'Attack of the AI' III

[Daniel Cloudsifter]

I have mixed feelings on the new AI.

The good: it's nice to see the NPCs flying more intelligently now and not meandering in front of me waiting to be killed. Prior to 2.1, the only ships I really feared when in RES site were the FAS, FDS, and FGS. That is because all of the Fed ships had the crazy "kill, kill, kill!" programing that probably came from spending too much time around Zachary Hudson. They would almost always turn flight assist off and keep their nose on you no matter what you did; you just had to kill them before they killed you. Sometimes you could get behind them and stay there, but if they could outmaneuver you, they kept their nose on you and the weapons fire on! They also liked to ram a lot too (regardless of your size).

The bad: Every NPC seems to have 1 or 2 chaff launchers and love to spam it. They time the use of it perfectly so that when they come around on their attack run - which is usually the only time you can line them up to shoot them - all your gimbals go crazy because they've popped chaff. Intelligent: yes. Fun: not so much. They really do fight a lot more like players now. While that challenge can be fun in small doses, if I (and others) wanted to live in that adrenaline fueled world, we just play open and go PvP.

The Ugly: The absolutely insane - and dare I say, sometime moronic - spawns of killer ships when you are just traveling. I give you the following incidents:
1. Last Friday morning (6/3), returning to Bubble in an A-rated AspX after doing three days of exploring ~600 ly out from Deciat (Felicty Farseer). I took the economical route back, so as to explore more systems for data to give Felicity. When I was down to 30 little jumps to go (out of the original 77), I must've crossed back into the bubble (earlier than I expected). The only cargo I had was 2 escape pods and 4 tons of personal weapons I found while surface mining way out (crashed ship, wasn't even in a POI). Apparently that was all that was needed to prime the "Gank spawn routine". As I'm scanning the sun, I notice a blue dot appear. I instantly realized I'm now in the Bubble, abandon the scan, and immediately start a jump. Too later, interdicted. It's an FAS who is after me because of the "Big haul" he heard I was carrying. Seriously? How the hell would he know? Anyway, I submit and then run. He still manages to blow down my shields and take my hull down to 60% before I jump away. After that, I do max jumps the rest of the way back and Detail scan NOTHING. Run, run, run!!!! Good thing too, since I had enough data to kick her up from L1 to L4 mods.

2. While flying around to get commodities for necessary engineering mods (Saturday morning 6/4), I take my Clipper to Stafkarl. When I get to starport, I find out that it doesn't carry the part. Perhaps the little outpost does. So, since the Clipper can dock there, I buy a sidewinder, A-rate it, and go to the outpost. They do have the part, I buy 1 ton of it, and start the flight back to the port with the clipper. 5 ls from docking, I scan an USS that has Encoded data. Intrigued, I jump down and inspect the wreckage. I was in there for at least a minute poking around (these are new to me). I scanned the data recorder and was about to start manually scooping the parts when a blue dot appears on the radar. It's an FDL. I'm not sure if he said anything about a big haul or not, but he instantly attacked me. I was dead in under 15 seconds, as he apparently took out my FSD in his initial volley. Fortunately, this wasn't a costly loss, and I was not attacked when I rebought the sidewinder and flew back with the part to the clipper a second time.

3. While cruising around in my clipper with 9 tons of the commodities needed to Engineering upgrades (Saturday evening 6/4), I was threatened on 30% to 50% of my jumps by idiots after my "big haul". Over 80% were Dangerous or higher rated FDLs (I'm currently Dangerous), 1 Python, and one Viper Mk IV. I ran, or broke, the interdiction on all but the Viper. I purposely submitted to that one and took out all my frustration on him.

So in conclusion, the new, harder AI is fine in small doses OR when you go in asking for trouble (assassination missions; to a lesser extent RES sites and Combat Zones), but frustrating to terrifying when just trying to fly around and get minor tasks done.

Also, does it need to make everything in your RES instance reflect your Combat level? It's bad enough having to fight 90% of the opponents being your rank or higher (remaining 10%, one rank lower), but the friendly NPCs too? Just how many "Elite" combat rated pilots out there have decided to retire to a life of mining... in ships that can't defend themselves... with no escort. That really breaks immersion.

