NPCs getting really tough now

[FANTA5M1C]

I'm not very impressed by NPC wings above the 4 we are allowed. It seems like letting the NPC's cheat when they could just as easily be in 2 associated wings of 4.

[Roger Wilco Jr]

Just got back in the Vulture last night. I've only tried a HIRES, not HazRES or CNB, but the NPCs don't seem tougher except that they do use a lot of chaff and SCBs and they take a few more hits to kill. They don't seem to be flying any better (worse, actually). I've barely had my first ring dim until I went against a wing of 3 deadly Vipers. I'll practice another night before I try the nearby HazRES. It sounds like not having cops backup will probably be an eye-opener.

One thing I did notice is that many NPCs seem to be nervous or something. Sometimes they just sit there and let you scan them and move right up on them. Sometimes they don't even move when you start shooting. Other times they appear to get panicked and will boost off into an asteroid and blow up. I've seen that too many times to count, and one Eagle hit an asteroid and bounced off and blew up just because I was scanning him. And a DBE pinballed off two asteroids and blew up after one shot hit him. I've also seen several NPCs that seem to be stuck on asteroids and are easy prey as they can't free themselves. All in all, it can make for a pretty entertaining show.

[TorTorden]

I have spent a bit more time today with my shiny conda, and it really seem that sometimes shooting npcs with "a lot of guns" the AI freaks out and simply stop moving all together...

They don't even pop chaff when this happens :p

Sure they take a little more shots to kill, mainly from the adjustment to the pp , but as it stands now I am starting to hum the Benny hill theme when hunting..