Would you Rather Have Players: Opt out of NPC Interdiction? Or Just Quit?

[Stardran]

I had a previous post here complaining about the constant irritating interdictions.

I play on xbox one. We just got the patch update yesterday and the constant interdictions have stopped. I played for 2 hours last night and was only interdicted once and it wasn't an elite. Previously almost every interdiction was by an elite that would continue interdicting in every system. I high waked after this interdiction and didn't get bothered again. I was doing a mission and expected to get interdicted. Previously, the constant interdictions were happening with or without missions and with or without cargo.

To the git gud people on here, I was reporting what I was seeing and experiencing before this patch. It was frustrating and made the game unplayable. It looks like this patch fixed all of the problems and I can return to playing the game I love. Good job FD and thank you.

 

[Bigglesof206]

Because there is no offline mode, no 2nd cmdr, and the BGS in all modes is linked. Obviously it would take a LOT of resources to make it happen, so I'd personally prefer FD worked on making ED, rather than making ED fun fior people who have no interest in ED.

Sorry, but what on earth makes you imagine those things are needed? ED could, for example, tell people who wish to avoid NPC interaction to play in solo and click a flag (like the report crimes flag). Any NPC setting up for interdiction checks for the flag, and if present clears off. If that flag is set then the player's weapons do no damage to NPCs or other players.

Job done.
I reiterate my earlier point, what the OP is asking for is not for me, but I see no reason why such players cannot be accommodated without really causing any problems for the rest of us, as such it could only be an asset to the current list of game modes.

I love the way some of you are throwing 'entitlement' around, when describing what others want, to explain why they should all have the game you want.

Dave

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

Sorry, but what on earth makes you imagine those things are needed? ED could, for example, tell people who wish to avoid NPC interaction to play in solo and click a flag (like the report crimes flag). Any NPC setting up for interdiction checks for the flag, and if present clears off. If that flag is set then the player's weapons do no damage to NPCs or other players.

Job done.
I reiterate my earlier point, what the OP is asking for is not for me, but I see no reason why such players cannot be accommodated without really causing any problems for the rest of us, as such it could only be an asset to the current list of game modes.

I love the way some of you are throwing 'entitlement' around, when describing what others want, to explain why they should all have the game you want.

Dave

But wouldn't this open up an exploit being able to go into "safe mode" , whatever that may be specifically, earn millions and then jump back out with an A-stocked ship and little effort.

 

[Bomba Luigi]

Sorry, but what on earth makes you imagine those things are needed? ED could, for example, tell people who wish to avoid NPC interaction to play in solo and click a flag (like the report crimes flag). Any NPC setting up for interdiction checks for the flag, and if present clears off. If that flag is set then the player's weapons do no damage to NPCs or other players.

Job done.
I reiterate my earlier point, what the OP is asking for is not for me, but I see no reason why such players cannot be accommodated without really causing any problems for the rest of us, as such it could only be an asset to the current list of game modes.

I love the way some of you are throwing 'entitlement' around, when describing what others want, to explain why they should all have the game you want.

Dave

Devs have a vision for there game too, and there trumps the one of players. What you want is a very diffrent expierience with the game, one the devs may not want you to have.

 

[nosleepdemon]

This is a fun thread filled with fun posts by people that are game developers and know loads about game development oh yes it is! "Wailing hyper-consumers" indeed; good God, the crazy cow turned out to be right!

 

[Bigglesof206]

I had a previous post here complaining about the constant irritating interdictions.

I play on xbox one. We just got the patch update yesterday and the constant interdictions have stopped. I played for 2 hours last night and was only interdicted once and it wasn't an elite. Previously almost every interdiction was by an elite that would continue interdicting in every system. I high waked after this interdiction and didn't get bothered again. I was doing a mission and expected to get interdicted. Previously, the constant interdictions were happening with or without missions and with or without cargo.

To the git gud people on here, I was reporting what I was seeing and experiencing before this patch. It was frustrating and made the game unplayable. It looks like this patch fixed all of the problems and I can return to playing the game I love. Good job FD and thank you.

