Acquire the Erlking?

[Raptor34]

How one is supposed to commandeer one of those station modules? Can't steal, can't hack, can't board.

Buy it with a lot of credits! Erlking is the ultimate battleship for a reason.

How good is it? What about comparisons to the Asgard? Maybe even compared to a good destroyer?
Because frankly it looks ugly, the new ships reminds me of X3 Teladi which I wasn't a fan of. Dislike asymmetry.

[chew-ie]

It is a long range battleship (>8km for all turrets, both L & M) which eats Xenon K's and small ships. For battling an I I'd give it some additional backup for good measure.

[Raptor34]

It is a long range battleship (>8km for all turrets, both L & M) which eats Xenon K's and small ships. For battling an I I'd give it some additional backup for good measure.

So not as good as an Asgard it sounds like.
I assume those turrets have good accuracy? What about it's super long main gun?

[Imperial Good]

How good is it? What about comparisons to the Asgard? Maybe even compared to a good destroyer?

Asgard still has better forward DPS against big targets. However it still effortlessly destroys entire fleets, and even more so against fighters than the Asgard due to its insane speed (600 m/s flight is possible) and 10 km pulse turret accurate but heavy damage turrets.

You can basically take Erlking into a Xenon sector and, assuming the Xenon bother to build anything, watch as all their ships explode around you. Sure you cannot face tank the Is and Ks like the Asgard due to the explosion damage stripping turrets, but you can kill them more than fast enough from 6km odd and in complete safety.

It is also one of the few ships that laughs at the VIG doomfleet. All the missile spam in the universe is ineffective against the Erlking due to it flying faster than sufficiently powerful missiles do.

Outside of the weak XL battery its only other disappointment is the toughness. Asgard can face tank a lot without much care but with the Erlking you need to make sure that you do not get hit too much. Explosion damage, such as from destroyed capitals, is a huge problem for the Erlking as it can easily strip most of its L and M turrets. For this reason you find yourself often operating in the >5 km range against capitals even if optimal damage is closer.

I assume those turrets have good accuracy? What about it's super long main gun?

Yes they have high end damage but with pulse or better projectile speed. Fly it into a S/M swarm and watch ships explode around you. Most S ships are one-shot by the L turrets. The chain bolt (with pulse laser speed) M turrets also make short work of ships, especially if they get too close and start taking a lot of hits.

The XL battery is a disappointment. It makes up 20-30% of your forward DPS but to use you basically need to play like a rhythm game with charge cycling it. Usually it is easier to leave the turrets to deal with anything that is a threat.

[Raptor34]

How good is it? What about comparisons to the Asgard? Maybe even compared to a good destroyer?

Asgard still has better forward DPS against big targets. However it still effortlessly destroys entire fleets, and even more so against fighters than the Asgard due to its insane speed (600 m/s flight is possible) and 10 km pulse turret accurate but heavy damage turrets.

You can basically take Erlking into a Xenon sector and, assuming the Xenon bother to build anything, watch as all their ships explode around you. Sure you cannot face tank the Is and Ks like the Asgard due to the explosion damage stripping turrets, but you can kill them more than fast enough from 6km odd and in complete safety.

It is also one of the few ships that laughs at the VIG doomfleet. All the missile spam in the universe is ineffective against the Erlking due to it flying faster than sufficiently powerful missiles do.

Outside of the weak XL battery its only other disappointment is the toughness. Asgard can face tank a lot without much care but with the Erlking you need to make sure that you do not get hit too much. Explosion damage, such as from destroyed capitals, is a huge problem for the Erlking as it can easily strip most of its L and M turrets. For this reason you find yourself often operating in the >5 km range against capitals even if optimal damage is closer.

I assume those turrets have good accuracy? What about it's super long main gun?

Yes they have high end damage but with pulse or better projectile speed. Fly it into a S/M swarm and watch ships explode around you. Most S ships are one-shot by the L turrets. The chain bolt (with pulse laser speed) M turrets also make short work of ships, especially if they get too close and start taking a lot of hits.

