New Combat Zones are quality. . . .

[graeme.firth]

. . . and definitely tougher.

Taking out just one of the Spec Ops Elite FDLs was hard work, but rewarding. Loving some of AIs flying techniques and changes of tactic.

Previously I'd leave the CZ when I'd run out of Ammo and synths, without even losing my shields, now I'm leaving having scraped a win with a battered FAS. Well done FD!!!

Not seeing much difference between low, medium and high though, they seem equally hard just more heavy ships in High.

Not yet tried them as a wing yet

What are your thoughts and experiences?
o7

Edit - Also the placement - had one CZ just 40 Km outside a coriolis station, which made for a pleasant (dare I say Im-muh-siv) change.

 

[Saikun]

I have way different, but also positive, experiences. I didn't get ruined in Medium CZ as a Cobra Mk III with Bi-Wave Shield. Enemies seem to be more busy and don't pile up at you right away.

 

[Anubite]

. . . and definitely tougher.

Taking out just one of the Spec Ops Elite FDLs was hard work, but rewarding. Loving some of AIs flying techniques and changes of tactic.

Previously I'd leave the CZ when I'd run out of Ammo and synths, without even losing my shields, now I'm leaving having scraped a win with a battered FAS. Well done FD!!!

Not seeing much difference between low, medium and high though, they seem equally hard just more heavy ships in High.

Not yet tried them as a wing yet

What are your thoughts and experiences?
o7

In my T10, skirting the all the lines, I notice the difference.


Low: Easier to kill most ships, but not all. Enemies are less likely to be engineered. No spec ops. Low kill limit.

Med: The best trade off, perfect for doing a few waves and might be the best for BGS. More engineering for enemies. Spec Ops can appear. Casual kill limit.

High: Long battles, epicly engineered enemies. Spec Ops common. Capital class ships spawn here, and losing them costs greatly against the otherwise large kill limit.


I might have a few things off, but that's the gist. I am definitely enjoying the CZs these days, never thought I wanted them improved but I guess I really did. The new sounds/voices are great, too.

 

[Miko]

Anybody know the time limit on the so called short pause between battles? I've been waiting ages and ships still just floating doing nothing after winning a battle.

 

[graeme.firth]

In my T10, skirting the all the lines, I notice the difference.


Low: Easier to kill most ships, but not all. Enemies are less likely to be engineered. No spec ops. Low kill limit.

Med: The best trade off, perfect for doing a few waves and might be the best for BGS. More engineering for enemies. Spec Ops can appear. Casual kill limit.

High: Long battles, epicly engineered enemies. Spec Ops common. Capital Class ships spawn here, and losing them costs greatly against the otherwise large kill limit.


I might have a few things off, but that's the gist. I am definitely enjoying the CZs these days, never thought I wanted them improved but I guess I really did. The new sounds/voices are great, too.

Nice one, thanks - obviously not fully paying attention to all the details as I pew pew. But, after thinking about it, that feels quite right.

 

[graeme.firth]

Anybody know the time limit on the so called short pause between battles? I've been waiting ages and ships still just floating doing nothing after winning a battle.

Hmm, I'm lucky to be still alive at the end of one round so never stuck around.

 

[Notwyn]

Yup, I agree OP. Tried a couple today in my Krait MkII and found they were quite challenging. The Medium CZ was a nice balance. Going to bring the FDL next time to the High Intensity one.

 

[Tarman]

CZs really feel like a meaningful battle now. It's encouraged me to garner more risk staying to the bitter end even when I have barely any ship left, because there's an actual achievable goal instead of merely racking up appropriate levels of CBs.

I helped complete one last night and left victorious; also left with 8% hull, no chaff or HS, and 2/6 functional weapons; those SpecOps ships were pretty tough. I was able to contribute to the last enemy destruction with the remnants of my ship after my own epic dogfight with an SO target. Felt like a real sortie rather than "how long till I get bored, dry up on kinetics or die from overextension due to inattentiveness".

 

[Miko]

Yup, I agree OP. Tried a couple today in my Krait MkII and found they were quite challenging. The Medium CZ was a nice balance. Going to bring the FDL next time to the High Intensity one.

Just a pity they're glitched to hell. Dropped back in as nothing was happening after the battle ended. Blank zone, then after a minute ships spawn in and commence fighting. Only now I see no prompt up top to pick a side and some targets showing clean.

How do you select a side if your prompt doesn't show up top? It used to be right hand panel.

