Pages: [1] :: one page |
|
Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
Elbie Klep
Aliastra Gallente Federation
0
|
Posted - 2013.07.24 19:10:00 -
[1] - Quote
I've been away awhile and one thing I've noticed since coming back is that rats seem to be much more aggressive against my drones. Two years ago I just had to wait until all the rats in a group targeted my ship before launching drones and my drones would never be touched (except for a couple of missions). I've run about two dozen different L4 missions since I've been back and in every single one the smaller rats retargeted on my drones immediately. Am I just incredibly unlucky or has CCP done something rude to missions?
I've had some success with sentries, but I don't like giving up a high slot to give them more targeting range. I haven't run numbers, but it seems like I would be better off forgetting drones and taking out the frigates with Precision missiles. |
Donbe Scurred
University of Caille Gallente Federation
45
|
Posted - 2013.07.24 19:33:00 -
[2] - Quote
Whenever you've been away for a while read the devblogs, they will mostly tell you everything you need to know.
This was done to curb AFK missioning.
It is the general consensus that using EWAR and remote reps tend to keep the aggro on you to a certain extent. You still need to keep an eye on your drones though. |
Chainsaw Plankton
IDLE GUNS IDLE EMPIRE
318
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 04:49:00 -
[3] - Quote
it should only be elite frigs going after light drones, so you can use them most of the time. and if you wait for the elite frigs to get into orbit range you can recall drones once they get aggro and not lose them. I haven't really tried medium or heavy drones, but sentries work well as you can scoop if they get aggro.
overall I think it is a pretty much not an issue. You can trust me, I have a monocole |
Wolfyne
Aliastra Gallente Federation
7
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 09:03:00 -
[4] - Quote
I confirm.
To test, I run L3 mission with my different ships.
Astarte (command ship) - 5 medium drones, impossible to use them I launch drones and 20s later something start to destroy it. And since the CS hasn't boost to drone, I lost the drone the time I recall it. - 5 small drones, get better, large enemies (cruiser and BC) don't seems to target them or they miss them, but frigates start to hit them almost as soon as they open fire
Ishtar (HAS) with Target Painter - 5 heavy drones, no way even with TP frigates and cruisers begins to hit them. - 5 mediums, could be useful, can OS frigates and with TP it take a longer time for enemies to switch from me to them. - 5 light, with TP, it's almost safe to use them.
In all way, if an enemy is too far to hit you (yellow box) he will change his target to something else, your drones if they are in his range)
TP is mandatory now, without, drone are almost useless. Start with light drone and destroy frigates (good luck with AS or Inti on mission 4, could take a real long time to get down) Then use medium for cruiser or BC enemies. Then heavy for BS when there is nothing less.
The big pb is, now, it's impossible to target first the heavy DPS like a BS at 60km without loosing our drones. And even with 2 LAR stable in dominix I can't handle more than 5 or 6 missiles hitting enemies. The drone range extender is completely useless in PVE, at 40km you will certainly loose your drones, at 80km it's suicide.
So now to avoid guys afk fighting, they change the way we fight with droneships, but in a way that make L4 mission from really hard to impossible to solo.
At same time, a friend take his Raven, jump into the mission, lock and fire missile at 100km without moving and just ctrl+clic the enemy, F1 for all missiles, next target... but yep... he is not AFK... neither me before.
In drone ship, we need to micromanage our drones without a real usable interface (thanks god there are key shortcuts for attack and get back.)
Maybe a good enhancement for drone boats is to add Remote Drone Repairer high slots module, with same range as drone and healing armor and shield using the ship capa (like a carrier can do) The counter part could be the need to target all our drones, so only 2 enemies, and need to optimize the capa management. In a way it replace the guns |
Tsukino Stareine
The Red Circle Inc.
589
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 12:54:00 -
[5] - Quote
Just use sentries if you're pveing with drones. |
Wolfyne
Aliastra Gallente Federation
7
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 18:09:00 -
[6] - Quote
Yeah... 30 more day to skill ... in a way ... that's smart...
|
Chainsaw Plankton
IDLE GUNS IDLE EMPIRE
318
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 18:54:00 -
[7] - Quote
should have trained sentries over heavies in the first place imo. at least you can buy faction sentries for a reasonable price in the mean time while you train for tech 2. You can trust me, I have a monocole |
Elbie Klep
Aliastra Gallente Federation
0
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 19:03:00 -
[8] - Quote
I wait for the red box, but they still retarget. Also, cruisers in groups not active yet will target the drones if they get close (I can see the firing lines).
