Strange things in the Haz RES today.

[d8veh]

I have about 1000 hours experience of farming in Haz RES and I thought I had seen it all, but today something new. Normally, when I become wanted I leave and go somewhere else, but the spawn was good, so I decided to stay and take advantage of it. Unfortunately, things didn't work out like that because every big ship that I fought after that used turrets on me That's FGS, FDS. Python, Anaconda. Clippers can shoot directly behind, but rarely do. Now, it's like they're guns are pointing backwards. I've had the odd turret fire before but nothing like this. They were all shooting more or less directly backwards, so I couldn't avoid the fire. I therefore lost a couple of rings from my shields for every ship I fought. It didn't take long to run out of SCBs and chaff. Normally, I can stay out for 4 hours and use maybe one SCB and one chaff, but this time they all went in about 20 minutes.

Thinking that it was just an odd instance, I went back to the station to reload and then came back again, but it was exactly the same, and then again after reloading. I can only assume that the enemy ships change their methods when you're wanted.

 

[kofeyh]

I have about 1000 hours experience of farming in Haz RES and I thought I had seen it all, but today something new. Normally, when I become wanted I leave and go somewhere else, but the spawn was good, so I decided to stay and take advantage of it. Unfortunately, things didn't work out like that because every big ship that I fought after that used turrets on me That's FGS, FDS. Python, Anaconda. Clippers can shoot directly behind, but rarely do. Now, it's like they're guns are pointing backwards. I've had the odd turret fire before but nothing like this. They were all shooting more or less directly backwards, so I couldn't avoid the fire. I therefore lost a couple of rings from my shields for every ship I fought. It didn't take long to run out of SCBs and chaff. Normally, I can stay out for 4 hours and use maybe one SCB and one chaff, but this time they all went in about 20 minutes.

Thinking that it was just an odd instance, I went back to the station to reload and then came back again, but it was exactly the same, and then again after reloading. I can only assume that the enemy ships change their methods when you're wanted.

If NPCs can utilise 'fire at will' as commanders can, then turrets will automatically track and shoot anything that is within range, within constraints of what is considered a hostile. Most people don't use FAW simply because it'll tag a bunch of ships during a firefight and is about as close to the game trolling, as it gets. I imagine the NPCs don't care (because they can't) and may just open up regardless.

Might be new; if so, that's actually good. Makes NPCs a bit more risky and dangerous (it really is fish+barrel still; being overwhelmed by pure numbers is usually the only way combat can go south).

Besides, if I am wanted, everything should be shooting at me - because in ED, a wanted level carries an automatic sanctioned kill response (ED universe is a bit harsh; given population counts, individual human life has virtually no intrinsic value).

 

[d8veh]

When you become wanted in a Haz RES, nobody will be interested. I've done it a few times, and I've never been shot at. The point I was trying to make is that there seems to be a distinct change in behaviour of the NPCs that you engage. They don't normally use turrets on you, but mysteriously, when you're wanted, they all have them and start using them straight away.

 

[Jypson]

I have about 1000 hours experience of farming in Haz RES and I thought I had seen it all, but today something new. Normally, when I become wanted I leave and go somewhere else, but the spawn was good, so I decided to stay and take advantage of it. Unfortunately, things didn't work out like that because every big ship that I fought after that used turrets on me That's FGS, FDS. Python, Anaconda. Clippers can shoot directly behind, but rarely do. Now, it's like they're guns are pointing backwards. I've had the odd turret fire before but nothing like this. They were all shooting more or less directly backwards, so I couldn't avoid the fire. I therefore lost a couple of rings from my shields for every ship I fought. It didn't take long to run out of SCBs and chaff. Normally, I can stay out for 4 hours and use maybe one SCB and one chaff, but this time they all went in about 20 minutes.

Thinking that it was just an odd instance, I went back to the station to reload and then came back again, but it was exactly the same, and then again after reloading. I can only assume that the enemy ships change their methods when you're wanted.

I dunno CMDR, I've seen Python's and Anaconda's shoot backwards quite often. Turrets are a bit strange anyway, I even see turrets shooting through their own hull to hit me.

 

[jmp470]

I noticed it last night. For instance, a clipper with turrets basically went into a constant roll so that I was receiving fire directly behind it. I thought awesome smart technique. It pretty much negated my attack from behind. I had to move to its belly and get super close so it could not roll. The real treat was fight 3 of them.

 

[The Tick]

I have about 1000 hours experience of farming in Haz RES and I thought I had seen it all, but today something new. Normally, when I become wanted I leave and go somewhere else, but the spawn was good, so I decided to stay and take advantage of it. Unfortunately, things didn't work out like that because every big ship that I fought after that used turrets on me That's FGS, FDS. Python, Anaconda. Clippers can shoot directly behind, but rarely do. Now, it's like they're guns are pointing backwards. I've had the odd turret fire before but nothing like this. They were all shooting more or less directly backwards, so I couldn't avoid the fire. I therefore lost a couple of rings from my shields for every ship I fought. It didn't take long to run out of SCBs and chaff. Normally, I can stay out for 4 hours and use maybe one SCB and one chaff, but this time they all went in about 20 minutes.

Thinking that it was just an odd instance, I went back to the station to reload and then came back again, but it was exactly the same, and then again after reloading. I can only assume that the enemy ships change their methods when you're wanted.

Hypotheses (some) for the increase in turreted enemies shooting at you:
- Have you increased combat rank in the meantime? This will increase the spawn rate of higher ranked NPCs, which in turn come better equipped.
- How is your reputation with the local faction(s)? If they have become your enemies, high ranked and powerful NPCs will start attacking you on sight. This is indeed quite a change I've experienced myself, so I tend to change bounty hunting systems from time to time.

I don't know of any AI changes for a while. This is supposed to come with 2.1.