Newcomer / Intro OK, that was weird

[Thwarptide]

Ok, that's an E rated generator, a couple of hundred MJ total, hopeless thermal resistance... That explains a lot.

Regardless of whether you hit the chaff or not, it won't stop everything hitting you, especially as the Anaconda was probably pretty close to you (and the Python's not a small target).

Yes, the game allows players to take missions above their rank, hence why there are forum posts like yours. Of course, quite often, despite it being an Elite ranked mission often incoming enemies don't turn up (something I think is poor design), but then when it does it's a bit of a shock. You were interdicted by a Deadly (perhaps Elite) ranked Anaconda in what sounds like a very under specced ship. Good learning experience...

To sum up though, the Anaconda had no special weapons - they simply don't at that level of the game, but it knows how to fly and how to shoot at you. It also didn't (doesn't) cheat. The only things NPC's have that players don't is unlimited multi-canon ammo. That's it. Don't really know why you lost the interdiction game so easily, that's not really usual, but once it had you in the ship you were in (I'm going by what you've described), then yes, you were kind of dead meat.

Anyway, take it as a learning experience.

Any advice on spec'n it more than what's been advised is welcomed.
Such as should I spec up the stock Sheild generator through engineering ( low power enhanced, kinetic, reinforced or thermal?)
Have cup holders installed? (the devs missed that lil detail)

 

[Faded Glory]

Any advice on spec'n it more than what's been advised is welcomed.
Such as should I spec up the stock Sheild generator through engineering ( low power enhanced, kinetic, reinforced or thermal?)
Have cup holders installed? (the devs missed that lil detail)

Cup holders, definitely... They make all the difference.

But no, the only shields you want are either A rated or C rated bi - weaves. (This is my opinion, obviously, and if you have an exploration ship then D rated shields can be just fine). A rated are stronger, but bi - weaves can recharge much quicker, it's going to depend on whether you want to tank, or get out of fire so your shields can recharge quickly.

I usually engineer my shields for thermal resistance. Then if I use boosters I do resistance augmented to bump up the kinetic and explosive resistances. So my overall shield strengths aren't huge, but because they can withstand lasers I rarely lose them. Another advantage of this kind of engineering is that the shields don't take forever to recharge.

However, looking now at my Python, which I engineered quite a while ago, I see that I did reinforced shields, so I have just shy of 1,000 MJ of total shield strength, but even so the thermal resistance is +20% as opposed to -20%, and I can (sort of) tank the Anacondas that are sent against me for missions.

Anyway, play around with things, see what works best for you. The nice thing about playing against NPC's is that you don't have to create a meta build, but as I said before, don't underestimate the higher ranked NPC's. You will see a lot of disparaging comments from players in highly engineered ships saying NPC's pose no threat, but the existence of your thread, and the many others suggesting NPC's cheat is evidence that not everybody finds them a walk in the park.

Fly safe, and keep an eye on the mission rank.

 

[aRJay]

An alternative approach to NPC interdictions and a way to stop them trying again in that system is to not lose the interdiction duel.
The interdictor fires in a cone with the point at the attacking ship and its base at the time/range limit the cone is aligned with the axis of the ship.

Obviously to escape the interdiction you have to keep out of the cone, it is almost impossible to simply outrun the attacker to just escape out of range so you have to escape the sides of the cone this is obviously easiest where the cone is narrow ie close to the attacker.
The way to do this is to slow down to about 5% at this speed setting I have one the duel in a T9 many times since I was convinced it was the way to escape and it didn’t involve me half breaking my wrist and joystick forcing it to chase the escape vector.

Yes in a sluggish ship It can be slower than submit and run but it is much faster than submit fail the run and explode cheaper as well, but in a Python it shouldn’t take too long and it is much more satisfying than simply submitting and running.

 

[d8veh]

The only time it makes sense to have E-rated modules is in the starter sidewinder when you don't have any money to change them.

I think now you realise the mistakes you made. The ships that interdict you on these type of missions are fully optimised for combat, which leaves you with no chance if you allow them to stay close enough to shoot you. You can only fight them if you have an engineered ship kitted out for combat. You can't put weapons on a trade ship and hope to win.

You have one massive advantage, and that's that these NPCs don't seem to know about boosting, so two boosts gets you enough distance where their weapons can hardly do anything. You don't need strong shields. A 5C biweave should be enough. I use 4C biweaves on most of my mission Pythons with a couple of shield boosters, and I've never been killed by an interdictor. If you have access to engineering, speed will always be more useful than strength.

