Staffing with NPCs

[NeoHelios_SC]

Speculation: I'm sitting in my Hull-X or Cat. Buy a couple dozen auroras with cheapest pilots possible. Send them to attack a Hull E. Player is in core system, so they don't get an escort, thinking the police will protect them. Order auroras to attack, and focus fire on Hull-E. I am way out at the edge of combat, out of agro range, low emmisions. Police show up, and sure, most Auroras get blown up (who cares, they are NPCs, screw them...), but they destroy the Hull-E in the process. I'm still at the edge of combat outside, running low emissions, so I don't aggro anyone. Police leave, and I come in with my hauler to scoop up the remains or salvage, etc...

Does anyone here still think that large NPC fleets will not lead to exploits?

 

[Sethious]

I, for one, hope that there is no limit on NPC's at least for multi-crew ships. Maybe limit the number of ships you can have NPC's fly, like stated above, but if I have to find people to crew my javelin and idris' then what's the point?

Because in reality, how many people will be trustworthy enough to be left alone on those ships? I mean heck, even Montoya has told me he is going to steal all my ships as soon as he can.

 

[NeoHelios_SC]

I, for one, hope that there is no limit on NPC's at least for multi-crew ships. Maybe limit the number of ships you can have NPC's fly, like stated above, but if I have to find people to crew my javelin and idris' then what's the point?

I do agree on this point. Multi-crew ships should be the exception to the rule up to the minimum required to keep the ship operating normally as long as wages are paid and current. With the minimum, there is still a motivation to invite more players to help out, but the captain mitigates risk of buying a ship that either they can't use or rather wait for all his buddies to get online.

 

[thanatos73]

Be prepared for NPC's to have problems I am a huge fan of the X series and they have been trying to get NPC crew to work properly for years and its always been problematic on some level

Do you know how many ships I lost due to IDOT NPD pilots in X3..... I ain't trusting one of my ships to an AI EVER.

 

[shadowjim12]

The main reason I want this game is Immersion. The game already focuses on "your actions & choices have consequenses":

-You want to steal ships from others? You can!!
But people will hunt you down

- You want to "Allahu Akbar" players? You can!!
But it will cost you an arm & a leg... literally... Until you die.

So, by the same logic
- You want to fly a fleet of NPC? You can!!
But it will cost you and probably you'll be accounted for their actions.

Keep in mind that there are ways to balance this. To name just a few...
- NPCs do not just "re-spawn". They are limited
- NPCs react with immersion. "You want me to raid Terra? Are... You... Nuts...?"
- If people die doing your job, it makes it hard to find volunteers

-You want to create an army-sized fleet? Normaly no, you should not.... BUT
What if you have a reputation like PIRATE STAR LORD OF 3+ SYSTEMS and a dedicated Org about piracy?

Then by all means, I expect the equivelent of Vanduul Raids ordered by PCs and all loot goes to them. And if the minions fail he might execute them VADER-Style to make space for more capable ones.

Also,
-You want to attack a player that has paid 10+ escorts? You can!!
But are you sure that you thought this through??

I am really exited about this idea. I gives you the option of becoming someone with authority but also explains the reason of "why are all starhips have at least a set if shields/lasers". It makes the experience thrilling and exiting. It nudges you to avoid dangrous paths/people and rewards foreplanning.

 

[Serious Table]

Counter it a bit by making the NPCs fairly simple in function, but intelligent in the way they react to you.

Need to Hire NPCs for protection? Sure thing! But they might get suspicious if you're hiring more than 3. "What could you possibly be protecting? How likely is this to get ugly?"

Need to hire NPCs to haul ore you're mining? Great! But they'll only haul one load from your ship to planetside, before you have to pay them again.

Need to hire an NPC as escort using your ship? Well, okay, but you're only going to get novice NPCs looking to make names for themselves, because what self-respecting merc doesn't have their own ship?

 

[mromutt]

Also don't forget that, last time I heard, you could "own" custom NPCs from your extra game packs, which you don't have to pay upkeep costs on IIRC.

That + this new info could mean 1 man fleets.

I think NPCs should be able to fly 1 man ships and crew bigger ships with a player pilot. But no remote mule runs or having 2 NPC Retaliators at your beck and call.

Yeah I am hoping that they have the cheap starter packs in november, I want to pick a couple up

 

[Sethious]

Yeah I am hoping that they have the cheap starter packs in november, I want to pick a couple up

CR has stated you will be able to purchase the NPC/character slots. That way you can literally customize the crew to your firefly.

 

[mromutt]

CR has stated you will be able to purchase the NPC/character slots. That way you can literally customize the crew to your firefly.

Thats what they will be for :D plus I get the goodies in the packs

 

[Aurora The Explorer]

I'm hoping the NPC crews don't run too cheap. I'm sure there will be lots of players like myself eager to work as part of a crew and if the benefits of NPC crew somehow outweigh that then it defeats the point. Best case scenario I can think of is a supply/demand situation. Ship owners put through their requirements and a system pulls all characters (NPC and PC) and the prices they're willing to work for. Let players set their own price and make NPCs an average of that price. Want to low ball it? Pick up inexperienced PCs, want a guaranteed average? NPC it. Want a pro? Scout out a more experienced PC. If demand for crew decreases then the NPCs start lowballing the costs which should drive the PC wages down too. The counter is also true.

 

[Audax Phidippus]

Apparently the designers misspoke or were ill-informed - (unattributed) 'dev' Quotes from RSI chatroll, posted on forums:
"you can't hire an infinite amount of NPCs.. You'll be able to hire a few dozen NPC crew, but only 2-4 pilots."

No one could put a name on that 'dev', and who knows - maybe he's the one that is behind in info; but I'm going to assume this is right, just because it fits with what CR has always said - and it doesn't break the game. The unlimited wingman thing is what terrified me.

As Anti said, any jackass with money being able to have a few Retaliators follow them everywhere is troubling - but the bombers themselves already trouble me. Missiles are scary OP right now, in action and in theory. They are going to have to make some hard counters to bombers(hopefully fighters) for this game to have any balance at all.. if they manage that, then a couple of NPC ones don't trouble me.

 

[WarrenPeace]

Easy way to balance NPCs: tie their hiring cost to their quality.

So Lt. Fisher over here is smart, can accept complex requests, and doesn't need much supervision, so she commands a fairly high price for her services.

PO3 Willy "Fartblossom" Smith, on the other hand, is lazy, can only do the simplest jobs without supervision, and half the time he fucks it up anyway. As a result, you can hire him for the cost of a 12 of High Life... but you might want to keep it away from him til the job's done.

And Mr. Sly Notapiratson is competent, very intelligent, can handle complex tasks without supervision, and has respectable combat skills. He works for cheaper than you hoped, too! If only he'd stop eyeing that custom-fitted race-tuned 350r in the corner of your garage...

 

[NeoHelios_SC]

Fartblossom

My alt! HEY!

 

[NeoHelios_SC]

*fist pumping intensifies*

haha, it wasn't taken :)

 

[mromutt]

*fist pumping intensifies*

haha, it wasn't taken :)

Looks like today was a good day ;)

 

[NeoHelios_SC]

haha, yeah, just a matter of time until some prude flags it & I have to change it. Good for a laugh, though...

 

[mromutt]

haha, yeah, just a matter of time until some prude flags it & I have to change it. Good for a laugh, though...

But its such a majestic name :o

 

[WarrenPeace]

*fist pumping intensifies*

haha, it wasn't taken :)

I love it! Go and spread the glory of TEST, in the name of Fartblossom!