Slithereen
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Posted - 2003.12.22 00:18:00 -
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YOu can actually exceed the cash outlay of 20 to 30k spawns (which is typical for empire space spawns and those within the 0.0 "shelf" regions) with the frigate NPCs you kill in 0.4 to 0.1 space. That's because the frigates now are in greater numbers with greater bounty.
For example, a typical frigate NPC recon force may have 2 15k and 3 12.5k or 10k. That certainly gets you more than 20k or 30k even. Many total force frigate bounties easily exceed 20k. Compare this to "farming" a site full of 20ks where one 20k would materialize every few minutes, and which you often have to share with another farmer (as the spawns are often crowded). With traditional spawns, you get a lot of kills initially, but after the spawn quota is met, you only have one NPC materializing every few minutes. If that NPC spawns has frigates and you killed the frigates, your rate of income drops further.
This is compared to belt spawns where a whole bunch would simultaneously spawn. The more aggressive tactics weapons of the new NPC frigates and cruisers are actually more exciting and challenging. Some NPC frigs have longer ranged railguns rather than blasters, while others now shoot light missiles all the way to 50k. Most of them lock on you around 60k or so. It's much harder for you to farm or chain aka like the "Zezman" maneuver, since placeholders are impossible now.
You can sit on the belt for a new spawn to come by, or you can jump from belt to belt, which I actually find faster.
The problem of the new system now is that the loot isn't as goood as you get from traditional spawns. So the increased bounty is offset from decreased sales from loot and recycle.
Once in a while, you may get jumped by a cruiser or cruisers within the 30K to 45k bounty. All NPC cruisers that were previously 20k are now 30K, 30K ships are now 35K, and 40K are now 45K. Its usually a 35K or 45K leading the pack like a boss, escorted by 2 30K or 4 15 to 10K. They're very dangerous for cruiser based hunters, and when you meet them in a cruiser it's a fight for your life. On the few occasions I meet them with a cruiser, it's very exciting and quite gratifying.
Generally you will find that those with short range weapons are now with long range weapons, and those that stayed with short range weapons can outrun you. I've turned full retreat on a Stabber (which has the fastest base speed for any cruiser) and even the new Marauders are still able to close in.
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"Is it me or the bad guys just getting totally pathetic?"---Clover, Totally Spies,
"Hope is wasted on the Hopeless."---Mandy, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.
"Stars are holes in the sky from which the light of the Infinite shine through."---Confucius.
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