What if you could hack NPC ships?... Not for RP, but to disrupt either atk, def, or any other stat they have but Hull. This would give people with good stats for hacking an edge with NPCs (especially elites), so the NPC will be easier w/o the usage of artifacts!

Here's how I think the hack disruption system would work:

(Chances are based off of current Hacking system for PVPing)

Critical Failure Disables shields on your ship.
Failure ATK and/or DEF % disruption on your ship. (%10-30)
Success ATK and/or DEF % disruption on target. (%10-30)
Critical Success Disables shields on target.

Of course you would be able to do this once per 30 min, and the effect would last for only 30 min (unless its a Critical)

What do you guys think?

great way to hack by penalizing NPC stats, but I disagree about the shield penalty. Perhaps critical success could extend the NPC's duration and critical failure could reduce the duration by a hour?

If you are relying on that extra hour from a crit hack, then you probably shouldnt be fighting that NPC imo. Especially considering a failure will reduce it an hour and hurt you even worse.

I would prefer it be something like unresistable dmg on a hack crit, eg

I hack the NPC...

His damage control officer comes over the intercom and says "captain, we have defensive weapons discharge on decks 4, 12, 13, 14, 56, 88. and 102. Hull breach in 12, 13, and 14 sir. Not sure what happened, almost as if they were under someone elses control."

Tis my take anyways.

This s a great idea and thanks for suggesting it and all replies.

As a player focused now on NPC engagements, Hack and Raid for NPC emulating the current PvP plunder options would be so welcomed.

Really ups that NPC draw even more, plus a new attack approach to consider if I felt an edge could be had leveraging this!

PvP Raids can get crew killed and Hacks can wind up handing over previous Research for the victim - the risk is understood and the reward was at best implied. Up to the player.

Great breakdown on a suggested success to failure matrix and proposed refresh time, thanks!

I am already going after these NPC targets, if there was one more facet to appreciate during Battle it could only enrich the enjoyment.

Thats an interesting idea, but it wouldn't really fit into the scheme of this idea. The proposed goal for hacking an NPC was to weaken it w/o artifacts, or just to weaken it more w/ artifacts.