 

[Thwarptide]

Well, that mission showed up again. Being determined and greedy I accepted it again, only now my ship was tweaked according to D8vehs recommendations. (I just love the way it scoots and turns now.) I throttled down to about 5% as usual and chased the vector perfectly, but there's just no escaping mass sometimes and in less than 4 seconds I was yanked out of SC. As soon as I got out lasors were flying all around. I went 1/2 throttle into the blue zone and hard banked to about 90° (dang that's quick turning now) and boosted. Throttle at full and engines had already recharged (dang that A rated distributor is great) and hit it again. As quick as it started the shooting stopped, I was way out of range now.
10 seconds into it and my shields were still at max. Feeling a bit confident I turned quickly to see (it had to be done) what it was. A big ol' Anaconda. I stared at it a bit. 20 seconds into it an still waay out of range. About 5 seconds latter a single federal agent showed up and started in on him with his corvette. I decided I did not need to stick around to watch the slug fest. When I arrived at the station I double checked the system security level, it was low which would account for the slow response time.

He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day?
Not in this game!
He lives to get richer! (let the NPCs kill each other)
Thanks to all "well seasoned" Cmdrs who put up a gold mine of outstanding advice and Tactical plans.
07
Ack Ack Ack!

 

[Faded Glory]

Glad you survived the mission...

A couple of things, just observations. I'm not sure how you are managing to lose the interdiction. Losing interdictions against NPC's is almost impossible now, although I understand that you are a new player so I'm not trying to be rude or condescending, but I suspect that you will get better at it. Combat in these missions is essentially optional, but the rewards if you can take on the attackers are a nice supply of dropped materials and bounty rewards.

I wouldn't worry about your throttle setting during the interdiction. Other than zeroing the throttle to submit, it has been confirmed by the devs that throttle setting plays no part in the interdiction process. Of course, if you feel that it helps then that's cool. The other ships mass also doesn't have any effect on the interdiction (and nor do the size / class of their FSDI which only affects the range at which it can interdict), it's simply down to which ship stays on the vector more, and these days the interdicting NPC doesn't do a great job of it, so while you may think you are chasing the vector perfectly, I'd suggest there is room for improvement.

Regarding system security levels, it's well worth checking those out to see how manageable a mission might be. In high sec systems, security drop in about 15 seconds after you are first shot, so you can probably just submit and hang around and help security to destroy the ship just as you would at a RES, collect the bounty and scoop up dropped materials. Just be aware that these NPC's often try to wake out just before they are destroyed, and if they do that, they will be there again as soon as you get back into supercruise. In medium sec, security take a bit longer, you'll need to hold out on your own for a minute or two, and low security they take minutes to turn up, I can often destroy the attacker before they get there - so the arrival time in your account sounds much more like high or perhaps medium security than low.

 

[Thwarptide]

Glad you survived the mission...

A couple of things, just observations. I'm not sure how you are managing to lose the interdiction. Losing interdictions against NPC's is almost impossible now, although I understand that you are a new player so I'm not trying to be rude or condescending, but I suspect that you will get better at it. Combat in these missions is essentially optional, but the rewards if you can take on the attackers are a nice supply of dropped materials and bounty rewards.

I wouldn't worry about your throttle setting during the interdiction. Other than zeroing the throttle to submit, it has been confirmed by the devs that throttle setting plays no part in the interdiction process. Of course, if you feel that it helps then that's cool. The other ships mass also doesn't have any effect on the interdiction (and nor do the size / class of their FSDI which only affects the range at which it can interdict), it's simply down to which ship stays on the vector more, and these days the interdicting NPC doesn't do a great job of it, so while you may think you are chasing the vector perfectly, I'd suggest there is room for improvement.

Regarding system security levels, it's well worth checking those out to see how manageable a mission might be. In high sec systems, security drop in about 15 seconds after you are first shot, so you can probably just submit and hang around and help security to destroy the ship just as you would at a RES, collect the bounty and scoop up dropped materials. Just be aware that these NPC's often try to wake out just before they are destroyed, and if they do that, they will be there again as soon as you get back into supercruise. In medium sec, security take a bit longer, you'll need to hold out on your own for a minute or two, and low security they take minutes to turn up, I can often destroy the attacker before they get there - so the arrival time in your account sounds much more like high or perhaps medium security than low.

Well, you rude and condescending, not to mention arrogant and narrow minded genius .
The only way you can really offend me is by being rude when implying or out right slandering me as being stupid or a moron. Cutting in front of me in a line is demeaning (rude) too. Kind of like Hannibal, I don't tolerate it well enough to keep my mouth shut. Yer Cool with me Cmdr 07.

