Deth Cube Target/threat Acquisition Needs Some Work

[h8seekr]

I'm a big fan of the Deth Cube.  Just installed my fourth forma.  But something I've noticed while leveling it up is that it has a rather dumb targeting AI.  I would imagine this is true for Wyrm as well but I don't use it that often so I can't confirm this.

 

I typically level my Deth Cube on Uranus and just from standing around and watching it shoot, it seems to use strict LOS (line of sight) to acquire a target and then maintains that target until enemy death or LOS is broken.  This is quite amusing in multi-level tiles where the Deth Cube picks up an enemy on a second/third level all the way across the room meanwhile ignoring the 10 enemies that just broke cover a few meters away on my level.

 

There are also numerous occasions where Deth Cube should prioritize close heavy targets over junk mobs but instead continues to shoot into cover completely ignoring the heavies just a few meters away.

 

It would be preferable to alter Deth Cube's target acquisition to use LOS, distance, and enemy strength so that closer and/or heavier targets receive target priority.

 

I assume LOS is the driving mechanic therefore a simple Targeting logic based on LOS would look something like this:

 

Acquire nearest LOS target >> Are there any other targets in LOS? >> YES: Are any of the targets heavier than the current target? >> YES: Is the heavy target within 20 meters? >> YES: Acquire heavy target and shoot until dead or LOS is broken. If at any point the answer is NO then: Shoot the current target until dead or LOS is broken.

 

Also, while we're on the topic, Vaporize should be a guaranteed kill against any level enemy (at higher levels it just stuns).  Just need to increase the cool down to 70 seconds and then decrease it by 5 seconds for each rank (down to 45 seconds).

 

Deth Cube is still my favorite drone but these changes would really make it live up to its name.

[Lyubaric]

+1

[taiiat]

understandable, but how would Puncture work? i often get the feeling that Dethcube knows i've got Puncture mods on him so he tries to shoot through walls :3

and it even works sometimes.

 

but yes, sometimes i wish Dethcube would focus a little closer to home. 

 

 

as for Vaporize, it seems to be 100% fire damage, which is probably why it's generally ineffective. if it was maybe... Impact or Laser damage, with a Fire bonus to it, it would probably be more effective overall. 

presuming it is actually entirely fire damage, of course. but it seems to be. 

 

but hey, atleast it's a 100% stun chance, right? :D

[syle]

sentinels targets should have action key for targeting

you select the target that the sentinel will focus on , if you don't the ai will do it by itself

[taiiat]

sentinels targets should have action key for targeting

you select the target that the sentinel will focus on , if you don't the ai will do it by itself

:o

+1

[h8seekr]

sentinels targets should have action key for targeting

you select the target that the sentinel will focus on , if you don't the ai will do it by itself

 

Can you describe a situation in which you would need the targeting key if the aforementioned targeting logic were in place? I would not be against any option that allows you to target pick but I personally wouldn't use it unless the AI just refused to let go of a target. With the control logic in place it should already be thinking (mostly) like you.

[h8seekr]

understandable, but how would Puncture work? i often get the feeling that Dethcube knows i've got Puncture mods on him so he tries to shoot through walls :3

and it even works sometimes.

 

but yes, sometimes i wish Dethcube would focus a little closer to home. 

 

 

as for Vaporize, it seems to be 100% fire damage, which is probably why it's generally ineffective. if it was maybe... Impact or Laser damage, with a Fire bonus to it, it would probably be more effective overall. 

presuming it is actually entirely fire damage, of course. but it seems to be. 

 

but hey, atleast it's a 100% stun chance, right? :D

 

Yes puncture works for me on and off too.  I think I could live with it as-is if the above control logic was in place. But additional logic would certainly fix it 100%. It would work basically on damage counter over time.  If the target is acquired but no damage is dealt over a period of time (probably 2-3 seconds) then the next closest LOS target is chosen.

 

I tested Vaporize last night and it becomes a stun gun with level 40+ Grineer which makes it utterly useless for outer planets and end game. I basically think it should one shot anything but bosses (and the upcoming sub-bosses).

[konfetarius]

Can you describe a situation in which you would need the targeting key if the aforementioned targeting logic were in place? I would not be against any option that allows you to target pick but I personally wouldn't use it unless the AI just refused to let go of a target. With the control logic in place it should already be thinking (mostly) like you.

The Dethcube will do more for you by quickly eliminating enemy damage sources, i.e. killing several light units in the time that it would take it to kill one heavy unit. A command to target heavies for when you need it to target heavies would be better for that reason alone IMO.

Also, I wish the stupid spin up mechanic had an actual spin down period between switching enemies so he didn't have to spin up every time he shot a new target.