Sarae
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Posted - 2003.10.06 05:30:00 -
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Edited by: Sarae on 06/10/2003 05:37:56
I suppose this has been mentioned before, but I suppose I'll add my vote to this subject.
This game needs better NPCs all-around. It's really sad that in a game world of this size, the variety of NPC enemies can be counted on one hand. Someone at CCP responsible for content really needs to look at implementing MUCH more in this area, especially considering mining (and in some ways PvP combat) are quite borked at the moment. Some suggestions:
* Battleship NPCs: why aren't these in the game yet? It sucks that the "toughest" spawns in the game right now can be tackled by a lone PC battleship. Why not put in some encounters that at least take a small group to handle? And on that same note...
* "Named" NPCs: I'm baffled that these aren't in the game either, except as rare, GM-run events. EVE is supposedly the game that does away with the monotonous "level-grind", but to those of us that like to hunt NPCs, there is nothing but monotony. No "surprise" named spawns to catch us off-guard. No rare named pirates for us to hunt down for their exceptional equipment or big bounty. Just wave after wave of the same 3 or 4 pirates we always see. Why hasn't this idea even been mentioned by the devs?
* Scripted NPC Events: I realize these would be harder to implement. However, the results would be so great. Imagine having to defend a convoy against attacking pirates? Or chase a pirate courier around a system while groups of his buddies run interference? Something, anything is better than the plain old wave after wave in the asteroid belt.
* Much Better AI: again, I know that this is not simple to implement, but honestly, the NPCs in the game now are dumb as a box of rocks. How hard is it to code "Spawn, immediately lock nearest target, attack until dead." NPCs don't work together, don't have any sort of tactics, don't even behave realistically. Why on Earth would a low-end cruiser attack a lone battleship by itself? Pirates may be aggressive, but as far as I know they aren't suicidally stupid.
To be honest, this game is really poor when it comes to PvE. So much time and energy has been spent addressing the complaints of the PvP'ers that the PvE element of EVE is sorely lacking. I'd go so far to say that it's pathetic for a game of this size and caliber. I really hope the devs aren't so caught up in the "carebears vs. pirates" arguments that they forget the rest of us who actually want some content beyond chain-spawning NPC drones.
Thanks!
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