As we all know some NPCs patrols appear on encounters in nice formations. VC patrol ist mostly in inverted wedge formation, Hub patrol in wedge formation, NCR Army in line formation and so on... It makes sense that biggest factions/cities in wasteland trained well enough their soldiers so they are disciplined and keep formation all the time. Question is why some other groups like robbers, highwaymans and so on also use military tactics? Did they all were trained or are ex-military?
So what I would like to suggest is that first we divide all NPCs into two groups:
untrained combatants (farmers, highwaymans, robbers etc) and
trained combatants (BoS, Hub, NCR, VC etc patrols or caravans). Second thing is that groups can't appear closer than at least 30 hex from each other.
Successful Outdoorsman roll vs random encounter with:
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Untrained combatants - you can catch them off guard, scattered away from each other and your group (players) will appear in one of few (random or perhaps customizable) formations. [to simulate that player group noticed and prepared themselves against NPC group which wasn't aware of player group presence]
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Trained combatants - you can catch them in staggered column formation and your group (players) will appear in one of few (random or perhaps customizable) formations. [to simulate that players group noticed encountered marching NPC patrol and prepared themselves]
Unsuccessful Outdoorsman roll (failure) vs random encounter with:
-
Untrained combatants - you can be catched off guard by and circled by NPCs or NPCs away in staggered column. Your group (players) might appear very close to each other or in staggered column. [to simulate that NPCs ambushed player group or didn't notice player group and just marched toward them]
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Trained combatants - you can be catched off guard and circled by NPCs or NPCs appearing in proper combat formation . Your group (players) might appear very close to each other or in staggered column. [to simulate that NPC group noticed player group and prepared themselves]
For exact checking in which formation players will appear it would be good to have one more roll (it could be even roll on Speech skill [with caps for skill so raising over fe: 150 won't do much] justified by that the higher leader Speech the better organized group is) before entering encounter. The lowest roll would mean worst scenario for players entering encounter and best NPCs/players inside encounter. There could be some bonuses/penalties introduced for each of scenario (fe: penalty for NPCs AP if they are caught off guard). Scenario where players group encounter other players could be solved similiar way (just perhaps without being circled possibility). This could be good start for reworking how players appear on other players encounters (no unrealistic 3 hex away insertion points).
Also players that are in encounter when new players are entering should be warned via console message from which direction new travellers will appear.
Perhaps if players appear in formation would depend of some new perk of group leader or if they are trained NPC faction members. I belive that this would make random encounters system more interesting and realistic for PvE and PvP purposes.
Some of suggested and already existing in game formations (bad quality but hopefuly you will get idea):
Staggered column (Couldn't find better picture, a
bit similiar to RoTA formation)
Line (NCR Army)
Wedge (Hub Patrol)
Vee/Inverted Wedge (VC Patrol)
Anyway it's time for you to give some feedback about suggestion and ask questions.
P.S.: I know that it might sound a bit complicated and "military" but it's good simulation of how random encounters should look.
Poll
