Patch 7.50: Friendly Xenon Station and Xenon H

[MakerLinux]

Ok, I've conquered the 6 new sectors for Patch 7.50 + Hyperion DLC... And I found something very odd, there is a Xenon station that besides not having defense drones is "neutral". Is that intended? It's the Xenon Power Array. It's guarded by a Xenon H, probably the only one in my universe because I exterminated the Xenon around Patch 6.0...

Should I try and destroy this station? What's it for? Just decoration? Why isn't it an enemy station?

Also, tried to destroy this Xenon H to see if I get that gizmo that gives me the blueprint to arm my own Xenon H, but no luck. Since I have exterminated the Xenon from my universe, does that mean I won't be able to get the H weapon blueprint? If I restart the endgame crisis, will a proper Xenon H appear?

Also I just noted -- only now, in patch 7.50 -- that the Wayfinder is next to the Sanctuary of Darkness gate to Towering Wave, the problem is that I'm mortal enemies with ALI now (-30 reputation) and they started destroying ships that pass by. And to make things worse, the Wayfinder and its support ships are indestructible...

I am playing a vanilla game, is there any way to fix that?

[alt3rn1ty]

Ah you may have missed an ongoing conversation between me and Ketraar ..
viewtopic.php?p=5266647&sid=8ef506d41b2 ... d#p5266647
.. The full fix has gone into the Development side of the game code, but it didn't quite make it into the public release of 7.50, so more than likely it will be in the next round of betas.

However :

In the linked conversation there are a couple of workarounds suggested to get the shard drop, Ketraars method of grinding down the H until its weak enough for another faction to finish it off worked for me, you cant have your own ships kill it or yourself, so long as another faction finishes it off you will be able to find a lockbox in the same sector (or the other one mentioned), and the shard pops out.

Hope you have a save from before you killed that last Xenon H, because that would indeed be the last opportunity gone.

When the full fix hits the streets in another beta, we will be able to kill the H ourselves without needing to entice it and another faction ship together for a dance.

The Point of Interest Xenon stations are just fluff for tourists , although maybe they work differently if the Xenon are not extinct .. In my game they are long past being able to recover.
The Xenon Data Sequencing Mainframe in Tempting Fumes I wiped it out once, testing Ketraars suggestions, but no need. It will launch drones if you persist, after going back to a save before killing it .. I have just left it as a strangely friendly POI since.

I was just glad after so long not being able to get the shard to have finally got one, my H is now fully armed

[Aro]

If I restart the endgame crisis, will a proper Xenon H appear?

Unless they changed it, which would be great, nope.

An optional free xenon dlc that players manually enable would be great for late games to add some hostile xen core sectors.
Extra shots at H's and such plus bring back the Q as an L ship with forward weapons.. even gravitons... Heck add even more sectors plus maybe some khaak after firing up the crisis.

Can you disable timelines, save, re-enable?
Never tried doing that, not sure if it's possible with that one. Theoretically since it's timelines adding the H maybe that'd do something. Would guess prob not.

[vvvvvvvv]

If I restart the endgame crisis, will a proper Xenon H appear?

Unless they changed it, which would be great, nope.

An optional free xenon dlc that players manually enable would be great for late games to add some hostile xen core sectors.
Extra shots at H's and such plus bring back the Q as an L ship with forward weapons.. even gravitons... Heck add even more sectors plus maybe some khaak after firing up the crisis.

Can you disable timelines, save, re-enable?
Never tried doing that, not sure if it's possible with that one. Theoretically since it's timelines adding the H maybe that'd do something. Would guess prob not.

You can't load a save that relies on a DLC, when that DLC is disabled. Timelines alters world map and adds sectors.

[Virtualaughing]

Ok, I've conquered the 6 new sectors for Patch 7.50 + Hyperion DLC... And I found something very odd, there is a Xenon station that besides not having defense drones is "neutral". Is that intended? It's the Xenon Power Array. It's guarded by a Xenon H, probably the only one in my universe because I exterminated the Xenon around Patch 6.0...

