All we need, and I've said this so many times, are more difficult encounters in addition to what we have now.
Players currently capable of besting the toughest ai - elite anacondas - frequently post that it's too easy and suggestions fly about like "nerf" bounty hunting, nerf shield cells, buff ai, more interdictions, harder interdictions... Completely neglecting to consider the player population currently unable to beat the best ai.
The combat difficulty curve, aa it stands now, ranges from harmless sidewinders up to elite anacondas. This is a big range and the majority of players will fit somewhere in that curve.
Those who are above it are numerous, indeed. I don't find any target impossible to kill. So I need more challenging encounters. Particularly now my friend has started the game and will soon be able to give support.
Typically, encounters never go above a single target, or a couple sidewinders and a trade ship. It's this that needs to change. Encounter variety.
And, I might add, this could be done to varying degrees depending on the location.
Missions should also drive this, with varied encounters at mission USS points.
Not a lot of imagination needed really. If you're in anarchy space, it should occasionally result in a wing of targets jumping in. Three pirates, two sidewinders and a cobra. Two pirates, an asp and viper. Four, two adders, a cobra and an eagle. Five, three sidewinders and two vipers. Three, a python and two eagles. Two, a drop ship and asp. Three, a python and two sidewinders. Six, two sidewinders, an eagle, a cobra, an adder and a viper. Two, an anaconda and a python.
And the ultimate challenge... Five, an anaconda, a python, a cobra, an asp, a viper and a sidewinder.
Better bring friends.
Even facing two targets ramps up the difficulty, due to also needing to kws scan each target. A single player would seriously struggle to take on four or five small targets. But that's where friends come in. Worried you can't survive without teaming up? Stay away from anarchies - or be prepared to run. Safer systems should have more variation but never more than 3 targets and with lower skilled ai.
Too many boil down the relative ease of combat into a nerf. When it's simply an opportunity to build on variety and, subsequently, challenge.
The greater the variety and the higher the skill/challenge cap, the better the game will be. There should be rare encounters no single player in an asp or viper could possibly win. But a player in a tricked out python or anaconda has a chance to win. Or a group of friends using good tactics.
Essentially, we will have a limit of four players in a wing. So the ultimate test should stretch the abilities of four competent players.
