Thargoid invasion - Next target systems?

[Disemboweled Ego]

The problem isn't that the sampling is overpowered - it still takes hundreds of samples to clear a system and how many you can get before having to spend time going back to repair depends heavily on your skill, ship build and a bit of limpet rng luck.

The problem is that every other lower-risk activity is underpowered for the time spent - some of it like broken CZs and ultra-rare orhtrus USS might not be intentional, but assuming everything should have the low contribution of cargo hauling and passenger missions would just make things extremely grindy and static war that only moves in one direction slowly.

Setting it up so that there's actual progress with shifting front lines just makes things more interesting - the balance of things doesn't have to come from just making systems easier or harder to take, but also making the thargoids expand faster if needed.


Anyway, I did some mapping of the connections between control systems and if the Ceti Sector ZU-Y b3 experiment produces any results then there's an extremely clear set of 3-4 targets to go for next.

 

[Shnyrik]

Sorry, I just looked through the list of the systems with the thargoid war status on Inara and it seems I found an interesting pattern (I think I need a tinfoil hat): there are a number of password-protected systems in the region, some of them close to the maelstorms, and none of them got into the list of "victims".

It looks like the thargoids cannot attack them, because they are not able to complete missions for the minor factions distributing permits to jump in

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Sorry, I just looked through the list of the systems with the thargoid war status on Inara and it seems I found an interesting pattern (I think I need a tinfoil hat): there are a number of password-protected systems in the region, some of them close to the maelstorms, and none of them got into the list of "victims".

Interesting - how close are they?

 

[Shnyrik]

how close are they?

Well, I can't check it with the galmap right now, but for instance Peregrina is like 35,3 Lys away from the Indra maelstrom.

UPD. Just checked some other permit-locked systems I can remember of: Jotun and Nastrond are further away, so Peregrina for now is the closest of them to the maelstorm.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Well, I can't check it with the galmap right now, but for instance Peregrina is like 35,3 Lys away from the Indra maelstrom.

Most of the Maelstroms are essentially not going beyond 30 LY anyway at the moment, so at the moment it's hard to tell whether it's "discouraged from attacking permit systems" or "won't get round to hitting 35 LY targets until 2025".

(I've just been looking at the distance distributions and there's some interesting items there - I'll write it up and post soon)

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

Ceti Sector ZU-Y b3 is done, no immediate effect I can see, worth checking again later today and definitely after the next tick.

I made graphs of all the maelstrom connections and there are a few other obvious places where liberating 2-3 systems could cut off a lot of stuff from it's maelstrom, but prime target would be the only 3 systems within 10Ly of Leigong, removing which could be a deathblow if cutting stuff works and the maelstrom system itself doesn't have extra range.

 

[Ander_Wand]

Sorry if I missed it, but has collecting and delivering Orthrus tissue samples and it's effect been tested?

 

[The Lawful]

If you are looking for a planetary combat target tonight, it might be Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5, Timofeyevich's Inheritance.

Tested the other priority systems and was disappointed, none of the xenos appeared. This one has them. Now I'm here facing a Hydra (without swarms), but nothing is impossible in VR. Join the fight if you want to revenge me or honour TBAG!

O7,

 

[Starsong]

There's already progress in permanently liberating HIP 8825, and I'm building up a stock of samples there to do my part. If anyone else wants to take part in establishing a permanent base near Maelstrom Oya, join in this week!

 

[Andi-C]

Anyone else getting stuck combat bars ? Last two night it's either almost complete or the Hydras never turn up ! Getting disappointed hanging around waiting for people to leave.

 

[Neilski]

password-protected systems

Is this meant to be "permit-locked systems"? I've never heard of password protection on a system in ED, and searching didn't throw up anything either.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Indeed; victory in Ceti Sector ZU-Y b3 thanks to @Disemboweled Ego! Hez Ur closing very soon, various Alerts approaching next including some good progress at the three at M. Hadad which I have been nursing (thank you!), and newcomer Unktety joins the fight!

Well done to @XenosAurion for the research push at HIP 8825; while taking this system is of academic interest, unfortunately the conclusion was that the difficulty is too steep at the moment despite the strong progress power of research samples. I see also some eviction progress at Matshiru, one of those systems taken originally when the first Maelstrom arrived!

For anyone at M. Hadad, my hope is that we may actually be able to keep it somewhat Alert-free, at least as far as populated Alerts are concerned. Putas and Vogulu are very convenient for summoning by jumping between them, though looking just above them I see Yan Zangata will need attention again. After those, for me it would be as well to start cleaning up the closer unpopulated Control systems rather than worry about jumping a Carrier around the back for those loose Alerts.

