[Sephiroth]

Will the AI in the game taking care of econ activities be moving equipment? Or just commodities? Will they be pirateable? Basically I don't want to see it possible for an AI hauler moving say Guarding shields from Aman to wherever be pirated so whoever the pirate is gets a crapload of free cash...

[Dragonar]

Good point. Pirating AI traders will have to have serious consequences, ones that don't screw you up entirely but that should make you think twice about doing it.

Ah, the joy.

[Radi]

Or at least some escorts.

[Pyrophred]

or convoys with a good percentage of traps in them

[Scorch]

The idea is that AI can take any of the roles or be a target of any of the roles the players would play. Hauler, mining, pirates, escorts, defenders, etc.

[Hurricane]

Including police to track down and destroy a civ ripping pilot saying goodbye with a 2 hour tour of killing every non-pvp ship they can find?

[Sephiroth]

I appreciate the response Scorch but it didn't really answer my question. If an AI ship is hauling something that is worth a large amount of cash that no player had to pay for, and said ship is capable of being pirated (assuming the current pirate tools in the game exist in Jumpgate Evolution) then a player could conceivably exploit these AI haulers to gain a large amount of money in the game with relatively no work involved, since being AI, they will never be as smart or capable as a player.

I'm just hoping you guys are doing whatever is necessary to make sure that they are not exploitable because that could ruin the game pretty quickly.

[Radi]

That is why there is also beta.

[Mickey_D]

And the bounty system. Just ask Riptarr and Liet the COST of being a pirate.

If the AI are able to do the same things live pilots are, then a 6 AI bounty hunting group is going to come collecting.

So the consequences of your actions could very well result in that 10mil shield making you have a 20mil bounty. Which is a net loss. Unless you can get away with it. Which is the challenge.

[Chemdog]

Originally Posted by Scorch

The idea is that AI can take any of the roles or be a target of any of the roles the players would play. Hauler, mining, pirates, escorts, defenders, etc.

What I gathered from reading the various interview is that while there will be NPCs performing activities in space, you (the players) should embrace them as fellow players. In other words, if you are a Quantar factionalist and a Quant NPC is bringing in a load of Guardians from Aman, you and your buddies may want to go fly escort for the NPC hauler. You might have to defend against pirates like Liet... OR other NPC pirates.

NPCs will fill the roles of players... exactly that, nothing more. After all, let's face it - NPC or not, there aren't a whole lot of tactics involved in piloting a freighter. Without an escort, typically the hauler loses.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Radi

That is why there is also beta.

Gee thanks captain obvious. But that doesn't mean people shouldn't express concerns ahead of time.

[Radi]

For stupid questions, you get stupid answers. Scorch did already mention that nothing is set in stone. And beta testers will provide feedback and devs adjust code as needed.

Concerns about a game that is still in development stage? Everything can change at this point and it is pointless unless you have some influence on the dev team. Chill.

[Sephiroth]

So then let's just all stop discussing it. No point in giving suggestions, talking about our concerns with the game or anything of the sort.

Real logical Radi. I stated a concern I had with the game just as many others have. Stop giving me **** when you have absolutely no reason to do so.

[Ambrosius]

I just can't wait for the AI haulers to