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Endless Running Away -- All level 3/4 missions.
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Haeshka
Red-Five
#1 - 2011-10-09 21:38:55 UTC
What is with NPC Battleships?

They are IN BATTLESHIPS! Yet, every time I enter a mission -- all they do is run away. My ship(s) are not bad@$$. They are not that terrifying, heck I never even get in anything bigger than a drake. While I thoroughly understand that Kiting is a legitimate tactic in many ways. It is a grand waste of time.

Was this form of AI designed just to make missions take longer? Because if so -- why not just stamp on the front of all missions "you need a microwarp drive for this mission." That way I don't waste any time.
Substantia Nigra
Polaris Rising
Goonswarm Federation
#2 - 2011-10-09 21:47:03 UTC
Haeshka wrote:
That way I don't waste any time.


Yes, c'mon CCP. We need lots of tweaks and fixes so Haeshka's valuable time is not wasted. Sheesh guys, get on the job and fix it!

btw exploration is broken too.

I guess I am almost a 'vet' by now. Hopefully not too bitter and managing to help more than I hinder. I build and sell many things, including large collections of bookmarks.
Zhilia Mann
Tide Way Out Productions
#3 - 2011-10-09 21:48:03 UTC
You're serious?

If you're in a Drake, you should have a ~70km kill sphere. No mission BS I know of orbits outside that range.
Orlacc
#4 - 2011-10-09 22:21:02 UTC
Zhilia Mann wrote:
You're serious?

If you're in a Drake, you should have a ~70km kill sphere. No mission BS I know of orbits outside that range.



QFT

"Measure Twice, Cut Once."
Angus Thermopollye
#5 - 2011-10-09 23:16:10 UTC
If you're doing missions where the rats run away you either (a) need to fit at least an afterburner and learn to control the tank or (b) fit a long range ship such as a Drake as was said previously. You could also fit a cruise Raven/CNR/Golem or get in a Tengu.

It's grrrrrrrreat!
DeMichael Crimson
Republic University
Minmatar Republic
#6 - 2011-10-10 03:05:16 UTC
The NPC's have gotten smarter and when some take damage, they will retreat while the others advance.

Also they have heard of the awesome damage and tanking power of Drake's, do you blame them for running away?


DMC

'The Plan' | California Eve Players | Proposal - The Endless Battle
Brynhilda
Chimp Hoons Export and Expo Service
Scary Wormhole People
#7 - 2011-10-10 05:47:44 UTC
DeMichael Crimson wrote:
The NPC's have gotten smarter and when some take damage, they will retreat while the others advance.

Also they have heard of the awesome damage and tanking power of Drake's, do you blame them for running away?


DMC



Well, the Drake is a good tank but a damage boat, it is not.

How may I drug you with drugs?
Souris Blanche
Doomheim
#8 - 2011-10-10 14:35:03 UTC
NPCs in missions, when aggro'd, will proceed to a preset distance from your ship and start to orbit at that distance. For most BS-sized NPC ships, the distance is about 55km, so it is not that they are scared of your, or trying to run away from your ship, it is simply that the NPC ship is attempting to get to their orbit distance. BC/Cruiser/Frig NPC ships tend to orbit closer, somewhere between 30km and 2km depending on the ship type.

That having been said, a ship you want to use for L4 missions must either A.) have enough range to hit out to/past 55km, or B.) be faster than the NPC ships so you can close the distance as they continually try to move to 55km from you. A drake with HML, or a fast Tengu, or a Rattlesnake with Sentry drone, and other setups are all examples of ships that have long enough range weapons or that can move fast enough to orbit close to NPC ships in L3/L4 missions.

To see this in action, warp into a mission, aggro the rats, and come to a complete stop. The rats will move toward or away from your ship until they are at their orbit range, and begin to orbit (not keep running away forever).