Can't capture Aran in X3AP

[Fnord Lightbringer]

I captured Arans before in X3TC, but it does not work in X3AP. I do an unfocussed jump, find the Aran, eject from my TP with Fight Software and marines, use the repair laser until I get the fight music, use the Piracy menu on my TP ... and then the option to board to currently selected ship is no longer available.

It asks me to select a ship, gives me a sector map, which then contains only my TP, no Aran.

It does not matter if I get the red target reticule (Shift-T) or not.

The various guides on the internet still all list the method I'm trying to use here, but it looks like the piracy menu software was fixed somewhere along the way to no longer allow Aran boarding.

Now I could of course use the cheat software to give myself an Aran, but where's the fun in that?

[bizbag]

Don't use the Piracy command. Go to Additional Commands -> Launch Marines. You can select "board nearest ship" there, which will reveal the Aran.

[Fnord Lightbringer]

OK, now I attempted again.

Here's what I did.

Went to an UFJ sector, saw an Aran, repaired it until it went hostile.

Attempt 1: remotely operate piracy menu from ship; no-go, can't select Aran, no option "use current target".

Attempt 2: remotely operate additional ship commands, launch marines; no-go, can't select Aran, no option "use current target".

Attempt 3: use M7M, same issue.

Attempt 4: enter M7M, launch boarding pods manually. Use Shift-T to get red targeting reticule back. "Can't launch missiles without a target".

WTF. How the hell is anybody able to cap an Aran? This is in X3AP 2.5.2, using Roguey's UFJS mod and the TC plots for AP 1.5. As far as I can tell the mods don't matter, just mentioning them for completeness.

[Alan Phipps]

See this thread, or you can just use an M6 or TP and space-walk the marines in after making the Aran hostile with the suit repair laser.

[Aragosnat]

From the sounds of it. The ship is to badly damaged for a boarding OP. Most of us spend a few hours repairing the hull before even attempting to board it. As the hull could easily be under the min needed to board.

[Fnord Lightbringer]

See this thread, or you can just use an M6 or TP and space-walk the marines in after making the Aran hostile with the suit repair laser.

I did try a TP. The piracy menu did not allow me to target the Aran for the spacewalk, and when I just ejected the marines manually they would float around and not attempt to board the Aran.

[euclid]

Just cap'd it yesterday and , yes, it's tricky - try this:

Fly close to the Aran and then go eva, use repair laser until music changes to "combat" type. Then do not re-enter your ship. Instead order your ship remotely "piracy" and you should get the Aran as only target for boarding.

Cheers Euclid

[Manks]

Dumb question, but is your TP close to the target? When I went hunting in an M7C with a scout and TP, I once tried ordering the thing from where I left it but it was too far out to pick up the Aran. When working right, both the Piracy and Launch All Marine options should exist, although I've had TPs have trouble moving into position with the Piracy one.

If that or anyone else's stuff doesn't help, it is certainly doable in AP. I do it all the time, as they say. Can't hurt to try uninstalling the UFJS mod, just for the cap.

[sadron]

You have to make it hate you by "attacking" it with your repair laser. Also I'd recommend using a Sirokos for boarding.

[Skism]

I have not used UFJ for a loooong time so bit of a question - can you order other ships to jump to you?

[Manks]

For everyone recommending that the OP "attack" it with the repair laser, if you read up a bit you'll see:

Went to an UFJ sector, saw an Aran, repaired it until it went hostile.

And it doesn't matter at all what vehicle you use to board the thing. No reason to buy anything beyond a second hand, half broken TP if that's your style.

I have not used UFJ for a loooong time so bit of a question - can you order other ships to jump to you?

Yes, but nothing happens.