PvNPC imbalance

[sirpuma]

Is there an intentional imbalance in ship performance between the ships I fly and the ships NPCs attack me with? I just barely escaped a Python which attacked me because I had a freight job. It buzzed around my Asp Explorer like an angry mosquito blasting me with massive weapons and sporting shields my 2x2d and 2x1E beam lasers couldn't hurt and I could never get turned fast enough to follow him. But when I look at the ship specs in the ship yard, the Asp is supposed to be able to out maneuver the Python and be faster. But no. And it took forever (at least twice as long as normal) for my FSD to kick in so I could get away. And he caught up with me a couple seconds later and tried to stop me again. I barely managed to avoid getting stopped the second time. He was moving like a formula 1 car and I was moving like a dead whale. What gives?

Edit: My ship specs
Core
Asp Explorer
1C Bulkhead
5A Power Plant (Max)
4A Power Distributor (Max)
5B Thrusters
5B Sensors
4E Life Support
5C Fuel Tank

Optional
6C Shields
5E Cargo
3C Fuel Tank
2ea 3E Cargo Rack
2B FSD Interdictor
1 DSS
1 Planetary Approach

Weapons
2ea 2D Beam Laser
2ea 1E Beam Laser
2ea 1B Seeker Missile

Utility
0B Shield Booster
2ea 0A Shield Booster
0D wake Scanner

Top standard speed, unladen:200, Boost:350
And no spare power (deployed power at 99%) If I try and increase anything else I go way over power.

 

[Xious]

Can't say I've seen this with Pythons myself. They still seem like the same slow moving targets they've always been.

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[bladebss]

What rank was the npc?
What kind of engeneering/out fitting does your asp have?
Were you doing a mission and if so what rank was it?

Some npcs are engineered and they have amazing controle over there ship as they dont need fingers and have split second responses what with being a computer and this can make them able to out manuver you if you perhaps arnt so nimble fingered with the thruster controlls and pips. Especially if your fat with cargo.

Also.. *voice of chang* bwut did youw diiiiieee?
Every one like a challenge and its no fun to win them all. Thogh i do have mix feelings some times about the AI.

 

[bladebss]

Ok a python with A rated thrusters can go 267 with 4 pips to engines and boost at 348. Ish.. so if you wernt boosting non stop as much as you can the python will catch up as it can boost constantly very easily as it has a class 7 power distributior.
Npcs even at quite low ranks often seem have about grade 3 dirty drives on there thrusters so it would not suprise me if you found one quite slippery in your asp with class B thrusters and laden with cargo.
The python can have quite formidable DPS, if you take the front end too.

Try and pay a visit to felicity and get some grade 3 dirty drives fot that asp and you will be leaving them in the dust in no time, she can even bump the power plant up a notch too and give you some spare power

 

[Bortas]

Is there an intentional imbalance in ship performance between the ships I fly and the ships NPCs attack me with?

Of course. NPCs are meant to be cannonfodder we can easily slaughter 100s of with a decently outfitted ship.

I just barely escaped a Python which attacked me because I had a freight job.

...oh.

Top standard speed, unladen:200, Boost:350
And no spare power (deployed power at 99%) If I try and increase anything else I go way over power.

Well, the AspX isn't the best combat ship to begin with. And to make things worse your's isn't even mildly engineered as it seems and outfitted pretty subotimally.

I'd suggest not to fight in that Asp. Just evade the interdictions... should be easy enough given the Asp's insane SC agility.

Although a reasonably built and engineered ApsX can easily dispatch Elite Pythons and even Anacondas, I have to say I like the outcome in your case. An AspX should not be able to easily destroy a Python.

 

[Han Zulu]

What gives?

The NPCs do some cheating, and it was probably an engineered Python you met. I've noticed that after the update, NPC pythons are a bit tougher than before.

 

[Blackcompany]

Ok a python with A rated thrusters can go 267 with 4 pips to engines and boost at 348. Ish.. so if you wernt boosting non stop as much as you can the python will catch up as it can boost constantly very easily as it has a class 7 power distributior.
Npcs even at quite low ranks often seem have about grade 3 dirty drives on there thrusters so it would not suprise me if you found one quite slippery in your asp with class B thrusters and laden with cargo.
The python can have quite formidable DPS, if you take the front end too.

