NPC Fleet Routes

[Archaos]

21 minutes ago, Dibbler said:

 

I think this is the main point of change, to get people around the map more.

I agree that getting people out of the safe zones is good, but I am not so sure how the whole idea will pan out. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Having areas where there is more action because there are several nations ports close together is good, but the previous advice to people who only wanted to PvE was to find some quiet corner of the map and hunt AI fleets, now it looks like this will not be so easy.

[Dakk Elleron]

Thank you so much! @admin This is an awesome change!

Why do I like it so much? As someone who only plays on the PVE server (well, at least I did before BattleTech was released last May...but I digress), this will allow me to create my own narratives with much greater reliability. You see, for me the PVE server is like a play area from my childhood where I would push Lego ships across the carpet, fighting pirates, etc. Well, I am too old for that now but Naval Action allows me to write my own stories and missions from the admiralty, and giving the NPC ships more intuitive / realistic sail patterns is a much welcomed change. 

Now I can go on a cruise like the HMS Sophie and harass the enemies coast!

In addition to this change, what I would very much like, is an "on/off" toggle switch for AI aggression so that ships +/- 100 battle rating of my own would attempt to attack me. Maybe even a slider bar to increase or decrease the battle rating difference to +/- 200 or whatever I desired. 

A question regarding the PVE server. Will all the neutral ports be changed to their historical national port instead of being neutral? 

Edited October 24, 2018 by Dakk Elleron

[SirAlatriste]

Good work mates.

[Macjimm]

1 hour ago, Dakk Elleron said:

! @admins someone who only plays on the PVE server ..this will allow me to create my own narratives with much greater reliability.

In addition to this change, what I would very much like, is an "on/off" toggle switch for AI aggression so that ships +/- 100 battle rating of my own would attempt to attack me. Maybe even a slider bar to increase or decrease the battle rating difference to +/- 200 or whatever I desired. 

I this this would a marvelous improvment.  Would also like to have the option to set the AI aggression on PvP server.

My kids are too old to play with Lego, so I will satisfy my imagination with NA, at least until I can play with grandchildren.

[LeBoiteux]

2 hours ago, Dakk Elleron said:

As someone who only plays on the PVE server (...) In addition to this change, what I would very much like, is an "on/off" toggle switch for AI aggression so that ships +/- 100 battle rating of my own would attempt to attack me. Maybe even a slider bar to increase or decrease the battle rating difference to +/- 200 or whatever I desired. 

44 minutes ago, Macjimm said:

 Would also like to have the option to set the AI aggression on PvP server.

+1 for an option to set AI aggressiveness on both servers.

However, if I recall correctly, it needed some rework of the AI.

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[Flakbait]

So does that mean the PVE server is going to be flooded with useless/un-attackable Neutral fleets?

[Aster]

You can kill neutral

[admin]

7 hours ago, Flakbait said:

So does that mean the PVE server is going to be flooded with useless/un-attackable Neutral fleets?

neutral fleets are useless thus all neutral ports will generate standard west indies nations (like france, spain and britain)

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, admin said:

neutral fleets are useless thus all neutral ports will generate standard west indies nations (like france, spain and britain)

have you thought about giving Indiaman AI escort ships? like a Spanish treasure fleet, the droprate from those could be somewhat higher then from example an LGV, but they are escorted by 10 Ship of the Lines etc.

[Bluetooth]

18 hours ago, admin said:

Captains

NPC positioning changes next with Port UI patch. Feel free to use this information for changing locations for your future activities. 

One Port - One Flag.
NPC fleets will carry the flag of the port they are assigned to. Dutch ports will send out Dutch traders, Dutch combat patrols, Dutch fleets to sea. Sail along them to get extra protection when trading or returning to base. Of course traders and NPC patrols will venture to enemy areas, but expect to see mostly Dutch ships if you are sailing through Dutch coasts. 

Regions Matter
To help players find their perfect hunting spot, to help with search and destroy missions and to provide natural chokepoints and meeting places for players certain classes of NPC ships/fleets will now prefer to sail specific regions.

For example: Yucatan Region, Hispaniola, and Lower Antilles will mostly have 1-3 st rates ship of the line sailing solo or in fleets. 

Missions avoid this requirement. Mission will provide targets based on mission not on region.

This is looking good........more realism to sailing patterns and nationality of those ships is a good move. Also agree with others that NPC fleet/ships should attack players if BR is +100.

 

[LeBoiteux]

45 minutes ago, Pirate Blackbeard said:

Also agree with others that NPC fleet/ships should attack players if BR is +100.

meaning an AI Cerberus could attack a human Lynx or an AI Surprise a human Pickle ? I'm uncertain about the number when it comes to AI warship vs human warship. On the other hand, any AI frigate (Cerberus, Renommée...) must be able to attack any human trader, including human Lynx (thus with BR difference > 200).

Deluxe option :

11 hours ago, Dakk Elleron said:

a slider bar to increase or decrease the battle rating difference to +/- 200 or whatever I desired. 

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[Hethwill]

41 minutes ago, Pirate Blackbeard said:

Also agree with others that NPC fleet/ships should attack players if BR is +100.

Er.... makes little sense to me.

IF AI going to be aggressive then they get aggressive to enemy player in the designated own nation zones, similar to security forces in Elite; with the added peril of having passing by NPCs even joining on going battles. End of.

That's how you do it, or else it is a "lost piece of coding without any 'real' use". 

