NPC's (with the exception of the Itani - Serco conflict) are way too friendly to each other, especially in greyspace. This should not be the case. According to the backstory, the companies comprising the UIT drift in and out of all-out military conflict. The 'fringe' companies which operate primarily in greyspace are even more inclined to forcibly promote their economic interests, especially Corvus.

While I maintain hope that a more extensive solution to the decidedly unaggressive behaviors of NPC's in greyspace will come with the faction/universe redux, I think a more near-term solution may be in order as well.

Currently, nearly all factions send trade convoys through greyspace, both autonomously and as part of player-initiated escort missions. When convoys of opposing factions encounter each other, their escorts should engage and attempt to destroy the opposing convoy. Most notably, Corvus convoys should always attack convoys from other factions, with the possible exceptions of Xang Xi and Ineubis. Some other faction rivalries should also result in hostilities. Two convoys meeting in monitored space should ignore each other, but when the encounter happens in unmonitored space, it should definitely result in hostilities.

Players who take escort missions and kill opposing convoy ships en route should receive the same rewards as those who kill hive bots on an escort.

This would add a very interesting dynamic to the game, probably without much developer pain. The resulting ad-hoc battles would be a nice addition to the atmosphere of the game; even if one chooses not to get involved, simply flying past an engagement while traveling would make the universe feel more alive. In addition, this would instantly make escort missions more meaningful.

In the slightly longer term, factions (especially Corvus) could even send interceptor groups of fighters and assault ships to take out enemy convoys (and possibly allow players to take part in these the same way they do with escort missions).

I agree on the whole, but I have differing views on a few issues.

Trade convoys should not attack each other; it is poor judgement to use inherently inefficient combat ships to duke it out. What I would like to see are PMC wolf packs, punitive squadrons and trade convoys, all mingling in the grey space area, like you mentioned in your last paragraph, only I'd like to see it right away after implementation. It would add to the immersion, in my opinion, and fill a bit more of the empty space.

Holas, ladron

Robando ideas ahora?

Check http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/22339#276739 , already proposed... planned epic furball...

And toshiro is right. Convoy defending bots should not leave his convoy to attack other, that is not military way. But any player present can, and probably will, since his own convoy protects him. Hit other convoy and run back to your own...

Maybe only problem is making AI keep defenders within convoy radius.

But even if convoys simply passes by and does not ATTACK each other, simply passes by, that would be fun. And nervous, will they attack? Should I attack?

toshiro: Well, that would be better, yes. I suggested a 2-phase implementation because I think it would be easier to implement; I would love to be wrong about that, though, and see the immediate introduction of kill squads.

Also, note that it would be the convoy escorts attack other convoys, not the actual transport ships themselves. In the case of capital convoys, the capships could simply take pot-shots at the opposing moths in passing, without even changing course.

Yes, I see what you mean. I'm unsure whether it would be more demanding in terms of dev time to implement a feature that convoys attack each other, but only the convoy escorts do so, or to create kill squads with an explicit purpose (the AI would probably the same for both). I'd suppose that it might be more difficult to have the bots rejoin their convoy if they remain behind for some reason (the trade convoy should move on, not pause). A dedicated group of NPC would probably create less problems.

It's a good idea, have the fighter/intercepters go for the moth/taurs... mostly they will engage each other in the middle but sometimes they will take out another moth/taur.

or to create kill squads with an explicit purpose

We already have these coded. Recall the NPC rats, and their 'liberate this cargo' missions?

quote from Lecter:

We already have these coded. Recall the NPC rats, and their 'liberate this cargo' missions?

/quote

Yes. They went rampant and were hardly controllable (though a nice source of income). But yes, they'd probably be the simplest way to introduce some anarchy.

They went rampant and were hardly controllable

You say that like it's a bad thing.

I would also like to see the re-introduction of NPC rats.

I think the NPC rats made nice snowflakes in space. It was kinda impossible to fight 10 flare-spamming warthogs, however.

I'd like to see Orion vs. Tunguska, Ineubis vs. Xang Xi, etc.

Yes, the unrats need serious tweaking, so as not to accrue geometrically.

I'd rather have geometrically accruing NPC rats than a greyspace in which nothing interesting ever happens.

Sigh. It was a good double-entendre, Tosh.

I am impervious to them in the English language.

They rapidly (geometrically) accrue in "snowflake" (geometric) patterns, Tosh. Hence the joke that I thought you made intentionally.

Oh. Sorry, I didn't associate it that way. Déformation professionnelle, I'm afraid. Or possibly due to my thick skull.

As I've said before:

That's not entirely fair, Lecter. I accept new ideas if I see their merit, and even change my position if I find it to be faulty. Once I get them through my thick skull, that is.