Should I try and destroy this station? What's it for? Just decoration? Why isn't it an enemy station?

Also, tried to destroy this Xenon H to see if I get that gizmo that gives me the blueprint to arm my own Xenon H, but no luck. Since I have exterminated the Xenon from my universe, does that mean I won't be able to get the H weapon blueprint? If I restart the endgame crisis, will a proper Xenon H appear?

Also I just noted -- only now, in patch 7.50 -- that the Wayfinder is next to the Sanctuary of Darkness gate to Towering Wave, the problem is that I'm mortal enemies with ALI now (-30 reputation) and they started destroying ships that pass by. And to make things worse, the Wayfinder and its support ships are indestructible...

I am playing a vanilla game, is there any way to fix that?

I have xenon friendly save and it is a split victory over the terrans. Xenon not attacking split. Split not attacking xenon. ... yet the place is destroyed.

[thedavid]

If I restart the endgame crisis, will a proper Xenon H appear?

Unless they changed it, which would be great, nope.

An optional free xenon dlc that players manually enable would be great for late games to add some hostile xen core sectors.
Extra shots at H's and such plus bring back the Q as an L ship with forward weapons.. even gravitons... Heck add even more sectors plus maybe some khaak after firing up the crisis.

Can you disable timelines, save, re-enable?
Never tried doing that, not sure if it's possible with that one. Theoretically since it's timelines adding the H maybe that'd do something. Would guess prob not.

I often have the feeling like the game throws too much at me all at once at the beginning of a new character. When I start a new character I'll turn off all the DLC at first except for the ones I want at the very beginning. This time around I wanted to be Terran flying only Terran ships so I set everything to off except Cradle of humanity.

Once I reach certain objectives or milestones I activate the DLCs one at a time. I finish the content for that DLC before I move on. Maybe not 100 percent finish. I don't feel compelled to do everything everytime. I have a goal and when I get that I've earned the next DLC unlock.

Terran Cadet start
Defenders of Sol
Segaris investigation
Yeet
Improve rep with HOP and PAR
Activate Hyperion
Finish Hatikvah plot
Rescue Boso
Activate Timelines
Etc.

[thedavid]

One advantage of doing things the way I posted above is I can prepare to get stuff. I know there is an H in one of the Timelines sectors so I'm ready with a ship to go in there and get it as soon as it is activated.

I know that I will not get the Theseus if I claim the Hyperion while my rep is -10 or lower so I don't activate the Hyperion DLC until after I've improved Raibu's rep with at least one Paranid faction.

I prepare for each DLC and have a plan for what I want to do as soon as it is activated and then I focus on that. One my goals are achieved I can start preparing for the next DLC.

Currently this is the flow

Terrans and base game
Rep with HOP
Hyperion
HQ
Timelines
Wharf and shipyard, full economy, HQ teleportation
Tides
At least 2 billion saved up
Split
3 billion saved up
Paranid plot
Everything finished
Boron

[MakerLinux]

When the full fix hits the streets in another beta, we will be able to kill the H ourselves without needing to entice it and another faction ship together for a dance.

I've just tried 7.60 beta which says it has solved the issue. I destroyed the H next to the Xenon Power Array but it did not drop any shard. After that I put 20 ships to explore the sector at different heights and dropped a good number of satellites and there was nothing that could host the shard either.

(of course I didn't save after that, it was only an experiment)

So it seems I am still unable to get the shard in my game...

[alt3rn1ty]

When the full fix hits the streets in another beta, we will be able to kill the H ourselves without needing to entice it and another faction ship together for a dance.

I've just tried 7.60 beta which says it has solved the issue. I destroyed the H next to the Xenon Power Array but it did not drop any shard. After that I put 20 ships to explore the sector at different heights and dropped a good number of satellites and there was nothing that could host the shard either.

(of course I didn't save after that, it was only an experiment)

So it seems I am still unable to get the shard in my game...

