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Fix drones and earn 1 :excellence: point - work in progress.

Author
Grey Stormshadow
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#1 - 2011-10-13 11:35:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Grey Stormshadow
Here is the video
http://www.gamefront.com/files/20842919/drone+bug.avi

Here is the bug
1. X amount of drones are shooting same target
2. Some of the drones kill the target in end of their firing cycle, but not all drones are involved in this.
3. Those drones which were not involved in "kill shot" got still their final firing cycle running and are locked to "dead" target.
3.1 These "special final cycle"-drones are assigned or acquire new target while the cycle still continues.
3.2 When their cycle finishes, they finally realize that their target has been dead/gone/killed for a while already and they reset.
3.3 After reset they either acquire new random target or have to be assigned to new target, depending are they active or passive.

As explained above currently drones stay locked to their "original" target for their entire firing/mining cycle, no matter are they assigned to to new target or does their "original" target even actually exist any more. Drones perform this test only in end of their cycle and this has to be fixed.

Here are the symptoms
- Drones going idle.
- Focus target is not working.
- Drones attacking random targets.
- Mining drone animation locked to wrong asteroid.

Here is the fix
To fix the bug flawlessly following checks has to be added to the code:
when target in the grid dies/vanishes/depletes every drone needs to check "was it my target?", unlock and disengage if it was.
when drone is acquiring new target and focus fire is on, check have all other drones unlocked and disengaged before taking action.
when drone is manually assigned to new target, immediately unlock and disengage from the old target if one exists.

If above causes too heavy server load, this method fixes the bug from most parts but is not totally flawless:
when pilots own drone kills/depletes target, all his other drones need to check "was it my target?", unlock and disengage if it was.
when drone is acquiring new target and focus fire is on, check have all other drones unlocked and disengaged before taking action.
when drone is manually assigned to new target, immediately unlock and disengage from the old target if one exists.

Here is the thread
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=7038

Here is the bug report
117251, "We are already aware of this problem, and have added your bugreport to the existing issue in our defect tracking system"

Here is current CCP status report on the issue
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=110530#post110530
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=205991#post205991 *Work in progress*
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=217419#post217419*Team BFF investigating*
https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=223535#post223535*Issues found and confirmed*

Estimation to get a fix
Winter expansion 2011

Thank you for listening and actually doing something.

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DarkAegix
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#2 - 2011-10-13 11:45:54 UTC
Working as intended.
Drones are becoming sentient, and are seeking revenge against capsuleers due to their slavery over these many years.
Also, it's a nerf to the overpowered Gallente race.
non judgement
Without Fear
Flying Burning Ships Alliance
#3 - 2011-10-13 12:34:29 UTC  |  Edited by: non judgement
Isn't it a rather short period of time that they sit there and then figure out "hey we have a new target" and then start heading off again? Like 2-3 seconds?

Ofc sometimes I have seen the split up and attack different targets thing they do. Which I always thought was funny. But sometimes I really needed them to focus on the one target. If they were going after normal frigates in missions, I wouldn't worry about it.

That's all I've noticed.

Oh wait is this about mining drones or all types?
Bratwurst0r
DARK ORCHESTRA
#4 - 2011-10-13 12:36:26 UTC
I never understood why CCP can't get this to work. Maybe old code, i don't know. I don't trust my drones anyway anymore.
Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#5 - 2011-10-13 12:41:20 UTC
Grey Stormshadow wrote:
Here is the fix
To fix the bug flawlessly following checks has to be added to the code:
when target in the grid dies/vanishes/depletes every drone needs to check "was it my target?", unlock and disengage if it was.
Oh dear… Missiles 2.0. Cry
Morganta
The Greater Goon
#6 - 2011-10-13 12:57:08 UTC
extra drone/target state checks = more server transactions = lag

multiply by the average 50 drones on grid in a battle and you have a problem


but yeah, losing a second of pew sure sucks
Simetraz
State War Academy
Caldari State
#7 - 2011-10-13 13:18:02 UTC  |  Edited by: Simetraz
Drones have been having issues for so long most have just given up.
That and people found out that if you pull them back after each hit (not far mind you) that they can provide an alpha hit every time.
And of course that leads to a ton of lag.

Then there is the very old code for drones.

Drones need a ton of work and in a lot of cases they are totally useless (sleepers)

Kind of like Gallente pilots, they are becoming a thing of the past.

OH side note.

CCP was once talking about formations.
Well one place that should seriously think about implementing it is with drones.
Drones in formation that act as one entity would eliminate the issue the OP is talking about and reduce lag as the computer would track them as one entity for movement. and weapons.

But that goes along with being able to destroy parts of ships and so forth and so on.
Not in the current code.

When I think of Drones and fleet formations, I think of Homeworld
washy2
Excrutiating Dirge
#8 - 2011-10-13 13:35:07 UTC
Smoking Blunts
ZC Omega
#9 - 2011-10-13 13:39:03 UTC
all drones shoudl be removed.

no ship should be able to kill the ship class below it without seriously being fitted for it. large blaster moros? mediums on bs? triple web combo's on both ofc.



