I am a new poster, please forgive me if I do not use the appropriate etiquette. I am a deadly ranked bounty hunter / combat zone pilot, and found very comfortable success in all RES levels and all conflict zone levels pre 2.1. I still feel pretty successful in RES zones post 2.1 since the NPC engineer mod removal. Conflict zones feel a bit overwhelming though in my vanilla vulture/python/fdl (I am grinding mats on the side for upgrades of course). I don't know if there is coordination between conflict zone NPC AIs, or their combined increased effectiveness is the issue. Suggestions welcome. Thanks!
I just hopped into a LOW intensity conflict zone in the Long system in my combat fit and engineer upgraded anaconda. Also deadly ranked. After dogfighting a Dangerous ranked viper 3 for ten minutes, I got pounced on by several red blips that appeared around me and had to flee. It was a very frustrating and unfun experience, and I'm kicking myself for not grinding out elite combat before these shenanigans were introduced.
I had a similar experience in my fully engineered imperial courier. It's not fun to fly in combat anymore, at all. NPCs are taking laughably ridiculous amounts of damage. There is no way that they are "playing by the same rules" that our ships do. Absolutely none. I suspect this was done to account for engineered weapons, but I have been using light weight mounts in order to try to mitigate some of the crappiness that comes out of building a combat fitted ship in terms of jump range and boost speed. I feel like there is no viable strategy to both have a ship that is able to do OK in a conflict or RES zone and simultaneously not be extremely tedious to fly when one needs to change locations often (for example, moving to new community goals as they arise). It's a catch-22 that I don't like being in, and I'm feeling pretty hopeless about getting to elite combat rank anytime soon, despite having over 14000 kills.
Combat in RES sites isn't much better. The new AI combined with the buffs to shields and armor that higher ranked pilots get really kills any fun or enjoyment out of the game, and that scaled dramatically upward as your ship gets bigger. I'm now looking for a place to dump my anaconda for a FdL and starting the upgrade process all over again on a new ship.
By trying to introduce a system to prevent min-maxing, they have instead made min-maxing required. This is why beta tests should not be limited to early backers - I never even knew Elite: Dangerous existed until after it was launched.
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Not exactly the same but overall yes.
A few good advises had been posted already, I repeat them here as far as I recognize them:
1.) After you drop into a CZ try to get some distance first before you engage.
2.) Join one side and look out for friendly fighters where they concentrate. You'll like to have them around you. Keep always an eye on them.
3.) Engage in combat and take care, trigger control is advised and don't fire missiles if the target is more than 1000m away, it's almost guaranteed that you'll hit a friendly and then you're surrounded by red dots only.
4.) Don't get to greedy, if you die, you'll loose all those bonds you got so far. Visit a nearby station regularly for payouts / repairs / ammo.
I still have just an A-rated Viper MK IV and it's fun nevertheless, you don't need a FDL even not for high intensity CZs. Just watch your butt and act reasonable.
Using big heavy ships might be actually not such a good idea, loosing them costs a fortune. Small fighters are fun to flight and it doesn't hurt so much to get blasted.
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It's very hard now, really really hard, nobody can stand there very long but it's not the AI or the gang up on us the real issue is the conflict zone itself which is unrealistic and very chaotic, war is much more sophisticated than that, right now we have one big tornado of butchery, when it should be:
- front line, high chances of being attacked, death everywhere.
- back line, moderate chances of being attacked, a lot more allies here.
- safe zone, low chances of being attacked, generals are usually here giving orders and planning things.
it the same for both sides but now when look at the other side from your point of view:
- front line, same.
- enemy close territory, a lot of enemies here you better watch your back and be very skilled.
- enemy deep territory, no way you would survive without heavy support or stealthy gameplay.
now it looks logic, you know where you want to be or not, and the new mechanics will make this far more enjoyable and create a lot of new ways for conflict zones.
- front line, high chances of being attacked, death everywhere.
- back line, moderate chances of being attacked, a lot more allies here.
- safe zone, low chances of being attacked, generals are usually here giving orders and planning things.
it the same for both sides but now when look at the other side from your point of view:
- front line, same.
- enemy close territory, a lot of enemies here you better watch your back and be very skilled.
- enemy deep territory, no way you would survive without heavy support or stealthy gameplay.
now it looks logic, you know where you want to be or not, and the new mechanics will make this far more enjoyable and create a lot of new ways for conflict zones.
For that you'd need different sets of ship classes. Not just fighters and corvettes.
OT: The aggro mechanics don't make CZ enjoyable. OK with wings.
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1. Always hunt with the largest green pack you can find to avoid being directly targeted.
