The New AI is Too Good! I'm back in an Cobra After Loosing Python 3 Times in 3 Days!

[tecman69]

Aint it fantastic. I for one am loving a challenge. Do the cobra again. you wont go bigger after that. smaller ships are better.

Yup, though I prefer not taking on an elite Python with 2 wingmen buzzing around too. Seems like these are for wings, but I see them as a single more than I care to. But I do agree the Cobra is the best ship in the fleet. Though I'm playing around an Imperial Clipper right now, you can't beat a tricked-out Cobra (and insurance is cheap).

 

[Jypson]

I know I'm not a wunder-pilot, but I haven't had an issue vs. AI since I stepped outta the Viper many many moons ago. The only time I question an engagement now is if it's a strong 3 bird wing. The other night I poked a wing of two clippers and a dropship, all Dangerous/Deadly, and still came out with my shields up in a Vulture. Only build to give me a run for money is a quad-turret Clipper (dual 3 Beam and dual 2 Multi). No matter my juking, he always had 3/4 of his harpoints on me.

 

[CaptainKremmen]

Lost my Python three times in as many days in fights with AI Pythons with backup. Now I am running from fights in a cobra hoping to find a station close by with an Asp Explorer. Need to earn enough credits to take the Python back out of the hanger. Went from enjoying the game to evading interdictions and running from everything.

Wing up with another player or two, and kick those NPCs into next week, with focused fire!

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Harder to run away from... Yeah, I can oblige that request.

I think the main problem is interdiction. It's easy to evade any of the NPCs, so much of the gameplay is lost. Interdiction should be much quicker and harder IMO, and NPCs should be given default A thrusters >:]

 

[5thNovember]

You go girl! Love that the NPC is getting as smart as the Players!

Lets not get carried away here. The NPCs, while are showing improved AI, are far removed from being as smart as players. I would suggest that if you feel that way you haven't fought many CMDRs. There is no comparison yet and if it reaches that point (and I hope it does) there will be rivers of tears in these forums, and a mass exodus from the game. As evidenced by this thread there is already whinging going on regarding AI. I'm glad Sarah isn't listening to that noise.

 

[Space Dandy]

I don't mean "near-impossible to DEAL with", I mean "near-impossible to destroy", which some people like to do. Again, just because you like a challenge, doesn't mean everyone else does.

I may be a weirdo, but I really LIKED how the game was pre-1.3, difficulty wise. Get enough enemies shooting at you in a CZ and you still had to bail out. RES were a bit too easy, but things got really fun and interesting as soon as you were hostile to the local pirate faction, so all was good. And finally, given how little time I had to play Elite, this was a perfect way to "unwind" for me after a days work. Again, subjective feelings, I know. I don't wish to dictate how anyone else should play their game, but at this time it feels the other way - someone has dictated how I should play my game, and it's equally as wrong.

And once more, this wouldn't be a problem at all if we got an off-line game. And consider how bloody simplistic this "background simulation" is (I think there's a reason the abbreviation for it is ""), there's no reason why this game SHOULDN'T be offline... :-/

I agree with how It's great with offline games you get a difficulty choice so you can play the game as you want. I think the big problem is since 1.3 AI is tougher but it's really a few things put together which seem to make it harder.

~AI was improved
~AI target subsystems now as they didn't seem to before
~npc seem to travel in wings more than they used too
~more interdictions
~increased damage costs

All this makes it harder for the soloists that might not be pros at combat but are more of average ability. Increased challenge is great and all but the real trick is not to drive away a big portion of the playerbase while doing this, it's a fine line and easy to cross.

I would hope Sarah Jane Avory will keep this in mind...

 

[piugattuk]

I thought I was being overly cautious but I was damn lucky taking a shield booster because I used every one of them because the anaconda was shooting serious stuff, yeah new AI is nothing to take for granted.

 

[Rubbernuke]

So, the game is more dangerous? Good.

As long as we have a variety of AI, and a distinction between high, medium and low security systems then it's perfect.

