Modes The Solo vs Open vs Groups Thread - Mk III

[bootsam]

SCB were used by me for the 1st time in my Vulture in a HICZ. It was full of Condas and Pythons and the Condas were tough. I took 2 down but it was hard work trying to stay on their tail as they seem to manoeuvre always keeping their nose at me no matter what I did. But somehow I got nr the belly and stayed there. But I needed SCB (Class 1 only) to help me. My 1st Condas. NPC only and I'd be swatted unceremoniously by a CMDR in one but it was still fun. I remembered to target power plant and that helped.

I understand the SCB argument and I too think they should be dropped. After all if all we have is our SG only then we are all the same and its the same for everyone. You would have to manage your damage and that must be a better skill to develop rather than relying on SCB's. Theyre a bit of a comfort blanket. But I am new to the combat side of this game after becoming exhausted with trading so maybe my opinion will change the more combat I do.

The damned yaw on my hotass is a bit stiff (x55) you can change the spring on the stick but not the yaw. My hand was hurtin after all that commotion.

A lot more practice and maybe, just maybe I will venture into pvp. But I need to develop some skills with thrusters obviously. I'd be a sitting duck to a CMDR atm.

 

[Mouse]

SCB were used by me for the 1st time in my Vulture in a HICZ. It was full of Condas and Pythons and the Condas were tough. I took 2 down but it was hard work trying to stay on their tail as they seem to manoeuvre always keeping their nose at me no matter what I did. But somehow I got nr the belly and stayed there. But I needed SCB (Class 1 only) to help me. My 1st Condas. NPC only and I'd be swatted unceremoniously by a CMDR in one but it was still fun. I remembered to target power plant and that helped.

I understand the SCB argument and I too think they should be dropped. After all if all we have is our SG only then we are all the same and its the same for everyone. You would have to manage your damage and that must be a better skill to develop rather than relying on SCB's. Theyre a bit of a comfort blanket. But I am new to the combat side of this game after becoming exhausted with trading so maybe my opinion will change the more combat I do.

The damned yaw on my hotass is a bit stiff (x55) you can change the spring on the stick but not the yaw. My hand was hurtin after all that commotion.

A lot more practice and maybe, just maybe I will venture into pvp. But I need to develop some skills with thrusters obviously. I'd be a sitting duck to a CMDR atm.

yeah I'm slowly getting used to my X55 too. as for Condas.. I've gotten 2. Both though were dumb enough to follow me to a station and attacked.. so station security did most of the damage while I tried to stay alive.

 

[willowfan]

yeah I'm slowly getting used to my X55 too. as for Condas.. I've gotten 2. Both though were dumb enough to follow me to a station and attacked.. so station security did most of the damage while I tried to stay alive.

I'm still at the arghhhh tooooo many buttons stage of X55 usage

 

[EdzUp]

One thing I also have been asking for for ages is the 'damage caused is bounty pay' fix, if you play in a group or solo you can get loads of cash by shooting a anny in a fight with shields down causing some damage then flying to a safe distance and let the NPCs take it out. You will still get the full bounty with none of the work, personally to me this is a cheat that seriously needs fixing.

 

[Robert Maynard]

One thing I also have been asking for for ages is the 'damage caused is bounty pay' fix, if you play in a group or solo you can get loads of cash by shooting a anny in a fight with shields down causing some damage then flying to a safe distance and let the NPCs take it out. You will still get the full bounty with none of the work, personally to me this is a cheat that seriously needs fixing.

The "if a player shoots a target (that is subsequently destroyed by NPCs) within the last <x> seconds then they get the bounty" fix was introduced because some players complained that NPCs were kill stealing.

 

[Jockey79]

I'm still at the arghhhh tooooo many buttons stage of X55 usage

But remember, it's not fair you have extra buttons and others in open do not - extra buttons are for solo mode only

 

[Roybe]

Never used the shield cells and won't.. I try to manage shields and hull. I keep hearing people say that NPC's are "easy" and such.. and I wonder is it because Shield cells are a FOTM type thing that people stack as many as they can so they can't die then claim everything is easy?

Nah...I don't use shield cells and if flying solo...generally have no problems with ships up to and including Pythons...Anaconda's I tend to stay clear of...unless they are swarmed with NPC's....trying to focus fire on the big ship and getting beat on by an eagle or vulture at the same time...without noticing them getting into the fight...is where I lose the fight. It definitely is more challenging now...but I'd rather face NPC's all day than a PC full of health potions.