Also, deepest thanks to the main Invasion drives for keeping everything going so well while some of us are off meddling with Research toys! Such still formed the core majority last cycle, and I do not want to take it for granted after having moved away from helping with that directly.

Top targets at 19:30 24th March 3309:
Hez Ur Invasion 96% — Cocijo 22 Ly, 1 port, 446 Ls starport attack, 236 Ls outpost damage
Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-6 Alert 76% — Hadad 24 Ly, empty
HIP 6913 Alert 52% — Oya 20 Ly, 349 Ls outpost, 2255 Ls planet
HIP 20485 Alert 44% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport, 27 Ls planet
Putas Alert 44% — Hadad 23 Ly, 572 Ls starport, 861 Ls outpost
Vogulu Alert 40% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 35k Ls outpost
HR 1403 Invasion 38% — Indra 25 Ly, 3 ports, 62k Ls outpost attack, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 28% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 22 Ls 0.16g planet attack
Elboongzi Invasion 24% — Oya 27 Ly, 3 ports, 1158 Ls outpost attack
Nu Guang Invasion 20% — Raijin 19 Ly, 5 ports, 44 Ls 0.19g planet + 48k Ls 0.14g planet attack, 1040 Ls outpost + 1506 Ls outpost damage

Sorry if I missed it, but has collecting and delivering Orthrus tissue samples and it's effect been tested?

Insofar as Research drones almost always fail with an Orthrus, a large-scale test is unlikely and would require a very dedicated Commander. Take a look at some relevant Orthrus-related discussion in How to progress Alert systems, where I answered some similar questions earlier.

If you are looking for a planetary combat target tonight, it might be Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5, Timofeyevich's Inheritance.

Indeed; very close planetary attack and low gravity. Perfect for those six-Shard Anacondas!

Anyone else getting stuck combat bars ? Last two night it's either almost complete or the Hydras never turn up ! Getting disappointed hanging around waiting for people to leave.

Sometimes this means the "real" progress for the area is not being displayed, though sometimes it can fix itself if you are able to leave and rejoin, obviously with another Commander present to keep it alive. If all else fails, remember that you can block somebody present then rejoin (or exit and continue) for an increased chance of joining a different area or starting your own, then unblock upon success.

Is this meant to be "permit-locked systems"? I've never heard of password protection on a system in ED, and searching didn't throw up anything either.

That was very much how I read it, yes!

 

[Neilski]

That was very much how I read it, yes!

OK cool. It seems like almost every week now I discover something else mind-blowing about ED that I never suspected

 

[Aleks Zuno]

There's already progress in permanently liberating HIP 8825, and I'm building up a stock of samples there to do my part. If anyone else wants to take part in establishing a permanent base near Maelstrom Oya, join in this week!

Please mind that HIP 8825 is very difficult to move due to that proximity to the Maelstrom. If you have not seen it already, take a look at Controlled System Reclamation to get a more realistic idea, in particular this report. This is not to say that one should refrain from posting a call for Commanders to help there, but that anyone responding ought to have the full information that it will be very difficult to make progress!

 

[CMDR Vulkarius]

I saw your time, but am totally stumped how you did that. Care to explain how it works? ^^
If you explained it elsewhere, link would also be fine =)

I described it on Hutton radio at the time, but it's simple enough to write it.

Get 2 travel ships with some engine speed and take them to Jackson's Lighthouse.
Supercharge them on the neutron star, and dock them on any carrier there which has a shipyard.
Take one of those ships and jump to Alpha Centauri normally.
Find another carrier with a shipyard close to A, dock there, then transfer your other ship.
You now have a travel ship with a supercharge, but in Alpha Centauri instead.

Fly out and align to Hutton Orbital, but then open the galaxy map and target HIP 30377 (Hadad).
You want a system behind Hutton in the same direction, where you should find that Hadad itself is already not far.
Targeting some of those controlled systems off to the side should get you closer.
The idea is then just to jump, get hyperdicted, then boost away and return to supercruise.
At least a few times, this was able to drop me off to the side, 0.2 from A and 0.14 from Hutton, actually already in the gravity well of Proxima.

