Missions: finding lockboxes

[Zagz]

Heya!

So far, loving the game. It's not an easy journey and coming Elite Dangerous, there's a lot to learn but fun!

one particular mission that I just do not seem to grasp are the ones where I need to search an area for a lockbox. I just cannot seem to find them... I fly around hours and sometimes I get lucky. Do you guys have any tips that could help me out?


Thanks!

[mdcpaladin]

Hold L for 2 seconds while in long scan mode to ping. Do that in diff directions til u see a white bubble. Means an object is there. U can do that with ships, containers etc

[mdcpaladin]

That is hold for 2 seconds then let go of it

[Duke Flapjack]

Look for ? near the map marker that are called "unknown object." If you pay attention while flying to the marker they will often briefly show on your radar.

Also, use your long-range scan (shift+3 and then hold R). This guy above me either remapped his keybindings or miswrote.

Do the scan tutorials too. They'll show you how to properly use your long-range scan.

[mdcpaladin]

Originally posted by captainradish:

Look for ? near the map marker that are called "unknown object." If you pay attention while flying to the marker they will often briefly show on your radar.

Also, use your long-range scan (shift+3 and then hold R). This guy above me either remapped his keybindings or miswrote.

Do the scan tutorials too. They'll show you how to properly use your long-range scan.

lol maybe but i dont recall remapping. its always been L for me

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

I'll extend on this a bit.

Your Long Range Scan Mode can be used to ping just about anything. The Lock Boxes will show up in an area after a ping scan, provided you ping INTO the area. The LRS ping is directional, so it's important you get on the edge of the area and ping inwards.

Once the ping hits an object, you'll hear some jingles like someone hitting a wine glass with a spoon. For the lock boxes, they're non-special, so they'll make the low jingle like everything else. Use your map to look for question mark (?) unknown objects.

Left click an unknown object and hit T to target it, and you'll be able to orient your nose on it.

Fly in close, and if it's the lock box, it will identify as such. The lock box itself looks like a long cargo container with an emergency light spinning on it. You cannot collect the lock box, and DO NOT shoot it.

Instead, what you will need is a hand laser and the space suit.

Go EVA and fly to the side of the lock box with the light. Switch to your hand laser and aim at the small ring of metal around the light. Shoot this with your hand laser. This may take a few attempts, so be patient, and watch where the impact of the laser is hitting. You will be successfull when the lock box 'explodes' releasing its contents.

When it does so, return to your ship and use your container collector to pick up the contents.

Repeat as necessary for the number of objects in the mission.

[ByTheNumbers]

Originally posted by AdmiralTigerclaw:

I'll extend on this a bit.

Your Long Range Scan Mode can be used to ping just about anything. The Lock Boxes will show up in an area after a ping scan, provided you ping INTO the area. The LRS ping is directional, so it's important you get on the edge of the area and ping inwards.

Once the ping hits an object, you'll hear some jingles like someone hitting a wine glass with a spoon. For the lock boxes, they're non-special, so they'll make the low jingle like everything else. Use your map to look for question mark (?) unknown objects.

Left click an unknown object and hit T to target it, and you'll be able to orient your nose on it.

Fly in close, and if it's the lock box, it will identify as such. The lock box itself looks like a long cargo container with an emergency light spinning on it. You cannot collect the lock box, and DO NOT shoot it.

Instead, what you will need is a hand laser and the space suit.

Go EVA and fly to the side of the lock box with the light. Switch to your hand laser and aim at the small ring of metal around the light. Shoot this with your hand laser. This may take a few attempts, so be patient, and watch where the impact of the laser is hitting. You will be successfull when the lock box 'explodes' releasing its contents.

When it does so, return to your ship and use your container collector to pick up the contents.

Repeat as necessary for the number of objects in the mission.

You can break open a lockbox without needing to go into your spacesuit. You just need to ensure aim assist is off (and helps if you have one weapon grouped solo) to be able to hit the circular rings with a lock symbol in the middle of them.

