My Engineers Nightmare - Why is it sooo hard. Am I alone?

[GunnerBill]

It's been basically 2 weeks of 4-6 hrs a day game play mostly devoted to finding Specialised Legacy Firmware, just to get off the ground at the first level with dearest Felicity.

Yesterday I found the first of the two SLF I need.

I already know that I am going to be disappointed with the "dice role" but I am determined to at least achieve 1 level of this expansion (seeing as I paid for it).

What I am wondering - is it going to be even harder for the next step?

Is it just me?

And why on Earth do FD think this is a good way to launch a new feature... surely the first step should be easy, to hook you - then the progression gets harder...????

 

[Kzak]

Check the threat level 0 USSes near inhabited Earth-like worlds (Encoded and Degraded). They have a chance to give you Specialized Legacy Firmware. I got two in ten minutes yesterday, then hours passed before finding the next.

 

[Lemonhoko]

It's been basically 2 weeks of 4-6 hrs a day game play mostly devoted to finding Specialised Legacy Firmware, just to get off the ground at the first level with dearest Felicity.

Yesterday I found the first of the two SLF I need.

I already know that I am going to be disappointed with the "dice role" but I am determined to at least achieve 1 level of this expansion (seeing as I paid for it).

What I am wondering - is it going to be even harder for the next step?

Is it just me?

And why on Earth do FD think this is a good way to launch a new feature... surely the first step should be easy, to hook you then progression gets harder...????

The next tier, you will need to do it all over again, plus nanobreakers.
This grind to find any firmware is insane!

 

[Lheim]

Don't spend ages getting the hard materials for level one stuff. Pin simple recipes, get up to like rank three or so, THEN start hunting rarer stuff.

Or wait, because FD is apparently going to be adjusting mats and their spread in a month or two.

 

[Jypson]

The next tier, you will need to do it all over again, plus nanobreakers.
This grind to find any firmware is insane!

The whole thing makes me shudder. Horses for courses I suppose. Now if only I could hire people to mat hunt for me!

 

[GunnerBill]

Check the threat level 0 USSes near inhabited Earth-like worlds (Encoded and Degraded). They have a chance to give you Specialized Legacy Firmware. I got two in ten minutes yesterday, then hours passed before finding the next.

Thanks yes, I am doing that several times each hour I play!!

I know that sounds bad, sorry

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

+1 to the "this mechanic is madness" feeling.

 

[Eymerich]

It's been basically 2 weeks of 4-6 hrs a day game play mostly devoted to finding Specialised Legacy Firmware, just to get off the ground at the first level with dearest Felicity.

Yesterday I found the first of the two SLF I need.

I already know that I am going to be disappointed with the "dice role" but I am determined to at least achieve 1 level of this expansion (seeing as I paid for it).

What I am wondering - is it going to be even harder for the next step?

Is it just me?

And why on Earth do FD think this is a good way to launch a new feature... surely the first step should be easy, to hook you - then the progression gets harder...????

Firmware is the reward of delivery missions in Boom system

Go for missions and youìll found a lot of the materials in no time

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

The random nature/luck element kills it for me. Hours looking for a drop or a mission that gives the correct component I'm after.
My gaming time is precious and this doesn't make me wish to invest it in this mechanic.

 

[AveMe]

I found one in lvl 3 high sec base, it took 3 players and 3 hours to get it.
I don't think i've played since that.

 

[Belthize]

If you just want rep there are simpler blueprints to gain rep with so you don't waste those hard to get materials. For instance Grade 3 Dirty Drive Cleianing only requires 1 SLF, so rather than burning those two SLFs on a Grade 1 dirty drive cleaning (I'm assuming that's what you're after) gain rep with the trivially achieved other blueprints then you have two cracks at a Grade 3 dirty drive cleaning.

You get rep whether you apply the blueprint or not.

Check the link in my sig for more.

 

[Badben]

I don't know, I got level 3 dirty tuning with Felicity, took a while to find the firmware, but after a while I had a bunch of them. you have to check mission boards, that's the most likely place you'll find SLF

 

[GunnerBill]

If you just want rep there are simpler blueprints to gain rep with so you don't waste those hard to get materials. For instance Grade 3 Dirty Drive Cleianing only requires 1 SLF, so rather than burning those two SLFs on a Grade 1 dirty drive cleaning (I'm assuming that's what you're after) gain rep with the trivially achieved other blueprints then you have two cracks at a Grade 3 dirty drive cleaning.

You get rep whether you apply the blueprint or not.

Check the link in my sig for more.

Gonna check the link -thanks!

