Hey Mr_Blastman,

I just returned to the game last month after a two year hiatus and a deep exploration trip into the black. I am an expert at mining, including the new methods with deep core mining. More importantly, I know some sweet pristine mining spots inside the bubble that are unknown to the player base so far. I'm not as rich as most of the other Kickstarter players I'm sure, but I absolutely can't stand grind. As a result, I still don't have the Guardian FSD mod, but being mostly an explorer in spirit, I think this might be a case of necessary grind for me.

Track me down in game as "Cmdr Rook", and we can arrange an exchange of services
You escort me out to the Guardian ruins and we figure that out and I'll get you set up and profitable with mining so you can pretty much print credits anytime you need. I'm available this week so timing might be perfect.

~S~

A few shots from yesterday

This is one of those arch panels I was referring to




Here, Bo and I move around the Guardian site in our rovers




Looking down at Rec in his SRV as I departed the system

Just a quick word about how I fouled up Bo's attempt to grab a blueprint, which could save some frustration for anyone else attempting this. When I hopped on to TeamSpeak I heard the others going about their business. My intention was to grab my ship from the Guardian site then fly to the selenium market Wingnuts told me about. But by the chatter it seemed like maybe the guys could use another SRV on site to assist. So I flew to the site they were in, dropped and deployed.

Bo had already charged the pylons, or maybe had one or two left when I got there. He then tried dropping his key on the altar numerous times but the orb would not float. A little later he asked me if I could see the pylon light beams. I could not. So I started to clue in to what was happening. At this point my dog was pawing me to go out, so I logged. As soon as I did that Bo's next attempt worked, with me gone from the site/instance.

So it seems clear that having a player arrive after the ritual is started will screw it up. Make sure everyone is on-site before starting the pylons.

Sorry about that Bo

S’all good,D. Appreciate the assistance dealing with those pesky Sentinels.

What time are you usually on?

After perusing the ship section of the ED wiki, I started salivating over the Kraite MK II, Mamba and a few others last night. I need cash.

Also, I got wasted flying in to land at Felicity Farseer by some mega engineered mamba punk with teal lasers last night, who smashed my DBX in less than 10 seconds flat. I think they were cytoscramblers? On the plus side he saved the time and trouble of having to land, as I spawned at her place after that.

My thirst for tougher, meaner stuff is rising. My DBX is now full level 5 FSD engineered, though. Next up is the hull plating, but it'd be nice to have something that can fight better than my Clipper and take a pounding.

If you like the idea of fighting in a DBX, get a DBS, seriously.

So many good ships for combat -- Krait, Chieftain, FDL especially among mediums.

No, I have never considered the DBX a fighting vessel. I think I originally bought it five years ago because of the jump range. But, after discovering the heat dissipation rates and capacities last night, I have now realized that the DBX is perfect at 3x size 2 rails for near infinite firing--not many other ships can do this.

FDL is a hot pig, FYI. I always had a fantasy of running 5 rails on one, but looking at the heat stats, that is an impossible dream. The FDL is a multicannon tank, but that's about it. BTW, my DBX, which only has level 1 engineering on the triple rails, can take down a FDL in seconds, as is. Maybe not an engineered one, I don't know, I have been away a long time. Seeing my ship melt near instantly last night from a modded punk confirmed my belief five years ago that without engineering, you're helpless.

Blaze your own Blastman. If you want to see how a ship performs against better equipped ships, that are closer to what players might have, do some fighting in Conflict Zones.

I'm on usually 10pm EST onward... till sometimes late

I have a fully engineered Anaconda, Python, Krait Mk II, Mamba, plus many others - mostly all funded through mining with a mix of exploration. The Krait Mk II and Mamba are my new loves since I got back from the void - I want to walk around so badly in these ships! I'll keep an eye out and maybe we can coordinate in teamspeak or discord.

Also, with the mining meta changed - there is now greater opportunity to engage in combat with actual players in open. I got intercepted one run ago with over 200 tons of Painite in my Python by a player Crusader. He was loaded with modified packhounds and straight up attacked rather than make any demands so it was a battle - I disabled his shields with some tricks of my own but he also disabled mine, and then I realized he was targeting my drives so I disengaged and jumped out asap with the cargo intact. If only he had used a hatch breaker, he could probably have made a few easy million. I completed my run to market and sold the Painite for a cool $100 million credits. It would be interesting for you to have this experience on the other side of your Elite career, arrrr...

FYI, last night BO arrived after I had started raising towers, though I had not yet energized them. When we had energized all the towers (he did some using the BEAM Laser on his DBX..as well as swatting Sentinels that way) he could not see the lights from the towers I had raised before he arrived. NONETHELESS, when I dropped my Key it worked perfectly first time to spawn the ORB.

