Stingers......why?!?!

[Marc_Hicks]

Something I have noticed when doing Planetary Scan missions is that, if it's a Building, then I will get Skimmers defending the location. However, if its an Outpost, then it will be defended by STINGERS only!!!! I mean, what's the point?!?! Even when coupled with Skimmers, Stingers are next to useless as an opponent, so on they're own they're worse than useless (other than for target practice). So my request to FDev is as follows-(1) bring back Skimmers for Defending Outposts, with or without Stingers as "back-up", (2) significantly improve the AI of Stingers, so that they become a genuine threat (multiple Stingers swarming your vehicle then exploding only when in range) & (3) give skimmers at all Planetary Scan Sites SHIELDS.....but most especially if the mission is over 1 million credits.

Whilst on the subject, I'd also like to see Turrets get a buff, & to be present at Buildings as well as Outposts.....& don't be afraid to have more than 1 of each type of turret for the higher ranked Scan Missions.


Last of all, can I ask FDev why we don't have these kinds of Scan Missions out in space? Now that ships are fitted with Data-link scanners, there is no reason why we can't have "Deep Space Scan" missions on Proc. Gen. Facilities out in space. They could be defended with SLF's & turreted weapons. Just a thought.

 

[Chris Simon]

Something I have noticed when doing Planetary Scan missions is that, if it's a Building, then I will get Skimmers defending the location. However, if its an Outpost, then it will be defended by STINGERS only!!!! I mean, what's the point?!?! Even when coupled with Skimmers, Stingers are next to useless as an opponent, so on they're own they're worse than useless (other than for target practice). So my request to FDev is as follows-(1) bring back Skimmers for Defending Outposts, with or without Stingers as "back-up", (2) significantly improve the AI of Stingers, so that they become a genuine threat (multiple Stingers swarming your vehicle then exploding only when in range) & (3) give skimmers at all Planetary Scan Sites SHIELDS.....but most especially if the mission is over 1 million credits.

Whilst on the subject, I'd also like to see Turrets get a buff, & to be present at Buildings as well as Outposts.....& don't be afraid to have more than 1 of each type of turret for the higher ranked Scan Missions.


Last of all, can I ask FDev why we don't have these kinds of Scan Missions out in space? Now that ships are fitted with Data-link scanners, there is no reason why we can't have "Deep Space Scan" missions on Proc. Gen. Facilities out in space. They could be defended with SLF's & turreted weapons. Just a thought.

Space scanning missions are a good idea. Even if they were tied to just capital ships or something like that.
Who knows how many mission templates are in the "add later when we have time" list.
We can hope.

The missions would use more variety in general, of course. Their flavour did improve but the mechanic is still the same, "Go there and scan something", "Go there and kill something", "go there and bring something back", "Go deliver something somewhere" That's basically it. I'm not trying to pretend they could do miracles in the proc-gen system, but a little more involvement on our side would be appreciated.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

Space scanning missions are a good idea. Even if they were tied to just capital ships or something like that.
Who knows how many mission templates are in the "add later when we have time" list.
We can hope.

The missions would use more variety in general, of course. Their flavour did improve but the mechanic is still the same, "Go there and scan something", "Go there and kill something", "go there and bring something back", "Go deliver something somewhere" That's basically it. I'm not trying to pretend they could do miracles in the proc-gen system, but a little more involvement on our side would be appreciated.

The Secret, IMHO, is for them to really "open up the throttle" in regards to Wrinkles & Follow-on missions. That is where the real variety can be added, rather than the mission templates themselves. Go there & scan something is fine, but have more opportunities for complications to arise-both en route & post mission. Maybe the Intel was wrong, & your scan target is in a different system.....but that new Intel can only be found by salvaging some Encrypted Data, or by meeting with a 3rd party Contact, or by scanning a Personal Data Beacon. Throw up a Time Bonus (optional or non-optional) for when you need to get to your target & scan it (failure could lead to the aforementioned "Scan Target is in a Different System" wrinkle). As I alluded to, also have a variety of ways in which wrinkles can be triggered, rather than just semi-random as is currently the case.....and Wrinkles should be able to add additional Optional Missions or even change the nature of your current mission. For example, an Assassination Mission might get an Optional Liberation Mission Wrinkle thrown in (Kill the Deserter, but the deserter also stole some military plans from us. If you could re-acquire them too, you'll be compensated), or maybe you got a Time Bonus wrinkle to get to a salvage site-but failed. You get a new mission wrinkle that turns your current salvage mission into a mission to liberate those commodities from an enemy ship.

