Sapphire - hard to be a nuisance?

stenni · Post by **stenni** » Mon May 05, 2014 10:01 pm

Just starting out and after a few missions I'd thought I would pick a fight with a random vessel (a green) in the starting system to see how other ships responded. It appears to me that although I picked the fight the other ships attacked my target!

Doesn't really make sense to me since I'm the trouble maker. Is this normal behaviour?

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Mon May 05, 2014 10:10 pm

Yes, like jackals on a fresh kill. You may have picked the ship, but the others smelled blood in the air and pitched in. The AI/NPC ships are 'encouraged' (insert: programmed) to assist human pilots should something spark their interest, and they've got nothing better to do. The other side of the coin is: the red AI/NPC ships will hunt you without regard to other considerations, and may attempt to lure you into an untenable situation. To be fore warned is to be fore armed. Have fun!

Ya, and to address the title of your post, Stenni, it is a bit difficult to be a nuisance in systems with overall Good reputation levels like Sapphire, Atlas, and Sol. But it can be done, though the results can be a bit unexpected, as you've seen.

[Edited on 5-5-2014 by Busch]

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Mon May 05, 2014 10:39 pm

A pirate's life for thee?

Post by **DaveK** » Mon May 05, 2014 10:49 pm

Welcome to the community and to the game - if you want to test/develop your combat skills, try Olympus

stenni · Post by **stenni** » Mon May 05, 2014 11:07 pm

Thanks for the fast replies, chaps.

Well, I'm not a pirate per se, I just wanted to test the 'law enforcement' aspects of the game. Do the other pilots ever target each other, or is it mainly player-motivated?

I see we have walkers in the game. Are they useful or just a status symbol/tourist vehicle?

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Tue May 06, 2014 2:39 am

Other human pilots do engage in PvP bouts from time to time. In fact, on the Ceti Alpha V server, there is a station in north Sapphire, and an area thereabouts, that's devoted pretty much to PvP pursuits. (That is, without being bothered overmuch by the presence of AI bad guys.) The usual etiquette is to ask first, rather than just opening fire on a 'convenient' human pilot. Even though it's pretty open, this universe we fly in EM is not now, nor ever will it be an Eve-clone, at least as long as I draw a breath.

The terrain walker (TW) is more than just a bauble. Their usual, specific application is upon planetary surfaces, both above and below the water-line, once you've parked your ship and entered the TW. There are planet-side, game-wired contracts one may perform; pick those up at your local Main Trade City, or another planet-side city. And, they're rather useful as a PvP vehicle against other player-controlled TW's and spacecraft, to name just a few potential scenarios.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue May 06, 2014 3:01 am

From post: 169708, Topic: tid=11384, author=stenni wrote:Do the other pilots ever target each other, or is it mainly player-motivated?

AI pilots fight one another all the time ... especially in moderate and hostile star systems. Btw, your "attack" test in Sapphire was interesting. Especially the result.

PaulB · Post by **PaulB** » Tue May 06, 2014 4:07 am

From post: 169708, Topic: tid=11384, author=stenni wrote:Thanks for the fast replies, chaps.

Well, I'm not a pirate per se, I just wanted to test the 'law enforcement' aspects of the game. Do the other pilots ever target each other, or is it mainly player-motivated?

I see we have walkers in the game. Are they useful or just a status symbol/tourist vehicle?

I agree with you - I don't think it's logical.
Were I programming it - you attack hostiles and friendlies jump in to help you. You attack a Friendly and the Friendlies jump in against you since you are being the aggressor against your own factions. Now if it had been a case or Guild or Rebels (but they aren't in Sapphire) or maybe Yellow's who jumping in and help you attack the Greens then I would probably agree with that if the assumption is correct that Yellows are Federation and Greens are Alliance (like you) - that's the only way it makes since to me.

To say it's the Jackel mentality - well - that's not the kind of Universe I want to live in.

Paul

Post by **DaveK** » Tue May 06, 2014 11:51 am

From post: 169708, Topic: tid=11384, author=stenni wrote:Thanks for the fast replies, chaps.

Well, I'm not a pirate per se, I just wanted to test the 'law enforcement' aspects of the game. Do the other pilots ever target each other, or is it mainly player-motivated?

I see we have walkers in the game. Are they useful or just a status symbol/tourist vehicle?

I'm sure I've seen combat in the distance (looks cool!) when flying alone but not often