NPC Balance Before/After 2/17 Patch

ChambersOfShaolin

As we all know now, damage resistance is the key stat. So I loaded up all the ballistic and melee resistance gear I could find. This is a preliminary report, full Mission/NPC balancing report to be posted later.

Level 50 RSI
Melee Resistance 130
Ballistic Resistance 165
Aikido Grand Master/Kung Fu Master
Full Focus/Full Perception remaing in Belief

Earlier in the day on the 17th I was very very happy with the difficulty level of NPCs. In missions set to hard, it wasn't surprise to see someone die. We rallied to help each other and health pills kept the primary tank alive.

The next area of testing was Creston Heights, a neighborhood I've been pushing for high difficulty in. I got REALY excited when I fought clusters of the level 48's there. They were Con Yellow. The single chev's I could plow through pretty quickly, and the double and triple chevs took much longer respectively. The Creston NPC's did around 45 damage per shot which quickly added up when fighting 3 or 4 at a time. It was fast paced and I was popping pills when needed. If they were only Single Chevs no pills needed, double and triple chevs involved sometimes they were needed. Either way, if I didn't pay attention it'd be very easy to die. (Died once out of 20 clusters when the cluster had a triple and two doubles)

After the patch came out on the 17th it was clear they had been watered down. The once respected Watchers were now ankle biting annoyances. The NPCs did 20-25 damage, and their resistance was less. Each move seemed to do about 100 more damage (log review later today). I actually ran around all of Creston Park and pulled all the clusters to me...engaged at least 10 of them that I could count on my screen with little concern. Unfortunately this patch watered them down to the point that the only exciting neighborhood for a level 50 was no longer exciting. They couldn't do enough damage, and they took to much.

So down into the museum I went hoping to find some more trouble. I just dove right into the NPCs at the stairs and pulled all three clusters equalling 9 level 50 NPCs of various chevrons. I could at least tell the difference between the chevs this time...but I unfortunately didn't die. I did this several times...pulling mutliple clusters. Health pills were needed but taking on 9-12 NPCs and not denying leaves little to report. SMILEY

I look forward to the next rebalancing. I really enjoyed the difficulty level of the NPCs in Creston when it was challenging to solo. We so desperately need something to challenge us at level 50. /target developer ; /plead

**ZaneZavin**

I think it's a good balance. I doubt you will have all that resistance clothing on when the top items are converted and also if those guys used hacks they would have probably toasted you.

ChambersOfShaolin

I see no point in wearing anything but resistance clothing. Accuracy doesn't matter much. You can only get damage in bonuses and all the gear is mostly 1 or 3% bonuses which means nothing.

My viral resistance is very high also. If I can pull all of Creston Heights Park and not die...there still needs to be readjustments.

RockyB

I'd be more interested in how the heck you got that much resistance. I must have rubbish clothes, I'm only running about 70 of each SMILEY

**Tytanya_MxO**

We should dodge bullets rather than absorb their damage, I like the current balance (it could even make npc's a tad too easy) but feel its not achieved in the best manner to remain consistent with reality or the movies.

(sorry for repeating this i thought i had already responded on this thread!)

**thornTree**

Tytanya_MxO wrote:
We should dodge bullets rather than absorb their damage, I like the current balance (it could even make npc's a tad too easy) but feel its not achieved in the best manner to remain consistent with reality or the movies.
(sorry for repeating this i thought i had already responded on this thread!)

/agree

unfortunately, that's not the way CR2 is designed =/

Can't speak for level 50 balance, but at 35 I've found that I can take on 2-3 con orange NPCs in missions with only a moderate hazard to my health (2 if one is more than 1 chevron, otherwise 3), using Rifleman.

Hackers seem to hit me with about 15% of their attacks, and I haven't gone out of my way to add protective buffs.

Seems that mobs are just slightly too easy with this latest patch, around lvl 35 at least.

