Squadron is absolutely useless

[Viker сос шок 18+]

They are only good to occasionally not let the enemy shield racharge. Otherwise all they do is block your shots and sometimes let you leech the shield with phase beam. This shouldn't be their design. They feel like battlefield companions who are there just for the show

[gianlum]

Originally posted by Mr. Bufferlow:

They are definitely not like the Mech AI which is awesome. It is funny how we screamed for more challenge and we also scream for things that take the challenge away- maybe it is different voices screaming.

I don't think that people screamed to have an ally that make your work more difficult...

[Johnny in the Clouds]

Below are some of the published release and patch notes from the original Outlaws update since Squadrons were first added to the game in 2022. There have been a few notes added on subsequent releases and bug fixes.

Combat generally has been improved over the course of a few notable major game updates but since Outlaws no additional Squadron specific notes have been published, to indicate how that has impacted Squadrons.

Outlawas Release Notes[www.nomanssky.com]


Squadrons

Recruit roaming pilots into your own squadron to accompany you along your journey. These wingmen will automatically warp to your location during space combat, and can be summoned to fly into formation at any time.


Manage and upgrade your wingmen

Inspect the skills, traits, and battle statistics of your squadron recruits from the Manage Fleet terminal on the bridge of your capital ship. Expand your fleet capacity by unlocking additional pilot slots, or train your existing pilots to upgrade their efficiency in combat.

• Players with a freighter may now recruit NPC ships to their own personal squadron.
  
• Your squadron is managed from the Manage Fleet terminal on the bridge of your capital ship.
  
• Players may unlock up to four slots for their squadron.
  
• Your squadron is automatically summoned during space combat, and may be summoned or dismissed at any other time from the Quick Menu.
  
• Your squadron will assist in space combat, taking your lead in attacking hostile targets.
  
• Squadron pilots and their ships can be upgraded using nanites.

Outlaws Patch Notes[www.nomanssky.com]

• Improved the combat behaviours of higher-ranked squadron pilots.
  
• Fixed an issue that could occur if dismissing your squadron while they are already leaving.
  
  
• Fixed a crash related to the squadron management UI.
  
• Fixed a crash related to squadron recruitment.

Waypoint Release Notes[www.nomanssky.com]

Customisable difficulty options include: (among many others)

• If the game starts with all squadron or companion slots pre-unlocked.

[Morgue Loot-Hoarder]

Originally posted by Maviba:

You don't need them anyway. but they are a nice to have.

Deffo. I sold sentinel starships just so that I can hire them as my squadrons and they look EPIC!!!

[Typha]

C'mon Hello Games..... I feel like if they were even just a modest help the community would be happy.

And sure, scale challenges up more. Otherwise the game gets too easy (which it already kinda is).

[wkitty42]

Originally posted by Viker сос шок 18+:

Originally posted by wkitty42:

their ships don't really matter and their weapons are basic... some have tried to increase squadron damage by outfitting a ship with good weapons, sell it to a NPC at a space station, and immediately recruit them with the new ship... they still used basic weapons...

yeah I don't know why they would overlook that

why who would overlook what?
if you are trying to say that HG overlooked the possibility to upgrade a ship, sell it to an NPC, and have then get the ship with all the upgrades you added, i don't think they did... i think this is a first iteration of squadrons and there may be enhancements to come in the future... possibly enhancements like this... but the coding would be a lot more intricate, too... not to mention the storage space to hold the now NPC craft...

[Jouchebag]

Originally posted by Guh~hey~hey~♫:

The squad is the same as trying to go put a plate of meat/fish in the fridge with 3 hungry cats following you accross your home....

This analogy is not only perfectly accurate but a fantastic mental image.

For those that don't know, cats that want something will basically wrap around your legs like an obnoxious wingman who keeps blocking your shots until you give them a good punt halfway across the room... either accidental or on purpose. They don't care. They'll be back. Just like your squadron.

Originally posted by wkitty42:

this is a first iteration of squadrons and there may be enhancements to come in the future...

The game has been in some form of development for the last 7 years... methinks you should lower your expectations.

