I thought about starting this thread a few weeks ago already. Went mission running in my trusted old Python out of Shinrarta Dezhra. Got a nicely paying cargo mission to a nearby system, then discovered an equally nice paying one to the same station. Jackpot!
The only trick: together they exceeded my cargo hold capacity by a few tons. Fly twice? No way. I'm the kind of guy who's always hauling the entire groceries from the trunk to the house in one go, even if my arms fall off. So going twice is not an option.
So I went for the obvious alternative: replaced my shield generator with another cargo compartment. All cargo loaded, off I went.
Of course, I got interdicted by an NPC Conda. No surprises there, I had expected that. Boosted away out of harm's reach, hit the "Feds to the rescue!" button, waited for the FedSec to jump in, watched them intercept the pirate, and then decided to try if I could shoot down a Dangerous NPC Conda with my shieldless Python and a FedSec wing on my side.
My hull was well below 50% when I got the Conda's shields down, so I decided it was not worth it and low-waked out. I knew that NPC pirate would interdict me again, but I should still be able to safely boost away and finally reach the station.
Only I didn't. Upon his follow-up interdiction, I hit the boost button, only to hear a very familiar "kaplooosh!" sound. Another ship had just dropped in to join the fun. Turned out to be another NPC pirate, in a T-10. And he materialized right in front of my Python. That was going at full boost speed. With no shields. And some 40% hull.
CRASH! Eject! Eject!
Lesson learned: flying interdiction-prone missions in a shieldless ship is entirely possible. Just don't try to be cute and show the pirate who's boss.
Anyway, that was a few weeks ago. Tonight's rebuy screen hit me even more by surprise.
I'm meanwhile flying a mostly A-rated and engineered Corvette. Currently rank-grinding for the Empire, to get the Cutter and complete my Big 3 collection.
So I'm sitting at Cormack Hub in Codorain, scanning the mission board. No good delivery / supply missions available, so I decide to go pirate hunting instead. Mission level Elite - whatever. "Recommended for a wing" - yeah, sure. Wing, shwing. Mission accepted, off I go.
Jumping into the target system, I get a mission critical message: They'll throw in another 720,000 CR if I manage to kill the target without losing my ship. Ha, free credits, isn't that nice! After all, what NPC could possibly harm me in my invincible Vette, right?
My mood got even better when I intercepted the target wing and found it consisting of 1 FDL and 2 Vultures. Cuuuute! Never made easier money than that.
Only I didn't. I focused on the main mission target in the FDL, ignoring the Vultures. After a minute or so, I notice that my shields are depleting about as fast as his are. What the...? After another minute, his shields are finally down. Seconds later, so are mine. Whatever, the hull of a FDL is nothing compared to that of a Vette, right?
After another few seconds, things are getting messy and I decide to boost away. The target has 2% hull left. I got 5. Damn. But I'm still alive.
So I'm limping to De Kamp Orbital and hit the local Core Dynamics workshop, to get my Vette fixed. Refuel, rearm, repair, and I'm headed back out. Straight back to the mission target. I'll pay a little more attention this time. With proper concentration, this should still be piece of cake.
Nope. I struggle even more this time. I could swear that NPC has memorized my moves from my first assault and seems to dodge my attacks even better now. Our shields go down simultaneously. This time, he gets away with 5% hull. Mine is at zero. Eject. Eject.
So much for the 720K "clean kill" bonus. Instead, I'm seeing a 16M rebuy screen. My shiny golden Vette got shot down by an FDL and 2 Vultures. The cheek!
I'm in blood rage mode now. Heading back to Jameson Memorial, I hit the Outfitting hangar. Remove the Heat Sink Launcher and 2 Point Defences and replace them with 3 more Shield Boosters. Plus, I finally open my purse and replace the stock Lightweight Alloy Armour with a Reactive Surface Composite one. I briefly consider swapping the Bi-Weaves I have equipped with the Prismatic Shield Generator that's gathering dust on my tool shelf ever since my days of trying to win the heart of the one and only Princess. Didn't win her, but still got one PSG of every size. Never use them, though, as by the time the Prismatics have rebuilt, Aisling's face will be wrinkled.
So I decide to stick with the Bi-Weaves and go after that bloody pirate for a third time. This time, they didn't even get my shields down before I had turned that pirate to space dust.
Lesson learned: you can fly Elite wing elimination missions as a solo pilot, but you should bring your A game when you try.
