Skimmer Missions: STILL Spawning Too Few Skimmers (Bug: 2016)

[Blackcompany]

Took one of these missions for the first time in quite some time today. Figured for sure they would be okay by now.

Nope. STILL bugged.

A quick Google search revealed that the sentry spawning bug was reported in May. Of 2016. At least that far back. And its STILL not fixed.

Immediately sold my SRV Bay. For the last time. Between this and the abject boredom that is the tech demo level "prospecting" game play (I mean, shooting ROCKS; really?) I have simply resolved that the motion sickness simply isnt worth it.

But really...2016. Isnt it about time we fix this?

 

[Crank Larson]

What do you mean, don't spawn enough? I've been doing loads of these missions recently.

The idea is that you need to hunt these skimmers to fulfil your quota, not that the game will automatically spawn the number you need to kill at a particular base. There's no bug here.

 

[Blackcompany]

What do you mean, don't spawn enough? I've been doing loads of these missions recently.

The idea is that you need to hunt these skimmers to fulfil your quota, not that the game will automatically spawn the number you need to kill at a particular base. There's no bug here.

Please.

the game says "Clear Six Skimmers from Thruston." So...I go there. And the game spawns three skimmers.

You CANT clear SIX skimmers, FROM THE DESIGNATED MISSION LOCATION, when the game only spawns THREE.

Its broken. Period. And its been broken for going on TWO YEARS.

 

[Jmanis]

It's being fixed in 3.0

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/405404-New-Skimmer-Mission-Targets

 

[Crank Larson]

You CANT clear SIX skimmers, FROM THE DESIGNATED MISSION LOCATION, when the game only spawns THREE.

Really? Wonder how I've been managing it then. Oh, it's by driving around the mission location looking for skimmers...

 

[Exluna]

I initially thought it was bugged as well. I flew around for a bit, went to a station, then I went back to check again and the base spawned another bunch of skimmers. I think the bases can only spawn 3 of the things at once perhaps? I'm not sure but I complete the missions now but killing 3 of them, flying out in to orbit then flying back in to spawn another 3. Seems to work.

 

[SteveWithaD]

I did one the other day, it needed 12, got all of them and even left some for the next guy. check the area around the base up to 2km out and stay close to the ground you will find them littering the planet.

 

[Crank Larson]

I initially thought it was bugged as well. I flew around for a bit, went to a station, then I went back to check again and the base spawned another bunch of skimmers. I think the bases can only spawn 3 of the things at once perhaps? I'm not sure but I complete the missions now but killing 3 of them, flying out in to orbit then flying back in to spawn another 3. Seems to work.

Bases can spawn lots. H.G. Wells base spawns 6 or 8, and is lawless (so you can attack everything with no worries ).

I did one the other day, it needed 12, got all of them and even left some for the next guy. check the area around the base up to 2km out and stay close to the ground you will find them littering the planet.

You can find them up to 100km around the base. When I drive around, I can find the cargo drops with more skimmers every few minutes (never takes very long).

 

[woodbane]

I initially thought it was bugged as well. I flew around for a bit, went to a station, then I went back to check again and the base spawned another bunch of skimmers. I think the bases can only spawn 3 of the things at once perhaps? I'm not sure but I complete the missions now but killing 3 of them, flying out in to orbit then flying back in to spawn another 3. Seems to work.

It’s because the game only spawns x number per instance. That’s why taking off and going in to SC and then dropping back to the surface works as it re-instances the base. Alternatively, until it’s fixed, do what I do. Go to base, kill 3 skimmers. Log out to menu, log back in again, kill 3 more skimmers. Rinse and repeat until quota filled.

 

[Vasious]

Please.

the game says "Clear Six Skimmers from Thruston." So...I go there. And the game spawns three skimmers.

You CANT clear SIX skimmers, FROM THE DESIGNATED MISSION LOCATION, when the game only spawns THREE.

Its broken. Period. And its been broken for going on TWO YEARS.

Thruston's area of control is a 300 km radius of the structure, as per your lower left HUD panel.

At the base or POIs in the area will generate the Mission targets, so patrol the area and destroy the skimmers.

You are on a Search and Destroy mission after all.

Go to area, locate targets in area, detroy targets in area.

Why should they all just be clumped as a group for you.

It would be like in a WW2 sub game getting the mission sink 6 oil tankers in the south china see and expecting when you get there to have all six in a group ready for you.

 

[SentineI]

I did one the other day, it needed 12, got all of them and even left some for the next guy. check the area around the base up to 2km out and stay close to the ground you will find them littering the planet.

You can find them up to 100km around the base. When I drive around, I can find the cargo drops with more skimmers every few minutes (never takes very long).

This might well be the explanation. I was surprised by some "far out" skimmers a couple of times myself.

I initially thought it was bugged as well. I flew around for a bit, went to a station, then I went back to check again and the base spawned another bunch of skimmers. I think the bases can only spawn 3 of the things at once perhaps? I'm not sure but I complete the missions now but killing 3 of them, flying out in to orbit then flying back in to spawn another 3. Seems to work.

That's a work-around, exploiting a game design flaw limitation, rather than an intended solution. And a bit immersion breaking IMHO.

 

[insanephoton]

The thing with skimmer missions is that attacking the ones at the base is the worst way of completing it even if they did spawn enough. Attacking the ones at the base will land you with a fine and perhaps more in 3.0 and the risk of getting attacked by a locally based ship. Hunting the POIs keeps your criminal record clean, earns you a 1000 cr fro each illegal skimmer you down (though you should make sure they are wanted before attacking), avoids the intervention of hostile ships and sometimes rewards you with salvage.

 

[ShadowWolf Kell]

The thing with skimmer missions is that attacking the ones at the base is the worst way of completing it even if they did spawn enough. Attacking the ones at the base will land you with a fine and perhaps more in 3.0 and the risk of getting attacked by a locally based ship. Hunting the POIs keeps your criminal record clean, earns you a 1000 cr fro each illegal skimmer you down (though you should make sure they are wanted before attacking), avoids the intervention of hostile ships and sometimes rewards you with salvage.

Yes in 3.0 it will summon ATR which is definitely going to ruin your day (in a non-anarchy system.)

 

[GODofDUTY83]

When I take a skimmer mission I dont get even one to spawn at location.
These missions are humped and where missions I enjoyed. Used to attack the skimmers with my fighter.

 

[Faded Glory]

Well, I just finished two for about 16 million credits.

That said, it's my choice of gameplay to fly / drive around within the jurisdiction finding the random POI's. To be fair to the OP, the fact that not enough skimmers spawn within an instance at the base where you are directed to clear them out is disappointing, and a very long standing one, as they point out.

 

[Exluna]

It’s because the game only spawns x number per instance. That’s why taking off and going in to SC and then dropping back to the surface works as it re-instances the base. Alternatively, until it’s fixed, do what I do. Go to base, kill 3 skimmers. Log out to menu, log back in again, kill 3 more skimmers. Rinse and repeat until quota filled.

A simple log out works too then? Excellent, save me the trouble for flying in to orbit then flying back down again. Thank you commander!