[Zemo]

Aren't they also playing bait for the enemy? So they are helpful in larger fights or am I wrong?

[Foxglovez]

Rewards the cat analogy. Perfect visual. Bet the devs would even laugh. They train in the asteroid belts flying in front of your ship so you will damage them and call in the sentinels. I think it's a plot and I --kzztttt-- blame then atl-zzztttt

[Pagafyr]

I found a mod to make squads useful at Nexusmods.com.. It's still there. The modder has updated it. You can get your squad to do different levels of damage. "gSquad Damage" is the mods title. Google gSquai Damage or use search in Nexusmods.com.

[Typha]

Originally posted by Pagafyr:

I found a mod to make squads useful at Nexusmods.com.. It's still there. The modder has updated it. You can get your squad to do different levels of damage. "gSquad Damage" is the mods title. Google gSquai Damage or use search in Nexusmods.com.

Doesn't that remove any challenge from space combat though?

[Pagafyr]

Originally posted by zyekian:

Originally posted by Pagafyr:

I found a mod to make squads useful at Nexusmods.com.. It's still there. The modder has updated it. You can get your squad to do different levels of damage. "gSquad Damage" is the mods title. Google gSquai Damage or use search in Nexusmods.com.

Doesn't that remove any challenge from space combat though?

We still have to do the majority of the work. I use the 10x power and the Squad and they trickle off a bit, but unless I leave the attacker down to one little speck on the progress bar they don't cause much damage. Just some. Of course the gSquad damage mod has three mods with different damage settings. If you still want to barely notice any effect 5x is even less intrusive, but the squad is able to do some tiny bit of damage. 25x I don't even try. Just because it probably would be too easy to just sit back in my Star Ships chair and watch.

Might be good to have battling a Sentinel Capital ship if you're really not good at Star Ship battle remembering to recharge your shields once in awhile so you don't get blasted back to your last Save and have to go find your coffin. LOL

[Viker сос шок 18+]

Originally posted by zyekian:

Originally posted by Pagafyr:

I found a mod to make squads useful at Nexusmods.com.. It's still there. The modder has updated it. You can get your squad to do different levels of damage. "gSquad Damage" is the mods title. Google gSquai Damage or use search in Nexusmods.com.

Doesn't that remove any challenge from space combat though?

Honestly though, is there any challenge in space combat by the time you are hiring your squadron?

[wkitty42]

Originally posted by Viker сос шок 18+:

Honestly though, is there any challenge in space combat by the time you are hiring your squadron?

i guess that depends on how quickly you get a freighter... if i have the funds available, opening the squadron slots is one of the first things i do if i want them to fly with me...

[Pagafyr]

Originally posted by Viker сос шок 18+:

Originally posted by zyekian:

Doesn't that remove any challenge from space combat though?

Honestly though, is there any challenge in space combat by the time you are hiring your squadron?

For the first time player that has arrived In Time to play this Expedition 11 they already will be able to start at the beginning load scene. No time like the present to search the nearby planets for enough resources to sell. Then they can get at least one (1) Squad member. If the newbies (and old timers) adventures begin with just one Squad member by the time a team of pirates, (5) five I had attack while i was mining asteroids, attacks the hopes of surviving will be slightly improved without the mods. I won't spoil the how it will, but with the mod, the Squad member can actually target the pirates.

5x gSquad is just fine if you don't want to get all high and mighty lord like over the enemies. 10x gSuad damage still keeps the battles from giving your Squad member the ability to do overkill.

LIke I mentioned, it is up to the player if they want to sit comfortably in the Star Ship seat and let the Squad do all the work. 25x gSguad damage may be able to do that. I don't see the point. I'm a player, not Mars the God of War!
Ooo! Maybe I am his reincarnation??? LOL

[Buuh]

Imo the Squadron should just act like the Squadron from our supporting combat frigate, which is acting independent.
This way they would at least not get in the way all the time.

For me it's fine that the players squadron and the combat frigate squadron don't do much damage and when 8 ships tickle the enemy they do at least some damage lol.

So yeah just let them act independent and maybe they shouldn't automatically warp to the player so we can choose when we want them around.