Suggestions:

1. Stop having hunters spawn for your "big haul" unless your carrying a big haul. 9 tons worth a total of less than 4500 credits?! Really? While you ignore my Imperial Cutter's repeated trips of 720 tons of Imp. Slaves one way and high priced metals the other? If we're going to have desperate attackers, at least put them back in their laughably (as in 2.0) desperate ships, like Cobra Mk 3, Viper Mk 3, or Sidewinder - often without shields. The big guns shouldn't be wasting their time (unless they're psychotic). I state this from both a "fun to play" and a "don't break the immersion" stance.

2. Spawn more of a variety in the RES sites. Or, if they're all going to be around my combat level, stop with the chaff spamming. That's almost as frustrating as the constant running I saw them do in beta (shields down, run!!!; shields back up, attack!!! - repeat ad infinitum).

In conclusion, I don't want to see the "challenging" AI taken away from players who love it. I'd just like to see it moved (at least 90%) to where the challenge is where you expect it. This way, the players who aren't so good at combat, are getting creamed and losing money while trying to play the game their way. When that FDL killed my sidewinder (mentioned above) out of the blue while I was "exploring wreckage" I was angry as hell; it felt liked being ganked by a PC griefer. To make matters worse, if that had been an actual player after me for those components, I could've at least worked out a deal by telling him where to buy them and/or getting some for him. I can't negotiate with a FDL piloted by Skynet.

For reference - I fly an A rated AspX, A rated Clipper, A rated Python for missions (which I do in terror because it can't outrun out maneuver the psycho NPCs), and either an A-rated Vulture or A-rated Federal Corvette for RES site bounty hunting.

P.S. While we're talking about psycho-killer AI, could we possibly modify the bounty/fine system so that you don't get a 400 credit bounty/death warrant by shooting a known (but not yet verified by scan) wanted vessel, and then having every Security ship gun for you like your public enemy #1?! This issue pre-dates 2.1, but is much worse now with the improved AI. I'm fine with the "I broke the law" bit by shooting him (2nd in a wing) before scan verification. I'm not fine with 6 security force ships trying to destroy me for it. Seriously? Your going to cost me a multi-million rebuy + lost bounties over a 400 credit assault charge/bounty? That is why I stick to HAZ RES sites... security forces are more of a threat than a help.

 

[Neutronium]

I said it before and I will say it again: The problem is NOT with the increased difficulty of the higher ranked NPCs. The problem is with the much higher frequency and occurrence of these higher ranked NPCs vs the lower ranked ones. Fix/balance that and problem solved.

 

[CMDR_TheBS]

I equipped some point defenses to hopefully help mitigate missile fire.

Point defense is a standard include on any ship, ideally 2 -- one on each side of the ship -- if I can manage it. I credit always having at least 1 Point Defense, no exception, in why I don't get killed as fast as other people in 2.1.

Of course, I think the Point Defense is also why I get a 400 credit bounty as it sometimes shoots system authority ships in the cross fire. I've never been able to verify, as I'm in the middle of combat, but I remember several times them firing off when one was near, and the bounty appeared, even though they were not in my firing arc and I didn't have a turret at the time.

I said it before and I will say it again: The problem is NOT with the increased difficulty of the higher ranked NPCs. The problem is with the much higher frequency and occurrence of these higher ranked NPCs vs the lower ranked ones. Fix/balance that and problem solved.

Indeed. It's a combat simulator now. The Vulture is now my ship of choice. I jump short, never explore, and just do a little mining with a lot of various missions. Does the job, but limits my jobs to 10% of the options they were prior.

I refuse to chance exploration with 2.1. I would be so f'ing        off to come back from the Nebula run to get killed before I cash in my exploration data. They buzz around Obsidian Orbital too, and it's too hot for me ... at least in a Python.

I have mixed feelings on the new AI.
...
The bad: Every NPC seems to have 1 or 2 chaff launchers and love to spam it. They time the use of it perfectly so that when they come around on their attack run - which is usually the only time you can line them up to shoot them - all your gimbals go crazy because they've popped chaff. Intelligent: yes. Fun: not so much. They really do fight a lot more like players now. While that challenge can be fun in small doses, if I (and others) wanted to live in that adrenaline fueled world, we just play open and go PvP.
...
The Ugly: The absolutely insane - and dare I say, sometime moronic - spawns of killer ships when you are just traveling. I give you the following incidents:

I don't mind the chaff in combat. That's just better AI. Maybe they overdo it, but I do like the change.

