Low level trading and NPC interdictions

[Astardes]

I'm a pretty low level character, I have a T6 outfitted for trading but upgraded most of the systems.

So far this week I've attempted to run 5 trading missions, failing 4.

On the first three, I was interdicted by a Master level Eagle. Tried submitting and outrunning it, died as it melted shields and then hull. Tried submitting and fighting it and it was able to outmanoeuvre me and melted shields and died and on the third attempt I evaded interdict, only to get interdicted at next jump and died.

On the fourth attempt, I was interdicted by an Eagle, which I avoided, but was then immediately interdicted by a Master Adder, tried to fight but died.

Perhaps if you have better ships you could compete in combat with these Master level NPCs but for a low level trader, its pretty impossible.

So far, between fines for failed missions and insurance, I'm down 1 million credits from a starting 2 million position.

Not sure if this is design or not but its making it pretty unplayable for me at present.

Cmdr Astardes.

 

[Whiterose]

Upgrade thrusers, install shield cell banks and the best shields you can afford. Don't play the interdiction game, immediately submit, this will give you a couple of seconds advantage. Boost, and keep boosting until your FSD drive is ready and then hit the FSD.

 

[Malkevin]

I never got why you can't charge your FSD with hardpoints deployed (even having to retract them to actually do the jump), its a design decision that really hampers traders as they can't make the NPC go evasive as they wait for the FSD to warm up.

 

[Astardes]

Upgrade thrusers, install shield cell banks and the best shields you can afford. Don't play the interdiction game, immediately submit, this will give you a couple of seconds advantage. Boost, and keep boosting until your FSD drive is ready and then hit the FSD.

I guess this is an option, but when you are starting out its not always an option to upgrade all of that on a ship you are trying to raise credits on.

It reminds me of beta days when you'd be interdicted on every single jump and frameshift. I get there needs to be 'danger' (otherwise the game is misselling) but there is obviously galaxy wide anarchy given every star and system is populated with multiple pirates.

 

[OMIKRONXI]

I never got why you can't charge your FSD with hardpoints deployed (even having to retract them to actually do the jump), its a design decision that really hampers traders as they can't make the NPC go evasive as they wait for the FSD to warm up.

Good point, I would appreciate to keep the pirate on distance while FSD charging, too. But with that doubled heat generation (FSD charge and Weapon use at the same time) it would sure require a lot of heat sinks to do more than some single shots if you won't cook yourself.


@Astardes: I can fully understand you're upsad with that situation. Problem is, that FD seemingly decided to give the Billionaires with the Cutters and Corvettes a challenge. That's ok, because you don't buy a ship you can blast planets with and what for you use it? Just to kill crappy Sidewinders. But - FD should implement a system, where apprentice pilots with poorly equipped ships do also have a good chance to survive and improve.

 

[mistohise]

Where are you trading? I've ran a fair few missions in the past couple of days with zero interdictions.
Are you trading in Anarchy systems? If so, try more secure locations.

 

[Katkon]

OP - fighting in a T6 or attempting to outrun an Eagle is no-go.

What you need to do is:
1. Submit
2. Put 4 pips into shields and 2 to ENG, and boost away
3. Select a new system and high wake out of your current system

If you're still getting destroyed you'll need to fit a larger/good shield and perhaps some shield boosters. You could also fit a SCB but then you're foregoing cargo space. Bottom line is that can't equip like you did pre-2.1.

 

[BadassPreacher]

Personally I've never used "pure" trader ships. Even before the NPC update I used to go Adder ---> Cobra ---> Asp ---> Clipper (if I could get it) ---> Python, and finally Anaconda. All properly shielded and armed to the teeth. Sure, you lose a bit of cargo space and jump range, but that's the price of added security. Not to mention that the aforementioned ships are much more fun to fly, than the metal boxes optimized for trading.

 

[anikaiful]

I'm a pretty low level character, I have a T6 outfitted for trading but upgraded most of the systems.

So far this week I've attempted to run 5 trading missions, failing 4.

On the first three, I was interdicted by a Master level Eagle. Tried submitting and outrunning it, died as it melted shields and then hull. Tried submitting and fighting it and it was able to outmanoeuvre me and melted shields and died and on the third attempt I evaded interdict, only to get interdicted at next jump and died.

On the fourth attempt, I was interdicted by an Eagle, which I avoided, but was then immediately interdicted by a Master Adder, tried to fight but died.

Perhaps if you have better ships you could compete in combat with these Master level NPCs but for a low level trader, its pretty impossible.

So far, between fines for failed missions and insurance, I'm down 1 million credits from a starting 2 million position.

Not sure if this is design or not but its making it pretty unplayable for me at present.

Cmdr Astardes.

