Elite: Dangerous
Reply to Topic
My NPC crew ranked up enough to be trusted with the Conda, so I've been having a blast in the Fighter 
Getting this working reliably was pretty much the goal I set back in 2.2. It's taken some explosive experiments with the Keelback, some lengthy but pretty enjoyable bouts of combat farming to get the Conda (do love that the ice rings are now used too, even if it's purely aesthetic), and 2.3 to draw me back to the game again... So a long road just to get the best out of one feature
But totally worth it. Hoving as close as possible to targets to get the best damage possible... desperately drawing fire when the mother ship's in trouble... flipping wildly out of the way as a big ship gets a bead on you.... (hell, even dodging the mothership as it makes a dubious course adjustment )... s'all pretty grand!
Add the multcrew possibilities and this kit is properly ready for some new scenarios. Now they just need to add some
Getting this working reliably was pretty much the goal I set back in 2.2. It's taken some explosive experiments with the Keelback, some lengthy but pretty enjoyable bouts of combat farming to get the Conda (do love that the ice rings are now used too, even if it's purely aesthetic), and 2.3 to draw me back to the game again... So a long road just to get the best out of one feature
But totally worth it
. Hoving as close as possible to targets to get the best damage possible... desperately drawing fire when the mother ship's in trouble... flipping wildly out of the way as a big ship gets a bead on you.... (hell, even dodging the mothership as it makes a dubious course adjustment )... s'all pretty grand!Add the multcrew possibilities and this kit is properly ready for some new scenarios. Now they just need to add some
X
User Lists
I found a new 'end game'
I looked at all the cash I'd amassed just to buy a top notch 'Conda powerplant (just so I could get top notch shields down the line...) and thought... nah. I'll go A-class an Eagle for 2mil instead
Damn thing is a joy to use. Getting up close on the tail of enemies, and using fixed weapons, is a really refreshing change of pace. (In the SLF you normally strafe rather than stalk).
I've engineered it so it can actually have more than one thing turned on at time, given it an 'efficient' speed boost that cools it down, but mainly, I've just slapped 2 railguns on it. Essentially I've become an NPC
I looked at all the cash I'd amassed just to buy a top notch 'Conda powerplant (just so I could get top notch shields down the line...) and thought... nah. I'll go A-class an Eagle for 2mil instead
Damn thing is a joy to use. Getting up close on the tail of enemies, and using fixed weapons, is a really refreshing change of pace. (In the SLF you normally strafe rather than stalk).
I've engineered it so it can actually have more than one thing turned on at time, given it an 'efficient' speed boost that cools it down, but mainly, I've just slapped 2 railguns on it. Essentially I've become an NPC
Last edited by Golgot; 05-21-17 at 09:14 PM.
X
User Lists
Is this game still worth buying I'd you haven't jumped in yet?
I backed up star citizen and I'm still waiting...
I backed up star citizen and I'm still waiting...
X
User Lists
Is this game still worth buying I'd you haven't jumped in yet?
I backed up star citizen and I'm still waiting...
I backed up star citizen and I'm still waiting...
There are still lots of potential caveats: It has long transit times (although SC is pitching for that too apparently), all the professions still feel like they need a few more passes, the end game grind is ludicrous, and progression is essentially just 'work towards a new ship'. Online co-op is also still essentially a case of 'make your own fun'.
The plus points are still there though: The ships are all distinct and have a load of outfitting options to play around with. The sound work is exceptional and the space vibe is real. If you get into the flight model (essentially 'planes in space' with an optional 'newtonian' mode) the combat can be a ton of fun
(You don't need the expansion unless you're dead set on competitive PvP, but it does extend the game if you get into it: Driving around prospecting on bare moons and doing basic base raids, modding your kit's abilities, launching mini fighters from your trade barge, holo-projecting onto your friends bridge etc)
(Ask away if you've got any questions, I could talk about the pros and cons of this game forever
)
Last edited by Golgot; 05-22-17 at 03:24 PM.
X
User Lists
I'm a monster...
The Super-Eagle is proving a really fun glass cannon. I've slapped some specials on the rails (anti shield cell on one, and an evil multi-module piercer on the other) to supplement some mods that make them run cooler. They're still only diddy class ones, but clinging to the deadzones of big ships means you can lay some mean module damage.
