Acquire the Erlking?

[RainerPrem]

So the tool gave me

Avarice V X-293,758 Y-18,202916 Z168,983719

My ship is now roughly at X-280 0 0

How can I get up? to Z168

cu
Rainer

[alt3rn1ty]

So the tool gave me

Avarice V X-293,758 Y-18,202916 Z168,983719

My ship is now roughly at X-280 0 0

How can I get up? to Z168

cu
Rainer

Its like a Cartesian Coordinated Grid.

When you are looking at the games Map (and have not used your right mouse button to alter the angle), imagine it to be a normal map North up, South down etcetera.

Somewhere in the middle of the sector is point 0,0,0 (we dont know exactly how to pinpoint that, but a guess is good enough.

X = East and West axis. West are minus numbers from 0,0,0, East are plus numbers.
Z = North and South axis. North are plus numbers, South are minus numbers.
Y = Depth axis (ie in and out, if you right click the map and tilt it so the map becomes flat from your point of view, Y is now up/down)
On the Y axis I think I recall Out (towards your face as a viewer of the screen) is plus numbers, and in is minus numbers.

So Z168 is North 168km (South would be -168)
X-293 is West 293km
Y-18 is in 18km

Assuming you roughly guessed where 0,0,0 is in the sector, as you get closer to where it should be start using your Long Range scanner ping. Look for a slightly different colour to other pings, because annoyingly these data vaults only start showing up when you are close.

Another helpful thing - Your ships Radar screen shows X and Z + and -

https://i.imgur.com/wFWqbS2.png
(Note in that screenshot I'm pointing South East, because the orientating of my ship is upside down in relation to the map view)

So Y from your pilot seat point of view flying, is + up/down -

Now you can also put a Guidance marker somewhere on the map North of you and target it, how far away is the guidance marker?
Delete the marker and adjust the position etcetera .. home in on a few km short of where you should be and start pinging.
Even when you know the coords its still a PITA

[RainerPrem]

So the tool gave me

Avarice V X-293,758 Y-18,202916 Z168,983719

My ship is now roughly at X-280 0 0

How can I get up? to Z168

cu
Rainer

Its like a Cartesian Coordinated Grid.

...

X = East and West axis. West are minus numbers from 0,0,0, East are plus numbers.
Z = North and South axis. North are plus numbers, South are minus numbers.
Y = Depth axis (ie in and out, if you right click the map and tilt it so the map becomes flat from your point of view, Y is now up/down)
On the Y axis I think I recall Out (towards your face as a viewer of the screen) is plus numbers, and in is minus numbers.

I thought Z was Up, so basically I don't need to leave the ecliptic, just travel south and west...

Let's try it,

Edit: NORTH West, of course. Found it.

[alt3rn1ty]

~ just travel south and west...

North West ish, and slightly down.
Judging by the coords you are going to be travelling much farther west than you are going to travel North, so its more like West North West than North West.

[RainerPrem]

~ just travel south and west...

North West ish, and slightly down.
Judging by the coords you are going to be travelling much farther west than you are going to travel North, so its more like West North West than North West.

Jepp. Found it.

[alt3rn1ty]

[Pesanur]

As a tip to found faster the vaults, use about six scouts with the scope mod (radar range mod), send each of the scouts to each of the corners of the sector.

As second part, in the search field enter Data Vault. This way, when a data vault is spotted, its appears marked in the map. Keep in mind that you need to stay in the map view while your scouts map de sector to no miss the data vault.

[CulunTse]

For Linux users, who can't really use the (awesome!) Powershell snippet from the earlier post, I've come up with the following command line snippet.

My Linux oneliner doesn't give you the coordinates like Powershell does, but it does give the sectors which contain the vaults (raw sector macro-names, which you can map back using the values from the original script).
I've added a small sed-post-processing that adds some indentation for easier reading.