Don't gimp shields. Smaller than suggested shields = you're dead. Keep a high-wake (to nearest or somesuch) system at ready so mass lock won't be a problem. Do NOT try to fight if you are not *sure* you can win.

 

[TheDayman]

I never got why you can't charge your FSD with hardpoints deployed (even having to retract them to actually do the jump), its a design decision that really hampers traders as they can't make the NPC go evasive as they wait for the FSD to warm up.

Well, wait a second here... This isn't entirely true. You CAN use hardpoints while your FSD is charging, you just need to set the option to "not deploy hardpoints when firing". However, this is only useful for things like chaff/SCBs/heatsinks, etc and not weapons. So purely defensive, you can charge your FSD and deploy chaff.

To the OP, an Eagle shouldn't be able to masslock a Type 7 so as soon as you submit, boost with all your might and start charging the FSD ASAP. Also, take note of what's interdicting you (I know, easier said than done sometimes). If it's a bigger ship, try to evade the interdiction because the bigger their mass compared to yours, the easier it is to evade.

 

[Jankules]

Ok,try this: every time npc before interdiction sends you a message,focus,imidatly put throttle to zero and low wake,he has not a chance for starting the interdiction!
You got interdicted-plan B execution:
Submit,position yourself so interdictor is in ideal 6 o clock behind you and pips 2-4-0 boost,boost,boost hwake

 

[TheDayman]

Ok,try this: every time npc before interdiction sends you a message,focus,imidatly put throttle to zero and low wake,he has not a chance for starting the interdiction!

Speaking of this, I was able to glitch an interdiction somehow yesterday.... I throttled down to submit, saw it was another FDL, said "F this" and throttled back up to fight the interdiction and somehow the NPC dropped and I was still in SC. I wasn't able to reproduce it though...

 

[anikaiful]

Speaking of this, I was able to glitch an interdiction somehow yesterday.... I throttled down to submit, saw it was another FDL, said "F this" and throttled back up to fight the interdiction and somehow the NPC dropped and I was still in SC. I wasn't able to reproduce it though...

A) they messed it up and got caught with star, B) as before, but at planet, C) they just didn't make it. D) bug. E) they hate garlic.

 

[TheDayman]

A) they messed it up and got caught with star, B) as before, but at planet, C) they just didn't make it. D) bug. E) they hate garlic.

While C & D seem like the most probable answers, I was eating garlic hot wings so maybe they're vampires? Or is it werewolves that hate garlic?

 

[anikaiful]

While C & D seem like the most probable answers, I was eating garlic hot wings so maybe they're vampires? Or is it werewolves that hate garlic?

I think it's vampires, but if I was a wolf, I'd likely not love garlic either. In reality tho, it's awesome.

 

[goemon]

the t6 is no ship to fight, but very capable to run. it is one of the faster ships ingame.

fit
a) a class powerdistributor for constant boost
b) best thrusters
c) class 4 (!) shield
d) pointdefence against missiles
e) chaff
f) shieldbooster
g) a small turrett set to auto-fire
h) mines
i) still problems - fit a class 2 hrp.

submit, if interdicted. turn ship towards attacker and boost towards attacker - 4 pips to shields, then after passing two pips to shields, 4 to engines.

 

[Malkevin]

Well, wait a second here... This isn't entirely true. You CAN use hardpoints while your FSD is charging, you just need to set the option to "not deploy hardpoints when firing". However, this is only useful for things like chaff/SCBs/heatsinks, etc and not weapons. So purely defensive, you can charge your FSD and deploy chaff.

To the OP, an Eagle shouldn't be able to masslock a Type 7 so as soon as you submit, boost with all your might and start charging the FSD ASAP. Also, take note of what's interdicting you (I know, easier said than done sometimes). If it's a bigger ship, try to evade the interdiction because the bigger their mass compared to yours, the easier it is to evade.

I can launch chaff/scbs/heatsinks with the dedicated buttons, I've never even put them in a firegroup.

Turrets would be more useful for traders if they could actually be used whilst you were running away.

 

[Tikigod]

Helps to try stick to trading along shipping lanes.

They have a purpose.

 

[anikaiful]

I can launch chaff/scbs/heatsinks with the dedicated buttons, I've never even put them in a firegroup.

Turrets would be more useful for traders if they could actually be used whilst you were running away.

SCB/Chaff/HS to fire group is,I bet, a nod toward console folks.

 

[TheDayman]

I can launch chaff/scbs/heatsinks with the dedicated buttons, I've never even put them in a firegroup.

Turrets would be more useful for traders if they could actually be used whilst you were running away.

Yes, that too. But the point is that there are defensive measures a trader has access too while performing a Brave Sir Robbin. Chaff is almost essential as SCBs now and a single missed shot can spell the difference between destruction and success.