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Rust Naval Scientists Receive AI Improvements

The Naval Scientists, added with last month’s Naval Update, have received several improvements to their advanced AI system. The Naval Scientist AI system is currently being used as a testing ground for a new Scientist AI system. The changes are meant to create a more realistic and enjoyable fight with the enemy NPCs. Follow along as we cover all the changes made to Rust’s Naval Scientists.

For more coverage of this Rust update and last month's major update, check out our blog

Rust Guides

Rust Naval Scientist Armor Protection Changes

The way armor protection calculates against Naval Scientist NPCs has been changed. Originally, each piece of worn clothing provided 5% damage protection against NPCs, but with the new change, proper projectile protection will be calculated. This means the hazmat suit will now offer 30% protection against Naval Scientists, up from 5%.

Rust Scientist Accuracy and Damage Adjustments

The aim of Naval Scientists was inconsistent, with high-damage bursts taking out players almost at random. As a result, the developers decided to increase the accuracy of Naval Scientists while decreasing their damage. The change should cause the damage output of Naval Scientists to become more consistent, giving players more time to react to incoming damage.

Rust Naval Scientists Lasers and Flashlights

The Naval Scientists have also received laser sights and flashlights for their guns. This makes them in line with regular scientists who have always had one of the under-barrel attachments. The purpose of these additions was to make the Naval Scientists visible at night.

Long-Distance Encounter Reactions

Finally, long-distance encounters against Naval Scientists have been modified. The Naval scientists have become more responsive to long-distance gunshots and encounters. The Naval Scientists will now attempt to reposition if fired at from a long-distance angle. This change differs from their previous behavior, where scientists would only reposition once or hit once the player was within detection range.

That covers all of the improvements made to Rust’s Naval Scientist AI. Hopefully, the improvements make the AI feel fairer and more fun to fight. If you enjoyed this blog, feel free to check out our blog from last month covering the original addition of the system. See you next time!