Those Pesky Uln

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Pvt Minsk
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Those Pesky Uln

Post by Pvt Minsk »

Hello folks!

Recently, during my travels across space, I've ticked off an irate faction with too many Dodos for their own good called the Uln. I dunno why my relations with them fell to a few ticks negative, but they aren't explaining. This wouldn't really be a problem for me, except that the Uln have a tendency to have Mules on the prowl, and those things have cut my shiny new Derivative into ribbons each time we've clashed.

I tried to check the Wiki page on Factions to get the scoop, but that page is greatly undone. Can anyone explain to me who these blighters are, and which factions are their arch-nemeses, so I could get their killer merchant vessels off my back and escape the Tutbzzaz sector (I swear, every time I approach a jump, either Pirates, Luddies, or the Uln attack me). I really don't understand why they originally grew to hate me so (I can understand shooting 'em down), after serious bashing of Pirates and Luddites, everyone else apart from this trio are best friends with me. Oh, well the score with the Dgn are in their single digits, but that's irrelevant. In fact, I checked my faction listing after blasting a pair of Uln Dodos and I saw no change in the numbers, except for my score with the Uln dropping to -75. Peachy.

Oh yeah, and why are the Uln always losing on the news? Seriously, I have seen no news article celebrating an Uln victory. The only time they win is when one of their homicidal death-Mules crosses paths with me. Please, o those smarter than me, enlighten me on my arch-enemy of the day!

See you!
smbarbour
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Post by smbarbour »

I'll try to explain with my view of them:

They are an alien race with absolutely no tolerance for other races.

Hmm... I thought I had more to say...
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Agent556
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Post by Agent556 »

heh.. i once started a bounty mission against some uln (16 starships) i killed them so quickly that i had my own news article. didnt exactly mention me but it mentioned the flightgroup that i killed. it said something about something jumping in, cloaking device, killed instantly. :lol:
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Post by cshank4 »

Heh, you should be in my game, the Uln have about three systems left, they've been getting their collective asses handed to them since the start of the game :P
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Pvt Minsk
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Post by Pvt Minsk »

Wow, smbarbour's post made everything make sense, I totally see the Uln's motivation now. Now I know what to do to make amends with the Uln... nothing. Blow their wimpy spaceships to smithereens and afterburn like a pansy when their Mules get a jump on me.

Oh, and cshank4, they're down to two in my game, at least according to the ones I've spotted on my map. Though with the string of losses they keep getting on the news, I believe this to be an accurate number. :wink: Now to get the money for a milspec capital ship and pound the rest of them out of the galaxy. 8)

And which spaceship do you have, Agent556? Cause I am totally overwhelmed by your leetness.
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Post by cshank4 »

Well, since they only Use Dodo.Blanks, I'd say anything upwards of a sickle should be able to take one down without any hassel.

Of course this is coming from someone who just whiped out a clydesdale in a fighter... and subsiquently owned himself in the resulting blast from a loose torpedo. :oops:
Moon hangs around
a blade over my head
reminds me
what to do before I’m dead
night consumes light
and all I dread
reminds me what to do before I’m dead
Pvt Minsk
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Post by Pvt Minsk »

...wait, you're claiming the Sickle is weak? You kapitalist pig!!! :P

Well, even though they do specialize in crack Dodo squadrons, I've noticed the Uln getting more militant after my ties with them broke up. I've taken on a squadron of Hyenas, and they've killed me in a dogfight with Llamas and those damn Mules. I certainly hope their trend of diversifying their stock of animal-named ships does not continue, cause I do NOT want an Ox on my back.

Yeah, but my point is, you'd think they could squeeze out at least one victory or two. ...well, apart from whenever they run into me with a slightly bigger squadron of ships. My Derivative seems to alternate from kickass ship to plastic soda can at times.
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Post by cshank4 »

Hm, taking Oxen on isn't that big of a deal, four dumbfires will bring ANY ship down to almost death :P

Anyways, yeah, I noticed that the further near their space you get, the better ships they start using, I got attacked by two Llamas fo theirs.
Moon hangs around
a blade over my head
reminds me
what to do before I’m dead
night consumes light
and all I dread
reminds me what to do before I’m dead
rubikcube
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Re: Those Pesky Uln

Post by rubikcube »

Pvt Minsk wrote:I really don't understand why they originally grew to hate me so (I can understand shooting 'em down), after serious bashing of Pirates and Luddites, everyone else apart from this trio are best friends with me.
I'm quite a newbie, but after having the same "problem" I had a look at /usr/share/games/vegastrike/data/factions.xml
That file says in the uln section:

Code: Select all

stats name="pirates" relation=".3"/
...
stats name="forsaken" relation=".3"
...
stats name="shmrn" relation=".2"
So I'd not be surprised if killing a ship of one of these would lower your rating for the uln.
At least as far as I understand the game logic
Kerrysl
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Post by Kerrysl »

Once you get a cloak the Mules are fun. You get in close, target their turret ("b" key) and remove it with a short burst of beams/guns after uncloaking. Cloak and then line up again on their other turret. Uncloak and surgically remove the second turret.

