I keep getting brutally killed by AI ships

[Passiday]

I play ED Horizons very irregularly, and don't have time&patience to dig through the forums, so perhaps there's some wisdom I've skipped.

I now have this pity cycle - I do my usual routine, shipping stuff and data with my ASP, and occasionally mining something, and earning my credits. But now and then I get interdicted by some AI (I presume those are the "hostile ships" expected due to my missions), that are usually very strong - they start blasting me with powerful weapons right away, my (not really meek) shields are off in handful of seconds, the next come thrusters, so there's no way to escape, and then graceful death.

Fighting really does not seem an option. Those are usually big ships - Dropships or Vultures, my ASP does not seem to be capable of standing up against one, even pimped up with good guns.

Those AI pursuers also follow me, if I drop to signal sources, so its really annoying.

The only way to deal with this seems to avoid the interdiction, or run the hell out if you are unlucky to fail avoiding.

I am not sure what I am expected to do - running a larger ship? Avoiding taking specific missions?

 

[Becks]

I play ED Horizons very irregularly, and don't have time&patience to dig through the forums, so perhaps there's some wisdom I've skipped.

I now have this pity cycle - I do my usual routine, shipping stuff and data with my ASP, and occasionally mining something, and earning my credits. But now and then I get interdicted by some AI (I presume those are the "hostile ships" expected due to my missions), that are usually very strong - they start blasting me with powerful weapons right away, my (not really meek) shields are off in handful of seconds, the next come thrusters, so there's no way to escape, and then graceful death.

Fighting really does not seem an option. Those are usually big ships - Dropships or Vultures, my ASP does not seem to be capable of standing up against one, even pimped up with good guns.

Those AI pursuers also follow me, if I drop to signal sources, so its really annoying.

The only way to deal with this seems to avoid the interdiction, or run the hell out if you are unlucky to fail avoiding.

I am not sure what I am expected to do - running a larger ship? Avoiding taking specific missions?

What's your loadout and your rank?
Are you actively power playing?

What do you do once you're interdicted?

 

[Heater]

Well post your config for the Asp, the AI has been buffed in 2.1,
the best thing to do is high wake out i.e. have the system (escape route) set and submit to the interdiction and the boost boost and Jump.

 

[Whiplash 1983]

Asp's make great mine layers. Steer back onto your destination point right after getting interdicted, let go of the stick, deploy mine launchers, adjust speed/boost to maintain 2.5k or just out of offensive fire. Be sure your tail is directly behind you and start dropping mines. Elite FDS, FDL, ANI, all dead. get the technique right and have fun. The hard part is remembering to pick up your system bounties before you leave.

 

[2plex]

Well post your config for the Asp, the AI has been buffed in 2.1,
the best thing to do is high wake out i.e. have the system (escape route) set and submit to the interdiction and the boost boost and Jump.

High waking out of a system takes about 15 sec, at least.
There are NPC ships in the game that strip the shields of an ASP (even 6A) and kill the thrusters in less than that time, if you turn and try to run.

 

[kofeyh]

High waking out of a system takes about 15 sec, at least.
There are NPC ships in the game that strip the shields of an ASP (even 6A) and kill the thrusters in less than that time, if you turn and try to run.

If you turn to face attacker, place 4 pips in SYS and prepare to engage FSD during cool down, wait until AI engages you, boost past & you will not die as the AI has insufficient time to apply sufficient damage due to it having to turn. Meanwhile you have rapidly gained distance, reducing incoming damage even further.

And it is exactly 15 seconds to high wake once the FSD is engaged.

This very simple technique will ensure survival 99.99999% of the time.

 

[Abomination]

High waking out of a system takes about 15 sec, at least.
There are NPC ships in the game that strip the shields of an ASP (even 6A) and kill the thrusters in less than that time, if you turn and try to run.

4 pips to shield, chaff, boost, select another closeby system and charge the fsd. Once the fsd is charging, turn to the destination and boost again.
Easier said than done under presure, I know

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Fitting atleast 1 chaff, and maybe 2 Point Defence over the rear of your ship can help with the general missile spamming the AI does now.
Missiles can do severe damage to your thrusters as soon as your shields drop.

Other than that, submit to all interdictions if they're not going your way ASAP, 4 pips to Sys, 2 to Eng, and charge for hyperspace.
Avoid flying a straight line (unless dropping mines).

While being interdicted, take note of the ship(s) attacking you. (Use target hostile key/button)
If they're smaller, submit and low wake. Although , you may be followed again.
If they're the same size or bigger, target a system to jump to, submit and high wake.

 

[Passiday]

Ok, from the nature of most responses, I understand the situation is like in the advice Cypher gave to Neo: "You see an agent, you do what we do. Run. You run your ass off."

Since I used to fight the interdicting NPCs before, this strategy seems to be kind of cowardly. But, well, if the makers of the game have decided that the NPCs have to be extremely well equipped and violent, what can we do, if the choice is between saving one's ass and cowardly running...

 

[Becks]

Ok, from the nature of most responses, I understand the situation is like in the advice Cypher gave to Neo: "You see an agent, you do what we do. Run. You run your ass off."

Since I used to fight the interdicting NPCs before, this strategy seems to be kind of cowardly. But, well, if the makers of the game have decided that the NPCs have to be extremely well equipped and violent, what can we do, if the choice is between saving one's ass and cowardly running...

You need combat fitted ships to take on combat NPCs now, yeah.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

TheAsp is generally terrible for combat, so yes, run. Lol

If you have some spare cash, go and grab a cheap Viper, or something, and practice combat with the new AI.
Head off to a Low RES, in a high security system.
They'll be plenty of system security to keep pirates in check.
Just follow then about, scanning for wanted ships, chime in with a few shots once the security engage.
Just avoid wings, to start with.

Once you're confident with some low level AI, move up to a High RES, in a high security system. It's not as hard as it may sound.
Even a Wanted Elite Anaconda is no match for 3 security Anacondas, 6 Vipers, plus you.
This will give you valuable experience vs larger AI ships.

Edit;
Also, I get bored easily, so if you just need an escort for anything, I can tag along.
Assuming I'm online.
And nearby.
And I can keep up.

Lol