NPCs getting really tough now

[uvelius]

I am sure there is a similar thread but couldn't digg it out ... so blend it if you like ...

Is it me or did the NPC become tough in 1.4 but even much more tougher in 1.41? Not only are they chaffing like mad, they even tend to burn down single CMDRs much quicker. In Crime Sweeps Anacondas, Imperial Dropships (now able to fight), Fed Assaults and others just swarm you upon entering, and gang up even when you nibble at the edges.
In HazRes, wings of Anacondas, Droppers and Clippers let single Commanders wait for them to get into trouble with other NPCs first. And there are MASSES of ships in very small areas (I had 2-3 three-ship wings (!) inside a 5-6km bubble) , it feels like space pinball sometimes.

Not to be misunderstood, I am absolutely fine with those HazResses. Crime Sweeps, on the other hand, seem to have become wing-only or Be Destroyed.

[Loriath]

Yep. They were boosted in 1.4. They fixed a few bugs, and now NPC's will use Chaff/SCB and the higher the rank, the worse your life has become. Blame SJA for all of it, her Minions are much better. Oh and if you want some fun, try running in reverse from one who is competent or higher and make sure you have pips to shields or else. You have been warned.

[uvelius]

Blame SJA for all of it, her Minions are much better.

And I tend to love it

[JohnLuke]

the compromised nav beacons are a real challenge. I was in one the other night with a wingman in a Conda, and I lost my Python in the first few minutes. rebought, went back in.... and nearly lost the ship again after a while. Rough places to fight! I think wings of 3 or more would do well, though.

[uvelius]

the compromised nav beacons are a real challenge. I was in one the other night with a wingman in a Conda, and I lost my Python in the first few minutes. rebought, went back in.... and nearly lost the ship again after a while. Rough places to fight! I think wings of 3 or more would do well, though.

Are the ships all orange, even after attacking? Did you get a Wanted status even though the "clean" enemy was already shooting at you?

[Avago-Earo]

Much harder now. Have you noticed the training combat is unbelievably easy now, though? Wonder how this helps new players. CQC perhaps...

[TorTorden]

Yep. They were boosted in 1.4. They fixed a few bugs, and now NPC's will use Chaff/SCB and the higher the rank, the worse your life has become. Blame SJA for all of it, her Minions are much better. Oh and if you want some fun, try running in reverse from one who is competent or higher and make sure you have pips to shields or else. You have been warned.

You mean better as in not having to manage heat, power and ammunition like we do, I was in an eagle firing railguns as much these are I would blow up from my own heat damage.

That's not making "intelligent" AI, that's letting AI cheat.

[Loriath]

Yes, they do not worry about ammo, but SJA has said that they do manage power settings and have heat issues.

[Roger Wilco Jr]

Are they at least not ramming?

During the smuggling runs I may have been getting rammed when I popped out of SC at an outpost. It could have just been that I was boosting in when they suddenly appeared in front of me (so maybe, technically, I was doing the ramming). I'd loose shields and some hull. To avoid these hits, I started making my first boost on a jag and when the NPC appeared it was off to the side. These NPCs were the pirates or cops that were chasing me across the system. This never happened with the Cobra, but with the slower Asp it happened time and time again.

[Xebeth]

Oh yes!

Loving the compromised Nav Beacons and HazRES

Need to use tactics rather than just brute force, pick your moment and your fights, know when to run...