Enemies are Smarter Than Companions

[Fkemman11]

So, I have logged about 1500 hrs. in FO4 so far. Have been wandering and doing whatever without caring much about how or why. But I run into plenty of enemies everywhere due mainly to a couple of mods.

The thing I have noticed is that foes ALWAYS see me about the same time I see them. While any companions I have just stand their like stumps- even when I am being attacked some times. Hell, I have seen companions get shot and turn around to see who is shooting only to get shot again. I have seen MM get owned by Molerats. Of course this happens to raiders sometimes. But when they are fighting me it is different somehow. For instance; A melee attacker is going to try to work around to your blind side or dodge gunfire until they are close enough to attack. They don't always do this but often. I never see my people doing this. Another example is when I shoot an enemy they move where I can't get a clean shot if they can. I never see my people do this. They stand and get shot until they're down.

 

Now I don't remember this "wait until I have been attacked" behavior in other Fallouts. I seem to remember them recognizing enemies much sooner- and attacking. So what gives with FO4? This game is supposed to be a more of an open world shooter I thought. Couldn't Beth have made companions more than just loot toting bullet sponges? Have also noticed enemies ignore companions and come straight for me. Why? Some screwy AI here friends. :teehee:

[Moraelin]

Well, that's one reason I prefer a pimped-out Ada. At least she has an excuse to act like a robot :tongue:

[Fkemman11]

Well, that's one reason I prefer a pimped-out Ada. At least she has an excuse to act like a robot :tongue:

 

You know I forgot that if you have a robot with you they draw fire first. So at least Ada fills the bullet-sponge role better! :laugh:

[dragonslayer2k12]

Didn't know about the robot thing but it makes sense to be seen as a bigger threat. Maybe this has something to do with preventing companion aggro in some situations. During the quest confidence man I always have to take away my companions weapons if they have any because if I don't they just shoot those two bullies instead of fighting with them. When they don't have weapons they just stand there and watch me fight them.

[Moraelin]

I didn't really pay attention to who's the best at tanking. I think most of my companions seem to be bullet magnets, but I have no clue who's better at it. I mean, the robots do have the tesla coils, but no idea if there's more to their keeping aggro than that.

 

Robots can have superior firepower, though, or rather, the best you can get for no ammo use. Ada with two gatlings and a robobrain head or Mr Handy torso (both have the highest ranged accuracy in the game) cleans up the place pretty well.

 

Or better yet, sacrifice some accuracy for a Sentry head and reaper helm, which makes every hit from the robot have a chance to behead the enemy. And the voltaic armour bonus counts as separate hits for the same bullet, so, hey, more chances to behead. Give the ol' metalhead gal two gatlings (or even better: two of my shotgun miniguns, since the proc chance then is PER PELLET) and she's like the Queen Of Hearts. Off with their heads!

 

At which point, really, I don't mind that she can't hide. I want enemies to annoy her, and then heads will roll. No, literally :tongue:

 

And here's some bonus lulz: the beheader procs even on essential or protected NPCs. Mind you, they still won't DIE, but... let's just say at one point she turned the whole Covenant into Sleepy Hollow. Full of clones of the Headless Horseman :wink:

 

Hmm... now that I think of it, I wonder if I could get her to behead Preston somehow. Then I could give him one of those redcoat uniforms from the mod, and Grognak's axe, and have him really look the part of the Hessian...

 

*Ahem* Ok, so I'm easily amused.

[llamaRCA]

@Fkemman11 - Are you modding the companions in some way or using a mod that does? I've traveled with Danse for hundreds of hours and I would never describe his combat behavior in that way. He attacks all of the things all of the time. He uses cover heavily, etc. I have to sneak and keep him back to keep him out of a confrontation. If I exercise no intervention he rushes in and shoots at everything.

 

The behavior you're describing can be created in the CK, but the vanillas aren't set up that way by default (well, let me qualify that. It isn't done in any of their follow/combat packages that I can see).

[dragonslayer2k12]

Danse stands directly behind me and shoots me in the back almost every time he is following me I have to remember to jump out of the way as soon as he starts yelling something. He seems to get stuck a lot in the interior cells though if there is a lot of crap everywhere like desks and other obstacles though. I always setup ada with full assaultron parts I have that RILF mod too hehe well who doesn't and give her a gatling laser right arm with assaultron laser head. If she doesn't incinerate someone she will beat the crap out of them with a melee attack but she always starts off with the gatling laser. She can move so fast as an assaultron that enemies can't get away so I just focus on other enemies attacking her until they are all gone.

Edited April 17, 2017 by dragonslayer2k12

[llamaRCA]

Danse stands directly behind me and shoots me in the back almost every time he is following me I have to remember to jump out of the way as soon as he starts yelling something. He seems to get stuck a lot in the interior cells though if there is a lot of crap everywhere like desks and other obstacles though. I always setup ada with full assaultron parts I have that RILF mod too hehe well who doesn't and give her a gatling laser right arm with assaultron laser head. If she doesn't incinerate someone she will beat the crap out of them with a melee attack but she always starts off with the gatling laser. She can move so fast as an assaultron that enemies can't get away so I just focus on other enemies attacking her until they are all gone.

 

Huh, weird. I've never had those kinds of problems with him. He just kills everything even when I wish he's just sit there and do nothing.

[Moraelin]

BTW, that reminds me: whoever has a problem with Danse, are you SNEAKING perchance? Companion behaviour is very different from NV or FO3 when you sneak.

 

And personally I'd say for the better. I used to love Willow for the fact that she was probably the first companion to be scripted to stay the heck out of a fight unless they're already detected. Beth at least tried to have the companions act that way by default in FO4, which I think is a good thing.

[Fkemman11]

@Fkemman11 - Are you modding the companions in some way or using a mod that does? I've traveled with Danse for hundreds of hours and I would never describe his combat behavior in that way. He attacks all of the things all of the time. He uses cover heavily, etc. I have to sneak and keep him back to keep him out of a confrontation. If I exercise no intervention he rushes in and shoots at everything.

 

The behavior you're describing can be created in the CK, but the vanillas aren't set up that way by default (well, let me qualify that. It isn't done in any of their follow/combat packages that I can see).

 

I use More Better Companions and the War Never Changes mod along with a few others that change AI behavior. More Better Companions is supposed to help your followers be more effective by switching to another weapon if they run out of ammo or actually look for another if they are around (sometimes find them carrying 4-5 weapons). War Never Changes resets the health and damage values of humans and creatures ect making humans, including PC, much weaker. No more face-tanking a nuke. As to the rest of the AI package, I cant say for sure. It has something to do with their recognition of enemies. They are slow in that regard.

Heather seems to be the exception in this- though she is still plagued with other common follower misgivings. For instance she still gives me away while sneaking. Can't complain to much about anything else. Did you make a custom combat AI for her llama? :smile:

 

All in all, I think the best combat companions are robots. Because you don't expect them to sneak -like Moraelin has said- and I can use them as bullet sponges while I pick off enemies. They are just annoying all the rest of the time clunky, clickety- clank. As far as weaponry goes, ALL denizens of my FO4 are sporting deadly weapons that will end you or companions in two or three shots! :devil:

 

What would be really cool is to have companions perform special attacks unique to each. Like say a chain-attack for Cait where she takes down multiple low level enemies. That would be awesome!!