My Block list is longer than yours.

Why not just block them instead? It's a whole lot easier! And the end result is the same.

I've blocked people who I've identified as destabilizing the instance due to crappy Internet or other mechanisms (usually identifiable by rubber-banding, lag, or other weird sync issues). It may not even be their fault, they might just be on the other side of the world, so I'm doing them a favor as much as I'm doing myself that favor.
Because it's more fun to do pews, and I don't want to fragment the instancing further.

I was also mostly joking. Mostly.
 
The OP has developed their own set of rules for how to IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) other Cmdrs. Regardless of what they then go on to do with that information (blocking in this case) that's a useful policy to adopt.

I have some fairly simple rules I use to figure out the threat level of another Cmdr I may happen to instance with:

Cmdr name. If they have a name that is 'cool' or especially 'intimidating', they are not a threat. Cmdr Dragonkiller (random example, apologies if that is actually a real Cmdr name), Cmdr Deathstalker. If they have a 'silly' or funny name, and particularly if they have a funny looking avatar is absolutely a potential threat, pay attention to them because they don't take the game seriously and will not be concerned about either your or their death. A Cmdr with the name of a fictional character will probably have a threat potential based on how cool or funny it is. A Cool name probably isn't a threat, a silly name is one to watch. There are lots of names that don't make threat potential obvious, normal (or what could be) names, single word names that aren't obviously cool or funny.

Ship type. An FDL, mamba, chieftain-type, dropship-type makes a poor trader, mission runner or explorer. A T-9, T-7 or T-6 doesn't make a great killer (a reason Screemonser's Pirate build T-7 is so awesome). A Corvette, T-10 or a conda probably isn't much of a PvP threat, most ships are faster but in a wing they are a much more likely threat. A lone cutter will be a trader but in a wing they could be a serious threat, try to locate their teammates. Other cutters will just be traders, combat ships will be a gank or pirate wing.

Body language. Is the ship headed towards you? Does it look like they are reacting to your presence? One thing I often do is o7 every Cmdr I see while not pointing my ship at them to indicate that I don't consider them to be a threat to me, and that I am not a threat to them. An o7 while pointed at them means I am watching them, either to indicate that they should consider me potentially hostile or that I can see what they are up to & am ready for it.

Ship Loadout. Very much one of the last things I look at, and only if I haven't already determined threat level from other info and still consider them a potential threat. I mean, I've never looked over the loadout of a T-9 for example, I don't care whether a T-9 pilot has an interdictor or frags or whatever, the Cmdr name & their body language will tell me everything I need to know. But an FDL might just be some novice that's read it's the ship to have, loadout will tell me. Any ship with a random collection of weird weapons, scanners & an ECM is almost certainly a newbie trying stuff to see what works. All lasers is a PvE combat ship, lots of frags or possibly lots of multi-s is someone that knows what they are doing, a couple of rails is high threat potential, all rails is probably a novice.

There are exceptions, these are all very general rules that I apply.


So what rules do you use? If you're a ganker how do you identify an easy target, If you're target focused PvE player what clues do you use to identify potentially hostile Cmdrs?
 
I ran into a guy who misspelled "annihilator" as their commander name who showed up in a low CZ.

Commander annihilator (sic) proceeded to die to the NPCs before I'd decided whether I wanted to fight him or not.

To be fair I'm not ascribing a Cmdr name to competency, everyone gets better if they keep playing at least up to their natural skill level. By threat I mean how likely they are to directly attack another player. Cmdr <scaryname> is unlikely to randomly attack another Cmdr (ironically if i saw that actual Cmdr name I would be wary of them).
 
Ship Loadout. Very much one of the last things I look at, and only if I haven't already determined threat level from other info and still consider them a potential threat. I mean, I've never looked over the loadout of a T-9 for example, I don't care whether a T-9 pilot has an interdictor or frags or whatever, the Cmdr name & their body language will tell me everything I need to know. But an FDL might just be some novice that's read it's the ship to have, loadout will tell me. Any ship with a random collection of weird weapons, scanners & an ECM is almost certainly a newbie trying stuff to see what works. All lasers is a PvE combat ship, lots of frags or possibly lots of multi-s is someone that knows what they are doing, a couple of rails is high threat potential, all rails is probably a novice.
One thing I'll say to the less experienced and less engineered pilots out there is to be wary of memebuilds. If I see an interdictor on something that isn't considered a combat ship, hanging around a pvp hotspot, then I tend to keep an eye on them.

If someone above mostly harmless has an interdictor on their sidewinder then they're up to something.
 
On occasion. You can use them on NPCs, you know?

But this gets tiring. The whole "look at how big my block list is" spiel was childish from the start, and now you're just moving goal posts.
How so? I apply the same criteria to everyone I block. Ganker build - you're on the list. Especially in hotspots for that activity.
 