With those special H's, the drop is in a lock box in the same sector that you killed the H. The lockbox in my case was near the centre of Adventurers, and quite high above the ecliptic plain.
Finding it, I noticed the Long Range Scanner ping on that lockbox was a different colour to the usual, so it does kind of stand out from the crowd once you are in the right location. Not sure if using many ships to try and discover it would work.

[Alan Phipps]

Just going back to the OP, a neutral Xenon station is *usually* an indicator that the station is being deconstructed in that location so that the Xenon can build elsewhere. If a special H intended to drop important stuff is guarding that very station then its deconstruction *might* mess up what happens with the H after that. Just a theory though.

[jlehtone]

One advantage of doing things the way I posted above is I can prepare to get stuff. I know there is an H in one of the Timelines sectors so I'm ready with a ship to go in there and get it as soon as it is activated.

The "choose your battles and use foreknowledge effectively" strategy. Reminds of the "follow Saya through the 'Red Route' (which will be shorter but more dangerous) or you can follow Bret on the 'Blue Route', which is longer but less dangerous" of the X2 plot.

If a "plot" has "dangerous Xenon swarm" for you (of 5 Xenon M), dashing in with Scout or saving the encounter for moment you command 10 Asgards ... will give "slightly different" experience?

It is different to have started a playthrough early and add DLC as they are released -- gradually -- from starting game with all DLC. The latter was not possible years ago.

With Timelines one also has two options:
A. Pause/not start "Open Universe/sandbox" and do all of the "out-of-the-box" Timelines missions-missions-missions. Then load "real game" and get that Timelines adds simultaneously.
B. Unlock just one thing in Timelines and then collect it in sandbox. Rinse and repeat until you got them all.

---

The new 7.50 sectors have those "special" stations. Them being not red may keep them alive a bit longer (if they are not flagged with "plot armor"). Hopefully the Ancients have a ploy for them in the future.

[EDIT]
7.60 beta changelog:

• Fixed special Xenon H in point of interest not dropping loot.

"Neutral, unique Xenon station" seems to go under title: "point of interest".

[alt3rn1ty]

Just going back to the OP, a neutral Xenon station is *usually* an indicator that the station is being deconstructed in that location so that the Xenon can build elsewhere. If a special H intended to drop important stuff is guarding that very station then its deconstruction *might* mess up what happens with the H after that. Just a theory though.

Ketraar described those none hostile Xenon stations in the two new sectors as Points of Ineterest.
But unlike the usual wrecks or aquaducts etcetera, these stations are alive and a different design to any other Xenon station.
If you pound them, they will turn hostile and launch drones at you.
As far as I know though, you can leave them alone as an odd feature and they dont seem to contribute/help the usual Xenon efforts.

[MakerLinux]

Just going back to the OP, a neutral Xenon station is *usually* an indicator that the station is being deconstructed in that location so that the Xenon can build elsewhere. If a special H intended to drop important stuff is guarding that very station then its deconstruction *might* mess up what happens with the H after that. Just a theory though.

I can't get the H at Adventure's Promise to drop the quantum shard. I didn't even scratch the station it's guarding, I just get my ships to destroy it then I spend hours in the sector with the long-range radar and I find a few crates, but they are generic, none of them have the quantum shard.

I've got a save from before destroying the H, of course. Vanilla, no mods.

What should I do to get this? If I try, destroy the H, save on a temporary slot and uncompress the save, can I see where the supposed crate with the quantum shard is?

[vvvvvvvv]

What should I do to get this? If I try, destroy the H, save on a temporary slot and uncompress the save, can I see where the supposed crate with the quantum shard is?

Quantum shard drops at the same spot as other stuff like mod parts immediately after H is destroyed and it is visible on the map. Also I believe it despawns after a time. Generally a capital with a cargo magnet can slurp it up within 8km range. If you're piloting it.

[MakerLinux]

What should I do to get this? If I try, destroy the H, save on a temporary slot and uncompress the save, can I see where the supposed crate with the quantum shard is?

