Zen and the Art of Running away.. {spoilers guaranteed}

kurush · Post by **kurush** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 01:20

Getting those shields upgraded is going to be tricky. I don't remember anything dropping shields. Your best chance would be one of the freighters bailing with one of the shields still intact. Free ships are off-limits, right? Best of luck getting out of this...

Ormac · Post by **Ormac** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 03:25

I wonder if the pirates could use Microchips and Quantum Tubes.

If not what could MakG'Yvr make out of them that would be extremely useful

Legionnaire · Post by **Legionnaire** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 07:07

Microchips and Quantum tubes, surely they are the base requirements for knocking up a 25Mw shield

Legionnaire

Creston · Post by **Creston** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 08:41

kurush wrote:Getting those shields upgraded is going to be tricky. I don't remember anything dropping shields. Your best chance would be one of the freighters bailing with one of the shields still intact. Free ships are off-limits, right? Best of luck getting out of this...

Weapons Dealers, High Tech Traders and (occasionally) Military Supply Transports will carry shields from time to time, and will drop them if you threaten them long enough. Ofcourse, a 25MJ shield is a rare shield and thus not carried very often. You'll find 1GJ shields far more often than 25MJ.

Creston

NUKLEAR-SLUG · Post by **NUKLEAR-SLUG** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 20:27

10 - Easy come..

It's quite peaceful just floating there watching the traffic go by. I'm keeping half an eye on the Paranid Military traffic that's passing thru the sector and there does seem to be quite a lot of it, I'm hoping they're not looking for me. I wonder how the Atreus pirate base is doing? I'm also keeping half an eye on a small pirate group that's wandered in from the south as my IFF says half of them are unfriendly. They're not doing anything overtly hostile, not to me anyway, but that doesn't mean they won't.

Freighter scans are picking up a good amount of hardware, but nothing of any particular interest to me at present since the Medusa seems fairly limited in what weapons it can mount. Which begs the question, what exactly is so 'prototype' about this ship? Comparing it to a standard Medusa, aside from a tiny increase in speed, armour and weapon generator it's broadly speaking identical. I wouldn't have said the couple percent difference was that significant myself but I guess I'm not a Paranid research engineer so what would I know? Anyways, perseverance has paid off and it seems something has wandered into my range that does hold some interest..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ut/10-1.gif

.. That's a goodly supply and the Wasp being a most versatile missile I'ld quite like to get my hands on those. It's a pity that I don't have the cargo capacity to store the lot but even a third of that still represents quite a lot of missiles. The six fighter drones aren't too much of a problem either and I should be able to handle them without taking too much damage. Slipping out from my asteroid i drop in behind the freightr and close in for the kill.

As it happens I was right about the drones, they were a little slow to react when dropped and I'ld destroyed three of them before they really got going. The freighter however proved to be a little more of a problem as that PRG it was mounting has quite a high shot rate, moreso than the PAC, and is a little trickier to dodge. I got my Wasps and destroyed the freighter but incurred 3% damage in the process and a degree of displeasure from the Argon government. Not a huge amount and a quick fix but every hull hit represents potential damage to systems I have little ability to replace at the moment. Luckily, this time, nothing got broken.

Settling back down by my asteroid I got back to scanning freighters. After a while I got a hit scanning an Argon TM, 1x 200Mj and 2x 25Mj shields. Checking the ships info it was apparently only registering 200Mj of shielding tho which means the 25's are cargo and potentially stealable. That's good but represents a problem as TM class are significantly better armed than normal freighters and tend to have escorts, as was the case with this one, which had a couple M4 and an M5 docked. Obviously I was going to have to deal with the defenders first so dropping in behind the TM at a safe 6km distance I got ready to expend some of my valuable missiles. I'ld just locked up the first M4 and was about to launch a Dragonfly when I realised that there was a pirate wing heading up fast from the opposite direction and they'ld just opened fire. Not fancying the TM's chances I tried to close the gap but with the TM's low shielding and the amount of HEPT fire aiming it's way it was dust before I could get in firing range. Unfortunate.

Not to worry tho, there will be other oportunities. Heading back to my stakeout point I'm just about to settle down when a Deimos shows up at the west gate and stars heading my direction. Not entirely sure if he was after me or just passing by I decided best not to find out and moved down to Nopileos to see what I could find there. In Nopileos the Galleon had apparently finished its shift and moved on and in it's place was a Carrack busy shooting the place up in much the same way. I'm all in favour of this kind of thing as I tend to benefit from it so I spend a little while trailing behind it while it does it's thing, scanning the odd trader to see what they've got. It's as I'm doing that I come across exactly what I need coming up behind me..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ut/10-2.gif

.. Finally, Jackpot! Not only is that sufficient to fully kit out my Medusa and get me into full fighting condition but it even means a couple spares I can use on a captured ship.

