Horizons Strange failure?

[Mike Reacher]

I was interdicted today.
tried to get away. was aiming for the blue target but didn't succeed.
I could not get to face the Python. tried to jump. Then my FSD got stuck in the middle. Like in it moved up half way then stopped. I couldn't get to jump and I could not boost.
Weird huh?
The Python didn't attack me then, and just kept flying around me. He was Master. Also my speed was zero. Could not go forward.
Logged out. Logged on. Problem cleared. Python blew up my Cobra.
Got new Cobra. Python blew up my new Cobra.
Got to my target planet by cheating. The AI (Alex somebody) kept trying to kill my third Cobra. Even attacked the Station. (Alcala)
When I tried to shoot him in the first instance (Turret weapon, fire at will) I did not effect his shield or hull. I don't know if that is because he was flying a 55 million cr ship. (Input here please)
I have the maximum turret guns on the Cobra. Is it possible the Python was a glitch, or is his shield and hull to tough for a cobra.
Lot of questions. Please tell me what I need to know.

 

[Chris Simon]

The FSD stuck in the middle is called Mass Lock. If a heavier ship than yours is nearby it slows the charging of the FSD, sometimes quite significantly. (But only if you are trying to enter the supercruise. If you are jumping out of the system, it charges normally, so it's advisable to do that, if you are attacked by a bigger ship)

I got nothing on the 0 throttle. I would need more information.

Yes, these guys who you can't get rid of are annoying. If you can't kill him, just jump nito another system entirely and return later. That usually helps. Sorry for your Cobras.

And regarding the no effect - turreted weapons are really weak in comparison with other types, so it's possible that the weapons actually had effect, but simply did so little damage that it would need to be much longer before the Python would start losing shields visibly.
Also on a Cobra, the four turrets are placed so badly that they can't fire all at once, unless the target is directly in front of you, or behind you and slightly above.so that's another damage output reduction.

So that's that. Try to jump out of the system, next time. You'll see if it works.

 

[Robin of Spiritwood]

The weapon sizes on a Cobra are not very large. Turreted versions have the lowest damage output. So you are using the lowest possible attacking method, against a fairly powerful enemy.

Boost failure typically happens if the ENG capacitator is too low. Or if the thrusters have malfunctioned, though that's never happened to me during a FSD jump. It might explain the stuck jump cycle, though, as well as the zero velocity. Is it possible that they were deactivated or had module malfunction from heat or weapon special effect, during the jump somehow? Like by a bad macro?
Another documented source of malfunction is Unknown Artefacts action, so do you recall what system this took place in?

Logging out and in was quick thinking. Why did it reset the module if it were damaged? Sounds like some sort of bug.

 

[Mike Reacher]

I was in Sui Guei trying to get to Alcala Dock. I think I'd come from Rotanev. I went from Rotanev to somewhere and then Sui Guei.
I can't remember which intermediate system I went through, as the return trip seems to pick a different route.

Does a Python mass lock a Cobra. Need that info to understand what happened. Mass lock telltale was not lit! I was only near the entrance to the systems the first time, but no mass lock. I remember now that I was inhibited. But I don't think that should stop any forward or back motion. Or, for that matter, a complete stop of the FSD jump.

I still have not mastered the escape FSD jump. I just like doing missions for stations.

I bought an ASP explorer before these three Cobras and could not fight with it. It got blown up real quick from an Eagle I think it was. Could not even track him. Ditched that idea.

I probably need to practice the escape jump. Got 10 mil credits. Enough to leave off money making for a while.
Trouble is, money making is addictive.

Thanks people.

 

[Chris Simon]

Yes, the part about you, unable to move, is weird. I have no idea why that might happen.

And yes, if you see the message "drive inhibited..." that means you are mass locked.
You can check the coriolis.io site and see how much different ships weight. There are a couple of exceptions in how this work, but as a general idea the overall mass difference of the two ships is a good indicator which ship mass-lock which ship.

 

[777Driver]

Does a Python mass lock a Cobra. Need that info to understand what happened. Mass lock telltale was not lit! I was only near the entrance to the systems the first time, but no mass lock. I remember now that I was inhibited. But I don't think that should stop any forward or back motion. Or, for that matter, a complete stop of the FSD jump.

People call it mass lock, it is actually mass inhibition. The only thing that can mass lock is stations/stellar bodies and Capital ships.

Here are the mass inhibition factors, the Cobra is low down on the food chain. You always have the option to escape mass inhibition by jumping to a different system, the inhibition only slows down the FSD charge to supercruise.

Mass Inhibition Factor

6 Sidewinder, Eagle, Hauler
7 Adder, Courier, Viper
8 Type 6, Cobra, Diamondback
10 Vulture,Type 7
11 Asp
12 Clipper, Fer-De-Lance
13 Orca
14 Federal Dropship/FAS/FGS
16 Type 9
17 Python
23 Anaconda
24 Corvette
27 Cutter