Enemy mechs at high levels seem kinda... tame?

[hongooi]

For context, this is with a super-high level character (240+) with most combat skills maxed out, playing on Extreme difficulty. Starfield, like most RPGs and TB strategy games, has an inverse difficulty curve: the longer you play, the easier it gets as you collect powerups and generally get stronger. So for the most part, even on Extreme I don't have too many problems. But mechs seem to be particularly unthreatening. Human enemies can still kill me if I don't pay attention, and if they have the right guns, they can do it in just a few seconds. With a mech, however, I can stand in front of it and just tank the damage indefinitely -- as in, my health never drops below 90-95% despite all the explosions going on.

Don't get me wrong, mechs are still a huge damage sink and can take a long time to kill without drops. But it seems like they should be doing a bit more damage back than right now.

(The opposite holds for melee monsters, in particular critters like ashta and the things in the Doom mod... is there a forum to discuss that?)

 

[Geldric]

My first run through Watchtower was on my level 79 full stealth, solo non-starborn character. I was killing level 84 AI Mech's with my shotgun. Since then I have started new saves with my newest one reaching level 57 (still no points in Combat) and it seems much more challenging. Esp the Watchtower Wardens. However I have not tried to facetank a Mech... yet. Rosie will prolly get (even more) pissed at me

<snip>

(The opposite holds for melee monsters, in particular critters like ashta and the things in the Doom mod... is there a forum to discuss that?)

From the Creation webpage:
"This DOOM inspired mini-quest from the team at Kinggath Creations is presented by Bethesda Game Studios"

I def missed that when I was looking at the mod. Since they made it for Bethesda Game Studios, I'd imagine BGS would be responsible for any forum "stuff" and since nothing else Starfield related, including even the "Shattered Space" DLC has a forum.... Certainly worth asking

 

[Sabredog]

I started the mod at level 10, when I was first jumped, and am now level 220/ng+3 and the watchtower armor is the same dp (88) now as at the start. Seems there is no level progression at all.

 

[Geldric]

@Sabredog - interesting. I don't/won't use any of the Watchtower pieces because they weigh way too much for my stealth play style(1). So... I've never really looked their specs, just sell them for scrap. But, I could have sworn I've seen some labeled "advanced".

EDIT: I just picked up a "Calibrated" spacesuit (screenshot) <- full disclosure I AM running "Shade's Immersive Looting" mod so I pull the clothes/gear right off the enemies as well as take what inventory items they have.

EDIT2: I'm going to wager that 100% confirmed -> I am seeing the higher level gear items BECAUSE of Shade's Immersive Looting mod, sorry
EDIT3 (last one I promise!): I just obtained a "REFINED" Spacesuit and it is 100% from the mod listed above. But... if these items are equipped on the enemies, why don't they drop with the normal gear????

Ah but just thinking about it now; all the Watchtower gear (armor and weapons) I've picked up/found are always white. Shouldn't they be included in the loot pool for rarity? Or is that just another example of a Creation engine "oopsie"?

PS From my experience; "your" level doesn't really determine the level of drops; it's the area/zone you are in. Unless of course you are running any one of the number of "leveling" mods. <- personally I don't use any of those mods and rely on exploration to find higher tier gear. Contrary to what I just said about zone level; I can reliably find "Advanced" weapons when starting a new save, right on Kreet... if you know where to look and get lucky with POI spawns.

(1) My entire armor set (helmet + boostpack + spacesuit) weighs less than just the Watchtower spacesuit. Your total armor weight directly relates to the amount of noise you make while sneaking.

 

[hongooi]

Here's a clip of me tanking a level 100 Watchtower mech. I take practically no damage for the duration. The human enemies were more dangerous (I made sure to kill them first, or they would have definitely killed me).

 

[Geldric]

That video def shows you tanking the damage. If I did that with my current level 46 character, each bullet hit would drop my health (by a little) and after just one or two hits I would be bleeding (play on extreme too).

I'll load up my higher level character and see if I have similar results

EDIT: I re-watched your video - does the Mech inflict any bleeding? If not, you've def got some sort of invulnerability bug going on provided you are at +75%

UPDATE: I couldn't get the save I wanted to test loaded, but I have a level 63 that has finished the Watchtower story. Jumped to Verne II (L70 system) and quickly found a Listening Post... OMG I forgot how annoying the L100 Wardens are... ugh, glad Rosie could restore my missing 65% (yellow) health bar

Anyhow, cleared the Watchtower buttheads and when I stand in front of a Level 56 AI Mech, after about 15 seconds, I'm down about 35% in health and almost instantly bleeding. This character is playing at +73% (Player Combat is set to Very Hard, helps with the bullet sponge wardens)

So bottom line, my experience def is not the same as yours.

Screenshots of character (has 3 points in Combat/Ballistics tree) and distance to Mech

 

[hongooi]

If you look closely you'll see that the mech is actually dealing damage, but it's so low that it's being cancelled out by my regen