PvP Looking for some advices...

[ByteKiller]

I am a normal player, never had time to really grind. Just had a few lucky trips with a Type-9 and some basic medicines for a few million credits. To make it short, I had my hard time to spare some money to buy a new Krait, A rate it, and engineer it a bit. After the process, I was left with a mere 40 millions and a 9 million rebuy. I never wanted to kill other players, just interact with them and I've been tempted to enter PvP. I've played in PvP several times before, but I hardly encountered anyone. I've just been interdicted a few times and killed on the spot in my transporter.
Last week I've decided to partecipate to CG with my new pride, my brand new Krait. Well, it didn't go well. I was hoping for some fun, interact with some other real players, make up a wing. Ended up having to leave PvP because I've been interdicted 3 times, every time by a large wing, and fragged to death even before I had time to boost a few times. I mean, no problem with that, it happened before, 1vs1 on my transport didn't give me any chance, had to accept it.
But now, I think I'll have to sell the ship I love because I can't afford it anymore, or simply leave PvP.
I know, maybe 9 millions rebuy with a 40 millions spare was not the best idea, but I was not expecting this.
So I am not complaining, but I have to decide what to do:

1. Admit that disparity between a normal player with just some spare time for the game and people with billions simply makes PvP a costy game that I can't afford. It's ok to die, but at least I expected to sh** my pants while trying to boost away from a band of player pirates... I didn't even had the time to enjoy that, at least losing 27 Mills would not have been so painful.

2. Sell my beloved ship and get some cheaper crate, so I can stay in PvP and also afford to be the target of other PvPers and just get used to lose 2 millions every time, with the expectancy of making just a few kilo credits with transport or missions and slowly losing all my credits in a few months.

3. Leave the game and spend my time in some other game where players can interact in a more costructive or fun way, even when it's time to die. I don't really consider this an option, since I enjoy ED.

Any suggestion?

 

[Cmdr Ultra]

The safest ship to fly in Open is an Imperial Courier. A combat fit one should boost over 800 m/s minimum.

I always feel safe in a Courier.

 

[Lateralus]

Don't give up on PvP OP... The reality of this game is that to be competitive in PvP not only do you have to fully engineer your ships, you have to fight (and die) a lot to see significant skill increase.. Most players you will encounter at CGs will be fully engineered, winged up and have hundreds of hours of experience behind them.

May I recommend that you try PvPing in a cheaper ship such as a Viper or Vulture, watch some guides on YouTube and join a player group (there are loads out there). Also if you're on Discord, there is a PvP Hub server which is dedicated to matchmaking friendly duels between players in the system San Tu.

 

[Morbad]

Start at the beginning. If you haven't been fighting other CMDRs every step of your way up, go back to a small, cheap, vessel and progress from there. Grab a Viper III, practice a bit on NPCs before engineering it and testing yourself vs other CMDRs.

 

[Krash]

Plenty of good advices here if you want to reset and try again. The Krait might not be the best choice for a noob PvPer with limited funds. But I can understand how you fell in love with it, its a great ship in many ways. If you post your build here we can get more specific where it needs work. ED Market Connector is a great tool if you don't already have it. Once connected, there's an easy button that creates a Coriolis or ED Shipyard web-enabled stat sheet for the current ship your flying.

 

[dmulligan]

ByteKiller: Do you only have one ship? I don't see how only PvP could be sustainable, the way I see it any commander needs a fleet of ships. The correct number is always N+1 where N is the current number of ships you have. The trick for me has been to try hard not to sell ships. Trade up for the same purpose but keep at least one ship for passenger missions, one for trade or cargo missions, one for prospecting, one for exploring, one for PvE combat, one for PvP combat etc.
So start by picking a way to make some credits. For instance if you wanted to try :"Road To Riches" you can start by buying a dirt cheap Hauler and equip it for exploration making sure that you have decent shields and boost in case you are interdicted. Then make enough to trade up to a Diamondback Explorer or an Asp Explorer (DBX for jump range or AspX for the bigger fuel scoop) and make some more credits. Don't explore for too long though, it's damned boring. Maybe pick a few fights to get the blood flowing again and move on to trade or something else to make some more credits. Each time you move on to something new buy the right ship for that job and soon you'll have a fleet and your in game net worth continues to go up even when your balance doesn't.

