[Bingofuel]

Currently there are very few money sinks. We get welthy but nothing to spend it on. The new Jumpgate Evolution will have a NPC AI which I'm sure will try to prevent you from completeing your missions or pester you while you go about your merry ways.

Enter the ability to hire NPC wingmen.

Wingmen will be available in increments of 5 levels. Your level would determine how many and of what level NPC you can hire. This would probably be best described with a few examples.

If you are level 1-4 you will not be able to hire a NPC.
At lev 5 you can hire 1 lev 5 NPC.
At lev 10 you can hire 1 lev 10 NPC or 2 lev 5 NPCs.

The pay rate for the NPCs would be based on there level.
-You pay half at launch and the other half when you dock.
-If you kill the NPC you pay 2x what is owed. if you cant then you get a bounty of what you owe.
-If the NPC gets killed you owe it nothing.

NPCs are fighters nothing else. The AI server will equip the NPCs with appropriate equipment. The equipment will not come from the stations inventory it will be generated.

NPCs will follow some commands as a group. You won't be able to command them individualy.
-Form Up = They will follow you. but will assume a defensive posture unless you issue the Back Off command.
-Defend Me = They will pick the closest enemy that attacked you and attack it
-Attack Target = All NPCs will attack your target.
-Back Off = Even if you are under fire the NPCs will not defend you.

[netburnr]

Sounds like a game called "Escape Velocity" on the mac.

The real question is, do we really want computer based escorts? Personally I believe this is something that increases the community and squad feeling. I think everyone should be part of a squad and depend on them for escorts...

[Tritian]

personally, AI wingmates and pirates sound good on paper, but IMO it will have very bad consequences in-game. I think the AI should be limited to the enemy ships only.

[Poseidon]

Didn't ND already say that you'd be able to hire AI?

[daslog]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Didn't ND already say that you'd be able to hire AI?

I think so

[dahalb]

The AI will and can be anything that a player can be. Pirate, hauler, Military, etc. It may also be the "enemy" but they haven't announced that yet. Hiring a wingman might already be possible. Sounds to me like it is. Not sure about multiples tho i cant see why not.

[Bingofuel]

I know it was said the AI will keep the economy ( building the equipment we destroy without any consideration of what it took to get that equipment in the first place ) going. The AI will do this even if players are unwilling to do it. I didn't see any mention of being able to hire them to tasks we want them to do.

"The real question is, do we really want computer based escorts? Personally I believe this is something that increases the community and squad feeling. I think everyone should be part of a squad and depend on them for escorts..."

When you go mineing, even when there was a large population, were you able to find a player willing to hang around doing nothing while you licked rocks? Granted, currently the only threat it the occasional flux dump as a threat, but Jumpgate Evolution will have NPCs that want to stop you. Players want to be active NPCs will sit around patiently waiting to protect you. Even still if the AI is done right the attackers might focus on you and not your guards so you still have to personaly take action.

[netburnr]

Short answer, YES.

I have in the past protected my squad mates while they mine or Arty hunt. Was I bored most of the time, sure, but I just chatted while scanning the sector to help time pass.

Now if we have NPC pirates and crap that really make it dangerous it will give us more to "protect against" and make it less boring.

So Long answer is yes too.