You not even supposed to fight those solo. Even so, people kill big thargoids solo.
Don't any need for balance.
Don't any need for balance.
I had a go at ramming one of a group of four that hyperdicted my T-9 & they got angry, I escaped with 62% hull. I haven't done much in the AXCZs but I tried with my regular CZ Python (C3 long range beam & some other stuff), killed a couple of scouts, returned to base to cash in the bonds & remove the corrosive damage, rinse & repeat a few times. I did build an AX multi-cannon Krait Phantom but it was useless (ie worse than the Python with regular weapons) & quickly sold it again.
A cautious approach worked for me, sniped them with the long range weapons & didn't rely on defences, didn't bite off more than I could chew & cashed in regularly for BGS hitpoints.
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Hasn't this always been the mechanic of CZs? Observe the situation around you and peace out when things turn awry? That's not different to non-AX CZ.
I'll take this opportunity to complain about AX CZ as well. I don't think FD realises how big a deal higher order of interceptors, or even Cyclopes, are for most people, so liberally they get thrown into battle sometimes. NPC allies are little more than a distraction against them and get depleted fast, then it's just you vs. interceptors and scouts that keep spawning. It'd be probably more useful if the NPC humans tried to keep the scout population down or at least distract them while the players fought the interceptors.
There might be some merit of having AX zones of different intensities or danger levels. Something like:
There might be some merit of having AX zones of different intensities or danger levels. Something like:
- Low: Bigger proportion of the scouts are Marauders. No interceptors popping in except maybe for the end boss, which would always be Cyclops.
- Medium: Scouts as now. Some Cyclopes may show up mid-fight. End boss might be a Medusa or multiple lesser interceptors
- High: Just like now.
Deleted member 182079
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It'd still be nice to even have at least the illusion of a chance though, that'd be more fun at least. I'm not sure how the instances work but there's maybe 2-3 AX CZ's in a system, am I supposed to wait until they reset (and how do I know apart from entering and leaving the CZ) and/or rotate between them, travelling 100s of ls each time?
If these AX CZ's are supposed to be wing only they should probably labelled as such. IMO a solo player should be able to complete them - for sure that should be difficult, but not impossible, which is what they currently are if you face several flower ships at once and play on your own. Eg. if you don't aggro interceptors and only want to fight scouts, the interceptors should focus their fire at NPC's/other players and not all gang up on you).
Thankfully I have a comfortably high credit balance but Goid hunting is an expensive profession as it is (it's not worth doing it for the money that's for certain), and these crazy odds against you are kind of off putting after losing several ships, especially for newer players who might just want to have a stab at this kind of gameplay.
I'm slowly grinding my rank upwards from 0% Deadly by taking on the scouts in the CZs .... I leave the rest alone and use the speed of my Krait Phantom to boost away if attacked by the bigger 'goids. It's possible to reset the CZ by leaving and returning to take on scouts until the interceptors turn up to spoil the party.
It's going to be a long time to reach Elite this way [blah] I don't know if I have the staying power to complete it.
It's going to be a long time to reach Elite this way [blah] I don't know if I have the staying power to complete it.
Deleted member 182079
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Came across yet another bugged CZ last night where scouts (but no interceptors) spawned indefinitely. Managed to pop 57 of them, increasing my Deadly rank by 3% (I do have a pilot in reserve though).
Can't do this for too long so am mixing it up with bounty hunting and trying to forget Elite being the goal. Really want that triple Elite decal though so I can plaster that over all my ships.
There seems to be this conception that AX zones should always be winnable.
Why? This may deviate from the rest of game, maybe even from "industry" standard, but I for one very much like the fact that there is no guarantee to winning this particular element of Elite, no matter your skill, your outfitting or being in a wing or not.
These zones could have some polish though, quezing out things like the wing heat bug and some UI improvements like quick targeting of swarms etc. Sometimes I feel I'm not only battling thargoids but also a cumbersome UI with lots of glitches (role panel not updating, missing shutdown field announcements, fighters not deploying .. well check the bug report forum
)
Why? This may deviate from the rest of game, maybe even from "industry" standard, but I for one very much like the fact that there is no guarantee to winning this particular element of Elite, no matter your skill, your outfitting or being in a wing or not.
These zones could have some polish though, quezing out things like the wing heat bug and some UI improvements like quick targeting of swarms etc. Sometimes I feel I'm not only battling thargoids but also a cumbersome UI with lots of glitches (role panel not updating, missing shutdown field announcements, fighters not deploying .. well check the bug report forum
)Deleted member 182079
D
There seems to be this conception that AX zones should always be winnable.
Why? This may deviate from the rest of game, maybe even from "industry" standard, but I for one very much like the fact that there is no guarantee to winning this particular element of Elite, no matter your skill, your outfitting or being in a wing or not.
These zones could have some polish though, quezing out things like the wing heat bug and some UI improvements like quick targeting of swarms etc. Sometimes I feel I'm not only battling thargoids but also a cumbersome UI with lots of glitches (role panel not updating, missing shutdown field announcements, fighters not deploying .. well check the bug report forum
I don't think anyone (certainly not me) is asking for these to always be winnable (my skill levels are limited to soloing a Cyclops; even a Basilisk never mind a Hydra is just too much for me, thus unwinnable). But they could really do with a 'risk indicator' similar to the NHSS's, at least you know what you're getting yourself into. The fact those indicators are missing is inconsistent as well if anything.
Goid hunting should be difficult no doubt - but 5 interceptors, their swarms, AND various scouts ganging up on you as soon as you enter the fray in a standard AX CZ is just a bit too OTT in my opinion. Wouldn't be surprised if this puts off players open to this type of content, which, on the rare ocassion they actually work as intended, can be immense fun. Retrying CZ's repeatedly in the hope for RNGesus to be kind isn't.
I gave up fightin "goids, since they just respawn in the same places anyway, - Eliminate respawns and give players a chance to clear systems instead of fighting the same ones ad-infinitum. - Have them respawn in nearby systems instead, - Players can formulate a plan of forcing them to a place of consolidation. --- Anyone find the MotherShip yet ? (checks loadout).
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