missiles and flechettes (allegedly), ship-based weaponry is really bad at taking out infantry. Rather nonsensical in my opinion - those PA / Plasma Charger explosions should have some splash damage; even High Yield cannon shells don't have splash damage.
 
After spending quite a bit of time working this system, I can definitely say that having bounties isn't really impactful on your normal day-to-day gameplay. Even the bounty hunters seemingly disappeared after a while. Only thing to look out for is getting a fine from your home faction while you still have Notoriety - they'll lock you out of the Mission Boards for up to 20 hours for Notoriety 10 🙃
If that (home) faction has a settlement somewhere, grab an Apex, pay them a visit and punch the nearest guard in the face. He'll gladly forgive you your fine and subsequent bounty in exchange for some target practice and a trip to the nearest detention facility.
 
Just a heads up - Menariya isn't Anarchy controlled, so you will accrue bounties there:

View attachment 284162

After spending quite a bit of time working this system, I can definitely say that having bounties isn't really impactful on your normal day-to-day gameplay. Even the bounty hunters seemingly disappeared after a while. Only thing to look out for is getting a fine from your home faction while you still have Notoriety - they'll lock you out of the Mission Boards for up to 20 hours for Notoriety 10 🙃

Beyond that, you can tell what type of economy a settlement is by looking under Points of Interest -> Odyssey Settlements on the system map. Industrial settlements have that square logo. I haven't quite worked out how to tell how big the settlements are - your best bet is to find the ones with two IND buildings / one CMD center / one PWR center, but I can't remember which of the ones in 25 Nu-2 Draconis have that layout.


I had that happen once. I was minding my own business and next thing I knew I had a mini CZ dropping on top of me. Good thing I had my Intimidator with me...

Outside of Dumbfire missiles and flechettes (allegedly), ship-based weaponry is really bad at taking out infantry. Rather nonsensical in my opinion - those PA / Plasma Charger explosions should have some splash damage; even High Yield cannon shells don't have splash damage.

Oh, I'm not worried about bounties as long as I'm getting the materials I need. I was picking up bounties in Nona, and they weren't crippling sums to pay, when I was eventually 'knocked out'. Hopefully, the mission board problem doesn't come up.

You would certainly think that plasma chargers would do something. That's some top level electro therapy right there, at the very least...
 
Not being unfair, just wish FDev could see the potential they have with Elite,
I don't think it is lack of seeing the potential, however, there is also a company to run and keep profitable. This does tend to put a limit on things actually happening, also over how long a period and by what amount etc.. FDev have a decent base to work up from, time will tell if that happens or not though.
 
I did finally find some restore missions, so I know what Lysan meant by 'scavengers'. I'm getting the hang of restoring power and putting out fires, but those low lives are persistent. This one time, on a document recovery mission, a ship dropped a handful more off, then seconds later, another ship did the same. I drove back to my Corvette to prepare for a fight (its C4 lasers being pretty much useless at killing on foot targets*, and the nose getting stuck every time I try to squish somebody), and when I came out again, they'd vanished. Did they kill each other? I found the document in a crate, and split.
In the Odyssey environment, small ships are usually better (unless you are using APEX). Equip with a vehicle hangar + Scarab(s) and mount dumb fire missile racks and set then to fire together. SRVs and ships like the iEagle, iCourier, Viper or Vulture are ideal for scavenger removal. Some missions will see scavs already on the ground and/or a couple of waves dropping in. Your audio senses are your best friend here as you are often too distracted to keep an eye out on your radar.

Steve 07.
 
Cool, a use for my extra capacity missile racks.

Menariya turned out be very interesting. Graphene turns up a lot, which can be traded for chemical superbase. It's difficult to grab stuff and avoid being spotted in the 0 security HAB, since you can't keep an eye out and point and click. However, even if you do get knocked out and sent to Mercy's Hammer, they let you keep everything, including the stuff they saw you stealing, which is nice.

It might be theoretically possible to kill everyone in the HAB, and the guards who come running too, if I stay close to the grenade case, and assuming that never runs out. I arrived at night-time, so I'll have to case the joint by daylight, and then consider my options.
 
I did finally find some restore missions, so I know what Lysan meant by 'scavengers'.
You can see here, that a low threat mission can give more than just what you receive from accomplishing the mission.
This base was full of stuff, just a matter of time to loot it all.

 
Weirdly enough, I got a notification for that video this morning, and watched it on Youtube before viewing it here. Algorithms, huh?

It got off to a rocky start with the first kill, and the sprint to get far enough from the settlement to call down the ship was obviously vexing. Something I figured out, though, is that if the scanner shows people as yellow instead of light blue, they're either in sight of you, or actually looking at you, so don't steal stuff. That might improve my pilfering.

I'd rather get my Executioner up to G4 before attempting to 'kill everyone and escape', but those ionised gases are proving elusive, even to trade. The path is becoming easier, though.
 
So, if I've got this right (and I know it's slightly off the topic of ground combat, but it's relevant, in that weapons need to be upgraded and lawbreaking can lead to fighting on the ground), guards and workers always take agin commanders taking stuff in front of them, but only guards can scan us while we're behaving, and then only start shooting if they detect illegal goods, even though this contraband was filched from the settlement in the first place?

I've definitely got in trouble for taking energy packs off a wall, but I don't know if medkits are the exception, for humanitarian reasons.
 
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