Petition: Bring back mob AI!

[Phenidate]

I'd like to see more mobs in groups. When the game was yet to be released it sounded like SE planned to break from the 'everyone gangs up one individual woodland critters' and have it where you'd go up against a pack or band of enemies.

Outside of quests you never see it, and all it entails in quests is you just need to deal with more monsters at once and use AOE. There is no real "AI" behind it beyond mindless mob. I'd prefer it if we started to see more enemy groups where different members filled different roles. A tougher front line enemy that tries to keep you busy while their weaker damage dealers try to get at your side or back for a rear or flank bonus from a distance for example.

Right now it's predominantly 'tank and spank' or 'Play hokey pokey with monster AOE'. It gets the job done, but c'mon! We've seen this same song and dance since the 90's in MMOs.

[Koga_Edge]

Outside of quests you never see it, and all it entails in quests is you just need to deal with more monsters at once and use AOE. There is no real "AI" behind it beyond mindless mob. I'd prefer it if we started to see more enemy groups where different members filled different roles. A tougher front line enemy that tries to keep you busy while their weaker damage dealers try to get at your side or back for a rear or flank bonus from a distance for example.

FFXI had this to a tiny tiny extent, and by that I mean 1 quest fight, I think it was an ACP or Moogle fight, where that Thief Goblin would disappear, only to reappear behind a player for a sneak attack goblin rush.

why don't the beastmen families link with each other, you'd think with them being in such a close knit encampment, they'd want to try and preserve what fighters they have.
I don't like beating down goblin monkeys while their friends just sit there and watch without trying to jump in and save his little buddy

I sign!

P.S. i'm pretty sure the doormice still run away at low HP

[Aramil]

Signed, I'd like to see those back.

[Rutelor]

Another signature, here, from me, yours truly.

Agree with the consensus of the thread so far.

Other than that, I've thought about it and concluded that perhaps curious mobs could be used strategically, here and there, (maybe just in instances, maybe not,) to add challenge to certain points of the environmental puzzle. Basically, anything that will give depth to the bestiary, (but not only to the bestiary since the game needs it desperately in all fronts.)

R

[Preypacer]

Personally I miss the days of being able to farm among efts as long as I watched my step and didn't move around them.

I miss when crabs would raise their claws at you if you came too close before attacking.

I miss when Deer would flee in my pressense.

Yes I also miss "Curious" monsters to an extent.

Personally I think SE removing these unique features "And who knows what else" from some monsters was a very bad move. I hereby declare this post to be a petition for Mob AI to be put back into the game, and for more monsters to have unique quirks.

Feel free to post what AI you know of, and what you think some awesome ideas would be, or great ways to tweak the system.

Known AI "Quirks"

• Funguar wont use Queasy cloud, or (not sure on name) Mushroom whip if you don't attack them when they inflate or deflate.
• Mice mobs tend to flee after you weaponskill and cower for a few moments
• Red crabs "Used to" Raise their claws instead of flat out agroing until you got closer to them
• Drakes will warn you before they agro
• Efts "Used to" Become "Aware" of your presense via sound, and if you stopped moving during this phase where they appeared to be listening for you...you could avoid agro!
• Many mobs used to follow you around Monkies, and Aldgoats being a prime example.
• Deer and Quqirn would run away from you.

What do you guys think? I personally wish efts were the way they used to be, it's sad to see them just flat out agro now.

As for the "Curious" monster I do think they need to have a short follow radius, only do so for a short time, and perhaps flee when you enter battle mode. "Not sure of many goats who would be curious about me after I started swinging"

Agree 100%.

+1

Make the "life" in Eorzea seem more "life-like".

If you want to see some *brilliant* examples of excellent creature AI in a MMO, check out Ryzom. You have herding animals that will travel around in groups of 20+ sometimes.. Some will come to protect others of their type, others will flee as soon as you begin fighting something. Some creatures are predatory and will go after smaller, prey-like animals. Some will come up and curiously check you out (as they used to in XIV). One type in particular, Yubos, will stand on their hind legs and "paw" at you.. like they're trying to interact.

Some are actually seasonal and will migrate based on what season it is. You'll see some stop, lie down and nap... Yubos also, and I'm not joking, will actually lift their leg to urinate from time to time.

Actually.. Here's a great vid showing all the different Yubo animations. Unfortunately it doesn't include the standing on its hind legs to interact with you... but you see the others. To see wildlife in XIV behaving that naturally would be awesome.

[redmage]

Agree 100%.

+1

Make the "life" in Eorzea seem more "life-like".

If you want to see some *brilliant* examples of excellent creature AI in a MMO, check out Ryzom. You have herding animals that will travel around in groups of 20+ sometimes.. Some will come to protect others of their type, others will flee as soon as you begin fighting something. Some creatures are predatory and will go after smaller, prey-like animals. Some will come up and curiously check you out (as they used to in XIV). One type in particular, Yubos, will stand on their hind legs and "paw" at you.. like they're trying to interact.

Some are actually seasonal and will migrate based on what season it is. You'll see some stop, lie down and nap... Yubos also, and I'm not joking, will actually lift their leg to urinate from time to time.

Actually.. Here's a great vid showing all the different Yubo animations. Unfortunately it doesn't include the standing on its hind legs to interact with you... but you see the others. To see wildlife in XIV behaving that naturally would be awesome.

Awesome video and agreed, this should be in the game... seeing those herbivore mobs not stop and peck at the ground just bugs me a bit. Beautiful models for mobs, but would love to see more personality in them.

Perhaps some of the beastmen patrolling around could stop and stretch or yawn.

[Vahn]

Signed! Thought I was the only one that missed this, lol. The Aldgoats were my favorite.

[Azurymber]

signed.

Why would they even take out something awesome and unique like this is beyond me.

[Anonymoose]

I miss mobs "sensing" you before they aggro'd quite a bit - and the fleeing mobs made the world feel a little more real. I'm all in for seeing those again... just... really stressing the "keep the nanny herds off of me," thing.

[whoopeeragon]

@Azu: most likely because people complained about AoE agroing the curious monster types. But even then, I liked it; danger + risk factor. You never know when a goat may be looking over your shoulder.

~Signed. I miss my pet dodos.