Polite CODE pirate... Plus Asp vs large ship advice?

Eventually, the Clipper will likely give it a single afterburn to get some distance from the annoying fly that's near-impossible to hit in any reasonable way.
When that happens - make it 180 out and do the same. You'll quickly break beyond 3km range and will get your SC entry if you wanted that variant.

Or he'll go in FA-off and use its way better turn rate to bring his 2 fixed weapons (you can go with gimbals on only one side in a Clipper, and any PvP-enthusiast will probably do just that) to bear and shred you at point blank :D
That's what I'd do against an Asp staying up close and personal at least, since it is slower, less maneuverable and a relatively big target. Against a smaller, more maneuverable ship, I'd probably have to resort to boosts and strafing maneuvers, managing the distance to my target carefully.

Long story short : good advice. This is the best tactic against a faster opponent mass-locking you and it works pretty well in nimble fighters. As pretty much all the visibly inexperienced Viper / Cobra / Vulture pilots I fought in Lugh can now tell you, running away in a straight line praying that your FSD will charge faster than your drives will get shredded is a VERY bad idea ...
 
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I couldn't have run away, so how could I have stood a chance?

Run away smarter. The Asp is even less likely to outfight a decent Clipper than it is to outrun one.

Always submit. Never wait for anything, boost as soon as the instance loads, and immediately put the sensor contact directly behind you while boosting again, spool of FSD to supercruise if there is a chance of you hitting 3km range. The second the timer starts, zero the throttle, and the instant you are in SC, drop back to normal space, start boosting while you select a hyperspace jump, then jump...then jump again.

If you start off in a poor orientation and/or cannot hit 3km, hyperspace to a different system, taking evasive action during the charge time. Squeeze out those chaff and heatsinks like you are dying of cholera, and SCB as often as you can.
 
Just an FYI for those thinking of possibly paying off the CODE for safe passage or something. Theres a few pirates that will purposely ask you for your CODE and then frag you immediately if you use said code weather its the right code or not. They're not too fond of the code. ;)

Point I'm kind of making here is it's probably better to just cooperate if you're stopped by someone asking for a code or acting like they're with the code. If they frag you anyway even after complying (politely) then I suggest telling everyone here in the forums. Or making sure the code knows about it. I believe they hunt down imposters with a passion. But i could be mistaken.
 
I'm curious to know what the code's policy is about combat logging. In the rare event where you get one on the ropes and his friends don't show up (Which is fair cop as far as I'm concerned. if your in a fair fight, you've mucked up.), is Code allowed to combat log or do they frown on that?
 
I'm curious to know what the code's policy is about combat logging. In the rare event where you get one on the ropes and his friends don't show up (Which is fair cop as far as I'm concerned. if your in a fair fight, you've mucked up.), is Code allowed to combat log or do they frown on that?
I'm going to go ahead and assume that they don't smile on it.
 
Run away smarter. The Asp is even less likely to outfight a decent Clipper than it is to outrun one.

Always submit. Never wait for anything, boost as soon as the instance loads, and immediately put the sensor contact directly behind you while boosting again, spool of FSD to supercruise if there is a chance of you hitting 3km range. The second the timer starts, zero the throttle, and the instant you are in SC, drop back to normal space, start boosting while you select a hyperspace jump, then jump...then jump again.

If you start off in a poor orientation and/or cannot hit 3km, hyperspace to a different system, taking evasive action during the charge time. Squeeze out those chaff and heatsinks like you are dying of cholera, and SCB as often as you can.

That's what I did. Problem is a Clipper is faster than an Asp, and I couldn't get to 3km. They hyperspace to another system is a good advice. glad I learned it here. Did not realize the difference in charge times applied when mass inhibited. Chaff is something I really need to remember too. The question is, would I survive longer in close quarters? Guess we'll find out next time.

Oh, and got to remember to leave some pirate charity if I'm successful. These guys (the honorable ones) make the ED experience more interesting and shouldn't be discouraged ;)
 
There's one guy here that swears by doing a 180 with flight assist off, then boosting past your pursuer to get some distance between you and him as he tries to turn around. But that's probably something that might require a bit of practice.
 
So I encountered a pirate from CODE tonight... Told me to stand down or he'd open fire.

I was afraid he'd shoot me anyway so I ran. I'm in an A rigged Asp and he was in a Clipper.

Problem 1. He's faster.
Problem 2. He mass locks (well, slows it down greatly)

Sooo... running wasn't the best idea. He stripped my shields and beat the crap out of me, all before my drive could charge.

Fortunately he didn't destroy me, just my engines.

Now, before they introduced reboot/repair that was a death sentence. Now its an opportunity to reconsider ones previous decision of non compliance, so I drop my cargo.

Pirate does not finish me off and I have time to reboot and limp back home.