But agreed on the spawns in general travel, especially ...

... A rated Python for missions (which I do in terror because it can't outrun out maneuver the psycho NPCs) ...

The Python in 2.1 is now a joke. Have no idea where they get the maneuverability rating.

 

[Daniel Cloudsifter]

Indeed. It's a combat simulator now. The Vulture is now my ship of choice.

I don't mind the chaff in combat. That's just better AI. Maybe they overdo it, but I do like the change.

But agreed on the spawns in general travel, especially ...

The Python in 2.1 is now a joke. Have no idea where they get the maneuverability rating.

The chaff only bothers me after I have to deal with again, and again, and again in a RES site. Or when I'm desperately trying to fight someone who interdicted my Python. On the flip side, it is refreshing to attack and FDL in a RES site which has clearly (visible damage) been fighting other NPCs, and who never uses chaff when I attack because he's out of ammo.

I'm wondering if the Python in 2.1 can be made decent again with engineer mods. If engine tuning can get the pitch rate up from 33 (A-rated thrusters) to 40 or higher, it could be competitive again. As is, it gets reamed.

 

[CMDR_TheBS]

I'm wondering if the Python in 2.1 can be made decent again with engineer mods. If engine tuning can get the pitch rate up from 33 (A-rated thrusters) to 40 or higher, it could be competitive again. As is, it gets reamed.

Agreed, the Python is in 2.1+ is a liability. I'm back in a Vulture.

 

[Brian of Earth]

I have mixed feelings on the new AI.

The good: it's nice to see the NPCs flying more intelligently now and not meandering in front of me waiting to be killed. Prior to 2.1, the only ships I really feared when in RES site were the FAS, FDS, and FGS. That is because all of the Fed ships had the crazy "kill, kill, kill!" programing that probably came from spending too much time around Zachary Hudson. They would almost always turn flight assist off and keep their nose on you no matter what you did; you just had to kill them before they killed you. Sometimes you could get behind them and stay there, but if they could outmaneuver you, they kept their nose on you and the weapons fire on! They also liked to ram a lot too (regardless of your size).

The bad: Every NPC seems to have 1 or 2 chaff launchers and love to spam it. They time the use of it perfectly so that when they come around on their attack run - which is usually the only time you can line them up to shoot them - all your gimbals go crazy because they've popped chaff. Intelligent: yes. Fun: not so much. They really do fight a lot more like players now. While that challenge can be fun in small doses, if I (and others) wanted to live in that adrenaline fueled world, we just play open and go PvP.

The Ugly: The absolutely insane - and dare I say, sometime moronic - spawns of killer ships when you are just traveling. I give you the following incidents:
1. Last Friday morning (6/3), returning to Bubble in an A-rated AspX after doing three days of exploring ~600 ly out from Deciat (Felicty Farseer). I took the economical route back, so as to explore more systems for data to give Felicity. When I was down to 30 little jumps to go (out of the original 77), I must've crossed back into the bubble (earlier than I expected). The only cargo I had was 2 escape pods and 4 tons of personal weapons I found while surface mining way out (crashed ship, wasn't even in a POI). Apparently that was all that was needed to prime the "Gank spawn routine". As I'm scanning the sun, I notice a blue dot appear. I instantly realized I'm now in the Bubble, abandon the scan, and immediately start a jump. Too later, interdicted. It's an FAS who is after me because of the "Big haul" he heard I was carrying. Seriously? How the hell would he know? Anyway, I submit and then run. He still manages to blow down my shields and take my hull down to 60% before I jump away. After that, I do max jumps the rest of the way back and Detail scan NOTHING. Run, run, run!!!! Good thing too, since I had enough data to kick her up from L1 to L4 mods.

