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Drone aggro after patch on AI
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Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#1 - 2012-10-29 21:08:26 UTC
I have heard one or two people mention that drones and drone boats in particular are having hell right now on test due to the AI aggro changes. Has anyone else had the opportunity to get any testing in on them?

I am glad the AI is getting some overhaul, but I am hoping it does not mean also having to send out drones and pull them back in on a constant basis due to the new aggro mechanics. Especially with yet another drone boat coming out for my beloved Amarr.

Any feedback on if it is now better or worse would be appreciated.

Thx in advance,

~Z

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly
Riot Girl
You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack
#2 - 2012-10-29 21:31:44 UTC
I think you will have to pull them back in a lot. Maybe CCP will buff their speed to make it more practical for drone users.

Oh god.
Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#3 - 2012-10-29 22:29:08 UTC
Riot Girl wrote:
I think you will have to pull them back in a lot. Maybe CCP will buff their speed to make it more practical for drone users.



Ugh. Ok, Ill keep it in mind, thx.

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly
Dave stark
#4 - 2012-10-29 22:46:39 UTC
easy solution would be to stop npc rats targeting drones, however that might make it a bit too easy for drone boats.
rodyas
Tie Fighters Inc
#5 - 2012-10-30 06:21:15 UTC
^ Considering we can be the only one targeted at times. Your view is a bit weird.

Signature removed for inappropriate language - CCP Eterne
Alara IonStorm
#6 - 2012-10-30 07:33:23 UTC
I've had new spawns target my Hobgoblin II's 40-50km and my Hammerhead II's. Sentry Donres can be pulled instantly and Heavies are not all that used anyway.

I think the biggest change would be that you might not be able to keep Hammers out so much in some missions so don't rely on them.
Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#7 - 2012-10-30 16:28:13 UTC
All in all, with the clunky drone UI, and some of the distances the drones travel to kill targets / return to ship, I think this is going to definitely hurt the fun factor, and some of the effectiveness of my drone boats vs npcs. ;p

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly
Bugsy VanHalen
Society of lost Souls
#8 - 2012-10-30 17:14:43 UTC  |  Edited by: Bugsy VanHalen
Well, pulling them in an out is less of an issue than them getting insta popped. Dedicated drone boats seem to be doing ok, As well as T2 and T3 cruisers. Battleships on the other hand that rely on light drones to kill cruisers and frigates are screwed. Without perfect drone skills, light drones are often insta popped before you can pull them back in. And are agro'd as soon as you launch them.

If that is not bad enough, logistics ships have also become almost impossible for battleships to protect.

My advice is get on duality and test it yourself. If you do not like the changes speak up in the test feed back forums. If not enough players speak against it, these changes will go live on TQ on Dec 4th.
Jame Jarl Retief
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#9 - 2012-10-30 22:02:11 UTC
Bugsy VanHalen wrote:
Well, pulling them in an out is less of an issue than them getting insta popped. Dedicated drone boats seem to be doing ok, As well as T2 and T3 cruisers. Battleships on the other hand that rely on light drones to kill cruisers and frigates are screwed. Without perfect drone skills, light drones are often insta popped before you can pull them back in. And are agro'd as soon as you launch them.

If that is not bad enough, logistics ships have also become almost impossible for battleships to protect.

My advice is get on duality and test it yourself. If you do not like the changes speak up in the test feed back forums. If not enough players speak against it, these changes will go live on TQ on Dec 4th.


People have been begging CCP to look at drone situation for years. I know because I'm one of them. And very little was done.

If anything though, I very much look forward to these changes, especially since they're not overhauling all missions. Some missions will become brutally difficult when drones get insta-popped. The amount of crying that will generate will be stupendous. Also the addition of the new drone boat destroyers will only reinforce the issue, as I'm reasonably sure the Gallente and Amarr ones will be nowhere near as popular as Caldari and Minmatar destroyers due to the drone problems.

All in all, I expect the upcoming expansion to starkly highlight many of the drone issues from two fronts - NPC AI in PvE and destroyers in PvP. Perhaps this is the shot in the arm that CCP needs to finally look at drone situation after years and years of neglect.
Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#10 - 2012-10-31 04:18:59 UTC
Sad way to look at it, but .. well, thats a valid point. lol.

Here is hoping,

~Z

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly
Morrigan LeSante
Perkone
Caldari State
#11 - 2012-10-31 12:25:27 UTC
If only the little buggers wouldn't light up the MWD on the way back from the engagement on a return command. I'm telling them to fall back because they're being shot, an epic sig bloom is NOT a good way to increase survival odds X
Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#12 - 2012-11-01 18:55:35 UTC

As a side note, a decent thread, which will hopefully get some attention of CCP.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=2125087#post2125087

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly
Mavnas
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#13 - 2012-11-01 20:58:11 UTC
I've had problems with my drones even before this patch. i still don't know how I'm supposed to AFK in a Rattlesnake without losing a couple sentries, and I'm definitely regretting giving up 37.5% tracking in my Proteus for 5 light drones even though I can land some hits on orbiting spider drones even without the extra tracking.
Zyella Stormborn
Green Seekers
#14 - 2012-11-01 21:01:01 UTC
heh, not sure on the AFK part as I don't afk while missioning. I am concerned about the rest though.

There is a special Hell for people like that, Right next to child molestors, and people that talk in the theater. ~Firefly