Careful though, you might end up with more ships than you know what to do with. I have 23 right now and I still have a few to buy.

My question for the hard core PvP'ers is how do you like to make credits to maintain your PvP activities?

 

[Mechanist]

ByteKiller: Do you only have one ship? I don't see how only PvP could be sustainable, the way I see it any commander needs a fleet of ships. The correct number is always N+1 where N is the current number of ships you have. The trick for me has been to try hard not to sell ships. Trade up for the same purpose but keep at least one ship for passenger missions, one for trade or cargo missions, one for prospecting, one for exploring, one for PvE combat, one for PvP combat etc.
So start by picking a way to make some credits. For instance if you wanted to try :"Road To Riches" you can start by buying a dirt cheap Hauler and equip it for exploration making sure that you have decent shields and boost in case you are interdicted. Then make enough to trade up to a Diamondback Explorer or an Asp Explorer (DBX for jump range or AspX for the bigger fuel scoop) and make some more credits. Don't explore for too long though, it's damned boring. Maybe pick a few fights to get the blood flowing again and move on to trade or something else to make some more credits. Each time you move on to something new buy the right ship for that job and soon you'll have a fleet and your in game net worth continues to go up even when your balance doesn't.

Careful though, you might end up with more ships than you know what to do with. I have 23 right now and I still have a few to buy.

My question for the hard core PvP'ers is how do you like to make credits to maintain your PvP activities?

1. Don't die [smile]

2. Smuggling runs with a Cutter (*cough Imp Slaves *cough) ... I make 4.7 Mil per run

3. Mid range passenger missions.

 

[Krash]

My question for the hard core PvP'ers is how do you like to make credits to maintain your PvP activities?

Great advice about having a fleet. I use my cutter for credit generation. Sometimes its passenger runs, but lately I've been doing these source and return wing trade missions. We can pull in 100mil rather quickly.

 

[TheMegaTurnip]

"Fragged to death"

You unfortunatly encountered a wing of scrubs, short of guys who rely on packhounds, they are the worst kind of PvPer's, and the least talented, best option is to go for a fast ship with long range weapons if youre dealing with such noobery.

When you've got a bit more practice in, pick weapons like plasmas and cannons as the special effects on them mess up everyones targeting if you're on target, and if youre fighting folks who use high heat generating weapons, thermal cas' cannons will ensure they melt most of thier modues off before they do you any serious mischief.

But don't give up on it, it's a seriously steep learning curve in PvP and you're gonna eat a shedload of rebuys in the process of "Gitting gud" (Cringe). Best option is a small, fast ship, capable of relatively deent damage, but one that also has the legs to outrun most ships, the average speed of the so caled "meta" builds is about 550, if you can get higher than that it gives you the luxury of leaving whenever you like, Clippers will keep up with near on anything, but quite frankly it's another ship for scrubs that one, so typically most good PvPer's don't use it.

As has been said, the I courier will hit between 700/800 mps depending on how heavy an armament and defense you go for, it's also dirt cheap and makes a great shield tank or silent runner. Nothing is gonna keep up with you at that pace, the only real threat is other couriers.

Cred's come easy with various missions, check out sightseeing from robigo, made a bomb offa that of late. (Cheers to the Cmdr who give me the tip on that one)

o7, hope it helps.

 

[ByteKiller]

First of all, thank you for taking time to answer me. After some thoughts, I've resolved that my problems are:

1. I like to be part of a live community. Space can be so empty and it is easy to feel alone. The problem is that in this game open = PvP. And while I like the "open" part, I am not ready for the PvP one, due to the following points.

