UA Mystery thread 4 - The Canonn

[CMDR Gerakis]

While in the area around Merope (within range of the UA appearance) I stumbled upon an escorted medical convoy (a python with two vultures = all factionless):

It then jumped to a nearby system where I've followed it: arietis sector WT-A B3

once there I jumped into the wake and arrived too far from them and they vanished from my scanner... looked for them but couldn't get them back.

Anyone else saw this or have a clue what they might have been carrying? Who might they want to save here, that far from the bubble? with 8 cryopods?

 

[rizal72]

Has anyone taken a T7 to be scanned by a UA?

Having already discovered all the ship's signals and the subsequent drawings made by the UA, the answer is obviously yes.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&page=515&p=2932656&viewfull=1#post2932656

While in the area around Merope (within range of the UA appearance) I stumbled upon an escorted medical convoy (a python with two vultures = all factionless):
http://s16.postimg.org/thu2ycyrp/Screenshot_0130.png

It then jumped to a nearby system where I've followed it: arietis sector WT-A B3
http://s16.postimg.org/jj94bvpc5/Screenshot_0131.png

once there I jumped into the wake and arrived too far from them and they vanished from my scanner... looked for them but couldn't get them back.

Anyone else saw this or have a clue what they might have been carrying? Who might they want to save here, that far from the bubble? with 8 cryopods?

We know about them. They are a new add on from 1.4
There should be also a COMM chatter going on as well, talking about there mission, and their eventual promotion.
They usually end up jumping in front of some random icy moon almost all the time, at least the convoys with the COMM chatter.
They could be part of another story, as well as the UA one.

 

[CMDR Gerakis]

all right then.. I'll keep looking. Btw, jumped into at least 50 sss within range of Merope, but never ever anything but large bunch of priates jumping at my troat.
I thought UA appread in "most sss" in the region according to Arcanonn?

 

[Comandante]

all right then.. I'll keep looking. Btw, jumped into at least 50 sss within range of Merope, but never ever anything but large bunch of priates jumping at my troat.
I thought UA appread in "most sss" in the region according to Arcanonn?

You need to search within the 'shell' of Merope - about 135 - 145Ly away from it's centre. About 9/10 SSSs I come across are UAs. Just go to Merope, use your galactic map, then find a system pointing in the direction of the bubble - pick one within the distances I give (I think it was RedWizzard that figured it out?) and you should find some.

I've found about 10-12 so far.

 

[CMDR Gerakis]

You need to search within the 'shell' of Merope - about 135 - 145Ly away from it's centre. About 9/10 SSSs I come across are UAs. Just go to Merope, use your galactic map, then find a system pointing in the direction of the bubble - pick one within the distances I give (I think it was RedWizzard that figured it out?) and you should find some.

I've found about 10-12 so far.

right yes that is what I thought... all the sss I've checked are within the 135/150 ly from merope bubble... I've even gone to some systems where they've already appeared... and nothing?

 

[Huros]

Has anyone taken a T7 to be scanned by a UA?

Yeah Ishmael Palin

 

[CMDR Gerakis]

Commandante... I've sent you a PM

 

[rizal72]

right yes that is what I thought... all the sss I've checked are within the 135/150 ly from merope bubble... I've even gone to some systems where they've already appeared... and nothing?

Or you are the unluckiest man in the Galaxy, or you made something wrong, or FD changed UA's spawn location yesterday.
Try in Aries Dark Region GW-W D1-52 and let us know! Every time I need an UA for an experiment, I go there and bum! UA after 2 minutes waiting.

 

[FrogsFriend]

With regard to the 'Medical Transports', what's in the occupied pods that needs Performance Enhancers and Progenitor Cells, rather than ordinary medical supplies?
UAs? Live aliens? Alien/human hybrids? Genetically engineered Super Soldiers? ...all very worrying.

And sometimes the comms chatter refers to 'remaining escorts' or something similar, implying escorts lost on route. Were the lost escorts attacked, destroyed or just carelessly misplaced?

 

[Comandante]

Commandante... I've sent you a PM

Sent you one back!

Or you are the unluckiest man in the Galaxy, or you made something wrong, or FD changed UA's spawn location yesterday.
Try in Aries Dark Region GW-W D1-52 and let us know! Every time I need an UA for an experiment, I go there and bum! UA after 2 minutes waiting.

Rizal is right; they're practically everywhere in that region. You'll become an NPC beacon, they certainly up the ante when they scan you and want your goods...

 

[clavain]

Indeed. Past events like then putting the ship drawing Morse in is without doubt aimed tight at us and a reaction to our behaviour. I think they would have been gobsmacked at how quickly that was solved.

Right, but what did we do (or not do) that triggered it? Or is the story just continuing regardless of what we do? We do not know what is/are the result(s) of our actions, which tends to make the latter meaningless in terms of gameplay and fun. What was Kerrash's line? Find it or not it will unlock?