Interestingly enough, I went into the game after reading this (PC) and the patch they just brought out might have fixed the issue on PC too - I only have one interdiction so far to base this on, and I still got the flickery target rubbish, but it moved around in a way that allowed me to actually chase it in my DBS rather than just flashing off the screen, so I am very hopeful at the moment!

Dave

Sorry Vectron - apparently I have to rep a few more people before I can rep you again....take a virtual rep!

 

[duster88]

I agree with OP about serial interdictions. Bought a new A rated sidewinder in solo to test if serial interdictions have toned down after last patch. Answer is no. I tried to take 4 cargo on a small trip 1 jump. Independent area. On first attempted trip was interdicted 4 times by same asp with frag cannon, pulse laser and missiles. Was able to evade, boost to station, but lost cargo bay, chaff etc... Lost 20K of cargo, 2600 in repairs, and 600 in resupply, & took 20 min to get to station on a 5 min trip. The serial interdictions seem out of control & completely nerf credits per hr. Don't know how new players are making any credits except by combat. The serial interdictions essentially force players into combat and essentially eliminate other game play options. The constant interdictions become boring quickly, force player into repetitious gameplay and eliminate fun factor. There's so many ways to get combat that I don't see why they have to make the AI OP in solo. There's clearly a problem as developers removed engineering modules and continue to monitor to see how balancing goes. I too hope they address the serial interdictions. Will try back in a month.

 

[Faybs]

I truly don't get this thread. Sure, some are finding the AI to much and that I can understand; there are ways around that (read the forums to find out good strategies and practice in a cheap ship, or ask support to lower your combat rank). But asking that the AI completely ignore you I don't get - it's asking that the game be completely changed from what it is, into a clone of Space Engine. In fact, Space Engine has better graphics and no network problems - if you really want to just go and look at cool space stuff without being harassed by AI, give SE a try.

 

[Mohrgan]

If you Submit/Boost/JumpSC on a NPC expect to be re-interdicted. The answer is they are more persistent, and you have to defeat them in some way to loose them. Any NPC can be back in SC just as soon as you can. Win the Interdiction Mini-game, defeat them in combat, or high wake. I would suspect that high waking is just putting it off again anyway, once you re-enter the system it would be logical that the NPC is still waiting on you.

On another note, I am wondering if some of those being plagued by overpowered interdicters don;t have a dormant fine/bounty out there somewhere. There is no notice in your HUD to notify you. Maybe a fine for failing a mission, or for being scanned with contraband? I think it would be worth your while to look into this if you suffer from excessive random interdictions.

 

[DaveB]

The bottom line here is quite simply that not every game will appeal to everyone. FD can address that by trying to make ED suit everyone, but that inevitably leads to it not being "right" for anyone. I'd rather they kept making Elite for folks that want to play Elite and accept that not everyone will want to play that game. This will inevitably leave some other folks dissatisfied with it. Do I want those folks to quit the game? Of course not, I'd much rather they find one of the diverse play-styles within ED that they enjoy and can continue to have fun playing it. If they can't do that, though, it's much better for the game that they do quit, that they don't sit around building up a level of resentment as they continue to ask FD for "features" that will never happen, or if FD make the mistake of listening to them that will irrevocably change the game in a way detrimental to the experience of its original target market.

There is nothing wrong with walking away from a game that, for whatever reason, you don't like. Wanting it changed to suit you, no matter how large a group of potential players your opinion may represent, is a different matter entirely because there is already a player-base that ARE suited by the existing design and mechanics and you don't have any right to take that away from them. For as long as it's meeting their business goals, which by all accounts the game still is, FD don't have a compelling reason to go along with those proposed changes and annoy what is arguably their core player-base either.

 

[Stardran]

If you Submit/Boost/JumpSC on a NPC expect to be re-interdicted. The answer is they are more persistent, and you have to defeat them in some way to loose them. Any NPC can be back in SC just as soon as you can. Win the Interdiction Mini-game, defeat them in combat, or high wake. I would suspect that high waking is just putting it off again anyway, once you re-enter the system it would be logical that the NPC is still waiting on you.

