Newcomer / Intro Not to happy

[Gagarin]

I haven't been playing long but my first impressions where good to start with, watched quite a few youtube tutorials to get me under way and off I went until I discovered nearly every run or place I explore I get interdicted, I hve lost two ships and so far, I have not been able to escape interdiction, I have watched videos on how to avoid it by not flying along the ecliptic, cork screw flying just to name a few but it keeps happening, the escape vector for me is impossible to keep in the center (with throttle adjusted). This is really tainting the game for me, it is now coming across that this is just a continual space combat game rather than a realist simulation, I expected safe zones and nutral zones and high risk zone (more lucrative) I expected an epic grandeur to this game but it is just turning into a shooter. Maybe I am just having a bad run but it is becoming very annoying.

If it is like this the whole time it should be called Elite Somalia (pirates not Somalian people) when was the last time a truck or ship delivering goods got interdicted? there are places that are more dangerous to run goods than other, is that in this game or is it the same all over?

There needs to be risk, I understand that but it needs to be risk of choice, big risk, big returns, small risk, small returns.

 

[Tusler]

Try solo play to start and get things built up. If I get interdicted I bring the throttle to 0 and then as soon as I am out od supercruise with no damage, I hit the space bar, put the throttle to max, work the stick in small circles until the Frame Jump temp is low enough to start up and then off I go. It works almost all the time against NPC's but it will not work against PvP.

 

[the100thmonkey]

When selecting a destination, make sure you look at the system map. It will show you the security level of the systems you're thinking of travelling to. It's really important, as security level makes a huge difference to the number of interdictions you will likely experience.

Avoid anarchies.

 

[SirFreddie]

Interdictions have been ramped up to almost 'Original Elite' levels (a good thing in my opinion), I'm sure this applies to solo also.

I'm afraid you've got to learn how to run away after submitting to an interdiction or fight, it's becoming Elite Dangerous now with a vertical learning curve...I haven't won one in ages (had a 100% record until a patch or two ago)

Just hit Supercruise as soon as your FSD cooldown allows (submitting helps) and then carry on your journey... I doubt this will change so learn how to deal with it.

 

[Danube]

When I'm Interdicted I manage to evade about half of the time, but if I get caught I just max Engine power and then afterburn a couple of times. This gets me to a decent distance away from my attacker and I might only take a couple of hits to the shield whilst I throw my ship around to make myself a difficult target. Then I just FSD away as soon as cooldown occurs. I've never lost a ship to an Interdiction yet. Mind you, I got an "incoming missile" warning for the first time ever last night, which made me sit up and pay full attention!

 

[the100thmonkey]

Missiles do practically no damage to shields. You were never in any real danger.

 

[Harbinger]

Submit to the interdiction, turn to face the interdictor as you hit the boost button and fly right past him. by the time you've completed this action you are already charging up your FSD drive whilst your opponent is desperately trying to turn to face you.

Works every time.

 

[affel]

it was mentioned that interdictions increased (NPC interdictions, of course), but still the system security is the main driver.
yesterday i traded between two systems for about 1.5 hours. got interdicted twice. once by a sidey, once by an eagle. so nothing to even remotely worry about. i dont have guns on my T7, so i just submitted and then got away again.

so you shouldnt blame the game at this point - you can adjust your strategy (go to a different system) and you'll be fine

 

[Evyl Minkey]

I seem to remember people were saying that FD were going to make changes so you couldn't just submit, then FSD away. Obviously this hasn't been implemented yet but any suggestions for when they do?

 

[Danube]

Missiles do practically no damage to shields. You were never in any real danger.

Oh, good to know. I wonder if they knew that as well! That might explain why it's the first time someone has fired one at me, because lasers/guns are more effective.

 

[ocflyer]

Trade routes don't have the same risk. Some are less risk than others. For example, trade routes where you spend most time hopping between stars and very little time in supercruise are less risk than no hopping between stars and lots of supercruise time in-system. That's because pirates can't interdict during hyperspace, only supercruise. Look for a trade route with short distance between the station and star. Also, invest in better power and distributor (faster shield recharge, faster boosting recharge).

