Elite: Game talk

yesterday, 11:13pm
As far as I'm concerned re shield engineering, I'd go with reinforced/hi-cap on prismatics (though old me apparently decided to thermal resist engineer one anyway, for a Corvette), purely for the hitpoints, and thermal resist + either hi cap, lo draw or fast charge (depending on preferences and/or setup needs) for bi-weaves, to take better advantage of their faster recharge times through having high resistance numbers across the board (though it will end up slightly weaker to kinetic damage than a reinforced shield, NPCs have a great enough weapon variety that I've never found it to be a practical issue).

... I have no experience playing with the standard shield generator, however. So I can't provide any particular views on that one. Of course, thermal resist is one of those things which resists the plasma accelerators less well but generally against PvE opponents I haven't found a meaningful difference between both for bi-weaves (but it's probably worth going reinforced no matter what on prismatics if you have enough shield booster slots available to balance the resistances out better, and achieve similar numbers to thermal resistant). And it might be a no brainer for PvP, not that I engage in it.

Also still have a plan to throw together a Mamba myself once the Titan bonanza has concluded (even if Thargoids are very liable to stick around past it). Probably also with frag cannons, though I'm not quite sure on exact specifics of the weapon engineering (or what to do with the C1 hardpoints, not going to have Powerplay modules - by choice - and I can't say I am a fan of rails).
yesterday, 11:46pm
Emily Valefor How do you handle the Mambas slidey- ness. Do you boom and zoom ala a P-38 or do you have a strat that helps keep it on target. I think the mamba looks so cool but the bad handling keeps me away


I'm a big fan of that "slidey-ness" and work it into my piloting and targeting. Even in other "flight combat" type games -- which I find myself playing less than Elite these days -- I prefer quick and nimble to slow and steady. (It's also part of why I enjoy CQC so much.)

As far as strategy for when I'm flying the Mamba (and therefore while bounty hunting): I browse potential targets, settle on one (or a wing of 'em), get close enough to K-Scan each one, then tuck in behind whichever ship I'm going to target first, ....

Line up my Plasma Acc, and fire. That usually wipes out NPC shields instantly so, while still sitting right behind them, I place a couple solid frag hits. For smaller ships they're toast by now. For larger ones, they'll usually zip away or try to. I'll try to stay right behind them and pepper them with frag. If they manage to get out of good frag range, I'll remind them that I have a long-range Plasma Acc.
If I'm feeling particularly mean (or if it's a big ol' ship with lots of teeth), I'll target their subsystems before I fire my first Plasma. Usually I go for their Power Plant.

When I end up in surprisingly long engagements, I'll switch tactics to targeting them as if they are Thargoid Interceptors (i.e. orbit technique and target their subsystems as if hearts). The engagements aren't usually long at all; I'll cycle through that main strategy above ("As far as strategy... " to "... long-range Plasma") a few times for multiple ships in a few minutes; each ship probably a minute or less from opening salvo to pop.
today, 12:03am
Okay I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I cannot seem to sell smear campaign plans to any bartender. They don’t even show up in the Data list to sell. Am trying to unlock Yarden Bond. Any help would be appreciated
today, 12:19am
Indy
Emily Valefor How do you handle the Mambas slidey- ness. Do you boom and zoom ala a P-38 or do you have a strat that helps keep it on target. I think the mamba looks so cool but the bad handling keeps me away



I'm a big fan of that "slidey-ness" and work it into my piloting and targeting. Even in other "flight combat" type games -- which I find myself playing less than Elite these days -- I prefer quick and nimble to slow and steady. (It's also part of why I enjoy CQC so much.)

As far as strategy for when I'm flying the Mamba (and therefore while bounty hunting): I browse potential targets, settle on one (or a wing of 'em), get close enough to K-Scan each one, then tuck in behind whichever ship I'm going to target first, ....

Line up my Plasma Acc, and fire. That usually wipes out NPC shields instantly so, while still sitting right behind them, I place a couple solid frag hits. For smaller ships they're toast by now. For larger ones, they'll usually zip away or try to. I'll try to stay right behind them and pepper them with frag. If they manage to get out of good frag range, I'll remind them that I have a long-range Plasma Acc.
If I'm feeling particularly mean (or if it's a big ol' ship with lots of teeth), I'll target their subsystems before I fire my first Plasma. Usually I go for their Power Plant.

When I end up in surprisingly long engagements, I'll switch tactics to targeting them as if they are Thargoid Interceptors (i.e. orbit technique and target their subsystems as if hearts). The engagements aren't usually long at all; I'll cycle through that main strategy above ("As far as strategy... " to "... long-range Plasma") a few times for multiple ships in a few minutes; each ship probably a minute or less from opening salvo to pop.

