Shinrarta - the goal of the thargoid incursion?

[True Phoenix]

Been monitoring the galaxy map for a few weeks. The pattern appears to be an ever expanding bell mouth that centers on Shinrarta.

The base attacks are now 41LY away. Shinrarta is in outbreak mode.

They've come looking for Jameson descendants, maybe its time to move bases....

If only I could find the enthusiasm to join in.

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

Been monitoring the galaxy map for a few weeks. The pattern appears to be an ever expanding bell mouth that centers on Shinrarta.

The base attacks are now 41LY away. Shinrarta is in outbreak mode.

They've come looking for Jameson descendants, maybe its time to move bases....

If only I could find the enthusiasm to join in.

Maybe this will teach the Pilots Federation they cant control everything.

 

[True Phoenix]

Wrong crowd, Dark Wheel? Someone give me a pill to get me going again....

 

[Riverside]

I think if the Thargoids wanted to attack a specific system they could just do it. Could be they are looking for something, and maybe it is Founders, maybe it's the Guardian sites on the other side of the bubble, maybe it's confirmation bias because you are starting to notice & actually there's more going on in the lower half of the bubble. Could be a lot of things.

Just bear in mind that it's not necessarily the system being attacked that's the problem, it's how long services are down for while under repair that really affects the community so build those T-9s & Trade Cutters while you can

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

I think if the Thargoids wanted to attack a specific system they could just do it. Could be they are looking for something, and maybe it is Founders, maybe it's the Guardian sites on the other side of the bubble, maybe it's confirmation bias because you are staring to notice & actually there's more going on in the lower half of the bubble. Could be a lot of things.

Just bear in mind that it's not necessarily the system being attacked that's the problem, it's how long services are down for while under repair that really affects the community so build those T-9s & Trade Cutters while you can

The only reason the Thargoids are struggling against humanity is because of us independent Pilots. Where else to strike other then the control center for all of us?

 

[Riverside]

The only reason the Thargoids are struggling against humanity is because of us independent Pilots. Where else to strike other then the control center for all of us?

How would the Thargoids know where to attack? I can only assume a heatmap. Anecdotally some of the systems recently attacked have been important for resupply but pretty low traffic. (CE Bootis, GQ Virginis, 61 Virginis etc).

So it could be that there is a strategic plan (by the Thargoids) to attack the supply line for technology & Industry, but it feels more like a plague of locusts than a coordinated war. They are attracted by something, or looking for something, or possibly hiding from something.

Statistical evidence might reveal a pattern, I'm not playing that game. I'm just a pilot & I'll do what I can to help without (deliberately) making things worse.

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

How would the Thargoids know where to attack? I can only assume a heatmap. Anecdotally some of the systems recently attacked have been important for resupply but pretty low traffic. (CE Bootis, GQ Virginis, 61 Virginis etc).

So it could be that there is a strategic plan (by the Thargoids) to attack the supply line for technology & Industry, but it feels more like a plague of locusts than a coordinated war. They are attracted by something, or looking for something, or possibly hiding from something.

Statistical evidence might reveal a pattern, I'm not playing that game. I'm just a pilot & I'll do what I can to help without (deliberately) making things worse.

They probably dont have any specific information(like we dont have any on them other then that there from another galaxy possibly) but through the scans they have done on us through Hyperdictions im sure they could figure out the way if they really wanted to hunt us.

 

[Riverside]

They probably dont have any specific information(like we dont have any on them other then that there from another galaxy possibly) but through the scans they have done on us through Hyperdictions im sure they could figure out the way if they really wanted to hunt us.

Possible sources of intelligence for Thargoids:

A Heatmap of activity. They don't use supercruise, I assume they don't see this activity, but they use realspace & witchspace so they can see jumps in & out of a system (player traffic) and they can see and interact with objects in realspace (attack stations, players & NPCs). If this were a main source of info (and they were planning a coordinated attack) they would attack higher traffic systems.

Occupied Escape Pods. Personally I see this more as technology research (as we do by gathering samples for Ram Tah etc) but arguably they could probe or interrogate those they capture for information. Most pilots they 'capture' (NPCs) will be lower ranked, and Founders is not a system one 'discovers' until one is Elite in one area (ie good enough to not get captured). So it may be that they are aware there is a secret system, home to the Pilots Federation that would be strategically key but by the same method they would definitely know about LHS3447 (a starter system) and I don't see that being attacked any time soon

This may be an insult to whichever Dev is playing Dungeon Master atm but I don't see a coordinated plan, I just see moths attracted to a light, or perhaps sharks testing things by biting them.

 

[Lightspeed]

I sense a Shinrata "CG" coming soon [where is it]

 

[Lightspeed]

Just bear in mind that it's not necessarily the system being attacked that's the problem, it's how long services are down for while under repair that really affects the community so build those T-9s & Trade Cutters while you can

There must be thousands of commanders, including me, basing a fleet there and using the hypermarket for this and that. It must be very tempting for FD to focus on disrupting that 'comfortable' existence.

 

[Riverside]

There must be thousands of commanders, including me, basing a fleet there and using the hypermarket for this and that. It must be very tempting for FD to focus on disrupting that 'comfortable' existence.

