Progress Update
27 Nov 2020Mearmortal
Well since my last post, I've done a few things:Completed hundreds of rescue missions for stations that have been attacked by the Thargoids, moving literally hundreds of people to the rescue vessels, Used my trusty Python, all geared up for the role. After some 150 for the Imperials and some 100 for the Federation, I have ranked up to King and Admiral. I have all the permits and ships unlocked for the corresponding levels.
I went out to a couple of the Guardian locations, firstly to get some Vessel Blueprints, and then a Module Blueprint. I then preceded to get keys first which was a task in itself. It took some time but the Vessel keys were quite easy, but great graphical representation of the huge Guardian Structure Lightshow. The Module keys were not so easy fighting off the sentinels was a task in itself. As part of the challenge I created myself a nice DBX, however it's not finished, but was built enough to get me out there, and to eventually unlock the Three Guardian Vessels, and the Guardian FSD Booster. This little module is now installed on a number of ships giving me that little extra to get around.
I worked on a new corvette for a little while and came up with a purpose build that could take on anything. It is an absolute dream to take into PVE combat situations, even if there are 4 NPC's involved. It just works. This ship took me up to Deadly with little effort, and after a a month or so I was there.
I've since realised the game doesn't do well with ranks on NPC's through Deadly, you have to kill only Deadly or Elite pilots and unfortunately the spawn rate is quite low. I've moved on to Thargoid Scouts.
I've modified my Krait into something of a Amour and Shield tank. It took some building, getting all the materials for the different modules required, but in the end it worked out ok. I've worked it out that 16 Thargoid Scouts is equal to 1% rank increase, so from 1% to 100% would be some 1600 Thargoid Scouts. Having already done 15%, I am now at 50% in the ranks and it's long hard going. The spawn rate can be either 4 or 7 depending on whether or not they are already in the drop location or not, if not and there are two other NPC ships, then you get 7. The ship is amazing, can take on 7 and still function, I can be out in the instance 4-5 times before returning to the station to repair, restock the ship.
So with 50% to go that's 800 to go, average session I am getting anything from 50 kills, to 100+ so another 8 - 10 sessions I might be at 100% and therefore elite. It's been a long time coming, more time than I ever thought and definitely the hardest rank to achieve.
I've worked hard to map out each engineer for my needs as far a blueprints, combat ships require different module modifications to Explorer ships, and although I have two explorer ships I like, the Anaconda is the most capable. Don't get me wrong the Cobra as an explorer vessel is really nice and manoeuvrable, and what with the GFSD booster, reaches 45-46 Lys at a time, it doesn't have everything I might want. It has everything I need don't get me wrong, and is so nimble, but feels small for the long hauls. So I have all 25 engineers, but mainly 24 with each module I'd like them with, and I've re-assigned 1 engineer after unlocking another.
I think after this exercise I'll go out and get some much needed material top-ups. I'm kind of missing about 20 or so on most raw materials and what with the engineering I've done recently, I'll need another trip out to Dav's Hope, Jameson's Crashed Cobra, and some much needed HGE locations. I do have to finalise some spawning aspects and parameters for those HGE's so it will be good to get that done.
Maybe I'll finish up my DBX, and then create a new mining vessel. I have a Python about ready to start, but I also have a type 9 that needs some tweaking too for Merit runs.
Onwards and Upwards.... See you out there.....o7