The extra fun part is how easy it is to die if you make the wrong decision. Definitely learning not to take on more agile prey. Made the mistake of engaging a high rank Cobra Mk4 without backup, got my shields dropped, and only escaped initially by doing some CQC style FA-off around the asteroids. I was about to flee when I saw he was suddenly completely shield-less and down to 50% hull. Figured the cops had engaged and swung back towards him. Turns out he'd just hit an asteroid trying to track me, and was ready with a single missile for my face
That's my only death so far, but just had to hightail it with 14% hull. A Clipper had beguiled me in by not returning fire while in a face-off loop. Like an inquisitive mouse I inched closer to the cat (thinking he had one of those duff loadouts where he couldn't actually use his weapons). Nope... I'd just been outside of his stunty firing range... which I was kinda thankful of as I fled. Those Clipper's are fast! He was stuck to my tail all the way til I jumped...
The Super-Eagle is proving a really fun glass cannon
. I've slapped some specials on the rails (anti shield cell on one, and an evil multi-module piercer on the other) to supplement some mods that make them run cooler. They're still only diddy class ones, but clinging to the deadzones of big ships means you can lay some mean module damage. The extra fun part is how easy it is to die if you make the wrong decision
. Definitely learning not to take on more agile prey. Made the mistake of engaging a high rank Cobra Mk4 without backup, got my shields dropped, and only escaped initially by doing some CQC style FA-off around the asteroids. I was about to flee when I saw he was suddenly completely shield-less and down to 50% hull. Figured the cops had engaged and swung back towards him. Turns out he'd just hit an asteroid trying to track me, and was ready with a single missile for my face That's my only death so far, but just had to hightail it with 14% hull. A Clipper had beguiled me in by not returning fire while in a face-off loop. Like an inquisitive mouse I inched closer to the cat (thinking he had one of those duff loadouts where he couldn't actually use his weapons). Nope... I'd just been outside of his stunty firing range... which I was kinda thankful of as I fled. Those Clipper's are fast! He was stuck to my tail all the way til I jumped...
X
User Lists
Aha. Sci-fi devs talk about future:
The short story is...
2.3.10 update on June 27th:
2.4:
'The next major updates':
Community's been calling for that for a while. Will be interesting to see if they're freebies or paid expansions etc.
The short story is...
2.3.10 update on June 27th:
- Will add anti-troll measures for multicrew hosts, and 'under the hood' optimisation stuff for planetary surfaces
- Will have an open Beta
2.4:
- A bit different, content will be 'revealed over time', and preceded by content in the next few months 'as the narrative progresses'.
- Actual info at E3
- Conclusion: Alien story stuff.
'The next major updates':
- Will focus on core gameplay, existing features, quality of life and other improvements.
Community's been calling for that for a while. Will be interesting to see if they're freebies or paid expansions etc.
Last edited by Golgot; 06-14-17 at 07:59 AM.
X
User Lists
So the ED community is throwing around all their mad unreasonable expectations for the 'core game improvements'. These are mine..
---
Can't help but dream of future tech though (which in theory they've got a small team on both for Legs and Atmospheres).
Saw these painterly pix from the Juno camera...
This image of the North polar region of Jupiter was captured by the JUNO spacecraft during Perijove 6
A swirling storm just south of one of the white oval storms on Jupiter
They've been tweaked a bit, but they're essentially reflecting Jupiter's reality. Made me think two things: I know FDev will expend a silly percentage of their dev capacity trying to be realistic. But how the hell are they going to get close this?
Then a dev-headed individual on their forums gave me some hope....
Never know, never know
No idea how big and brassy they're going to be, but I'd love some of these...
Yeah, that'll do for now
- Big love for the mission system. Adding proc gen events to the chains, more templates with unique NPC behaviours, more use of locations.
- More NPC persistence, in terms of background activity, but ideally also friend/foe dynamics emerging due to interactions.
- More NPC interrogation via a comms wheel or similar. Including barter/negotiation options where possible.
- Planetary scanning, initially pointing you to possible resources and points of interests, requiring lower orbit flight to investigate. Can then sell finer-grained info, investigate or use...
