'Attack of the AI' III

[frostypaw]

Have you tried winning the interdiction mini-game? When I started fighting the interdiction, winning seems pretty final. I haven't had to face a second attempt since.

Of course, but the game varies on how willing it is to let you do that. When it's in "casual" mode I can win most if not all of them if I try - once it's decided you're getting the NPC stick it gets a lot harder

Anyhow - I don't need defending here, I can cope with this new odd galaxy we have right now - but there are others who get nothing but disbelief and I think they deserve a little more listening to. I've seen the NPC attack conga too

(and what I think ppl would think were OP weapons but weren't - a proper missile salvo and rail gun combo is quite alarming - still won )

 

[Mohrgan]

It's unwinnable (since 1.4 I believe? it was winnable before). Sometimes it glitches, but that's it. Right now unless you're in an eagle getting interdicted by a conda maybe you just can't win the interdiction battle. To be fair successfully interdicting is also somewhat easy, so there's that (even if achieving a successful interdiction require some hard work and puts you in an emergency drop spin of death afterwards, but successfully interdicting is more than doable).

That's just not so. At least my, recent, experience say so. I have been regularly winning the mini-game in a A-rated Python. I still don;t always fight in my Fdl, it's for fighting after all.

As soon as I am tethered, I hit the "Target Highest Threat" button, then put my throttle at 75% (mid point of the blue zone in SC), then quickly review the threat. (Which means look at ship type, and combat rank). At that point I go about the mini-game. One loss in the last ten, and that one I chalk up to a delay in getting into the Blue Zone. I got caught mentally snoozing.

 

[myrr mac]

I am suspecting now that's it's not a bug, but rather in part due to being allied with the minor factions, having a lower cost ship, and being in high sec. All creating a perfect soup for unchallenging spawns.

When I fly farther away from my home systems, I get slightly more challenging spawns.

Hyperbole? Well, what else can I suspect when they also report being blown to bits in their Python, meanwhile my Shieldless Asp is tanking missles and railguns just fine when I'm partially afk, and alt-tabbing?

Well, try empathy.

You know that thing where you imagine what its like for the other guy.

How do you think we feel about your claims of "unchallenging space with little to no interdictions" when we get harrassed by deadly/elite combat ships from FDL sized to conda sized? Why should we believe you any more than you believe us. Its just common decency, that you should have. Unless someone is obviously venting, odds are good that his story is true. This game is anything but consistent.

It goes both ways.

 

[Zeta Legion]

I fly either an FdL, or a Python, both A-rated and fit to defend myself, depending on what tasks I'm doing. Since I've started to actively fight the interdictions I've faced a number of opponents. It is impossible for me to recount each and every encounter but I have faced a range between an Elite Vulture, a Master FAS, to a competent 'Conda.

I used to just submit, and fight what ever tried me. Now, upon interdiction, I hit my 'Target Highest Threat' key. Have a look at what is after me and decide what to do, while fending off the interdiction.

Interesting. I haven't flown anything outside of the T-9, Cutter, Anaconda, and Corvette since the patch. I can't speak to the T-9's interdiction performance (I assume it's terrible) as I haven't been jumped in that yet, only doing short-range mining runs. Everything else though has been Elite/Deadly FDLs and Anacondas exclusively, barring one or two bizarrely under-equipped PP ships. My experience is these max-rank NPCs are virtually impossible to shake in the large ships, especially the Cutter. I can win sometimes in the Corvette, I'd say around one in seven which isn't good odds. Obviously I can pound them flat with the Corvette being combat fitted, but the Cutter just isn't set up for fighting at all. I've got her equipped with weapons, shields, and A-rated modules but that would just make the rebuy higher if I tried to take one of those guys on in her.

Most of the time when these guys jump me in the Corvette though I'm just passing through and not interested in their petty bounty or terrible drops so I skip them regardless, so fighting them is just a waste of my time.

 

[Mohrgan]

Of course, but the game varies on how willing it is to let you do that. When it's in "casual" mode I can win most if not all of them if I try - once it's decided you're getting the NPC stick it gets a lot harder

Anyhow - I don't need defending here, I can cope with this new odd galaxy we have right now - but there are others who get nothing but disbelief and I think they deserve a little more listening to. I've seen the NPC attack conga too

(and what I think ppl would think were OP weapons but weren't - a proper missile salvo and rail gun combo is quite alarming - still won )

I suggest the 'attack conga' is the result of the Submit/Boost/Jump strategy. When you submit, neither ships have to wait out the extended cooldown. That means the attacker is free to be in SC at the same time as you. Making it easy for the serial interdictions to occur. Unless you High Wake, but then you are open to be interdicted, even by a ship with the same name, when you re-enter the system you are going to. Winning the mini-game, or defeating the attacker has 100% of the time resulted in no more attacks. For me any way, for about three days now.

