Not in solo they don't. Those are desync bugs; your client has lost contact with whoever's game has authority over the interceptor so for you, it just keeps doing whatever it was last doing (until the connection fixes itself or a different machine becomes the authority) then rubber-bands back to where it should be. That's a network issue, not an AI issue.
Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?
- Thread starter Aleks Zuno
- Start date
Victory in H Puppis! Well done to those fighting above Cook; definitely having over 1.6g present made for an interesting challenge.
HIP 21991 is doing well enough that there is no particular need to rush its completion; everyone there now is keeping it steady enough to finish in good time. The next four invasion systems should fit within this cycle easily enough, down to Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 below (I am sure @MVBanks will be glad to hear!). HIP 6913 should be at worst on the cusp of completion, though purely by time we could see Bi Dhorora plus one more system from next band down. HIP 25679 returns!
Top targets at 19:20 13th February 3309:
HIP 21991 Alert 86% — Taranis 26 Ly, 1182 Ls starport
Cao Tzu Invasion 50% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 46% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Minawara Invasion 42% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 34% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
HIP 6913 Invasion 30% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Bi Dhorora Invasion 26% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 21991 is doing well enough that there is no particular need to rush its completion; everyone there now is keeping it steady enough to finish in good time. The next four invasion systems should fit within this cycle easily enough, down to Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 below (I am sure @MVBanks will be glad to hear!). HIP 6913 should be at worst on the cusp of completion, though purely by time we could see Bi Dhorora plus one more system from next band down. HIP 25679 returns!
Top targets at 19:20 13th February 3309:
HIP 21991 Alert 86% — Taranis 26 Ly, 1182 Ls starport
Cao Tzu Invasion 50% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 46% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Minawara Invasion 42% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 34% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
HIP 6913 Invasion 30% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Bi Dhorora Invasion 26% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
Of course, the social menu is available while in game, no need to quit to main menu... Do I feel stupid now...
Yesteday I had a Basi first circle a CZ at 20km twice or three times, then it followed me almost 60km out, while was trying to repair mid-flight. I have long range sensors and even when it and its swarm were off my sensors, they were still following me. Probably not the main cause of interceptors flying out, but still... this kind of aggro is just absurd.
I just flew in to H Puppis this morning and ended up over Cook, and boy are my arms tired. That 1.6g gravity made me bellyflop over the ground more than once as I was trying to do things with repair limpets while avoiding getting killed by that Interceptor that wanted my butt. After two bellyflops I decided to take on the high-intensity AX combat zone near the Matheson Dock area. More things to shoot at, of course, but at least I didn't have to worry about hitting the ground again. Was going to log back in tonight after dinner to do some more but it seems to be resolved already.
Since there was a request for aid in AV-O b6-5 earlier I guess I'll head on over to that one. No star ports but two large planetary settlements. At least the gravity will be lower there.
Wakata forever.
Victory in HIP 21991! With Wednesday now functional I think we have at least four more Invasions this cycle; five if a clear choice arises, and six if those driving the Alert are now able to assist. Col 285 Sector ZE-P c6-11 and Mahlina join the fight!
Top targets at 02:30 14th February 3309:
Cao Tzu Invasion 66% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 52% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Minawara Invasion 46% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 42% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Probably two:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 32% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 32% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 30% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Hez Ur Invasion 28% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Liu Huang Invasion 26% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Depending on starship, I can imagine! I think I had an easier time generally with a Chieftain, though I was with an experienced AX pilot who reported that the Krait 2 laterals are not appropriate for that task, and I imagine heavies have it worst. I also took strictly no chances with Shutdown fields; it was tempting to try staying low and set down as my precaution, but I went with boosting upwards. We had one occasion with an unavoidable double Shutdown, and that gravity decelerated the upward-boosted Chieftain almost exactly to zero during that time.
It looks quite safely projected to complete! It is also above 33%, so your support should count given that it has nothing more to lose.
Be fair, now—can you say the same about defending an Outpost? It is well to use the best you can at a planetary attack of course, but there is nothing wrong with flying something which is a bit more general-purpose!