Code: Select all

# go to save folder
cd /home/<your-user-name>/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<your-steam-id-number>/save/

# dig through save
zgrep -e "erlking" -e "macro=\"cluster_50[0123]" save_008.xml.gz | \
    sed -r - \
      -e 's/(<component class="object)/    \1/' \ 
      -e's/(<source)/      \1/' \
      -e's/(<component class="collectableblueprints")/        \1/'

zgrep transparently and efficiently searches for strings/regexes in gz-compressed data. It's default available in every middling Linux distro. Since it doesn't pay attention to xml hierarchy, it's very fast, but can't do the fancy things a full XPATH3.0 / XQUERY3.0 engine could do (like selecting the position-tag of only the vaults)


Sample output looks like this.
This is for my save, where I've found all-but-one vault (missing the shield).
As you can see, there are three vaults in my Avarice I (cluster_500_sector001_macro), and one each in Windfall I and III

Code: Select all

<component class="cluster" macro="cluster_500_macro" connection="galaxy" code="BZU-065" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215f7a1]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_500_sector001_macro" connection="cluster" code="STD-164" owner="scavenger" knownto="player" read="1" id="[0x215f780]">
    <component class="object" macro="landmarks_erlking_vault_01_macro" connection="space" code="DNP-939" owner="ownerless" knownto="player" id="[0x215f153]">
      <source entry="erlking_blueprint_1" seed="16191052505576401373" class="godobject"/>
    <component class="object" macro="landmarks_erlking_vault_03_macro" connection="space" code="QYE-917" owner="ownerless" knownto="player" id="[0x215f114]">
      <source entry="erlking_blueprint_3" seed="9261359120879868738" class="godobject"/>
    <component class="object" macro="landmarks_erlking_vault_02_macro" connection="space" code="WBP-723" owner="ownerless" id="[0x215eed9]">
      <source entry="erlking_blueprint_2" seed="4739011951452307626" class="godobject"/>
        <component class="collectableblueprints" macro="props_sm_container_xs_erlking_blueprint_02_macro" connection="connection01" code="ZHB-835" blueprints="shield_pir_xl_battleship_01_standard_01_mk1" id="[0x215eed8]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_500_sector003_macro" connection="cluster" code="KRV-865" owner="scavenger" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215ea42]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_500_sector002_macro" connection="cluster" code="MPC-165" owner="scavenger" knownto="player" read="1" id="[0x215e3d7]">
<component class="cluster" macro="cluster_501_macro" connection="galaxy" code="NNI-776" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215da06]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_501_sector001_macro" connection="cluster" code="GXI-904" owner="loanshark" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215da02]">
    <component class="object" macro="landmarks_erlking_vault_05_macro" connection="space" code="QAV-848" owner="ownerless" knownto="player" id="[0x215d9fa]">
      <source entry="erlking_blueprint_5" seed="2589808362359421216" class="godobject"/>
<component class="cluster" macro="cluster_502_macro" connection="galaxy" code="FVI-943" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215abcb]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_502_sector001_macro" connection="cluster" code="IRZ-939" owner="loanshark" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x215abc4]">
    <component class="object" macro="landmarks_erlking_vault_04_macro" connection="space" attackmethod="collided" attacktime="419587.737" shipattacktime="419587.737" code="OGZ-770" owner="ownerless" knownto="player" id="[0x215a24b]">
      <source entry="erlking_blueprint_4" seed="16662680135538194351" class="godobject"/>
<component class="cluster" macro="cluster_503_macro" connection="galaxy" code="GWJ-682" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x21596d7]">
<component class="sector" macro="cluster_503_sector001_macro" connection="cluster" code="PGM-266" owner="loanshark" knownto="player" known="1" id="[0x21596ca]">
<value name="$story_erlking_possession" type="integer"/>
<value name="$story_erlking_upgrade" type="integer"/>

This is still quite "raw", but you should pay attention to the following bits:

• <component class="object" landmarks_erlking_vault_XX --> the "building" / vault structure
  If this says "knownto="player", you have previously discovered it (but it could have been one of your traders, so you-the-human may not know about it.
• "<source entry="erlking_blueprint_1" --> the collectible box, I think
• <component class="collectableblueprints" --> the 'loot' inside the box, I think.
  pay particular attention to the "blueprints="shield_pir_xl_battleship_01_standard_01_mk1"" part, which tells you which blueprint it is.