Assets
1x Medusa Prototype 'Burn Notice'
1x 5Mj shield
6x PBE, 2x PAC

Credits: 268

JoeVN09 · Post by **JoeVN09** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 20:37

NINE 25MJ shields?

Just how long were you hovering there before that showed up?! I've never seen so much as one extra, at least that wasn't destroyed by the time I started getting cargo containers shoved in my face.
Ah well, take what ya get. Five finger discount. indeed...

Creston · Post by **Creston** » Sun, 25. Jan 09, 20:40

Good stuff Squiddy. I finally managed to get going on this start myself (after 7 more deaths...) , though the game put me all the way over on the other end of the universe. I got really lucky when a trader dropped 180 dragonflies. I have no money problems, but the east side of the universe hardly has anything for sale.

Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and try to navigate either Xenon 347 or several Split sectors to get over to the good side.

Unholy Traitor Start - 14
Creston - 1

Creston

Al · Post by Al » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 11:40

Looking good. I've never attacked a race freighter for its cargo yet in TC but have benefited from the pirates doing so. most recent pick ups of note were 6x 200MJ shields along with 3x25MJ ones

Perfect fit on my newly captured cobra too

Andaius · Post by **Andaius** » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 13:29

nicely done! Hope you recovered some kit!

NUKLEAR-SLUG · Post by **NUKLEAR-SLUG** » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 19:28

11 - Easy go..

Slotting in behind the Perseus I accelerate to put myself into firing range, open up with a short burst of 6x PBE fire and flay the shields off his ship in a split-second. Fairly certain that will adequately make my intentions clear to the pilot I bring up comms to order him to surrender his freight and then watch the debris from his ship slowly spiralling off into space as it explodes in a wall of flak..

Well that's... distressing...

Apparently we'ld drifted within the firing range of the Carrack and while I appreciate them trying to help out I had it covered. Oh well, easy come, easy go. It seems I'll have to look elsewhere but I'll be sure and check I have no overly helpful friends in the vicinity in future.

Deciding it best to put some distance between the Carrack and myself I start to make my way back across Dannas scanning freighters on the way. Nothing of any use to me unfortunately unless I figure out how to fit a 1gj shield to my Medusa. It's a nice idea but I suspect it would represent something of a technical problem and really I'ld be quite happy to settle for just a couple 25's at the moment. Even one would be nice. Entering Brennans Triumph there's no sign of that Deimos so it looks like they've wandered off somewhere else. There is however a small group of Blastclaws in the sector now and they're flagging up as enemy. Not wanting to tangle with anything like that I start making my way to my asteroid but it quicky becomes apparent they're taking an interest so I feel the urge to be elsewhere and head back down into Dannas where I find a couple Pirate Novas attacking a freighter group. They're flagging red to me too..

I'm starting to notice a worrying trend here. Now there's always been the odd pirate with grudge floating around but I've just made a point of steering well clear and had no trouble to date. Just lately tho there's been a lot more of them and I suspect failing that kill mission has had an adverse effect on my pirate rep. Obviously unfriendly pirates are a problem in themselves but if I get involved in a fight with any I'll likely be forced to kill them which is just going to make things worse. For now tho I'll just have to keep alert. Meantime tho my other problems haven't gone away so I get back to scanning transports.

Picking up an M3 Split Freight transporter exiting the north gate I find he's got a Hammerhead onboard. Nothing else of any interest to me but it's one of those facts of life that you can never have too much high explosive so I make a move on him anyway. It turns out he's the twitchy type tho and he promptly bails on me. well that's nice but I would have preferred it if I'ld had the opportunity to get him to part with his Hammerhead first. Not to worry tho, a quick grab with the cargo scoop and he's safely in my hold, the first of hopefully many 'recruits' to the cause. I have plans you see..

Being denied my Hammerhead it turns out is not such a tragedy after all as subsequent inspection of the ship reveals..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ut/11-1.gif

.. That's handy. A docking computer is always useful, it could even prove life-saving and it certainly can't hurt to have a spare Duplex and SETA as the loss of either of those would make life most uncomfortable.