2. While flying around to get commodities for necessary engineering mods (Saturday morning 6/4), I take my Clipper to Stafkarl. When I get to starport, I find out that it doesn't carry the part. Perhaps the little outpost does. So, since the Clipper can dock there, I buy a sidewinder, A-rate it, and go to the outpost. They do have the part, I buy 1 ton of it, and start the flight back to the port with the clipper. 5 ls from docking, I scan an USS that has Encoded data. Intrigued, I jump down and inspect the wreckage. I was in there for at least a minute poking around (these are new to me). I scanned the data recorder and was about to start manually scooping the parts when a blue dot appears on the radar. It's an FDL. I'm not sure if he said anything about a big haul or not, but he instantly attacked me. I was dead in under 15 seconds, as he apparently took out my FSD in his initial volley. Fortunately, this wasn't a costly loss, and I was not attacked when I rebought the sidewinder and flew back with the part to the clipper a second time.

3. While cruising around in my clipper with 9 tons of the commodities needed to Engineering upgrades (Saturday evening 6/4), I was threatened on 30% to 50% of my jumps by idiots after my "big haul". Over 80% were Dangerous or higher rated FDLs (I'm currently Dangerous), 1 Python, and one Viper Mk IV. I ran, or broke, the interdiction on all but the Viper. I purposely submitted to that one and took out all my frustration on him.

So in conclusion, the new, harder AI is fine in small doses OR when you go in asking for trouble (assassination missions; to a lesser extent RES sites and Combat Zones), but frustrating to terrifying when just trying to fly around and get minor tasks done.

Also, does it need to make everything in your RES instance reflect your Combat level? It's bad enough having to fight 90% of the opponents being your rank or higher (remaining 10%, one rank lower), but the friendly NPCs too? Just how many "Elite" combat rated pilots out there have decided to retire to a life of mining... in ships that can't defend themselves... with no escort. That really breaks immersion.

Suggestions:

1. Stop having hunters spawn for your "big haul" unless your carrying a big haul. 9 tons worth a total of less than 4500 credits?! Really? While you ignore my Imperial Cutter's repeated trips of 720 tons of Imp. Slaves one way and high priced metals the other? If we're going to have desperate attackers, at least put them back in their laughably (as in 2.0) desperate ships, like Cobra Mk 3, Viper Mk 3, or Sidewinder - often without shields. The big guns shouldn't be wasting their time (unless they're psychotic). I state this from both a "fun to play" and a "don't break the immersion" stance.

2. Spawn more of a variety in the RES sites. Or, if they're all going to be around my combat level, stop with the chaff spamming. That's almost as frustrating as the constant running I saw them do in beta (shields down, run!!!; shields back up, attack!!! - repeat ad infinitum).

In conclusion, I don't want to see the "challenging" AI taken away from players who love it. I'd just like to see it moved (at least 90%) to where the challenge is where you expect it. This way, the players who aren't so good at combat, are getting creamed and losing money while trying to play the game their way. When that FDL killed my sidewinder (mentioned above) out of the blue while I was "exploring wreckage" I was angry as hell; it felt liked being ganked by a PC griefer. To make matters worse, if that had been an actual player after me for those components, I could've at least worked out a deal by telling him where to buy them and/or getting some for him. I can't negotiate with a FDL piloted by Skynet.

For reference - I fly an A rated AspX, A rated Clipper, A rated Python for missions (which I do in terror because it can't outrun out maneuver the psycho NPCs), and either an A-rated Vulture or A-rated Federal Corvette for RES site bounty hunting.

P.S. While we're talking about psycho-killer AI, could we possibly modify the bounty/fine system so that you don't get a 400 credit bounty/death warrant by shooting a known (but not yet verified by scan) wanted vessel, and then having every Security ship gun for you like your public enemy #1?! This issue pre-dates 2.1, but is much worse now with the improved AI. I'm fine with the "I broke the law" bit by shooting him (2nd in a wing) before scan verification. I'm not fine with 6 security force ships trying to destroy me for it. Seriously? Your going to cost me a multi-million rebuy + lost bounties over a 400 credit assault charge/bounty? That is why I stick to HAZ RES sites... security forces are more of a threat than a help.

I voted "just about right", because the other choices didn't fit so well with my opinion. This post is a lot closer

I also hate that jousting (when it happens), and always did. It's worse now (when they do do it). I've never come close to losing one of those, but, it's just sooo annoying/boring/tiresome/annoying.

