Interdictions - enough is enough

[Codger]

Devari posted the best explanation I've seen about how the game actually works. I really hope that FD will put some time into improving how interdictions work, because the current way is terrible.

Anyway, it does help to know how it works now.

They were probably programmed this way for two main reasons. First the P2P connections that make the game work mean that truly "persistent" NPCs that retain their existing ammo/modules/shield damage is something that the game can't easily handle right now. They would need a central game server (like most other MMOs use) to keep these changes tracked as the NPC "moves" through other systems that the player is not in at the time. As it currently stands any time an NPCs is "spawned" to interdict the player this is triggered by some sort of mission/cargo/bounty flag that generates the NPC on the spot. If you damage or destroy this NPC, then jump away, an "identical" NPC with the same name but with different details will "respawn" behind you to interdict you again. You might think this is the "same" NPC but it's not, it's generated by the game as a "respawned" version of the original NPC that interdicted you. That's the issue that the NPCs are cheating, they were never the "same" NPC to begin with.

The second issue is that it's much harder to program NPCs to follow all the same rules that players follow. They would need to add or upgrade the existing NPC AI coding to give them appropriate and realistic behaviors. So even if they ran the game of a central server without relying on P2P connections they would need to put in quite a bit of additional work to make the NPCs follow all the same rules players need to follow.

Essentially what players think is a "persistent" universe is nothing of the sort. You fly around in Elite in your CMDRs own personal "instance bubble" that is used to flag everything from interdictions, to USSs to mat spawns on planets. It's the illusion of an open universe, not a persistent set of game mechanics where an actual NPC "follows" you around trying to interdict you. Think of it like the Matrix with an infinite number of Agent Smiths that you have to deal with if that makes it any easier for you.

 

[AstroCreep]

Interdictions are bugged, tonight I was caught in one yet the NPC never showed up on my radar before he interdicted me...that's just plain annoying!

Other than that I've done countless trade runs and only a handful of times have I been interdicted, but then my target station is close to the main star.

 

[Codger]

Weird. I've made around 150 millions in Sothis these days. I was interdicted TWICE in total. In several days/weeks.

First time it was something I couldn't fight. I boosted away, highwaked and was never seen again.

Yesterday it was a Competent Vulture that lasted 5 seconds against my Python.

I find interdictions to be a non-issue at all. Even with 20 missions accepted at the same time.

Try stacking a few "source and return" type missions. Those produce a lot more NPC attackers.

 

[howardtay]

Your lucky, this NPC Elite Anaconda seems to be out to get me! 3 months ago he even followed me from SC when I high waked to another system, he instantly interdicted me, and because I wasn't expecting it I turned to fight and he destroyed me in about 10 seconds, that's why I no longer even attempt to fight this NPC. Surely this shouldn't happen in Solo, I could understand it if it was a human player. Maybe FD will do something in a future update, well here's hoping anyway, although I won't hold my breath.

I really love Elite Dangerous, but it does have it's frustrations and it can be really monotonous, this Elite NPC is one of those frutrations amongst others, but overall this is the best game I've ever played, and it was the same with Elite in the 80's, totally adicted!!

 

[gr4vediggr]

I would not mind the interdictions if everything else in the game took less time. I mean, it already takes so damn long to get anywhere, and the interdictions are making it even longer.

It's fine if there was some risk, some reason to put shields on your trading vessel and boost out of there. But currently there are too many interdictions that disrupt the long supercruises/jumps you have to make.

Or Fdev should make interdictions easier to escape from vs NPCs, because currently its almost impossible to evade the interdiction.

 

[howardtay]

I totally agree with you, they should make it easier to avoid these interdictions, I would also like to see (I don't think it will ever happen though) for FD to remove the 4,3,2,1 countdown and just say 'Engage', speed up the super cruise especially if your target station is more than 500ls away, at least, Speed up the mission menu, it is really slow now since they placed the images in the menu, there are probably more tweaks that would make the game flow more smoothly with out ruining the core of the game, just my opinion, and I know someone will now abuse my comments, but I don't care I am entitled to my opinion, yeh?

 

[Lestat]

Sounds like the Op did not pay attention to the area they are flying through. Bad mistake on their part. While on my other Account having Large Cargo runs or flying back. I had 10 Interdictions total. I went from a Cobra to a Anaconda in a week.

Talk about getting a Large ship fast.

 

[Carthbet]

Hey I'm still strugling to make 1m a week trading in my T6. Lucky u.