News NPC AI update

[Lord Adi]

As Pecisk mentioned contact support if you've suffered from the bugs.

As for the NPCs I should add, we can't confirm this will fix all the issues with NPCs. Aggro for an example is something we're still investigating and even after this update it's still possible that there could be an additional cause for NPC issues. But it's promising that there is a fix already in and looking forward to seeing how that effects these killer machines.

Hi Zac, great news ...
I lost only one ship, usually managed to run away if the situation asked that, but once no, because I got a mission change to an outpost that made me to change Cutter with a Python and instakill ... and not the Insurance is my problem... I will make a contact support only if I can get back all bounties, data exploration and commodities hard obtained for engineers, but I am not sure that is possible ... for many players suffered from this bug I think that is bigger problem than Insurance ...

 

[Sp1der1976]

"Edit: Please note this point update will be PC specific and the Xbox One update will need to follow after. We'll let you know as soon as we have more information"

Im sorry, but this is not acceptable. We x boxers have paid out money just the same as the PC players and are entitled to the exact same care and support. We're also suffering just as much as the rest with this horrendous, mutant,AI.

The only excuse I'll accept is if the delay lies at Microsoft .

 

[wagfeliz]

Did you remove the mod weapons already ? Because I just died from an NPC with an OP thermal weapon.

 

[Mosait]

Honestly I think the virtually instant melting of 6k shields would probably rate a mention? Going to go with that being really obviously busted. So no, based on the hours I pumped into it, there were obvious last minute fixes that made the release build, that just broke. And the dev's have pretty much said as much.

It's very easy to bash on the beta process; but ultimately there is only so much you can do in any given time and stuff is going to break. It's like frontier has to somehow not experience bugs unlike every other developer on the planet. It's hilarious. Sad. But still hilarious.

Folks are going to have to realise and come to terms with the fact that sometimes - stuff just breaks. Frontier aren't inhuman. Stuff will break. It matters more what the developer does about it, than the problem itself. And they are addressing it. So good stuff. I hope the AI doesn't become downgraded to tubs of yoghurt again, but it appears Frontier want to try and keep part of that risk still in place and ensure AI continue to remain a bit of a threat, yet somewhat forgiving at lower ranks. So to me? Hoping for a win-win, really.

Um, I wasn't bashing on the beta process. I was looking for reasons why the issues seen now weren't reported during beta.

So, are you assuming that I saw your proposed scenario in beta and not report it? Well, I didn't. If that happened I would've at least started a thread to engage in a discussion to see if others encountered it.

Look, I agree with much of what you say. You clearly misunderstood my post if you thought I was looking to place blame. There's no one at fault. It's a complex program, and there will be issues. I have all the confidence in FD to fix issues and balance the game to the best of their ability.

 

[SGTHACK]

What about the 1.6 update for Elite Dangerous? Our update was called, Missions. We have no access to modified weapons. So, now what? That player base just goes away? I hope there is a solution to this.

 

[Anson22]

Thanks for the update Zac - I'll never forget my T6 getting trashed in less time than it takes for the FSD to spool... ;-)

 

[Han Brannigan]

Really pleased to read Zac's update but the bug has cost me in the region of 13m in Insurance claims since 2.1 :-(

26million here. Why do I always explode in my Python....
I loved it. (Well maybe not the machine gun rails - but the AI is on point ).

 

[Sp1der1976]

26million here. Why do I always explode in my Python....
I loved it. (Well maybe not the machine gun rails - but the AI is on point ).

6 million lost over here. Been very frustrating to say the least!

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

All of you who lost considerable amount to bug please contact FD Support for reimbursement. Have a nice day!

 

[R3DB3RD]

Now then. Where are all the naysayers challenging everyone to 'git gud'..?

 

[CiZerin]

Now then. Where are all the naysayers challenging everyone to 'git gud'..?

none of those who said "git gud" denied weapon bugs
your accusations are groundless

 

[JeffRyan]

Hey guys,

We wanted to share a quick update with you to let you know how the investigation into the NPC AI has been progressing after the removal of the Engineers weapons for the NPCs and what the next steps are.

