The way the AÎ use the ship launched fighter is really dumb right now, unlike the NPC who use a better codding when fighting.
I say / wrote this because, sadly, one of the most important, basic settings for the fighters are missing ! And that is the command / order of the DISTANCE of engagement !
Most games where the human player can "order" an NPC to assist in fighting include this option - fighting range, usually with 3 options:
1 - stay near (fight close to me)
2 - stay at medium distance
3 - stay at range.
I found myself frustrated over and over with my dumb AI pilot who go chasing a ship at 25+km - a ship who is no threat AT ALL for me on that moment - and in the same time, I get my ship punched by several other NPC.s at 500m of me ! If I recall the idiotic AI, the muppet get killed, since he will just turn tail and will not perform any evasive maneuvers when returning to "real action".
The AI of attacking NPC.s are way better on this matter - all of you know those situations when you engage a wing or even 2 of NPC.s and you focus one of them, that one will turn tail and retreat, and on mid time others will try to get in your six. If you get "tunnel vision" like the AI running the ship launched fighter, you will get your hull smashed by those other NPCs who will hit you from behind.
I learned to ignore the "running away" NPC and instead to open fire in the closest, and more dangerous target, since this is the way to win the fights in a big, slow ship like the Vette when you fight several NPC.s at once; I have no problems at all in engaging 2 strong wings of NPCs at the same time ( a Conda and 2 medium/small x 2 ) - since I always target the smaller one first and usually I kill them fast in only few seconds BUT I confess I am tired to watch my dumb fighter chasing a Cobra at 25km away from me and in the mid time must fight alone 5-6 NPC.s !
In the beginning I was thinking once they "graduate" to "expert" or "elite" level, they will become, someway, a bit "smarter" , and if is true they do better at killing, they still engage in useless chase, ignoring the real threat.
I wish the Devs. give us an option to control the fighting range, to allow us to control the fighting range - because right now, even with an elite NPC pilot in your ship, you may found yourself fighting alone... cuz your fighter is busy on the other corner of Galaxy chasing ghosts...
I say / wrote this because, sadly, one of the most important, basic settings for the fighters are missing ! And that is the command / order of the DISTANCE of engagement !
Most games where the human player can "order" an NPC to assist in fighting include this option - fighting range, usually with 3 options:
1 - stay near (fight close to me)
2 - stay at medium distance
3 - stay at range.
I found myself frustrated over and over with my dumb AI pilot who go chasing a ship at 25+km - a ship who is no threat AT ALL for me on that moment - and in the same time, I get my ship punched by several other NPC.s at 500m of me ! If I recall the idiotic AI, the muppet get killed, since he will just turn tail and will not perform any evasive maneuvers when returning to "real action".
The AI of attacking NPC.s are way better on this matter - all of you know those situations when you engage a wing or even 2 of NPC.s and you focus one of them, that one will turn tail and retreat, and on mid time others will try to get in your six. If you get "tunnel vision" like the AI running the ship launched fighter, you will get your hull smashed by those other NPCs who will hit you from behind.
I learned to ignore the "running away" NPC and instead to open fire in the closest, and more dangerous target, since this is the way to win the fights in a big, slow ship like the Vette when you fight several NPC.s at once; I have no problems at all in engaging 2 strong wings of NPCs at the same time ( a Conda and 2 medium/small x 2 ) - since I always target the smaller one first and usually I kill them fast in only few seconds BUT I confess I am tired to watch my dumb fighter chasing a Cobra at 25km away from me and in the mid time must fight alone 5-6 NPC.s !
In the beginning I was thinking once they "graduate" to "expert" or "elite" level, they will become, someway, a bit "smarter" , and if is true they do better at killing, they still engage in useless chase, ignoring the real threat.
I wish the Devs. give us an option to control the fighting range, to allow us to control the fighting range - because right now, even with an elite NPC pilot in your ship, you may found yourself fighting alone... cuz your fighter is busy on the other corner of Galaxy chasing ghosts...
