Newcomer / Intro NPC Pirate question.

Brenda Zephyr · Sep 28, 2021

So I was doing Robigo/Sothis runs when an NPC interdicted me. I escaped the interdiction easily, and continued on to the station, only to have the NPC that JUST interdicted me drop out of super cruise literally right in front of me at the station, and scan my ship. Literally voiding 19 million credits worth of contracts I had almost completed. This is NEW behavior of the npc pirates as they have never followed me after a failed interdiction before. Is this some new behavior? if so, I'm not at all happy with it. Robigo runs have already took a nerf bat to earnings, and it seems frontier is intent on removing any revenue stream that isn't combat, or at least making it so worthless that nobody wants to do it anymore. So, is this new behavior? Or have I just been lucky since I started playing and never had it happen?

Brenda Zephyr · Sep 28, 2021

Anyone? Anyone? Yeah didn't think so.

Tyres O'Flaherty · Sep 28, 2021

It sounds to me like the RNG hammer hit you. I could be wrong but that'd be my guess

Codger · Sep 28, 2021

It’s not new. I’ve even had them pop in and crash into my ship.

yelboc · Sep 28, 2021

As far as I know its always been like this. Once they lose the interdiction, there is a cool down. After that they come for you again. On long runs you might get interdicted 2 or 3 times on your way. Generally, if you are in the no fire zone, they will bottle it and go away, but not always.

Getting skilled at super-cruise, and not using the SC assist will reduce your chances of a 2nd interdiction. SC assist is slow. You can run flat out throttle until the timer reaches 7 sec, then throttle down to 75%, mid blue bar on the scale for the final approach. Whilst not the fastest possible its the easiest method to get in fast. Also line yourself up with the slot as you approach in SC, and you will then be less time before docking.

yelboc · Sep 28, 2021

Brenda Zephyr said:
Anyone? Anyone? Yeah didn't think so.

Oh and this is a forum, not discord chat etc. 3mins wont always get you a response

CMDR Saigon · Sep 28, 2021

Happens to all of us CMDR. Otherwise, we'll be having English high tea all day....it's dangerous out there!

Frankymole · Sep 28, 2021

Yes, NPCs often follow you following a failed interdiction, once they're up in SC again. And because you reduce speed as you approach your destination, they catch up, and follow your wake down into normal space.

Factabulous · Sep 28, 2021

yelboc said:
Once they lose the interdiction, there is a cool down. After that they come for you again. On long runs you might get interdicted 2 or 3 times on your way

Do ppl think this is true? I don't think I've ever been re-interdicted - even on long flights - by the same NPC - unless I drop out of SC. Which I would ... at the destination. Re-interdiction would kinda scupper the usual advice to 'just beat the interdiction' if they kept coming back anyway

But mostly I don't get this because I kill 'em, so

and .... seems the OP needs some advice on avoiding scans

Codger · Sep 28, 2021

Factabulous said:
Do ppl think this is true? I don't think I've ever been re-interdicted - even on long flights - by the same NPC - unless I drop out of SC. Which I would ... at the destination. Re-interdiction would kinda scupper the usual advice to 'just beat the interdiction' if they kept coming back anyway But mostly I don't get this because I kill 'em, so

and .... seems the OP needs some advice on avoiding scans

I've never been re-interdicted after a successful evasion either, but I have had them drop in at the station right on top of me once I get there.

Factabulous · Sep 28, 2021

Codger said:
I've never been re-interdicted after a successful evasion either, but I have had them drop in at the station right on top of me once I get there.

Yeah, that's what I see

yelboc · Sep 28, 2021

Well - I dunno. I have been multiply interdicted in the past, but it could have been not evading but being pulled and re-pulled - memory can be faulty.

Being more skilled at getting in fast, I haven't had it for some time, but have had them appear at the station as you say, so that at least is reliable. Its quite fun to try and prevent them interdicting you at all by a bit of judicious weaving in SC and then watch them wopp in just as you disappear into the slot. "The boss aint gonna like this" etc.

would need to experiment to be sure. Certainly haven't noticed any change in behaviour in the game.

Where did our OP go? Seemed so keen for a response...

Codger · Sep 28, 2021

yelboc said:
Where did our OP go? Seemed so keen for a response...

Considering that he only waited 3 minutes before posting his second post, I have a feeling patience isn't something he has much of. I doubt he'll revisit this thread. I guess we'll see!

