Are pirates supposed to be so much stronger than xsotan or is this bugged?

[Tyrosun]

Hello all. I recently started a new veteran game and I'm finding that pirates I encounter, even in the starting system, have fire power in the range of 100-200 omicron while the xsotan I encounter have fire power in the range of 10-30 omicron. Is there supposed to be such a disparity? It's been a while since I last played this game and I don't remember the pirates being so difficult to deal with. If three of them are shooting me they can pretty much blast me down in 3 seconds. This means if they warp on top of me with my pants down (in the middle of modifying my ship in build mode for example) I am simply dead.  Is anyone else having similar experiences?

[Pyrax]

I've noticed pirates are stronger than Xotan. Not sure if it was always this way.

 

My most recent playthrough started a few weeks ago and it was a struggle to survive the first few days.

 

Just take the following precautions:

- When arriving in a sector, select a new one so you have an escape route ready

- Turn up your volume so you can hear warnings/ship arrival messages

- If you're not ready to fight just hop sectors

- Build in sectors of friendly factions who will help defend you

[Ny]

Yes. Xsotan are dangerous in larger groups. But a single Xsotan is weaker than a single pirate.

[Shrooblord]

This means if they warp on top of me with my pants down (in the middle of modifying my ship in build mode for example) I am simply dead.

Hahaha this happens far too often to me.

 

"Aight, guys, let's see what we can find in this rotten hellhole of a Se-- Oh LOOKIE HERE it's an unsuspecting nancy who took down all of their weapons for us. C'MON, BOYS, WE'RE EATING FANCY STEAK TONIGHT! YEEHAAHAHAAA"

 

Also the selecting a Sector preemptively idea is a good hint. And I agree, always have a posse with you that can help you defend yourself, be it allied ships in a friendly Sector, or your own gang of blood-thirsty guard ships that you've staffed and cared for since they were mere single-block infants in the Construction Yard.