[admin]

13 minutes ago, LeBoiteux said:

meaning an AI Cerberus could attack a human Lynx or an AI Surprise a human Pickle ? I'm uncertain about the number when it comes to AI warship vs human warship. On the other hand, any AI frigate (Cerberus, Renommée...) must be able to attack any human trader, including human Lynx (thus with BR difference > 200).

 

AI suprise attacking a human trader in Lynx would be just a waste of time for both participants. 

[LeBoiteux]

58 minutes ago, admin said:

AI suprise attacking a human trader in Lynx would be just a waste of time for both participants. 

Because of their comparative sailing performances ? Ok.

On the other hand, for a solo trader, isn't the main goal always to make every effort to avoid the combat instance against a warship, whatever it's too easy to flee or too hard to fight ? The more there are AI ships that can attack you in OW (including AI surprises when you are a human trader in Lynx), the more you are on the look-out during voyage in OW, watching the sea, avoiding coming close to enemy bot routes.

@admin ^ rewording of my post.

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[LeBoiteux]

17 minutes ago, Hethwill the Red Duke said:

Er.... makes little sense to me.

IF AI going to be aggressive then they get aggressive to enemy player in the designated own nation zones, similar to security forces in Elite; with the added peril of having passing by NPCs even joining on going battles. End of.

That's how you do it, or else it is a "lost piece of coding without any 'real' use". 

I don't know of Elite, nor coding. (You mean, in Elite, you can be attacked by all the present bots, right ?)

But it makes sense to me. It's creating 'fair' fights. Quite fun for attacked PvE-ers and I guess with a 'flavor of history' as I hardly imagine a dozen of warships attacking a lonely trader in lynx. 

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[Guest]

13 minutes ago, admin said:

AI suprise attacking a human trader in Lynx would be just a waste of time for both participants. 

code the ai so it chases the target for x seconds before returning to the route

[Hethwill]

Faction ships around the faction stations space ( or even in the entire system ) will investigate your status and engage when they see fit. I mostly play smuggler ( dealing in stolen cargo and illegal merchandise ) and it can be very dicey at times to bypass them.

[SnovaZdorowa]

Жаль русской темы нет. То, что нпц флоты должны иметь стратегическое значение и помогать в домашнем/захваченном регионе это более чем здраво.
Я бы даже запустил немного вдоль торговых маршрутов основных. Хочешь надежно доехать - ждешь свой флотик и мееедленно так с ним пилишь в нужном направлении.
Были бы еще у них логичные маршруты. Маршруты руками сделаны? НПЦ через сушу больше не будут плавать?

[Palatinose]

50 minutes ago, admin said:

AI suprise attacking a human trader in Lynx would be just a waste of time for both participants. 

Wouldn't that apply for every AI targeting a human player (exception player has multiple traders - which would also be AI then)? 

Sorry but I fail to see what aggressive AI will provide for players, but griefing (or the feeling to be griefed). Could you plz enlighten me @admin. Thx in advance.

[LeBoiteux]

28 minutes ago, Palatinose said:

Wouldn't that apply for every AI targeting a human player (exception player has multiple traders - which would also be AI then)? 

Sorry but I fail to see what aggressive AI will provide for players, but griefing (or the feeling to be griefed). Could you plz enlighten me @admin. Thx in advance.

Agressive AI is on the wishlist of (some ? lots of ?) PvE-ers and... (most ?) PvPers' nightmare.

That's why the idea of Agressive AI as an option came out.  🙂

1 hour ago, Hethwill the Red Duke said:

Faction ships around the faction stations space ( or even in the entire system ) will investigate your status and engage when they see fit. I mostly play smuggler ( dealing in stolen cargo and illegal merchandise ) and it can be very dicey at times to bypass them.

If I recall correctly, when AI aggressiveness was on in NA (a long, long... time ago :-), single human ships were attacked by a single AI ship, not a swarm, even if there were other enemy bots around. And it was fine.

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[Archaos]

1 hour ago, LeBoiteux said:

If I recall correctly, when AI aggressiveness was on in NA (a long, long... time ago :-), single human ships were attacked by a single AI ship, not a swarm, even if there were other enemy bots around. And it was fine.

If you recall as well most players did not like aggressive AI because it just became a waste of time. The AI is stupid and it is easy to get away from them so all they end up doing is delaying your passage. The idea of aggressive AI sounds like a good idea, but in practice it will not work unless the AI become more intelligent and can act just like players would.

[Teutonic]

Aggressive AI would only waste my time when I don't want to fight AI. 

I did not like aggressive AI and I do not wish for it to come back.

[LeBoiteux]

17 minutes ago, Archaos said:

If you recall as well most players did not like aggressive AI because it just became a waste of time. The AI is stupid and it is easy to get away from them so all they end up doing is delaying your passage. The idea of aggressive AI sounds like a good idea, but in practice it will not work unless the AI become more intelligent and can act just like players would.

17 minutes ago, Teutonic said:

Aggressive AI would only waste my time when I don't want to fight AI. 

I did not like aggressive AI and I do not wish for it to come back.

Some like it. Some don't. That's why the idea of AI aggressiveness as an option is interesting. Also remember there's (for now) a PvE server.

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux

[Eyesore]

Maybe we can have aggressive ai on the pve-server, but not on the pvp-server?

[LeBoiteux]

or there can can zones where AI is aggressive. There are a lots of possibilities.

Now it's a matter of development ressources, coding, devs' choices, game design, players' priorities, marketing... 🙂

Edited October 25, 2018 by LeBoiteux