Forums » Suggestions
hiring AI escort and cargorunner bots in local station
Think it would add another dimension of fun if players could hire AI for leverage in local stations whether its for combat/escort or cargoruns, in the tradition of privateer2 and x2 (possibly others as well). Some basic communication options/commands in space, varying pilotskills, ships and hiringfees, moral(?), and contracts lasting from one dock to the next. Possible ???
Although it would be fun -- I liked this aspect of Privateer 2 -- and probably not too much of a stretch given that we've already got convoy bots and so on, I would much rather see group trade and mining missions implemented. That way it'd be players hiring on instead of AI.
There's also some balance/gameplay issues with AI hiring that P2 didn't have as a single player game. Foremost, it's likely that everyone would hire a wingman all the time, because putting controls on hiring would be difficult. That changes the dynamics of the game a lot.
(Just to [try to] head off the inevitable reply, the "solution" to this problem must involve creating scarcity of wingmen -- through timers, high prices, difficulty finding them, requiring certain missions, etc. But this only exacerbates the balance/gameplay problems rather than solving them.)
There's also some balance/gameplay issues with AI hiring that P2 didn't have as a single player game. Foremost, it's likely that everyone would hire a wingman all the time, because putting controls on hiring would be difficult. That changes the dynamics of the game a lot.
(Just to [try to] head off the inevitable reply, the "solution" to this problem must involve creating scarcity of wingmen -- through timers, high prices, difficulty finding them, requiring certain missions, etc. But this only exacerbates the balance/gameplay problems rather than solving them.)
why dont you hire real players instead?
i have hired dozens of people to escort me.
i have hired dozens of people to escort me.
Hiring real players is of course always one nice possibility, but I do think that implementing Cargo drones (like in EV Nova) that could carry 10cu of cargo and would be very weak against attacks, would be a great addition. That way, you could easily haul lots of cargo from a system to another, however taking a great risk losing your cargo in case of piracy. (since the bots would be very easy to shoot).
If the AI cargo bots would be expensive enough (say, 100cr per minute), it would compensate for the easy way of making money fast. (again, see EV Nova and how easy it is to make millions once you can afford the biggest escort ships).
For the combat bots, I have no opinion. They might change the overall gameplay quite a bit, perhaps too much.
If the AI cargo bots would be expensive enough (say, 100cr per minute), it would compensate for the easy way of making money fast. (again, see EV Nova and how easy it is to make millions once you can afford the biggest escort ships).
For the combat bots, I have no opinion. They might change the overall gameplay quite a bit, perhaps too much.
maybe i should start hiring people to transport cargo as well.
TGFT is a trader's guild. I'm sure they would be happy to provide transport and escort services for a fee.