2. Fly past friendly ships to try and shake off would be attackers.
Stop going to Combat Zones and hit up Hi RES as you can easily find high ranked NPC's on their own and as such rank up more quickly, also many more credits.
Killing high ranked NPC's in a sidewinder?
[video=youtube;NvIOVgNuqr0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvIOVgNuqr0[/video]
2. Fly past friendly ships to try and shake off would be attackers.
Stop going to Combat Zones and hit up Hi RES as you can easily find high ranked NPC's on their own and as such rank up more quickly, also many more credits.
Killing high ranked NPC's in a sidewinder?
[video=youtube;NvIOVgNuqr0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvIOVgNuqr0[/video]
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I've been going to low intensity CZs and was not having much trouble picking off the stragglers at the edge in my fully tanked Corvette.
The last time I went there, I was scooping some materials with only three ships at the edge of the radar (2 green), when suddenly from nowhere, about 10 red ships appeared around me, all immediately firing. 35 million rebuy.
Now that I know it can happen, I'm pretty sure that I could escape, but it took me completely by surprise. I hadn't already chosen an escape jump because, normally, the shields hold up long enough to do it without panic, but by the time I'd chosen a jump, it was too late this time.
The last time I went there, I was scooping some materials with only three ships at the edge of the radar (2 green), when suddenly from nowhere, about 10 red ships appeared around me, all immediately firing. 35 million rebuy.
Now that I know it can happen, I'm pretty sure that I could escape, but it took me completely by surprise. I hadn't already chosen an escape jump because, normally, the shields hold up long enough to do it without panic, but by the time I'd chosen a jump, it was too late this time.
I've found the combat zones much, much harder - but that's fine by me. It is a war zone after all. I am well known for not being much good as a combat pilot but when even I can take on Pythons and Anacondas in my Fer De Lance then it was a little too easy.
Now I'm a bad pilot in a war zone, that's as it should be. I can knock off one or two before my shields go and I have to run away. Fair enough - that's my level of ability, I've no problem with that.
Now I'm a bad pilot in a war zone, that's as it should be. I can knock off one or two before my shields go and I have to run away. Fair enough - that's my level of ability, I've no problem with that.
To be honest, I haven't even bothered with the CZs since 2.1 came out. Unlike before, the new AI is giving you a lot of combat opportunities just during the course of your typical ED session. Unless they have radically increased the payouts for kills in CZs, I can't see how they would be worth the trouble. At least if you are looking at these from a money making standpoint. There are FAR BETTER ways to earn a living in ED than farming CZs. 
I'd actually put them near the bottom, if not THE bottom of the list of viable gameplay options.
If they are part of a Community Goal, that is a different story of course.
I'd actually put them near the bottom, if not THE bottom of the list of viable gameplay options.
If they are part of a Community Goal, that is a different story of course.
I did not have more trouble in CZ than usual.
I am very careful about staying on the edge though.
When you are near the respawn zone of the enemy, you might be screwed, because no matter what you are in you will be destroyed in seconds when 10 or more ships target you and open fire..
After you have killed a ship select your next target as quickly as possible and open fire to avoid enemy ships selecting you as a target.
I noticed that when you are already exchanging fire with a ship the other AI ships very rarely target you.
I think the AI is programmed to avoid those situations, as it would make survival for players impossible.
I think I have noticed that very often other enemies will stop engaging you when you have selected a target yourself and started firing on it.
AI ganging up on you happens more often when you are not engaged in combat at that moment.
I always target my next enemy asap and open fire as quickly as possible to avoid getting selected by enemy ships.
When you are the only target in the vicinity multiple ships will definitely converge on you. So when I notice that my side is thinning out in a certain area I tend to move to an area with more allies present.
Also turrets of nearby enemies will fire on you occasionally when you are in combat with another ship, because AI ships use fire at will for their turrets, so they will target anything they can hit. But this rarely results in sustained attacks.
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CZ's were one of my favorite things to do pre 2.1. Wing up with some buddies and fly as a squad, save each other's butts from getting blasted. Even flying in solo, I would have some close calls, and get destroyed once in awhile when I got to cocky and deserved it.
Now, just last night I picked up a Master rated mission (I'm rated deadly) to destroy some ships in a CZ. The only CZ in the system that I could find was a low intensity one, so I outfitted my trusty Vulture and headed out. Within seconds (literally) of arrival, I was massacred by an Elite rated Imperial Cutter. In a "Low Intensity" CZ.
I can see the Elite ranking, as my combat rank is pretty high, but the biggest ship in the game in a low CZ?? Subsequent trips thinking maybe it was a fluke had many high ranked Cutters spawning. There were at least 2-3 active at any given time. That doesn't sound like "Low Intensity" to me. I don't have any intentions on heading to CZ again anytime in the near future; it just wasn't fun anymore.