And how a LOT of the NPC find my six, and stay there, no matter the technique. It's uncanny how they can do that and maintain fire. It's like they all carry turrets. And also when they are still firing while flying AWAY. What's up with that?? It hasn't been anything that I lost credits for, but it's kinda stupid in my eyes that there are so many NPCs that fly like that of many ranks and ship types. If this were anything close to RL Skynet will rule all mankind in the future.

 

[Sunleader]

Current AI is fine for Combat Players with Combat Outfitted Ships.
Its Gamebreaking for everyone else.

 

[HBK]

Current AI is fine for Combat Players with Combat Outfitted Ships.
Its Gamebreaking for everyone else.

Basically this. Dunno how FD will manage this issue from now on. Previous behavior may have been sub par but had some logic: "decently fitted trade ships can handle themselves in combat so obviously combat fitted ships may find it a bit easy".

That's supposed to be a sandbox heh, not a pure combat simulator (and I say this as combat is my main occupation in the game).

 

[Lheim]

Agreed, the Python is in 2.1+ is a liability. I'm back in a Vulture.

I've been flying the Python. Definitely not maneuverable enough to handle ordinary dog-fighting well, but I've been managing.. darn near got my ass handed to me by a deadly DBE, though. It's just too good a mission runner to pass up, though.

I'd agree that the AI is okay, except the 'endless loop' thing makes fights that oughta be fast-ish into tediously long slugfests. Right now, the balance is almost.. almost where I'd want to take my DBS into a battle against an anaconda rather than something larger, and I think that's a bit of an over-buff for the smaller ships.

I'm not sure about the ship maneuverability and firepower, though; I think there are still engineer mods extant, and that's just.. it's not nice to fight AI in a ship that is just relatively gimped, because lord knows the NPCs never had to grind for their souped up gear.

And yes, the spawn rate of dangerous+ enemies is way too high. Ambient, mission based, USS.. it shouldn't depend on combat rank in the first place, but it doesn't even work as it's suppose to. It's just borked all around.

 

[kofeyh]

I do wonder what will happen when alien races are added. I do hope they are immobile like barnacles. Because if they can fly a ship hoooo boy are people going to lose their minds.

The echo chamber is becoming seriously loud.

 

[RhymeRhyme]

Agreed, the Python is in 2.1+ is a liability. I'm back in a Vulture.

It's not a liability. It's still a working horse. You have to switch your loadout. The old one most probably does not work anymore.

I went down from PvP 5 x Rails to my PvE 5 x Beams (for BH without limited amount of ammo) to now, ................. TA TAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa the good old, 3 x Multicannons (L) and 2 x Beams.

I had to PIP more energy on my SYS. The Beam loadout simply didn't work anymore at all. So, change loadout and go. A HAZ RES is not problem in a Python in 2.1.02.

 

[kofeyh]

Huh? Python is great. Name another ship that can carry 3 large multi canons, that is also a medium?

Dual turreted beam to bang away at shields and unleash MC to burst down modules. Yes it's a bit slow to pitch, but you can boost for days and FA-off to spin that bucket of bolts around.

It's downright scary with engineer mods, almost back to pre-nerf state. Loving mine.

 

[PavelKCZ]

I do wonder what will happen when alien races are added. I do hope they are immobile like barnacles. Because if they can fly a ship hoooo boy are people going to lose their minds.

The echo chamber is becoming seriously loud.

Who said that alien races must be far worse than normal NPCs ? I can imagine that they will use totally different ships with different flying characteristics etc. But this does not mean that they will be harder to combat.

 

[Mr_Blastman]

I watched a sidewinder and a cobra chase away a Python CMDR yesterday in a RES site. It was hilarious! So many folks playing with ships they have no business owning...

 

[kofeyh]

Who said that alien races must be far worse than normal NPCs ? I can imagine that they will use totally different ships with different flying characteristics etc. But this does not mean that they will be harder to combat.

Oh dear. I presume the "winter is coming" from frontier was merely mentioning the British Winter then? Given how much the AI is being rolled back, a soggy newspaper will be more of a threat.

There are others out there. Not all of them will be "nice people".

