Forums » Suggestions
Unrat Ace Pilot
I propose that occasionally a very unfair unrat ace pilot also spawns with the unrats. This npc will have a ship load out that players can't have. Something like a vulture with the handling characteristics of a Corvult, that can infini turbo at 227m/s and is armed with two Corvus widowmakers.
I remember reading sometime back, that devs, if they want, could ramp up the AI levels to be very unfair. In this instance, this is what would happen. Maxed AI levels, with an unfair ship. This ship will also repair whenever the sector goes inactive.
Players that kill this unrat ace while piloting a non capital ship would get points toward a badge with certain rewards. Maybe a special drop as well. Like a plaque that notes the date the ace was killed, and how many npc/players the ace killed before it was destroyed.
Pluses: More badges means more flair. And we love our flair. Killing the unrat Grey Baron would give combat pilots more street cred. Potential for another addon reward. Imagine seeing that ace pilot, kitted out in a special skin flying toward you. Pucker factor to the max.
Negatives: Would make grey space even more scary, and some pilots won't like that.
I remember reading sometime back, that devs, if they want, could ramp up the AI levels to be very unfair. In this instance, this is what would happen. Maxed AI levels, with an unfair ship. This ship will also repair whenever the sector goes inactive.
Players that kill this unrat ace while piloting a non capital ship would get points toward a badge with certain rewards. Maybe a special drop as well. Like a plaque that notes the date the ace was killed, and how many npc/players the ace killed before it was destroyed.
Pluses: More badges means more flair. And we love our flair. Killing the unrat Grey Baron would give combat pilots more street cred. Potential for another addon reward. Imagine seeing that ace pilot, kitted out in a special skin flying toward you. Pucker factor to the max.
Negatives: Would make grey space even more scary, and some pilots won't like that.
“Grey space is dangerous” -Vendetta Online +1
+1. It would give pilots who kill unrats a challenge.
On one hand this could be kind of nifty. On the other, swarms and MGCs could be a farmer's best friend.
+1 to the idea itself, but I share the farming concern A-Dawg has. Even a super-buffed NPC, with the current stupid NPC AI, can be killed very easily using swarms.
"the current stupid NPC AI"
Which is why this npc would have the AI levels maxed. The current levels are not ramped up.
Which is why this npc would have the AI levels maxed. The current levels are not ramped up.
On the other, swarms and MGCs could be a farmer's best friend.
Since the ace would not always show up, you'd be bringing your MGC to a party that might not have the guests you want. Additionally, the ramped up AI would probably be trying to get in close on your six. This would cause a most the rockets to not detonate due to the safety fuse. And you would also be dealing with the normal unrats at the same time. This would not be unrat dent sector. So yeah, you could get a one shot off on it, but it would not be a guaranteed farming style kill.
Since the ace would not always show up, you'd be bringing your MGC to a party that might not have the guests you want. Additionally, the ramped up AI would probably be trying to get in close on your six. This would cause a most the rockets to not detonate due to the safety fuse. And you would also be dealing with the normal unrats at the same time. This would not be unrat dent sector. So yeah, you could get a one shot off on it, but it would not be a guaranteed farming style kill.
As we all float knows well, it goes without saying that players are going to try and find all possible exploits at all times. I can see a way that this easter egg could be a part of VO that isn't exploitative... it just wouldn't happen right away.
+1 to easter eggs
+1 to easter eggs
Which is why this npc would have the AI levels maxed.
I'd like to see the NPC capable of dodging swarms solo. "Maxed" AI on most NPCs is that they attack in large numbers. Individually, even unrats, which have the most advanced combat AI, are easy.
I'd like to see the NPC capable of dodging swarms solo. "Maxed" AI on most NPCs is that they attack in large numbers. Individually, even unrats, which have the most advanced combat AI, are easy.
Would be really cool if said NPC had a flare addon that countered all missiles that lock on to it. Or an addon that disables all missiles within a certain radius of it, and even turns some back towards the aggressor. The addon could become a rare drop, consumable once.
Unrats dont dodge flares well, this ace guy could have that meter cranked up too.
The ace could also behave smart and know when to gtfo. If too many players or a capital ship show up, it would try to leave the sector.
Another gimmick could be that when close to being defeated, theres a chance that the ace triggers a hidden TU inside his ship and takes everyone with him. Pilots that damaged it still get the credit for its death.
Unrats dont dodge flares well, this ace guy could have that meter cranked up too.
The ace could also behave smart and know when to gtfo. If too many players or a capital ship show up, it would try to leave the sector.
Another gimmick could be that when close to being defeated, theres a chance that the ace triggers a hidden TU inside his ship and takes everyone with him. Pilots that damaged it still get the credit for its death.
Individually, even unrats, which have the most advanced combat AI, are easy.
I am not discussing the current AI. I found the quote i am looking for:
"From a historical standpoint, there was a problem in the very early days with bots just being way too challenging."
...
"It is not inordinately complicated for us to roll a few new bot behaviours, and then have the bot change between them periodically based on success or failure, or random timing intervals, or other factors. This is not some crazy "deep learning neural net" stuff, this is a simple rule-based system, which drives almost 100% of all gameplay AI in all games everywhere."
-Inc (2017)
Unless you are an ancient vet, you, nor anyone else in this thread have ever experienced the unfair AI .
I am not discussing the current AI. I found the quote i am looking for:
"From a historical standpoint, there was a problem in the very early days with bots just being way too challenging."
...
"It is not inordinately complicated for us to roll a few new bot behaviours, and then have the bot change between them periodically based on success or failure, or random timing intervals, or other factors. This is not some crazy "deep learning neural net" stuff, this is a simple rule-based system, which drives almost 100% of all gameplay AI in all games everywhere."
-Inc (2017)
Unless you are an ancient vet, you, nor anyone else in this thread have ever experienced the unfair AI .