Mappings:

• cluster_500_sector001_macro = Avarice I
• cluster_500_sector002_macro = Avarice IV
• cluster_500_sector003_macro = Avarice V
• cluster_501_macro = Windfall I
• cluster_502_macro = Windfall III
• cluster_503_macro = Windfall IV

I had great results manually reading the save file using `zless`, which can directly open a compressed save, and doesn't explode your ram (I think it lazy-loads or something).
Use '/' to search forwards, "?" to search backwards. (e.g. for an ID value like WBP-723)

[Thomas2052]

Is there a plotline mission that starts it, or do i just steal the thing? If i do just steal the thing, wont that kill my rep with VIG?

As of the current version, is there a mission or comm to instruct you to find the data boxes / give any lore?

Or is it just expected you know to look for them once you have captured the Erlking?

Regards

[EGO_Aut]

Is there a plotline mission that starts it, or do i just steal the thing? If i do just steal the thing, wont that kill my rep with VIG?

As of the current version, is there a mission or comm to instruct you to find the data boxes / give any lore?

Or is it just expected you know to look for them once you have captured the Erlking?

Regards

1. No
2. No, you do not need the Erlking to look for the data vaults, they are already there.

PS: its not that hard to find/get them.

[Thomas2052]

Is there a plotline mission that starts it, or do i just steal the thing? If i do just steal the thing, wont that kill my rep with VIG?

As of the current version, is there a mission or comm to instruct you to find the data boxes / give any lore?

Or is it just expected you know to look for them once you have captured the Erlking?

Regards

1. No
2. No, you do not need the Erlking to look for the data vaults, they are already there.

PS: its not that hard to find/get them.

Cheers.

It's not so much about the challenge / headache of finding the vaults, as this thread seems to focus on.

It's more the headcannon in game - if I wasn't already aware of the need to find the data vaults via these forums, I would have no idea that these were the next steps to kit the ship out. Seems a weird game design decision to not give any direction to the player whatsoever to link two disparate but dependent activities.

Regards

[chew-ie]

As of the current version, is there a mission or comm to instruct you to find the data boxes / give any lore?

Or is it just expected you know to look for them once you have captured the Erlking?

Regards

1. No
2. No, you do not need the Erlking to look for the data vaults, they are already there.

PS: its not that hard to find/get them.

Cheers.

It's not so much about the challenge / headache of finding the vaults, as this thread seems to focus on.

It's more the headcannon in game - if I wasn't already aware of the need to find the data vaults via these forums, I would have no idea that these were the next steps to kit the ship out. Seems a weird game design decision to not give any direction to the player whatsoever to link two disparate but dependent activities.

Regards

Indeed. That "quest" is my only main problem with this DLC. The unique ship, the Erlking - the main asset / top reward so to speak is introduced in a very lazy way. It's astonishing that we even got a fluff mission for introducing the two factions (the trader incident when the player can decide if / how to intervene - with no real consequence) but then when it comes to the main reward we have absolutely nothing for the equipment and only a very vague intro around the ship itself and it's power core. Almost feels like they forgot it - and hastely crammed the stuff into datavaults and distribute them randomly where no player would ever look. (extreme coord ranges)

tl;dr: a real shame - the Erlking could've been a nice story in itself. Both for getting it and equipping it. But all we got is a lousy fetch quest which relies on expert knowledge (like you said - one has to know that there are those datavaults).

I always use the powershell script to identify the randomly placed components and send 20 scouts to map the DLC sectors. Eventually I bother to collect the datavaults and be done with it. As said, a real shame.

