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PVE, Drones, The new AI and You

First post
Author
Mund Richard
#421 - 2012-12-12 22:24:08 UTC
Tyberius Franklin wrote:
This is the primary factor pushing me away from drone usage as a primary weapon post patch.
Can't remember the last time I thought of drones as primary weapon system, apart from sentries. Roll

Although it has been ages ago since I flew L2s comparing a Vexor to a Thorax, and at the time the Algos was not in game.

"We want PvE activities to require active participation and mirror PvP more closely." Stacking penalty for NPC EWAR then? Lock range under 9km from over 100 in a BS is not fun. Nor is two NPC web drones making me crawl 10m/s. PvP SW-900 x5: 75m/s.

Tyberius Franklin
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#422 - 2012-12-12 22:59:10 UTC
Mund Richard wrote:
Tyberius Franklin wrote:
This is the primary factor pushing me away from drone usage as a primary weapon post patch.
Can't remember the last time I thought of drones as primary weapon system, apart from sentries. Roll

Although it has been ages ago since I flew L2s comparing a Vexor to a Thorax, and at the time the Algos was not in game.

I primarily use sentries but very close orbiting ships cruiser and up I tend to get better results with heavies. Only issue is that unbonused RR range doesn't even allow that half the time.
ashley Eoner
#423 - 2012-12-13 00:24:07 UTC
Phil Da Agony wrote:
You people know that reppers exist rite? and they actually work, RITE?
yes the large RR has a range of about 8-9KM and requires you to spend at least 15 seconds locking the drone. My rattlesnake has a large armour repper in one of it's high slots and I rarely actually get to use it because either the drone dies before my lock completes or the drone dies before it gets back into range. The reppers do work for the sentries but right now it's more efficient by far to just abuse the AI defect and then repair with impunity.
Mund Richard
#424 - 2012-12-13 01:42:20 UTC
ashley Eoner wrote:
Phil Da Agony wrote:
You people know that reppers exist rite? and they actually work, RITE?
yes the large RR has a range of about 8-9KM and requires you to spend at least 15 seconds locking the drone. My rattlesnake has a large armour repper in one of it's high slots and I rarely actually get to use it because either the drone dies before my lock completes or the drone dies before it gets back into range. The reppers do work for the sentries but right now it's more efficient by far to just abuse the AI defect and then repair with impunity.

Maybe a new module, that has the fitting costs of a large repper, does the repping of a small, but at an extended range?
...
Nah, don't quite see it work.

"We want PvE activities to require active participation and mirror PvP more closely." Stacking penalty for NPC EWAR then? Lock range under 9km from over 100 in a BS is not fun. Nor is two NPC web drones making me crawl 10m/s. PvP SW-900 x5: 75m/s.

Morar Santee
#425 - 2012-12-13 01:45:36 UTC
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Urgg Boolean wrote:
If soloing, what is the counter measure for the Serpentis damping now? Because "disposable drones" is not really an option or a viable strategy in my opinion. I'm happy to admit my ignorance if anybody has a great counter measure.

Excellent. Then I would advise you check out the marketplace for four new skills so you may reduce your ignorance:

Magnetometric Sensor Compensation;

Gravimetric Sensor Compensation;

Ladar Sensor Compensation;

& Radar Sensor Compensation

You will find what ships they best suit in the skill explanations.

You mean ignorance like:

Saying that Sensor Compensation skills will help against sensor dampening? Just a hint - they don't. Sensor strength only affects the likelihood of being jammed. Sensor dampeners, however, decrease lock-range.

You, sir, are a full-blown moron. I would suggest you stop making vaguely condescending posts on topics you clearly do not know **** about.
Remiel Pollard
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#426 - 2012-12-13 02:38:34 UTC  |  Edited by: Remiel Pollard
Morar Santee wrote:
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Urgg Boolean wrote:
If soloing, what is the counter measure for the Serpentis damping now? Because "disposable drones" is not really an option or a viable strategy in my opinion. I'm happy to admit my ignorance if anybody has a great counter measure.