 

[speedrat]

it was mentioned that interdictions increased (NPC interdictions, of course), but still the system security is the main driver.
yesterday i traded between two systems for about 1.5 hours. got interdicted twice. once by a sidey, once by an eagle. so nothing to even remotely worry about. i dont have guns on my T7, so i just submitted and then got away again.

so you shouldnt blame the game at this point - you can adjust your strategy (go to a different system) and you'll be fine

Simply not true. I am constantly interdicted in high systems in my Type 7. Lost it to a Python that killed me in a matter of seconds along with 2.5 mil of cargo. So these are elements of the game.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Im right on the edge of populated space flying a T7 sleep inducer. I've been doing the run for two days, and have been interdicted once.

Combat rank has an effect, as do, I think, your relations with authorities in the systems.

 

[Anarky]

Maybe you're just unlucky. Trading between about 8 stations last night I got interdicted twice. Once was by a System Security ship. I guess sometimes it's more.

When I do get nailed I just try to escape, as I am currently just interested in trading. Don't try to fight unless your ship can handle it and whatever interdicted you. This is why I upgraded my Power Distributor first so I could boost more. If you have shields you can put 4 pips in engines, 2 in shields, nothing in weapons, which should help with your escape. I quite like the suggestion of charging right at the attacking ship and boosting over their head, will try that next time.

 

[Gagarin]

Im right on the edge of populated space flying a T7 sleep inducer. I've been doing the run for two days, and have been interdicted once.

Combat rank has an effect, as do, I think, your relations with authorities in the systems.

Maybe I am just having a bad run, I have escaped a few interdiction's but when it is an expert Cobra III I am pretty much stuffed, I have got away with 8% health from one today actually. In saying that my gripe is I hope this isn't just some programed run of the mill thing without a way to avoid whether by tactics, reputation or countermeasures, because if it is going to be a nearly every time thing I am going to hate this game, I want a way to be able to outwit, outrun, stealth or just plain fear via shear armament because if it is going to be like Millennium 2.2 and the Solargen Mk III always blows up, I am going to spit chips.

 

[Sapient6]

Maybe I am just having a bad run, I have escaped a few interdiction's but when it is an expert Cobra III I am pretty much stuffed, I have got away with 8% health from one today actually. In saying that my gripe is I hope this isn't just some programed run of the mill thing without a way to avoid whether by tactics, reputation or countermeasures, because if it is going to be a nearly every time thing I am going to hate this game, I want a way to be able to outwit, outrun, stealth or just plain fear via shear armament because if it is going to be like Millennium 2.2 and the Solargen Mk III always blows up, I am going to spit chips.

What are you flying? I'm kind of surprised you can't just ditch a cobra NPC. Perhaps you could upgrade your shields to give yourself more time to run away.

My playstyle is a bit split. I'll spend a bunch of time bounty hunting or fighting in conflict zones. For this I'll choose one of an A grade Viper, Eagle or Asp (depending upon my mood). I also enjoy trading quite a lot, and when hauling cargo I never stay and fight, I ALWAYS run away. I have never taken hull damage while trading. I've traded in a cobra, an Asp, a Type 6 and now in a Clipper. All of my repairs, and both of my deaths, have come from damage taken while deliberately seeking out combat.

A decent set of shields, a decent thruster, and a willingness to run the hell away should make you pretty near invincible when it comes to NPCs.

 

[TYK]

Not meaning to insults the OP... but you do know about the boost key, right? Boosting away is your best bet to run from enemy NPCs.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Maybe I am just having a bad run, I have escaped a few interdiction's but when it is an expert Cobra III I am pretty much stuffed, I have got away with 8% health from one today actually. In saying that my gripe is I hope this isn't just some programed run of the mill thing without a way to avoid whether by tactics, reputation or countermeasures, because if it is going to be a nearly every time thing I am going to hate this game, I want a way to be able to outwit, outrun, stealth or just plain fear via shear armament because if it is going to be like Millennium 2.2 and the Solargen Mk III always blows up, I am going to spit chips.

That game was awesome! I thought that exploding powerplant was part of the storyline (although why a photovoltaic cell should blow up escapes me).

Did you ever complete it to 100%? I colonised every moon that wasn't a "worthless lump of rock", and maxed out all the reactors in all the colonies, and could never complete it past 96.4%

Deuteros was incredible too - I was one of the very lucky few who managed to get a boxed copy that actually worked on my Atari ST.