 

[Faded Glory]

Never used the shield cells and won't.. I try to manage shields and hull. I keep hearing people say that NPC's are "easy" and such.. and I wonder is it because Shield cells are a FOTM type thing that people stack as many as they can so they can't die then claim everything is easy?

I do put one set of SCB into each of my ships, mainly I guess because I really don't like losing my shields... Don't have to use them all that often I'm happy to say, but against Anacondas, for me at least they are a necessity, as I cannot seem to find a spot where I am still not being constantly strafed by their turrets.

I am certainly noticing that NPCs are getting more 'challenging', whether it be just the way that they fly (they are certainly much more slippery than they were), or that they often fly and attack in wings, and doing missions, I often see wings of 8!

As to the claims of things being easy? Everything is easy if all you ever have to do is just say it (or should I say type it).

 

[Hempstead]

With all the talk about not using SCBs... just wait until you get to Combat Rating of Dangerous and above.... as soon as you enter a CZ and select a faction, all the nearby enemy NPCs in firing range will open fire on you and they spawn all around you so you are in the middle of the fur ball getting hit from all directions. My record is 8x NPCs attacking me at once. Several times, just retreating (not jumping out) and luring them away to divide and conquer costs 2 sets of SCBs (I stack two SCBs for one set, and I have two sets, my Python only has a cargo hold of 4T and has no interdictor nor KWS). Without stacks of SCBs, it would be very difficult to farm CZs. I mean, how do you kill any NPC if every time you jump into a CZ, the first thing NPCs do is ganging up on you and strip your shield? And with a Python... shield offline == run, due to the extremely weak windshield. No windshield == no HUD... Good luck fighting with no HUD.

And remember, you have to stay in CZ long enough to have a good chance to "encounter" higher ranking NPCs than you. When you are at Deadly, the chance gets quite small. Killing low ranking NPCs supposedly doesn't do much for your combat ranking. I could make a million credit in Combat Bond and doesn't even get 1% progress (and I don't bother with anything below Dangerous unless they attack me).

And they could chase up to 35km... i.e. never give up.

Also, in the middle of a fight, if you are taking down an Elite Python or Conda, there is a good chance nearby NPCs will gang up on you again. The NPCs may not have great combat skills, but they sure have the number. So, make sure there is no two Elite Condas or Pythons around the vicinity when you attack an Elite Conda/Python. I can take two... but that might cost SCB.

Without stacking and stocking up on SCBs, you would have to dock very often once you reach higher combat rating. That would have taken very long to rank up on Combat. Each docking takes about 4 minutes. If you can only fight say 10 minutes in a CZ, and have to dock. Docking would take up 28% of your time farming CZs. If you can only last 5 minutes in a CZ, then docking will take up 44% of your time. With all the calls of buffing NPC combat skills and nerfing SCBs... be careful about the unintended consequences of what you ask for.

Oh... and I also stack 3x Shield Boosters on my Python.... without those, they could strip your shield bone dry in 30 seconds! What? How long do you think your shield would last with 8x NPCs attacking you at once?

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

How long do you think your shield would last with 8x NPCs attacking you at once?

Me? possibly not that long, but according to (some of) the PvPers they can last for ever as in solo the game is pathetically easy and you are invincible. obviously you do not have the mad skills like some in this thread (and neither do i )

edit.... (some of)

 

[Don Alvarez]

Me? possibly not that long, but according to the PvPers they can last for ever....

some cheat to be able to do that too....

 

[Faded Glory]

Me? possibly not that long, but according to (some of) the PvPers they can last for ever as in solo the game is pathetically easy and you are invincible. obviously you do not have the mad skills like some in this thread (and neither do i )

edit.... (some of)

Hmm... I used to have skills, but I can't seem to be able to find them any more. Come to that, I can't seem to find the keys to my spaceship, either.

