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Drone Overhaul - is it coming or not?
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Castor Narcissus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#21 - 2013-05-05 13:47:45 UTC
Bumping this.

Features & Ideas is filled with drone revamp/rebalance threads, it's about time we have a CCP post with a time frame of drone changes.

Spent the entire fanfest waiting for drone mechanics revamp talk, all I got was Dust talk and the future visions and empty promises. (Not going to even talk about mobile ****)

For a company that spent the last 2 years saying they were focusing in fixing the core mechanics only before adding new features, drones haven't seen a single worthy change since ever.
Aura of Ice
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#22 - 2013-05-05 13:53:58 UTC
This is long overdue... especially since CCP decided to BUFF anti-drone aggression... which is completely boneheaded given that the UI is a chore to navigate...

I have to right click a tiny sliver of a section of a menu only to move down and click again another tiny sliver of a section of a menu that says "Launch Drones"...

Why they couldn't add one more hotkey for this function boggles my mind (it's been 10 years c'mon)...

I haven't seen this much feet dragging since the Trail of Tears...
Draqone an'Alreigh
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#23 - 2013-05-05 14:05:36 UTC
All said above and + for gods sake allow us to see which drones in the ships drone bay are damaged. I have no idea why that doesn't display anywhere. What?

Inducing the proliferation of common sense throughout EVE Official forums since April 27th, 2013.
Roime
Mea Culpa.
Shadow Cartel
#24 - 2013-05-08 04:46:20 UTC
sup drones

.
Jake Warbird
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#25 - 2013-05-08 06:02:23 UTC
+1 OP. Drones are terrible and CCP should feel bad.

Sugar Von MurdererTits : Jake Warbird gets my vote for most intriguing and attractive male character in Eve.
Eugene Kerner
TunDraGon
Goonswarm Federation
#26 - 2013-05-08 06:05:13 UTC
Abrazzar wrote:
The one biggest problem of drones is the inefficient AI and the awkward UI.


I think drones should be something controlled by the player. They do not need a lot of AI. The UI has to be improved A LOT and that is where I am with you.

TunDraGon is recruiting! "Also, your boobs [:o] "   CCP Eterne, 2012 "When in doubt...make a diȼk joke." Robin Williams - RIP
Roime
Mea Culpa.
Shadow Cartel
#27 - 2013-05-08 06:56:45 UTC
Eugene Kerner wrote:
Abrazzar wrote:
The one biggest problem of drones is the inefficient AI and the awkward UI.


I think drones should be something controlled by the player. They do not need a lot of AI. The UI has to be improved A LOT and that is where I am with you.


Well, they should at least obey given orders and stick to formation and behaviour. Imho AI is a feature of drones as weapon system- I don't see them balanced stats-wise at all if they'd be fully manual.

AI fixes:

- (PVP) react to host ship aggression even after launching (swapping drones under jamming)
- (PVE) choose target according to size and proximity (light drones can currently choose a BS 50km away instead of a frig 5km away)
- stay as group unless told to split

.
AbhChallenger
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#28 - 2013-05-08 11:10:52 UTC
One thing that needs to change is all drones need to have return to ship speeds of the current fastest light drones. Right now with the new AI it is virtually pointless to use large drones because of the slow return to the ship. That is not balanced in the least you cant remove the DPS ability of any other type of damage system by destroying easy to destroy drones while they slowboat it back.

Range should be costly in how long it takes for the drone to get to the target not in losing half of them on the way back.

That change alone would help drone use while they add in better features for UI.
Roime
Mea Culpa.
Shadow Cartel
#29 - 2013-05-08 11:19:18 UTC
AbhChallenger wrote:
One thing that needs to change is all drones need to have return to ship speeds of the current fastest light drones. Right now with the new AI it is virtually pointless to use large drones because of the slow return to the ship. That is not balanced in the least you cant remove the DPS ability of any other type of damage system by destroying easy to destroy drones while they slowboat it back.

Range should be costly in how long it takes for the drone to get to the target not in losing half of them on the way back.

That change alone would help drone use while they add in better features for UI.


Well you're really not supposed to send slow drones far out, instead think of them like blasters- heavy, close range dps. Sentries are ideal for ranged combat.

Still I think that medium and heavy drone speeds are currently a bit behind the curve when compared with their intended targets and deserve a slight mobility buff. Slow speed, huge sig, low transversal at approach and retreat and lack of T2 resists make medium and heavy drones a bit too easy to destroy.

This is becoming an issue as balancing seems to emphasise drone dps at the expense of turrets.