I'd not given it any thought prior to reading the OP of this thread but I think Founders would be a good place to escalate how players perceive a Thargoid Incursion.

Firstly there is no way (AFAIK) for players to prevent an attack, so Jameson Memorial is as good a target as any, and the removal of outfitting & shipyard stock from there would create strong motivation amongst the community to get the station repaired (and maybe help create a little respect for the PvE truckers).

Thargoid NPCs could act more like the Police in High Security systems, bringing a significant NPC threat to any realspace instance created in the system (ie any interdiction or USS carries a significant risk of Thargoids showing up to investigate), jumps in & out of the system by players or ships meeting certain criteria might again generate a significant NPC threat to be countered either by force or guile. It could be good.

The station would be repaired of course, by motivated players that would need to continue to bring in supplies & research info to maintain station services for the benefit of all. The Thargoid incursion could remain an existential threat in the system to discourage players from hanging around too long in any one area, it could be a good place to have a persistent Thargoid presence.

And of course it wouldn't affect newbies because it would be gated by experience. There is a lot to like

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

I'd not given it any thought prior to reading the OP of this thread but I think Founders would be a good place to escalate how players perceive a Thargoid Incursion.

Firstly there is no way (AFAIK) for players to prevent an attack, so Jameson Memorial is as good a target as any, and the removal of outfitting & shipyard stock from there would create strong motivation amongst the community to get the station repaired (and maybe help create a little respect for the PvE truckers).

Thargoid NPCs could act more like the Police in High Security systems, bringing a significant NPC threat to any realspace instance created in the system (ie any interdiction or USS carries a significant risk of Thargoids showing up to investigate), jumps in & out of the system by players or ships meeting certain criteria might again generate a significant NPC threat to be countered either by force or guile. It could be good.

The station would be repaired of course, by motivated players that would need to continue to bring in supplies & research info to maintain station services for the benefit of all. The Thargoid incursion could remain an existential threat in the system to discourage players from hanging around too long in any one area, it could be a good place to have a persistent Thargoid presence.

And of course it wouldn't affect newbies because it would be gated by experience. There is a lot to like

Or there'd be mountains of salt on the forums about how terrible it is to have to fly around to outfit ships.
Followed by more salt when gankers target all the truckers flying in to repair the system.
I can't wait

Oh, I forgot - there'd be a mountain of salt from players who aren't Elite and so aren't able to experience the 'cool' new Thargoid behavior.

 

[Morbad]

Where else to strike other then the control center for all of us?

You have a far higher opinion of Shinrarta's value than either myself or my CMDR.

How would the Thargoids know where to attack?

I just assume they can read.

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

You have a far higher opinion of Shinrarta's value than either myself or my CMDR.

It isnt opinion its fact. Pilots Federation is the reason for our Starport Services and our covas and they are based in Founders World ie Shinrarta.

 

[Riverside]

Or there'd be mountains of salt on the forums about how terrible it is to have to fly around to outfit ships.
Followed by more salt when gankers target all the truckers flying in to repair the system.
I can't wait

Oh, I forgot - there'd be a mountain of salt from players who aren't Elite and so aren't able to experience the 'cool' new Thargoid behavior.

Repairing a damaged station isn't impossible, there just aren't enough Truckers doing it compared to the rate stations are being damaged (understandable, it's worthy but dull work). It will still be possible to buy & outfit ships, just not in that particular one-stop shop. No assets are lost by players, only the convenience, which isn't morally any different from what FDev are already doing by attacking other systems that may be the home base for some players.

I can certainly understand why FDev might not include special systems like Founders in the Thargoid attack, but those reasons wouldn't be lore-based.

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

Repairing a damaged station isn't impossible, there just aren't enough Truckers doing it compared to the rate stations are being damaged (understandable, it's worthy but dull work). It will still be possible to buy & outfit ships, just not in that particular one-stop shop. No assets are lost by players, only the convenience, which isn't morally any different from what FDev are already doing by attacking other systems that may be the home base for some players.

I can certainly understand why FDev might not include special systems like Founders in the Thargoid attack, but those reasons wouldn't be lore-based.

If its a important system im sure truckers would race over like they did in the Maia/Merope area

 

[Morbad]

It isnt opinion its fact. Pilots Federation is the reason for our Starport Services and our covas and they are based in Founders World ie Shinrarta.

I don't need starports or Covas and my CMDR doesn't particularly like the Pilot's Federation.

 

[Captain Thea Kreutzer]

I don't need starports or Covas and my CMDR doesn't particularly like the Pilot's Federation.

Apparently your pilot doesnt like ships either

 

[Riverside]

I don't need starports or Covas and my CMDR doesn't particularly like the Pilot's Federation.

This theorycrafting is not contingent on you Morbad. I didn't get involved until some of my regular haunts were damaged, you don't need to help if you don't want to. But if experienced players are bored it might provide some altruistic motivation for the sake of variety. Founders isn't my home base either.

 

[EdzUp]

One thing comes to mind, maybe they are attacking bigger population systems. They wouldn't be part of the pilots federation and more than likely wouldn't bother with human ideals or protocol. They would just see systems, aliens and tech that's it.