 

[Mouse]

With all the talk about not using SCBs... just wait until you get to Combat Rating of Dangerous and above.... as soon as you enter a CZ and select a faction, all the nearby enemy NPCs in firing range will open fire on you and they spawn all around you so you are in the middle of the fur ball getting hit from all directions. My record is 8x NPCs attacking me at once. Several times, just retreating (not jumping out) and luring them away to divide and conquer costs 2 sets of SCBs (I stack two SCBs for one set, and I have two sets, my Python only has a cargo hold of 4T and has no interdictor nor KWS). Without stacks of SCBs, it would be very difficult to farm CZs. I mean, how do you kill any NPC if every time you jump into a CZ, the first thing NPCs do is ganging up on you and strip your shield? And with a Python... shield offline == run, due to the extremely weak windshield. No windshield == no HUD... Good luck fighting with no HUD.

And remember, you have to stay in CZ long enough to have a good chance to "encounter" higher ranking NPCs than you. When you are at Deadly, the chance gets quite small. Killing low ranking NPCs supposedly doesn't do much for your combat ranking. I could make a million credit in Combat Bond and doesn't even get 1% progress (and I don't bother with anything below Dangerous unless they attack me).

And they could chase up to 35km... i.e. never give up.

Also, in the middle of a fight, if you are taking down an Elite Python or Conda, there is a good chance nearby NPCs will gang up on you again. The NPCs may not have great combat skills, but they sure have the number. So, make sure there is no two Elite Condas or Pythons around the vicinity when you attack an Elite Conda/Python. I can take two... but that might cost SCB.

Without stacking and stocking up on SCBs, you would have to dock very often once you reach higher combat rating. That would have taken very long to rank up on Combat. Each docking takes about 4 minutes. If you can only fight say 10 minutes in a CZ, and have to dock. Docking would take up 28% of your time farming CZs. If you can only last 5 minutes in a CZ, then docking will take up 44% of your time. With all the calls of buffing NPC combat skills and nerfing SCBs... be careful about the unintended consequences of what you ask for.

Oh... and I also stack 3x Shield Boosters on my Python.... without those, they could strip your shield bone dry in 30 seconds! What? How long do you think your shield would last with 8x NPCs attacking you at once?

I'm an explorer, trader, privateer.. not a soldier, why would I go into a CZ?

 

[Dave1235]

So Open has been no increase in challenge to you at all in comparison to Solo, yet your thought it to make Solo harder?

The only times I have ever been followed through a Hiwake jump was by AI in solo, recently in open I got interdicted by a player but I beat the interdiction and he didn't follow me in SC, I didn't even have to hiwake, IIRC it was in Diso.

 

[Dave1235]

I'd like this. I have wondered about the Cargo Insurance showing 0% (but obviously in the game somewhere).

Like many other things I think its "on the list" and that one has been visible for a long while, if they don't intend to do it I would think it would have disappeared by now.

Bearing in mind Jordans comments about the hisec systems having quicker responses to piracy, which I have not had a chance to test, as not being a pirate I have to do as the victim, but I have no reason to doubt him, he has a lot of experience (I will try next time I get interdicted if I remember).

That said the safe systems need a response to some people even entering their system, if their wanted status is high enough (PK'ers for example, or CMDR's that shoot to many security AI), conversely pirates need the same (with their own version of rep too).

I doubt FD are going to leave out something that was so fundamental to the original elite, I hoped more would be in at launch, but it is what it is, if there is something I have learned over the last 14 months its patience (comment about me not dig at anyone else), but I still expect to see it at some point in the future.

TLDR

We might get "rare and meaningful" at some point and cargo insurance too.

 

[Dave1235]

We can talk about Bacon.. it brings the universe together ^,^.

I hope CQC does make people happy. And for me it is a $202.50 investment.. and I want to but am hesitant

I did look at the £130 tag on the lifetime updates and think "ouch" but they are selling the base game a lot cheaper now, not that it helps you ofc.

I got the lot at PB1 for £100, and I have questioned the extra £50 for lifetime DLC and not waiting for standard Beta a few times, but I am so glad I went for it.

Guess it comes down to how much you like the game AND how much you trust FD to deliver what you personally want from the game, I had to get a new PC as my old one was > 10 years old but still played my last game OK, so I had to invest £600 before I started, and for me that's not pocket change.

If I were in your shoes I would take a little time to think about it, their accounts to 31/05/15 will be out in weeks (if last year is a reference), take a view on if you believe they can support their 10 year plan, if they run a season a year for another 8-10 years at £40 a go, £130 is a bargain. If you think they are not going to deliver its a waste, although I do think their might be another "lifetime DLC" on sale with the next season.