GrimteSv

I disagree, i think this difficulty is right where it should be. Npc's are grunts, we should be able to beat the tar our of them at will.

But i do wish it was alittle more like the old system, what's the point of allowing lower levels charachters the ability to hit you if they can't do any serious dmg?.. i suppose it does give them a chance of giving them a status effect and probably getting them slaughtered if their in a fight with an Ma.

**sss**

I was trying out the new NPC balance patch on QA in Union Hill, next to the monument. I was fighting Hellions (level 3 SMILEY

, and I'm level 40 with aikido/kung fu hybrid loaded. I fought one opponent - a Hellion Thrasher, and when I was about to do my finishing move, he used the attack "Succubus's Kiss", which immediately took away 2,560 hp, killing me in one hit. I /bug'd it.

I went back after the bug report, and fought another Hellion, I can only remember that he was not a Thrasher. I dispatched him, and fought a Hellion Thrasher, and the same thing happened. I got hit by a "Succubus's Kiss" attack, and promptly died. Which means I was killed twice, when I attempted to kill three gang members two levels below me, in about five minutes.

I am not sure if this was the same before the NPC balance update, but I've not heard of any attacks that are one hit kills intentionally. Any one else experienced this? Any answers are welcomed. :smileyhappy:

**Renesis13B**

ChambersOfShaolin wrote:

So down into the museum I went hoping to find some more trouble. I just dove right into the NPCs at the stairs and pulled all three clusters equalling 9 level 50 NPCs of various chevrons. I could at least tell the difference between the chevs this time...but I unfortunately didn't die. I did this several times...pulling mutliple clusters. Health pills were needed but taking on 9-12 NPCs and not denying leaves little to report.

I have a hard time believing you took on 10+ npcs at the creston museum without dieing. You must have been popping pills like crazy. I have 181 bdr and each hit was taking like 30 damage. They can shoot every 2 secs (could be wrong on this) so the free fire attacks alone would be 300 damage every 2 secs.

Do you think a full team of 6 can kill their way through that museum now or would it take more?

**9mmfu**

This would be a very good test to run. Put togather a group of 6 with a balanced team in mind and go to it. :smileyhappy:

Then variations. I would definately like to know how the player experience is. In the Creston Heights exile hideout.

ChambersOfShaolin · 02/22/2006 00:15:27

I'll meet up with you tomorrow man. I'm loaded focus/perception for max ballistic resist and around 190 ballistic resist. I was popping pills but yes I solo'd 12 NPC lvl 50's in Creston with Aikido/Kung Fu loadout.

Anyone else want to join up? Prob mid afternoon EST for me is best.

Message Edited by ChambersOfShaolin on 02-22-200603:15 AM

HCFrog

Big thanks to all the people who were there in Creston! That was fun SMILEY

Oh and after trying to take down the boss of the Seraphim, I think anybody who wants to test the PB4 should probably wait until I get a chance to meddle with them some :smileysurprised:

Calliente

We had a Collective group try the Creston dungeon when the servers finally became stable. However, this was before the damage values were properly set, and the NPCs had been rebalanced. We were able to make it down to the boss no problem, in fact, quite easily.

Haven't had a chance to try it lately however, but it sounds like others have SMILEY

**Fen**

I can probably give you a hand with that, MK. Just give me a time for mid-afternoon so I can wake up... (Hey, gimme a break... I work until 7am. SMILEY

)

ChambersOfShaolin

LOL Right on Fen, I'm sure through the proper channels I can get ahold of you SMILEY

We decided at the Machine meeting last night we'd run some testing at 4pm EST and again at 10pm EST. Sorry you missed the meeting dude. You to Cal.

Yea Cal the dungeon wa toughedned up quite a bit between update 4 and 5, and sounds like it was tweaked a bit for 6. It took 3 or 4 of us at least 20-30 minutes to get to the bottom. Lots of fun. That report will come tomorrow SMILEY

MK