On another note, I am wondering if some of those being plagued by overpowered interdicters don;t have a dormant fine/bounty out there somewhere. There is no notice in your HUD to notify you. Maybe a fine for failing a mission, or for being scanned with contraband? I think it would be worth your while to look into this if you suffer from excessive random interdictions.

It seems like it was a bug. At least on the xbox one. After the patch yesterday, the problem is gone.

These super aggressive npcs would constantly interdict for no reason. No mission. No cargo. No bounties. High waking didn't help. I high waked every time and they were always in the next system waiting to interdict again immediately. My combat rank is master. 90% of the interdictions I was getting were from elites in bigger and better ships.

The xbox one version still had quite a few npcs with the overpowered weapon bug too.

The patch yesterday seems to have fixed all of the problems and I am happy that the game is playable again.

 

[Faybs]

On another note, I am wondering if some of those being plagued by overpowered interdicters don;t have a dormant fine/bounty out there somewhere. There is no notice in your HUD to notify you. Maybe a fine for failing a mission, or for being scanned with contraband? I think it would be worth your while to look into this if you suffer from excessive random interdictions.

You may have a point there - I remember from the various "Robigo is OP" threads a few weeks ago that a lot of people just laugh off fines and bounties. You can't do that any more - if you have a large bounty the game will spawn bounty hunters to intercept you.

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

You may have a point there - I remember from the various "Robigo is OP" threads a few weeks ago that a lot of people just laugh off fines and bounties. You can't do that any more - if you have a large bounty the game will spawn bounty hunters to intercept you.

Yeah inn addition to Local Bounty we need a Galactic Bounty display Panel.

 

[SnowyNI]

But wouldn't this open up an exploit being able to go into "safe mode" , whatever that may be specifically, earn millions and then jump back out with an A-stocked ship and little effort.

They all do that anyway... I've seen some of the most diehard pvpers on here admit they trade in solo! Yes, its a whole new topic that has been said before. Dave's idea is a workaround that could work, do we want our cake and to eat it? I'd say no, we just want to eat our share of the cake and NOT be force fed it against our will.

 

[Kubicide]

The bottom line here is quite simply that not every game will appeal to everyone. FD can address that by trying to make ED suit everyone, but that inevitably leads to it not being "right" for anyone. I'd rather they kept making Elite for folks that want to play Elite and accept that not everyone will want to play that game. This will inevitably leave some other folks dissatisfied with it. Do I want those folks to quit the game? Of course not, I'd much rather they find one of the diverse play-styles within ED that they enjoy and can continue to have fun playing it. If they can't do that, though, it's much better for the game that they do quit, that they don't sit around building up a level of resentment as they continue to ask FD for "features" that will never happen, or if FD make the mistake of listening to them that will irrevocably change the game in a way detrimental to the experience of its original target market.

There is nothing wrong with walking away from a game that, for whatever reason, you don't like. Wanting it changed to suit you, no matter how large a group of potential players your opinion may represent, is a different matter entirely because there is already a player-base that ARE suited by the existing design and mechanics and you don't have any right to take that away from them. For as long as it's meeting their business goals, which by all accounts the game still is, FD don't have a compelling reason to go along with those proposed changes and annoy what is arguably their core player-base either.

Well, like many other replies in this thread, this really doesn't address the core issue here which was that FDev changed the way the game 'worked'. And many are no longer happy with this 'new game'. A number of players spent money on this game and were happier with it until this point, and they want the changes undone or something else done to restore the game they liked to play. A better argument here is to go ahead and roll back the (interdiction) change as it certainly seemed to be acceptable to more players before 2.1 dropped. These forums do not show any history of "core players" threatening to stop playing because interdictions were too scarce. If they did please point to these numerous examples.

But losing players or reducing the player base for any online game that requires some sort of cash flow for sustainment is a no-win regardless of how you try to spin it. Everyone will lose eventually.

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

A reply like this makes me think you are just trolling the thread

They all do that anyway...

