Increasing Opfor Tonnage?

[SQW]

How is the opfor in random missions generated? Is it by tonnage or number or bit of both?

We can argue about the salvage mechanics and economy but in the end, as long as the player is facing opfor with similar or 50% more tonnage, it will most likely be a cake walk.

Short of tweaking the AI file, are there any other ways we can give the existing AI a helping hand with a bit of file editing?

 

[Abydos_1]

https://twitter.com/HBS_Kiva/status/983540664766877696

So, basically a OpFor is based on A) Difficulty B) Already determined Lance compositions where there is some variance.

So, if you want to tweak the AI for lance compositions, you'd have to change what sort of mech rolls where on those lists. So instead of rolling a Heavy, it would be an assualt etc. or alternatively, just choose higher diff. skull missions if challenge is a concern.

Cheers

 

[Landran]

Short of tweaking the AI file, are there any other ways we can give the existing AI a helping hand with a bit of file editing?

Reduce or remove armour debuffs for Opfor. This will give AI some extra time to fire at our mechs.

 

[Camicon Dachass]

How is the opfor in random missions generated? Is it by tonnage or number or bit of both?

We can argue about the salvage mechanics and economy but in the end, as long as the player is facing opfor with similar or 50% more tonnage, it will most likely be a cake walk.

Short of tweaking the AI file, are there any other ways we can give the existing AI a helping hand with a bit of file editing?

Giving them heavier lances would only be a short-term difficulty increase.

When the OpFor brings Heavy 'Mechs, and you beat them, you can start piecing together your own Heavy 'Mechs. Same with Assaults. Anything they fight you with, you'll be fighting them with in short order.

If you want to increase the difficulty then, as Landran said, remove their armour debuffs. Or look to use a series of AI tweaks, like what Amechwarrior put together for the Skirmish beta.

Unless you're talking about just giving them more 'Mechs and Vees, but that's boring.

 

[SQW]

Reduce or remove armour debuffs for Opfor. This will give AI some extra time to fire at our mechs.

It helps a bit but after the first few campaign missions, opfor are mostly fully armored (in stock anyway) and by then, they are no longer a threat anymore. You'll get shot at a bit more but that's mostly a degree of armor damage rather than becoming an actual threat.

Giving them heavier lances would only be a short-term difficulty increase.

When the OpFor brings Heavy 'Mechs, and you beat them, you can start piecing together your own Heavy 'Mechs. Same with Assaults. Anything they fight you with, you'll be fighting them with in short order.

If you want to increase the difficulty then, as Landran said, remove their armour debuffs. Or look to use a series of AI tweaks, like what Amechwarrior put together for the Skirmish beta.

Unless you're talking about just giving them more 'Mechs and Vees, but that's boring.

Yes, I've considered the loot factor. I intend to get around that by editing the salvage chance percentage (Currently it's 1 for win and attempted and 0.5 for failed I think) and number of parts needed to build a mech. The lower skull missions should remain what it is now in case you do run into a squad wipe but the harder difficulty missions definitely need a boost from what I've seen.

 

[Ac0lyte]

Increase the skills of the OpFor - more difficult with no prospect of additional gain. Doesn't have to be that much at all - I'd imagine that even an additional +2.5% chance to hit will take it's toll over the long term, not to mention the occasional addition of a pilot ability.

- Shane

 

[SQW]

I guess pumping up the AI pilot skills is easier than editing the entire opfor lance composition.

God knows the AI could do with some accuracy bonus seeing how most of the time they can't pick the right target to focus down on.