- Planetary mining, with suitable vehicle, and the need to manage heat damage on most high metal worlds (and ideally volcanic...)
- New interdiction techniques and modules/utilities (Wings dropping a 'net' in front, prey dropping 'mines' that must be avoided).
- Inter-system sun jumps that require skill to avoid deadly damage. (Yes I went there )
- 'Staged' scenarios in combat zones, with ebb and flow. IE in Capital Ship battles, bring back the old 'fly under the shield' idea, with small ships doing the damage initially to key modules. Proceed to an 'attack their weapons and SLF bays' state. If you take too long shields come back on line etc.
- More physical differences between system states. Blast door use in Lockdowns, ToCoSo's ideas (hell, any of ToCo's ideas )
- Community Goals on planetary surfaces, or including them as one facet. SRVs picking up scattered loot from an orbital accident, while pirates chase them down etc.
- More use of planets generally. More obvious and traceable trade activity, smuggling runs down canyons with a 'low flight' evasion mechanic.
- Player placed race beacons. For both space flight and SRVs.
- Breath life back into CQC with more in-game rewards (more cash, but also semi-random Material rewards, increasing in rarity the better you do, paid by a CQC contact in game), plus more maps, and more mixed ship scenarios if possible. (Even SRV variants...). In-game queueing if feasible.
- More target tracking variety, using some above additions. Threaten minor faction NPCs to get location tips, place tracking devices while running cold, discover target's family location and use their incapacitated ship as bait...
- Player guided Gunner weapons. Missiles and specialist limpets (thrust negators & hull grinders to weaken specific locations, both dependent on accurate hits).
- Crime and Punishment system. Increasing the impact of Security levels, removing Suicidewinder exploit, karma lockouts so the most voracious killers really do hang out in anarchy.
- Increased financial benefits for trading in Open. Coupled with profits increasing along with risk. We need the full triumvirate out there of goods, baddies and white knights
Yeah, that'll do for now
Can't help but dream of future tech though (which in theory they've got a small team on both for Legs and Atmospheres).
Saw these painterly pix from the Juno camera...
This image of the North polar region of Jupiter was captured by the JUNO spacecraft during Perijove 6
A swirling storm just south of one of the white oval storms on Jupiter
They've been tweaked a bit, but they're essentially reflecting Jupiter's reality. Made me think two things: I know FDev will expend a silly percentage of their dev capacity trying to be realistic. But how the hell are they going to get close this?
Then a dev-headed individual on their forums gave me some hope....
FD is already using synthetic textures for planetary surfaces. There's actually not that much difference between craters and swirls; you "just" need to model turbulent flow. There's been a lot of work on smoke swirls and this is similar. The trick will be to do it quickly enough for a game. The progressive details (as you get closer) will need to be added via texture layers. Here's the best reference I could find with a quick search: http://graphics.cs.ucdavis.edu/~lfen...ot%20Noise.pdf
Here's an example:
Here's an example:
X
User Lists
Was browsing through the PSN store this morning, wondering quite when the RRP for big releases went from £44.99 to £54.99, when I spied that Elite Dangeroos has made it to the pre-order pages for PS4. 27th June.
£19.99 for the base game and £39.99 for the game + Horizons and a few skins.
I'm destined to end up buying it, and not the cheap version.
£19.99 for the base game and £39.99 for the game + Horizons and a few skins.
I'm destined to end up buying it, and not the cheap version.
__________________
"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how the Tatty 100 is done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." - Brendan Behan
"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how the Tatty 100 is done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." - Brendan Behan
X
Favorite Movies
X
User Lists
Wow, FDev pitched under the odds on pricing? They have changed
Well you'd be helping the above cloud visions become more likely, so I'm not going to talk you out of it
Well you'd be helping the above cloud visions become more likely, so I'm not going to talk you out of it
X
User Lists
Beta's up for some stress testing, and lo it is free, the sheer novelty
They've dangled a beta testers sexy bauble for ship and suit if you compete in the CG...
And the CG is... to try and break as much of the multiplayer and physics as possible
They've dangled a beta testers sexy bauble for ship and suit if you compete in the CG...