A ridiculous generalization

I've seen some of the most diehard pvpers on here admit they trade in solo!

OK Let's say that's true. So what! You can still get killed in solo by NPCs. There is RISK. If you have a flag that removes interdictions, then you can't get interdicted regardless of mode. You remove most of the risk from the game.

Yes, its a whole new topic that has been said before.

Ok is it new topic or a topic that has been discussed before. I guess you mean its new in this thread but as I pointed out above isn't really germain.

Dave's idea is a workaround that could work, do we want our cake and to eat it? I'd say no, we just want to eat our share of the cake and NOT be force fed it against our will.

No, basically, you don't to play Elite Dangerous. Being interdicted is a core part of the game, granted that needs some adjustment right now, but still a core part. This idea is essentially just a rehash of the PvP flag, except it removes all interdictions and makes it possible to get reward without any risk. But I'm not going to change your mind. You're entitled to your opinion. You keep asking for this feature, but I wouldn't hold your breath.


o7

 

[Bigglesof206]

Not one person has yet replied to my idea with a cogent, genuine response that explains how giving those who wish to avoid NPCs completely are casuing any other player to suffer.
For example - they'd be able to avoid NPCs and collect lumps of credits via (risk free) trading, mining etc and have endgame ships with no risk' (I paraphrase, but I'm spot on for all that) - SO BLOODY WHAT? In WHAT WAY does that create problems for anybody else?

I don't want an NPC free environment for myself. I'm pretty much happy the way it isd (especially as they seem to have debugged interdiction again) but if my neighbour's cat buys a Corvette purely by trading fish for 5000 hours what difference does it make to MY game? Zilch, nada, none at all. In the unlikely event that said cat promptly jumps into open, figuring he's the new bad ass dude on the block, he'll be at the rebuy screen inside 10 minutes sadder but wiser, having provided an easy kill for someone like me in my DBS.

Don't demand features/changes be banned or cast adrift just because you think you have some God given right to dictate how others play, if there is no good reason (and it has to be a damn sight better than 'this is how it ought to be played, nurr hurr hurr') to prevent something happening, and it will suit some players, then let them have it.

The ONLY good reason, which I have yet to see, would be that it would divert resources from developing the game most of us want to play - but I'm pretty sure this could be coded by an intern in an afternoon, so that one doesn't run I'm afraid.
Dave

 

[Ouranos]

Me and my not so proud thoughts:
I generally solo due to the fact that I am living in the other side of the world, so it's 4 in the morning now.

Interdiction to me is quite painful, starts from ping issue, my escape vector is actively jumping and tends to not goes blue even I stayed with the vector, lel.
I cannot say I am safe from things apart from being inside a clipper.

I read a few posts these days. Difficult, hardly found comments that were really helping the situation instead, unifying minds. (might be bit too strong)

I think there is got to be a number of cmdrs like me hiding inside the shadows not quite willing to speak, but anyway.

Currently the interdiction... I tend to say it is annoying. I think it spawns a ship to chase you in the trade mission destination system, all good with that.

I see hostile ships are the most annoying, and dangerous to my flight. Those ships are mostly Dangerous (at least from my experience) and they do stack up with your mission update / destination pirate. Worst of all, they might be clean ships.

Even without missionstacking that's already two ships at my back, hopefully not both Dangerous or Elite. Erm alright. I will play the mini-game and finger crossed, connection.

If it is a mission update ship however, it usually spawn right at the back, interdiction came in before the anything from the comm and the sensor. So the first few second of the mini-game I was like GGGGGG what is the ship at my back what rank is it do it submit or turn.

Feels similar to the days when cops flying around and interdict for fun.

---------

Again I am not opposing to interdiction and risk, but it needs some weigh adjustment and tuning. IMO, currently it is like "you did A" +1 ship, "you holds B" +1 ship. How about "you did A and holds B" +1 Elite ship.

Feel free to say Gitgud to me because I am willing to. If people only wants the others to move for them, to suit them, then everything is still yet to solve, majorities or minorites, whoever people's are.

