Newcomer / Intro What is with these npcs?

Rorqual

R
I am playing in solo mode, using a type 9. I warp in to scan the nav beacon for a mission, and I hit J, for some reason it is taking a long time even with nothing on radar, 75% charged up an NPC warps in, and just proceeds to spam some white boxes at me. I no longer can jump and just die.

Before this I took on a mission rated harmless in my type-10, I land on the site, attack the npc and just die in 4 seconds. 500+ shields gone in a single hit, 1k+ hull gone in two hits. I did some googling and it seems like npcs were buffed to have endgame stats, how the hell am I supposed to do anything combat related with these over powered npcs??

Am i really stuck to just doing exploration and trading to make money? I can make 5mill per trip on trading, but that got boring really fast after I got the type 10. i want to get into pve combat, but everytime I take a step in that direction even the weakest npcs seem to blap me off the field giving me no chance to even line up a single shot, or even for the mines to do their job once. Only time I seem to have a chance is if I go to res sites and wait for wanted npcs to start shooting the police and I join in to tag them for bounties. Even then sometimes I get lucky to leave with 25% hull.
 

wetwire

wetwire
The Lakon ships (Type 6-10) are not ideal for combat.
Using one for combat requires quite a bit of practice, the right module setup, and engineering if possible.
They can be set up to "survive" long enough to run away, but sustained head to head dog fight will be troublesome.
If you are looking to jump into combat gameplay i would advise a smaller, faster ship. Less rebuy cost and better handling then any of the Lakon (Type) ships.
 
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sinisalo

sinisalo
I echo wetwire. T-9 is pants, and the T-10 is a specialized ship. Not that it cannot be done, but you're titling the playing field against you in my view.

Try a Vulture. A-rate it (and engineer if possible). Slap a beam and a multicannon or something on it and have at it.

This is my Vulture. It's hard to get killed in a ship like this. Good protection, but it's the agility that makes it so survivable in my view. I added a bronze paint job for maximum bling, which helps.

Arclight
 

wetwire

wetwire
Linked below is an example combat ship, you could use as a guide line. (non engineered)
If you copy this build be sure to set the power priority of the Fuel Scoop, FSD Interdictor and Advanced Docking Computer to <2> so they will shut off during combat.
The main take away when stepping into your first combat ship, Good shields, and Hull protection. Simple weapon mix of lasers and projectile weapons. With a good maneuverability profile, Quick to turn 180.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
coriolis.io coriolis.io
 

Rorqual

R
I can't do that vulture since I do not have any engineers, but I'll give that viper a try. I did try using the anocanda, but I had to ditch it since I could not a-type it much.

edit: would anybody be able to tell me why the frameshift drive took so long to charge on an empty radar at the nav beacon? Radar was empty because I had boosted out while I was looking at the map, when I finished up I started the drive, but it was charging so slowly.
 
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GroG79

G
Sounds to me like your speed is stuck in 0 m/s. That makes you an easy target even for npcs as they will snipe your modules.

I can take NPC anacondas in my T9.... Look into changing tactics.
 

wetwire

wetwire
Rorqual said:
I can't do that vulture since I do not have any engineers, but I'll give that viper a try. I did try using the anocanda, but I had to ditch it since I could not a-type it much.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind, the larger the ship does not substitute pilot skill. Combat in Elite takes practice, learning how to dog fight is more important then what you fly. As the introduction of engineering has also made some NPC's harder due to themselves use engineering any non engineered ship you fly will be at a disadvantage.
Advised for an entry into combat is be aware, pick your targets biased on NPC combat rank, and the ship they are in. Learning what ships to avoid in the beginning like the Fer-De-Lance , Federal Assault / Gunships, Imperial Cutter, Imperial Clipper, Federal Corvette and Anaconda.
And avoid wings when possible.
 

aRJay

aRJay
The Type 9 is a fine ship for hauling large amounts of cargo but it really isn't suitable for anything else not least because it is a very big target. The T10 can be extremely tough but it isn't an easy ship to learn to fight in and is an even bigger target than the T9.

For learning combat choose something much smaller and affordable you will probably loose several until you get things sorted out.

The Viper III is a good starting point, the Eagles are fun and agile but lack punch and are fragile, the Cobra III isn't bad but isn't combat focussed, the Vulture is great but can suffer from energy issues so needs a careful build or engineering, next up the price list is the Chieftain which is another fun ship to fly but quite a bit more expensive. I know credits are largely irrelevant nowadays.
 

sinisalo

sinisalo
To be fair, I don't think the OP said he was trying to do combat in the T-9, but on a mission he found he was destroyed too quickly. He did attempt it in the T-10 if I understand correctly. He doesn't say what type of mission he was flying the T-9 for, could have been an assassination for all I know. T-9 murder boat.
 

Vetinari

V
I have a PVE combat Type 9 called Powerless Play coz I use it for PP (both attacking and defending v PP authorities, currently has about 5m bounties from 7 Powers so I get attacked a lot wherever I go), with fighter bay and used to get a harmless NPC pilot up to Expert so far, trick is to have some Turreted lasers I find as the turning circle is non-existent (unless its engines are engineered I wouldn't even consider it). Often I go in the fighter and leave her to manage the ship. I've taken it into low CZs as well but that did result in some hull loss. Sometimes (nearly always tbh) I forget when switching back into it to put the pilot in and end up in the fighter before I realise but it still manages OK as long as not sustained combat so fine for a quick battle at the Nav Beacon for example.

I have 1x Hull Reinforcement and 1x Module Reinforcement, largest shields possible leaves me with 256T of Cargo so not optimal but its OK for trading as I go (250K - 1m profit normal). 1 Point Defence near the Cargo Hatch & 1 Heatsink, I very rarely use chaff anyway. I have limpets and other junk so room for more HRP & MRP if needed but I like my ships as multi-purpose as possible.