Interdictions. I've pretty much got eluding the attempt down pat. I have noticed that it's easier to chase the escape vector at a lower throttle level for some reason. However I'm willing to concede that it's remotely probable that it's all inside my head. Regardless, getting out of an attempted interdiction takes about 20 seconds or slightly less of chasing the escape vector. But in the last 3 "elite ranked" missions when diction attempts occurred, it only lasted 5 seconds before I was yanked out of SC despite the fact that I was spot on the escape vector and the blue bar was rising quickly. Always big mass anacondas.
BTW if it matters and I'm sure it doesn't, I'm on the Ps4 platform.

After all was said I am willing to concede to 100th monkey that 99.9% of the time NPCs don't cheat and that "my magical" thinking was unfounded. Sorry to have irritated you Cmdr.

"You should know that a stock 6E shield on a Python, coupled with 3x 0A shield boosters, gives you 470Mj of shield energy. An Anaconda with 6 plasma accelerators will kill those shields in one volley and do hull damage at the same time - they can lay down greater than 500Mj of damage per shot. Such builds are, to the best of my knowledge, unknown in NPC ships, but the fact remains that an elite ranked Anaconda (it was indisputably an Anaconda if the mass lock factor was indeed 23, as per your post) is not only effectively an aimbot that will definitely hit an inexperienced player with fixed weeapons, but is also easily capable of putting a massive amount of damage downrange in a very short period of time. That's without any engineering or experimental effects on the weapons."

 

[Faded Glory]

Interdictions. I've pretty much got eluding the attempt down pat. I have noticed that it's easier to chase the escape vector at a lower throttle level for some reason. However I'm willing to concede that it's remotely probable that it's all inside my head. Regardless, getting out of an attempted interdiction takes about 20 seconds or slightly less of chasing the escape vector. But in the last 3 "elite ranked" missions when diction attempts occurred, it only lasted 5 seconds before I was yanked out of SC despite the fact that I was spot on the escape vector and the blue bar was rising quickly. Always big mass anacondas.
BTW if it matters and I'm sure it doesn't, I'm on the Ps4 platform.

Don't think the platform matters, but it sounds like it could simply have been server glitches then as you seem to be able to escape normally. If your blue bar was rising and yet you were crashed out of the interdiction game then that sounds like a bug or connection issue.

In theory, FD 'weighted' the difficulty of the NPC based upon their rank and the ship they were in. Higher ranks were obviously better at the interdiction process, and smaller, more agile ships were supposed to have an advantage, in other words an Anaconda would be at a disadvantage. Don't know whether those weightings were kept in the game, this was from some time ago, but typically, nowadays NPC's are just not good at interdicting.

Unfortunately this comes from a post that is likely no longer on the forums, but it's where I got my info on throttle and interdictions and it comes from the devs. Continue to do what works for you!

Spoiler

Greetings Commanders,

It's been a while since the last Answers from the Devs thread so we wanted to take a moment to get some of your questions and get the answers directly from the team.

As always, if you would like to ask a question to be answered in the next thread, post it below and we will hope to get it answered.


Do throttle setting and size and class of interdictor module have an influence on the potential outcome?

The size and class of the interdictor affect the range they work in, but all other things are equal, and the throttle plays no part.

 

[Thwarptide]

If your blue bar was rising and yet you were crashed out of the interdiction game then that sounds like a bug or connection issue.

Now that's entirely plausible! I have had few days of off and on issues that were corrected by rebooting the game as well as the ps4. One in particular had happened before just after leaving the pilots area in that lateral thrusters would not function. A quick reboot of the game solved it. But it has happened again once or twice in the last month. On occasion the ship does appear to quiver or skip a few frames during a turning maneuver. Hasn't happened during interdiction that I could see, but the plausibility seems likely though doesn't it?
But then again, 3 times on different days for the same mission seems remote eh?

No matter really, if it does happen again, we've determined the correct procedure to adapt to the situation.
Like was said in the movie "the matrix" if you see an agent, you run, you run your ____ off! " (and make credits doing it)

 

[the100thmonkey]

I think it's right-stick click to switch to alternate flight controls. IIRC, on consoles the alternate controls move the lateral thrusters.

 

[Thwarptide]

I think it's right-stick click to switch to alternate flight controls. IIRC, on consoles the alternate controls move the lateral thrusters.

Yep, unfortunately it was a no go. A quick reboot of the game solved it.
Ps4 seems to have its lil hiccups.