And oh yes, sorry for bad Engrish

 

[DaveB]

Well, like many other replies in this thread, this really doesn't address the core issue here which was that FDev changed the way the game 'worked'. And many are no longer happy with this 'new game'. A number of players spent money on this game and were happier with it until this point, and they want the changes undone or something else done to restore the game they liked to play. A better argument here is to go ahead and roll back the (interdiction) change as it certainly seemed to be acceptable to more players before 2.1 dropped. These forums do not show any history of "core players" threatening to stop playing because interdictions were too scarce. If they did please point to these numerous examples.

But losing players or reducing the player base for any online game that requires some sort of cash flow for sustainment is a no-win regardless of how you try to spin it. Everyone will lose eventually.

That's a fair point, however the changes FD have made to the game recently are all moving it closer to what they promised us in the beginning. The AI was always SUPPOSED to pose as close as possible to the threat of an equivalent player. That's why it was derided as "too easy" and why it was uprated. The complaints of constant overpowered interdictions are something I'm not seeing happening, since 2.1 dropped I've been interdicted no more than once or twice each evening and ok, they are, more often than not, ranked Master to Elite but I'm Master ranked myself and I can always escape what I can't outfight.

The changes we've seen (apart from known bugs that FD are already addressing) are perfectly in line with what they have been promising us all along and the "feel" of the "Elite" franchise that dates back to my earliest experiences of it in '84 so while they may have "changed" the game, those "changes" could well be characterized as positive "fixes" and IMHO should be.

As for your business argument, there's no spin involved. FD's published financials are quite healthy and they are currently hiring. If there's a stronger argument for their current stable of games doing just fine, I'm not sure what it might be. Since they use Amazon's cloud services for their servers, they aren't hiring infrastructure architects like me but if they were I'd apply. They also look to me like a good investment opportunity from a raw business standpoint. If you don't think so, sell me a put. I wouldn't mind adding some FD stock to my portfolio at somebody else's expense.

 

[Faybs]

Not one person has yet replied to my idea with a cogent, genuine response that explains how giving those who wish to avoid NPCs completely are casuing any other player to suffer.
For example - they'd be able to avoid NPCs and collect lumps of credits via (risk free) trading, mining etc and have endgame ships with no risk' (I paraphrase, but I'm spot on for all that) - SO BLOODY WHAT? In WHAT WAY does that create problems for anybody else?

I don't want an NPC free environment for myself. I'm pretty much happy the way it isd (especially as they seem to have debugged interdiction again) but if my neighbour's cat buys a Corvette purely by trading fish for 5000 hours what difference does it make to MY game? Zilch, nada, none at all. In the unlikely event that said cat promptly jumps into open, figuring he's the new bad ass dude on the block, he'll be at the rebuy screen inside 10 minutes sadder but wiser, having provided an easy kill for someone like me in my DBS.

Don't demand features/changes be banned or cast adrift just because you think you have some God given right to dictate how others play, if there is no good reason (and it has to be a damn sight better than 'this is how it ought to be played, nurr hurr hurr') to prevent something happening, and it will suit some players, then let them have it.

The ONLY good reason, which I have yet to see, would be that it would divert resources from developing the game most of us want to play - but I'm pretty sure this could be coded by an intern in an afternoon, so that one doesn't run I'm afraid.
Dave

Simple: one of the core principles of this game is the idea that players will sometimes encounter hostile NPCs. You can't just remove that and assume there will be zero unexpected side effects. One that comes to mind immediately is that NPC ships don't drop materials on destruction if the player didn't hit them - some of those materials are needed for non-combat mods such as FSD range boost. Sure, FDev could change the rules of the game to accommodate the pacifist playstyle, but that would mean taking away development resources for something only a tiny minority want.

As to this: "Don't demand features/changes be banned or cast adrift just because you think you have some God given right to dictate how others play, if there is no good reason (and it has to be a damn sight better than 'this is how it ought to be played, nurr hurr hurr') to prevent something happening, and it will suit some players, then let them have it." You're basically showing up at a rugby match with a tennis racket and asking that people let you play tennis in peace.