Quantum shard drops at the same spot as other stuff like mod parts immediately after H is destroyed and it is visible on the map. Also I believe it despawns after a time. Generally a capital with a cargo magnet can slurp it up within 8km range. If you're piloting it.

As I said, I had satellites all over the sector, including way above and below the ecliptic plane. Nothing appeared there that looked like a lockbox/crate. And I had 20 capitals "exploring" the sector at the same time.

[vvvvvvvv]

As I said, I had satellites all over the sector, including way ...

What I meant is that for all normal H, it drops immediately on the spot of ship death. So if you see the ship on radar, you should see the shard when the ship deis. Like normal drops, it despawns, and despawns quickly (minutes). So there is no point in exploring the sector.

In a scenario where I blow up the special H, and there is no shard, I'd assume it didn't drop, and if the outcome is the same after a reload, I'd report a bug.

[alt3rn1ty]

As I said, I had satellites all over the sector, including way ...

What I meant is that for all normal H, it drops immediately on the spot of ship death. So if you see the ship on radar, you should see the shard when the ship deis. Like normal drops, it despawns, and despawns quickly (minutes). So there is no point in exploring the sector.

In a scenario where I blow up the special H, and there is no shard, I'd assume it didn't drop, and if the outcome is the same after a reload, I'd report a bug.

MakerLinux is talking about the new H's, which Ketraar made a bit different for those of us who had no normal H's left in game (literally none at all, Xenon went extinct and the newer sectors containing a few H were wiped out by other factions before we got there).

These special H's drop a Lockbox when they are killed, and the "Fallback" Lockbox contains a Quantum Data Shard.
See the conversation starting from here viewtopic.php?p=5266537#p5266537

@MakerLinux, if you have v7.50 installed, and you kill either the H in Tempting Fumes, or Adventurers Promise, then the Lockbox should be spawned in the same sector. The lockbox cant be destroyed until you open it, and it's not easy to find, you will have to use Long Range Scan to find it, and the ping circles will be a different colour to the usual. I dont think you will find it with satellites. When I found it was in Adventurers Promise, nearly in the middle of the sector but a bit North East of there, and high above the ecliptic plane.

If you have an older version of the game then you will need to do what I described before, and have AI ships (not belonging to you) kill the H.

I cant really offer any more advice as I'm just repeating myself here. If your game is up to date and you cant find the special Lockbox with LRS, then go to the topic I linked, quote Ketraars latest post and upload a save for him to look at.

[MakerLinux]

@MakerLinux, if you have v7.50 installed, and you kill either the H in Tempting Fumes, or Adventurers Promise, then the Lockbox should be spawned in the same sector. The lockbox cant be destroyed until you open it, and it's not easy to find, you will have to use Long Range Scan to find it, and the ping circles will be a different colour to the usual. I dont think you will find it with satellites. When I found it was in Adventurers Promise, nearly in the middle of the sector but a bit North East of there, and high above the ecliptic plane.

You mean 7.60, right? Thanks. I'll keep trying this way. That's a great info you brought up -- the ping color being different.

[MakerLinux]

I was just able to kite the Adventurer's Promise H to a Boron Defense Platform and it launched a few fighters that have destroyed the H.
And still no quantum shard...
At this point I've spent almost 10 hours trying to get that elusive quantum shard. Maybe there isn't at all with this H? If I destroy it personally, I find no lockbox with the shard in the sector, no matter how much I search. If I let the NPC destroy them, they drop no shard. Maybe it's a bug? Maybe it actually doesn't work?

[alt3rn1ty]

Sorry to hear that.
Well after all the ping-pong betwen Ketraar and myself he got it working for my case, and now that I have started a new game in 7.60 I have personally seen the fixed way of it working (ie you dont need another faction to kill the H to get the spawned lockbox anymore, just kill it yourself).

All I can suggest is open a bug report and give as much detail as possible (History of the problem for you, Game save, DXDiag & VulkanInfo) to help them get to the bottom of it.

Good luck.