[EGO_Aut]

I would call it a great easter egg

[494679e1]

For those who try to use the PowerShell script in the post but get an out-of-memory error: (e.g. on a large old save)
Replace

Code: Select all

$components=Select-Xml -Xml $Xml -XPath "/savegame/universe//component"
$erl=$components | ?{$_.Node.macro -and $_.Node.macro.Contains("erlking")}
$vaults = $erl | ?{$_.Node.macro -and $_.Node.macro.Contains("landmarks_erlking_vault")}

with

Code: Select all

$vaults = $Xml.GetElementsByTagName("component") | ?{$_.macro -and $_.macro.StartsWith("landmarks_erlking_vault")}

, and then replace all the

Code: Select all

$vault.Node

with

Code: Select all

$vault

This can reduce the amount of memory required.(Tested on a 700MB save file, the original script consumed 18GB of RAM and could not be completed, while the modified script required about 7GB of RAM.)

=================
The bat script in the post also have some problem, replace:

Code: Select all

Filter = '*.xml|*.gz'

with

Code: Select all

Filter = 'XML save file|*.xml|GZ save file|*.gz'

Fall into the trap of Windows-style APIs. XD

[z-wing-rolls]

Edit 3/27: Apparently Avarice V and IV were swapped (I got the friendly name mapping from reddit - not sure where a real source is) -- I confirmed in my save and two others did as well
Edit 6/2/23: Thanks jojorne for catching an issue related to the GUI for compressed saves

Here is a bat file that runs the powershell inside it (sneaky.. but effective) : https://anechoic.space/erlkinggui.bat
It has a few features over the previous script including:

• A File selection dialog
• Support for gz / compressed saves
• GUI output of the positions

Magnificent. You legend. Thanks so much.

[Mr.Killer]

Did anyone figure out that regarding having the blueprints, we can not make another Erlking?

In an addition to my question, seeing the Youtube video

I would call it a great easter egg

I went back to my shipyard to see if I could also change a few modifications here and there, I noticed that the engines were not specifically designed for this Erlking ship, every factions XL engine fits. Lets see if other items are also usable and hope that I can make more Erlking ships.

[Alan Phipps]

You can build an Erlking from a blueprint after PHQ research which unlocks only if you lose the Erlking you already owned. You were intended to only ever have one at any one time.

[Nanook]

...
Indeed. That "quest" is my only main problem with this DLC. The unique ship, the Erlking - the main asset / top reward so to speak is introduced in a very lazy way. It's astonishing that we even got a fluff mission for introducing the two factions (the trader incident when the player can decide if / how to intervene - with no real consequence) but then when it comes to the main reward we have absolutely nothing for the equipment and only a very vague intro around the ship itself and it's power core. Almost feels like they forgot it...

I don't think the devs "forgot it". I believe they intended the player to apply the "Think" part of the X-mantra. You're shown the Erlking during the scrapyard retrieval, and you're shown at least one datavault in Windfall the Hoard close to at least one of the gates you pass through (in one of my games, there was a datavault near the south gate and another within 30km of the gate to Avarice). Using a little curiosity, the player soon discovers an Erlking blueprint in one of those vaults, triggering an AHHAA! moment, realizing there are most likely more datavaults with more blueprints somewhere in the new DLC sectors (at least it should if they're a typical X player ).

Not everything in the game is spelt out to the player in gory detail, nor should it be.

And for the record, I don't believe the Erlking is the major reward of either of the two new quests in TOA. It's a very powerful ship and is its own reward if the player can figure out how to acquire and equip it.

[Mr.Killer]

You can build an Erlking from a blueprint after PHQ research which unlocks only if you lose the Erlking you already owned. You were intended to only ever have one at any one time.

Weird rule: Oh, you have blueprints, however cheaply aquired, but you can only make one of them. Is hardly a blue print, more a one-time lose print!

[Nanook]

You can build an Erlking from a blueprint after PHQ research which unlocks only if you lose the Erlking you already owned. You were intended to only ever have one at any one time.

Weird rule: Oh, you have blueprints, however cheaply aquired, but you can only make one of them. Is hardly a blue print, more a one-time lose print!

Not "one time", more like one at a time, for every time you lose it, I believe.