The development team have been hard at work investigating these bugs. To give you a little more information, it appears that the unusual weapons attacks were caused by some form of networking issue which allowed the NPC AI to merge weapon stats and abilities. Meaning that all new and never before seen (sometimes devastating) weapons were created, such as a rail gun with the fire rate of a pulse laser. These appear to have been compounded by the additional stats and abilities of the engineers weaponry. (We don’t think the AI became sentient in a Skynet-style uprising! ). However, the valiant Mark Allen from the Development team has managed to terminate these NPCs in their tracks.

The bug fix is expected to go live in our next point release which is planned for the end of this week/early next week but we’ll have more news on the exact time in the normal patch notes forum.

I would just like to take this opportunity to clarify a few misconceptions. The AI has in no way been reduced, it remains the glorious, improved version from the update. The only action that we’ve taken so far has been to remove the engineer weapons to allow us to investigate the issue and address a key bug. Once this bug fix goes live we’ll be able to see how the AI is performing and then, over time, should we feel that the balancing is right to introduce a very select few high end engineers weapons to the highest ranked NPCs we will investigate that option. However, that won’t be immediately as we want to ensure that the balance is just right.

Edit: Please note this point update will be PC specific and the Xbox One update will need to follow after. We'll let you know as soon as we have more information.

Just saw this now, I love the use of the word glorious. Because it is.

 

[akevinbailey]

I don't need to be pulled out of warp every 3 or 4 jumps by a Fur de lance or an Anaconda exclusively by them 2 ships or do I? . Why do you at FD want to kill us so bad. Do you think fun is losing 25 mill every hour or two. I haven't herd an answer yet. I fly a Cutter for trade and Im a novice in combat. Even if I wasn't a novice good luck with a trade fit Cutter with them npc's. I never even posted on the forums till this patch. That's how mad I am. Engineer's patch has totally ruined the game for me. I want to keep playing but I will not if this is how it's gonna be.

I second that. I have lost about 75 million credits. In six months of pay I was only killed twice! The week I've been killed 5 times!! The game is no fun anymore. I will see what this next patch will improve. However, if the god-like NPCs continue then I am done with Elite: Dangerous. On to a different game.

 

[Bomber]

If NPC's were caught cheating shouldn't they be banned?
NPC's are griefers

On an aside I'm all for Elite NPC's being good at combat but I seem to run into an awful lot of high rank NPC's. It may be just adjust the curve of NPC's rank's generated is first step?

 

[Marc_Hicks]

What about the 1.6 update for Elite Dangerous? Our update was called, Missions. We have no access to modified weapons. So, now what? That player base just goes away? I hope there is a solution to this.

You got a major overhaul to missions and how they connect with the BGS & Faction influence system. So don't know what you're complaining about.

 

[stenumber1]

Lords of Kobol! The AI were Engineering their own upgrades?! :O

pmsl rep added mate battlestar rules

The Ai's are really silon's,, they are among us
That's why the don't show up on sensor Pannell until they have already started firing at you lol

 

[Exarathas]

(...) and the Xbox One update will need to follow after.

What the hell?

 

[Bikky]

Splendid news..... Thanks all.


I don't disagree with NPC's having Engineers upgrades, I would have just thought it would be a small percentage change in week1 of low end upgrades, then over say 4-5 weeks increase the upgrades, and also the chance of the upgrades. But NPC's higher combat rank would determine the final level of upgrade they can have.


XBONE will be dictated by MSOFT.

 

[Deamawa]

Same to me lost more than a dozen ships since last update. I quit playing.

 

[BennyBoyW]

I, for one, will not be asking for a reimbursement for my losses. I died 3 times over the weekend. In the previous however long ED has been live, I only died 8 times in total. The 3 deaths this weekend were due to me refusing to be beaten by the new AI and it was my own fault that I kept going back. 15 mill loss total - chalked up to experience.