OMG when can i get a pic here

Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#10 - 2011-10-13 14:04:06 UTC
Smoking Blunts wrote:
all drones shoudl be removed.

no ship should be able to kill the ship class below it without seriously being fitted for it. large blaster moros? mediums on bs? triple web combo's on both ofc.
Roll
Smoking Blunts
ZC Omega
#11 - 2011-10-13 14:05:07 UTC
Tippia wrote:
Smoking Blunts wrote:
all drones shoudl be removed.

no ship should be able to kill the ship class below it without seriously being fitted for it. large blaster moros? mediums on bs? triple web combo's on both ofc.
Roll


lol, well i can hope cant i?

OMG when can i get a pic here

My Postman
Royal Amarr Institute
Amarr Empire
#12 - 2011-10-13 14:24:17 UTC
As my main is a gallente drone boat mission runner, i can feel your (and my) pain. Status quo is exactly as you said.

+ Mining Drones:

When NOT recalling them to drone bay after they sucked a rock dry, and you´ll simply send them to another rock (when ALL of them showing IDLE) after some seconds, one, two or three of them are returning to orbit without load, and are going to "idle mode".

Quite funny when returning from kitchen with a beer seeing some drones orbiting, while the others are happily mining.

Long story short: FIX DRONES instead of returning of ship spinning. Omg i will be beaten to death for that.Lol
Sarmatiko
#13 - 2011-10-13 14:33:09 UTC
Drone users should suffer in their afk missioning misery Smile
Kilrayn
Caldari Provisions
#14 - 2011-10-13 14:33:23 UTC
I am currently in the process of fixing drones. By that I mean I'm training missiles Cool

More seriously though, I agree. As a droner, I've seen those little buggers split/idle/lol@me at least every other mission. Fun as they are, they're also a pain.

"Music is a mysterious thing. Sometimes it makes people remember things they do not expect. Many thoughts, feelings, memories... things almost forgotten... Regardless of whether the listener desires to remember or not." - Citan Uzuki, Xenogears

Sarmatiko
#15 - 2011-10-13 14:37:09 UTC
My Postman wrote:
Long story short: FIX DRONES instead of returning of ship spinning. Omg i will be beaten to death for that.Lol

I have better idea: REMOVE GALLENTE ENTIRELY
Too much trouble from them lately.
FIX HYBRIDS
FIX DRONES
FIX HULL TANKING
FIX CHARACTER UGLINESS

See? EVE will be a better place without feds Cool
Grey Stormshadow
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#16 - 2011-10-13 14:59:06 UTC
Official bug reporting tutorial wrote:

5 first steps work only during 2-3 days after any major expansion. In most cases adding steps 6-10 are needed but will do the work.
If something important has magically vanished from the game, prepare to go all the way.

1. Search your bug from issues forum and from known issues page.
2. Filing a bug report is always a good thing, even the issue would already exist in some forum thread.
3. Post to relative issues thread or create new one if old one doesn't exist.
4. Wait for CCP to take some action.
5. Post proof of concept video/image/logs to show that the bug really exists.

6. Post propaganda to general discussion and to draw more attention to the issue.
7. Keep bumping all your threads with comments like "bumping continues if morale doesn't improve",
8. Use your alts to like your own threads and bump them with comments like "I have this bug too it is horrible CCP isn't doing anything"
9. Get senior developer to test "your" bug and say "I can't reproduce this on our server" and leave it there.
10. Leave suggestion about fixing your bug as new feature to assembly hall.

11. Unsub
12. Bomb jita statue
13. Write plea to mr CSM "king of the goons" Mittani
14. Write your complaints to all major online gaming sites.
15. Enjoy the fix which is coming soonTM

Looks like we're on step 9 atm.
Step 10 next week - looking good.

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Grey Stormshadow
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#17 - 2011-10-13 18:06:47 UTC
bumping continues until my little drones behave more like drones and less like ponies, thread is locked or CCP Phantom performs ninjareplacement of the entire topic....

Join fix drones foundation - fighting for our right to dronepwnage since 2011.
We have food, time and dedication. CCP can not win without cheathaxorcensoring and dirty tricks.
Drones need you today! Fight for better future, slaughter the bug - give a new life to your hobgoblin!

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Barbelo Valentinian
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#18 - 2011-10-13 18:36:29 UTC
Drones have been much, much worse in the last year than they ever were before (at least for me - never had any problems with them till Incursion/Incarna).

I can't believe that any solution would put more load on the server than the load of several thousand people mashing the hell out of the "drone attack" button in irritation and frustration.

Because that's what it's come to.
Nyssa Litari
Doomheim
#19 - 2011-10-13 21:22:49 UTC
So yes, this is workaround (for PvE at least)...

Adjust the key bindings for engage and return to something easy (Left Alt+E, Left Alt R for me) and when you want them on a new target issue the engage command two or three times. My attention occasionally lapses (after the second scotch) but this works fairly well for keeping the doggies in line.
Grey Stormshadow
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#20 - 2011-10-14 11:15:41 UTC
My warrior II is crying in agony and bumps the post for urgent medical care.

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