Killed in a span of seconds by NPC

Arrak

A
Hello,

After returning from almost 2 year hiatus I was refreshing my feel to the game and went some bounty hunting to nearby RES. After opening fire on a wanted Vulture I got obliterated in a span on 7, maybe 8 seconds by the Vulture. I didn't even have time to press hotkey for SCB or try to boost away before my hull ran out. I have absolutely no clue what happened since last time I played, I had quite easy time on even against larger ships with my Python. Getting killed in a span of seconds doesn't feel quite right especially when the Python is fitted with the best shield/armor you could get.

Are NPCs getting boosts or something or what gives?
 

Speedcuffs

Speedcuffs
Arrak said:
Hello,

After returning from almost 2 year hiatus I was refreshing my feel to the game and went some bounty hunting to nearby RES. After opening fire on a wanted Vulture I got obliterated in a span on 7, maybe 8 seconds by the Vulture. I didn't even have time to press hotkey for SCB or try to boost away before my hull ran out. I have absolutely no clue what happened since last time I played, I had quite easy time on even against larger ships with my Python. Getting killed in a span of seconds doesn't feel quite right especially when the Python is fitted with the best shield/armor you could get.

Are NPCs getting boosts or something or what gives?
Click to expand...

Were you in open?
Meh, I guess you'd know if it was a Cmdr.
 
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dm06

dm06
Arrak said:
Are NPCs getting boosts or something or what gives?
Click to expand...

At res NPCs are the same. A least after recent update. Once I did a month break in elite, after return lost two ships in conflict zone before I recalled how to play.
 

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
If it's been 2 years, you've probably missed out on Engineering, and therefore engineered NPCs.

A stock ship doesn't really cut it in game anymore.

The NPC's have also had various buffs and tweaks to their AI to make them less useless.
It clearly worked. Lol

What combat rank are you?
Dangerous, Deadly and Elite have engineered ships, and can be lethal.
If you're a high rank, but are out of practice, you'll still be pitted against high ranking NPC's.

I highly recommend looking in to the confusing world of engineers. Lol
Atleast you missed the worst of it, they're so much better than they used to be. :)
 

Arrak

A
Yeah, it was a Deadly ranked Vulture and I think I heard "corrosion damage" or something like that.

The Python feels like it is made of paper, any encounter so far and its 5 seconds and I'm down to 70% or less hull :S
 

Jukelo

Jukelo
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead said:
What combat rank are you?
Dangerous, Deadly and Elite have engineered ships, and can be lethal.
If you're a high rank, but are out of practice, you'll still be pitted against high ranking NPC's.
Click to expand...

RES/CZ NPCs don't scale with your rank. The only NPC that scale are those spawned by the game in supercruise as a result of missions or cargo/bounties (and I assume powerplay defection).

AS for the OP... Some high rank NPCs have benefited from Engineering, but if you stick to fighting lower ranked ones you should be fine.... but chances are you're just a bit rusty :p
 
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dm06

dm06
Arrak said:
Yeah, it was a Deadly ranked Vulture and I think I heard "corrosion damage" or something like that.

The Python feels like it is made of paper, any encounter so far and its 5 seconds and I'm down to 70% or less hull :S
Click to expand...

Are you sure that was NPC and you played solo mode?.. I've never seen engineered pirates yet in res.
But real player explains situation a lot.
 
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sollisb

Banned
S
Arrak said:
Hello,

After returning from almost 2 year hiatus I was refreshing my feel to the game and went some bounty hunting to nearby RES. After opening fire on a wanted Vulture I got obliterated in a span on 7, maybe 8 seconds by the Vulture. I didn't even have time to press hotkey for SCB or try to boost away before my hull ran out. I have absolutely no clue what happened since last time I played, I had quite easy time on even against larger ships with my Python. Getting killed in a span of seconds doesn't feel quite right especially when the Python is fitted with the best shield/armor you could get.

Are NPCs getting boosts or something or what gives?
Click to expand...


You have to buy Horizons to win now.
 

sollisb

Banned
S
dm06 said:
Are you sure that was NPC and you played solo mode?.. I've never seen engineered pirates yet in res.
But real player explains situation a lot.
Click to expand...


Every pirate of Master or above has engineering. Not to mention they have endless ammo and endless chaff and never miss even from 3k away. On the flip side, the AI is pathetic.
 

SebulbaTheHutt

SebulbaTheHutt
I have an elite combat rank. I drive a combat engineered (for PVE) FDL I never had a problem before this update with easily taking down any size or rank NPC. Also could easily take on two or three small ships at a time. For some time i've felt PVE was too easy by far, but this update is very different and looks like its swung too much the other way. I can still take down most stuff, but it takes a lot longer than before. Eg, I've also just had an encounter in a CZ with a viper ranked deadly. I stripped its shields easily and got the hull down to 46%. And there it stuck no matter what i threw at it. Moreover, when it reached 46% hull it then tailed me at 1.5km behind and didnt fire until i had turned to face it. It was not even a spec ops vessel. Something's not right here for sure. It seems the NPC hulls etc have been over-engineered somewhat and making the game pretty tedious, frankly. I am all for improving the quality of PVE play by strengthening hulls, weapons AI, whatever, however i do think they've overdone it here.
 
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SpocksOddSocks

SpocksOddSocks
Yeah, while I've not been destroyed in combat, I've noticed NPCs that are tougher now than around 2.3. There have definitely been tweaks during the beyond season. Some seem to be very tough, but I've also had some that just stood there while I shot at then too. Beyond around expert, I never know whether it's going to be ridiculously easy or reasonably tough to take one down, particularly in builds engineered prior to the beyond season (I was pretty much away from the game for the best part of a year until recently).
 

bootsam

bootsam
Ive been clobbering Federal Couriers for some merits for shields, they all rammed. When they didn't, they just sat on my nose. Which suited me as I pumped with my PA's. If this is intelligent AI, Zareks in for a shock. Even an eagle rammed me and destroyed itself. Thanks for the 30 merits.
 

Stigbob

Stigbob
sollisb said:
I've just sat and let 2 ships, a Clipper and a Dropship ram themselves to death on my shields. Is that what you call intelligent AI? Lols !! Great for saving ammo tho.
Click to expand...

Its bad form to tell blatant lies to players just back from a hiatus.
 

SebulbaTheHutt

SebulbaTheHutt
bootsam said:
Ive been clobbering Federal Couriers for some merits for shields, they all rammed. When they didn't, they just sat on my nose. Which suited me as I pumped with my PA's. If this is intelligent AI, Zareks in for a shock. Even an eagle rammed me and destroyed itself. Thanks for the 30 merits.
Click to expand...

I've also had some too easy encounters. I agee - lot more smaller ships trying to ram, which is pathetic and useless against my engineered FDL. But its never easy with anything above expert rank. Also the large and medium vessels are much tougher to take on. I can still beat them in a CZ but not without some degree of help. The larger ships seem to have very high regen rates for their shields so that means waiting for your allies to strip down these somewhat before going in.
 
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