Anyway, back on topic:

Interdictions are algorithmic. I think it works very much like a tabletop D'n'D game - there is a certain probability that you will get interdicted, and therein a certain probability that the NPC is a pirate or psychopath. As I mentioned above, interdiction rates are heavily influenced by system security. I've noticed that something else seems to influence the interdictions too - I'm not sure if it's purely ship class, but in my Asp, I got interdicted far less than in my Cobra. Additionally, I think your combat ranking influences the probability of an interdiction. I'm ranked at expert at the moment. I rarely, if ever, get interdicted by NPCs ranked at competent or lower. They're mostly ranked at master, dangerous, deadly or elite. It makes sense that interdictions tail off for me (if my hypothesis is correct) because there are far fewer NPCs in the game, as with CMDRs, who hold those combat ranks. Once the interdiction starts, it becomes much more a question of player experience and skill.

The simplest solution is to submit to the interdiction (throttle zero, and keep trying to follow the escape vector, you take damage sometimes if you don't) then when you hit normal space boost immediately and put 4 pips to ENG. If you submit, the enemy ship always spawns into the instance behind you. You can either turm to face the ship and boost past its nose, which means they have to turn too, or you can just boost while keeping them behind you. Keep boosting until your FSD cooldown is completed and then re-enter supercruise. This should minimise the potential for damage from enemy fire.

Upgrading the power distributor makes a huge difference here, ans better distributors recharge the capacitors faster, which means you can boost more often. Upgrading the engines increases the maximum speed and also maximum boost speed of your ship. Avoiding B-rated kit wherever possible is also a good idea, as it carries a lot of extra weight.

What ship are you flying and how muich cash can you spend on upgrading it? The reason I ask is because I think it would be useful for you to learn to fight - it's a good source of income at the beginning of the game, and it will increase your combat ranking which will impact on the number of interdictions. You'll also be better placed to fight your way out of interdictions and will have a better sense of when it's more propitious to just run.

 

[Gagarin]

Not meaning to insults the OP... but you do know about the boost key, right? Boosting away is your best bet to run from enemy NPCs.

Ah the boost key, I am having a few problems, have to look into it further, because I am playing on a laptop I think my key isn't working properly, I think default is insert if memory serves. Thx for reminding me.

 

[Gagarin]

That game was awesome! I thought that exploding powerplant was part of the storyline (although why a photovoltaic cell should blow up escapes me).

Did you ever complete it to 100%? I colonised every moon that wasn't a "worthless lump of rock", and maxed out all the reactors in all the colonies, and could never complete it past 96.4%

Deuteros was incredible too - I was one of the very lucky few who managed to get a boxed copy that actually worked on my Atari ST.

Anyway, back on topic:

Interdictions are algorithmic. I think it works very much like a tabletop D'n'D game - there is a certain probability that you will get interdicted, and therein a certain probability that the NPC is a pirate or psychopath. As I mentioned above, interdiction rates are heavily influenced by system security. I've noticed that something else seems to influence the interdictions too - I'm not sure if it's purely ship class, but in my Asp, I got interdicted far less than in my Cobra. Additionally, I think your combat ranking influences the probability of an interdiction. I'm ranked at expert at the moment. I rarely, if ever, get interdicted by NPCs ranked at competent or lower. They're mostly ranked at master, dangerous, deadly or elite. It makes sense that interdictions tail off for me (if my hypothesis is correct) because there are far fewer NPCs in the game, as with CMDRs, who hold those combat ranks. Once the interdiction starts, it becomes much more a question of player experience and skill.

The simplest solution is to submit to the interdiction (throttle zero, and keep trying to follow the escape vector, you take damage sometimes if you don't) then when you hit normal space boost immediately and put 4 pips to ENG. If you submit, the enemy ship always spawns into the instance behind you. You can either turm to face the ship and boost past its nose, which means they have to turn too, or you can just boost while keeping them behind you. Keep boosting until your FSD cooldown is completed and then re-enter supercruise. This should minimise the potential for damage from enemy fire.

Upgrading the power distributor makes a huge difference here, ans better distributors recharge the capacitors faster, which means you can boost more often. Upgrading the engines increases the maximum speed and also maximum boost speed of your ship. Avoiding B-rated kit wherever possible is also a good idea, as it carries a lot of extra weight.

What ship are you flying and how muich cash can you spend on upgrading it? The reason I ask is because I think it would be useful for you to learn to fight - it's a good source of income at the beginning of the game, and it will increase your combat ranking which will impact on the number of interdictions. You'll also be better placed to fight your way out of interdictions and will have a better sense of when it's more propitious to just run.

Lol I played it on Atari ST as well, it was a long time ago so I can't remember how far I got but I do remember seeing the sun coming up after a long night playing it.

I am flying a Sidewinder. like I said I haven't been playing that long.