The Shield Imperative

[Mako The Grey]

Better math

cargo-maxed builds because "its a space-sim sandbox" and this is "how I want to play". First and foremost, it's infinitely more expensive and time consuming to lose a ship, its cargo and the potential CG rewards, than it is to comply with pirate demands or to buy some f...functional shields.

I'm not sure that's really the case based on my experience. I only play open and my cargo-maxed build Anaconda re-buy is only 9Mil or so. It's pretty easy to spot a human pirate before they actually try to take the cargo and prep for an easy escape/departure. The one time I didn't make it...it only took 15min to grab a few gold deliveries and make the buy back money plus. Doing the math based on my current multi-billion profits from those CG/Cargo rewards.... in the long run it seems more profitable to continue with the "cargo-maxed build" and simply pay attention to what's going on around me while playing. Being proficient at FAO and having the multi-high wake mechanics down certainly is required, IMO Edit...and I just looked and to upgrade to a better shield as you suggests might cost as much as another 14mil. Looks like I'm still ahead, in many ways, with the cheaper shield

 

[GJ51]

Meh

 

[dm06]

I am ok to explode ship just for lulz... em... I mean, just for mats. All canisters are black listed, so I don't even see them.

 

[deleteduser]

I'd rather pay a trillion credits in rebuys than hand over one leaky biowaste canister without a fight...

With that attitude I'd rather you paid a trillion CR in rebuys as well and my CMDR will be more than happy to help you along the way [money] Hope that Void Opal craze keeps up.

 

[Macy]

I've only been pirated by a real Human pirate once. It was quite cool. I gave up a couple items and he went on his way. It was quite an immersive experience. He used some cool piratey language.
We need good real pirates. The gankers a griefers just bore me with their mindless violence, but a real pirate is part of the escapism for me.

 

[Watcher]

I'd assume the low power shield on a trader build is to take the edge off landing bumps more than anything else - not to ward of pirates.
Same for most explorers.

Meanwhile I prefer to avoid PvP so play PG or Solo for the most part - still have reasonable shields and guns though, just in case.
Bit of role-play pirating sounds good though, certainly better than the random killing 'just because' we seem to hear so much about.

 

[npcole]

Isn't it funny how lord Braben has Graced us with interdictors, hatch breakers, guns and shield generators? Its almost like it was intended for them to be used on these space shippy things.

This.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Here’s a counter thought:

If, as a pirate, you are killing your victims, you are also receiving no cargo, and an empty-handed pirate is worth less than a destroyed freighter.

 

[deleteduser]

Here’s a counter thought:

If, as a pirate, you are killing your victims, you are also receiving no cargo, and an empty-handed pirate is worth less than a destroyed freighter.

Not to the empty-handed pirate...

 

[Cmdr Esteban]

I don't play in Open (only difference is when I'm running a refuelling ship), simply because I'm not interested in PvP. BUT I've always appreciated proper pirates and their stories, and I feel that PvPers wouldn't have a bad rep if there were more people like you (i.e. pirates, not just those who go on killing sprees).

^^^ This.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Julio Montega]

Isn't it funny how lord Braben has Graced us with interdictors, hatch breakers, guns and shield generators? Its almost like it was intended for them to be used on these space shippy things.

Heresy!
Thou shalt not speak true in conjunction with a topic being based in and/or around
PvP/Piracy/Open/Advice!

 

[SushiCW]

Here’s a counter thought:

If, as a pirate, you are killing your victims, you are also receiving no cargo, and an empty-handed pirate is worth less than a destroyed freighter.

It's also worth pointing out that hatchbreakers are quite effective against 95% of targets. You can do plenty well just stealing their cargo without firing a shot or even threatening to do so.

It also seems like the "phantom cargo" bug is fixed now, so you can take your time scooping up the half-dozen or so canisters that get dropped.

Not that there's anything wrong with the "yaar, heave to or die" approach, but for now at least it's not the only viable one.

These days, the only traders I kill are the ones that engage me while I scoop up their spilled stuff, and even then it's usually an accident.

 

[[VR] M4st0d0n]

Pirates in open are just successful
bored miners from solo.

 

[Xaevryn]

I just cordially invite pirates to munch on 'something' and highwake. But yeah if you're too goddamn dense to fit proper defenses in a CG and fly in open then I have no sympathy for you when you inevitably get exploded by some idiot.

Sorry for the blue language. Trying to quit smoking and I tend to get mean.

 

[through the hole backwards]

Colin , your mum says get off the computer and do your homework.

 

[dekot]

This is why rebuys shouldn't be a thing. People would play a lot more carefully and realistically if they just lost their ships for good on destruction. A lot of the people you blew up didn't actually lose much. They don't care about some piddling rebuy or cheap cargo, they care more about their pride. If ship destruction was more consequential they are more likely to listen to ransom demands. I've played a lot of these watered down open pvp games and it's always funny when gankers think their victims actually care about losing fights when there is no consequence.

 

[dekot]

Not to mention, that would actually make accumulating credits worthwhile. This game has been out for years and people still don't or won't fit shields and high wake. That means they don't care enough about the consequences to do otherwise. Either that or ED has a dumber playerbase than other games.