Top targets at 02:30 14th February 3309:
Cao Tzu Invasion 66% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 52% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Minawara Invasion 46% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 42% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Probably two:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 32% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 32% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 30% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Hez Ur Invasion 28% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Liu Huang Invasion 26% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Depending on starship, I can imagine! I think I had an easier time generally with a Chieftain, though I was with an experienced AX pilot who reported that the Krait 2 laterals are not appropriate for that task, and I imagine heavies have it worst. I also took strictly no chances with Shutdown fields; it was tempting to try staying low and set down as my precaution, but I went with boosting upwards. We had one occasion with an unavoidable double Shutdown, and that gravity decelerated the upward-boosted Chieftain almost exactly to zero during that time.
It looks quite safely projected to complete! It is also above 33%, so your support should count given that it has nothing more to lose.
Be fair, now—can you say the same about defending an Outpost? It is well to use the best you can at a planetary attack of course, but there is nothing wrong with flying something which is a bit more general-purpose!
For outposts, Condas are very upset that they need to loose the weight to fit medium size.
They go on a diet and become Pythons.
Cao Tzu closing soon, after which it would be as well for pilots at M. Taranis to move over to Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5. Similarly, when Orong closes it would be as well to stay at M. Oya and move to Minawara, which for some reason I keep reading as "mini-Awara". Hez Ur also looks to be very much within scope, and we have a quite nice lower band reaching one-third for defending at the end of the cycle. HIP 19198 returns!
Top targets at 19:00 14th February 3309:
Cao Tzu Invasion 90% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 68% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 54% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Minawara Invasion 52% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 42% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Maybe one:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 36% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 36% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
HIP 20577 Invasion 32% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 30% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Top targets at 19:00 14th February 3309:
Cao Tzu Invasion 90% — Taranis 21 Ly, 3 ports, 2225 Ls planet attack
Orong Invasion 68% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 54% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Minawara Invasion 52% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 42% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Maybe one:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 36% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 36% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
HIP 20577 Invasion 32% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 30% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Victory in Cao Tzu! Orong and Minawara are remaining steady, meanwhile there are huge surges at Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 and Hez Ur; this should be fine, with all of those four still projected to complete this cycle!
Top targets at 01:00 15th February 3309:
Orong Invasion 78% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 68% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Minawara Invasion 58% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 54% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Maybe one:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 40% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 40% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
HIP 20577 Invasion 34% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 32% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Top targets at 01:00 15th February 3309:
Orong Invasion 78% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 68% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Minawara Invasion 58% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Hez Ur Invasion 54% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Maybe one:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 40% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 40% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
HIP 20577 Invasion 34% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 32% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
As detected earlier, Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 has surged to the extent of being on the cusp of completion and Hez Ur has risen a place. Bi Dhorora is pulling ahead of the lower band and actually can finish quite narrowly, 14th with 1411% given an organised attempt at it. It would be lovely to spend 100% on it rather than 133%, but no worries either way. Alert activity spotted in HIP 20527!
Top targets at 09:00 15th February 3309:
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 96% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Orong Invasion 86% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hez Ur Invasion 64% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Minawara Invasion 62% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Narrow:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 44% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
Surplus:
HIP 6913 Invasion 40% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 36% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 32% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Top targets at 09:00 15th February 3309:
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 96% — Taranis 23 Ly, 1 port, 37 Ls planet attack, 22 Ls planet damage
Orong Invasion 86% — Oya 27 Ly, 2 ports, 1044 Ls outpost attack, 9 Ls planet + 17 Ls outpost damage
Hez Ur Invasion 64% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Minawara Invasion 62% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Narrow:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 44% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
Surplus:
HIP 6913 Invasion 40% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 36% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 32% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
Question - have people felt that Invasions are somewhat easier this week? Being on target for 13/14 rather than the 8-10 of a few weeks back does seem to be a difference in aggregate, and it's backed up by the basic EDDN measure showing generally lower totals for systems than in previous weeks, but does it feel that way on the ground?
Is it the extra activities for Invasions helping to push things along a bit, or perhaps when they added them they happened to rebalance the existing activities as well in a way that ends up in favour of what people were doing anyway?
