Can you stop an AI Pirate by dropping cargo?

Chazzie · Jul 5, 2015

Okay - with the much improved AI and difficultly increase with the Pirate interdictions - I've found myself in a few rare situations where I'm forced to deal with the Pirate (namely the ones in anacondas!).

Thing is - they don't tell you what to drop or how much, I've found myself suffering from a bad case of dead trying to figure out what to drop.

Does anybody actually know, as sometimes - just like in open, it'll pay to drop rather than die.

(and for the record - I love the AI boost!)

tetra · Jul 5, 2015

As far as I know or have ever experienced no, not at all. NPC pirates are just psychopaths who want to "boil you up" and don't actually want any cargo you have anyway. Occasionally you will get one firing off a hatch breaker limpit at you, but they will kill you way before ever getting your cargo if you let them.

Chazzie · Jul 5, 2015

if that's true - its a shame, you should be able to 'manage' some of the Pirate encounters as you can in open.
I'll just have to hope Sarah takes a look at it then!

Shaamaan · Jul 5, 2015

People praise the new AI, when in fact, it's still dumb as rocks. This is one of the many reasons why. Also, THIS sort of behaviour is what makes the AI seem like actual dumb scripts, not how the AI pilots (as long as it pilots at all, that is). THIS is what the AI techs should focus on!

MissMeYet · Jul 5, 2015

AI pirate interdicted me twice in row. That was new to me. Then he appeared near the station just as I started my approach, and he started shooting at me within the no fire zone. Station took care of him real good.

All-in-all it was a good approximation of a tenacious pirate willing to go to any length to get his booty.

Chazzie · Jul 6, 2015

Shaamaan said:
People praise the new AI, when in fact, it's still dumb as rocks. This is one of the many reasons why. Also, THIS sort of behaviour is what makes the AI seem like actual dumb scripts, not how the AI pilots (as long as it pilots at all, that is). THIS is what the AI techs should focus on!

Yes - I agree, NPC's could be psychopaths or Pirates - however if they are a Pirate they do need to make cargo demands and respond positively if you do drop. As it stands now - if I get interdicted by a NPC Anaconda its a guaranteed kill from him, and that's not fun.

christer1966 · Jul 6, 2015

It all depends on the kind of pirate AI. I personally have been saved many times by dropping cargo for the pirate and jumping away while they scoop up what I left behind, although some times the pirate will keep asking for more even if you don't have any more and other times they are just psychopathic murderers. So an answer to your question yes, pirates do stop for dropped cargo, mostly.

Brakespear · Jul 6, 2015

It's a feature that I'm quite sure has been in older space sims. Along with proper NPC interaction.

Personally, I would have much preferred an NPC "depth" update over powerplay. I don't recall anybody moaning on the forums about a lack of arbitrary numbers to grind, but rather, a whole lot of people asking for more persistent, interactive NPCs.

But Frontier were like "HEY GUYS! REMEMBER HOW YOU SAID YOU WANTED MORE NUMBERS!?"

Chewbacca · Jul 6, 2015

I've had a fair few pirate npc's decide they'd rather take up a new career than rumble with me. Literally they scan me, then say they don't like the looks of me and that they were thinking of giving up piracy anyway!

andyraptor · Jul 6, 2015

Just run away. ... they have no AI interaction at the moment

NeilF · Jul 6, 2015

Chazzie said:
Okay - with the much improved AI and difficultly increase with the Pirate interdictions - I've found myself in a few rare situations where I'm forced to deal with the Pirate (namely the ones in anacondas!).

Thing is - they don't tell you what to drop or how much, I've found myself suffering from a bad case of dead trying to figure out what to drop.

Does anybody actually know, as sometimes - just like in open, it'll pay to drop rather than die.

(and for the record - I love the AI boost!)

One of my interdiction enhancements is a suggestion so while/when interdicted, terms are given to you. eg: Give me X. (See sig for link)

Wouldn't it be nice if NPC pirates did this, so you knew if you could hand over some cargo and pay them off as you'd expected.

bend_r · Jul 6, 2015

tetra said:
Occasionally you will get one firing off a hatch breaker limpit at you, but they will kill you way before ever getting your cargo if you let them.

