Did an NPC just use a shield cell on me...

DidierDrbois · Apr 17, 2015

... or shall I lay off the Onionhead?

PhazonAran · Apr 17, 2015

They do use them

DidierDrbois · Apr 17, 2015

PhazonAran said:
They do use them

Never seen one in 4 (four) months playing. Deadly Cobra NPC. I honestly thought I was going all oo. Thanks!

Ancipital · Apr 17, 2015

I've seen NPCs suddenly regain shields - so it's either a glitch, or they use them

DidierDrbois · Apr 17, 2015

Ancipital said:
I've seen NPCs suddenly regain shields - so it's either a glitch, or they use them

Definitely a shield cell with all the visual hullabaloo, the Cobra was right in front of me.

Zplintz · Apr 17, 2015

Why shouldn't the npcs use shield cells?

Morbad · Apr 17, 2015

NPCs have been using shield cells since Beta 2...so, about six months at this point.

SushiCW · Apr 17, 2015

I've never seen an NPC use one successfully. I swear I've seen the shield recharge animation, but I've never seen any shields actually get recharged. Maybe they're only using tiny ones on big ships? Or maybe they're using them too late and their shields then collapse anyway?

EUS · Apr 17, 2015

Sarah did promise we'd be seeing more of the better tactics from the higher level NPC's.
Then she laughed maniacally.

Shanaeri · Apr 17, 2015

DidierDrbois said:
... or shall I lay off the Onionhead?

Maybe it SC'd out and then came back all recharged like some players do

Morbad · Apr 17, 2015

SushiCW said:
I've never seen an NPC use one successfully. I swear I've seen the shield recharge animation, but I've never seen any shields actually get recharged. Maybe they're only using tiny ones on big ships? Or maybe they're using them too late and their shields then collapse anyway?

Since 1.2, very few NPCs will get the SCB off in time. They typically only use them when very low on shield strength...and of course this is too late.

Zplintz · Apr 17, 2015

Morbad said:
Since 1.2, very few NPCs will get the SCB off in time. They typically only use them when very low on shield strength...and of course this is too late.

Especially with the firepower that Players wield compared to most npcs. By the time the shield cell fires off - their shield has gone.

Don't complain though, FD can fix that easily.