NPCs getting really tough now

[JohnLuke]

Are the ships all orange, even after attacking? Did you get a Wanted status even though the "clean" enemy was already shooting at you?

I had some attacking ships that did not change colors, but that bug has been around since 1.3 I think.

According to my wingman, there was a clean clipper that was attacking me. It was noticed only a few seconds before the destruction of my python, so I wasn't able to confirm it personally.

I am a big fan of Haz-RES, even when solo. I just pick my targets carefully and know when to bug out. I will probably wait a while before trying a compromised NAV beacon again. The $7.6mil rebuy sting is still fresh in my mind.

I have upgraded the PP on my Python since then, and can now fire a 6A and 5A SCB at the same time. That will get my shields from 'almost gone' to 2 rings quickly. The upgrade should make the new challenging environments more survivable.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

I was in that same Compromised Nav Beacon last night and did alright until I picked a fight with an Anaconda/Dropship wing.

Had to bail after I realized I was out of SCB

And as to JL dying, I blame myself Had I been a bit faster I think we probably could've saved him, but because his attacker didn't flag as hostile, by the time we noticed it he was already mass locked, and I was too slow to catch up :/ (Downside of the Anaconda...)

I'm just a bad wingman sometimes.

[Cmdr Kharma]

From what I've heard......Are you sure it's "Sometimes"

[JohnLuke]

I'm just a bad wingman sometimes.

No you're not! You're a great wingman.

I was dumb enough not to notice that my shields were low until it was too late to run from the situation.

[UnmarkedBoxcar]

From what I've heard......Are you sure it's "Sometimes"

He was in my blind spot...uh...there was an asteroid in the way, yeah...yeah that's it. An asteroid. I didn't MEAN to ram into him. I mean...c'mon...that's what shields are for...right?

....right?...

[LionOfNarnia]

The NPCs are, for sure, fighting a bit more savvy than before - but nothing insane.

Until I discovered that they are now travelling in wings of EIGHT

- Never saw that in any update log!

On an OoM pirate-hunting mish in Exioce, scanned a wanted 'winder, 'dicted him, had him on the KWS then WHAM! 7 of his buddies are round me like flies round (you know what), my shields were down before I could fire my 2nd SCB. I got him & lo-waked out.

-and YES, it was a wing of 8. That's what it said on the display, but only after I'd dropped to normal space. If I'd seen it was a wing of 8, obviously I'd have found another target. In Monty I have no probs with wings of 3 or 4 but 8? EIGHT? That's OTT, FD

[Cmdr Kharma]

Pics or it didn't happen.......

[TorTorden]

Hadn't been doing a lot of hunting. But ventured into a haz res yesterday for the first time.

Found it to be fairly business as usual but yea things changed with 1.4 mostly for the better.
Their tougher and a fed drop ship and clippers are quite a bit more challenging.
I am making less money doing it (3-4 mil /h) but it was much more fun, can't remember having had this much fun in a res's since my viper early vulture days

Also swapped my trippel beam setup on the python with trip pulses, works a lot better for me.

[LionOfNarnia]

As an update, and proof, for what I wrote last night-

All I could do was 'dict, take out one ship, then lo-wake to the station for shelter while the shields recharged. Every time I came out again, the wing was back to 8. Took over 3 hours to complete the mission (for 9 pirates) earning a mere half-a-mill total, so good job I don't worry about the bank account.

[anikaiful]

I like the changes. At least there's some challenge now and then