Typically, I try to snipe (CNR) so I can use sentries and that works pretty well. However, in half the missions I am moving the ship and I don't want to waste time going back for sentries. Also rat-specific sentries tend to have range problems and using Bouncers for all missions is slow for everybody but Angels w/ only 3 sentries for the CNR. Speaking of that, I could swear I used to be able to launch 4 sentries from a CNR, but now only three due to bandwidth. Is that a change?
It's looking like I will just have to launch scouts only when the webbers get close so I can pull them back fairly quickly. |
DeMichael Crimson
Republic University Minmatar Republic
9395
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 20:40:00 -
[9] - Quote
Let's see, yes CCP changed NPC AI to Sleeper AI. In other words, they will switch targets and go for the easier kill.
At first the NPC's would immediately do 'Full Aggro' on any drone launched. Players couldn't recall the drones fast enough and Drone boats were basically made obsolete. CCP then changed the NPC AI again and toned it down.
Last time I checked and if I remember correctly, NPC ship classes only attack the same type of Drone Class :
NPC Frigates and Destroyers (Small Hull Class) will aggro and attack Light Scout Drones NPC Cruisers and Battlecruisers (Medium Hull Class) will aggro and attack Medium Combat Drones NPC Battleships (Heavy Hull Class) will aggro and attack Heavy Combat Drones.
?NPC Elite Ships (All Hull Classes) target lock all Drone Classes.?
I could be wrong since I don't pilot a Drone Boat and I try to fly by Brutor tribe's philosophy : simply fit as much firepower onto your ship as humanly possible.
DMC |
Zor'katar
Matari Recreation
138
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 20:50:00 -
[10] - Quote
DeMichael Crimson wrote:NPC Frigates and Destroyers (Small Hull Class) will aggro and attack Light Scout Drones NPC Cruisers and Battlecruisers (Medium Hull Class) will aggro and attack Medium Combat Drones NPC Battleships (Heavy Hull Class) will aggro and attack Heavy Combat Drones.
?NPC Elite Ships (All Hull Classes) target lock all Drone Classes.? From the Retribution 1.0.7 patch notes:
Quote:NPCs will now only target drones in their size category.
- Elite frigates and cruisers NPCs will go for small drones and above.
- Frigates and Cruisers NPCs will go for medium drones and above.
- Battleship NPCs will go for large drones.
|
|
DeMichael Crimson
Republic University Minmatar Republic
9395
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 21:35:00 -
[11] - Quote
Well, close enough for rock and roll.
I think there might be a miss type there. The line with the Elite Frigates and Cruisers is misleading. Probably meant Elite Frigates and Elite Cruisers. Also what about NPC Elite Destroyers? Looks like CCP also forgot to list NPC Battlecruisers.
Anyway, the few times I've used Light Scout Drones, I've noticed that after I've destroyed all NPC Frigates and Destroyers (Small Hull Class), my Light Scout Drones are no longer threatened by Cruiser and higher hull class NPC's.
DMC |
Kilguren
Touring New Eden
0
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 21:41:00 -
[12] - Quote
DeMichael Crimson wrote:Well, close enough for rock and roll.
I think there might be a miss type there. The line with the Elite Frigates and Cruisers is misleading. Probably meant Elite Frigates and Elite Cruisers. Also what about NPC Elite Destroyers? Looks like CCP also forgot to list NPC Battlecruisers.
Anyway, the few times I've used Light Scout Drones, I've noticed that after I've destroyed all NPC Frigates and Destroyers (Small Hull Class), my Light Scout Drones are no longer threatened by Cruiser and higher hull class NPC's.
DMC
As far as I've noticed, Destoyers use Cruiser AI and Battlecruisers use Battleship AI. (Assumption/guess on my part) |
zoni Ishikela
State War Academy Caldari State
19
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 23:07:00 -
[13] - Quote
I started missioning using drones only and it does work.
What works for me: Expand the drone list so you can view your drone's health. Use sentry drones, and have different groups for different range. Use a micro jump drive if needed to stay at range and give your sentries time to go after the elites as they close on you. Do not use mediums or heavies, they seem to attract agro a lot. If in a bind, keep light drones inside a 10k bubble from your ship so they insta- recall when they get agro. Use some EWAR like a TP (if slot available) or other EWAR module to keep agro. You can also recall drones, wait for the NPC to target you again, and launch back - it takes a while for them to switch. Last ditch effort, use short range guns with sentries - use sentries for long range, use the short range fast tracking guns to dispatch anything that manages to get close (<20km) where sentry drone tracking starts to have major trouble. Use shortcut keys to control drones as you are able, cuts down on dealing with the horrible drone menu in a bind.
Cheers,
z. |
|
|
|
Pages: [1] :: one page |
First page | Previous page | Next page | Last page |