I spent some time fixing up the merc AI flight functions. There were a number of issues that needed to be addressed with the way the mercs were responding to commands, and thinking for themselves when autotasking. After lots of hairpulling and a few self induced bald spots, the mercs are now performing much better.
The main thing that was addressed, was the requirement to manually target with the mercs. This is no longer the case. Neutral mercs will now assume your target, and fire without you having to command them each time. This does not apply to the patrol autotask, as mercs will automatically find there targets on their own. This adjustment will specifically effect what the merc targets when NOT using autotask.
The new formation system will keep your mercs closer and more oriented to the formation settings you have applied. This will keep your mercs closer, and less likely to get lost when zipping around the sectors. As long as the merc isn't too far away from the ship formation, they will adjust their AI to maintain the formation even when you are using afterburners. Adjusting the game speed will no longer cause the mercs to behave erratically, and will maintain the same calculations and conditions regardless of ship speed or gamespeed.
After many hours of testing, the mercs now look to be behaving as intended, be sure to report any issues. I also spent some time adjusting the fleet panel, and pilot fleet panel. The addition of the select all mercs, and easier to read icons have altered the fleet panel layout.
I have also added a video player that will soon be used for tutorial video additions as will as storyline elements that deliver video clues and such for missions. You can stream external mp4 or avi videos. just paste the url into the video url box and you should be good to go. currently, test access to the new video player is accessible in the options panel / extras.
Build 0.0117
- Fixed popup for valuable demand in station market.
- Fixed market buy qty display when warping from out of stock items.
- Fixed issue with random scan mission generating player owned stations.
- Fixed bad loot id causing zombie raider when npc raiders dies.
- Fixed tactical in station when docking while autodocking when looking at map.
- Fixed spelling error on galaxy mouseover data panel.
- Fixed spelling errors in main events generator database.
- Fixed spelling and duplication errors in professions database.
- Fixed merc jump to formation when switching tactics after formation lock.
- Fixed defense drone bug targeting ammo from your own ship.
- Adjusted escort mission mercs to leave fleet when mission is aborted.
- Adjusted merc formation physics for tighter flight.
- Adjusted merc formation lock system with dynamic velocity formation break.
- Adjusted fleet panel UI and payroll data.
- Adjusted merc Income and Payroll data to the pilot feet panel.
- Adjusted mercs to fire on ship target in when in neutral tactical stance.
- Adjusted merc formation AI and distance parameters.
- Adjusted merc combat AI routines.
- Adjusted merc formation rotation calculations when attacking in unlocked formation.
- Adjusted torpedo thrust base speed and rotation calculations.
- Adjusted torpedo lifetime self destruction timer.
- Added new gui icons for fleet select all, merc select all, and formation lock.
- Added residual payment info to the pilot fleet panel.
- Added video panel for use future with tutorials and storyline quests.
- Added video streaming of mp4 videos from url.
- Added video player access button to options extras.
- Added SHIP_base_level and SHIP_skill_level variables to the ship editor panel.
- Added new function button on fleet panel to select all mercs.
- Added structure building requirements to Structure panel list and details box.
- Added orbit tutorial to trade station in void starcross campaign map.
- Added ship orbit tutorial document that is gifted after tutorial completion.