The XL battery is a disappointment. It makes up 20-30% of your forward DPS but to use you basically need to play like a rhythm game with charge cycling it. Usually it is easier to leave the turrets to deal with anything that is a threat.

Huh. That reminds me of the Xenon I actually. Excellent turrets and all that.
Just too bad it looks like junk unlike the I.

[Imperial Good]

Just too bad it looks like junk unlike the I.

The body work might look like it is hold together by duct tape, but at least it comes as standard with a nice shiny paint job!

The unusual body geometry makes for some pretty good turret coverage. Most of the L turrets can fire directly forward for good focus DPS. Additionally the M turret banks are positioned such they create a wall of fire which S ships struggle not to be hit by at least a few projectiles a second.

[BigBANGtheory]

Once you board it you just need to find the 5 data vaults containing its missing blueprints (there is no guidance for these, this is intended) and then use your own XL maintenance or ship building facility to finish it.

The 5 blueprints are scattered randomly within the new sectors in data vaults. Some are manditory and most are best in slot. The exception is the Erlking shield which is required for the Erlking trophy and is best in slot if you do not own Cradle of Humanity otherwise TER Mk2 XL shield is better than it (disappointing...).

How are you supposed to know to do that, is there supposed to be a mission or dialogue from someone?

[Imperial Good]

How are you supposed to know to do that, is there supposed to be a mission or dialogue from someone?

Upon boarding it Boso is apparently meant to say something suggesting that. Never had that dialog work though...

[chew-ie]

Once you board it you just need to find the 5 data vaults containing its missing blueprints (there is no guidance for these, this is intended) and then use your own XL maintenance or ship building facility to finish it.

The 5 blueprints are scattered randomly within the new sectors in data vaults. Some are manditory and most are best in slot. The exception is the Erlking shield which is required for the Erlking trophy and is best in slot if you do not own Cradle of Humanity otherwise TER Mk2 XL shield is better than it (disappointing...).

How are you supposed to know to do that, is there supposed to be a mission or dialogue from someone?

For me there wasn't any hint - but I had started a new game without having the HQ yet nor did I started / finished the Hatikvah plot. Those two are known for being important preconditions for some additional informations.

[NightmareNight91]

I actually like that the new pirate ships remind me of old school teladi designs. Just wish the pirates had a carrier.

[Maebius]

How are you supposed to know to do that, is there supposed to be a mission or dialogue from someone?

Pretty sure you get a dialog after boarding it... unsure what it says as mine must have been interrupted by a random "awaiting orders" dialog.

[betablues]

I don't really know what to think about this. I have found 5 data vaults in the new systems.
But I have only found 3 blueprint. Two of the data vaults was complete EMTY.
Is it supposed to be like that or is it a bug ?
I mean, should I keep looking ? or do I waste my time ?

[DanKara]

Two of the data vaults was complete EMTY.

Each of 'my' Earlking-vaults had two containers. One with the blueprint, another with the usual/random loot in the same compartment
After the release of 5.0 there were situations where only the loot-container spawned, that got fixed fairly fast.

So I suspect, you have not 'completed' those two vaults. Might be the ones, were most switches are on the 'upper side' of that central/storage thingy - but had one switch on the 'lower side'? I think, I had two of those kind...

[BigBANGtheory]

Two of the data vaults was complete EMTY.

Each of 'my' Earlking-vaults had two containers. One with the blueprint, another with the usual/random loot in the same compartment
After the release of 5.0 there were situations where only the loot-container spawned, that got fixed fairly fast.

So I suspect, you have not 'completed' those two vaults. Might be the ones, were most switches are on the 'upper side' of that central/storage thingy - but had one switch on the 'lower side'? I think, I had two of those kind...

I would agree with this, most likely cause is you've missed a switch on the data vault somewhere be sure to check all the surfaces.

