These forums have been archived and are now read-only.

The new forums are live and can be found at https://forums.eveonline.com/

EVE New Citizens Q&A

 
  • Topic is locked indefinitely.
 

Can someone explain the PvE Aggro/Threat system/mechanics?
Author
Previous Topic Next Topic
Aelarn Morslade
Saybersoft
#1 - 2013-05-10 19:24:04 UTC
Hey folks,

I've recently returned to EvE and I need some help trying to figure out how the threat/aggro system in EvE works when a small fleet engages NPC rats. There is a small group of 4 players who are playing, two of them are only about three or four weeks into their time so they are relatively new.

For things to do together we decided we would run some missions and do them together, because quite frankly we can't find anything else to do and for time being it's still exciting for us. I have tried everything I can think of trying to keep most of the ships attacking me, but no matter what I do as soon as the two newer accounts fly in it seems that within 30 seconds every single rat I'm fighting will drop target and go for them.

I was told in help chat to go in first, possibly kill a few rats, and then have them join in -- but that doesn't work either. And I'm not talking about new spawns, existing rats that are attacking me will all of a sudden stop attacking me and all focus fire one of the newbie ships, forcing them to warp out and pretty much miss the whole fight.

The AI threat seems completely RANDOM.

Is there no way that my buddy and I, who have about equal playtime in, can warp into a pocket, aggro the room and then try to keep them focused on us? I'm sitting there with a pretty decently tanked Rattler and it's all wasted because soon after everyone else joins in they stop attacking me until they are forced to warp out.

Is there a known formula or equation or thought process for the AI to determine what it will attack and when? Is there anything that can work to make it so I can keep stuff hitting me or my buddy without the two newer guys drawing fire.

I can't imagine it's a whole lot of fun for them to spend most of the time warping away.

Looking for tips! Cheers.
J'Poll
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#2 - 2013-05-10 19:45:58 UTC  |  Edited by: J'Poll
Aelarn Morslade wrote:
Hey folks,

I've recently returned to EvE and I need some help trying to figure out how the threat/aggro system in EvE works when a small fleet engages NPC rats. There is a small group of 4 players who are playing, two of them are only about three or four weeks into their time so they are relatively new.

For things to do together we decided we would run some missions and do them together, because quite frankly we can't find anything else to do and for time being it's still exciting for us. I have tried everything I can think of trying to keep most of the ships attacking me, but no matter what I do as soon as the two newer accounts fly in it seems that within 30 seconds every single rat I'm fighting will drop target and go for them.

I was told in help chat to go in first, possibly kill a few rats, and then have them join in -- but that doesn't work either. And I'm not talking about new spawns, existing rats that are attacking me will all of a sudden stop attacking me and all focus fire one of the newbie ships, forcing them to warp out and pretty much miss the whole fight.

The AI threat seems completely RANDOM.

Is there no way that my buddy and I, who have about equal playtime in, can warp into a pocket, aggro the room and then try to keep them focused on us? I'm sitting there with a pretty decently tanked Rattler and it's all wasted because soon after everyone else joins in they stop attacking me until they are forced to warp out.

Is there a known formula or equation or thought process for the AI to determine what it will attack and when? Is there anything that can work to make it so I can keep stuff hitting me or my buddy without the two newer guys drawing fire.

I can't imagine it's a whole lot of fun for them to spend most of the time warping away.

Looking for tips! Cheers.


AI will attack stuff that is similar to their size...

So if you are in a Battleship and your friends in frigates...frigates in the pocket will switch target to shoot your friends.


Also...a small bit of Google-fu gives wonderful results:

http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/73413

Personal channel: Crazy Dutch Guy

Help channel: Help chat - Reloaded

Public roams channels: RvB Ganked / Redemption Road / Spectre Fleet / Bombers bar / The Content Club
Radius Prime
Tax Evading Ass.
#3 - 2013-05-11 14:14:30 UTC
Is there a specific reason why they fail to tank npc frigates? Most new players do these missions alone you know. I think you could help them a lot more by giving them fitting advice then what you're currently doing.

Are they in ship sizes that correspond with their age? They will never be able to tank level 3s and 4s in bcs/bs without the needed support skills. As a new player it's better to fly a good destroyer and take care of the small rats then to fly a large lousy tanked ship with even more terrible gunnery skills and being attacked by the big ships.

Reopen the EVE gate so we can invade Serenity. Goons can go first.
Mayhaw Morgan
State War Academy
Caldari State
#4 - 2013-05-11 16:46:11 UTC
I played a little bit of WoW, as tank, healer, and DPS. EVE NPCs aren't like that, especially since they tweaked the aggro mechanics a few patches back. From what I can tell, they aggro the last thing to enter the pocket, but don't bet your Rattlesnake on that. They switch aggro to drones. They delay/drop web/scram. They turn and run back to their original position if they get too far. I don't think you're supposed to just go in there and do x, y, and z every time and have the NPCs drop their loot into your pack on their way out.

If you want to mission with newbies, I think you will have to either:

1. Have your fleet members warp in in order from weakest to strongest, but that's risky.
2. Bring logistics that can hold the newer players up while they are tanking. It doesn't have to be a dedicated logistics ship.
3. Practice flying in what I like to call "Samurai mode". Fittings balanced for defense, offense, and mobility. If you are taking fire where you are, move. Identify and engage priority targets first. Be tricky.

I've seen more than a few noob-Drakes ('Canes, Caracals, Cormorants, etc.) explode. Overall, it just takes practice and persistence (and more skillpoints). It's actually very good practice for small gang PVP. Once you learn to gel as a group, you will be able to do . . . anything.
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#5 - 2013-05-11 18:29:17 UTC
What I have noticed (in no particular order)...

- Frigate NPCs will typically prioritize ships that are similar in class... this includes drones.

- NPCs in general will automatically target and aggress the newest person to enter the deadspace pocket... even if you are "friendly" with them.

- NPCs despise Ewar and Logistics and will almost always primary any ship using either of those two things.

- All of the above are not set in stone and NPCs will sometimes randomly cycle through all the targets in the area.

How did you Veterans start?