As we discussed the various Guardian Fighters.. I realized that I have spent next to ZERO time actually flying a Ship Launched Fighter of any kind. I think the only time I did it at all was in James's (OverloadRJ45) ship. Once in a HAZ RES (reasonably successful) and once against THARGOIDS (dismal Failure). I always have my ELITE Crew member fly the fighter, probably because she is BETTER AT IT than I am, and also because I don't quite trust an AI in command of the Mothership. I think when I get back, I am going to experiment more with having Crew as Helm while i try to fly the fighter. Will start in pretty low threat situations, and the Vette should be able to withstand almost anything while i am playing in the SLF.

In my early days I bought a Keelback. Outfitted it with a SRV and a fighter to be my planetary landing ship. I've still yet to hire a minion, but I would take the fighter out for some canyon joyrides and it was fun. Not sure what the performance stats are on the SLFs, how fast they are and what the pitch/roll/yaw numbers are, but I have to think my iEagle and even the Courier are more than match thanks to engineering, so I use them now for this if I want to have a bash down low. Sold that Keelie, but she served me well.

That's cool how Bo was flying top cover. I've envisioned the same. Did he hit you?

I'm glad you didn't have the same troubles I caused with Bo, but there is something to this I am sure.

Fun mining last night, Rook! Look forward to more.

Mamba is one sexy ship. Reminds me of Gradius. Can't wait to slash through space in one.

Rec,

That’s my plan exactly with the SLF. I tested out a regular one last nite with no crew hired, worked fine. My FGS was unmanned whilst I was in the speedy boi. I then unlocked the Guardian SLF with the plasma weapons. Plan on properly testing that out in a Res tonite.

Sweet!! I will join you if I get back in time, but I doubt it will be tonight. Still need 10 more Guardian Technology Components to have enough for the Shield Booster and 2 Fighters. Got enough Obelisk Patterns (FINALLY).

BTW.. another TRADE (RARES) CG

New Jersey is covered in slush and ice. The roads are so bad where I am (Cape May County) that my boss sent me home. Made it safely, I have four wheel drive. But saw a couple slide off the road. Anyway, that means I can get going on that run out to the Polonium market, and if I fly back I'll join you for some combat tonight. Which Guardian fighter did you guys decide was best?

Still snowing up here. Predicting "only" about 4-6" before it is over but it is still snowing pretty good. I will probably try to get out this afternoon and clear off the driveway.

After watching a bunch of videos and reading, I came to the conclusion that the Guardian fighters aren't really much better than the regular ones, but they have a certain COOL factor. I am planning to get the Trident (Plasma Autocannon) and the Lance (Gauss Cannon). The Javelin is supposed to be better against Thargoids. I never liked as much or was as good as Wingy with his Frag Cannons on Mr. Skittles, and the Javelin SHARD Cannon seems the same. Still, like Pokemon, I might eventually have to Collect em All!

Right now, though, I cannot face the grind for another set of Guardian Tech Components and Epsilon Patterns..

I should have said my little neck of southernmost NJ is covered with slush and ice. You northerners have your own weather

I had read on the Frontier boards that the Guardian fighters are no better really, and that the Javelin is good against the bugs, as you said. I'll not get enough to get them all I don't think so just curious which the best is. It'll be months before I have one, and even then I could just get a regular fighter. Still, there's an exclusive cachet factor to the Guardian fighters.

Which other Guardian modules have you guys unlocked? I looked in to the HRPs, but they draw power. Not going to help keep my ships running cool. PD? PP? Don't see the advantage. Turreted shard cannons appeal if I get back in to bug hunting though. Maybe I should spend the stuff on that. Now I need to see how to get a weapons blueprint. It never ends lol.

I’ve only the FSD booster; shield reinforcement, and now the SLF ( Trident). The other modules don’t impress me much. Regarding the SLF, I just got it for it’s “cool” factor. As stingy as I am, I doubt I’ll ever hire an NPC. Hate the thought of giving someone else any of my dosh. I’ll just fly the following fighter for giggles and for something new.

I like Bo have the FSD Booster and Shield Reinforcement modules unlocked. Was considering the Power Distributor, but the only ship I'd put it on would be the Vulture and then improvement is very marginal. That brings me to perhaps Module Reinforcement module. I could incorporate that in several builds. More thought needed.

Yep, same, just the GFSDB and GSR, and this one only a couple of weeks ago. The rest don't have much use or appeal to me at this time, but you never know what could be coming down the road. Like that Thargoid Wake Data I've been carrying around forever with no use for. Someday it will pay off! But it's fun to mix things up and constantly be doing something different. It's more the activity than the reward, and really that's the way it has to be with this game, or I'd go nuts and drop it.