I haven't figured out why it sometimes drops around the wrong side of A and more like 0.35 from Hutton, which also happened when I tried using a premium FSD injection and jumping to Oya.
Use 4 ships if you want maximum retries so you always have one to get to Alpha Centauri, one to try the jump, one being transferred out to Jackson for supercharge, and one charged ship being transferred back in.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in HIP 6913 and Hez Ur! The Alerts at M. Hadad are doing very well, enough that I will complete all three myself if needed. HIP 20485 is also ripe for Research pilots to complete, and I presume something similar is occurring at the Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-10 eviction. Combat pilots seeking Invasions have a rising band available, and on this occasion I want to categorise things a bit to help convey a lower rising gradient which also can be expected to complete. Auaker and HIP 20890 join the fight!

Invasions at 09:40 25th March 3309:
HR 1403 Invasion 56% — Indra 25 Ly, 3 ports, 62k Ls outpost attack, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 50% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 22 Ls 0.16g planet attack
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 48% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 2 ports, 2174 Ls 0.14g planet attack, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet damage
Nu Guang Invasion 36% — Raijin 19 Ly, 5 ports, 44 Ls 0.19g planet + 48k Ls 0.14g planet attack, 1040 Ls outpost + 1506 Ls outpost damage
Elboongzi Invasion 30% — Oya 27 Ly, 3 ports, 1158 Ls outpost attack
Namayu Invasion 28% — Taranis 27 Ly, 3 ports, 255 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Baudani Invasion 24% — Leigong 25 Ly, 3 ports, 596 Ls 0.11g planet attack
Ahol Invasion 22% — Hadad 21 Ly, 3 ports, 395 Ls 0.3g planet attack, 715 Ls 0.4g planet damage
Bhotepa Invasion 22% — Oya 28 Ly, 1 port, 259 Ls outpost attack, 259 Ls outpost damage

Alerts:
Putas Alert 72% — Hadad 23 Ly, 572 Ls starport, 861 Ls outpost
Vogulu Alert 64% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 35k Ls outpost
HIP 20485 Alert 60% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport, 27 Ls planet
Gliese 9035 Alert 28% — Oya 20 Ly, 556 Ls planet
HIP 26688 Alert 24% — Taranis 22 Ly, 230 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-6 Alert 84% — Hadad 24 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-10 Control 56% — Cocijo 28 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-2 Alert 32% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-3 Alert 32% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Col 285 Sector VN-Z b14-6 and Putas! Thanks to all helping here, Vogulu is to follow, and I think we might end up actually shrinking the number of war systems around M. Hadad. The Invasion completion gradient looks nice!

Invasions at 19:50 25th March 3309:
Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2 Invasion 70% — Cocijo 26 Ly, 2 ports, 2174 Ls 0.14g planet attack, 2187 Ls 0.14g planet damage
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 64% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 22 Ls 0.16g planet attack
HR 1403 Invasion 58% — Indra 25 Ly, 3 ports, 62k Ls outpost attack, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet damage
Nu Guang Invasion 46% — Raijin 19 Ly, 5 ports, 44 Ls 0.19g planet + 48k Ls 0.14g planet attack, 1040 Ls outpost + 1506 Ls outpost damage
Namayu Invasion 40% — Taranis 27 Ly, 3 ports, 255 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Elboongzi Invasion 34% — Oya 27 Ly, 3 ports, 1158 Ls outpost attack
Bhotepa Invasion 28% — Oya 28 Ly, 1 port, 259 Ls outpost attack, 259 Ls outpost damage
Ahol Invasion 26% — Hadad 21 Ly, 3 ports, 395 Ls 0.3g planet attack, 715 Ls 0.4g planet damage

Alerts:
Vogulu Alert 80% — Hadad 21 Ly, 336 Ls starport, 35k Ls outpost
HIP 20485 Alert 72% — Indra 21 Ly, 27 Ls starport, 677 Ls outpost, 27 Ls planet
Gliese 9035 Alert 54% — Oya 20 Ly, 556 Ls planet
HIP 26688 Alert 38% — Taranis 22 Ly, 230 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-10 Control 60% — Cocijo 28 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-2 Alert 46% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-3 Alert 34% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector OM-B b14-7 Control 28% — Hadad 30 Ly, empty

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Gliese 9035, Col 285 Sector UD-G b12-2, Vogulu and HIP 20485!

