Player Features and Ideas Discussion

[Excerpt from original Freebooted article "No Retribution for Old Drones"]

One of the most significant controversies arising from the Retribution changes, or at least the one causing the most noise elsewhere on this forum, is the AI changes to NPCs. Now less predictable, with some of the far more challenging Sleeper AI being implemented, NPC "rats" across New Eden have apparently taken to massacring players' drones. I've not yet had the opportunity to investigate this phenomenon, but anything that refreshes the tired mission system sounds good to me.

Reports of the degree of anti-drone violence are varied, with primarily solo mission runners feeling the pinch. Many are complaining that the new AI behaviours have made drone boats non-viable as mission ships, whilst others are claiming that players simply need to adapt.

It may simply be those who can no longer sleepwalk through missions using drones as a passive DPS system who are being the most vocal, however this does throw light on an area of EVE's antiquated gameplay and UI that desperately needs some love. Improvements elsewhere in EVE are increasingly making drone-based gameplay the most prominent ugly sister. It would be great to see the following tweaks:

Improved Interface

With increasing need to micro-manage drones in time-critical combat situations, an intuitive means of doing so is desperately needed. The present drone interface - a right-click dropdown menu buried within a clunky drone management window - is awful. It would be great to see a clear and simple, button-driven panel allowing the organisation and command of flights on drones. A number of solutions spring to mind, all of which would be better than the existing system. See the mock-up by Ruato (made in 2006!) for an example. [Edit: it should be noted that the existing keyboard shortcuts are an alternative drone control option, but that is no excuse for a diabolical UI.]

Drone Fozzification

CCP Fozzie has done a great job of rebalancing many of the ships in EVE. Have drones been slated for review? Or are they considered to be fine as they are? Certain drone types remain as unused as many of the pre-tiericide frigates and cruisers, so I suspect there may be some work for He Who Juggles the Numbers.

V3 the Drones

These poor little fellas have long been overlooked for some visual love. First and foremost - give them engine trails, it'd look fantastic as they whizzed around and it'd mean that they'd exist as more than just a HUD "x" when viewed from a distance. Also, give them a redesign so they don't look so ridiculous when they fire sideways from their fixed forward-facing weapons.

Revised AI and In-Depth Drone Gameplay

If we've got to micromanage them, make it fun - perhaps making drone-based gameplay more involved. If the launch-and-forget days of mission farming are over, why not give the player a little more control over the behaviour of his drones. Beyond the passive/aggressive settings, why not allow the player to define more specific behaviours, from target priorities to range thresholds and tactics. Perhaps flights of drones could have a command drone within them to provide boosts, or maybe bonuses could be given for using particular formations (speed improvement for 'chevron' formation, accuracy boost for 'sphere', damage for 'cluster', etc.)

I agree 100% this needs to be looked at

For sure drone UI need reworking.

all of this.

I liked the drone UI button at fanfest i was hoping to see that by now but it seems lots of things haven't happened as they suggested would at fanfest as we all know drones need a top to bottom overhaul certainly things like ogres having a higher sig radius than a logi cruiser and tracking of a battleship.

Adjusting NPC AI without adjusting the actual missions as well is just terrible and screwing over their customers.
With the huge signature on drones they are doomed if the NPC decides to target them.
If I implemented something like this without considering the consequences I'd get my ass fired the next day.

+ 1

There is nothing in the OP I don't agree with. +1

How do we think drones need to be changed to work with the current NPC AI? How can we get Drone boats to be able to compete with other weapon platforms in PvE once more?

Fozzie'ficate this, Fozzie!

I'd snarkly point out how CCP should first fix the mechanics, but the graphics team is independant of the balancing one, so if they make it more shiny... ooh shiny! What was I talking about?