Enemy AI performing annoying Kamikazes.

[Gods3nt]

So I just got home from work and loaded up ED. Jump to the conflict zone on Eranin 2 and joined the Eranin faction. Every single time I begin dog fighting the Federal fighter pilots gang up on my ship and smash into it causing insta-death. That's majority. It's like they're all magnetized to my ship and the next thing I know they're all hurling towards me in the blink of an eye, then SMASH!!! Such a thing has never happened before, at least not since before the most recent update.

Just wondering if it's only me is all...

EDIT:

Uhhh on second thought I think it's just me. Suddenly I just realized that they're performing the exact same combat flight patterns. To aid myself in getting the upper hand; when the enemy pilots fly towards me I fly in reverse, slowly. After they die I boost power for evasion. Granted my proximity alarm cries every time but so far my counter maneuvers have worked flawlessly. I guess I never noticed until a day ago that AI ships have a certain flight path about them even in combat. It's so hard not to miss.

 

[Mephane]

Well I am also under the impression that NPCs, especially those Federal Fighters, fly very kamikaze-style, if not deliberately then they are at least not utilizing their superior agility to fly past a target instead of into it. If a Condor and any bigger ship are doing a full head-on pass, the bigger ship is technically unable to crash into the Condor if its pilot doesn't want to, because whatever you do they can always evade a collision due to their higher maneuvrability.

 

[Mark Potter]

The Frederation Suicide Squad?

I was trying my hand at Federation Fighter swatting last night and gave up after three deaths caused by fighters flying straight into me, they have no shields and are clinging on by the smallest hull percentages at this point, I have full shields and maybe 75% hull minimum yet I end up boiling in space. I do not know if the fighter also is destroyed. I guess it must be as the death message is "your ship has been destroyed" rather than "your ship ws edestroyed by Federation Fighter".

I must try the "reversing whilst they fly head on at you" trick tonight and see if it enables me to kill a few. This is not how I envisaged space combat. It's like jousting with one horse running backwards.
I also engaged a pirate in space, beat him down to the last few percent of hull integrity only for him to turn and flee. He didn't take a suicide run at me so I assume it is only the Fed Fighters that have this AI strategy.

 

[Gods3nt]

Well I am also under the impression that NPCs, especially those Federal Fighters, fly very kamikaze-style, if not deliberately then they are at least not utilizing their superior agility to fly past a target instead of into it. If a Condor and any bigger ship are doing a full head-on pass, the bigger ship is technically unable to crash into the Condor if its pilot doesn't want to, because whatever you do they can always evade a collision due to their higher maneuvrability.

Hmmm, interesting information you have here. I love how there's so much to learn about ED. Hell even the dog fighting has a curve. Love the FulGore avatar by the way.

 

[Gods3nt]

I was trying my hand at Federation Fighter swatting last night and gave up after three deaths caused by fighters flying straight into me, they have no shields and are clinging on by the smallest hull percentages at this point, I have full shields and maybe 75% hull minimum yet I end up boiling in space. I do not know if the fighter also is destroyed. I guess it must be as the death message is "your ship has been destroyed" rather than "your ship ws edestroyed by Federation Fighter".

I must try the "reversing whilst they fly head on at you" trick tonight and see if it enables me to kill a few. This is not how I envisaged space combat. It's like jousting with one horse running backwards.
I also engaged a pirate in space, beat him down to the last few percent of hull integrity only for him to turn and flee. He didn't take a suicide run at me so I assume it is only the Fed Fighters that have this AI strategy.

Keep in mind I'm not only using my flight stick, but also my mouse for finer aiming. I'm alternating quickly between powering weapons and systems as I squeeze in and out of my skirmishes. Also I've learned a valuable lesson, DO NOT chase federal pilots, keep them dead in your sights no matter what. When they turn head first towards you, push full power to weapons and light them up. as soon as they go boom, reset power...boost for evasion, then push power to systems if you need faster shield recharge. AI FF pilots for some reason have a highly noticeable flight path, but with a little thinking power they're just easy bounty vouchers.

