Missions & Complexes

When the idea was originally proposed, I envisioned this exact problem and stated it in the proposal thread. Bottom line, if you can't kill the scrambling frigates with your guns/missiles and are relying on drones for that, you better carry spares (fortunately most battleships can carry extra lights). Nonetheless, I'm sure people will be caught droneless, scrambled by an NPC or two, with no way to leave the room and no way to kill them, and of course no way for them to kill you. In that case I suggest you logoff (I doubt an NPC frigate will kill you before you warp off), wait until DT, or file a bug report under 'stuck game'.

On another note, if they copied anything from sleeper or incursion NPC AI, I would suggest thinking about carrying EW and/or a gang link, as sleepers hate those and almost always primary those threats, it might help keep your drones alive a bit longer.

This is so true, but I couldn't care less as a CNR pilot. (you see what I did here?)

There are PLENTY of those tears on the test server forum thread, as gankers whine that they shouldn't have to tank their ships because... well, they can't really come up with any good reasons other than Stranger Danger or something silly.

You are suggesting that this affects them negative, while actually it makes l4s for them way more interesting. It is a positive change for them. More challenge is good in this context. L4s become else for them completely repetitive, just like all the rest of EVEs weak PVE content.

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Who flies these Ravens that do not use drones? I run level 4 missions and a raven is still one of my goto ships.

It is true that a raven with T2 cruise launchers using precision missiles can hit frigates. But why would you bother? Running level 4 missions is all about maximizing isk/hr for most mission runners.

Personally I set my light drones on the frigates and take out the rest with my missiles. How the mission is laid out will determine if I start with cruisers and work up, or Battleships and work down. But fast completion times require me to rely on my drones as a primary counter to the web/scram frigates. Especially the elite ones. I currently need to keep an eye on my drones as some missions the different waves are set to attack drones that target a different wave. Also new wave spawns can attack drones. This is not a major problem but can cost you a couple drones if not paying attention.

Can I complete the missions without using drones? Yes of course. But completion times are much slower. This change will be a massive nerf to the isk/hr of most dedicated mission runners.

Running missions on the test server, in the same way that has given me the best completion times on TQ has resulted in drones getting mass targeted by every cruiser and smaller ship in the room and generally getting popped before they can get back to the ship. Even a warrior II is very slow when targeted by webing and scraming rats.

There are different ways of running missions to compensate for this. But the best i can do is about double my previous average completion times. Can I still run missions? Yes. But I make literally half the isk/hr I made before the change. The same missions that I can complete on TQ in about 20 minutes, take me at least 40 minutes to complete on the test server.

If the new A.I. is here to stay then at least compensate the lost isk/hr by doubling the loyalty points given by the missions. This will keep the isk/hr of mission running where it should be but reduce the isk faucet at the same time. Loyalty points actually create an isk sink as you need LP plus isk to get items from the loyalty point store. High NPC bounty payouts are the biggest isk faucet in this game. Income from missions comes in three forms. Straight Bounty payouts, loyalty points from completion of the missions, and loot/salvage/tag drops by the rats. Loyalty points, and loot/salvage/tags dropped by rats create income without bringing new isk into the game thru items the mission runner can sell. Straight bounties however being an isk faucet provide income to the mission runner through directly injecting new isk into the game.

The most effective way to curb inflation in the game is to cap isk faucets and increase isk sinks. reducing the bounties and increasing the loot drops and loyalty point rewards would go a long way to reducing the level of inflation we have seen in EVE.

now all that needs to be done is add durability to t1 laser crystals

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Not really. Sleeper sites were designed with this AI in mind. All existing missions and so forth were designed with stupid AI in mind. It makes a difference.

Shortly after I first started to play Eve, I was told that it was a mistake to fly Gallente ships, but I stuck with them.

As my Dominix Navy Issue looks like it will soon be neither use nor ornament, I should have listened to those who knew better than I.

If I cannot earn isk running level 4 missions, which by the way I actually enjoy, how am I to earn isk to lose at pvp?

I suppose I shall find a way to adapt.

To those who say pve will be more exciting, I say this. Once folk work out how to 'farm' the new missions, everything will have changed and all will be the same.