I agree, gunboats and bigger make lousy escorts. An escort needs to be agile enough to force the pirates to deal with it, not just fly around it.
I disagree about scouting, though. If there are two escorts, sure, send one as a scout. But I don't ever want to be a lane away from the freighters, to much can happen behind you and then you don't get paid. Maybe have the freighters enter the lane twenty seconds behind? Time enough for you to send the scatter signal and for them to exit the lane before they hit the pirates.
"Two things I know; Gravity sucks and Ion Storms blow. And that proves the universe is trying to kill us all" - Barren Waste, Captain of the Wasteland Wanderer
An approximation of my reaction when I see my next victim...er, these forums.
Too much can happen behind you? Seriously? Do you live in some box somewhere?
Lets say we start from west point.
I'm half way to manhattan, you jump as well.
You emerge out, i'm already at fort bush trade lane, ready to jump
Then you come to that trade lane and I jump towards fort bush.
If pirates emerge behind you then you head towards me. Thats about it.
Because if a lone pirate bomber wants to blow up your transport, no ammount of escorts can save you.
Key is not to be there. Thats why a simply arrow can also scout escort
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' Wrote:I disagree about scouting, though. If there are two escorts, sure, send one as a scout. But I don't ever want to be a lane away from the freighters, to much can happen behind you and then you don't get paid. Maybe have the freighters enter the lane twenty seconds behind? Time enough for you to send the scatter signal and for them to exit the lane before they hit the pirates.
Well, I've found the system's worked so far. The 20 second rule does work too, I guess. I've just found there's the ever-present risk of the trader getting distracted and missing my order for him to drop out of the lane.
I'd assume common sense would kick in though. If there's a pirate approaching, dock with the lane to get away. You can see the hostile contact on radar from 14k away, and find out the ship and faction IFF from 9.9k. Not much excuse for not spotting the pirate there.
Also, you got Skype? Might want to swap escorting ideas.
Sure, I agree, that's what I was saying. But, unless I misunderstood, Jammi was saying he goes a full lane ahead. That means he jumps, says it's clear, the frieghters jump, and he's already jumped in the next lane.
Then, if pirates come in as the freighters do, the escort is all the way at the next station. Thats to far ahead. Like I said, twenty second seperation is all you really need. Even if the pirates see the freighters leave the lane and head back, just hit them with disrupters.
Edit: Jammi, hadn't had the bored frieghter thing happen, but I suppose it can, easy enough. Both ways have advantages and disadvantages. And yes, I have skype, but I'm having trouble with my hardware. Also in the middle of a move to a new, larger, and nicer apartment. However, when things settle down and I fix the hardware I would enjoy comparing notes.
"Two things I know; Gravity sucks and Ion Storms blow. And that proves the universe is trying to kill us all" - Barren Waste, Captain of the Wasteland Wanderer
An approximation of my reaction when I see my next victim...er, these forums.
Posts: 6,309
Threads: 329
Joined: Aug 2007
Staff roles: Story Dev Economy Dev
' Wrote:Sure, I agree, that's what I was saying. But, unless I misunderstood, Jammi was saying he goes a full lane ahead. That means he jumps, says it's clear, the frieghters jump, and he's already jumped in the next lane.
Well, I wait for the transport to leave the lane on my end before continuing onwards. I don't just zoom off again as soon as I tell them it's clear.
Cool, thats a little different than I understood at first.
"Two things I know; Gravity sucks and Ion Storms blow. And that proves the universe is trying to kill us all" - Barren Waste, Captain of the Wasteland Wanderer
An approximation of my reaction when I see my next victim...er, these forums.
' Wrote:I think he means that they don't WANT to join the player-LPI faction, and that they would rather stay as just Police ID'd pilots doing their job.
Fine and dandy, but again, they should know what the laws are and how to administer them, not make up stuff as they go. I ave tried to inform some of these indies that you cant make thigs up as you go, and get told off.
Its a 2 way street.
EDIT: This is the one f the reasons that people become unlawfuls is because someone made something up and PO'd them.
Formerly known as LPI Police Chief Hull O'Brien.
Creator of Sgt. V. Price, 207th Precinct out of Chula Vista Station
Escort's IMO are hit, and miss. There is a merc faction out there that will hire on for 3mil, and i have hired a time or 2. They know what they are doing,and give trader's advice as they go. Problem is there is also the "noob" escort's that want cash,but just do not know how to escort. Now a GB does make a good escort,"IF" outfitted to do so. IE 2 missile's,and the rest sol turret's. Just rapid fire the missile's non stop at a fighter/bomber, and let him try to harrass the trader."BOOM!" no more little fighter.
On the ganking issue... I think it would be a lot more fun when you're outnumbered if we were allowed to use hit-and-run tactics. Multiple engagements until they actually manage to kill you.
I couldn't believe the rules prohibited this when I came on here and read them... I mean, it's almost a core military tactic used EVERYWHERE. When outnumbered, don't stay still and fight, harass and wear them down.
... Why IS that rule in place, anyway? I probably missed some incident that caused them to have to instate such a rule, but I'm curious what it is...