I've pretty given up trying to find the last DV now for the Erlking fortunately it appears to be the shield which I'm missing which as others have pointed out can easily be replaced by a Terran XL and then modded for strength, recharge or resistance. The first 2 were pretty easy and in plain sight, the 2nd two I found with Adv Sats but god only knows where the 5th one is I can only assume there is a bug or continuity break in the mission at this point. I got no clues after boarding and one comment from Boso on finding the main battery weapon blueprint that was it.

[Raptor34]

So rereading the thread and a couple questions.
1. There is no plot or quest to acquire the Erlking? Have to find it in the wild and cap it?
2. Can't get more than one? Does that mean no new Erlking would spawn if there is one available or what?
3. If I lose it I must cap it again? Or will I get a BP on cap to build it?
4. The 5 datavaults are in the new sectors only, i.e. Avarice and Windfall?

[Pesanur]

So rereading the thread and a couple questions.
1. There is no plot or quest to acquire the Erlking? Have to find it in the wild and cap it?
2. Can't get more than one? Does that mean no new Erlking would spawn if there is one available or what?
3. If I lose it I must cap it again? Or will I get a BP on cap to build it?
4. The 5 datavaults are in the new sectors only, i.e. Avarice and Windfall?

1.- No plot, not history line, not anything. Only Boso suggesting you to board the ship the first time that you encounter it.
2.- Only one Erlking can exist in the universe at time.
3.- If you lose it, you unlock an investigation in the HQ to build a new one.
4.- Yes, the five datavaults are scattered between Avarice and Windfall.

[Raptor34]

So rereading the thread and a couple questions.
1. There is no plot or quest to acquire the Erlking? Have to find it in the wild and cap it?
2. Can't get more than one? Does that mean no new Erlking would spawn if there is one available or what?
3. If I lose it I must cap it again? Or will I get a BP on cap to build it?
4. The 5 datavaults are in the new sectors only, i.e. Avarice and Windfall?

1.- No plot, not history line, not anything. Only Boso suggesting you to board the ship the first time that you encounter it.
2.- Only one Erlking can exist in the universe at time.
3.- If you lose it, you unlock an investigation in the HQ to build a new one.
4.- Yes, the five datavaults are scattered between Avarice and Windfall.

Interesting, so I can just essentially build another one then.
Also thanks for the tip about encountering it. Time to do a flyby then before I do anything else.

[jlehtone]

1.- No plot, not history line, not anything. Only Boso suggesting you to board the ship the first time that you encounter it.

That obviously assumes that one would have been in contact / is in speaking terms with that creature.

I have entry for that ship in encyclopedia, but no recollection of encountering one. Found vaults and equipment BP already, with relative ease.

[DanKara]

but no recollection of encountering one.

In case you are looking for that place:

Spoiler

Show

Visit the VIG tradestation 'Keepsafe' in the middle Windfall sector.

[Endoryl]

How are you supposed to know to do that, is there supposed to be a mission or dialogue from someone?

Upon boarding it Boso is apparently meant to say something suggesting that. Never had that dialog work though...

I second that.
Cannot remember a dialog for that.
And if it was there, I forgot about it. There is nog log for these things to my knowlegde.
The fact that you basically need to go to internet forums to know that there are 5 data vaults to find to complete the new battleship of this DLC is questionable.
And then starts the real fun (sarcasm) of actually finding these.
I found 3 of them fairly easy, as they were on the "level plain" and sort of in the main area between the jump gates.
Have spent several hours (evenings) so far to find the other 2, but to no avail.
I have mapped all the new sectors completely with adv satellites, so my guess is they must be way off the "level plain".

Seriously, how anyone at Egosoft sees this as fun gameplay is beyond me.
I am almost 600 hours into what is still my first playthrough of X4, and I was still having fun with it.
But this is realy taxing my fun and patience with the game and I am about to search the savefile for the remaining locations, something I would normally never do.
The -500/+500 km range in all directions for these things to spawn in is way too big imo.
A serious reduction in range of at least the height axis would make this alot more reasonable.
This is like looking for khaak stations, but 10 times worse