And your point highlights another problem - apparently the first puzzle was too difficult (or so blindingly simple we could not see it - selling it at stations? Or the folks who found the Morse that we ignored when "we were close"?) And we never "solved" it, if there was anything to "solve" beyond MB flicking a switch that turned a zero to a one to start the current shell game. This one was solved before the beta was even finished IIRC, or shortly thereafter, leaving, as far as we can tell, nothing to follow until probably the next major expansion, update, DLC, season or patch or whatever they are calling it this week, if we are lucky. As usual, we don't even know if there is anything still to look for until that occurs, which is equally frustrating.

It all smacks of being badly thought out and seat of the pants shoehorning of a single-player story line into a multiplayer world by people that have no experience designing or running stories in the latter. Just my opinion, but after initial engagement and some hopes of an actually interesting story narrative, it, among other things, has led to me being completely fed up with ED and barely being able to start up the game, let alone bother to participate in "the UA mystery" anymore. At this point, to be honest, I have more interest and anticipation in waiting for That Other Space Game, which at least will have a proper single player campaign and story line that anyone can play at their own pace, player time permitting. Sorry for the negativity, but what is the point of even trying to participate if either of the above cases are the way this story will continue to play out, and many players will never even get a chance to participate because others "solve" it so quickly (often because they have real world skills, knowledge or abilities other players do not), or if they do participate know what the results of their efforts were? In my mind it has almost become a straw man that they string us along with, to hide the lack of actual content in the game while they desperately develop the Next Big Thing they will try to tack on to a core game that was never properly finished, as part of the ever-expanding useless spaghetti of Power Play, CQC, and other things that have nothing to do with the core game, like some sort of capture the flag with boogies on planets. Or better yet, take X of Y to Z in your boogie on a planet. I'm really starting to believe that they are just making it up as they go along, and we are just the puppets dancing to MB's poorly thought out tune.

</rant>

 

[Arcanonn]

Right, but what did we do (or not do) that triggered it? Or is the story just continuing regardless of what we do? We do not know what is/are the result(s) of our actions, which tends to make the latter meaningless.

And this highlights another point - apparently the first puzzle was too difficult (or so simple we could not see it) and we never solved it. This one was solved before the beta was even finished IIRC, or shortly thereafter, leaving, as far as we can tell, nothing to follow until probably the next major update, or patch if we are lucky. As usual, we don't even know if there is anything still to look for until that occurs, which is equally frustrating.

It all smacks of being badly thought out and seat of the pants shoehorning of a single-player story line into a multiplayer world by people that have no experience designing or running stories in the latter. Just my opinion, but after initial engagement and some hopes of an actually interesting story narrative, it, among other things, has led to me being completely fed up with ED and barely being able to start up the game, let alone bother to participate in "the UA mystery" anymore. At this point, to be honest, I have more interest and anticipation in waiting for That Other Space Game, which at least will have a single player campaign and story line. Sorry for the negativity, but what is the point of even trying to participate if either of the above cases are the way this story will continue to play out? In my mind it has almost become a straw man that they string us along with, to hide the lack of actual content in the game while they desperately develop the Next Big Thing they will try to tack on to a core game that was never properly finished as part of the ever-expanding useless spaghetti of Power Play, CQC, and other things that have nothing to do with the core game, like some sort of capture the flag with boogies on planets.

In summary they are making it up as they go along. The end destination is probably there but nothing is set in stone, despite what many people in other thresds say I do think they are trying to please the audience...... So what we clap loudest at has an impact doubtless.

I'm also not that with the thin content brigade. I come from the original Elite.... Now that had no content!....and I loved it

 

[rizal72]

With regard to the 'Medical Transports', what's in the occupied pods that needs Performance Enhancers and Progenitor Cells, rather than ordinary medical supplies?
UAs? Live aliens? Alien/human hybrids? Genetically engineered Super Soldiers? ...all very worrying.

And sometimes the comms chatter refers to 'remaining escorts' or something similar, implying escorts lost on route. Were the lost escorts attacked, destroyed or just carelessly misplaced?

The latter is my guess: super soldiers.
Then they could also be the Grey Aliens from Roswell, we are transporting around since the late fifties...

 

[Arcanonn]

The latter is my guess: super soldiers.
Then they could also be the Grey Aliens from Roswell, we are transporting around since the late fifties...

It all still screams Thargoid to me, we know they are coming one way or another.

I read my first posts yesterday.....Thargoids, in Regor.

I stand by that guess.....although admittedly the location may well be the wrong side of the bubble lol.

 

[RedWizzard]

right yes that is what I thought... all the sss I've checked are within the 135/150 ly from merope bubble... I've even gone to some systems where they've already appeared... and nothing?

Not within 135 Ly of Merope, between 135 and 150 Ly of Merope. Try some systems from this list: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nbAAtymsXCJib_plQtbjGPkVqlr3VuJxEE95N2n6Phs

 

[clavain]

I'm also not that with the thin content brigade. I come from the original Elite.... Now that had no content!....and I loved it

Well, I won't be clapping for my fish any more. It is 2015, game design (and expectations) have changed a bit since 1984, particularly if you are pretending to be a MMORPG. Right, off to play some Witcher 3.