I would so play cqc more but I can never seem to find a game. Frankly perhaps I should just try the mamba. I like it's looks much more than the fdl I never use
today, 1:32am
AguilarOkay I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I cannot seem to sell smear campaign plans to any bartender. They don’t even show up in the Data list to sell. Am trying to unlock Yarden Bond. Any help would be appreciated

Don't know if it is related, but I have been experiencing issues where the game is telling me I do not have the item I want to transfer to my carrier, even though I clearly have the items in inventory. When I sell the items to my FC bartender in a work-around attempt to transfer them, the items just simply disappear and are no longer in my inventory, or on the bartender/FC inventory.
today, 2:32am
AguilarOkay I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I cannot seem to sell smear campaign plans to any bartender. They don’t even show up in the Data list to sell. Am trying to unlock Yarden Bond. Any help would be appreciated

Make sure you're trying to sell them in an anarchy, it's an illegal item which can't be sold in most government types (may also work in communist systems, not 100% sure but they are the only other type which tolerates carrying of e-breaches if memory serves, so might work there too). If that's not the issue, I don't know.

*Of course it could also work with a carrier anywhere, but as Vasil said there's some bugs surrounding that right now.
today, 2:35am
Don't know if it is related, but I have been experiencing issues where the game is telling me I do not have the item I want to transfer to my carrier, even though I clearly have the items in inventory. When I sell the items to my FC bartender in a work-around attempt to transfer them, the items just simply disappear and are no longer in my inventory, or on the bartender/FC inventory.

I have noticed that the bartenders on carriers that I have visited lately don’t seem to have stock to sell and aren’t buying either.
today, 6:07am
I can already tell people right now that bar surprises, because for some reason everybody specifically decided to target the systems which would have launched them (god forbid fun is allowed to persist)... there will be no dedicated invasions around Cocijo this Thursday. Maybe there might be some of those counterstrike reactivated ports but if not, or some other change occurs to allow the invasions to happen anyway... well, it looks like a boring week ahead if you were looking to fight around an active station.
today, 6:33am
If there was a way to get some stock without footie work I'd have mine enabled, as it is, Bartenders are a waste of time...
today, 7:01am
RawnuQuestion for the engineers who fly a Python Mk2: what is your preferred combat loadout and why? While I've settled for the Mandalay and her "perfect" combat loadout (imo), I am constantly rearranging my PM2. I'd also be interested to see how you "shield" her up (because her armor is not so great as far as I can see).


i have on my mind to the replace my pve fdl for heavy combat with other ships but fdl is just superior medium ship.

Python mk2 when i get time for testing: Angela Deth 2.0
Fer der Lance: Angela Deth

Mostly i use mk2 for ax combat and im very satisfied to use that as my main ax combat instead ax corvette
today, 7:11am
Rayman.Mostly i use mk2 for ax combat and im very satisfied to use that as my main ax combat instead ax corvette
Try AX FDL with Modshards, that's a heckload o' fun
today, 7:22am
Emily Valefor How do you handle the Mambas slidey- ness. Do you boom and zoom ala a P-38 or do you have a strat that helps keep it on target. I think the mamba looks so cool but the bad handling keeps me away


The Mamba was (and probably is) my favorite combat ship just because it looks so good. The slidey-ness, as you call it, can be managed rather well by using boost attenuation. So, using boost not to run away but to turn faster and with more precision by (1) press boost, (2) start turning towards target, (3) dropping landing gear to cancel speed (but turning rate stays high), (4) acquire target, (5) retrieve landing gear, (6) pew pew pew on target.

The hardpoint location of the Mamba is also really good, they are all on the dorsal (upper) side of the ship (which also means that there is never the situation that a hardpoint will stop firing when dropping the landing gear, unlike the FdL, which has a hardpoint on her belly). This little "trick" really helps with the agility of the Mamba a lot (you need at least two pips in engines, better two and half or three, to do this more or less continously; just don't forget to retrieve your landing gear before the next boost cycle).

As far as Hardpoints go, the huge one can be either a big fat beam laser or a PA. Then you can go either all frags in the large and small, or mix it with two large frags (one with drag, it's too funny to see your target trying to boost and it just fizzles), and two small rails (one with feedback cascade). You could also mix the small ones, with one rail and one MC (with corrosive).

It's really a fantastic and stylish murder boat and once you get the hang of her, you can flip and turn very quickly and precisely.
today, 7:32am
Meowers
Rayman.Mostly i use mk2 for ax combat and im very satisfied to use that as my main ax combat instead ax corvette

Try AX FDL with Modshards, that's a heckload o' fun


Modshards are the way to go... BOOM Here's my Python Mk2, with four of the babies for interceptors, plus a thermal vent beam and a large AXMC for scouts. You can of course go fully wild and put 6 Modshards on that beauty of a killer

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