Ummm, how else would I take my NPC mission target out of supercruise? Ask nicely?
I have several hundred assassination missions completed. I often stack them. You either go to the designated signal source, or let them interdict you, or go to a res zone and they will find you.
 
The handicap is being solo. There is only so much time one player can spend. MP can reduce efforts needed inversely proportional. Thus solo is much harder and needs more effort.
Again i have no idea what you mean, there is no handicap, i have plenty of time and i dont need any help.
But please pass on that Solo is much harder to the Hotel thread :ROFLMAO:

But joking aside what can i not do in Solo that i could in Open (apart from getting frustrated at Mupppets)?

O7
 
Again i have no idea what you mean, there is no handicap, i have plenty of time and i dont need any help.
But please pass on that Solo is much harder to the Hotel thread :ROFLMAO:

But joking aside what can i not do in Solo that i could in Open (apart from getting frustrated at Mupppets)?

O7
It just takes longer to do. Playing the BGS in a group is a lot less time consuming on individual level. I guess AX is also easier in a group.
 
The OP has developed their own set of rules for how to IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) other Cmdrs. Regardless of what they then go on to do with that information (blocking in this case) that's a useful policy to adopt.

I have some fairly simple rules I use to figure out the threat level of another Cmdr I may happen to instance with:

Cmdr name. If they have a name that is 'cool' or especially 'intimidating', they are not a threat. Cmdr Dragonkiller (random example, apologies if that is actually a real Cmdr name), Cmdr Deathstalker. If they have a 'silly' or funny name, and particularly if they have a funny looking avatar is absolutely a potential threat, pay attention to them because they don't take the game seriously and will not be concerned about either your or their death. A Cmdr with the name of a fictional character will probably have a threat potential based on how cool or funny it is. A Cool name probably isn't a threat, a silly name is one to watch. There are lots of names that don't make threat potential obvious, normal (or what could be) names, single word names that aren't obviously cool or funny.

Ship type. An FDL, mamba, chieftain-type, dropship-type makes a poor trader, mission runner or explorer. A T-9, T-7 or T-6 doesn't make a great killer (a reason Screemonser's Pirate build T-7 is so awesome). A Corvette, T-10 or a conda probably isn't much of a PvP threat, most ships are faster but in a wing they are a much more likely threat. A lone cutter will be a trader but in a wing they could be a serious threat, try to locate their teammates. Other cutters will just be traders, combat ships will be a gank or pirate wing.

Body language. Is the ship headed towards you? Does it look like they are reacting to your presence? One thing I often do is o7 every Cmdr I see while not pointing my ship at them to indicate that I don't consider them to be a threat to me, and that I am not a threat to them. An o7 while pointed at them means I am watching them, either to indicate that they should consider me potentially hostile or that I can see what they are up to & am ready for it.

Ship Loadout. Very much one of the last things I look at, and only if I haven't already determined threat level from other info and still consider them a potential threat. I mean, I've never looked over the loadout of a T-9 for example, I don't care whether a T-9 pilot has an interdictor or frags or whatever, the Cmdr name & their body language will tell me everything I need to know.
There are exceptions, these are all very general rules that I apply.


So what rules do you use? If you're a ganker how do you identify an easy target, If you're target focused PvE player what clues do you use to identify potentially hostile Cmdrs?
My T9 has burst lasers and missiles. Useful for dealing with NPCs.
My Python has Cytos and Pacifiers, again with NPCs in mind.

Encountering a hollow shape entering a system;
First thing position; Are they hanging around the entry star or moving towards me?
Second ship type; FDL is obvious but I've seen enough CG campers in Corvettes, usually with multiple cmdrs aboard.
Did encounter one in a Keelback sitting on the line from star to port, waiting for haulers to pass them.
 

rootsrat

Volunteer Moderator
smart-clever.gif
 
I have several hundred assassination missions completed. I often stack them. You either go to the designated signal source, or let them interdict you, or go to a res zone and they will find you.
I was thinking of the "kill so many ships of said faction" rather than individual assassination missions. These do not have POIs AFAIK, its been a long time since I've done any spaceship combat due to "physical issues"...

Oh and I've never attacked another player in Open (except gankers)...I'm always on the receiving end of that sort of stuff...

But block me if you want, I'm not trying to make a case either way...
 
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I was thinking of the "kill so many ships of said faction" rather than individual assassination missions. These do not have POIs AFAIK, its been a long time since I've done any spaceship combat due to "physical issues"...
They do, but they'll only have a maximum of around 8 ships in them. You can drop in, wipe out those and then a new mission-related POI/signal source will appear to do the same thing again. Often the signals will be tens of thousands of light seconds apart (depending on how big the system is) which is why it's easier to go to a CNB or resource extraction site.
 
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