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+--- Thread: Whats up with the useles NPCs? (/showthread.php?tid=114915)
Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Hone - 04-28-2014
(04-27-2014, 05:35 AM)Sonic.Rainboom Wrote:(04-27-2014, 12:06 AM)Hone Wrote: ==============
NPC
==============
I've noticed many NPCs are spawning without any pilots, specifically the bretonian patrols in O3 that attacked me while I was killing Port talbot - though the cap patrols and their fighter escorts still had pilots. And 2 outcast fighters attacking Indochine outpost, both flying the new outcast fighters, rapier and falchion I think.
In fact any normal npc spawn, the only ones I've seen with pilots have been the cap patrols.
The NPCs with the NPC guns that do very little damage don't drop pilots. The escorts of the cap ships are actual NPCs with the actual guns, and because they are harder to take down, they have pilots.
So these pilotless NPCs arn't a challenging or fun, because they have those useless guns, and they arn't useful to kill either, as they have no pilots. Apparently all they do is clog up the screen and presumably cause some lag.
Can we please have the proper NPCs back?
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Nerva - 04-28-2014
IIRC, they had proper weapons when 4.87 was released but were nerfed because a lot of people cried about it.
Currently, NPCs are spawning in far too high quantities to be given actual weapons. Like, 8 hostile NPCs at random locations.
Imagine the following:
You are a Corsair pirating in the Omegas. Stop a trader, say a few lines, make a demand, etc, etc.
In the meantime 2-6 Corsair NPCs appear. The trader in question is of course hostile to them so they immediately start shooting him. A transport under fire by several NPC VHFs dies quite fast.
Such situation is hard to justify and impossible to prevent as you have no control over NPCs of your faction and the trader can't afford shooting them in front of you.
Another problem are the unlawful NPC gankforces at every other lawful station. The opposite also happens sometimes.
Missions spawn proper NPCs. Just the other day I did a 1 700 000 mission that spawned 24 fighters with actual weapons, class 10 shield, Rippers and armor. They also had pilots.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - glassofwater - 04-28-2014
I voted other.
This is coming from someone who -used to be- crazy active, and I will also note I haven't played too recently. But as far as I am concerned, the NPCs were never a threat unless you were a squishy fighter pirating on a lane. Even then you could still shoot them down. But I'd pirate with an arrow, having someone with me who could engage them if they downright refused. Regardless, if the total number of useless NPC ships were just nerfed a bit, I don't see it as an issue. Maybe they just had horrid escape pods.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Jack_Henderson - 04-28-2014
NPCs were nerfed because they were having a major impact in player-player interaction.
They were much too strong in the first try. (remember IMG NPCs in T23?)
They were nerfed.
And then nerfed again.
I agree with the Devs here: NPCs should not have the capability to influence a player-player interaction. They serve as decoration and to make the universe appear lively, but they are not meant to give advantage in pvp or decide the outcome of player-player interaction.
Just to give you an idea, Hone, how bad it was: It was impossible to mine in the Tau 37 field because NPCs raped you if you did not fight them constantly. Even though that sounds cool now, it was not. Hardly anybody liked the "strong NPC is cool" appraoch. So it was changed.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Hone - 04-29-2014
I agree they shouldnt be dominating, in that case their numbers should simply be reduced. Not having an NPC is better than NPCs which make it feel more unrealistic, and just add annoyance/lag.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Singularity - 04-29-2014
http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=114643
Had tried to speak your point here .... tried ... !!!
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Vipera Berus - 04-29-2014
The Npc's are annoying enough as it is - you cant even take a treadelane at some points without it getting disrupted. I'd rather not have to deal with too many of them if their a challenge.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - SnakThree - 04-29-2014
The only reason why NPCs are still here is for universe to appear more lively.
Pros:
NPC piracy is possible
Reputation fix is possible
Cons:
Lanes are getting disrupted all the time
You get spinned if they collide with you.
Some people with horrible machines suffer performance issues.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Pavel - 04-29-2014
NPCs shouldn't have any impact on player-player interaction, it's very good they were nerfed.
Edit:
For related discussion Hone, see here.
RE: Whats up with the useles NPCs? - Pancakes - 04-29-2014
The only strong NPCs should spawn when making a mission. On the casual flight they shouldn't be around (maybe with the exception of specially hostile zones).
I'd take taking the mission as you being directed into taking out a more major, better equipped force rather than the odd patrol that isn't disturbing much, and the locals can deal with them. (Aka - not a priority to go pay someone to help out with them)