 

[sensai25]

I have mixed feelings on the new AI.

The good: it's nice to see the NPCs flying more intelligently now and not meandering in front of me waiting to be killed. Prior to 2.1, the only ships I really feared when in RES site were the FAS, FDS, and FGS. That is because all of the Fed ships had the crazy "kill, kill, kill!" programing that probably came from spending too much time around Zachary Hudson. They would almost always turn flight assist off and keep their nose on you no matter what you did; you just had to kill them before they killed you. Sometimes you could get behind them and stay there, but if they could outmaneuver you, they kept their nose on you and the weapons fire on! They also liked to ram a lot too (regardless of your size).

The bad: Every NPC seems to have 1 or 2 chaff launchers and love to spam it. They time the use of it perfectly so that when they come around on their attack run - which is usually the only time you can line them up to shoot them - all your gimbals go crazy because they've popped chaff. Intelligent: yes. Fun: not so much. They really do fight a lot more like players now. While that challenge can be fun in small doses, if I (and others) wanted to live in that adrenaline fueled world, we just play open and go PvP.

The Ugly: The absolutely insane - and dare I say, sometime moronic - spawns of killer ships when you are just traveling. I give you the following incidents:
1. Last Friday morning (6/3), returning to Bubble in an A-rated AspX after doing three days of exploring ~600 ly out from Deciat (Felicty Farseer). I took the economical route back, so as to explore more systems for data to give Felicity. When I was down to 30 little jumps to go (out of the original 77), I must've crossed back into the bubble (earlier than I expected). The only cargo I had was 2 escape pods and 4 tons of personal weapons I found while surface mining way out (crashed ship, wasn't even in a POI). Apparently that was all that was needed to prime the "Gank spawn routine". As I'm scanning the sun, I notice a blue dot appear. I instantly realized I'm now in the Bubble, abandon the scan, and immediately start a jump. Too later, interdicted. It's an FAS who is after me because of the "Big haul" he heard I was carrying. Seriously? How the hell would he know? Anyway, I submit and then run. He still manages to blow down my shields and take my hull down to 60% before I jump away. After that, I do max jumps the rest of the way back and Detail scan NOTHING. Run, run, run!!!! Good thing too, since I had enough data to kick her up from L1 to L4 mods.

2. While flying around to get commodities for necessary engineering mods (Saturday morning 6/4), I take my Clipper to Stafkarl. When I get to starport, I find out that it doesn't carry the part. Perhaps the little outpost does. So, since the Clipper can dock there, I buy a sidewinder, A-rate it, and go to the outpost. They do have the part, I buy 1 ton of it, and start the flight back to the port with the clipper. 5 ls from docking, I scan an USS that has Encoded data. Intrigued, I jump down and inspect the wreckage. I was in there for at least a minute poking around (these are new to me). I scanned the data recorder and was about to start manually scooping the parts when a blue dot appears on the radar. It's an FDL. I'm not sure if he said anything about a big haul or not, but he instantly attacked me. I was dead in under 15 seconds, as he apparently took out my FSD in his initial volley. Fortunately, this wasn't a costly loss, and I was not attacked when I rebought the sidewinder and flew back with the part to the clipper a second time.

3. While cruising around in my clipper with 9 tons of the commodities needed to Engineering upgrades (Saturday evening 6/4), I was threatened on 30% to 50% of my jumps by idiots after my "big haul". Over 80% were Dangerous or higher rated FDLs (I'm currently Dangerous), 1 Python, and one Viper Mk IV. I ran, or broke, the interdiction on all but the Viper. I purposely submitted to that one and took out all my frustration on him.

So in conclusion, the new, harder AI is fine in small doses OR when you go in asking for trouble (assassination missions; to a lesser extent RES sites and Combat Zones), but frustrating to terrifying when just trying to fly around and get minor tasks done.

Also, does it need to make everything in your RES instance reflect your Combat level? It's bad enough having to fight 90% of the opponents being your rank or higher (remaining 10%, one rank lower), but the friendly NPCs too? Just how many "Elite" combat rated pilots out there have decided to retire to a life of mining... in ships that can't defend themselves... with no escort. That really breaks immersion.

