sallymorganmoore
Senior Community Manager : Elite Dangerous
Greetings Commanders,
Along with Update 14.02, as many of you are aware, there came some changes to AX combat bond reward values.
With that being said, the design team would like to share with you some further insight into reasoning behind the value adjustments to combat bond rewards for Thargoid defeats.
Values before and after Update 14.02.
Balancing Choices.
Factors which deemed it sensible to make the above amendments to AX combat bond rewards, grew from tweaks and changes made to overall AX scenarios and factors, such as:
The newer reward values do remain higher than what they were at launch (approximately 3.2 times greater), when Thargoids were considered, arguably, at their hardest to defeat compared to now.
The Goal.
From all of the above considered, the overall goal with adjustments made to AX combat bond rewards as part of 14.02 was to prevent the potential of inflated credit bloat, without it feeling unjust to Commanders without equal payoff in other areas.
Another example of bringing balance to these alterations, is that Massacre Missions now reward more materials than regular missions do, as a way to offset the reduction in rewards, with an additional view to help with the engineering grind a little.
Examples:
Thanks for your time and thoughts around this, Commanders.
Again, we absolutely sensed and completely understood the frustration many of you expressed and once again extend our apologies with having not communicated these changes in more depth with you.
o7
Along with Update 14.02, as many of you are aware, there came some changes to AX combat bond reward values.
We're aware that this information was not provided as either update notes, nor did it come with prior warning ahead of the release, for which we truly apologise.
This was a genuine oversight and it was never our intention to cause disrespect to those of you engaged in current efforts around the Galaxy.
This was a genuine oversight and it was never our intention to cause disrespect to those of you engaged in current efforts around the Galaxy.
With that being said, the design team would like to share with you some further insight into reasoning behind the value adjustments to combat bond rewards for Thargoid defeats.
Values before and after Update 14.02.
| Thargoid Type | Pre-Update 14.02 | Post Update 14.02 |
|---|---|---|
| Scout (Marauder) | 80k | 65k |
| Scout (Other variants) | 80k | 75k |
| Cyclops | 8mil | 6.5mil |
| Basilisk | 24mil | 20mil |
| Hydra | 60mil | 50mil |
| Medusa | 40mil | 34mil |
| Orthrus | 30mil | 25mil |
Balancing Choices.
Factors which deemed it sensible to make the above amendments to AX combat bond rewards, grew from tweaks and changes made to overall AX scenarios and factors, such as:
- Thargoids now being found in greater numbers, in wider reaches.
- Scenarios have AX Military which are armed with AX weapons to help take Thargoids on.
- Commanders are acquiring better AX weapons, for example being gimbled and those with enhanced damage.
- Commanders received an new, improved AX Scanner.
- Commanders are now able to outfit more AX weapons with the latest Experimental Weapon Stabiliser (5 or 6 weapons instead of 4).
The newer reward values do remain higher than what they were at launch (approximately 3.2 times greater), when Thargoids were considered, arguably, at their hardest to defeat compared to now.
The Goal.
From all of the above considered, the overall goal with adjustments made to AX combat bond rewards as part of 14.02 was to prevent the potential of inflated credit bloat, without it feeling unjust to Commanders without equal payoff in other areas.
Another example of bringing balance to these alterations, is that Massacre Missions now reward more materials than regular missions do, as a way to offset the reduction in rewards, with an additional view to help with the engineering grind a little.
Examples:
| Mission Type | Reward 1 | Reward 2 |
|---|---|---|
| MASSACRE MISSION: Eliminate 1 Medusa Interceptor (Threat Level 7, and not a team mission) | Modified Embedded Firmware: 8 Units [Rarity Grade: 5] | 6,881,263 CR |
| REGULAR MISSION: Emergency Bulk Supply: 720 Units of Robotics | Modified Embedded Firmware: 4 Units [Rarity Grade: 5] | 1,763,101 CR |
| MASSACRE MISSION: Eliminate 1 Basilisk Interceptor | Exquisite Focus Crystals: 6 Units [Rarity Grade: 5] | 2,634,541 CR |
| REGULAR MISSION: Emergency Bulk Supply Contract: 124 Units of Tritium | Exquisite Focus Crystals: 3 Units [Rarity Grade: 5] | 13,070,675 CR |
Thanks for your time and thoughts around this, Commanders.
Again, we absolutely sensed and completely understood the frustration many of you expressed and once again extend our apologies with having not communicated these changes in more depth with you.
o7
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