 

[RedWizzard]

It all smacks of being badly thought out and seat of the pants shoehorning of a single-player story line into a multiplayer world by people that have no experience designing or running stories in the latter. Just my opinion, but after initial engagement and some hopes of an actually interesting story narrative, it, among other things, has led to me being completely fed up with ED and barely being able to start up the game, let alone bother to participate in "the UA mystery" anymore. At this point, to be honest, I have more interest and anticipation in waiting for That Other Space Game, which at least will have a proper single player campaign and story line that anyone can play at their own pace, player time permitting. Sorry for the negativity, but what is the point of even trying to participate if either of the above cases are the way this story will continue to play out, and many players will never even get a chance to participate because others "solve" it so quickly (often because they have real world skills, knowledge or abilities other players do not), or if they do participate know what the results of their efforts were? In my mind it has almost become a straw man that they string us along with, to hide the lack of actual content in the game while they desperately develop the Next Big Thing they will try to tack on to a core game that was never properly finished, as part of the ever-expanding useless spaghetti of Power Play, CQC, and other things that have nothing to do with the core game, like some sort of capture the flag with boogies on planets. Or better yet, take X of Y to Z in your boogie on a planet. I'm really starting to believe that they are just making it up as they go along, and we are just the puppets dancing to MB's poorly thought out tune.

</rant>

I sort of get where you're coming from, I just don't really agree. I'm with Dr Arc on this. I'm starting to get confused as to what people mean when they say "content". In particular I'm finding the juxtaposition of statements like "lack of actual content in the game" and "ever-expanding useless spaghetti of Power Play, CQC, and other things" quite jarring. Is stuff only "content" if it's stuff you're personally interested in? Or does "content" just mean "personal story progression"? Or is it meaningful NPC interactions (we could certainly use more of those at least)? I just think in terms of stuff to do in the game ED is pretty solidly packed.

 

[Arcanonn]

Well, I won't be clapping for my fish any more. It is 2015, game design (and expectations) have changed a bit since 1984, particularly if you are pretending to be a MMORPG. Right, off to play some Witcher 3.

Don't get me wrong I can't argue more is expected. But my appraisal is different.

My review would be great start and getting there........rather than disappointing start and not getting there.

Can't say I won't be trying to play some fallout 4 I have soft spot for that franchise......but ED still top of my favs list

 

[RedWizzard]

Well, I won't be clapping for my fish any more. It is 2015, game design (and expectations) have changed a bit since 1984, particularly if you are pretending to be a MMORPG. Right, off to play some Witcher 3.

There's a classic example of why I don't understand "lacking content". Witcher 3 is something like 200 hours long, right? Well according to Steam I've spent 600 hours in ED. Non-Steam play is at least a couple of hundred hours more. Which game is lacking content?

- - - Updated - - -

Can't say I won't be trying to play some fallout 4 I have soft spot for that franchise......but ED still top of my favs list

Another case in point. I played through Fallout 3 earlier this year. I spent 124 hours in it according to Steam. I might have another go round with the expansions (at least if I get to it before I get Fallout 4), but that still would be way less than half the time I've spent in ED.

 

[clavain]

I sort of get where you're coming from, I just don't really agree. I'm with Dr Arc on this. I'm starting to get confused as to what people mean when they say "content". In particular I'm finding the juxtaposition of statements like "lack of actual content in the game" and "ever-expanding useless spaghetti of Power Play, CQC, and other things" quite jarring. Is stuff only "content" if it's stuff you're personally interested in? Or does "content" just mean "personal story progression"? Or is it meaningful NPC interactions (we could certainly use more of those at least)? I just think in terms of stuff to do in the game ED is pretty solidly packed.

Agreed, it is a pretty ephemeral concept. One person's content is another person's drivel (see: Powerplay, CQC). In my view it also is definitely not a direct "number of hours of play = amount of content" correlation either, to answer your second post. For me it is meaningful, engaging story-based content that is interesting and relevant to me/my character and my (precious) time spent playing the game, and which my actions have recognizable influence over - it does not necessarily need to be progression-based (especially when progression in this game is grind for credits no matter what you do). Sure, I have played hundreds of hours too, but how much of that has been jump, honk/scoop, rinse and repeat to get from point A to B for something or the other, which essentially is a meaningless time-sink and would never be considered content by the most bored seal in the universe? Or endless super cruising, while watching a film or reading a book? I spent yesterday doing 6K LY back to Varati because I had become bored with the tedium of exploration (again), another 6 hours of my life wasted that I will never get back and would certainly never consider engaging content, (in retrospect I don't know why I didn't just stay where I was, other than the hope that maybe something interesting will come along some day that I might want to take part in, and I would not be able to face the 6K LY trip to get back before doing so, by which time whatever it was would be over or solved by someone else in the beta/first day or two, or just randomly gone away/moved on to the next part, because the puppet master/seal trainer decided it was time for a zero to become a one and flicked the switch).

Time spent playing certainly does not equal engaging content, IMO.