You may want to check out Tremulous. ( <a href="http://tremulous.net" target="_blank">http://tremulous.net</a> , or <i>apt-get install tremulous</i> ). It's a standalone Q3 engine game superficially similar to Natural Selection, but having more in common with Gloom Q2 mod. Most important difference is credits for kills and no resources (with all of its consequences...).
Tremulous has some serious flaws which are not the point of this post. But in many ways it is also a breath of fresh air after Natural Selection. Humans' and aliens' defences are quite different
Humans: - Machinegun turret (decent range, high damage, turns slowly) - tesla (bigger, short range, doesn't need to rotate, knockback)
Machinegun turrets are base of human defences and work much like those in Natural Selection. But for aliens, things are getting interesting.
0. alien builder (granger) soon learns to climb walls. <b>Defensive structures can be placed on walls and ceiling.</b>
1. Barricade Much bigger than other defences, can curl up to let aliens pass (in development version). The only structure which can't be placed on walls. It can only buy some time before it's destroyed or alien players come to help. But can be very useful nonetheless, especially to protect vital structures. Acid tubes and hives(planned) can fire from behind barricades.
2. Acid tube Most popular. Has short range, but deals good area damage. Placement is important, you don't want humans to see it too early. Once you're in range, dodging doesn't matter. It is a hard counter to jetpackers, because it always hits and hitting a jetpacker knocks him down for a few seconds. If humans have some time, they can usually destroy them fairly easily from out of range with anything but blaster. That's why it's important NOT to give humans time and support your defensive structures. You can't just run past or ignore acid tube, that will cost you health. 2 or 3 of them kill very quickly, but it's also putting many eggs in the same basket.
3. Trapper A sort of stealthy turret. It shoots anything <i>in front of it</i> with paralyzing spit. It can only face 1 direction. It has a very narrow arc, so it's next to useless on ground. It's great on ceilings, though, and can be ok on walls. The paralyzing effect not only stops from moving, it severely limits ability to turn around, leaving trapped humans quite defenceless. Acid tube(s) + trapper is a deadly combo. Trapper + any alien except granger (builder) is even deadlier.
4. Hive Releases a homing swarm of biting insects. Because humans have much superior ranged firepower, hive is only effective if you can distract humans with something else (like alien players). Best placed in places people don't look often.
In general, none of alien defences is particularly strong, but having such a variety of them is very fun. Alien builders have to be creative, and defences work best when supported by players. Instead of heaps of HP, alien defences rely on not being visible until it's too late, on distraction, etc. They feel very different fron NS defences and I love them for that.
I'm posting it here to let you know creativity <i>is</i> possible when it comes to defensive structures and they don't have to be mirrored versions of each other.
Comments
Tremulous has some serious flaws which are not the point of this post. But in many ways it is also a breath of fresh air after Natural Selection. Humans' and aliens' defences are quite different
Humans:
- Machinegun turret (decent range, high damage, turns slowly)
- tesla (bigger, short range, doesn't need to rotate, knockback)
Machinegun turrets are base of human defences and work much like those in Natural Selection. But for aliens, things are getting interesting.
0. alien builder (granger) soon learns to climb walls. <b>Defensive structures can be placed on walls and ceiling.</b>
1. Barricade
Much bigger than other defences, can curl up to let aliens pass (in development version). The only structure which can't be placed on walls. It can only buy some time before it's destroyed or alien players come to help. But can be very useful nonetheless, especially to protect vital structures. Acid tubes and hives(planned) can fire from behind barricades.
2. Acid tube
Most popular. Has short range, but deals good area damage. Placement is important, you don't want humans to see it too early. Once you're in range, dodging doesn't matter. It is a hard counter to jetpackers, because it always hits and hitting a jetpacker knocks him down for a few seconds. If humans have some time, they can usually destroy them fairly easily from out of range with anything but blaster. That's why it's important NOT to give humans time and support your defensive structures. You can't just run past or ignore acid tube, that will cost you health. 2 or 3 of them kill very quickly, but it's also putting many eggs in the same basket.
3. Trapper
A sort of stealthy turret. It shoots anything <i>in front of it</i> with paralyzing spit. It can only face 1 direction. It has a very narrow arc, so it's next to useless on ground. It's great on ceilings, though, and can be ok on walls. The paralyzing effect not only stops from moving, it severely limits ability to turn around, leaving trapped humans quite defenceless. Acid tube(s) + trapper is a deadly combo. Trapper + any alien except granger (builder) is even deadlier.
4. Hive
Releases a homing swarm of biting insects. Because humans have much superior ranged firepower, hive is only effective if you can distract humans with something else (like alien players). Best placed in places people don't look often.
In general, none of alien defences is particularly strong, but having such a variety of them is very fun. Alien builders have to be creative, and defences work best when supported by players. Instead of heaps of HP, alien defences rely on not being visible until it's too late, on distraction, etc. They feel very different fron NS defences and I love them for that.
I'm posting it here to let you know creativity <i>is</i> possible when it comes to defensive structures and they don't have to be mirrored versions of each other.