.
Dyniss
KarmaFleet University
#30 - 2013-05-08 11:38:31 UTC
Drones are in dire need of a change. I am a big fan of drone carrying boats and I have to say the way you use them is terrible. Sentries need to orbit their host ship so you can move and they follow. Larger drones need to orbit farther from their targets to avoid smart bombs or at least let us actually set the drones orbit range from its target. Drone scale need to be increased A LOT! The V3 drone change was nice, but was a waste of time since in space all you see is a purple or green circle. Drone UI is ****. A small box with some bars. You can't even tell when they are damaged unless you launch them. Caldari drone need multiple weapon types like the ships do. Give them a slot load out with modules of their own. If you want them to be a primary weapon system they need their own stuff too! The drones should share the resists of the mother ship. Also Drones should 'launch' off from the host ship when deployed instead of just appearing in space. Soundwave was talking all about 'immersion breaking' stuff at fan fest... Well note you ya dude. GET TO WORK ON DRONES!!! Cause they are pretty broken.
Lister Vindaloo
5 Tons of Flax
#31 - 2013-05-08 11:57:57 UTC
First and foremost we need to know which drones are damaged BEFORE they are launched
Second I want my drones to focus on ships I have targeted before they start choosing their own targets
Third when I get a drone to return cos it's into structure I want it to return fast enough that it doesn't pop enroute
And if after all that you have any love for drones, drone boats or drone users at all lets think about a module that will repair drone armor while they are in the bay. Ala armor repper, but for drones.

I guess what I and a lot of others is saying is, just fix drones! Don't tell us it will happen in the future, our sun will die in the future, we need a timetable, we need to know something will improve...
Wacktopia
Fleet-Up.com
Keep It Simple Software Group
#32 - 2013-05-08 13:18:51 UTC
- Drones need an interface overhaul. Compared to the many improvements that module activation and notification has had recently the drone system has had absolutely nothing.

- Carrier drone bays and fighter size is bonkers. Reduce fighter size to 2x heavy size and carrier drone bay accordingly.

- Sentry drones would be nice to have a better return mechanic.


Kitchen sink? Seriousy, get your ship together -  Fleet-Up.com
Zakarumit CZ
Zakarum Industries
Forgers United
#33 - 2013-05-08 13:20:46 UTC
I would appreaciate some details from devs about this as well. Looking forward to drone changes Big smile
Jame Jarl Retief
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#34 - 2013-05-08 13:38:57 UTC
I've been asking for drone review for about 3 years now, pretty much non-stop. CCP acknowledged that drones are terribly broken, showed a mock-up of new drone UI over a year ago, said they have plans. So far, 3 years and counting, nothing was done.

Well, not nothing, they added a few modules. But still no drone implants, still no drone damage rigs aside from sentries, AI is still broken, UI is still awful. So, really, a drop in the bucket.

As of late, I adopted an "I'll believe it when I see it" resigned attitude towards drones. Considering there hasn't even been a mention of drones at FanFest, unless I missed it, I highly doubt they'll do anything now.
Felicity Love
Doomheim
#35 - 2013-05-08 14:08:26 UTC
...drones are dying.

"EVE is dying." -- The Four Forum Trolls of the Apocalypse.   ( Pick four, any four. They all smell.  )
Saheed Cha'chris'ra
Krautz WH Exploration and Production
#36 - 2013-05-08 14:11:35 UTC
And CCP: If you are fixing drones, please add little animations so we can see drones starting in our dronebay. Same procedure as with undocking-animations - not too long. It should be quick. But now we have this good-looking drone bays, why not use them for more immersion?

Also i agree with the OP. CCP, fix drones. At least tell us about the current plans what you want to do with drones.
Muad 'dib
State War Academy
Caldari State
#37 - 2013-05-08 14:42:38 UTC
Riot Girl wrote:
People seem to be managing fine with them.


that makes one.

Cosmic signature detected. . . . http://i.imgur.com/Z7NfIS6.jpg I got 99 likes, and this post aint one.
iskflakes
#38 - 2013-05-08 14:52:16 UTC
Quote:
Drone Overhaul - is it coming or not?


No.

CCP's resources are being spent on DUST right now, which means the EVE expansions have to make do with much smaller features (which is why one of the biggest features in this next expansion is a few tweaks to numbers in a database). They have no resources available to redesign interfaces or drone mechanics so we're stuck with drones as they are right now. When CCP has spare resources again they will probably be spent on exploration (because that's what brings in new players).

-
Garresh
Mackies Raiders
Wild Geese.
#39 - 2013-05-08 15:37:27 UTC
Riot Girl wrote:
Drones aren't in an ideal place but they are still one of the most widely used weapons systems which means they can't be that badly broken. Cruise Missiles are in far more desperate need of an overhaul (which they are now getting, thankfully). I don't really know what CCP can do with drones, there is no easy fix for them.


Not that I don't agree in principle, but the reason they're so widely used is because they're "free". By that I mean bandwidth is tied to hull, not layout. That said, I feel like drones are mostly fine.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank
Wacktopia
Fleet-Up.com
Keep It Simple Software Group
#40 - 2013-05-08 15:52:47 UTC
iskflakes wrote:
Quote:
Drone Overhaul - is it coming or not?


No.

CCP's resources are being spent on DUST right now, which means the EVE expansions have to make do with much smaller features (which is why one of the biggest features in this next expansion is a few tweaks to numbers in a database). They have no resources available to redesign interfaces or drone mechanics so we're stuck with drones as they are right now. When CCP has spare resources again they will probably be spent on exploration (because that's what brings in new players).



Really, so who is working on the new scanner, new jump gate effects, new probe mechanics, new exploration sites, the hacking interface?.....

Kitchen sink? Seriousy, get your ship together -  Fleet-Up.com