Smarter AI

[Morganti]

No more true afk'ing of missions I guess. I fear for multiboxing level 5's now as the NPC's will switch targets to my paper-thin tanked Oracle's. I really like the idea of these changes and really hate them all at the same time.

http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&nbid=73413 (http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&nbid=73413)

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Interesting. Not sure what exploits they're referring to but I'm no expert on EVE. :P

And I laughed at the gate business.

[aboron]

Switch to a fleet of passive drakes maybe?

[Morganti]

They nerfed/are nerfing HML's so drakes go from subpar dps to worse assuming they could even tank the 5's. My tengu did crap dps (which is now worse with HML's too) but had a huge tank which is why I was using the Oracle's for dps once the tengu had everything aggro'ed. Might have to switch back to the 2-3 dps battleships with 2 logi's. More powerful all around setup, but required more ships/accounts, and things were always dicey right at the start when you tried to grab aggro on one BS while getting all your other ships in and get your logistics setup. Not sure how the neut towers in 5's will act either now. Guess I could use a passive rattlesnake as my intro BS tank and then bring in the logi's and finally the dps BS's (which will require a reasonable tank too). Accounts are still on hold either way, but it's something nice to think about and debate :)

[aboron]

Before moving into WH space permanently, I was training for a pack of RR domis. You'd lose the gun dps to energy and armor transfers though, and the new drone agro rules might make it a micro management fest trying to recall and relaunch drones.

[Dahak Thricegreat]

As far as the AI changes, only time will tell how this affects missioning. I don't run many missions these days, so not affecting me atm, and I don't dual-box them anyways.

Regarding the Missile changes though: I do look forward to the removal of the speed penalty from Javelins missiles/rockets for my Hawk. I don't think Heavy missiles needed a damage nerf though. Their alpha wasn't extraordinary by any means, but they are also nerfing Hurricanes a bit. I think these changes apply to PVP players as much as PVE since Drakes are renowned mission boats for new players with low skill points.

Btw, I actually saw a post by Morganti via Google and noticed your location was Hammond, LA, which prompted me to register. I live about 20 miles from Hammond in Denham Springs, and went to school at SELU a few years back. I haven't met many Louisiana based EVE players so far, so it caught my eye. I won't stalk you though, lol.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Btw, I actually saw a post by Morganti via Google and noticed your location was Hammond, LA, which prompted me to register. I live about 20 miles from Hammond in Denham Springs, and went to school at SELU a few years back. I haven't met many Louisiana based EVE players so far, so it caught my eye. I won't stalk you though, lol.
Not playing EVE at the moment but I spent 3rd grade through first year of college in Ponchatoula. ;) /wave

[Morganti]

I think I had nerfed the damage on my tengu enough on my own. They didn't need to nerf it more!

Dahak: so you're the other guy in Louisiana who plays EVE huh? ;)

Ugh: my wife graduated from Ponchatoula in 98 and we're building a house there now :)

[CMKCot]

im reallly pissed off at this, it was intended to fix an exploit with ded sites, but it will affect lvl4s too? crazy.

anyway, if you arent doing missions with sentry drone support, is about time you guys start practicing. its far better than any other type of multiboxing. just warp in a fast locking active tanked "main" and then all the alts at 70+ KM away from it, drop bouncers, assist to main, and pew pew. having a tengu with 30+ bouncers assigned gives it around 3.2k+ dps.

on lvl 5s you can do the same with crappy t1 vexors, saw one boxer running with 10 vexors + one drake and he was demolishing lvl5s.



btw this change WONT affect lvl5s, they are already working like this. the change will affect lvl4s

[Morganti]

im reallly pissed off at this, it was intended to fix an exploit with ded sites, but it will affect lvl4s too? crazy.

anyway, if you arent doing missions with sentry drone support, is about time you guys start practicing. its far better than any other type of multiboxing. just warp in a fast locking active tanked "main" and then all the alts at 70+ KM away from it, drop bouncers, assist to main, and pew pew. having a tengu with 30+ bouncers assigned gives it around 3.2k+ dps.

on lvl 5s you can do the same with crappy t1 vexors, saw one boxer running with 10 vexors + one drake and he was demolishing lvl5s.



btw this change WONT affect lvl5s, they are already working like this. the change will affect lvl4s

What about missions with gates where your vexors would warp in at the same spot? Any rats switching targets to your Vexors (When I did level 5's rats didn't switch and I think they will with the upcoming changes in EVERYTHING (level 4's and 5's)) would eat them alive. And only 3 sentry drones per Vexor? Bring Dominix's (Domini?), drop drones, and run away on afterburner while you rep each other through any pain. Hopefully the neut towers (really the thing other than pirates that makes level 5's hard) stay on your initial aggro passive tanked ship (not sure how smart they are making towers). It is a good idea though. Makes me wish Logistics ships had bigger drone bays.