Information Regarding AX Combat Bond Reward Revisions

[Ned Flandalorian]

Can you guys at least make the kills count for missions even if you aren't the last one to get the final shot in? Then I'd be ok with this. As it stands i had to kill four hydra just to get ONE listed as killed in my missions. Really not fair.

Sounds like you weren't really killing them but were part of a much larger group.
With the payouts still being quite large and requiring not much individual work when there is a large group present, I think it's only fair that mission progression is restricted and only guaranteed when the cmdr/wing are the only ones involved.
If you have to rely on other players outside of your wing to complete the mission, you probably shouldn't be attempting it.

 

[MVBanks]

I understand the reasoning but I’ve yet to find a ship that can equip more then 4 AX weapons that I find preferable to my FAS so I’m not really benefiting from the increased weapons limit!!

New scanner is great though. I mean, I did get to the point where I could eyeball Shard shots pretty well but it’s nice to have the proper targeting!!

Federal Gunship.

 

[aRJay]

I'm doing Cyclops kills by myself, it's messy but I can do it but anything harder and I'm done for. I've never been interested in the Thargoid side of the game until the Maelstrom's arrived and it became apparent that you get involved or essentially get nothing new to do.

My skill and equipment levels are such that I can solo all types of Scout that I have met to date and on one glorious occasion managed to kill a couple of hearts on some sort of interceptor but that would be down to luck as I couldn’t see a thing when I was up close to it but it was interesting being at 0% heat thanks to all 3 TV beam turrets hitting continuously.

Of course the hearts could have been down to one or more of the many AXNPCs in the area.

The rebalance on the credits earnings doesn’t bother me in the least as I am trying to help humanity against the Thargoids not become rich enough that I am no longer interested in what things cost. A boost in possible materials rewards is good as long as it reaches down to us lowly scout hunters.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Sounds like you weren't really killing them but were part of a much larger group.
With the payouts still being quite large and requiring not much individual work when there is a large group present, I think it's only fair that mission progression is restricted and only guaranteed when the cmdr/wing are the only ones involved.
If you have to rely on other players outside of your wing to complete the mission, you probably shouldn't be attempting it.

what difference does it make if you are fortunate enough to be in a wing of 4 or a rag tag group of 4 players not in a wing. it's just has hard....... before you suggest just wing up , not all players are comfortable (or allowed) to wing with randoms. I did manage to get in a wing today I was so nice being able to actually complete missions ... besides last shot wins is not really fair either. IF you want to be totally fair mission and combat bond should be split depending on damage done but few ask for that.

 

[Ned Flandalorian]

what difference does it make if you are fortunate enough to be in a wing or a rag tag group of 4 players not in a wing.

Because nearly all of the thargoid missions (the ones people are complaining about not registering kills) are wing missions. It doesn't make sense to complain about wing missions not registering kills made by people who aren't in your wing, they are literally intended to be completed as part of a wing.
Likewise if you're taking non-wing missions, you should be able to complete them solo because there is no guarantee you'll be able to find other people to help you.

 

[Ned Flandalorian]

I'm looking into it as quickly as I can, Ned o7

Thank you for getting this investigated so quickly.
If it helps at all, some people have noticed the list of controlled systems with most progress (new addition to the thargoid war panel in the galaxy map) does seem to be reordering systems based on player activity even though the individual progress bars for those systems aren't changing. So possibly the progress is being updated but there is a UI issue causing it to not be displayed correctly.

 

[tolm]

Federal Gunship.

Not fast enough. I need at least 450 boost speed, ideally well above 500.

I took my Corvette out earlier. Got hyperdicted by two interceptors on the way to the invasion system and couldn’t outrun them … which meant it tool freaking ages for my FSD to spin up … I finally got back into super cruise with 13% hull.

In my FAS I’ve never taken a single shot from an interceptor that hyperdicted me.

Nor in the Chieftain or Challenger builds I tried, for that matter, but I’m not a huge fan of those ships … Chally I would perhaps put up with for the 4 medium HPs if it still flew like the Chief.

 

[Ozric]

Thank you for the clarification Sally, and the apology.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Not fast enough. I need at least 450 boost speed, ideally well above 500.

I took my Corvette out earlier. Got hyperdicted by two interceptors on the way to the invasion system and couldn’t outrun them … which meant it tool freaking ages for my FSD to spin up … I finally got back into super cruise with 13% hull.

In my FAS I’ve never taken a single shot from an interceptor that hyperdicted me.

Nor in the Chieftain or Challenger builds I tried, for that matter, but I’m not a huge fan of those ships … Chally I would perhaps put up with for the 4 medium HPs if it still flew like the Chief.

what is the top speed of an engineered gun ship ? I have one but not flown her in a while.

my passenger transport python has been hyperdicted a few times ..... I think that boosts to around 400 or 420.

I sometimes take a few hits but nothing to worry me yet.

 

[MVBanks]

FGS boost 425, I was always able to escape hyperdictions and interdictions, even if interceptors are faster, but when you boost away immediately, you have enough time to jump.
Advantage is big choice of hardpoints.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

it's worth always going FA off as well whilst legging it and your FSD charges ime , that and hitting the heatsinks... at least it has worked for me this far (famous last words and all that)

 

[aRJay]

what is the top speed of an engineered gun ship ? I have one but not flown her in a while.

my passenger transport python has been hyperdicted a few times ..... I think that boosts to around 400 or 420.