Not sure I understand how you can get level 3 before level one or how I could get a different print for grade 1, that's what "she" wanted me to get for the grade 1 upgrade.

I don't know, I got level 3 dirty tuning with Felicity, took a while to find the firmware, but after a while I had a bunch of them. you have to check mission boards, that's the most likely place you'll find SLF

I've clicked hundreds of missions over the last week, I only saw SLF once at Jameson Mem, and that mission was unavailable to me

 

[Belthize]

Gonna check the link -thanks!

Not sure I understand how you can get level 3 before level one or how I could get a different print for grade 1, that's what "she" wanted me to get for the grade 1 upgrade.

You're not leveling up specific blueprints, you're increasing your reputation with her and it doesn't matter which blueprint you do to accomplish that.
She has many Grade 1 blueprints. Do the ones that don't require SLF. Repeat at grade 2, then do the grade 3 blueprint you really wanted that uses SLF. You get rep by just having her make it whether you apply it or not.

 

[GunnerBill]

You're not leveling up specific blueprints, you're increasing your reputation with her and it doesn't matter which blueprint you do to accomplish that.
She has many Grade 1 blueprints. Do the ones that don't require SLF. Repeat at grade 2, then do the grade 3 blueprint you really wanted that uses SLF. You get rep by just having her make it whether you apply it or not.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I see, so I should go back and choose something else?

.... Because I have literally poo loads of everything else!

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

…
What I am wondering - is it going to be even harder for the next step?
…

Wait until you try to make rank 3 mods, for some strange reasons these are the hardest to get, because they (usually) require commodities that are only available from missions. Rank 4 and 5 are easier to get. Some strange FD logic.

As others pointed out:
- firmware can be mission rewards - in my opinion the easiest way to get them
- there are other ways to increase the reputation with many engineers that don't require making a lot of useless mods from materials that requires the player to grind many hours (Felicity takes exploration data that can be acquired very easily, others take commodities …) - in my opinion the best way to increase reputation with engineers is _not_ to make mods.


And remember, don't fly around with commodities that are required for modifications, NPCs love them and having those commodities in your cargo hold will increase the chance of getting interdicted every 2-4 jumps by 5721% (exaggerated for improved effect).


td&dr: engineer content doesn't make a lot of sense and is at it's core just added grind with no effect.

 

[goemon]

with nearby all engineers i took the first to levels by alternative ways to gain reputation - in case of fraseer: exploration data. in case of the dweller: trade. etc. --- much faster imho.

also i can recommend not playing for upgrades. i did that 48 hours, stopped, did what i normally do in game (BGS stuff, which means mission gameplay in most cases), and looked three times a week, which fancy L3-L5 upgrades i could get. and if I'm really need one thing of a blueprint, i take my trader, and run routes between different economies, while checking the mission boards every time i dock. works nicely.

 

[GunnerBill]

The reason this is soo frustrating for me is that I only really play this game to shoot stuff.

However I recognise that in order to stay competitive I am going to have to do grind (which I hate) probably more than the stuff I enjoy.

I wanted to get this over with ASAP with a short sharp shock and this isn't working.

I really am hating this game just now, it feels like I've been dumped.

 

[Ren Garris]

I dont get it...

Why torment yourself if it's such a pain to get these parts?

We all (should) know they're going to make another re-balancing pass with the Mats and the RNG frequency.

Take a break from the endless searching.

Even now as I run missions, I get firmware and nano-thingies and other trinkets that I have no use for. Sure I could keep them and eventually run out of room SINCE WE CAN'T STORE ANYTHING!!
Meh, I just sell it all.

If I want to upgrade something at my house, I don't keep all the parts in my truck- I have this nifty thing call a garage.
When FD gets around to giving me a garage, then I will play the upgrade game.

Till then, if you see me out there, ask me if I'm carrying any useless crap.
It's yours for free.

 

[GunnerBill]

I dont get it...

Why torment yourself if it's such a pain to get these parts?

We all (should) know they're going to make another re-balancing pass with the Mats and the RNG frequency.

Take a break from the endless searching.

Even now as I run missions, I get firmware and nano-thingies and other trinkets that I have no use for. Sure I could keep them and eventually run out of room SINCE WE CAN'T STORE ANYTHING!!
Meh, I just sell it all.

If I want to upgrade something at my house, I don't keep all the parts in my truck- I have this nifty thing call a garage.
When FD gets around to giving me a garage, then I will play the upgrade game.

Till then, if you see me out there, ask me if I'm carrying any useless crap.
It's yours for free.

Good advice!

You got any SLF though?