And the CG is... to try and break as much of the multiplayer and physics as possible
X
User Lists
Well damn, I've got my freebie, but that was some ugly instancing. (Plus about 3 crashes).
Was fun when it worked though. Ended up tangling with uber-troll 'Harry Potter' after he blew up my parked ship. He's like an evil traffic warden. Realised I was trapped on the planet so might as well fly up in my buggy and go nose to nose with him
It ended, well. It ended...
Was fun when it worked though. Ended up tangling with uber-troll 'Harry Potter' after he blew up my parked ship. He's like an evil traffic warden. Realised I was trapped on the planet so might as well fly up in my buggy and go nose to nose with him
It ended, well. It ended...
Last edited by Golgot; 06-10-17 at 04:58 AM.
X
User Lists
So the unsurprise is that 2.4 is a staged, narrative, alien invasion...
Key confirmation for me is this bit:
It'll give Multicrew turrets and SLFs a big reason to be. Can imagine that **** getting properly cinematic . (I'm assuming they'll be faster than us, going by the lore, and probably more maneuverable. And before we figure their weaknesses, deadly as all hell...)
I'm cool with any pacifist options, and will science **** up too, but chances are most of my research will be of the 'What if corrosive weapons hurt their pods' variety
Key confirmation for me is this bit:
you will be in direct conflict with our insectoid friends
. (I'm assuming they'll be faster than us, going by the lore, and probably more maneuverable. And before we figure their weaknesses, deadly as all hell...)I'm cool with any pacifist options, and will science **** up too, but chances are most of my research will be of the 'What if corrosive weapons hurt their pods' variety
Last edited by Golgot; 06-13-17 at 07:23 PM.
X
User Lists
Nice, this wee E3 interview kinda confirms the main beats of the alien shenanigans:
That's the sort of thing I wanted to hear. Gives me a reason to cruise around in game chugging some cash together to at least A-class my 'Conda. But I'm not risking that on first encounters . I've got my Mad Max Eagle ('Witness') ready to go for some cheap initial investigations. My mini-project while gathering funds is to unlock the Courier though. Low hull, uber-fast, solid shield, 3xMedium beastie that might just get me in and out intact - Although I'm guessing our shields might be a bit ineffective initially, hopefully speed will save me. (Should be able to get various science rays on it, get a good view of their behaviour through that lovely canopy, and it won't cost the earth when it inevitably bursts . Can even get a reasonable jump range on it, which should help with first contacts.)
---
For meta-amusement in the meantime the community has gone pleasingly tinfoil on the scant teases we have at the moment. Which is essentially this...
Which they've turned into this...
And this...
(I mean some other guys turned into into a weird form of audio wind too. These are just the most coherent things to date. Even if one is 70% photoshop)
- They'll be pretty nails, but optional, to start with. Becoming a permanent fixture and expanding into human territory later.
- There'll be some kind of arms & science race using Engineering mods to figure out their (and our) weaknesses
That's the sort of thing I wanted to hear
. Gives me a reason to cruise around in game chugging some cash together to at least A-class my 'Conda. But I'm not risking that on first encounters . I've got my Mad Max Eagle ('Witness') ready to go for some cheap initial investigations. My mini-project while gathering funds is to unlock the Courier though. Low hull, uber-fast, solid shield, 3xMedium beastie that might just get me in and out intact - Although I'm guessing our shields might be a bit ineffective initially, hopefully speed will save me. (Should be able to get various science rays on it, get a good view of their behaviour through that lovely canopy, and it won't cost the earth when it inevitably bursts . Can even get a reasonable jump range on it, which should help with first contacts.)---
For meta-amusement in the meantime the community has gone pleasingly tinfoil on the scant teases we have at the moment. Which is essentially this...
Which they've turned into this...
And this...
(I mean some other guys turned into into a weird form of audio wind too. These are just the most coherent things to date. Even if one is 70% photoshop
)
Last edited by Golgot; 06-19-17 at 11:14 AM.
X
User Lists
Well damn. This game
Last session it did it's best to push me away again (seeding a wetwork job 90K LS away - which feels like being given the bird for 8 minutes solid). But I persevered, I climbed that rep mountain, clambered closer to my Courier prize...