Try and pay a visit to felicity and get some grade 3 dirty drives fot that asp and you will be leaving them in the dust in no time, she can even bump the power plant up a notch too and give you some spare power

Guess too few people were using the Engineering grind, so fdev has made it mandatory now.

Gonna need the hard drive space this year, anyway, so something had to go...

 

[Ser_Slack]

I don't know whether to give you advice or allow you to discover the joy of how to best outfit ships for different tasks.

 

[Alwayslate]

That's very weak defence of your ship. And beam lasers without engineering made it look worse.
Pulse lasers are genarally recommended for new combatants if they want to use lasers. Use hull reinforcement packages instead of cargo racks for combats to strengthen defence. When escaping, use high wake (jump to another system) as it is not affected by mass lock factors like low wake/supercruise.

 

[Amargosa]

Although a reasonably built and engineered ApsX can easily dispatch Elite Pythons and even Anacondas

Not even remotely easy, it would be a very tough fight that would require all of a player's focus. Even in a fully engineered Corvette one needs to use SCBs and hurry with killing them. They hit like a fully loaded truck.

 

[Bortas]

Not even remotely easy, it would be a very tough fight that would require all of a player's focus.

"Easy" is probably highly subjective. Personally I'm regularly slaughtering Elite Anacondas in RESs in my old Dropship and could 100% do the same in an Asp outfitted for combat.

Even in a fully engineered Corvette one needs to use SCBs and hurry with killing them. They hit like a fully loaded truck.

You are probably doing something seriously wrong, mate... I could have a tea while mass-slaughtering them one-handedly in my Vette without even getting a dent in my shields.

 

[sirpuma]

What rank was the npc?
What kind of engeneering/out fitting does your asp have?
Were you doing a mission and if so what rank was it?

Some npcs are engineered and they have amazing controle over there ship as they dont need fingers and have split second responses what with being a computer and this can make them able to out manuver you if you perhaps arnt so nimble fingered with the thruster controlls and pips. Especially if your fat with cargo.

Also.. *voice of chang* bwut did youw diiiiieee?
Every one like a challenge and its no fun to win them all. Thogh i do have mix feelings some times about the AI.

1. I was too busy getting my butt kicked to see his rank.
2. Currently the only engineering I have is an improvement to my system scanner.
3. I was doing one of those "Improve our financial position" missions and had 48 units of Reactive Armor to deliver. I don't recall the rank of the mission now, it was one or two levels higher than me. My combat rank is Harmless 95%, Trading Merchant 41% and Exploration Trailblazer 60%

And No, I lived. I got away with 35% hull only because a Federation combat ship jumped in to take him on, but he lost.

 

[Han Zulu]

1. I was too busy getting my butt kicked to see his rank.
2. Currently the only engineering I have is an improvement to my system scanner.

Then I suggest you get some engineering done.

Shields, boosters, thrusters, etc.

 

[60mm]

Not even remotely easy, it would be a very tough fight that would require all of a player's focus. Even in a fully engineered Corvette one needs to use SCBs and hurry with killing them. They hit like a fully loaded truck.

You need some practice mate, I cross my fingers for Elite Anacondas/Corvettes because they are easy g5 Mats and I never have to pop SCB. Barely get hit actually. They are pretty easy to out-maneuver if you make good use of your Vertical/Lateral Thrusters.

OP, since you are not fitted well for or very experienced with Combat, try not to lose Interdiction mini-games. Not very hard. If you do get Interdicted and don't feel you will escape it, put all Pips to Shields, quickly submit, then immediately Chaff/Boost and do Evasive Maneuvers while charging FSD to escape.

Unless you are confident about your abilities vs your attacker, I'd recommend just avoiding combat and planning on running. Especially when carrying Cargo. No shame in being smart!

o7

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Is there an intentional imbalance in ship performance between the ships I fly and the ships NPCs attack me with? I just barely escaped a Python which attacked me because I had a freight job. It buzzed around my Asp Explorer like an angry mosquito blasting me with massive weapons and sporting shields my 2x2d and 2x1E beam lasers couldn't hurt and I could never get turned fast enough to follow him. But when I look at the ship specs in the ship yard, the Asp is supposed to be able to out maneuver the Python and be faster. But no. And it took forever (at least twice as long as normal) for my FSD to kick in so I could get away. And he caught up with me a couple seconds later and tried to stop me again. I barely managed to avoid getting stopped the second time. He was moving like a formula 1 car and I was moving like a dead whale. What gives?

