NPCS

[GHOSTbielars]

hey guys, im pretty new here (only like 3 weeks) and i really like the server and most of it is pretty awesome.
but ive been reading a lot of posts here and one thing that it seemed like people wanted was a way to have actual borders, like war fronts where one faction could invade and capture systems. obviously this would require an ability to destroy/capture bases and planets, but the other obstacle is that there arent enough people online. i guess my point is that i was wondering if it would be possible to make NPCs fewer, and stronger around their base to defend it. As it is right now, any pirate can just waltz in front of manhattan in his gunboat and laugh as lvl 1 NPC LN ships shoot endlessly. Could we make it so that that squad of 4 fighters could take down that gunboat, and the battleship formation would raze any other potential invaders? i think if that was possible, if one player faction such as the liberty navy invaded rheinland space, the NPCs would be able to hold their own as long as there were no rheinland players online. it would also force the pirates to stay to the asteroid fields as they should.

those are my two cents, not sure if it is possible but its just an idea

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OHSH it's Igiss everyone look busy.

[CliffG]

I think the only problem would be, it would suck as a new player to try to change your faction rep, by killing npcs since theyd be vastly superior to you everywhere you'd go...but im sure theres an explanation and way to fix that as well.

[zeinstruktor]

And what if you accidentally CD your own NPCs?

[Agmen of Eladesor]

I think the only problem would be, it would suck as a new player to try to change your faction rep, by killing npcs since theyd be vastly superior to you everywhere you'd go...but im sure theres an explanation and way to fix that as well.

It's actually easier for changing rep to just dock with a station, accept missions, and then abort them. You don't run into the issue with killing NPC's and having a PC come along that's irritated at you. Granted it's not nearly as exciting, but... Another way, of course, is to find where the supply depot's are and blow up a few of those for the faction(s) you're trying to change.

And what if you accidentally CD your own NPCs?

The same thing that happens now - you suddenly have a LOT more enemies.

Anyone that has ever gone into a guard system, or explored Omega 55/58, knows what it's like to find themselves on the receiving end of WAY too much firepower. That's when you find out how handy the respawn button really is.

I don't think bumping up the NPC strength is the solution, per se. One thing you notice when playing OpenSP after completeing the campaign - and I did that a LOT years ago, before I ever started playing online, is that the NPC's come in 4 strengths. Liberty is the weakest, followed by Bretonia, Kusari, and then Rheinland, as far as house space is concerned. I've done OpenSP with the disco mod as well, and you run into about the same thing, really.

And of course, the further out you get from civilized space, the tougher the NPC's get. Level 3 - 6 NPC's in house space are, for an experienced pilot, mostly a nuisance. Level 19 NPC's in numbers can be a real pest.

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.

[Derkylos]

Orrrr...we could nerf NPCs to the level of repfixing, remove all loot from them, and actually have player interaction on a multiplayer server (:O).

As it currently stands, some regions are simply not conducive to RP in bombers or lower as the sheer number of lvl 19 NPCs will destroy you in seconds (eg: Omega 49, where the BH and Sair patrols will kill a GB shield, Gamma, where Titans kill cruisers...)

Instead of boosting NPCs, simply make static defences overwhelming to Battleships, and remove NPCs altogether.

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[GHOSTbielars]

i was more saying that npcs near a base could be stronger to actually DEFEND the station vs put on a lightshow... but actually the idea of having more and better weapons platforms is really good. maybe something that will actually make you regret going near a hostile base. ---and maybe tie that into destroyable bases and a way to get a rep before entering the real world.---

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OHSH it's Igiss everyone look busy.

[AdamantineFist]

i was more saying that npcs near a base could be stronger to actually DEFEND the station vs put on a lightshow... but actually the idea of having more and better weapons platforms is really good. maybe something that will actually make you regret going near a hostile base. ---and maybe tie that into destroyable bases and a way to get a rep before entering the real world.---

Destroyable bases are a big no-no. If a base gets destroyed, and someone was docked on it, and they try to undock... goooodbye server.

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