And tonight, it rewarded me instead. Not just with some of those little moments that make me smile every session... (Ship sparks spiralling off towards a sun as I home in on the station they're leaving... The badass roll of a planets gnarled bulk as I skirt it to clear up a jump)...
Nope, it was one of those magnificently intense 'oh christ I really don't want to die' moments
Last session it did it's best to push me away again (seeding a wetwork job 90K LS away - which feels like being given the bird for 8 minutes solid). But I persevered, I climbed that rep mountain, clambered closer to my Courier prize...
And tonight, it rewarded me instead
. Not just with some of those little moments that make me smile every session... (Ship sparks spiralling off towards a sun as I home in on the station they're leaving... The badass roll of a planets gnarled bulk as I skirt it to clear up a jump)... Nope, it was one of those magnificently intense 'oh christ I really don't want to die' moments
A Tale of Two Sitreps:
I'd accepted two mystery kill jobs in the same system. They both turned out to be inconvenient politicians in need of removal. I dropped in on the first one and the pickings looked reasonable. He was in an FDL, sure, but he was a mere novice, and the listening crowd and circling security weren't overwhelming. I got out of there with no more scratches than the new 'Wanted' status next to my name.
By the time I'd arrived at the second job my shields were back up and I'd dumped one overly eager bounty hunter already. Just as a second one taunted me I spied my destination and dropped straight out of SC.
Immediately I can tell this one is going to be tougher. The politician is encased in an Anaconda like my own, with a Wing of 3 protectors. And a beefier crowd. And a whole swarm of cops who I can't risk a scan from. No time to sneak in close for a sucker punch, I just unleash my fighter and dive straight into the fray. Just as I hear the bounty hunter drop straight in behind me...
My line takes me past him for some decent top-side hits, and as we engage his PA shots are flailing either side of my own hide. I get his shields down before my first capacitor charge gives out, and as my cannon starts chewing into his hull I think 'Yes!'. But there's a storm of red signals on my radar now, and no chaff, no heat sink, no FA-off tricks can keep them at bay. I can't even discern cop from activist, bounty hunter from body guard, I am getting hammered on all sides and it is not looking good.
I've never lost this ship, it's a beast. And I really don't want to lose its hard worn travel scars and 10 million creds right now either. I break off from the politician with his hull at 34%, his power plant tantalisingly in shreds. My expert fighter is still somehow alive, shouting in peril as they sustain fire, but all I can focus on is tearing myself away from the sheer mass of the minions. I claw myself free and finally see the jump drives bite with my hull at 28%...
So I burst back into space in a sparking hunk of junk. I lost that cash, and that rep. But it totally felt like a victory. I live to fight another day.
And on the plus side, I got to see the Conda's damage modelling at the end of the fray
I'd accepted two mystery kill jobs in the same system. They both turned out to be inconvenient politicians in need of removal. I dropped in on the first one and the pickings looked reasonable. He was in an FDL, sure, but he was a mere novice, and the listening crowd and circling security weren't overwhelming. I got out of there with no more scratches than the new 'Wanted' status next to my name.
By the time I'd arrived at the second job my shields were back up and I'd dumped one overly eager bounty hunter already. Just as a second one taunted me I spied my destination and dropped straight out of SC.
Immediately I can tell this one is going to be tougher. The politician is encased in an Anaconda like my own, with a Wing of 3 protectors. And a beefier crowd. And a whole swarm of cops who I can't risk a scan from. No time to sneak in close for a sucker punch, I just unleash my fighter and dive straight into the fray. Just as I hear the bounty hunter drop straight in behind me...
My line takes me past him for some decent top-side hits, and as we engage his PA shots are flailing either side of my own hide. I get his shields down before my first capacitor charge gives out, and as my cannon starts chewing into his hull I think 'Yes!'
. But there's a storm of red signals on my radar now, and no chaff, no heat sink, no FA-off tricks can keep them at bay. I can't even discern cop from activist, bounty hunter from body guard, I am getting hammered on all sides and it is not looking good. I've never lost this ship, it's a beast. And I really don't want to lose its hard worn travel scars and 10 million creds right now either. I break off from the politician with his hull at 34%, his power plant tantalisingly in shreds. My expert fighter is still somehow alive, shouting in peril as they sustain fire, but all I can focus on is tearing myself away from the sheer mass of the minions. I claw myself free and finally see the jump drives bite with my hull at 28%...