 

[Tarman]

Just a pity they're glitched to hell. Dropped back in as nothing was happening after the battle ended. Blank zone, then after a minute ships spawn in and commence fighting. Only now I see no prompt up top to pick a side and some targets showing clean.

How do you select a side if your prompt doesn't show up top? It used to be right hand panel.

It should show up in a gigantic panel in your comms.

 

[Anubite]

Anybody know the time limit on the so called short pause between battles? I've been waiting ages and ships still just floating doing nothing after winning a battle.

It's roughly 5 minutes. You probably have to re-instance for using the same CZ again.

Just a pity they're glitched to hell. Dropped back in as nothing was happening after the battle ended. Blank zone, then after a minute ships spawn in and commence fighting. Only now I see no prompt up top to pick a side and some targets showing clean.

How do you select a side if your prompt doesn't show up top? It used to be right hand panel.

Might just be a bug. I've had 3 CZ instances where nothing ever spawned. I've also noticed it likes to drop me at 9km away, and enemies wont spawn until I am at 8km.

 

[Notwyn]

Hmmm... Didn't know that.

After the battle ended I toddled off to do something else and came back later. Probably to a different one as there were 4-5 all grouped together. I'll hang around next time I go out.

 

[graeme.firth]

Just a pity they're glitched to hell. Dropped back in as nothing was happening after the battle ended. Blank zone, then after a minute ships spawn in and commence fighting. Only now I see no prompt up top to pick a side and some targets showing clean.

How do you select a side if your prompt doesn't show up top? It used to be right hand panel.

Admittedly, yes, I've experienced the glitches, I put this down to "early days", hopefully will get patched soon.

 

[graeme.firth]

It should show up in a gigantic panel in your comms.

^^^ This, you usually have to be close the CZ centre (about 7 Km in my experience)

 

[Vedmo]

I've ran into a few spec ops teams with Asp Explorers and it's really making me want to load out a combat Asp X! Been having lots of fun in them. Nice to hear knocking out a Capital Class counts as a bunch of kills, as I've always seen my side falling way behind when working on one, then ditched it for kills on regular ships thinking I was executing a losing strategy.

 

[Miko]

Admittedly, yes, I've experienced the glitches, I put this down to "early days", hopefully will get patched soon.

Early days is a cop out, though. I mean, they have worked on this for years and they always miss some of the obvious bugs and with combat zones being a new improved Q4 highlight, the number of them apparent with the zones should have been detected in advance. Especially after Beta people reporting many.

But yes, let's hope it gets ironed out very very soon.

 

[Craith]

I hate the new Conflict Zones. I can no longer fly my Eagle solo into a High Intensity Conflict Zone and win. I can stay alive just fine and get kills, but the Elite squads decimate my side in the meanwhile. Can't compete with that kill speed. I took my Corvette into one, and while I finished, I lost my shields once! That is not supposed to happen!


I know, people will tell me to go to a Medium Intensity, where the opposition is more to my size, or put a few shield boosters, reinforcements or even shield cells in those slots, maybe instead of the fuel transfer limpets and the srv. But seriously, it farmed fine for years, why change it now? Why should I have to adapt?

Spoiler

Ok, obviously joking above, I love the new Conflict Zones. Finally a reason for bigger ships, and at least a hint of danger of losing one of the big ones. Might really change some things on my ships the next weeks. Smaller ships still work fine in a wing, but AI is now finally a threat.


I really like the feeling of progression in the Conflict Zones - no longer an endless farmin tug of war, but a dynamic battlefield with some objectives, and win conditions. If the battle is close to a POI it even starts to make sense why all those ships show up to shoot each other.


Bugs are bugs, and hopefully resolved soon.

 

[Miko]

I know, but this sometimes will not present itself and I don't see an alternative means of choosing a side.

 

[Cmdr Ultra]

I went to a Medium Conflict zone to lazily farm Materials in a spare parts Corvette. Didn't expect to be chased out by Spec Ops ships. Awesome.

Refitted and rearmed my ship with quality gear and had the best time in a Conflict Zone for years. And farmed Mats like a MF. Great job FD.

 

[Ian Skippy]

I have way different, but also positive, experiences. I didn't get ruined in Medium CZ as a Cobra Mk III with Bi-Wave Shield. Enemies seem to be more busy and don't pile up at you right away.

Ships have threat ratings. The weaker the ship, the less likely AI is to target you. try it in an Eagle, it is a blast!