Once the turrets are gone, the mule become a pussy cat waiting to be skinned by your beams/guns. Have fun.

BTW, I think I have killed more ULN than I have pirates. "Pesky" is the word, but they do help you hone your targetting and shooting skills.
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Post by Spaceman Spliff »

Aren't the Uln considered to be a bit... stupid? I know in the News they are constantly refered to as "Blockheads." :P

I've had the same issue, 2 lone Uln hunters tried to ambush me in the Stirling system once and my Llama whooped them; now everywhere I go Uln try to get me; I did run into a Mule once, but it's turrets didn't seem to do any damage to me (however I died when it went to ram me lol).
Orb99
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Post by Orb99 »

Spaceman Spliff wrote:Aren't the Uln considered to be a bit... stupid?
Here's what the wiki has to say:
The Uln culture sprang up among the remains of a sprawling set of Ancient structures, and advanced in technology faster than their biology or social structures could adapt, leading one noted human researcher to note upon seeing them, "It was as if I had suddenly come across a spacecraft piloted by Homo Erectus--if they hadn't been so ill prepared for the gifts they unintentionally received, they would have conquered the entire arm'. Fortunately for the aspirations of dominance held by other species, the Uln were decidedly unprepared. Indeed, they spent so much time blowing each other up with weapons they didn't entirely control that it is a wonder that either they or the ruins on their planet still survive.
Add to the above their tendency to thoughtlessly attack my milspec goddard with a couple of dodos, and...yeah, they're pretty dumb.
"I'm never serious. Morose, sometimes. Never serious."
TraderVix
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Post by TraderVix »

I keep getting jumped by 2-4 Llamas, sometimes escorting a Mule. Typically this is the time I usually get excited as they carry good swag. They do have a habbit of cropping up at the most irriating of time though, undocking from a planet for example. But, Lord, they ain't bright. Even pirates will sometimes try to pit you against other factions by flying close to other ships while being fired upon. Heck, elimate pirates and peace would be a cake-walk! :D But, as combat incapable as they may be, Uln shouldn't be too under-estimated, they've got the tech and it doesn't take *that* many shots to rip through shields and armor alike when they get the drop on you. I alway move out a ways when I can then fight so I know my backsides not being shot up while I'm figuring out who's doing what!
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Post by Gilesey »

I often get an Uln wing spawn when I'm close to docking in my Plowshare, usually a Mule and either two Dodos or a couple of Llamas.

They usually give my shields a pounding before I manage to dock. I then switch to the Ariston and launch. After taking out the escorts, the Mule often does a runner.

Perhaps they're not a dumb as we thought.
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Uln planets?

Post by jared_cormier »

I've searched every corner (literally) in the game....didn't come across one system with them controlling it...I'm looking to take the fight to them, I just bought me a couple of Goddards and equiped them very nicely with some expermental tech (advtorpedos, cloak, ECM3..etc) and Aera weapons (took out a few fighter barracks with them pretty quickly...where are the Uln (I have a vendetta, they blew up my fully loaded Mule with lots of cargo...)
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Post by jared_cormier »

found em...not a whole lot to do to them, blow up a few bases and the like, except..HOW do you destroy a factory?
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Post by Vector_Matt »

I'm not sure that the ability to wipe out a faction has been implemented.

Edit: Forgot to check the date on this thread. Sorry.
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Post by loki1950 »

It happens after an absence so many post that we missed :wink: glad to see back for awile 8)

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Post by Turbo »

I'm pretty early in the game, and while I stayed in Cephid 17 everyone but the Aera and Pirates liked me because I spammed the comm systems with friendly chatter. But then I took some Luddite bounties, since I figured everyone probably hates Luddites, and suddenly the Uln became less friendly. The Uln are not attacking me yet, but they are clogging up my "target closest enemy" selector. So I guess by the time I take down enough Luddites for the Aera to tolerate me, the Uln will be my enemies. That doesn't seem like a bad trade, but I wonder who will start disliking me when I kill Uln. That's the joy of discovery I suppose.

Turbo
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Post by mortaneous »

you could always spam the uln with friendly chatter while capping Luddites, just to keep it balanced out... that's what I do.
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Post by JimiJons »

Uln tend to have relations with a lot of Human factions, and local system factions that I visit all the time.

Unfortunately for me, they are a -100 on my scope of allegiances, with everything else except Aera at +100. Personally, I find my 100% friendly relations to those I trade the most with extremely beneficial. Thus, when I am attacked by the 3 Uln mules, their 4 Dodo's, and their 3 Llama escorts, I run and try to avoid loosing any shots at them.

But that happens A LOT. I tend to stick around Klk'k and Andorian space, to which they apparently have a lot of revenue in. Every time i'm about to dock or jump (AND I MEAN EVERY TIME), 3 mules appear with at least 2 Llamas and assorted numbers of Dodos. When I kill any further Uln, my relations suddenly drop with 5 other factions. I still don't know who the enemy of the Uln are yet, but I really would like to find out (so I can help them annihilate the Blockhead species forever). Time to whip out the Goddard.

I... hate... Uln.
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