 

[myrr mac]

yeah large ships cant really fight off interdiction. I thought this was fairly common knowledge. Obviously if its a low ranked npc you might, or if by a fluke he flys through a sun or something, but other than that no, its not really feasable to consistently escape interdiction in heavy ships.

disclaimer: ED being what it is, your experience may vary, there are always some that claim to be able to do anything. I mostly assume thats trolling, but its also possible its quirky ED.

 

[Mohrgan]

Interesting. I haven't flown anything outside of the T-9, Cutter, Anaconda, and Corvette since the patch. I can't speak to the T-9's interdiction performance (I assume it's terrible) as I haven't been jumped in that yet, only doing short-range mining runs. Everything else though has been Elite/Deadly FDLs and Anacondas exclusively, barring one or two bizarrely under-equipped PP ships. My experience is these max-rank NPCs are virtually impossible to shake in the large ships, especially the Cutter. I can win sometimes in the Corvette, I'd say around one in seven which isn't good odds. Obviously I can pound them flat with the Corvette being combat fitted, but the Cutter just isn't set up for fighting at all. I've got her equipped with weapons, shields, and A-rated modules but that would just make the rebuy higher if I tried to take one of those guys on in her.

Most of the time when these guys jump me in the Corvette though I'm just passing through and not interested in their petty bounty or terrible drops so I skip them regardless, so fighting them is just a waste of my time.

Are your large ships well fit out, or are they D-rated? That's what I attribute to my success. Well fit out ships may have performance benefits not previously required. Specifically an actual higher speed in the center of the blue zone. Your speed, and agility are a function of that blue zone, even in SC.

 

[Zeta Legion]

I suggest the 'attack conga' is the result of the Submit/Boost/Jump strategy. When you submit, neither ships have to wait out the extended cooldown. That means the attacker is free to be in SC at the same time as you. Making it easy for the serial interdictions to occur. Unless you High Wake, but then you are open to be interdicted, even by a ship with the same name, when you re-enter the system you are going to. Winning the mini-game, or defeating the attacker has 100% of the time resulted in no more attacks. For me any way, for about three days now.

The problem is the 'conga line' is typically the result of the mission-spawned hitmen, which follow you from system to system more persistently than the mission update clowns from 2.0, spawn directly behind your ship right next to the star, which makes winning the minigame impossible as nine times out of ten you will simply be pulled into the exclusion zone before you can even submit let alone escape, and if you are just doing bulk cargo missions there is frankly no way you are winning the fight (or at least, the fights I get dragged into, YMMV).

Winning the minigame seems out of the question for me as well, unless I just get phenomenally lucky and it spazzes out in my favour.

 

[frostypaw]

As I was saying Mohrgan I've just gone days without trouble - but it's happened to me too despite using all the usual tricks to shake them they can be insanely persistent at times. I've won one interdiction only to immediately get hailed again by another....

Oh good lord after days of being on the other side of the fence now i know what the people with real problems feel like. Y'all don't listen. I've told you I'm happy and pretty content in the new more aggro galaxy, I've been on the side of "it's fine" almost all the time - I've literally just now said for the fourth or fifth time that I've experienced it too and now I'm the one getting "have you tried turning it off and on again" as if none of the previous two threads happened

*throws hands up*

carry on.

 

[Zeta Legion]

Are your large ships well fit out, or are they D-rated? That's what I attribute to my success. Well fit out ships may have performance benefits not previously required. Specifically an actual higher speed in the center of the blue zone. Your speed, and agility are a function of that blue zone, even in SC.

Everything is A-rated (yes, even the T-9). Regardless, every ship of a given type boasts the same SC performance irrespective of the current drives.

 

[myrr mac]

As I was saying Mohrgan I've just gone days without trouble - but it's happened to me too despite using all the usual tricks to shake them they can be insanely persistent at times. I've won one interdiction only to immediately get hailed again by another....

Oh good lord after days of being on the other side of the fence now i know what the people with real problems feel like. Y'all don't listen. I've told you I'm happy and pretty content in the new more aggro galaxy, I've been on the side of "it's fine" almost all the time - I've literally just now said for the fourth or fifth time that I've experienced it too and now I'm the one getting "have you tried turning it off and on again" as if none of the previous two threads happened

*throws hands up*

carry on.

Welcome to the jungle / down the rabit hole. Its depressing isnt it.

 

[Mohrgan]

I get it. I would like everyone to enjoy their time in game. Even if that includes changing the AI behavior. I just came across something that has been working for me and I wanted to pass it on to you. Not, force it onto you. Mileage certainly varies, and I believe what you are saying. If my suggestion helps someone, awesome. If not, then that's just more data for those interested to work with.

 

[Noddie]

Try to work out why interdictions occur.

Are you carrying something? Wanted? Who are you working for? Who are they aligned to? Who are they in conflict with?

Personally. I prefer to avoid other people's barnies. I watch what jobs I take, where and for who.

 

[Olrik]

... the normal Trader, Explorer or Miner the game is just not fun anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I've been playing the game for 9 months...The game has been turned into a 'shoot-em-up', at the expense of everyone else... but now it's like taking 1 step forward and 3 steps back.

