Tank drones are bullshit

[deoxy]

Next time something like that happens, do NOT try to catch the NPC. IME, they are almost ALWAYS faster than you, save perhaps over VERY short distances where you can run the whole way. Not sure why (my guess is that encumbrance doesn’t affect their speed like the player).

But on the flip side, they can’t really leave you - they can only get to the edge of the reality bubble.

Instead of chasing him, next time, let him go, then circle around to be in front of this path, and he will run TO you.

Tank drones are actually not TOO bad, as they are generally fairly easy to avoid - either stay far enough away, or, if it’s dark, they can’t see you. Don’t try fight one until end game.

[DeclanFrost]

[quote=“leland, post:1, topic:13019”]I have almost no health and will die without his protection, so I start running after him, hoping to corner him by the time we emerge into a field. However, he’s somehow a champion sprinter and outpaces me the entire time. I spend three days and three nights chasing him, sleeping only when necessary.

This is what got you killed, not a tank drone. If you can live for three days chasing a dude through the woods, taking time to sleep, you probably don’t need some idiot NPC.

And I’d agree with Declan. NPCs are bullshit, though they’ve gotten better.[/quote]
So you’re bullshit then? xD
Srsly tho, apathetic’s right. You could probaby have done without him. And considering the amount of resources you said you had, you shoulda let him go off on his adventures. Tank drones are rare and easily avoidable - that is, if you’re not out of breath from trying to catch an NPC off its leash.

[hobophobic]

There is a lot of stuff in this game that is honestly, well, I won’t say BS, but just too silly and annoying to bother to deal with.

For example, NPC’s have this uncontrollable urge to run in one direction endlessly for no reason whatsoever. It’s stupid, pointless and breaks immersion. So F that, just debug teleport to him, talk to him about the mission you just completed, claim your meager prize and carry on with your game.

This game is not even close to what anyone could call a finished product. Don’t feel bad about cheating your way around anything, ever.

I use the debug menu and even save-scumming without hesitation whenever I feel the game has done something I just don’t agree with. I never feel bad, it’s just a game and I’m here to have fun, not get frustrated.

[DeclanFrost]

[quote=“hobophobic, post:7, topic:13019”]There is a lot of stuff in this game that is honestly, well, I won’t say BS, but just too silly and annoying to bother to deal with.

For example, NPC’s have this uncontrollable urge to run in one direction endlessly for no reason whatsoever. It’s stupid, pointless and breaks immersion. So F that, just debug teleport to him, talk to him about the mission you just completed, claim your meager prize and carry on with your game.

This game is not even close to what anyone could call a finished product. Don’t feel bad about cheating your way around anything, ever.

I use the debug menu and even save-scumming without hesitation whenever I feel the game has done something I just don’t agree with. I never feel bad, it’s just a game and I’m here to have fun, not get frustrated.[/quote]
That’s all I’ve been doing since I came back and all I will do til the next stable.

[leland]

I’ve avoided tank drones in the past, but when you’re in a situation where it’s too late for that – e.g. like what I’ve described – you’re probably going to die. The tank drone was in a position where I couldn’t have seen it until I was within it’s targeting range.

The RNG giveth and the RNG taketh away.

[CK_Kirbi]

[quote=“leland, post:9, topic:13019”]I’ve avoided tank drones in the past, but when you’re in a situation where it’s too late for that – e.g. like what I’ve described – you’re probably going to die. The tank drone was in a position where I couldn’t have seen it until I was within it’s targeting range.

The RNG giveth and the RNG taketh away.[/quote]

Oh RNGesus, who art in the cloud.
Hallowed by thy dice.
Thy cryptarch come,
Thy rolls be done,
On earth as it is in the forums.
Give us this day our weekly drops
And forgive us our greed
as we forgive those gettings exotics they already have
And lead us not into cheesing,
but deliver us from glitches.
For thine is the cryptarch,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever, (or alternatively, “Until the patch comes out”)
amen.

[Wally-kun]

I use the debug menu and even save-scumming without hesitation whenever I feel the game has done something I just don’t agree with. I never feel bad, it’s just a game and I’m here to have fun, not get frustrated.

Same. If I took every time I got killed in this game, I would probably not enjoy it as much as I do. I want to feel like I’m making progress, but also be able to say “No” to those times when I catch my side on one of the jagged edges.

The game’ll be perfect enough to play non-cheatsy someday. Just not soon.

[wad67]

I generally have the majority of bots and turrets modded out if I can remember to do so.

The main issue I have with them, is the fact that I cannot see them before they shoot me.

I play on the smallest term size possible, with the mini map turned off as to see the action log.

The majority of my characters die to the military roadblocks dotted across the countryside.

Not sure how recently it was added, but there are explosive manhacks as well, I was quick to remove them.

[ragamer]

Tank drones are bullshit.

Even before the current 30m range limit they were a menace, specially if you were driving at high speeds on forest roads… If you think it’s ugly to be “ambushed” by one on foot… Wait until you are catched on a vehicle you have spend LITERALLY months into assembling…

…That’s the joy of a roguelike with “extremely hard to beat” enemies.