Is it the extra activities for Invasions helping to push things along a bit, or perhaps when they added them they happened to rebalance the existing activities as well in a way that ends up in favour of what people were doing anyway?
Well, I suppose on the one hand we are getting better. ^^
MB the new 6-modshards Instagib builds are becoming more prolific, speeding up the resolution of CZs?
The new progression rule (-33% total instead of complete reset) helps as well -- also bc now ppl don't mind throwing extra effort in on a wednesday, since they don't have to worry that it's all in vain if they don't reach the full 100%.
Personally I'm not fighting this week, I'm out farming Guardian bloops to try new builds. ^^
MB the new 6-modshards Instagib builds are becoming more prolific, speeding up the resolution of CZs?
The new progression rule (-33% total instead of complete reset) helps as well -- also bc now ppl don't mind throwing extra effort in on a wednesday, since they don't have to worry that it's all in vain if they don't reach the full 100%.
Personally I'm not fighting this week, I'm out farming Guardian bloops to try new builds. ^^
I get the feeling that activities have been rebalanced to better match the proportions that people were doing. I also feel like there's less people overall still fighting (burnout is growing, and a lot of people are vacationing at Hogwarts...) so it seems unlikely to be a result of greater human resistance.
I don't know about "easier" but they're more challenging. I've been switching out between supply missions, evac missions and combat just to mix it up a little bit. Sometimes, during combat, I've gotten my poor little Krait blown up three times each play session, while other times I've managed to do three launches and battles without getting blown up once before my trigger finger gives out.
I think it may be that the non-pewpew missions are getting people involved. Not all of us are good at combat (lord knows I'm not the "ace" I'd wish to be). One of the most challenging to me is evac missions in an Orca, fully loaded with passenger modules or a Python landing at an outpost (takes medium pads). Getting through the firefight is one thing. Getting INTO the system while having to fly through 3 (count 'em: THREE) star systems controlled by Thargoids, hyperdicted three times in a row, landing in the middle of a war zone, then flying back OUT through three star systems (hyperdicted three times in a row) provides a much greater challenge sometimes.*
*A wise old monk from Tibet once said "When offered two different paths that lead to the same destination, always choose the more difficult of the two." I guess it builds character. The women and children in the passenger compartments may not always agree.
It depends. The battle in Cao Tzu was easy, low gravity planet and a lot of CMDRs in Condas.
But yesterday in Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 was tough one. High gravity, no Condas, fewer CMDRs.
My Krait got blown once, one time almost blown - landed with 6% of hull with caustic damage.
Took long time to kill both hydras and the instance was bugged and didn't complete as "a cherry on the top".
It always depends from number of cmdrs in CZ and their skills. And please try Hez Ur, Jeschke Orbital - it's much harder - 3 hydras at the end, more scouts, more aggressive, swarms, and the worst thing is suicide swarm. It can strip 30% of conda's hull in seconds.
I think they are about the same as they were, but for a minute I did wonder if they were actually a bit harder. Last week we cleared a system in record time and this week it took a bit longer but ultimately seemed no more difficult than usual, so we were probably just down a few people. Burnout is happening all over. Got a bit worried when we hit Hez Ur on Monday afternoon with only ten pips done and the slow movement at first but it picked up and has a good chance of completion now.
Doesn't seem so but without knowing what they do behind the scenes we can't rule it out either. Rescues alone in Invasion systems still seem to make faster progress than deliveries alone and in Alert systems vice versa and that is unchanged as far as I can tell, but nothing should be done alone unless it's the only thing to do there, and combining activities continues to work best of all.