2. PvP is not ranked and structured to allow everyone to taste it. It seems to me that PvP population is not equally distributed between total newbies of the game, mid range, experts. Also it is not equally distributed between small low powered ships, mid range, large powerful vessels. It seems to me that PvP population is mostly made up of people with tons of cash invested in multiple ships, all A rated, specificaly enginered for PvP. Also their mind set is mostrly aggressive. While it can happen to find someone just doing his business while in open, most of the people in open are PvPers actively looking for killing others. Nothing bad in this, but again: open should in some way not coincide with PvP, in particular if PvP means high investment of money, time and experience.

3. At start you need to have money to sacrifice, plenty of it, first of all becaue you will lose a lot due to death (point 2, remember? A lot of people in open are not there to help, but to have some fun killing you). Second, you will not gain much at start while in open, due to limits on what ship you can use. I've used to make 3Mils/run with a type-9 selling basic medicines. It's not an activity I could try in open, losing ship+cargo would cast ruin on me.

I think it's a lost opportunity for the game. I'd really like to be part of a large community => open, and maybe try some mild/light PvP with players in my same level. I'd like to make some decent money while interacting with other people, instead of consistenly losing it or gaining a pity due to limits on what I can do. Sure an open with optional PvP would not be realistic, but would be a lot more approachable. As it is, I cannot afford to stay in open, simply because I am not that much interested in PvP and open is full of PvPers totally out of my range of ship power and experience.

At the moment I switched out of PvP. I still have to decide what to do with the ship. As it is, it will be hard for me to regain my lost millions. Probably I'll end up keeping the enginereed modules and sell the hull, start back with a type-7 and later a type-9. I'll be back in PvP once (if I ever will) I'll have more than 300 millions + decent ship.

But still, I just wanted to play open, not be a pray for unfair hunting. Still, I understand that limiting PvP activity would be unrealistic. Just wanted to tell PvPers out there that maybe you could avoid camping CGs and assaulting people with low shields, hull in bad shape and uncomparable whip with a pack of 4 PvP tailored ship. Even being a pirate means having some sort of decency, I suppose.

Thanks!

 

[Morbad]

The problem is that in this game open = PvP.

Nah. Most of the time people are shooting at me it's because I was looking for trouble.

Open means almost anything goes and that certainly includes the possibility for hostile interactions between CMDRs, but it's far from omnipresent.

in open, most of the people in open are PvPers actively looking for killing others.

Some people think this, and some PvPers assume this, but they're wrong. Most people, even in Open, are just doing their thing.

I actually get rather offended when people presume that just because I'm in Open and in a combat vessel it means I want to fight them. As often as not, the only reason I'm fighting someone is because I want them to leave me alone and the most expedient path to achieve that is to slap them hard enough that they think twice the next time (which often just leads them to coming back with a wing, but it usually buys me enough time to dock, turn in some missions and leave the area).

Just wanted to tell PvPers out there that maybe you could avoid camping CGs and assaulting people with low shields, hull in bad shape and uncomparable whip with a pack of 4 PvP tailored ship. Even being a pirate means having some sort of decency, I suppose.

This is more a problem with your choice of venue than Open itself. CGs and certain other hotspots always draw out those looking for prey. There are other places to go, where you can usually still encounter other players, without a significant fraction of them looking to gun you down.

 

[Slange Lands]

Commander ByteKiller,
1. Have you tried CQC? There you will learn survival skills with real people on a much more level playing field without the rebuy. You will still die a lot at first.......
2. Try a Private Group. There you can play with real people. Depending on the group you would be able to choose whether or not you are fair game.
3. You may not have a lot of time, but there is no hurry to get good either. It took me 1300 hours of game time to fully engineer, afford and have 3 rebuys for my battle conda, "ilovedonuts". Most of it was bounty hunting in Solo in Hi Rez sites. Learning to avoid asteroids in the dark when accidentally boosting is fun, kinda.
4. Vindicator Jones' videos are great for optimal maneuvering tactics.

o7

 

[Sir Judas]

I think you may be overthinking things. You don't need to wait until you have a heap of gold or until the world turns nice. Get something cheap and nasty and have fun.