So, that's the stories of my 2 recent encounters with the rebuy screen. Looking forward to hear yours, CMDRs! And for the sake of getting interesting tales here, for once I'll say:
Fly unsafe! o7
The only trick: together they exceeded my cargo hold capacity by a few tons. Fly twice? No way. I'm the kind of guy who's always hauling the entire groceries from the trunk to the house in one go, even if my arms fall off. So going twice is not an option.
So I went for the obvious alternative: replaced my shield generator with another cargo compartment. All cargo loaded, off I went.
Of course, I got interdicted by an NPC Conda. No surprises there, I had expected that. Boosted away out of harm's reach, hit the "Feds to the rescue!" button, waited for the FedSec to jump in, watched them intercept the pirate, and then decided to try if I could shoot down a Dangerous NPC Conda with my shieldless Python and a FedSec wing on my side.
My hull was well below 50% when I got the Conda's shields down, so I decided it was not worth it and low-waked out. I knew that NPC pirate would interdict me again, but I should still be able to safely boost away and finally reach the station.
Only I didn't. Upon his follow-up interdiction, I hit the boost button, only to hear a very familiar "kaplooosh!" sound. Another ship had just dropped in to join the fun. Turned out to be another NPC pirate, in a T-10. And he materialized right in front of my Python. That was going at full boost speed. With no shields. And some 40% hull.
CRASH! Eject! Eject!
Lesson learned: flying interdiction-prone missions in a shieldless ship is entirely possible. Just don't try to be cute and show the pirate who's boss.
Anyway, that was a few weeks ago. Tonight's rebuy screen hit me even more by surprise.
I'm meanwhile flying a mostly A-rated and engineered Corvette. Currently rank-grinding for the Empire, to get the Cutter and complete my Big 3 collection.
So I'm sitting at Cormack Hub in Codorain, scanning the mission board. No good delivery / supply missions available, so I decide to go pirate hunting instead. Mission level Elite - whatever. "Recommended for a wing" - yeah, sure. Wing, shwing. Mission accepted, off I go.
Jumping into the target system, I get a mission critical message: They'll throw in another 720,000 CR if I manage to kill the target without losing my ship. Ha, free credits, isn't that nice! After all, what NPC could possibly harm me in my invincible Vette, right?
My mood got even better when I intercepted the target wing and found it consisting of 1 FDL and 2 Vultures. Cuuuute! Never made easier money than that.
Only I didn't. I focused on the main mission target in the FDL, ignoring the Vultures. After a minute or so, I notice that my shields are depleting about as fast as his are. What the...? After another minute, his shields are finally down. Seconds later, so are mine. Whatever, the hull of a FDL is nothing compared to that of a Vette, right?
After another few seconds, things are getting messy and I decide to boost away. The target has 2% hull left. I got 5. Damn. But I'm still alive.
So I'm limping to De Kamp Orbital and hit the local Core Dynamics workshop, to get my Vette fixed. Refuel, rearm, repair, and I'm headed back out. Straight back to the mission target. I'll pay a little more attention this time. With proper concentration, this should still be piece of cake.
Nope. I struggle even more this time. I could swear that NPC has memorized my moves from my first assault and seems to dodge my attacks even better now. Our shields go down simultaneously. This time, he gets away with 5% hull. Mine is at zero. Eject. Eject.
So much for the 720K "clean kill" bonus. Instead, I'm seeing a 16M rebuy screen. My shiny golden Vette got shot down by an FDL and 2 Vultures. The cheek!
I'm in blood rage mode now. Heading back to Jameson Memorial, I hit the Outfitting hangar. Remove the Heat Sink Launcher and 2 Point Defences and replace them with 3 more Shield Boosters. Plus, I finally open my purse and replace the stock Lightweight Alloy Armour with a Reactive Surface Composite one. I briefly consider swapping the Bi-Weaves I have equipped with the Prismatic Shield Generator that's gathering dust on my tool shelf ever since my days of trying to win the heart of the one and only Princess. Didn't win her, but still got one PSG of every size. Never use them, though, as by the time the Prismatics have rebuilt, Aisling's face will be wrinkled.
So I decide to stick with the Bi-Weaves and go after that bloody pirate for a third time. This time, they didn't even get my shields down before I had turned that pirate to space dust.
Lesson learned: you can fly Elite wing elimination missions as a solo pilot, but you should bring your A game when you try.
So, that's the stories of my 2 recent encounters with the rebuy screen. Looking forward to hear yours, CMDRs! And for the sake of getting interesting tales here, for once I'll say:
Fly unsafe! o7