Test 19a - Smarter NPCs

[eq2john]

<div></div>- NPCs just got smarter. They will now use abilities only from their subclasses and have a larger selection of abilities and spells to choose from as they level.<font color="#ccffff">So the npcs are now due a revamp...We’re still rather perplexed at the ott antics of grouped critters, with their chain stuns, stifles and dots.Sure there’s a valid argument for a challenge but if the npcs themselves start behaving in ways that players cannot achieve (given their level and class by comparison) then it really will drag the game down imo.</font><font color="#ccffff">Critters might be the exception at this time - but you could argue that the critters are hardly smart and yet look at what they can accomplish now...</font><div></div>

[Xebars]

Hopefully this will stop the mage mobs that somehow have Vanquish...<div></div>

[Obadiah]

<div>Don't make them too smart . . . . or they'll run away.</div>

[Zoobecca]

I don't know about smart but some of them are darn annoying. Can I put them on my ignore list? If I have to listen to the line about not selling Elven wine again I am going to scream!!!<div></div>

[pera]

<div></div><font size="7">"Have you ever seen a gnoll before?!"<font size="3">Ok like the first time i heard this it was kind of cute, but damnit someone shut this little kid up!!!</font></font><div></div><p>Message Edited by perano on <span class="date_text">01-13-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:34 PM</span></p>

[Tauch]

<span><blockquote><hr>eq2john wrote:<div></div>- NPCs just got smarter. They will now use abilities only from their subclasses and have a larger selection of abilities and spells to choose from as they level.<div></div><hr></blockquote>What I don't get is, if they're doing away with archetypes and classes, what other choice do the NPCs have other than using their subclass abilities? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[DarkfiendLightbear]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>perano wrote:<div></div><font size="7">"Have you ever seen a gnoll before?!"<font size="3">Ok like the first time i heard this it was kind of cute, but damnit someone shut this little kid up!!!</font></font><div></div><p>Message Edited by perano on <span class="date_text">01-13-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:34 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote>Theres an option in your sound submenu to only listen to a voiceover once.  It works per zone, is my guess. But at least you wont hear it as often.

[eq2john]

<div></div><div><span><blockquote><hr>Taucher wrote:<span><blockquote><hr>eq2john wrote:<div></div>- NPCs just got smarter. They will now use abilities only from their subclasses and have a larger selection of abilities and spells to choose from as they level.<div></div><hr></blockquote>What I don't get is, if they're doing away with archetypes and classes, what other choice do the NPCs have other than using their subclass abilities? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div><hr></blockquote><font color="#ccffff">Well I didn't write that - it came from the test notes. </font><font color="#ccffff"><span>:smileyhappy:</span></font><font color="#ccffff"> But yes, npcs should use them...and that's just it - they have to act in the same way as a player might; no fancy tricks, no  exceeding the boundaries that players must adhere to. If that is true for this update, good, but if npcs behave too smart (like the 'smart' critters can) then their abilities will be too biased in their favor - and that would be unfair imo.Can't really judge player against a critter as 'unfair' as no player will have the critter's tricks - but against an npc it should be obvious what to expect. Given equal level and equal class <i>there should </i>be equal combat ability - and that doesn't mean an npc can resort to any funny business either (unless heroic or epic perhaps) like funny casting/combat times etc. Anyway enough said...<span>:smileyhappy:</span></font></span></div>

[luciu]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>eq2john wrote:<div></div>- NPCs just got smarter. They will now use abilities only from their subclasses and have a larger selection of abilities and spells to choose from as they level.<font color="#ccffff">So the npcs are now due a revamp...We’re still rather perplexed at the ott antics of grouped critters, with their chain stuns, stifles and dots.Sure there’s a valid argument for a challenge but if the npcs themselves start behaving in ways that players cannot achieve (given their level and class by comparison) then it really will drag the game down imo.</font><font color="#ccffff">Critters might be the exception at this time - but you could argue that the critters are hardly smart and yet look at what they can accomplish now...</font><div></div><hr></blockquote>From what I have seen so far, I am impressed. Scout mobs can actually evade you, and sneak (though they don't actually do anything with the sneak yet). Warrior mobs can taunt you off the spellcasters.This is fantastic. It may certainly have balancing issues, and I expect a few serious issues with some encounters.For example, a tactic I have seen used against various boss mobs is the chain stun/stiffle and dotting routine - works very well sometimes. I don't see why mobs can't use this against me - AS LONG AS THEY USE THE SAME ABILITIES THAT WE GET.There are certainly mobs on live which seem to be able to harm touch every 20 seconds. Other mobs can cast heals without using power. This is NOT fair, but if they get the same abilities that we do - lets go for it.</span></div>

[selch]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>lucius8 wrote:<div><span><blockquote><hr>eq2john wrote:<div></div>- NPCs just got smarter. They will now use abilities only from their subclasses and have a larger selection of abilities and spells to choose from as they level.<font color="#ccffff">So the npcs are now due a revamp...We’re still rather perplexed at the ott antics of grouped critters, with their chain stuns, stifles and dots.Sure there’s a valid argument for a challenge but if the npcs themselves start behaving in ways that players cannot achieve (given their level and class by comparison) then it really will drag the game down imo.</font><font color="#ccffff">Critters might be the exception at this time - but you could argue that the critters are hardly smart and yet look at what they can accomplish now...</font><div></div><hr></blockquote>From what I have seen so far, I am impressed. Scout mobs can actually evade you, and sneak (though they don't actually do anything with the sneak yet). Warrior mobs can taunt you off the spellcasters.This is fantastic. It may certainly have balancing issues, and I expect a few serious issues with some encounters.For example, a tactic I have seen used against various boss mobs is the chain stun/stiffle and dotting routine - works very well sometimes. I don't see why mobs can't use this against me - AS LONG AS THEY USE THE SAME ABILITIES THAT WE GET.There are certainly mobs on live which seem to be able to harm touch every 20 seconds. Other mobs can cast heals without using power. This is NOT fair, but if they get the same abilities that we do - lets go for it.</span></div><hr></blockquote><div>You didnt see much yet then... They sneak and ambush and rogues hurt pretty much like that. Warrior mobs taunt occassionaly, and do you play lately? They CHAIN STUN / STIFFLE and DOT! and it is more than annoying this is only thing they do against us.</div><div> </div><div>And this is ON LIVE! Not on TEST.</div><div> </div><div> </div>

[EtoilePirate]

<span><blockquote><hr>lucius8 wrote:<div><font color="#ccffff">.</font><span>From what I have seen so far, I am impressed. Scout mobs can actually evade you, and sneak (though they don't actually do anything with the sneak yet). Warrior mobs can taunt you off the spellcasters.This is fantastic. It may certainly have balancing issues, and I expect a few serious issues with some encounters.</span></div><hr></blockquote></span>Bloody things also Cheap Shot me then go around behind and hit harder.   *mutter mutter*Then again, if a scout mob actually has the same stealth and positional requirements that I do, we all stand a chance against the stupid thing.  So on the whole I'd rather they fight by our rules, heh.  (After all -- I only get Assassinate every 15 minutes, and it's resistable.  Same should go for the stupid see-stealth beasties I can't kill 'cause they can see me.)(Yeah, scout mobs make me bitter, hehe)

[Landiin]

There is no spoon <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> lol I couln't resist..<div></div>

[pera]

<font size="7">"One spoon to rule them all!"<img src="http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/6995/spoonfight8lq.jpg"></font><div></div>

[Druzgotek]

<div>Smarter NPCs is just another way of saying Nerfed PCs.</div>