Surprisingly it only cost 12k to repair... And given my insurance would have been 1.3 million, that's a good deal. So thanks to the pirate that truly did only want my loot. If I ever decide to take on CODE pirates, I'll return the favor ;)

However, it got me thinking, what if I was in that scenario and the guy was just out for blood? I couldn't have run away, so how could I have stood a chance? Tactics are different for NPCs than CMDRs, so what would work best? Boost and flip with FA off? Shoot backwards? Get in close and try to stay on his tail? (could an Asp even maneuver like that?

Funny how fighting NPCs is in no way practice for the real thing ;)

It depends on how your Asp is outfitted. That's not really a combat ship per say, but nor is the Clipper. The lesson of the story is to never present a firing opportunity to your thrusters. It of course is easier said then done, however next time charge right at them head on full speed ready to maneuver with lateral or vertical thrusters. Charge your FSD while your going head on and by the time you pass him you should be quickly gaining distance.

Alternatively, learn to use FA Off while charging the FSD. The vids by Insonia (I don't think I spelled that correctly but you know who I'm talking about) are a great learning tool for FA off flight.
 
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I have just changed back to my asp. I have come across a few pirates etc. who feel the need to take my cargo. I have set up commands for voice attack, that does automatically what I need. as soon as command is issued. setting up evasive commands and dropping mines chaff and using counter measures has not let me down YET ! touching wood for luck while I type this. lol.

It is a shame torpedoes were made useless and mines went from useless to laughable with the dumb fire missile nerf making shield damage on explosives nothing.

I posted a suggestion for severely increasing shield damage on those two weapons to give traders a fighting chance but still have gotten no player responses. I'll self promote my thread again if anyone wishes to comment there and agree/disagree or give some better suggestions, but traders definitely need some defensive weapons to fight off pirates for sure.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127491&p=1955593#post1955593
 
There's one guy here that swears by doing a 180 with flight assist off, then boosting past your pursuer to get some distance between you and him as he tries to turn around. But that's probably something that might require a bit of practice.

I was going to suggest this manoeuver, it works very well if you have some distance and are facing an attacker who is slightly faster than you. Make like you are going to joust and punch it just as you pass your attacker, by the time he turns you will be far enough away to enter supercruise.

If you can't win the scenario by outfighting or outrunning your assailant, you can always try getting a more positive outcome by stopping and haggling:

Trader: '15 units of cargo!! That's outrageous, I'm a Cobra - 7 units!'
Pirate: '7? You can do better -12 units.'
Trader: 'Okay, 10, but I'll abandon it so it isn't stolen goods.'
 
I was going to suggest this manoeuver, it works very well if you have some distance and are facing an attacker who is slightly faster than you. Make like you are going to joust and punch it just as you pass your attacker, by the time he turns you will be far enough away to enter supercruise.

If you can't win the scenario by outfighting or outrunning your assailant, you can always try getting a more positive outcome by stopping and haggling:

Trader: '15 units of cargo!! That's outrageous, I'm a Cobra - 7 units!'
Pirate: '7? You can do better -12 units.'
Trader: 'Okay, 10, but I'll abandon it so it isn't stolen goods.'


I like the haggling idea ;)
 
If you can't win the scenario by outfighting or outrunning your assailant, you can always try getting a more positive outcome by stopping and haggling:

Trader: '15 units of cargo!! That's outrageous, I'm a Cobra - 7 units!'
Pirate: '7? You can do better -12 units.'
Trader: 'Okay, 10, but I'll abandon it so it isn't stolen goods.'

Ahh, I wish more people were like this. This is the standard response:

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Censored for forum purposes.
 
That actually makes me feel better about my reaction. :D Seriously... I have a LOT more at stake the way I play (see ejection table link) and I still see no reason to be THAT mad.

Some people...
Hah, I've seen that table before on here :D

I would really love it if this game had an ironman mode, you still operate in the same universe as everyone else but just have a little logo next to your name to show you're playing ironman mode. I actually seem to remember a few games having options like that, but for the life of me can't remember the name.
 
Hah, I've seen that table before on here :D

I would really love it if this game had an ironman mode, you still operate in the same universe as everyone else but just have a little logo next to your name to show you're playing ironman mode. I actually seem to remember a few games having options like that, but for the life of me can't remember the name.


Ugh, I dunno about that... in the same universe as people who can spawn suicide Sideys? You'd have people actively gunning for you, in organized ways, just for the lulz.
 
Ugh, I dunno about that... in the same universe as people who can spawn suicide Sideys? You'd have people actively gunning for you, in organized ways, just for the lulz.
That sounds terrible :D

Ok, ok, maybe it wouldn't be a long term way to play. But it would be certainly be fun in short bursts.
 
I'm curious to know what the code's policy is about combat logging. In the rare event where you get one on the ropes and his friends don't show up (Which is fair cop as far as I'm concerned. if your in a fair fight, you've mucked up.), is Code allowed to combat log or do they frown on that?

We frown on it. We Paddington stare at it.
 
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