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Drones: Making Them A Viable Weapons Platform in EVE (Mockups 2.0)

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Zofe Stormcaller
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#21 - 2012-12-13 13:43:49 UTC
I have 3 buttons on my command pad mapped to "Shoot target", "Return and orbit" and "Return to bay".

Professional Gallente.
Leela Sirene
Peoples Liberation Army
Goonswarm Federation
#22 - 2012-12-13 13:52:12 UTC
Marr Aridia wrote:
Here's a mock up of how I imagine Drones to be most effectively managed as a weapons platform in EVE..

http://pbrd.co/UEEAlF


That's exactly what has to be done. I absolutely support this idea. A simple One Klick Weapon System like the all the other weapon systems in game.

Activate and they will do their job. Deactivate and they will come back.

As easy as that. Of course that might not be all. I'm pretty sure this would need certain additional options in order to manage your drones but the basic idea is pretty much what it needs to be when it comes to actually deploy them on the field. Because right now handling drones is just plain terrible.

Louis deGuerre wrote:

- Can't tell which drones are damaged in drone bay
- Can't repair drones in drone bay
- Huge signature (even more boosted when MWD-ing ?) makes drones instadead when AI decides to shoot them limiting their travel range to < 10km
- Drones lag on commands, especially the drones under fire.


That's what I mean by plain terrible. With all it's flaws handling drones seems like a unfinished Jesus feature of former EVE times. Hopefully CCP is aware of it. I say hopefully because we've still got no information or statement on the whole "New-NPC-AI-and-drones-issue".

Snowball Launchers? I would be more surprised and pleased by actual communication of CCP regarding this topic. Even if it doesn't touch the AI at all. Never the less, I like the original post.
Donnero
Arliuhtan
#23 - 2012-12-13 13:58:32 UTC
I want a feedback which drones got the aggro, if your drones are far away its often to late to call them back when they getting fire.

On the othe rhand it may helps if NPC's doesnt event insta locks drones, if you try to lock a npc web drone you know ho wlong it takes, fu.. npc are cheating
iskflakes
#24 - 2012-12-13 14:02:41 UTC
Seems like a good idea to me.

-
Velocifero
Native Freshfood
Minmatar Republic
#25 - 2012-12-13 14:04:25 UTC
Marr Aridia wrote:
Herzog Wolfhammer wrote:
Would be outright wonderful if we could script our own drone commands, like a little text entry box, and a scripting language we could learn. All would be run from the clients, with a wide range of "directives" and "subjunctive algorithms". Set thresholds for them, return automatically on certain conditions like damage, target priority, etc.


What an incredible idea! I would definitely support this.


+1 for this. It would enable another level of functionality, and encourage players to be even more creative with their tactics and be able to recall them situationally.

There could actually be the potential for many modules to have scripting functions. I would definitely pre-program my group of artillery to resume firing following reload.
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#26 - 2012-12-13 14:07:19 UTC
I agree that the drone UI really needs some improvements... You would have thought that Team Game of Drones would have been given that task but apparently not.

Anyway, i have always though that droneboats should be able to use drones exclusevly as their primary weapon but with the current mechanics, it's tought to do.

I think CCP should introduce high slot drone mods that do the following:

1. Add bandwidth
2. Increase drone EHP
3. Increase number of drones in space (maybe to a limit of 7 drones total)
4. Repair drones while they are in the drone bay
5. Overheat drone stats (a scripted module that can boost dps, speed, tracking etc)

And if CCP are are wondering, yes i am available to help design this. Blink

The wishlist is pretty much complete...
Scrutt5
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#27 - 2012-12-13 14:19:02 UTC
On the flip side of the coin

To add drones to your overview in a gang/fleet fight brings friendly drones to the overview making your apparently awful weapon amazing

Realistically we cant spare the time to lock your drones while you nano out to 100k and keep damage on the field.

This is purely a pve issue i assume.
Scrutt5
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#28 - 2012-12-13 14:21:57 UTC  |  Edited by: Scrutt5
Leela Sirene wrote:
Marr Aridia wrote:
Here's a mock up of how I imagine Drones to be most effectively managed as a weapons platform in EVE..

http://pbrd.co/UEEAlF


That's exactly what has to be done. I absolutely support this idea. A simple One Klick Weapon System like the all the other weapon systems in game.

Activate and they will do their job. Deactivate and they will come back.

As easy as that. Of course that might not be all. I'm pretty sure this would need certain additional options in order to manage your drones but the basic idea is pretty much what it needs to be when it comes to actually deploy them on the field. Because right now handling drones is just plain terrible.

Louis deGuerre wrote:

- Can't tell which drones are damaged in drone bay
- Can't repair drones in drone bay
- Huge signature (even more boosted when MWD-ing ?) makes drones instadead when AI decides to shoot them limiting their travel range to < 10km
- Drones lag on commands, especially the drones under fire.


That's what I mean by plain terrible. With all it's flaws handling drones seems like a unfinished Jesus feature of former EVE times. Hopefully CCP is aware of it. I say hopefully because we've still got no information or statement on the whole "New-NPC-AI-and-drones-issue".