Suggestions:

1. Stop having hunters spawn for your "big haul" unless your carrying a big haul. 9 tons worth a total of less than 4500 credits?! Really? While you ignore my Imperial Cutter's repeated trips of 720 tons of Imp. Slaves one way and high priced metals the other? If we're going to have desperate attackers, at least put them back in their laughably (as in 2.0) desperate ships, like Cobra Mk 3, Viper Mk 3, or Sidewinder - often without shields. The big guns shouldn't be wasting their time (unless they're psychotic). I state this from both a "fun to play" and a "don't break the immersion" stance.

2. Spawn more of a variety in the RES sites. Or, if they're all going to be around my combat level, stop with the chaff spamming. That's almost as frustrating as the constant running I saw them do in beta (shields down, run!!!; shields back up, attack!!! - repeat ad infinitum).

In conclusion, I don't want to see the "challenging" AI taken away from players who love it. I'd just like to see it moved (at least 90%) to where the challenge is where you expect it. This way, the players who aren't so good at combat, are getting creamed and losing money while trying to play the game their way. When that FDL killed my sidewinder (mentioned above) out of the blue while I was "exploring wreckage" I was angry as hell; it felt liked being ganked by a PC griefer. To make matters worse, if that had been an actual player after me for those components, I could've at least worked out a deal by telling him where to buy them and/or getting some for him. I can't negotiate with a FDL piloted by Skynet.

For reference - I fly an A rated AspX, A rated Clipper, A rated Python for missions (which I do in terror because it can't outrun out maneuver the psycho NPCs), and either an A-rated Vulture or A-rated Federal Corvette for RES site bounty hunting.

P.S. While we're talking about psycho-killer AI, could we possibly modify the bounty/fine system so that you don't get a 400 credit bounty/death warrant by shooting a known (but not yet verified by scan) wanted vessel, and then having every Security ship gun for you like your public enemy #1?! This issue pre-dates 2.1, but is much worse now with the improved AI. I'm fine with the "I broke the law" bit by shooting him (2nd in a wing) before scan verification. I'm not fine with 6 security force ships trying to destroy me for it. Seriously? Your going to cost me a multi-million rebuy + lost bounties over a 400 credit assault charge/bounty? That is why I stick to HAZ RES sites... security forces are more of a threat than a help.

Very good analysis of the situation !

 

[yodajedifishmaster]

Oh dear. I presume the "winter is coming" from frontier was merely mentioning the British Winter then? Given how much the AI is being rolled back, a soggy newspaper will be more of a threat.

There are others out there. Not all of them will be "nice people".

i agree, the thargoids are out there and nursing more than one grudge against humanity.

 

[RhymeRhyme]

Huh? Python is great. Name another ship that can carry 3 large multi canons, that is also a medium?

Dual turreted beam to bang away at shields and unleash MC to burst down modules. Yes it's a bit slow to pitch, but you can boost for days and FA-off to spin that bucket of bolts around.

It's downright scary with engineer mods, almost back to pre-nerf state. Loving mine.

My words, dude, my words. They just have to change their loadout.

 

[PavelKCZ]

Oh dear. I presume the "winter is coming" from frontier was merely mentioning the British Winter then? Given how much the AI is being rolled back, a soggy newspaper will be more of a threat.

There are others out there. Not all of them will be "nice people".

We will see. I bet a dollar to a dime, that they will be approx. at the same difficulty scale as normal NPCs. Either this or they will be isolated in special instances similar to combat zones.
After all, FD needs players and paying customers. It is just bussiness as usuall.

 

[kofeyh]

We will see. I bet a dollar to a dime, that they will be approx. at the same difficulty scale as normal NPCs. Either this or they will be isolated in special instances similar to combat zones.
After all, FD needs players and paying customers. It is just bussiness as usuall.

What is a "normal" NPC? Based on the endless demands to neuter it, I would think people are going to get a shock. As apposed to perhaps what was planned; AI improving, CMDRs adapting and the big bad being a little less of a handful as a consequence.

Like I said, I hope the races are like barnacles. Immobile and not a threat.. Because it is very clear "a threat" of any sort is completely unacceptable. The elite universe has other races. And they don't all play nice with others. Some might. Others won't.