Please remove swarms at starports

[Aunty Sledge]

This is a request for FDev, but shout if you agree.

I really don't like the swarms at the best of times, 1v1 in the black they aren't so bad as you build a ship accordingly. But when defending stations they just kill the fun for me, please remove swarms from starport defence like you have done in settlement defences. Multiple interceptors and scouts are more than enough of a challenge (even if only done in solo).

I know I could just do the settlement defences, but that raises another problem. They only spawn Cyclops (the rare Basilisk appear to have stopped appearing) and at the end you get two Hydras. We could really do with a sliding scale of the different interceptors. It goes from a dozen simple Cyclops fights to a tag team with a pair of brick walls of death. Needs some difficulty scaling. Throw in the odd larger interceptor and just keep it to a single Hydra at the end.

Another option could be the signal sources, yeah those are broken as well. I tried a number of those and a couple of scouts turn up but that is all. I was doing the level 6 ones which should be spawning Basilisks.

Join some friends and wing up I hear you cry, well with the journal logging not working correctly most people aren't getting their kills recorded, and as I'm working on my Inara medals I am forced to play solo.

So FDev, some really easy fixes here, some maybe not so easy. All in all I really like what you are trying to do with the Thargoid war, it just needs some fixes and balances.

And no, I won't be raising tickets, they never get responded to and get auto-closed.

 

[JerseyDevil]

Swarms should stay, its part of the difficulty factor. In the world of 6x shard boats dokka dokka'ing Hydras, we don't need to dumb it down even more.

 

[HappyMoonMonkey]

They only spawn Cyclops (the rare Basilisk appear to have stopped appearing) and at the end you get two Hydras

I was at a ground settlement only two weeks ago which was spawning multiple basilisks and medusa. I suspect your RNG is just bad here.

 

[Aunty Sledge]

I was at a ground settlement only two weeks ago which was spawning multiple basilisks and medusa. I suspect your RNG is just bad here.

I hope that is the case, I have seen Basilisk in the past but not recently. I've killed 74 Cyclops, and nothing else has showed up, it gets boring fast.

Swarms should stay, its part of the difficulty factor. In the world of 6x shard boats dokka dokka'ing Hydras, we don't need to dumb it down even more.

In wings I'd agree, but solo I get stomped on whilst leaving the toast rack, they even hit you on the pad inside the starport. A little point defence from the starport would be welcomed. I'm sure there could be lots of ways things could be balanced. If people want to hard-code things, there would still be combat zones.

 

[JerseyDevil]

I hope that is the case, I have seen Basilisk in the past but not recently. I've killed 74 Cyclops, and nothing else has showed up, it gets boring fast.



In wings I'd agree, but solo I get stomped on whilst leaving the toast rack, they even hit you on the pad inside the starport. A little point defence from the starport would be welcomed. I'm sure there could be lots of ways things could be balanced. If people want to hard-code things, there would still be combat zones.

Or instead of changing the whole game, 1 person adapts.

 

[nanothargon]

Or, add AX point defence turrets that target the swarm, as the next AX tech breakthrough.

 

[RaketeMike]

Or, add AX point defence turrets that target the swarm, as the next AX tech breakthrough.

+1 That would be a really great benefit ! Even more so as there are too many erratic flying swarms near stations that are very hard to get with the flak.

 

[SlickPBW]

So many requests recently to make the game easier. It’s interesting to see all the different responses that people have when a “hard” situation is encountered in game.

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

Removing swarms at starports would remove the ability to safely practice fighting against/dodging the swarms while being able to repair so that would actually take gameplay away.

This could be a good way to make outpost fights easier though, but with the weapon stabilizer and caustic sink type stuff making things easier it becomes less needed.

 

[Planewalker]

There is an anti-swarm tool in the game: flak.

 

[nanothargon]

So many requests recently to make the game easier. It’s interesting to see all the different responses that people have when a “hard” situation is encountered in game.

I enjoy the flower dance too, but the planetary AXCZ scenario has increased engagement because it’s slightly easier. Adding the potential to exchange heatsinks for AX point defence - think about it, you clearly know the meta and why it works - does that really help against a hydra? Auto-targeting, chipping away at the swarm would slightly reduce swarm damage for the smaller ‘goids, but - if you’re close enough to the swarm for point defence, you’re already well out of the standard doctrine. Giving folks an automatic, swarm defence is another way to bring new, and non-combat folks into this part of the game. PD will always be less effective than reverski and flak.

Also, in the logic of the game, AX multicannons work, so AXPD should work against the swarm and thargoid missiles.

It would help folks sustain for slightly longer in a mixed fight, while at the same time retaining the threat of the bigger ‘goids, and retaining the advantage of the skill-based approach. Exactly like AXMC versus gauss for hearts.

Also, more dakka.

 

[Planewalker]

Also, in the logic of the game, AX multicannons work, so AXPD should work against the swarm and thargoid missiles.

It would help folks sustain for slightly longer in a mixed fight, while at the same time retaining the threat of the bigger ‘goids, and retaining the advantage of the skill-based approach. Exactly like AXMC versus gauss for hearts.

Also, more dakka.

AXPD against the missiles only: does normal point defenses not work?
Because if not, that is something i do see needing adressing.
And yes: an AXPD against missiles would be in line.

 

[Ned Flandalorian]

The thargon missiles are a response to the player's actions, they don't just happen at random. Saying we should have a countermeasure against them is like saying we should be able to equip ships with shields that can withstand station weapons; the more appropriate choice is to not trigger them in the first place.