Excellent. Then I would advise you check out the marketplace for four new skills so you may reduce your ignorance:

Magnetometric Sensor Compensation;

Gravimetric Sensor Compensation;

Ladar Sensor Compensation;

& Radar Sensor Compensation

You will find what ships they best suit in the skill explanations.

You mean ignorance like:

Saying that Sensor Compensation skills will help against sensor dampening? Just a hint - they don't. Sensor strength only affects the likelihood of being jammed. Sensor dampeners, however, decrease lock-range.

You, sir, are a full-blown moron. I would suggest you stop making vaguely condescending posts on topics you clearly do not know **** about.


Yes, raging at people who are wrong instead of just explaining why they're wrong is bound to get a positive reaction.

Being wrong about something in EVE =/= being a moron. Morons are those people with tiny IQs who jump to conclusions about people they know nothing about. Like yourself, for example. I have since discovered that these skills don't affect sensor dampening, and I'm happy to retract and admit I was wrong. See, that's what smart people do, they admit when they're wrong in the face of evidence. A moron would continue to argue, however, that they were right, evidence notwithstanding.

Or, alternatively, just call someone a moron because they made a mistake. That's a pretty moronic thing to do as well.

“Some capsuleers claim that ECM is 'dishonorable' and 'unfair'. Jam those ones first, and kill them last.” - Jirai 'Fatal' Laitanen, Pithum Nullifier Training Manual c. YC104

Mund Richard
#427 - 2012-12-13 03:18:47 UTC  |  Edited by: Mund Richard
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Morar Santee wrote:
You, sir, are a full-blown moron. I would suggest you stop making vaguely condescending posts on topics you clearly do not know **** about.
Yes, raging at people who are wrong instead of just explaining why they're wrong is bound to get a positive reaction.

Being wrong about something in EVE =/= being a moron. Morons are those people with tiny IQs who jump to conclusions about people they know nothing about. Like yourself, for example. I have since discovered that these skills don't affect sensor dampening, and I'm happy to retract and admit I was wrong. See, that's what smart people do, they admit when they're wrong in the face of evidence. A moron would continue to argue, however, that they were right, evidence notwithstanding.


You know, if you would have said so (at least the more polite part) the first time someone corrected you in this topic, it would have been better.

A few times it has been pointed out, yet somehow you managed to ignore it.

Now that you can add such (I must admit, it's quite well done) rethorics to it, you do.

Please increase my bounty if I misspelled anything, it's not like I'm using a language that's not even my secondary.

Now, let us get back on topic, anyone any new feedback on PVE, Drones, The new AI and You?
On my part, I somehow had a bit more agro swap to my drones, and the rats favored splitting dps a bit more, making my job harder.
Wasn't unmanageable, but shields of drones got down, and even the paint on the armor was scratched. At least battleships didn't want my goblins for dinner.
But I haven't been to any mission with TD/Damp, or places where there could be UNintended full room agro.

"We want PvE activities to require active participation and mirror PvP more closely." Stacking penalty for NPC EWAR then? Lock range under 9km from over 100 in a BS is not fun. Nor is two NPC web drones making me crawl 10m/s. PvP SW-900 x5: 75m/s.

Remiel Pollard
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#428 - 2012-12-13 03:24:08 UTC
Mund Richard wrote:

You know, if you would have said so (at least the more polite part) the first time someone corrected you in this topic, it would have been better.

A few times it has been pointed out, yet somehow you managed to ignore it.


Or, I'm not on the forums 24/7 in order to notice every single post in order to read every single little post and response to what I have to say. This is the first I've seen someone correct me on the issue, and it happened only after I discovered for myself that the skills have no effect on damping. I have no problem with being proven wrong. In fact, I welcome it, because it means I learn something. I like learning things. Knowledge is power.

“Some capsuleers claim that ECM is 'dishonorable' and 'unfair'. Jam those ones first, and kill them last.” - Jirai 'Fatal' Laitanen, Pithum Nullifier Training Manual c. YC104

Tanthalassa
State War Academy
Caldari State
#429 - 2012-12-13 03:25:24 UTC
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread. The 1st has 4kk in drones, the later has 12kk sp total.
You two aren't even qualified to participate in the AI change vs Drones discussion.