Edit: My ship specs
Core
Asp Explorer
1C Bulkhead
5A Power Plant (Max)
4A Power Distributor (Max)
5B Thrusters
5B Sensors
4E Life Support
5C Fuel Tank

Optional
6C Shields
5E Cargo
3C Fuel Tank
2ea 3E Cargo Rack
2B FSD Interdictor
1 DSS
1 Planetary Approach

Weapons
2ea 2D Beam Laser
2ea 1E Beam Laser
2ea 1B Seeker Missile

Utility
0B Shield Booster
2ea 0A Shield Booster
0D wake Scanner

Top standard speed, unladen:200, Boost:350
And no spare power (deployed power at 99%) If I try and increase anything else I go way over power.

You challenged a more combat-capable multi-role ship with a less combat-capable no-role ship.
Advantage: Python

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Get some engineering done for sure.
I'd get rid of the B rated core modules.
Use D rated for life support and sensors.
Use A on everything else.

Use a Biweave or A rated shield.
Forget the extra fuel tank and use a scoop instead, if needed.
Use frag cannons in the mediums and pulses in the smalls, at least until you get the engineers unlocked.
The interdictor is somewhat out of place.

Simply put the Asp isn't a great combat ship.
Get a Vulture if you want a cheap combat ship.

The Python has the advantage of larger hardpoints and a very powerful distributor, in addition to much better defensive potential.
While you should eventually be able to kill the NPC versions with ease, even in an Asp, on paper they're quite a bit tougher than it.

For unengineered cargo runner with the ability to take on a few NPCs, I'd point you to something like this: https://s.orbis.zone/1vx9
Alternately put an A class shield in the c5 slot and carry more cargo.
That build will future proof you somewhat.


Great video on engineering the Asp here, though I use the armored powerplant.

[video=youtube;WkmgrFet5ac]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkmgrFet5ac[/video]

 

[sirpuma]

I don't know whether to give you advice or allow you to discover the joy of how to best outfit ships for different tasks.

I like hearing and take into consideration various people's advice, but I also like to experiment and try different setups for different missions. In this case my primary mission wasn't combat, it was the cargo transport, but I was interdicted and thought I might be able to handle it since the game hadn't really hit me too hard lately. I'm still a bit of a "noob" to this version and that learning curve, damn it's expensive.

That's very weak defence of your ship. And beam lasers without engineering made it look worse.
Pulse lasers are genarally recommended for new combatants if they want to use lasers. Use hull reinforcement packages instead of cargo racks for combats to strengthen defence. When escaping, use high wake (jump to another system) as it is not affected by mass lock factors like low wake/supercruise.

I'm still working on getting the engineering stuff done with Felicity and Elvira. Part of the problem is not having the super rare materials needed for engineered upgrades. I would also prefer to upgrade A level equipment rather than getting stuck with sub par performance. I'm still building up wealth to upgrade the ship, then I can work on upgrades. I don't do a lot of combat, just an occasional contract on low level pirates.

 

[sirpuma]

OP, since you are not fitted well for or very experienced with Combat, try not to lose Interdiction mini-games. Not very hard. If you do get Interdicted and don't feel you will escape it, put all Pips to Shields, quickly submit, then immediately Chaff/Boost and do Evasive Maneuvers while charging FSD to escape.

Unless you are confident about your abilities vs your attacker, I'd recommend just avoiding combat and planning on running. Especially when carrying Cargo. No shame in being smart!

o7

Some of this lingo is losing me. What do you mean by SCB and "put all Pips to Shields"?

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Pips are the capacitor adjustments.
Shields are SYS.

SCB = shield cell bank.

This is the precursor vid to the above:

[video=youtube;Uh9AWV_BWo0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh9AWV_BWo0[/video]

 

[Jmanis]

Some of this lingo is losing me. What do you mean by SCB and "put all Pips to Shields"?

With your power distributor on the right panel, more bars in the SYS setting (rather than ENG and WEP) = stronger shields.

SCB = shield cell bank

Also, that asp fitting looks pretty paper- thin esp with those 6c shields.