 

[Dave1235]

I do put one set of SCB into each of my ships, mainly I guess because I really don't like losing my shields... Don't have to use them all that often I'm happy to say, but against Anacondas, for me at least they are a necessity, as I cannot seem to find a spot where I am still not being constantly strafed by their turrets.

I am certainly noticing that NPCs are getting more 'challenging', whether it be just the way that they fly (they are certainly much more slippery than they were), or that they often fly and attack in wings, and doing missions, I often see wings of 8!

As to the claims of things being easy? Everything is easy if all you ever have to do is just say it (or should I say type it).

I only started carrying SCB recently and only one, on my Vulture its rubbish but I need to sort out the power but on my Python I have a better one, I tend to use them sparingly as I only have 4 charges on Python and if I find a good Hires I like to stay as long as I can.

 

[Faded Glory]

I did look at the £130 tag on the lifetime updates and think "ouch" but they are selling the base game a lot cheaper now, not that it helps you ofc.

I got the lot at PB1 for £100, and I have questioned the extra £50 for lifetime DLC and not waiting for standard Beta a few times, but I am so glad I went for it.

Guess it comes down to how much you like the game AND how much you trust FD to deliver what you personally want from the game, I had to get a new PC as my old one was > 10 years old but still played my last game OK, so I had to invest £600 before I started, and for me that's not pocket change.

If I were in your shoes I would take a little time to think about it, their accounts to 31/05/15 will be out in weeks (if last year is a reference), take a view on if you believe they can support their 10 year plan, if they run a season a year for another 8-10 years at £40 a go, £130 is a bargain. If you think they are not going to deliver its a waste, although I do think their might be another "lifetime DLC" on sale with the next season.

I decided to go for the lifetime expansion, not because I'm all that enamored with the game as yet, but I do believe it will continue to expand as entertainment as they add new features, and I sort of couldn't be bothered to have to decide whether I wanted beta access or not each time, or indeed whether I'd want particular content or not.

It's not cheap, but then again it's not a fortune, and I reckon if I even get three 'seasons' worth of updates it will have paid for itself. And has someone mentioned when the first outcry over the cost came out, it's really not much more of an investment than a good HOTAS.

I only started carrying SCB recently and only one, on my Vulture its rubbish but I need to sort out the power but on my Python I have a better one, I tend to use them sparingly as I only have 4 charges on Python and if I find a good Hires I like to stay as long as I can.

I find that once my shields go, my hulls seem to be made of butter or something. They don't go down slowly, but seconds after the shields have gone, the hull is already at 70%. The Vulture is a challenge power wise, but I do carry one scb in it as it is my strong combat ship, and the one I use for pirate lord missions as I need the large hard points to do decent damage to large ships, and as I said, the one ship that I can never seem to avoid fire from is an Anaconda.

 

[Mouse]

I decided to go for the lifetime expansion, not because I'm all that enamored with the game as yet, but I do believe it will continue to expand as entertainment as they add new features, and I sort of couldn't be bothered to have to decide whether I wanted beta access or not each time, or indeed whether I'd want particular content or not.

It's not cheap, but then again it's not a fortune, and I reckon if I even get three 'seasons' worth of updates it will have paid for itself. And has someone mentioned when the first outcry over the cost came out, it's really not much more of an investment than a good HOTAS.



I find that once my shields go, my hulls seem to be made of butter or something. They don't go down slowly, but seconds after the shields have gone, the hull is already at 70%. The Vulture is a challenge power wise, but I do carry one scb in it as it is my strong combat ship, and the one I use for pirate lord missions as I need the large hard points to do decent damage to large ships, and as I said, the one ship that I can never seem to avoid fire from is an Anaconda.

When I get school money in I probably will grab the lifetime. That way when I have less funds I am not struggling to get an expansion I may like. As for hull.. I've got 2 hull extenders.. their job is to keep me alive till I can get out of weapons range.

 

[Faded Glory]

When I get school money in I probably will grab the lifetime. That way when I have less funds I am not struggling to get an expansion I may like. As for hull.. I've got 2 hull extenders.. their job is to keep me alive till I can get out of weapons range.

I think in the end it'll prove to be worth it, as the expansions will hopefully add to the scope of the core game, allowing for more interesting and entertaining content. Fingers are crossed! Once my last scb is popped, unless I am very close to destroying a target, it's stow hard points and run.