If anyone has actually sizable amount of SP in drones, they wouldn't be as ignorant. 11.5kk drone sp here - that's half a year worth of training. Time is money (literally if you pay for the sub) and if most of that SP is of no use, it means you are sol, ha. But what do the trolls suggest? Let's see, someone in the thread has 20kk in drones? "Ha - pocket change, just a year of training, suck it up loser, adapt!"

If one happens to have skills that are not even affected by the recent changes, why does he bother to go and post some garbage in the thread? If a player's SP is mostly "dumped"(and it feels this way now) in drone boats and drones naturally, why does he have to crosstrain for amarr ships, or caldari, or even "better" npc faction ships – Nightmare? If you happen to have the SP of yours and they still matter and actually are useful, don't troll the thead...

Every single "adapt" quote tossed in here means “crosstrain” so far.

And any suggestion to use electronic warfare in missions sounds "marvelous" for drone boats, which already suffer from split in weapon systems - drone modules vs turret dmg modules. Add electronic warfare modules on drone boats, the tank will diminish. Then add remote repair modules.. lol, no need to even continue the list, because the one and only perk that drones provide - no need for ammo - is outweighed by the perks the other systems got. UI for the drones is simply horrendous. Any MMO with any minion control mechanic should have better UI than what EvE offers.

And before most common - suck it up, you cannot afk missions any more - never afked in a single mission, since doing it actively beats it either way. If afking mattered so much for CCP, all they needed to do is remove aggressive mode for drones, that sure as hell would beat having whole room aggro on a set of light that get popped before they can even get targeted by the player.
Of course it would be nice if we could actually use nanite repair paste on the drones. Even if we still cannot overheat them.

At any rate, I doubt anyone is going to refund the SP, a remap would be the least CCP could do, nobody in their right mind would bother to "adapt" to another race’/s’ ships with their lowest Per/Will, would they?
Remiel Pollard
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#430 - 2012-12-13 03:28:04 UTC  |  Edited by: Remiel Pollard
Tanthalassa wrote:
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread. The 1st has 4kk in drones, the later has 12kk sp total.
You two aren't even qualified to participate in the AI change vs Drones discussion.


And yet, we've had no problems so far using using drones. Speaks volumes when people with lower skills are struggling less than people with high ones. Qualifications are determined by results, not SP. Kthxbai

EDIT: I don't know if you've noticed or not, but it is possible to buy characters with high skills as a brand new player to the game. There is one skill book that doesn't come with the game character, though, and it's called "Experience at EVE". It's not in the marketplace, because it only exists for the player him- or herself. Time spent on EVE is not a measure of this experience, and neither is SP. How fast you learn EVE and how much of how to do stuff is what matters. Skill points are secondary, increasing them makes things easier, but not having them doesn't make stuff impossible to experience.

“Some capsuleers claim that ECM is 'dishonorable' and 'unfair'. Jam those ones first, and kill them last.” - Jirai 'Fatal' Laitanen, Pithum Nullifier Training Manual c. YC104

Nexus Day
Lustrevik Trade and Travel Bureau
#431 - 2012-12-13 03:39:34 UTC
I love how many responses are "CCP is doing this to promote that".

CCP will do what makes them money. And if the drone change affects this it will be revisited.
Nexus Day
Lustrevik Trade and Travel Bureau
#432 - 2012-12-13 03:48:02 UTC
To the teamwork people:

L5's

Living in a WH

Living in Null

FW

Incursions

There are enough "teamwork" opportunities in game. And they pay a hell of alot more than L4's.

If I want to socialize I go out with real people, that I know, drink a real drink not called Quafe, then go home to my real home that is not a 20x15 futuristic dorm room. If I want to fly spaceships and interact as I please I play EvE.

