2.1 NPC AI - my findings so far

[Phillipus]

I've been playing 2.1 intensively since it dropped on Thursday. Tried out assassination missions and Hi and Haz RES.

• Yes, the AI is harder than before
• Need to use lots more FA OFF
• I've replaced all cannons with multi-cannons on my ships. As the NPCs are faster I need faster alpha damage, not pea shooters.
• I tried Cutter, Corvette, FDL, Anaconda and FAS for RES and missions. Cutter is too slow now (was already!). Prefer FAS for its agility.
• NPC tactics seem to consist of circling and jousting. Gets boring after a while.
• Eagles with rail guns that never miss their target, even when not directly facing you, are, er, interesting
• I resigned from PP (ADL). PP agents harassing you en masse in RES are an unwanted time waster.
• Missile explosion fireworks in your face are a bit too much. Glad I don't suffer from epilepsy (that's not a joke)
• Tip - let the security do the work for you in Hi-RES, there are more of them now

In conclusion, the new AI is OK if you're in a decent ship. They might want to tone down the engineer mods on them a bit. Also, give them a few more tactics - circling and jousting get boring. Also, I wish I had their level of ESP.

[smartroad]

I hate that the AI _STILL_ have turreted weapons so can hit you wherever they are around you. They also seem to have the same power as gmimbaled weapons and fixed only weapons seem to be turreted too

[Phillipus]

Not AI related, but interesting:

I took a mission to recover 8 nerve agents from a planet. I was in my A-rated Cutter with full shields and boosters. I found the site on the planet and as I approached it I got a voice message: "Warning - you have entered a trespass zone". Bam! All shields down and hull down to 40%. All within less than half a second. OK, I'll give this one a miss...

[Dudley]

NPC's - Damn..!!

They hit hard now!!

[Myrm]

I was worried about the new AI when Engineers was launched, but now I'm not so. I've been interdicted 3 or 4 times now by AI NPC since the update and I was able to get away just as quickly and with not much more damage. I assume those that go into battle zones are perhaps the ones meeting the toughest NPCs.

[Cmdr Kharma]

NPC's - Damn..!!

They hit hard now!!

As we found out last night......

[Phillipus]

Those pledged to PP might want to watch this:

http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Ha11ywood/video/18013422

[Xebeth]

Those pledged to PP might want to watch this:

http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Ha11ywood/video/18013422

That was ridiculous, these have to be bugs.

[Cometborne]

BTW, is it just me, or have frag cannons also been nerfed in 2.1?

[JohnLuke]

Those pledged to PP might want to watch this:

http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Ha11ywood/video/18013422

Wow. That's insane.