I've once had a NPC disengage from combat after liberating 'lavigny reports' with a hatch breaker. He actually returned to yellow on the scanner multiple times while I continued shooting him!

Gen-Han-Solo · Jul 6, 2015

AI pirate will demand your cargo and fire at you to take it even if your ship does not have any cargo space and is only fitted out for combat so every time I am interdicted by them I just kill them in a few seconds and continue on my way.

Red Fox Four · Jul 6, 2015

Wish the AI got a major overhaul. Especially AI with high combat ratings.

An Elite rated NPC in a kitted Vulture should frag 9 out of 10 players. It's Elite after all, and the skill level should reflect that.

If an Elite rated NPC interdicts me now the only difference is that it takes two more maneuvers and 2 more shots with my lasers to make him go pop compared to an average NPC.

If I get interdicted by an Elite NPC I should be scared less and start planning how to escape rather than immediately go offensive.

Honestly, I am so sick and tired of the spoiled gaming generation we have nowadays who need giant fluffy pillows under their arms cause heavens forbid they get a bruise or sit uncomfortably while they QQ about every gaming element that doesn't provide instant-gratification. Suggesting that they would have to actually get good at something through working hard at improving their skill, e.g. dogfighting, is like swearing in church... and mentioning that sometimes you simply lack the skill to overcome a certain game, stage in a game or opponent in a game is almost reason enough to get yourself burned at the stake... except they can't do that cause that would mean they need to lift their damn arses out of their cushioned seats.

An ELITE rated NPC should destroy YOUR face 10 times out of 10 unless you are an amazing pilot and/or fly an amazing spaceship.

There, I said it. Not everything in a game should be within reach without hard work.

Agony_Aunt · Jul 6, 2015

Has anyone actually tested this though? Because my guess is, very few have even considered dropping cargo.

andyraptor · Jul 6, 2015

Agony_Aunt said:
Has anyone actually tested this though? Because my guess is, very few have even considered dropping cargo.

Changes in AI behaviour are posted in patch notes. ... I can't see any in recent patches

NeilF · Jul 6, 2015

andyraptor said:
Changes in AI behaviour are posted in patch notes. ... I can't see any in recent patches

Because the game doesn't promote/help the pirating mechanic. You're interedicted and you have no idea what you're up against, hence best tactic is run, or attack first. This is true of NPCs or CMDRs attacking you. Hence - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=101696

So specific to your point... If you were immediately notified that a pirate expected you to drop two X tons of your most valuable cargo, and you had a button you could press to easily achieve this? You could now make a quick informed decision/action...

Jordan Cobalt · Jul 6, 2015

NeilF said:
Because the game doesn't promote/help the pirating mechanic. You're interedicted and you have no idea what you're up against, hence best tactic is run, or attack first. This is true of NPCs or CMDRs attacking you. Hence - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=101696

So specific to your point... If you were immediately notified that a pirate expected you to drop two X tons of your most valuable cargo, and you had a button you could press to easily achieve this? You could now make a quick informed decision/action...

That sounds pretty awesome. I'd love something like that for player pirates too. You declare piracy on someone and select the amount of cargo you want, they can either do it or not. If you kill them after the correct cargo drop, there could be worse punishments. It would also help close the language barrier.

CMDR Hagglebeard · Jul 6, 2015

It depends. If they scan you first and demand cargo, dropping ~20t will satisfy them, but if they immediately open fire and don't accept your cargo, create a bug report.

- - - Updated - - -

Jordan Cobalt said:
That sounds pretty awesome. I'd love something like that for player pirates too. You declare piracy on someone and select the amount of cargo you want, they can either do it or not. If you kill them after the correct cargo drop, there could be worse punishments. It would also help close the language barrier.

I think you might like this.

andyraptor · Jul 6, 2015

NeilF said:
Because the game doesn't promote/help the pirating mechanic. You're interedicted and you have no idea what you're up against, hence best tactic is run, or attack first. This is true of NPCs or CMDRs attacking you. Hence - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=101696

So specific to your point... If you were immediately notified that a pirate expected you to drop two X tons of your most valuable cargo, and you had a button you could press to easily achieve this? You could now make a quick informed decision/action...

I was just trying to answer the question posed.... I did read your link... and agree with you... however to date no changes in AI interaction. ... appear.... to have been made