Being killed repeatedly means you are flying in the wrong sector of space. Find somewhere safer and go there.

 

[sensai25]

Nerf? No way! I'm just getting started on the high ranks! Loads more to come!

Keep it going.

I have done 2000 kills in warzone high intensity over last 4 days with my python.

I don't use any Hull reinforcement.

Skilled pilots are a pleasure to fight with.

Just a small concern : sometimes you take aggro way too easy with a bad ennemy wave.

But so far so good.

A happy merc Guy (with arm injury lol too many evasive manovers).

 

[Agony_Aunt]

You now have to think about which fights to fight, instead of going "Oh, look, an Elite Python *yawn*, well, that's another 100k for the credits then *yawn*".

Had two Deadly Cobras on me the other day, had to run from those, they were hammering me badly. However, got a deadly Imperial Clipper and was a fairly decent fight.

But the main thing i'm enjoying about this is that open only proponents can no longer get away with calling solo "easy mode". Sure, many NPCs are still fairly easy, but there again, so are some PCs. There is now a range of skill levels, just like with PCs.

The only thing i hope SJA doesn't do is have the NPCs spam shield cells, except perhaps the Elite ones. I really don't like that it exists for PCs, for the NPCs i think it would be too much.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

You now have to think about which fights to fight, instead of going "Oh, look, an Elite Python *yawn*, well, that's another 100k for the credits then *yawn*".

Had two Deadly Cobras on me the other day, had to run from those, they were hammering me badly. However, got a deadly Imperial Clipper and was a fairly decent fight.

But the main thing i'm enjoying about this is that open only proponents can no longer get away with calling solo "easy mode". Sure, many NPCs are still fairly easy, but there again, so are some PCs. There is now a range of skill levels, just like with PCs.

The only thing i hope SJA doesn't do is have the NPCs spam shield cells, except perhaps the Elite ones. I really don't like that it exists for PCs, for the NPCs i think it would be too much.

gotta be honest with you, I agree with you on the shield cells. personally if it was me (and this is just imo i am demanding nothing) I would only allow 1 shield cell module on a ship and each cell can only hold 1 charge.

As a carrot to go with the stick I would have them recharge automatically, essentially powered from our systems so no need to reload them at a staton

its class would determin what class of shield it can charge to full, and its quality would affect how quick its capacitors recharged before it could be used again (but even grade A would not charge quick enough to be realistically used more than once in any fight).

 

[Shaamaan]

Cobra's are easily capable of taking out pythons and Condas by exploiting their large and obvious blind spots.

Really? Post a video, please. And one where someone makes this an efficient method.

I once took down an Anaconda in a Cobra (a long time ago, so there weren't any shield boosters then). It was slow, painful and tedious. And while it was a fun experience to do this ONCE (as a "test myself if I can do it" kind of fun), it was unprofitable and not something I'd keep on doing. So, I really do want to see you exploit those obvious blind spots quickly and efficiently.

But then realize that if, in said video, you're flying fully FA-off, then anyone with a KB+M setup isn't likely to do it.

Finally, someone said something about going to low intensity CZ or RES and that being the "difficulty slider". This isn't exactly true. Consider how grind-tastic the game is. If credits are a measure of progress (for what it's worth, this is the best measure of progress we currently have), then forcing people who were comfortable before into lower-paying situations is still annoying (and something that wouldn't happen in an offline game with a difficulty slider). If the difficulty is increased, then additional credits should be made off the new difficulty levels, rather than nerfing the payouts for existing difficulty levels.

This is how it happens for any other sane game - you release NEW levels with NEW content (and increased difficulty) and NEW rewards.

I'm probably getting way too worked up about this - I'm currently out exploring, so unless FDevs suddenly put Thargoids in, I don't need to worry about anything except by ship suddenly blowing up due to some errand bug. But this "let's increase AI combat skills" trend is another one of so many design decisions implemented by FDevs halfheartedly! I don't meant that the new combat AI is bad, just that this change shouldn't exist on it's own! It needs the AI to be meta-smart. It needs a combat overhaul (shields, PP sniping, armor, etc.). It needs AI wingmates for players. And possibly many many other changes...