[Ydyp]

Originally posted by ByTheNumbers:

Originally posted by AdmiralTigerclaw:

I'll extend on this a bit.

Your Long Range Scan Mode can be used to ping just about anything. The Lock Boxes will show up in an area after a ping scan, provided you ping INTO the area. The LRS ping is directional, so it's important you get on the edge of the area and ping inwards.

Once the ping hits an object, you'll hear some jingles like someone hitting a wine glass with a spoon. For the lock boxes, they're non-special, so they'll make the low jingle like everything else. Use your map to look for question mark (?) unknown objects.

Left click an unknown object and hit T to target it, and you'll be able to orient your nose on it.

Fly in close, and if it's the lock box, it will identify as such. The lock box itself looks like a long cargo container with an emergency light spinning on it. You cannot collect the lock box, and DO NOT shoot it.

Instead, what you will need is a hand laser and the space suit.

Go EVA and fly to the side of the lock box with the light. Switch to your hand laser and aim at the small ring of metal around the light. Shoot this with your hand laser. This may take a few attempts, so be patient, and watch where the impact of the laser is hitting. You will be successfull when the lock box 'explodes' releasing its contents.

When it does so, return to your ship and use your container collector to pick up the contents.

Repeat as necessary for the number of objects in the mission.

You can break open a lockbox without needing to go into your spacesuit. You just need to ensure aim assist is off (and helps if you have one weapon grouped solo) to be able to hit the circular rings with a lock symbol in the middle of them.

I can shoot the locks with aim assist on and had no problems, you just have to position your ship correctly so the lock deadcenter of your view and your ship is pointed towards it. But as you said you don't need to EVA, but the EVA is the safest way to open them without destroying them.

But then again I had a lot of those missions where you have to find 2 lockboxes and there is only 1 in the mission area instead of 2. The second one is just slightly outside the missionzone and doesn't count. And no matter how mach I ping the second one doesn't show up.

[DrSuperGood]

Some find lockboxes missions bug. One or more of the objective lockboxes spawn outside the objective area and so do not count towards the mission when openend. In such a case your only option is to abort.

[Mountainman Den]

Originally posted by DrSuperGood:

Some find lockboxes missions bug. One or more of the objective lockboxes spawn outside the objective area and so do not count towards the mission when openend. In such a case your only option is to abort.

You can push the lockbox from the other side and into the mission zone and it works, it might take a while if it is not right near the edge though. I didn't try ramming it at a speed higher than 20m/s

[ByTheNumbers]

Originally posted by Mountainman Den:

Originally posted by DrSuperGood:

Some find lockboxes missions bug. One or more of the objective lockboxes spawn outside the objective area and so do not count towards the mission when openend. In such a case your only option is to abort.

You can push the lockbox from the other side and into the mission zone and it works, it might take a while if it is not right near the edge though. I didn't try ramming it at a speed higher than 20m/s

My issue is my long range scanner only picks up 1 lockbox and nothing else and sadly, a lot of missions are broken in some way. Food shortage missions are hit and miss when no station is buying those items and construction missions are broke because turrets refuse to to be built.

[Set-115689]

Get a long range scanner 2 upgrade and maybe a targeting computer at an equipment dock or appropriate station.

[Dragon of Light & Shadow]

Originally posted by captainradish:

Look for ? near the map marker that are called "unknown object." If you pay attention while flying to the marker they will often briefly show on your radar.

Also, use your long-range scan (shift+3 and then hold R). This guy above me either remapped his keybindings or miswrote.

Do the scan tutorials too. They'll show you how to properly use your long-range scan.

To clarify, both R and L work. Doesn't need to be remapped, both keys function for it but R is typically the easier one to use.

[[R] Iglix]

About remapping, funny thing is that the LRS pulse is considered as "secondary weapon" when you are in Long Scan mode.

So if you changed your keys so that you could fire two groups of weapons without much hassle by setting one group as secondary and changed key for it (for example as 4th mosue button etc), then you then need to use that key to set off the pulse

[Zagz]

Thanks for the help! I thought at first that the lockboxes or rescues were within the sphere. ;)