I also use MCs on the front to finish them off but turreted Burst Lasers would maybe work as well as on target for longer.

I did fly it without rebuy in Open doing PP for 3 weeks without an issue, but I don't care if I lose a ship now so wouldn't recommend that unless this is an aspect of meaningful loss that you want to put into your game.

Thinking about putting all Packhounds on it to see how that works but haven't got round to it as currently flying Cobra iii with 2 Rails & 2 Frags and having a lot of fun in that even though I take damage from heat all the time.

T9 is not the best ship to learn combat in, I missed buying and still haven't bought the Vulture but that's a combat ship I do want to try, when I get around to it, theres always a million things I want to do in ED so I just never get round to doing some things.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
Rorqual said:
.......

edit: would anybody be able to tell me why the frameshift drive took so long to charge on an empty radar at the nav beacon? Radar was empty because I had boosted out while I was looking at the map, when I finished up I started the drive, but it was charging so slowly.
Click to expand...

Probably you had a course set to another system and so your "J" button attempted to hyperjump you to that system (much longer charge for h-jump). The "J" (jump) button is context-sensitive it will try to charge for a hyperjump if you have a course set to another system, it will only engage supercruise with no nav target or a target in the current system. A good idea is to have another key set to just engage supercruise - useful for when your destination is obscured.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
Rorqual said:
.......
Before this I took on a mission rated harmless in my type-10, I land on the site, attack the npc and just die in 4 seconds. 500+ shields gone in a single hit, 1k+ hull gone in two hits. ........
Click to expand...

Sounds like you landed near a base, became wanted / hostile, base defences engaged you - BIG LASERS - dead.
 

Ashnak

Ashnak
Rorqual said:
...Before this I took on a mission rated harmless in my type-10, I land on the site, attack the npc and just die in 4 seconds. 500+ shields gone in a single hit, 1k+ hull gone in two hits. I did some googling and it seems like npcs were buffed to have endgame stats, how the hell am I supposed to do anything combat related with these over powered npcs??
....
Click to expand...

Wait a gently caressing minute... a T-10 with 1k hull isn't even upgraded. 1k is just the basic lightweight alloy. And 500 shields may be sufficient for a PvE freighter or miner, but not if you want to do combat. First of all, you'll need to learn how to properly build and fit your ships if you want to survive - it's a djungle out there.

Apart from that, you'd fare much better if you engineered your ships - which means you'd better unlock at least a few engineers before you go into PvE combat. Otherwise, unlocking a few more engineers will automatically lead you into combat (and mining, and smuggling) to satisfy their requirements.

And I concur with Para - that description sounds like you took on a base spionage (or attack) mission, possibly against a (++) or (+++) base, which are the ones which constantly have one or two NPCs patrolling the area. Taking a T-10 for that kind of mission is news to me :) - but hey, blaze your own trail. And yes, the base defences will make mince very quickly out of a stock T-10.

In case you were wondering: this is what I use for those "scan a datapoint" missions. No shields, no guns. Get in, scan the datapoint, get out fast and low. I haven't yet seen an NPC that could keep up - that ship is almost as fast as a plasma accelarator round :p, and with the chaff flaring, the base defenses only hit by accident.
 

d8veh

d8veh
The T9 is a deathtrap unless you know how to use it. A T10 is not far behind. Unengineered, neither stands a chance in a fight against an interdicting NPC or one that comes after you, and neither are much good at running away either..

Take my advice and never fight any ship that interdicts you or otherwise comes after you unless you're on a combat mission with a ship fully kitted out for combat. To run away, you need a fast ship, which means A-rated thrusters and power distributor. Even with those, both the T9 and T10 are still too slow, so you need good armour and shields to buy time until your FSD charges. Silent running and/or heatsinks can help if your'e far enough away from the NPC.

If you want to practice combat, the only ship without engineering that can hold its own in a one-on-one against all NPCs is the Vulture, like this:

The white things that went to your ship were missiles, which the NPCs fire after your shields go down. They snipe your thrusters and FSD so you can't get away.

I don't know if this is you, but people get greedy and try to make money faster by using a big ship. That doesn't work unless you know how to fit it out properly and you know how to use it.
 
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Dommarraa

Dommarraa
A mission that requires a nav beacon scan and can lead to an assault... Only assassination mission springs to mind.

I would recommend selling all your large ships, go buy a vulture and a cobra and play the game a bit. You will never learn all the stuff to learn when you have to learn it all at the same time. You will never engineer a ship properly that has so many module slots.

The ship progression ladder isn't about cash, it's about understanding the game bit by bit.
 

Rorqual

R
sinisalo said:
To be fair, I don't think the OP said he was trying to do combat in the T-9, but on a mission he found he was destroyed too quickly. He did attempt it in the T-10 if I understand correctly. He doesn't say what type of mission he was flying the T-9 for, could have been an assassination for all I know. T-9 murder boat.
Click to expand...
this would be correct. the t9 was lost on a mission for a blackbox thing. I scanned the nav point and boosted towards my next systems jump as I tried to figure out how to do it. I wasn't in cruise, just moving max speed for a while. I started the J thing that jumps you to the next system, but it was going super slow, like I can go make a fresh pot of coffee and finish drinking it slow. I thought it was because of that mass lock thing since I had it happen at stations before, but grid was empty. An npc then landed on grid and just blapped me. I didn't shoot it, it started shooting right away.

The t10 was for a kill target pirate for less than 100k quest. It was rated harmless, and was the one where you warp to in space.
 
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