What's wrong with my slf?

[concentric]

When I launch my fighter with the npc pilot it's set to "defend" by default and it also says "defend" in the slf's status in the hud.
The only other orders I give is "attack target", "board ship" and very rarely "engage at will".
Sometimes however I notice my slf being far off, my crew pilot asking me to not diverge from him any further or stating things like "Sorry, no can do" when being assigned any orders. I then notice that the slf's status in the hud says "follow me" or "maintain formation", which firstly I didn't order (didn't set any keybinds for those, either) and secondly is bonkers because he neither follows me nor maintains formation but rather holds position. If that's the case he just sits there, denying any orders and the only thing that helps sometimes, but not reliably, is to switch to the fighter and back to the mothership, which can be hairy in certain situations...
The above happens to me every now and then but it happened to an annoying degree at last weeks cg at Ardenets.
So, has anyone else experienced this? Is it a bug or have I just missed something?

 

[Lightspeed]

I think it's an infrequently occurring bug, that has come up in the forum from time to time. Try pressing the "maintain formation" to keep it close to you. You may not have actually pressed that key, and the pilot is aimlessly waiting for an order without targets to attack.

 

[Hooplah]

I have no clue. My expensive fighter pilots always do everything that I order them to do. Keeping them alive often requires breaking off an attack and docking while I take the damage with a combat issue. Not a big deal in a big four combat ship. Too many players let them go to their deaths.

 

[dribnairb]

I think they say "no can do" when they have no ammo left. Not very descriptove though! But otherwise I think as said above it's a big where they end up in the wrong command Mode and sometimes just get stuck there...

 

[sollisb]

It's a very common bug, reported multiple times on the bug forum. It got so bad, I've sold all my SLF bays and just ignore the mechanic. I'm hoping for a fix in the next patch. NPC SLFs are also bugged.

 

[Uchuu]

Perhaps they want more money? Or a ship on its own?

Sorry

 

[moorison]

I think they say "no can do" when they have no ammo left. Not very descriptove though! But otherwise I think as said above it's a big where they end up in the wrong command Mode and sometimes just get stuck there...

In my experience the fighters have infinite ammo, to avoid these situations. But there certainly can be bugs.

 

[777Driver]

Whilst I have never experienced the bug others have described, fighter crew not following orders in my case has always been due to flying the fighter myself, disabling weapons in the modules tab, then forgetting to switch them back on.

NPC's won't enable weapons (or any other fighter module) They will just say "no can do" when ordered to engage a target.

 

[Split]

PTSD.

 

[concentric]

Whilst I have never experienced the bug others have described, fighter crew not following orders in my case has always been due to flying the fighter myself, disabling weapons in the modules tab, then forgetting to switch them back on.
NPC's won't enable weapons (or any other fighter module) They will just say "no can do" when ordered to engage a target.

While this makes sense it wasn't the cause in my case. One moment the pilot follows me, hud stating "defend", next instance the pilot holds position, stopping to accept any orders, while hud falsely states "follow me" or "maintain formation".

PTSD.

Probably this.

 

[evanevery]

I did also see this happen the other day. Bug huh?

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

I originally read the title as "what's wrong with my elf". I was going to suggest it was a busy time for him, so probably just a bit stressed.

But seeing as it's a ship launched fighter, he might just be a little stressed, it is a busy time of year for him.

 

[CMDR CPT. Boris]

happen to me since two days (i'm using slf since two days tho after a long time)

the guy i paid almost 40 millions is on "follow" mode and when i issue an order "attack target" i get a negative answer and i'm still under heavy fire.
i'm using an imp. fighter and a f63 condor with beams and pulse

he is just there, on my right, enemy are close and there are 3 to 4 targets (assassination mission)

sometimes it works, sometimes he just say "negative CMDR"

pretty useless, maybe all this money made him soft and scared

i'm going to try to make a video

edit : i did not fly the slf in this case, so modules are not deactivated

 

[Lightspeed]

happen to me since two days (i'm using slf since two days tho after a long time)

the guy i paid almost 40 millions is on "follow" mode and when i issue an order "attack target" i get a negative answer and i'm still under heavy fire.
i'm using an imp. fighter and a f63 condor with beams and pulse

he is just there, on my right, enemy are close and there are 3 to 4 targets (assassination mission)

sometimes it works, sometimes he just say "negative CMDR"

pretty useless, maybe all this money made him soft and scared

i'm going to try to make a video

edit : i did not fly the slf in this case, so modules are not deactivated

When we get Legs, you'll be able to EVA over there and kick his/her .......