Newcomer / Intro Low intensity CZ strangeness.

[Exluna]

Hi everyone, I've noticed some strange inconsistency with low intensity CZs and I was wondering if anyone could chime in?

I just recently found out about the engineer Juri Ishmaak, who I think many would know, requires 50 combat bonds turned in for contact, and another million worth in combat bonds to unlock.

So I took it upon myself to start working towards this. I read up a bit about CZs, outfitted my Python for the fray and I chose a low intensity CZ. Most of the guide's I've read advised to jump in, fly out to maximum sensor range and not choose a side. Observe and scan ships for about 5 minutes, let a kind of equilibrium happen before joining battle. I took this advice to heart, and things played out rather well.

Soon I was in the fray, taking down ships and earning those combat bonds. I managed the 50 combat bonds required in short order, and decided to do the next requirement (1 million in combat bonds turned in) on another day.

This is where the strangeness starts. I tried going in to a CZ again last night. Did the same thing, boosted out to max sensor range, and watched for a short while, then chose a side. Only this time... It was like I kicked a hornet's nest. Once I chose a side I noticed that the ships allied to me seem to go down REALLY quickly. Next thing you know I'm getting swarmed by 10+ ships all launching missiles out for my blood. I barely got out of there with my canopy intact.


Did I engage too soon? Should I have waited longer for the battle to reach a point of equilibrium? Or was I just unlucky and chose the losing side? Can anyone offer some advice on this? I've heard mention that for a python and bigger, I should really be looking at High Intensity CZs instead since I won't be the most threatening ship there. How do you guys handle the CZs? I'm a wary of them now... It was like I turned on a switch suddenly after firing at my first target, and I felt the full force of the AI come crashing down on me.

 

[metatheurgist]

Nah, CZs tend to be random that way. Sometimes the side you choose is taking names and everything is peachy. Other times your side is getting mopped up and you along with it. IMO, the best way to do CZs is to find a CZ with a Farragut and side with that side. The Farragut is like a massive weight that pulls the fight in your favour. It's also great for cover and covering fire.

 

[Exluna]

Hahaha I get it. Side with the guys who brought the big gun. Makes sense. So high intensity CZs it is then.

 

[aRJay]

Hahaha I get it. Side with the guys who brought the big gun. Makes sense. So high intensity CZs it is then.

As you have noticed when side A is down to low numbers it gets swarmed over by side B what then happens, probably just as you were escaping, is that the next wave of side A's ships arrives. This can be just as dangerous to you if you are on side B because now your side is now outnumbered, all of this tends to happen much faster in Low Intensity CZs than in High because the number of ships per side is greater in a High.

Capital ships aren't guaranteed to intervene in a CZ, but when they do it always seems like they are arriving right on top of you,.

 

[Exluna]

So I suppose I can avoid this lightning quick turnaround by either:

a) Keeping a close watch on the odds and start to bolt out of range before my side is overwhelmed.

b) Use High Intensity CZs for combat bonds instead, where the shifts do not happen as quickly? (Also align myself with a federation Farragut)

c) Take pot shots from a far distance and run away screaming in terror if I see a group of more than 2 enemy ships heading towards me?

Can do! I'll try it later.

 

[d8veh]

You have to keep watching the radar whatever you do. If the reds get the upper hand, leave and come back to reset the spawn. It's different each time you come, and it can change significantly any time in a low intensity CZ. Never let free reds get behind you.

 

[the100thmonkey]

If you're on the wrong side in a low intensity CZ, it can be decidedly high-intensity.

In a low-intensity, one side's ships spawn in greater numbers, making it easier if you're on that side.

High-intensity zones tend to spawn more equal numbers of higher-ranked ships.

 

[aRJay]

So I suppose I can avoid this lightning quick turnaround by either:

a) Keeping a close watch on the odds and start to bolt out of range before my side is overwhelmed.

b) Use High Intensity CZs for combat bonds instead, where the shifts do not happen as quickly? (Also align myself with a federation Farragut)

c) Take pot shots from a far distance and run away screaming in terror if I see a group of more than 2 enemy ships heading towards me?

Can do! I'll try it later.

d) On arrival in CZ set up for an H Jump to a nearby system, preferably one with a Station near the arrival point. Ships don't block H Jumps which can be handy when running away and a Station close to the arrival point is often quicker to reach than one in your system which can be very handy when someone has shattered your canopy.

e) If your side has nearly eliminated all the opposition get ready for the new wave of enemy by either flying a long way off or getting close to as many allies as possible.

 

[Exluna]

d) On arrival in CZ set up for an H Jump to a nearby system, preferably one with a Station near the arrival point. Ships don't block H Jumps which can be handy when running away and a Station close to the arrival point is often quicker to reach than one in your system which can be very handy when someone has shattered your canopy.

e) If your side has nearly eliminated all the opposition get ready for the new wave of enemy by either flying a long way off or getting close to as many allies as possible.

Yup, that's how I got away. High waked my butt outta there after running for my life! Remembering the experience though, at the start of the battle it seemed rather even but the allied ships seemed to wither in less than a minute. I guess I was just unlucky and a wave spawned on top of me at that moment. By the time I looked at the radar I noticed I was suddenly surrounded by red. Scary.

 

[Exluna]

Yup, that's how I got away. High waked my butt outta there after running for my life! Remembering the experience though, at the start of the battle it seemed rather even but the allied ships seemed to wither in less than a minute. I guess I was just unlucky and a wave spawned on top of me at that moment. By the time I looked at the radar I noticed I was suddenly surrounded by red. Scary.

In my stubbornness I tried last night one more time going in to a Low Intensity CZ. This time the opposite happened... It was the faction that I had allied with that had the massive upper hand. They were vaporizing enemy ships almost as quickly as they could spawn flying as a giant ball of rail gun spitting, particle accelerator pooping death. It was all I could do to rush to a fresh spawn and tag it before it was smushed like a bug.

As an experiment I dropped in to a High intensity CZ around Deciat last night to give that a try instead. What a world of difference. There were no rapid swings of force between the two rival factions. A ton of ships but at least not all of the enemy was coming after me! Lots of Federal Gunships and Federal Assault ships as well. (Damn those things can take a beating.)

It's odd that the High Intensity CZ's should actually turn out to be more forgiving than Low Intensity ones. Hmm... Perhaps I worded that wrongly. Not more forgiving, but more consistent in the experience they are meant to deliver? Anyway thank you very much for the advice, I will have to remember it the next time I need combat bonds for any reason.

 

[Spandexxx]

I had the same issues unlocking Juri. I couldn't be bothered trying to find a high intensity so I tried the local low. Got my head kicked in*. Tried a 2nd time. Same result. 3rd time, my side got the upper hand and I easily mopped up the stragglers and earned the required bonds.

* By "head kicked in" I mean "I nearly lost my shields", I was never actually in danger. I was flying my Corvette afterall!

 

[Varo210]

A few tips for the Lows. First off, the FAS is your friend in CZ's. Armor tank that bad boy, go visit the engineers, and then go have some fun. Fast enough to get away from anything, can take a beating (I don't leave until I'm at 20% hull) and really dishes out some damage with the right load out.

Secondly, and I never read anything about this, don't drop into a CZ if you are unfriendly or hostile to one of the participants. EVER! You will get swarmed immediately, as half the group is red, and you will be dropped in right into the middle of the mess.

I found this all out the hard way, was able to overcome it with 50% hull left, but that was my first battle in the CZ. The name of the game is staying power.