 

[Macgyver]

I feel for you M8 , yes AI in wings you better be wary.
Ive found killingbthe faster smaller ships first then full engine thrust away, pop a shield recharge, back in etc.

Never be too proud to flee, I can tell within 40 seconds if I am beat or not. I have no problem fleeing like a little girl.
my Python is too precious and has not been destroyed yet.

also upgrade, check your gear. Not enough money, then back to Imperial slaver runs .

 

[Faded Glory]

Lets not get carried away here. The NPCs, while are showing improved AI, are far removed from being as smart as players. I would suggest that if you feel that way you haven't fought many CMDRs. There is no comparison yet and if it reaches that point (and I hope it does) there will be rivers of tears in these forums, and a mass exodus from the game. As evidenced by this thread there is already whinging going on regarding AI. I'm glad Sarah isn't listening to that noise.

Hmm. And that will be a good thing?

 

[tothebridge]

Lost my Python three times in as many days in fights with AI Pythons with backup. Now I am running from fights in a cobra hoping to find a station close by with an Asp Explorer. Need to earn enough credits to take the Python back out of the hanger. Went from enjoying the game to evading interdictions and running from everything.

The Ai is on the right way. Please dont make it weak. We need some "dangerous". By the way i was fighting yesterday against a python wing 3x deadly an survived. I never lost my python because of any ai ships. The point ist to judge how to deal with them. Watch some combat videos. Learn to use FA off and the use off reverse thrust an powermanagement. It takes some time to become Elite . But honestly, i would like to have some really challanging opponents.

- - - Updated - - -

Nerf? No way! I'm just getting started on the high ranks! Loads more to come!

nice to hear that. its great. looking forward to kill your minions

 

[Rauminen]

....
I feel Sarah is the Dev that connects with the player base the best out of all their crew.
I see her constantly on these forums communicating with her player base. .

....

If her peers would just do the same...this game would pass the awesome mark in my eyes.

You're missing the point my fellow commander. She's not "connecting the player base", nooo..... She's feeling out our weaknesses so she can hit us where it hurts the most!

On the serious side, agreed on that last bit.

 

[Whiterose]

You now have to think about which fights to fight, instead of going "Oh, look, an Elite Python *yawn*, well, that's another 100k for the credits then *yawn*".

Had two Deadly Cobras on me the other day, had to run from those, they were hammering me badly. However, got a deadly Imperial Clipper and was a fairly decent fight.

But the main thing i'm enjoying about this is that open only proponents can no longer get away with calling solo "easy mode". Sure, many NPCs are still fairly easy, but there again, so are some PCs. There is now a range of skill levels, just like with PCs.

The only thing i hope SJA doesn't do is have the NPCs spam shield cells, except perhaps the Elite ones. I really don't like that it exists for PCs, for the NPCs i think it would be too much.

I agree. Its far more challenging now, and therefore far more entertaining. The AI's are much improved, but not as good as most CMDR's. It surprises me that people are complaining that Python v Python battles are not easy. They shouldnt be, you shouldnt just be able to point and fire and wait for it to explode, there should be a decent scrap, and knowing when to stay and fight and when to run. The new wings are good as well, as they are unpredictable, sometimes all three ships come in guns blazing, sometimes one or two will stand off. I like unpredictability.

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

The only thing i hope SJA doesn't do is have the NPCs spam shield cells, except perhaps the Elite ones. I really don't like that it exists for PCs, for the NPCs i think it would be too much.

Not gonna have AI ships spamming shield cells. I'm focused on better combat tactics, better use of pips, plus weakening the lower ranks to make combat more accessible. Higher ranks I want to take to the max. My aim is to have a wide spread of AI abilities, plus give AI ships a bit of individual character. So pirates will behave a bit different to police in combat.

 

[Jet Fusion]

I like rougher and tougher AI and most of them are still easy-peasy. They can't be hard enough. They should be letting the moist running down your pants. I didn't pay real money for a granny simulator.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

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