Assets
1x Medusa Prototype 'Burn Notice'
1x 5Mj shield
6x PBE, 2x PAC

1x Mamba

Credits: 268

JoeVN09 · Post by **JoeVN09** » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 19:36

So, er, his Hammerhead just disappeared when he bailed? is that normal

Ah well, best not complain when you've just scored yourself a new M3

TBV · Post by **TBV** » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 19:39

That's tough luck on the shields. Ever feel like the almighty RNG is having a laugh at your expense?

But a Mamba in one hand is better than two in the bush, or, er....something like that!

Creston · Post by **Creston** » Mon, 26. Jan 09, 23:34

I've found that most TS captains will actually start bailing cargo (if you demand they do so) well before they come into "bail" range. I'm always a bit worried about TS'es with loads of cargo bailing, so what I do is ravage their shields with the PBEs, then when their shields hit zero percent, I yell at them to drop their cargo 20 times in a row (C, 1, ESC, C, 1, ESC etc).

Then I check to see if they have anything left. If so, I'll damage them some more, and repeat the orders. All of this is done before they reach the 87% bail threshold.

Once they've dumped everything, I try to make them bail for a few seconds, then I just blow them up.

I may suck at capping with Marines, but I am excellent at getting freighters to dump loot.

Point in fact, I got a TS High Tech Trader to dump his 9 25MJ shields last night. My Medusa is now properly equipped

Creston

bones_ayres · Post by **bones_ayres** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 00:12

NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:...

Deciding it best to put some distance between the Carrack and myself I start to make my way back across Dannas scanning freighters on the way. Nothing of any use to me unfortunately unless I figure out how to fit a 1gj shield to my Medusa...

I suspect that attempting this will void the warranty on your Medusa.

Reading your continued exploits has really left me torn - do I continue my current game or have another crack at a DID game (even if that meant giving up the recently 'liberated' TL-McSquiddy)

JanusTN · Post by **JanusTN** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 02:09

bones_ayres wrote:
I suspect that attempting this will void the warranty on your Medusa.

Isn't his Medusa a prototype

novacatt · Post by **novacatt** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 05:35

Hiya Peeps,

If you stop & think about it, we've seen macgyver make some incredible things from junk just lying around on TV, so why can't Squiddy MakG'Yvr do the impossible & mount a 1gj shield in a 25mj bay?

If anybody can work out how to mount a 1gj shield into a 25mj slot, Squiddy MakG'Yvr can!!

Even if it's held in by a well chewed piece of chewing gum & some duct-tape with a wire coat hanger to channel the power to it, Squiddy MakG'Yvr can do it....

Keep up the fantastic story, NUKLEAR!

Cheers & Thranx

amtie · Post by **amtie** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 09:08

Having 1G shield on a M3 generator would be somewhat not helpful, mainly due to the slooooooooooow recharge.

pjknibbs · Post by **pjknibbs** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 09:19

amtie wrote:Having 1G shield on a M3 generator would be somewhat not helpful, mainly due to the slooooooooooow recharge.

Doesn't really matter if the shields recharge slowly when it takes so long to knock them down in the first place. Due to a bug, X3R + XTM 0.7 had Novas flying around with 750MJ of shielding, and believe me, those things were lethal!

novacatt · Post by **novacatt** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 09:47

pjknibbs wrote:
amtie wrote:Having 1G shield on a M3 generator would be somewhat not helpful, mainly due to the slooooooooooow recharge.
Doesn't really matter if the shields recharge slowly when it takes so long to knock them down in the first place. Due to a bug, X3R + XTM 0.7 had Novas flying around with 750MJ of shielding, and believe me, those things were lethal!

Hiya Peeps,

Ahh, the good ole Super Nova as we nicknamed them....

The only way to take out these bad boys was either using a Mass Driver to take out the hull or using enough High Explosives to bankrupt a small nation & even then you had to pray they made through to their target without getting shot down....

The effect of this bug was that they were damn near indestructible, due to the fact it was Cap. Ship Class Shielding as used by the OTAS ships: The Boreas, the Custodian & the HCF....

I seem to remember quite a few of the guys capped them whenever possible & reverse engineered them (or at least tried to...

) for use in their fleets.... They made one of the ultimate Player Ships while they lasted....

Cheers & Thranx

PS Apologies to NUKLEAR for partially hijacking his story thread....

amtie · Post by **amtie** » Tue, 27. Jan 09, 12:42

Of course, once it's charged up, it's more than just helpful, but the road getting charged up, however, isn't. Unless you can SETA for 5 minutes or more, which in this case would equal death.

egosoft.com

egosoft.com

Zen and the Art of Running away.. {spoilers guaranteed}