 

[MrBungle]

Yep the AI has definitely been changed to 'kamikaze if possible'. Took me by surprise at first given it was so noticeable in all the solo missions (I gave them all another run through when Beta hit to see if/what changed). Even the Lakon in Supply Strike tries it on (though it's nowhere near as quick/deadly as the Feds in Incursion). Only thing to do is do what you suggested Gods3nt - hit 'em hard with everything to weapons in the initial joust, then full pips to engines & get out of their way before they try to ram, some pips to shields if they've been taken down, chase em around & rinse/repeat.

 

[Fleabum]

Personally I think this 'kamakazi' style play by NPC is unrealistic. Maybe if it was a fanatical faction, then yes, fanatics use suicide as a viable combat tactic, but if its a standard faction it would be totally out of character.

I hope this is a mis-calculation on the dev team, or maybe even a bug as this would not be good for the release version.

Regards
Flea

 

[MarcusReed]

So I just got home from work and loaded up ED. Jump to the conflict zone on Eranin 2 and joined the Eranin faction. Every single time I begin dog fighting the Federal fighter pilots gang up on my ship and smash into it causing insta-death. That's majority. It's like they're all magnetized to my ship and the next thing I know they're all hurling towards me in the blink of an eye, then SMASH!!! Such a thing has never happened before, at least not since before the most recent update.

Just wondering if it's only me is all...

EDIT:

Uhhh on second thought I think it's just me. Suddenly I just realized that they're performing the exact same combat flight patterns. To aid myself in getting the upper hand; when the enemy pilots fly towards me I fly in reverse, slowly. After they die I boost power for evasion. Granted my proximity alarm cries every time but so far my counter maneuvers have worked flawlessly. I guess I never noticed until a day ago that AI ships have a certain flight path about them even in combat. It's so hard not to miss.

While in reverse also try to side thrust at the same time with a bit of yaw. This will help you control distance while keeping the target dead ahead.

 

[baja2215]

I think the Federation have done an excellent job of conditioning their pilots to fly so .... erm, crazily! I hope the other factions don't take up a similar route!

 

[insanephoton]

It's not just the Fed fighters. I was jumped by 3 pirate Sidewinders and I would have taken them all down if one of them hadn't rammed me.

 

[Thomas Payne]

The ramming is so annoy, I cant even decently get enough money to afford another ship. let alone keep it when I do.

Head on kamakazi's I can dodge which out a problem.
but I keep taking Kamakazi's in my blind spots. (Anywhere that isn't the front of the ship) and that even while flying backwards.
I've often noticed some ships I'm fighting boosting when they are only 500 away from me. simply logic: The higher the speed, the slower the turn. I think Frontier needs to rewrite the AI so that it doesn't boost so close. I mean whats the point of boosting that close in, flying at your enemy. it makes no sense tactically as it would cause you to over shoot your enemy if not run clean into them. that and it gives you less time to keep shooting.

What especially annoys me is that you loose all your gained bonds due to another pilots error. and often when this happens, the hull of my sidewinder is at 100% and my shields are above 80%.

Oh and some info; my power setting is set to, Sys;2 Eng;0 Wep;4, and my speed is always 50 (blue line) which gives you the tightest turn radius for your ship no matter the power setting for your engines.


Personally I feel that the game is too harsh right now. I only ever managed to get my hands on an Eagle, which I prompty lost after 2 kamakazi's in a row and not being able to afford the insurance anymore for the hull and the borrowed pulse laser. Just getting the hull leaves you with no weaponry on it. forcing you to trading until you can afford a cheapo 2.2k pulse. and relatively trading with only a 4 unit cargo hold is like watching paint dry.

I heard Frontier were working on fixing the issue and I dearly hope they do so ASAP Because the game is very hard to enjoy even for a space game buff like myself.