Throw in multiple Follow-on missions for each primary mission, each with their own set of Wrinkles, & suddenly each mission starts to feel much more unique.....& all without the need to abandon the existing Proc. Gen system.

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

Something I have noticed when doing Planetary Scan missions is that, if it's a Building, then I will get Skimmers defending the location. However, if its an Outpost, then it will be defended by STINGERS only!!!! I mean, what's the point?!?! Even when coupled with Skimmers, Stingers are next to useless as an opponent, so on they're own they're worse than useless (other than for target practice). So my request to FDev is as follows-(1) bring back Skimmers for Defending Outposts, with or without Stingers as "back-up", (2) significantly improve the AI of Stingers, so that they become a genuine threat (multiple Stingers swarming your vehicle then exploding only when in range) & (3) give skimmers at all Planetary Scan Sites SHIELDS.....but most especially if the mission is over 1 million credits.

Whilst on the subject, I'd also like to see Turrets get a buff, & to be present at Buildings as well as Outposts.....& don't be afraid to have more than 1 of each type of turret for the higher ranked Scan Missions.


Last of all, can I ask FDev why we don't have these kinds of Scan Missions out in space? Now that ships are fitted with Data-link scanners, there is no reason why we can't have "Deep Space Scan" missions on Proc. Gen. Facilities out in space. They could be defended with SLF's & turreted weapons. Just a thought.

+Rep for the idea with deep space missions

But i think, these bases doesn't need to be really more protected. Especially since we are only in a SRV :/
what's the point? Stuffing up ammo and hull for SRV with synthesis? Wasting mats for a handfull of credits and receiving even more bountys?
It's already annoying enough.

I would rather like to see that shooting those surface stuff should be legal everywhere except at official registered settlements.
All those settlements not on maps should be illegal unregistered sites with everything legal to shoot at. THAN i would be happy about more stuff to shoot^^

 

[ArchEmperor]

Any site should be an organism in itself. Not parts of a list of things to add.

This way, every site becomes a well oiled system, instead of a badly put together piece of crap that does not work.

i.e. It should have a common sense brain for starters: If an attacker in SRV approaches and is spotted, it directs ground fire and skimmers accordingly and sets up ambush and calls for backup etc.

When the SRV attacker succeeds, the site learns what happened and tries another approach the next time. It should be a small neural network, easy to implement as grades 1 - 5 as 5 being the hardest. The neural net grades are stored as a small data set so it can be shared over the servers.

If the player tries to hide, the site brain will eventually figure out where he is at:

 

[IndigoWyrd]

I've always wondered what Stingers did.. they blow up so quickly when shot I've never really seen them do anything except turn into 1000 Cr.

 

[Pville_Piper]

Placeholders...

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I've yet to figure out exactly what a stinger does...

I've shot one, and waited, and it just skittishly flew around...

I kinda think they've been given skimmer AI, but no weapons to use it with, so they go all evasive.
However, I really don't know what they're meant to be doing, so I can't really be sure... Lol

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I've yet to figure out exactly what a stinger does...

I've shot one, and waited, and it just skittishly flew around...

I kinda think they've been given skimmer AI, but no weapons to use it with, so they go all evasive.
However, I really don't know what they're meant to be doing, so I can't really be sure... Lol

At a guess, I always suspected they were meant to be sort of like "flying bombs". Sadly, they don't behave that way. Stingers should come in groups of 3-4, should quickly swarm you & try to blow up when close enough to your SRV......this would force the player to evade them to prevent them blowing up. Either way, Stingers should never be alone, but should always be accompanied by Skimmers/Goliaths.

 

[Red Fox Four]

Offtopic, but on the note of skimmers, stingers and goliaths.

Why are there no ground based (SRV style) defenses at the sites? Ground-based wheeled or tracked vehicles with multicannons or cannons who could also chase after you.

Just weird to me that there are no ground based vehicles since such things could serve a purpose as patrols, "turrets" and chasers.