Police Escorts

[Queex]

As has been mentioned a few times, police response times to pirate activity sometimes seem too long, or that the difference between high security systems and low security systems isn't enough.

One potential way to make police more effective at policing:

Have police escort traders as they travel. Not always - but if there's not an incident for them to respond to, nor a likely smuggler to scan, then their default behaviour can be to provide security for passing traffic. They might prioritise based on ship size, pilot combat rank and pilot rep with the controlling faction.

Any of those variables can be simulated fairly simply if the underlying model doesn't support tracking that information explicitly. Police escorts spawn in near the nav point at a calculated rate, and find an appropriate ship to follow.

Not only would this add verisimilitude, but it would be a nice QoL enhancement for dedicated traders who take the time to plot routes through high-security systems, and another factor to consider for player pirates.

 

[Velixar]

They are working on NPC escorts. Also that new 2.2. You be able to fit a fighter bay. And hire a NPC. That either flies your ship while you control a fighter like drone. Or they fly the drone while you fly your ship. They also rank up like you do.

 

[Queex]

That's not even remotely the same thing.

I'm talking about behaviour for NPC police that help reinforce the level of security a system is supposed to have and reduce the need for traders to have combat trim, whether with weapons or fighters.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

+1

I like it, it would be nice for a random security ship to decide it's going to escort you in.

Not so nice if you happen to be carrying illegal goods

In high security systems, there should be plenty of security simply patrolling the shipping lanes, and basically clear the way of wanted ships.

In a high security system, it should be very rare to be interdicted on a shipping lane, and if you are, security immediately drop in on the wake.
As security levels drop, or you move away from shipping lanes, interdictions become more common, and security response becomes less effective.

 

[Lestat]

That's not even remotely the same thing.

I'm talking about behaviour for NPC police that help reinforce the level of security a system is supposed to have and reduce the need for traders to have combat trim, whether with weapons or fighters.

It might not be remotely the same but it a alternative. I don't think Elite is about Police escorts. It more about System security level. Anarchy and low police mean just that. No police or very low so reaction time is lower. Another trick a user can do is ask a friend to escort you if it a dangerous area.

Another Point you need see. The new Galaxy map 2.2 setup. You can pick and choice your location by the level security of a system. it will plot a route for you.