HAZRES NPC Behavior

I'm sure this is goes for all NPC's, but I only bounty hunt in HAZRES's.

Have any of you guys noticed when you open fire on an NPC they just start spinning in place but don't move or fire back?

I opened fire with my Annie on a Clipper and the Clipper just cut engines immediately and sat in place spinning. But when I ceased fire, it took off and ran.

Also, some NPC's (Mostly Python NPC's for me) just don't fight back, like, they don't fire once, NOT ONCE. Even if they have a clear shot.

It's enjoyable to pick a fight with an Anaconda because they actually fight back and use chaff and SCB's, so you know, they seem alive.

On top of this strange behavior,some NPC's also like testing their hull strength against asteroids......
 
The spinning has been reported in 1.4 and seems to be present still.

Clippers suffer from this behaviour and so do FDLs, Asps and a few others.
They are very easy to take out because of this.

I have never seen Federal Gunships, Assaultships and Dropships do it.
Especially Assault ships are interesting opponents. They really fight and can be quite nasty.

I do not remember seeing Anacondas spin either, but they do tend to withhold fire too much some times.
They can be fearsome opponents, if they fight well, but I feel that is quite rare, but it could be my own 'fault'.
When I am in my Python I storm at Anacondas like a mad Rhino and I try to stay very close to my target and the Anaconda AI mostly tries frantically to get away from me. Most of the time they are shieldless and already heavily damaged when they succeed to turn and fire at me.
 
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The Kebab Maneouvre, yep. I do hope they patch it soon, I always feel kinda guilty unless I stop shooting and let them get moving again.
 
I am wondering, if the behavior is actually a simple thruster malfunction? They can happen, if the thrusters get damaged below 75% and usually result in spinning motions for players.
 
I am wondering, if the behavior is actually a simple thruster malfunction? They can happen, if the thrusters get damaged below 75% and usually result in spinning motions for players.

I am sure it is not as the ships start turning even when they have shields.
It definitely is a malfunction of the AI.
 
The AI was okay during beta
during gamma/1.0 they were less agile and never landed a single shot
1.2 they started to dodge and sometimes shoot back
1.3 they get had a few more moves but were still dumb as bricks
1.4 they dont even try to even hit you they just fly in a line or do a rotation on the spot
1.5/2.0 I noticed nothing new , apart from the AI is still the same.

However coding AI is hard and I have yet to see a good space sim AI outside of 90s space games , and I belive SJA can fix this
 
To me it looks like they are supposed to do an evasive spiraling, but the "outward thrust" part was left out in the routine.
 
They tend to spin if you stay still and keep firing. Not all of them do it. Regardless of rank, some are very docile, but others can be very aggressive. It's easy to be taken by surprise when you become complacent. Today, I've had a few FDLs, Vultures and Anacondas that were like actual commanders with FA off, perfect use of chaff, and boost and turn. The Anacondas were just like heavyweight boxers that keep leaning on you between punches, so you never get a chance to shoot. Between those, I could kill 6 Anacondas in a row that never fired a shot.
 
hunt? more like shooting fish in a VERY small barrel. As there is no area patrolled by systemsec, there is no reason for miners to bunch up in any area. They could be mining the entire ring making some real hunting possible.
 
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