 

[dmulligan]

I think you may be overthinking things. You don't need to wait until you have a heap of gold or until the world turns nice. Get something cheap and nasty and have fun.

This and other horses for their courses = fleet.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

First of all, thank you for taking time to answer me. After some thoughts, I've resolved that my problems are:

1. I like to be part of a live community. Space can be so empty and it is easy to feel alone. The problem is that in this game open = PvP. And while I like the "open" part, I am not ready for the PvP one, due to the following points.

2. PvP is not ranked and structured to allow everyone to taste it. It seems to me that PvP population is not equally distributed between total newbies of the game, mid range, experts. Also it is not equally distributed between small low powered ships, mid range, large powerful vessels. It seems to me that PvP population is mostly made up of people with tons of cash invested in multiple ships, all A rated, specificaly enginered for PvP. Also their mind set is mostrly aggressive. While it can happen to find someone just doing his business while in open, most of the people in open are PvPers actively looking for killing others. Nothing bad in this, but again: open should in some way not coincide with PvP, in particular if PvP means high investment of money, time and experience.

3. At start you need to have money to sacrifice, plenty of it, first of all becaue you will lose a lot due to death (point 2, remember? A lot of people in open are not there to help, but to have some fun killing you). Second, you will not gain much at start while in open, due to limits on what ship you can use. I've used to make 3Mils/run with a type-9 selling basic medicines. It's not an activity I could try in open, losing ship+cargo would cast ruin on me.

I think it's a lost opportunity for the game. I'd really like to be part of a large community => open, and maybe try some mild/light PvP with players in my same level. I'd like to make some decent money while interacting with other people, instead of consistenly losing it or gaining a pity due to limits on what I can do. Sure an open with optional PvP would not be realistic, but would be a lot more approachable. As it is, I cannot afford to stay in open, simply because I am not that much interested in PvP and open is full of PvPers totally out of my range of ship power and experience.

At the moment I switched out of PvP. I still have to decide what to do with the ship. As it is, it will be hard for me to regain my lost millions. Probably I'll end up keeping the enginereed modules and sell the hull, start back with a type-7 and later a type-9. I'll be back in PvP once (if I ever will) I'll have more than 300 millions + decent ship.

But still, I just wanted to play open, not be a pray for unfair hunting. Still, I understand that limiting PvP activity would be unrealistic. Just wanted to tell PvPers out there that maybe you could avoid camping CGs and assaulting people with low shields, hull in bad shape and uncomparable whip with a pack of 4 PvP tailored ship. Even being a pirate means having some sort of decency, I suppose.

Thanks!

Don't base all of open or even PVP based on what you experience at a CG.
That is a huge mistake.

 

[Hellfire85]

Buy a Vulture, A rate everything, engineer the hell out of it and join my squad. That's my advice if you're looking for interesting PvP. We can show you how to Vulture... erm... I mean PvP properly

 

[Burke]

The correct number is always N+1 where N is the current number of ships you have.

The grind moves in mysterious ways

 

[JetsonRING]

It isn't the credits that make PvP players able to easily beat you, it is the skills, experience and time they have spent playing the game, engineering their ships, acquiring combat skills and Power Play modules, etc. Some of these CMDRs have been playing the game for 3 years or more. With your relatively short time in-game you are not going to be able to beat these people because at this stage, almost everyone has a better ship and more experience than you. Not just combat experience but experience properly engineering and outfitting their ships, too.

A huge part of Elite Dangerous is to "Know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away and know when to run". There's nothing wrong with running away from a fight you probably cannot win in fact it is a big part of the game.

You did not say what role you were using your new Krait for in the CG. Was it moving cargo or combat? If it was moving cargo then you need to remember to stay on mission when interdicted, to run away and not try to turn and fight in a ship loaded with cargo. A ship fitted for cargo carrying will simply not be competitive in PvP combat.

Take it as a compliment that your opponents feel it necessary to gang up on you in order to beat you, it points out they are not confident that they can beat you in a man's fight, one on one. Maybe build a wing of your own and turn the tables on would-be pirates. o7