Snowball Launchers? I would be more surprised and pleased by actual communication of CCP regarding this topic. Even if it doesn't touch the AI at all. Never the less, I like the original post.




Fine by me but I can already hear the tears of drone boat pilots who lose the other bonuses to their ships.
Sorry wrong quote.. stepping away from the keyboard right now
Scrutt5
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#29 - 2012-12-13 14:24:30 UTC
Rek Seven wrote:
I agree that the drone UI really needs some improvements... You would have thought that Team Game of Drones would have been given that task but apparently not.

Anyway, i have always though that droneboats should be able to use drones exclusevly as their primary weapon but with the current mechanics, it's tought to do.

I think CCP should introduce high slot drone mods that do the following:

1. Add bandwidth
2. Increase drone EHP
3. Increase number of drones in space (maybe to a limit of 7 drones total)
4. Repair drones while they are in the drone bay
5. Overheat drone stats (a scripted module that can boost dps, speed, tracking etc)

And if CCP are are wondering, yes i am available to help design this. Blink


And lose the other bonuses to the ship I assume.
Jame Jarl Retief
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#30 - 2012-12-13 14:29:15 UTC  |  Edited by: Jame Jarl Retief
+1

I support this message.

Also would just LOVE to see CCP comment on the issue. Been well over a week now since glaring drone issues became even more glaring thanks to new AI. We've had multiple threads, some as long as 24 pages. Would be nice to hear your thoughts.
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#31 - 2012-12-13 14:32:15 UTC  |  Edited by: Rek Seven
Scrutt5 wrote:


And lose the other bonuses to the ship I assume.


yeah i guess so but if you put these drone mods in the high slots, what are you going to do, fit 1 gun to your domi?

When i first started playing, i was lead to believe (through the game lore) that Gallente were drone specialists... sadly this was a lie that i didn't discover until after i had sunk skill points into drones.

The wishlist is pretty much complete...
Scrutt5
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#32 - 2012-12-13 14:35:39 UTC
Eve is a PvP game.

As far as i'm aware, drones in PVP perform as they always have.

Are all these drone threads pve orientated ?
Doddy
Excidium.
#33 - 2012-12-13 14:39:53 UTC
I don't see where the main points of drones are coevered here. Drones can be set to assist/defend. Drones can be launched and auto-aggro an enemy that the ship cannot lock (either through lock time or ewar). How are we going to do either of these things if the launch step is missed out ......

These suggestions are half assed, the only real way to "fix" drones is to give them a full gambit like system that you can set yourself. And that would be an expansion in of itself, far from a quick fix. It also lends itself towards automation, which ccp are desperately moving away from.
Scrutt5
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#34 - 2012-12-13 14:49:26 UTC
I remember being able to launch 9 drones (only had drone interfacing to 4) , no guard option, no assist option.

Sentry guns didn't shoot them, then they did, now they don't again.

For a supplementary weapon (who uses the eos or ishtar in pvp these days) they work fine.

Its only mission runners who cant afk mission anymore complaining from what I see !
Jame Jarl Retief
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#35 - 2012-12-13 15:15:30 UTC  |  Edited by: Jame Jarl Retief
This is a public service announcement:

Please DO NOT feed the trolls!

They will come here, and post garbage, troll, insult and otherwise do all in their power bring the wrath of the moderators down on this thread, like they did in other threads. If you see a troll, click the little flag icon and report them for trolling. Ignore the post. Do not feed! Maybe that way we can manage to keep at least one of these threads open for any meaningful amount of time.

Thank you!
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#36 - 2012-12-13 15:17:57 UTC
Scrutt5 wrote:
Eve is a PvP game.

As far as i'm aware, drones in PVP perform as they always have.

Are all these drone threads pve orientated ?


Not all, no.

The wishlist is pretty much complete...
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#37 - 2012-12-13 15:19:25 UTC
Scrutt5 wrote:


Its only mission runners who cant afk mission anymore complaining from what I see !



Wrong. The drone UI is carp. Fact.

The wishlist is pretty much complete...
Doddy
Excidium.
#38 - 2012-12-13 15:21:31 UTC
Rek Seven wrote:
Scrutt5 wrote:


Its only mission runners who cant afk mission anymore complaining from what I see !



Wrong. The drone UI is carp. Fact.


This thread is about mechanics, not UI though. Everyone knows the UI is bad, why not fix it instead of removing what little decent mechanics drones have.
Chandaris
Immortalis Inc.
Shadow Cartel
#39 - 2012-12-13 15:21:48 UTC
Or you could target the object and press 'F' instead of 'F1'...... (with your drones already launched)

Shocked

keybindings.. whoddathunkit
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#40 - 2012-12-13 15:48:58 UTC
Doddy wrote:
Rek Seven wrote:
Scrutt5 wrote:


Its only mission runners who cant afk mission anymore complaining from what I see !



Wrong. The drone UI is carp. Fact.


This thread is about mechanics, not UI though. Everyone knows the UI is bad, why not fix it instead of removing what little decent mechanics drones have.


Decent mechanics? Please explain what is decent about the drone mechanic... Launch drones > click engage > retract drones Ugh

Both the mechanics and the UI need improving.

The wishlist is pretty much complete...