The new activities like collecting escape pods are pretty time consuming since they are collected from signal sources. Combat Aftermath, AX Weapons Fire and AX Ship Signatures. If you are lucky and find a good signal with 20 or so minutes on it you can maybe half fill your hold by farming it like a High Grade Emission. Otherwise you could spend interminable lengths of time trying to find the signals in the first place or flying from source to source - they are not en masse anywhere and there are frequently none at all. On a good run it took me the best part of an hour to get 96t of them in my Phantom which I refitted specifically for the purpose. In that time I could have rescued 800-1000 passengers. For this to be anything but a pain in the rear they need to put more signals in and also not have ones that are e.g. 400k ls away just because there's a planet there so they can't be reached before they expire (showing that they are nothing new but a C&P of USS). So I hope that regardless of any other rebalancing, existent or not, that the extra time and hassle is taken into account because right now it's strictly for masochists.
Victories in Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 and Orong! Hez Ur and Minawara are still just about on-course, assuming enough Commanders respond to the Thargsday change last cycle by treating Wednesdays normally now. A bit of variance tells me that it would be safer not to eye Bi Dhorora for completion this time, excepting an unexpected surge of course. It has been a quite nice cycle with Hez Ur and Minawara feeling more like a bonus than a target, so I support very much the choice to rest instead!
Top targets at 19:00 15th February 3309:
Hez Ur Invasion 72% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Minawara Invasion 68% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 48% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 44% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 38% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 34% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
This I find interesting; I found that fighting in 1.64g above Cook at H Puppis added some complexity for a Chieftain and a lot of difficulty for a Krait 2 given its weak boost (and general weakness while not boosting). I also saw no heavies, and thought to myself that it might be particularly daunting for a heavy. It inspired me to start building the Fer-de-Lance I have been eyeing for this, and it seems to me that having a small fleet to help one adapt to defending different types of port is a great idea.
I was about to suggest that outposts and high-gravity planets may be for medium fighters and that heavies can be for starports and low-gravity planets, but that said—
This is an immediate reminder of why I have been reluctant to build a AX heavy! I find the Krait 2 boost already poor enough not to use it due to Swarm missiles, so I think I would only ever use a heavy if 'twere shielded permanently. I imagine also it is a reason to avoid starport defence and only ever run it for low-gravity planetary, hence being a thoughtful pilot with an adaptable fleet!
I think that you are all doing indescribably well, and that your pilots are due a lot of thanks! The efficacy of combined actions aside, I would be quite interested in discovering some approximate measure of combat versus evacuation, for I cannot help but suspect that our silly combat toys might be negligible against an army of Economy-class passengers.
Top targets at 19:00 15th February 3309:
Hez Ur Invasion 72% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack
Minawara Invasion 68% — Oya 23 Ly, 3 ports, 412 Ls planet attack
Surplus activity:
Bi Dhorora Invasion 48% — Hadad 18 Ly, 3 ports, 1856 Ls planet attack
HIP 6913 Invasion 44% — Oya 20 Ly, 4 ports, 2255 Ls planet attack
HIP 20577 Invasion 38% — Indra 17 Ly, 2 ports, 169 Ls planet attack, 168 Ls outpost damage
Liu Huang Invasion 34% — Oya 17 Ly, 1 port, 11 Ls starport attack, 16 Ls outpost damage
This I find interesting; I found that fighting in 1.64g above Cook at H Puppis added some complexity for a Chieftain and a lot of difficulty for a Krait 2 given its weak boost (and general weakness while not boosting). I also saw no heavies, and thought to myself that it might be particularly daunting for a heavy. It inspired me to start building the Fer-de-Lance I have been eyeing for this, and it seems to me that having a small fleet to help one adapt to defending different types of port is a great idea.
I was about to suggest that outposts and high-gravity planets may be for medium fighters and that heavies can be for starports and low-gravity planets, but that said—
This is an immediate reminder of why I have been reluctant to build a AX heavy! I find the Krait 2 boost already poor enough not to use it due to Swarm missiles, so I think I would only ever use a heavy if 'twere shielded permanently. I imagine also it is a reason to avoid starport defence and only ever run it for low-gravity planetary, hence being a thoughtful pilot with an adaptable fleet!
I think that you are all doing indescribably well, and that your pilots are due a lot of thanks! The efficacy of combined actions aside, I would be quite interested in discovering some approximate measure of combat versus evacuation, for I cannot help but suspect that our silly combat toys might be negligible against an army of Economy-class passengers.