So I burst back into space in a sparking hunk of junk. I lost that cash, and that rep. But it totally felt like a victory. I live to fight another day.
And on the plus side, I got to see the Conda's damage modelling at the end of the fray
Last edited by Golgot; 06-20-17 at 09:03 AM.
X
User Lists
Look I had to...
I've rewarded my trusty space hobo with a ship kit
Prepping for an actual alien invasion really has improved my feelings towards the game. Many many long games afoot now...
I've rewarded my trusty space hobo with a ship kit
Prepping for an actual alien invasion really has improved my feelings towards the game
. Many many long games afoot now...
Last edited by Golgot; 06-22-17 at 02:09 PM.
X
User Lists
Nice, some actual info at the Lavecon Q&A on 2.4 Thargoid & QoL additions...
Twitch vid here
^^^Pix here^^^
The rebuy & Pilot Rep stuff are prob the most significant QoL bits. Gets rid of a bounty loophole that allows you to dump yours by just Suicidewinding in a Sidewinder for no real penalty, and makes anarchies more meaningful. Suggests the karma system is coming for 2.4, which should make the Crime & Punishment climate a bit more tasty
Like the search and rescue profession / contact stuff too. That's a neat addition.
- Repair limpets
- Limpet synthesis
- A Search and Rescue contact for turning in occupied escape pods and black boxes etc (love this one). A search and rescue profession!
- Utilities and weapons (to fight the Thargoids)
- Better message inbox sorting (nesting etc)
- Pilot Federation bounty for player killing. Tracks every system except for anarchy.
- Rebuy for player killers will use the rebuy for the ship most used when killing, not the one they are currently in (no more suicidewinders).
- Rebuy can be funded by selling a stored ship
Twitch vid here
^^^Pix here^^^
The rebuy & Pilot Rep stuff are prob the most significant QoL bits. Gets rid of a bounty loophole that allows you to dump yours by just Suicidewinding in a Sidewinder for no real penalty, and makes anarchies more meaningful. Suggests the karma system is coming for 2.4, which should make the Crime & Punishment climate a bit more tasty
Like the search and rescue profession / contact stuff too. That's a neat addition.
Last edited by Golgot; 06-24-17 at 02:14 PM.
X
User Lists
Girding my loins for aliens has got me climbing the steepest of grind hills. Just unlocked the infamous Marco '25 Modular Terminals' Gwent. This was best summed up by the mission that dangled the final loot drop: The game placed my target an hour's drive away, at the infamous Hutton Orbital
Still enjoying having a reason to pursue long-loop plans though. Can see myself getting a chunk of creds, Imp rep, and Engi mods all in a line by the time the bugs gatecrash the galaxy for sure. If I survive the steepest grind of all... I've had to go exploring
Prof Palin requires you to have travelled 5k LY from your start base. Didn't realise that...
So I've taken on my first passenger haulage (some secretive guys who left data on a planet 8k LY away), and I'm nearlyyy there. Totally had to deploy podcasts though
Will be worth it. G5 dirty drives should see me fly in and out of the danger zone in style, plus I'm pretty sure Palin will be hawking fancy alien gear after a while. Currently thinking I might just slap full healing beams on and keep others alive. Reckon it's going to need a lot of co-op to survive early on...
Still enjoying having a reason to pursue long-loop plans though
. Can see myself getting a chunk of creds, Imp rep, and Engi mods all in a line by the time the bugs gatecrash the galaxy for sure. If I survive the steepest grind of all... I've had to go exploring Prof Palin requires you to have travelled 5k LY from your start base. Didn't realise that...
So I've taken on my first passenger haulage (some secretive guys who left data on a planet 8k LY away), and I'm nearlyyy there. Totally had to deploy podcasts though
Will be worth it. G5 dirty drives should see me fly in and out of the danger zone in style, plus I'm pretty sure Palin will be hawking fancy alien gear after a while. Currently thinking I might just slap full healing beams on and keep others alive. Reckon it's going to need a lot of co-op to survive early on...
X