Tetra Trash · Sep 28, 2021

Brenda Zephyr said:
So I was doing Robigo/Sothis runs when an NPC interdicted me. I escaped the interdiction easily, and continued on to the station, only to have the NPC that JUST interdicted me drop out of super cruise literally right in front of me at the station, and scan my ship. Literally voiding 19 million credits worth of contracts I had almost completed. This is NEW behavior of the npc pirates as they have never followed me after a failed interdiction before. Is this some new behavior? if so, I'm not at all happy with it. Robigo runs have already took a nerf bat to earnings, and it seems frontier is intent on removing any revenue stream that isn't combat, or at least making it so worthless that nobody wants to do it anymore. So, is this new behavior? Or have I just been lucky since I started playing and never had it happen?

I've had NPCs drop on me in stations many times; if they start to scan you pop a heat sink, and I think it will break the scan.

Northpin · Sep 28, 2021

Brenda Zephyr said:
So, is this new behavior? Or have I just been lucky since I started playing and never had it happen?

Not new, it may happen once in a while.
I've had bounty hunters drop on me at Robigo Mines.
And i've had them drop on me in Sothis right after i scanned the beacon - luckily i managed to boost wake just in time.

Point is - if you carry wanted passengers, you need to pay extra attention.
But even with extra attention i got one Bounty Hunter scanning me while the ADC was docking my ship. Most of the time, the docking process finished before they finish the scan, but there was that one time when they managed to finish the scan like 2s before docking clamps engaged.

Frankymole · Sep 28, 2021

yelboc said:
Well - I dunno. I have been multiply interdicted in the past, but it could have been not evading but being pulled and re-pulled - memory can be faulty.

I had the same NPC (or at least the same name - no idea what his ship was) try to interdict me across 3 systems on a slave smuggling run. That was about 5 years ago, though - maybe it has been changed.

If you're being scanned outside a station though? Simply pop a heat sink and break the scan before it can complete. Never fails.

aRJay · Sep 28, 2021

yelboc said:
Well - I dunno. I have been multiply interdicted in the past, but it could have been not evading but being pulled and re-pulled - memory can be faulty.

Being more skilled at getting in fast, I haven't had it for some time, but have had them appear at the station as you say, so that at least is reliable. Its quite fun to try and prevent them interdicting you at all by a bit of judicious weaving in SC and then watch them wopp in just as you disappear into the slot. "The boss aint gonna like this" etc.

would need to experiment to be sure. Certainly haven't noticed any change in behaviour in the game.

Where did our OP go? Seemed so keen for a response...

I have been interdicted multiple times by the same NPC on a long supercruise with my ship getting more battered each time, however I have never seen the same NPC try it again if I beat the interdiction game.

I have had them drop almost on top of me at the station which usually ends badly for them if they try to stop me there, the good thing about not carrying Self Loading Cargo* is getting scanned does little to no harm.

*AKA Passengers

Brenda Zephyr · Sep 30, 2021

Codger said:
Considering that he only waited 3 minutes before posting his second post, I have a feeling patience isn't something he has much of. I doubt he'll revisit this thread. I guess we'll see!

She. And actually, the second post had additional information but I realized it wasn't relevant so I changed it to what you see. I also have my answer, so generally no need to return to a thread once you have the answer you were seeking. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Tyres O'Flaherty · Sep 30, 2021

Brenda Zephyr said:
She. And actually, the second post had additional information but I realized it wasn't relevant so I changed it to what you see. I also have my answer, so generally no need to return to a thread once you have the answer you were seeking. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Brenda Zephyr said:
So I was doing Robigo/Sothis runs when an NPC interdicted me. I escaped the interdiction easily, and continued on to the station, only to have the NPC that JUST interdicted me drop out of super cruise literally right in front of me at the station, and scan my ship. Literally voiding 19 million credits worth of contracts I had almost completed. This is NEW behavior of the npc pirates as they have never followed me after a failed interdiction before. Is this some new behavior? if so, I'm not at all happy with it. Robigo runs have already took a nerf bat to earnings, and it seems frontier is intent on removing any revenue stream that isn't combat, or at least making it so worthless that nobody wants to do it anymore. So, is this new behavior? Or have I just been lucky since I started playing and never had it happen?

Brenda Zephyr said:
Anyone? Anyone? Yeah didn't think so.

I think, as there were only three minutes between quotes two and three above - and the fact your edit was nine minutes later - your "Anyone? Anyone? Yeah didn't think so." would came across as trollish salt. It did to me and I replied civially anyway.

I don't know what a "TED" talk is but, again, your reply (quote one above) comes across as rude and abrupt.

Probably just me being presumptuous so I apologise if so but then again, you won't be reading anyway.

yelboc · Sep 30, 2021

Brenda Zephyr said:
She. And actually, the second post had additional information but I realized it wasn't relevant so I changed it to what you see. I also have my answer, so generally no need to return to a thread once you have the answer you were seeking. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

1/10 Must try harder