There are alot of people like me and we pay our subs with real money. That is why CCP makes sure to have play options for all types of playstyles.
Tanthalassa
State War Academy
Caldari State
#433 - 2012-12-13 03:57:41 UTC
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Tanthalassa wrote:
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread. The 1st has 4kk in drones, the later has 12kk sp total.
You two aren't even qualified to participate in the AI change vs Drones discussion.


And yet, we've had no problems so far using using drones. Speaks volumes when people with lower skills are struggling less than people with high ones. Qualifications are determined by results, not SP. Kthxbai
Stop making assumpions, pal. Did I mention anywhere in my post that I struggle?

It's sure as heck more efficient to do missions in a missle boat where you hit F1 one time, wrecks show up. Why do I have to go through bazillion drop-downs to get somewhat similar efficiency from my drones?

Do you solo lvl4 missions with your 12kk SP? What do you fly? And no - i don't need your fits just as I don't need your accusations of my character buying. Get off your high horse.
Mund Richard
#434 - 2012-12-13 04:07:17 UTC  |  Edited by: Mund Richard
Tanthalassa wrote:
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread.
Hmm..

They had several EWAR suggestions, working to variably questionable degrees, and while I personally didn't agree with any of them, my own solution is also using EWAR, go figure. Roll

RR module on a ship means one less gun used in most cases, which is sub-optimal as far as mission completion time goes, aye.
But that starts to go into the "drones as ammo" discussion.

The split weapon system trouble is indeed troublesome, but requires a thread dedicated unto itself, and (as I quite imagine there were a few rounds of it) even that may not help much.

Removing the aggressive stance on drones would have a funny side-effect on fighting Guristas...
Or maybe not, living in gurista space, it has been lately a lot less worse than I thought it would be.
Sensor comp skill at IV.


You didn't even mention the parts where they suggest downsizing guns in L4s to be better able to track/hit smaller ships, that he runs them not for the isk (efficience) but because he likes to shoot stuff and anyone doing it just for the isk is playing the wrong game, oh and suggesting the use of the caldari ewar for a caldari toon (take pride in your race!) against rats when there is too much hostile ewar incoming, would have loved to see him provide a fit on battleclinic, and then the replies to it.

"We want PvE activities to require active participation and mirror PvP more closely." Stacking penalty for NPC EWAR then? Lock range under 9km from over 100 in a BS is not fun. Nor is two NPC web drones making me crawl 10m/s. PvP SW-900 x5: 75m/s.

Remiel Pollard
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#435 - 2012-12-13 04:07:48 UTC
Tanthalassa wrote:
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Tanthalassa wrote:
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread. The 1st has 4kk in drones, the later has 12kk sp total.
You two aren't even qualified to participate in the AI change vs Drones discussion.


And yet, we've had no problems so far using using drones. Speaks volumes when people with lower skills are struggling less than people with high ones. Qualifications are determined by results, not SP. Kthxbai
Stop making assumpions, pal. Did I mention anywhere in my post that I struggle?

It's sure as heck more efficient to do missions in a missle boat where you hit F1 one time, wrecks show up. Why do I have to go through bazillion drop-downs to get somewhat similar efficiency from my drones?

Do you solo lvl4 missions with your 12kk SP? What do you fly? And no - i don't need your fits just as I don't need your accusations of my character buying. Get off your high horse.


1. Assumptions? I have no need for assumptions. You're making enough for both of us, assuming that I don't know what I'm talking about at all.

2. You wish I was your pal

3. And who's on their high horse that decides that their mighty elite excess of SP makes their opinion more valid and anyone with less suddenly unqualified to post?

Keep raging. I'm sure it will solve all your problems. Roll

“Some capsuleers claim that ECM is 'dishonorable' and 'unfair'. Jam those ones first, and kill them last.” - Jirai 'Fatal' Laitanen, Pithum Nullifier Training Manual c. YC104

Remiel Pollard
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#436 - 2012-12-13 04:16:38 UTC  |  Edited by: Remiel Pollard
Mund Richard wrote:
Tanthalassa wrote:
I gotta love how baltec and his stripe-faced trolling pal post in this thread.
Hmm..

