Oolite Bulletins

Ever since I bought shield boosters for my Cobra MkIII I've had a hard time keeping myself alive. I seem to encounter far more hostile ships. Is the game designed this way or is it more likely that I just picked the wrong client/galaxy sector?

Ha, it can seem that way sometimes, but the game doesn't penalise you for adding shield boosters. The difficulty level does vary a bit around the Eight though - even a 'safe-looking' system might not be if it is, say, surrounded by Anarchies.
It might also be that as your ship and your skills improve you play is changeing - you tend to get more confident and this affects the way you play. For instance as a novice you probably fled every other ship you encountered, but now you will more often stay and even approach them (for whatever reason). Little changes like that can have a big impact.

I'm currently at a nasty little planet names Satiqu and trying to run a parcel to Zarece with very little time left. My current kill count is 54. No matter which planet I jump to from Satiqu there are hoards of assassins & pirates .

Parcel delivery services can attrackt a few guys that are not too friendly...
Nothing to do with your kill count or your equipment.
Your first Commander? The kill count suggests that you need a bit more practice
Until then maybe cargo contracts are the easier method to earn some credits.

What ist your equipment and strategy? Do you have the standard things like ECM, injector, rear military laser? Avoid long jumps - this also saves time - you have more fuel left to escape on injectors and toast the enemis with the rear gun.

I have ECM & Fuel Injector fitted. I have a military laser fitted to the front of my cobby but only a mining laser to the rear. I think I should rectify this, given my current predicament.

Imaginos wrote:

I have ECM & Fuel Injector fitted. I have a military laser fitted to the front of my cobby but only a mining laser to the rear. I think I should rectify this, given my current predicament.

The life of a courier is never easy but don't give up it's a rewarding profession. Definitely swap the mining for a military laser, put the mining on the side if you still want to use it. Running away is one of the main skills for a courier and having enough fuel to jump to the next system is often required, even if this means waiting awhile for a ship going in the right direction to give you a free ride. For some reason assassins don't seem to want to follow you through your own wormhole, at least that's true for when they attack you at the witch point.

Thanks for the tip Venator Dha. I do have a Wormhole scanner but I keep forgetting to use it. If I get low on fuel i usually do a spot of sun-skimming (if the bad guys let me get that far).

No problem
a couple of other tips:
press the injector button before you exit Witchspace, this will give you instant full speed at exit.
check your scanner as you exit and take a course away from any ships (unless Police), don't wait for them to become hostile before doing anything.
Good luck Commander.

Venator Dha wrote:

... press the injector button before you exit Witchspace, this will give you instant full speed at exit.

Be warned though - if you happen to emerge with the witchpoint buoy dead ahead, you're dead!

...but at least it would be over quickly.

Cody wrote:

Venator Dha wrote:

... press the injector button before you exit Witchspace, this will give you instant full speed at exit.

Be warned though - if you happen to emerge with the witchpoint buoy dead ahead, you're dead!

A nice way to earn the "Golden Space Bar" in the Darwin Award Thread. Did you manage to do this?

ralph_hh wrote:

Did you manage to do this?

I once had a very near miss - since then, I'm always prepared for it.

Well, I got as far as Beusior before I ran out of time on my delivery. I think I may stick to straight forward trading for a while.

Imaginos wrote:

Well, I got as far as Beusior before I ran out of time on my delivery. I think I may stick to straight forward trading for a while.

That's not on the fastest route, do you have the Advanced Space Compass Navigational Array bought for your ship? It will show you the fastest route (useful) as well as the most direct (not useful).

Edited due to stupidity

<nods> If you don't have the ANA, you can make a pretty good guess - two 3.2ly jumps (in roughly the same direction) take a lot less time than one 6.4ly jump.
Wherever possible, make multiple short jumps instead of one long jump - it's quicker, and you'll have more fuel for the injectors too!