It’s refreshing, for a change, to have enemies YOU HAVE TO AVOID instead of beating… The longer it takes for you on a game to beat anything it can throw at you, the longer it will last installed into your system.

Some tips:

• They DO NOT appear randomly, check the layout of the map surrounding the encounter and you will recognize POTENTIAL areas were they do. You will develop the healthy habit of doing “exploration runs” scouting for them when expanding your operative radius using new roads and recognize the same patterns.

• The missile lock can be aborted by blocking LoS… On forests this can be a lifesaver (And trigger one of the most exciting “Escape Runs” Cata can throw at you).

• They are EXCELLENT horde cleaners/lures… Mark the map spots were you avoid a TD… It may be usefull later.

• Even if you are locked, activate sprint, by the time the explosion happens you will be on the outer ring of it, diminishing the damage your receive, which, in turn, can allow you to reach cover to block LoS.

• Get familiar with “peek over corners” command (It’s a bit cumbersome to use ATM… But CAN’T STRESS enough how a much a lifesaver it’s, specially at checking what may be behind a door you just opened) … With the current 30m cap on firearm ranges, most “non cheasy” ways to destroy a TD involve duck’n cover attacks with weapons with high AP values (As with the anoying “Armored Zombie” I always have around a modded Electromagnetic Rail Gun with Steel Rails loaded “just in case” )… Remember! ALWAYS reload under cover and use peek to check how close the TD is without allowing it to lock on you… If you enter in Machine Gun range, unless you have some heavy armor, you will loose the bullet exchange duel.

[BeerBeer]

Yeah, it’s the NPCs that are grave bullshit.
Tank drones are kind of bullshit too.
Chicken walkers? Similar levels of bullshit. (mechanical enemy like the tank drone)

Just recently I took out a tank drone at 6 tiles away. With an EMP projector (rifle). And the optical cloak (invisibility cloak). But that was after I had tried to deal with it with a control laptop. And the cloak. Which didn’t go so well because apparently I lacked the skill to hack the tank drone. And then the cloak (UPS) ran out of juice.

Flicker…

Flicker…

Oh, look. I’m visible.

Got roasted by its flamethrower. Had some good laughs. Then reload.

[Alec_White]

I agree with NPCs being bullshit.

[Charlesilv4]

Wanna know what this reminds me of:

WILSON! WILSON! WILSON!

The difference is that you didnt let Wilson go, you had to chase him in the ocean and drown.

[DeclanFrost]

I don’t get it

[TooDAMNMuch]

chasing NPCs really is a futile endeavor, it’s one of those facts of life of cataclysm you’ll eventually have to come to terms with.

[DeclanFrost]

chasing NPCs really is a futile endeavor, it’s one of those facts of life of cataclysm you’ll eventually have to come to terms with.

Talking about the Wilson Wilson Wilson thing

[Charlesilv4]

Talking about the Wilson Wilson Wilson thing

Ever saw Cast Away with Tom Hanks ?
I would link you a video of the scene but i am not sure if i can do that.

[DeclanFrost]

[quote=“Charlesilv4, post:20, topic:13019”]

Talking about the Wilson Wilson Wilson thing

Ever saw Cast Away with Tom Hanks ?
I would link you a video of the scene but i am not sure if i can do that.[/quote]
Oh I haven’t seen that yet

[Mr_Moustache]

I once saw a Tank Drone, i was going 80 in a forested area and boredly holding down 5 when I got a notification that I was being tracked, looking ahead, I saw a military roadblock and no way to avoid death without wrecking my new pickup. The drone fires, killing itself instantly in a spectacular and OP explosion, taking with it the almost new Military Cargo Truck it was behind. It left a crater. It didn’t leave the truck…

[Aabbcc]

[quote=“Mr. Moustache, post:22, topic:13019”]I once saw a Tank Drone, i was going 80 in a forested area and boredly holding down 5 when I got a notification that I was being tracked, looking ahead, I saw a military roadblock and no way to avoid death without wrecking my new pickup. The drone fires, killing itself instantly in a spectacular and OP explosion, taking with it the almost new Military Cargo Truck it was behind. It left a crater. It didn’t leave the truck…[/quote]The AI overlords of the future: about as smart as NPCs.

[DeclanFrost]

[quote=“Mr. Moustache, post:22, topic:13019”]I once saw a Tank Drone, i was going 80 in a forested area and boredly holding down 5 when I got a notification that I was being tracked, looking ahead, I saw a military roadblock and no way to avoid death without wrecking my new pickup. The drone fires, killing itself instantly in a spectacular and OP explosion, taking with it the almost new Military Cargo Truck it was behind. It left a crater. It didn’t leave the truck…[/quote]The AI overlords of the future: about as smart as NPCs.

They’re smarter than NPCs. Tank drones don’t jump in front of speeding cars (from within the same car) and ruin your delicate vehicle parts.