They had several EWAR suggestions, working to variably questionable degrees, and while I personally didn't agree with any of them, my own solution is also using EWAR, go figure. Roll

RR module on a ship means one less gun used in most cases, which is sub-optimal as far as mission completion time goes, aye.
But that starts to go into the "drones as ammo" discussion.

The split weapon system trouble is indeed troublesome, but requires a thread dedicated unto itself, and (as I quite imagine there were a few rounds of it) even that may not help much.

Removing the aggressive stance on drones would have a funny side-effect on fighting Guristas...
Or maybe not, living in gurista space, it has been lately a lot less worse than I thought it would be.
Sensor comp skill at IV.


You didn't even mention the parts where they suggest downsizing guns in L4s to be better able to track/hit smaller ships, that he runs them not for the isk (efficience) but because he likes to shoot stuff and anyone doing it just for the isk is playing the wrong game, oh and suggesting the use of the caldari ewar for a caldari toon (take pride in your race!) against rats when there is too much hostile ewar incoming, would have loved to see him provide a fit on battleclinic, and then the replies to it.


Actually, for people that are genuinely looking for solutions, I've provided my best one a few times. I'm not sure if I offered it here, on this thread, but I'm pretty sure I have given a hint of it. I have held it back for the most part because I'm pretty sure people aren't actually interested in trying new things and just want their comfy old level 4 missions back or something to complain about, but change happens, deal with it or leave.

And that hint is, the new AI is not favouring your drones, it's favouring targets of similar size. If you fly into a mission solo in a BS and launch drones, the frigs are going to prefer to go after your drones instead of your BS.

I'm sure people would rather complain about it than actually put some thought into it, though, so I'll explain it verbatim:

Level four missions are now best done in pairs. I say pairs, because one BS with a score of drones and one fast active-tanked frigate to draw NPC frigate aggro works every time. You don't even need to exploit this "aggro bug" I keep hearing about. Me and a mate have done it this way for six level 4 missions and lost one drone, total, and that was because he launched his drones before my dual rep incursus took aggro, and even then i still took most of the aggro. Frig pilot hits AB and DC, picks an anchor, orbits at top speed and picks off frigate targets of opportunity that stray within weapons range. Meanwhile, BS pilot deploys drones to actively hunt down frigate targets while drawing medium and large NPC aggro and returning fire. Once all frigs are destroyed, all attention is turned to NPC mediums and larges and everything dies quickly and efficiently, thus maximising isk/hour for both pilots involved and taking minimal losses. With the active tanked speed incursus and high frig skills, i haven't had to bail for repairs once, maintained the majority of frigate aggro to leave drones free and un-aggroed to actively engage NPC frigates.

As for EWAR - same tactic. Frigate draws small aggro, BS draws large, make EWAR targets primaries for drones, then once EWAR is dead, business as usual. Additionally, the new skills DO help against ECM NPCs. As for sensor dampening, most of that is delivered by frigates, which will be aggroing your frigate, leaving the BS to still establish targets and apply drones.

All the suggestions I've made are for people who insist on doing it solo. I have been trying to help, thinking outside the box, but all my suggestions have been shot down in mud. But did anyone else have any better ideas? Was anyone really trying to think of better ideas? You don't like my ideas, don't use them. But mock them before you've even tried them? Yep, very mature. Very constructive. Glad to see people are capable of thinking on their feet instead of just whining on the forums... oh, wait...

“Some capsuleers claim that ECM is 'dishonorable' and 'unfair'. Jam those ones first, and kill them last.” - Jirai 'Fatal' Laitanen, Pithum Nullifier Training Manual c. YC104

Theodoric Darkwind
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#437 - 2012-12-13 04:26:12 UTC
They overdid it with the drone aggro in L4s, its nearly impossible to scrape off scramming frigs in a BS, also the domi, ishtar, gila and rattlesnake are now completely worthless for missions or complex running, or any anom with frigates.

the EWAR is the worst bit. 10 entire regions of nullsec just became nearly worthless to ratters (barring severe overcrowding of forsaken hubs). Havens and sanctums in gurista rat space are impossible due to the massive amounts of ECM and they are impossible in Blood Raider space due to insane neuts (a blood raider sanctum has soo much neuting power now that the rats can neut out a FREAKING TITAN in less than 1 minute).