Invasions at 10:50 26th March 3309:
Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 Invasion 82% — Taranis 24 Ly, 2 ports, 22 Ls 0.16g planet attack
Nu Guang Invasion 68% — Raijin 19 Ly, 5 ports, 44 Ls 0.19g planet + 48k Ls 0.14g planet attack, 1040 Ls outpost + 1506 Ls outpost damage
HR 1403 Invasion 66% — Indra 25 Ly, 3 ports, 62k Ls outpost + 62k Ls outpost attack, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet damage
Namayu Invasion 62% — Taranis 27 Ly, 3 ports, 255 Ls 0.3g planet attack
Baudani Invasion 44% — Leigong 25 Ly, 3 ports, 596 Ls 0.11g planet attack
Ahol Invasion 40% — Hadad 21 Ly, 3 ports, 395 Ls 0.3g planet attack, 715 Ls 0.4g planet damage
Bhotepa Invasion 40% — Oya 28 Ly, 1 port, 259 Ls outpost attack, 259 Ls outpost damage
Elboongzi Invasion 38% — Oya 27 Ly, 3 ports, 1158 Ls outpost attack
69 Upsilon Tauri Invasion 34% — Indra 26 Ly, 7 ports, 3780 Ls outpost + 3740 Ls 0.4g planet attack
Pathamon Invasion 30% — Leigong 22 Ly, 1 port, 105 Ls starport attack, 105 Ls 1.7g planet + 2696 Ls outpost damage

Alerts:
HIP 26688 Alert 60% — Taranis 22 Ly, 230 Ls planet
Lahua Alert 40% — Oya 19 Ly, 10 Ls outpost, 19 Ls planet
Kagutsuchi Alert 20% — Indra 22 Ly, 42 Ls starport, 55 Ls outpost, 42 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-2 Alert 62% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-10 Control 60% — Cocijo 28 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector OM-B b14-7 Control 34% — Hadad 30 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-3 Alert 34% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty

 

[Ander_Wand]

Insofar as Research drones almost always fail with an Orthrus, a large-scale test is unlikely and would require a very dedicated Commander. Take a look at some relevant Orthrus-related discussion in How to progress Alert systems, where I answered some similar questions earlier.

Ah ok, almost thought we might be missing something obvious here Thanks for the links, interesting to read about!

 

[Aleks Zuno]

Victories in Hyades Sector AV-O b6-5 and Lahua! 8–10 more Invasions look feasible, and on the Alert front HIP 26688 seems fine while Poqomathi will need steady attention. At least three more empty systems should be cleared out, one of which is mine (Col 285 Sector OM-B b14-7; consider its completion warranted). I am taking a moment to appreciate having actual individual choice now!

Invasions at 01:00 27th March 3309:
Nu Guang Invasion 92% — Raijin 19 Ly, 5 ports, 44 Ls 0.19g planet + 48k Ls 0.14g planet attack, 1040 Ls outpost + 1506 Ls outpost damage
Namayu Invasion 86% — Taranis 27 Ly, 3 ports, 255 Ls 0.3g planet attack
HR 1403 Invasion 84% — Indra 25 Ly, 3 ports, 62k Ls outpost + 62k Ls outpost attack, 194 Ls 2.5g planet + 2483 Ls 0.13g planet damage
Baudani Invasion 60% — Leigong 25 Ly, 3 ports, 596 Ls 0.11g planet attack
Ahol Invasion 54% — Hadad 21 Ly, 3 ports, 395 Ls 0.3g planet attack, 715 Ls 0.4g planet damage
Bhotepa Invasion 50% — Oya 28 Ly, 1 port, 259 Ls outpost attack, 259 Ls outpost damage
69 Upsilon Tauri Invasion 46% — Indra 26 Ly, 7 ports, 3780 Ls outpost + 3740 Ls 0.4g planet attack
Elboongzi Invasion 46% — Oya 27 Ly, 3 ports, 1158 Ls outpost attack
Pathamon Invasion 42% — Leigong 22 Ly, 1 port, 105 Ls starport attack, 105 Ls 1.7g planet + 2696 Ls outpost damage
HIP 26274 Invasion 40% — Taranis 24 Ly, 1 port, 4936 Ls 0.3g planet attack, 4935 Ls 0.3g planet damage

Alerts:
HIP 26688 Alert 82% — Taranis 22 Ly, 230 Ls planet
Poqomathi Alert 44% — Oya 24 Ly, 14 Ls outpost, 14 Ls planet

Clean-up:
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-2 Alert 84% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector BA-P c6-10 Control 80% — Cocijo 28 Ly, empty
Col 285 Sector OM-B b14-7 Control 78% — Hadad 30 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector EB-W b2-2 Alert 46% — Raijin 24 Ly, empty
Pegasi Sector NY-O a7-3 Alert 42% — Raijin 25 Ly, empty