I sometimes take a few hits but nothing to worry me yet.

FGS = 459
Python = 507
Challenger = 524
FAS = 591

Note these are all racer builds practical combat builds will be ~5% slower.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

FGS = 459
Python = 507
Challenger = 524
FAS = 591

Note these are all racer builds practical combat builds will be ~5% slower.

that groks with my python.. whilst it is engineered it isn't massively tuned (I can't remember for sure but may even have my legacy mods on it)
edit yep all legacy mods and my drives are dirty grade 3 at that and it's quick enough... or has been so far for passenger rescue

 

[Danieros]

Considering how easier it has become to find and fight great number of thargoids now these payouts are still a higher hourly rate than before. I imagine it will be even more as more AX modules/developments happen.

Thanks for the clarification and insight.

 

[KingTurtle]

The only issue I have with the nerf is why are there no cyclops kill missions being offered when the cyclops bounty got nerfed as well? It makes no sense to me that there are missions for scout kills but none for cyclops when the scouts are even easier to find.

STOP BALANCING THE GAME BASED ON THE BILLIONAIRES.

I'm tired of people on this forum assuming everyone else has the same amount of play time available to them as they do so these nerf are fine. Some folks actually have only 1 or 2 hours to play, so just because you can get billions in less than 24 hours doesn't mean the rest of the player community can do so as well. Let us not ignore the other elephant in the room that is INSTANCING LOTTERY in Elite. I myself have jumped into conflict zones with several people on system chat saying they are fighting at the station, only to find myself alone fighting goids when I get there.

Even though I am a billionaire, I am not going to be a jackass and ignore the rest of commanders who are very time limited in what they can do to help. Rebuy for some of these commanders isn't free like the rest of us with overpowered ships.

 

[DemiserofD]

This change might have gone over a little better if it were justified by saying the war was getting to be too expensive. You could throw out a galnet article talking about how new technologies had begun to overwhelm budgets allocated for ax bonds, so they were forced to implement an emergency reduction.

Then it could mention how the bonds were still very generous and it hopes that people would continue to fight in the war, since the survival of humanity is at stake.

It just needs a little spin, and it goes from a punishment to a reward and a challenge.

 

[DemiserofD]

THE ONIONHEAD - PILOTS FEDERATION DECLARES EMERGENCY AX BOND REDUCTION - 04 FEB 3309

Pilots’ Federation ALERT

The Pilots Federation Bond Issuance Office has declared an emergency reduction in AX bonds, effective immediately. While this reduction is only on the order of 20%, it has drawn outrage at the unexpected change, leading to an unusual announcement from the head of the department, Armin Woodhouse.
"While the Pilots Federation has deep pockets, even our resources are not unlimited. Several years ago we assessed our finances and decided an increase to AX Bond Payouts was within our fiscal capabilities, based on the circumstances of the time. Those circumstances have changed, in a way so profound no financial institution was prepared for the aftermath. More Thargoid craft have been destroyed in the past month than in more than two years prior, and the war shows no signs of slowing; if anything, further escalation is expected!"
"Based on this data, we had no choice but to immediately reduce AX bond payouts, and while this reduction does put is in the black for the immediate future, there are no guarantees it will be the last. There may be dark days ahead."
He finished his announcement with what was almost a plea. "Please do not let this relatively minor reduction distract you from the incredibly vital war effort. The fate of mankind is at stake. Fight now; worry about being slightly less rich later."
Our own economist at the Onionhead did note that even with the reduction, current payouts are still sufficient to make Pilots Federation Members some of the richest individuals in the galaxy in a shockingly short amount of time.

 

[Dev Gnoll]

Because nearly all of the thargoid missions (the ones people are complaining about not registering kills) are wing missions. It doesn't make sense to complain about wing missions not registering kills made by people who aren't in your wing, they are literally intended to be completed as part of a wing.
Likewise if you're taking non-wing missions, you should be able to complete them solo because there is no guarantee you'll be able to find other people to help you.

How to you find a wing in-game?

Do you just send around random friend requests and wing invites to people until someone accepts one?

Don't say use chat. There's no chat. You can't see chat messages while in VR. Issue: https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/55228 please upvote.


So you are left with maybe one scout mission. Or obscene numbers of scouts as you solo a wing mission. I've only seen one cyclops mission out of 20-30 board checks.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

so I play in VR and the chat is a pain but it does work. press 2 on your keyboard (I think it's 2 ) to lock the chat window open then fire off team invites to everyone in your instance and hope for the best.
I use look to panel when in VR and without locking it open it's a nightmare. alas you can't lock it open all the time as you can't target etc if you do

am sure anyone in my team thinks I am ignorant and well as stupid . ignorant because I generally say very little in chat as in VR, stupid because when I do type it generally looks like my 7 year old typed it

but it has meant I ticked off a few kill 1 medusa missions. still not managed any hydra ones. instill always have one open just in case (I don't think you get fined for failing just a bit of rep loss)

 

[Oaktree]

Since 14.02 I'm having trouble with my Krait MkII cockpit. Glass is smashed with ease whenever fighting Scouts or Cyclops. It rarely happened before the update, but now every time I engage, a few minutes after, boom there goes the glass!
Is anyone experiencing the same problem?

I dont master the cold orbit thingy, and obviously wasnt the best AX pilot out there, maybe I just got worse after 14.02...