Now, just last night I picked up a Master rated mission (I'm rated deadly) to destroy some ships in a CZ. The only CZ in the system that I could find was a low intensity one, so I outfitted my trusty Vulture and headed out. Within seconds (literally) of arrival, I was massacred by an Elite rated Imperial Cutter. In a "Low Intensity" CZ.
I can see the Elite ranking, as my combat rank is pretty high, but the biggest ship in the game in a low CZ?? Subsequent trips thinking maybe it was a fluke had many high ranked Cutters spawning. There were at least 2-3 active at any given time. That doesn't sound like "Low Intensity" to me. I don't have any intentions on heading to CZ again anytime in the near future; it just wasn't fun anymore.
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Meh.
/8char
^^ This! Listen to this wise CMDR.
I've taken Cobra MkIII to low CZ last night, I've applied all of the above and it works a treat.
I've manage to get over Million CR in bonds and that has put me in Top 25% in this weeks CG.
+rep to you CMDR
Agreed on this. i made a post 2 days ago complaining of the difficulty in conflict zones/Combat in general.
Someone mentioned that AI has been conditioned to target CMDRS first and NPCs second leaving a overwhelming experience of death every time you pick a side.
personally would like to see this fixed
Someone mentioned that AI has been conditioned to target CMDRS first and NPCs second leaving a overwhelming experience of death every time you pick a side.
personally would like to see this fixed
Maybe we could leave one area in the game a little bit difficult. It is a 'Combat Zone' after all.
For good players with bigger ships they aren't that challenging anyway as long as you maintain situational awareness.
For good players with bigger ships they aren't that challenging anyway as long as you maintain situational awareness.
Flying the big ships now is just not really worth it.
In my conda I got a 500K repair bill on a 1.3mil mission for kiling stuff in a CZ. And then the mechanic of if you're running away, a stream of enemies spawn IN FRONT OF YOU and start shooting. They might want to adjust that aspect of it at some point.
Here's the other thing the "hard core" guys just don't get. The AI shouldn't be good enough to send you home for repairs after 1-2 fights. Your as the player should be able to vanquish a number of foes before having to return to base.
I personally do OK, it only took 3 trips to repair to finish a 24 kill CZ mission in a low CZ BUT I did insta-kill the game twice as well when it all went to heck, esp with enemies spawning in my face non-stop as I'm trying to run away. It's just not worth flying CZs in a ship where the rebuy is 20million, when the mission is worth 1.2 million + maybe 500K in bonds.
Why was I flying my Conda? Because I wanted to fight in it for a while, I tried a new loadout and it was pretty fun.
If FD did something about the rebuy on high-end ships, that would be really helpful.
In my conda I got a 500K repair bill on a 1.3mil mission for kiling stuff in a CZ. And then the mechanic of if you're running away, a stream of enemies spawn IN FRONT OF YOU and start shooting. They might want to adjust that aspect of it at some point.
Here's the other thing the "hard core" guys just don't get. The AI shouldn't be good enough to send you home for repairs after 1-2 fights. Your as the player should be able to vanquish a number of foes before having to return to base.
I personally do OK, it only took 3 trips to repair to finish a 24 kill CZ mission in a low CZ BUT I did insta-kill the game twice as well when it all went to heck, esp with enemies spawning in my face non-stop as I'm trying to run away. It's just not worth flying CZs in a ship where the rebuy is 20million, when the mission is worth 1.2 million + maybe 500K in bonds.
Why was I flying my Conda? Because I wanted to fight in it for a while, I tried a new loadout and it was pretty fun.
If FD did something about the rebuy on high-end ships, that would be really helpful.
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Great advice from all - thank you very much. Just wrapping up some time in the latest community goal imp vs fed czs. I applied your suggestions and found I did have a bit longer lifespan. BUT - some zone weirdness. I found it MUCH easier to survive in zones with fed capital ships when declaring fed, as opposed to zones with a imp capital ship declaring imp. In addition, I often would not be rewarded bounties in fed zones, but would always be rewarded in imp zones. I repeated this in solo, group, and open play and found similar results. I also found some weird trigger mechanic when targeting capital ship heat sinks. After I popped a certain number I would get swarmed by npcs. I'm also curious about the distribution of combat levels in czs. In low are the npcs supposed to be ranked lower in greater numbers in weaker ships, in high are they supposed to ranked higher and in more upgraded ships? I haven't done counts, but I don't see a substantial difference between the two. I won't go so far as to say cz's are broken, but it seems like there are some opportunities for polish.
