Harder to run away from...Yeah, I can oblige that request.
Will it still actually be possible for a trader to escape though??
The New AI is Too Good! I'm back in an Cobra After Loosing Python 3 Times in 3 Days!
- Thread starter Chummy62
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Will it still actually be possible for a trader to escape though??
Yeah all power to engines is the best arrangement, anything less and the vulture will just keep staying out of your weapons and annoy the hell out of you. You also really need kinetic weapons as the conflict zones vulture have decent armour.
The funniest thing is somehow she/he programmed different personalities into the ships. A cobra always abuses its speed and runs for FTL when its losing, and it always outruns you because you are a cobra. I just don't chase them anymore, but they are bound to find you again. The vipers like to go out of range and then come back into range when their shields have regenerated. Asps are like combat carebears? Pythons are aggressive, they like to ambush you and Anacondas just generally like to attack everyone. A vulture is well just annoying like a player vulture.
I love the AI improvements, its a shame the braben management doesn't have a clue what fun is, but they sure have some amazingly talented programmers, 3d artists, sound designers etc.
It's the little details that keep me around, like the games pretty awesome npc dog fighting AI, it makes all the repeated assets and money grind more bearable.
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You just need more experience OP and this is no insult. The AI may be better now, but it is still far from being any good IMO. People in pythons or even less expensive ships than that easily destroy 3 Anaconda or 6 vulture SSS spawns without a scratch, maybe using a few SCB charges (expensively kitted of course). Like any other game it just takes playing a lot to get better.
As far as difficulty levels go they already made their choice not to allow the single player offline route as much as many from both sides of the fence wanted it in separate from online mode so it is a bit of a moot point to even discuss.
Npcs are really no worry ever. I'll take on 3 or 4 CMDRs vs my Clipper and kill all of them regularly, kill or force CMDR anacondas to jump, etc. I've also played a lot since release and died 72 times myself to learn all these lessons. Not a brag or insult to you just saying it really comes down to needing more experience if you are losing to NPCs in a python. Expensive deaths have a way of teaching you how to play and which mistakes not to make anymore.
As far as difficulty levels go they already made their choice not to allow the single player offline route as much as many from both sides of the fence wanted it in separate from online mode so it is a bit of a moot point to even discuss.
Npcs are really no worry ever. I'll take on 3 or 4 CMDRs vs my Clipper and kill all of them regularly, kill or force CMDR anacondas to jump, etc. I've also played a lot since release and died 72 times myself to learn all these lessons. Not a brag or insult to you just saying it really comes down to needing more experience if you are losing to NPCs in a python. Expensive deaths have a way of teaching you how to play and which mistakes not to make anymore.
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A non-tanked Python is very much a flying pay-cheque for other vessels. Most Python owners don't have the cash to fully realise the ship's potential for quite some time after initial purchase, unless bought and upgraded in one go with 200 million+, during which period they are so very vulnerable.
First rule of Python club, tank it quick.
As for the AI, bring it on (but maybe tune it back for lower rated players, sliding scale perhaps?).
Using only a class 6 shield and A class shield boosters being cheap, it is very inexpensive relatively to make a "tank" Python. You won't be all A spec of course, but you need nowhere near 200 mil to make a python fight worthy.
Or more like expensive deaths teaches you that a ship without shields is like an ass with no pants.
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Hey, I have a couple of A grades where it counts, the rest C/D and 196 tons of cargo - I call it my combat Python, it just happens to trade (well badly!). It is the only ship I have, so it had better be!
Just experimented in Combat zones with it Pulled 1.5Mcr, not as easy or as boring as a Vulture. Worth 105MCr it can stand the highs, but really shines in the lows.
Simon
Just experimented in Combat zones with it Pulled 1.5Mcr, not as easy or as boring as a Vulture. Worth 105MCr it can stand the highs, but really shines in the lows.
Simon
I've noticed the better AI as well, I had my Python ripped apart, it wasn't a combat Python though, I was trading and didn't have the best shields. I was interdicted by what turned out to be a Federal Dropship but he had two friends. They had my shields down at about the same time I had the dropship's shields down. I had two Class 2 Gimballed Beam Lasers and 3 Class 3 Gimballed Beam lasers so I was hardly defenceless but against 3 I had no chance. They had my hull down to 60% when I decided it was time to Supercruise away. I had the Dropship down to 70% and his shields down but the other two he had with him were untouched. They were Vipers
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It depends on how long you want to stay in fight. For long stays in CZs, full shields/boosters and a lot of SCBs keep you in the fight longer. I'm messing around with an all-laser config at the moment, so my only ammo concerns are SCB shots (lots). The kills take a bit longer (three large beam plus two medium burst), but the shield take-downs are scary fast. I've tried all cannon, but the limited ammo really annoyed me when I got a good RES spawn, then had to leave due to lack of ammo. Even a mixed setup left me ammo-less way before I needed more SCB shots, hence the all-laser setup.
Having got rid of all my other big ships I dropped all my working cash into the Python just to see how much I could spend on it. Money well spent it turns out, certainly for PvE anyway.
Fly safe.
I was not being flippant, I was, in fact, being entirely serious. If you're having trouble, practice, improve. You said you're in a Cobra? Cobra's are easily capable of taking out pythons and Condas by exploiting their large and obvious blind spots. It's all about learning your ships strength and weaknesses and the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy ships and maximizing your ship's strengths and minimizing its weaknesses and vice verse for the enemy's ship. Don't complain, improve.
Stay frosty
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Higher ranks should be scary, but not as prolific as they are....elite hauler pilots? How often should that be found? Elite pilots should be 1 in 100, and very dangerous.
I love that now even the system sec are worrisome, hard to solo 3 enemies now, with the cops breathing down your neck quickly and effectively.
I love that now even the system sec are worrisome, hard to solo 3 enemies now, with the cops breathing down your neck quickly and effectively.
I REALLY enjoy the challenge of the enhanced AI. I fought an Elite DBS in my DBS today, and he gave me a run for my money. He got through my shields and got me to 98% hull and that's counting one SCB I used mid-battle. Of course I was fighting with just 1 pip to shields as I was undermining and don't have much time until 3 System Authority ships arrive to help the NPC, but still.... this is FAR more exciting than knowing every battle will be a walk in the park. I look forward to further improvements!
Go in low intensity CZ and RES, don't pick on elite wings. There's your slider.
Here is an additional item that was not brought up; I am pledged to a power which adds an additional layer of interdictions by stong groups of AI ships. Forgot to mention this as PP has added this additional level of fun even while flying in what should be considered your home space. All three of my losses were against PP wings that had invaded our space.
A few days ago I kept getting interdicted by a Deadly vulture (I know it was the same one because after the second attempt I noticed the NPC's name was the same) and the cheeky followed me across systems and right to the station! I was in a brand new Scout with crappy modules because they didn't stock the good stuff where I bought the ship, so it was definitely an exciting trip.
AI before 1.3 were absolute pushovers. Check the enemy's combat rank, and don't attack enemies that are stronger than you unless you're prepared to die. If you're fighting enemies of your own class, Pythons, then you've already taken a risk, and if they have backup then you're as good as dead.
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