I've been playing since the first alpha version, and you are completely right. [smile]

 

[=71st=RuSh]

It's unwinnable (since 1.4 I believe? it was winnable before). Sometimes it glitches, but that's it. Right now unless you're in an eagle getting interdicted by a conda maybe you just can't win the interdiction battle. To be fair successfully interdicting is also somewhat easy, so there's that (even if achieving a successful interdiction require some hard work and puts you in an emergency drop spin of death afterwards, but successfully interdicting is more than doable).

I have been interdicted in my python in the latest version by several condas and they always win, when I'm close to defeat the interdict, the angle changes and take me out of SC, I think is a bug, but ED did nothing to correct it.

 

[Thalion Solarstorm]

Not saying the AI is too hard per general. I am fine after 2.1.02 doing a wing of 3 ships also FAS / Condas etc in my Python. I can handle that - HOWEVER - and here comes the Surprise

Try now going into a Combat Zone like a PP Expansion for example - we tried in a Wing of 4 today. 2 Heavy armed FAS a fully kitted Corvette and me in the Python.
It was HARD real HARD - still had a blast even tho i exploded towards the end and lost my 500 ish merits ( meh! ) - the problem is even when you establish a parameter outside the spawning area and pick off a couple ships from the mob - when there is a respawn its gonna ruin your day ^^ Everything went fine until i pulled as usual 5 or 6 ships out of the crowd towards our wing parameter whereas our Tank ( The Vette ) would pick em up and nail em while the FAS doing Rearwork. This worked great until respawn where like 5 extra ships spawned around us and messed teh party pretty much up. i managed to keep em busy while the Rest was able to jump - but they got me in the end and all Merits gone. I am not complaining as its really challenging and i consider myself a good pilot but this is while you need like at least 1500 of thoose each week too hard. Took 2 Hours to get the 500s in wing - which is okay but at least you shouldnt loose them now if you die - for that and the Insurance costs too this is waaaaaay too less Rewarding for the Difficulty - Combat Zones even in Wing are now HARDCORE .

Cheers!

 

[Ziljan]

Well, try empathy.

You know that thing where you imagine what its like for the other guy.

How do you think we feel about your claims of "unchallenging space with little to no interdictions" when we get harrassed by deadly/elite combat ships from FDL sized to conda sized? Why should we believe you any more than you believe us. Its just common decency, that you should have. Unless someone is obviously venting, odds are good that his story is true. This game is anything but consistent.

It goes both ways.

How about we make it less about emotions and more about facts? When people say things that sound fishy, I don't immediately discount it. I ask for more info. If they give enough, the mystery eventually dissipates. Scroll back through the dozens of pages and you'll see it's true.

I am not here to play psychologist, but if people present concrete issues I am available to help them find concrete solutions.

And I am genuine about my efforts to figure out why people are reporting dramatically different subjective experiences.

My only beef is with people don't want in game solutions, and expect Frontier to smooth out every bump in the road.

 

[Ziljan]

I have been interdicted in my python in the latest version by several condas and they always win, when I'm close to defeat the interdict, the angle changes and take me out of SC, I think is a bug, but ED did nothing to correct it.

Elites get an edge when it comes NPC interdictions. Those are quite hard to win, for a reason!! The Python is pretty horrible at those contests in any case. More massive ships and more agile ships have an advantage. This is probably why the Clipper is king of interdictions.

 

[HBK]

I have been interdicted in my python in the latest version by several condas and they always win, when I'm close to defeat the interdict, the angle changes and take me out of SC, I think is a bug, but ED did nothing to correct it.

To be fair I think I'm able to win about 1 evasion attempt out of 10 (not counting insta-win glitching). So it's not entirely impossible. It just doesn't feel skill-based at all, so with such odds, why bother ...

And I've tried everything, blue zone, four pips, shaking the griefer, nothing works on an consistent basis. Usually flying an A-rated FdL for what it's worth.

 

[myrr mac]

How about we make it less about emotions and more about facts? When people say things that sound fishy, I don't immediately discount it. I ask for more info. If they give enough, the mystery eventually dissipates. Scroll back through the dozens of pages and you'll see it's true.

I am not here to play psychologist, but if people present concrete issues I am available to help them find concrete solutions.

And I am genuine about my efforts to figure out why people are reporting dramatically different subjective experiences.

My only beef is with people don't want in game solutions, and expect Frontier to smooth out every bump in the road.

Dodging my point like a pro.

Not about feelings.

Point was: Why should we believe you when you clain to not have the problems we are facing. What makes you automatically more believable? Why do you get to question our motives and not reverse?

This isnt advanced psychology, rocket science or any other esoteric discipline you can dismiss as being too abstract. Its common sense man.

I could with equal validity call you a damn lier, and a troll, as you could claim we are lying about only meeting high ranked pirates, or being interdicted for nonsensical reasons.

"In my game, I certainly dont have boring easy time, surely Ziljan is just chest-thumping and surely he too is getting nothing but elite/deadly pirates". SEE NOW?! ITS BAD REASONING.