Discovery 4.81 features, bugs & suggestions

[Malaclypse 666]

This may deserve its own "thread", but just an idea...

Lag: Maybe it's not the missions. Maybe there are just too many NPC's!

Disclaimer: I know nothing about modding/tweaking. Can barely fly. <g>

Several evenings ago, with light server load (4-8 players), on three separate occassions I encountered multiple NPC's. I was not running missions, just "rep-balancing". On each occassion, lag set in. At least one of these occassions, someone else commented on the lag as well.

So here's the rationale:

Do we actually need two to three squadrons of House "heavies" patrolling every House planet?

Space is BIG! Is it realistic to encounter other ships (NPC's) every three or four minutes, especially in the spaces between bases or planets?

On one occassion, I potted at a lone Outcast NPC, trying to advance my Hacker rep at Outcast expense. He got off a squawk for help, and before I could blink the Outcast had multiple help from his "allied" NPC's, even though I was green with the factions that responded.

Again, I don't know if it's possible, but could we try racheting down the NPC population a notch or six? Not their strength.. just their numbers? If it doesn't improve the lag situation, then nothing lost. They could just be cranked up again to their previous population level.

If NPC presence is made minimal, save for the numbers required for realistic missions, it may just help the lag situation. If it can be tried, why not?