Gurista and Blood Raider complexes are now impossible even with logi support as the rats spread their neuts and jams around to make your logi useless, unless you bring a blob sized fleet into the site. Its worse than incursions by a lot, incursion rats only focused their EWAR on the primary rather than spreading it around.
Tanthalassa
State War Academy
Caldari State
#438 - 2012-12-13 04:38:28 UTC
Remiel Pollard wrote:

1. Assumptions? I have no need for assumptions. You're making enough for both of us, assuming that I don't know what I'm talking about at all.

2. You wish I was your pal

3. And who's on their high horse that decides that their mighty elite excess of SP makes their opinion more valid and anyone with less suddenly unqualified to post?

Keep raging. I'm sure it will solve all your problems. Roll
Well, I am sorry if you feel inferior with your 12kk sp, otherwise you wouldn't read it that way. The reason you "aren't qualified" to post here, is because you clearly do not worry about having most of your offense in drone SP. If you are efficient with your skillpoints and having easy time - which all your posts simply imply, then it means you didn't not fly a drone boat solo in lvl4 as the patch hit. You do not care if "carebears" have issues with drones.

But you do care to come over and post snide comments sprinkled with "adapt" here and there, lol
And the reason I solo is "pals" like you who just have to tell others how to play the game.
Morar Santee
#439 - 2012-12-13 04:39:56 UTC  |  Edited by: Morar Santee
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Morar Santee wrote:
Remiel Pollard wrote:
Urgg Boolean wrote:
If soloing, what is the counter measure for the Serpentis damping now? Because "disposable drones" is not really an option or a viable strategy in my opinion. I'm happy to admit my ignorance if anybody has a great counter measure.

Excellent. Then I would advise you check out the marketplace for four new skills so you may reduce your ignorance:

Magnetometric Sensor Compensation;

Gravimetric Sensor Compensation;

Ladar Sensor Compensation;

& Radar Sensor Compensation

You will find what ships they best suit in the skill explanations.

You mean ignorance like:

Saying that Sensor Compensation skills will help against sensor dampening? Just a hint - they don't. Sensor strength only affects the likelihood of being jammed. Sensor dampeners, however, decrease lock-range.

You, sir, are a full-blown moron. I would suggest you stop making vaguely condescending posts on topics you clearly do not know **** about.


Yes, raging at people who are wrong instead of just explaining why they're wrong is bound to get a positive reaction.

Being wrong about something in EVE =/= being a moron. Morons are those people with tiny IQs who jump to conclusions about people they know nothing about. Like yourself, for example. I have since discovered that these skills don't affect sensor dampening, and I'm happy to retract and admit I was wrong. See, that's what smart people do, they admit when they're wrong in the face of evidence. A moron would continue to argue, however, that they were right, evidence notwithstanding.

Or, alternatively, just call someone a moron because they made a mistake. That's a pretty moronic thing to do as well.


It's funny, but every time you are involved in a discussion, the following steps inevitably happen, in this order:

1. You say something incredibly stupid in a condescending manner.
2. Someone calls you out on it.
3. You defend your incredibly stupid position due to astounding ignorance.
4. Someone calls you out on being a moron.
5. You claim people are jumping to conclusions.

So to make this clear: No, we are not jumping to conclusions. There is a pattern of you acting like a moron, so arriving at the conclusion that you are indeed a moron is sound logical deduction. Innit, Sir "I fit small guns on battleships, so everything's okay" Pollard.
Anabella Rella
Gradient
Electus Matari
#440 - 2012-12-13 05:07:31 UTC
Thank goodness for the "hide" icon next to Pollard's posts. Enabling this option has saved my forum IQ from a precipitous drop.

When the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around.