Upgrade visualization, tech tree, rock-paper-scissors

reZEda

I am not sure what would the tech upgrade tree would be in NS2 but I would like to suggest that as upgrades are researched they would affect looks of the marine and alien alike. For example: when the commander researches armor 2 -3 etc or weapon 2 -3 etc upgrades would be visually distinctive. Either by being more detailed, have more visual features or simply being of different color. Same thing could be applied to aliens.

This would enrich the game on many levels, - instead of wondering or even blatantly asking 'Did you guys get weapons/armor 2?' Aliens would be able to scout marines for themselves and find out whether human commander is rushing armor upgrades (from 1 -3), weapon upgrades(1-3) or choosing a more balanced development (weapon, -armor- weapon-armor or vice versa). Once in possession of that info aliens could decide how to counter human commander by getting more armor or focus etc etc.

Marines could do the same thing with aliens by scouting them and/or examining corpses to find out what chamber aliens went with (mc, dc or sc). Obviously example is based on NS1 and I hope I got my point across.

spellman23

This has actually been brought up before on several occasions and overall most supported the idea.

<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=104754" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=104754</a>


However, you've brought up a slight twist while reading your post. What if you could examine the corpse to get more detailed information on their upgrades (especially Aliens)? An intriguing idea.

yourbonesakin

I agree with the suggestion.

There should be (defeatable) concealment and deception allowed when new technology is being researched. But one should always know what they are fighting once that research is done.

Something simple for armor upgrades would be more patches of armor/carapace or making the existing armor/carapace bulkier or adding on Sci-Fi particle effects/Something alien themed.

Marine weapons could get larger/have more lasers/Sci Fi whirring parts. Alien weapons (claws or horns) could get sharper/larger for weapon upgrades. Or perhaps the Aliens' forms could get more thorny and craggy.

xmaine

Or simply just hold "use" on a corpse and get all the intel you need.

Dalin Seivewright

We need the Spy from Red Alert to infiltrate their Hive/Research Lab.
I'm only partly joking here. Or am I?

I don't know. Examining your opponent to get an idea of what tech they have is a great idea but I'm not too sure on the implementation. It has to be something that pops-out otherwise it doesn't provide any more benefit then the previous way of discovering your enemies upgrades. Previously, to find out the enemies had armor 1 you had to count how many times you bit at them before they died. I believe with Focus a skulk could kill an unarmored marine in two hits, if I remember correctly. Armor 1 increased that count by one or two.

My point is, I don't think the marines or aliens should have to take a knee and do anything with the corpse of their opponent. It sounds all realistic and cool and probably adds some gameplay advantages (like needing cover while you examine the corpse) but I think it would be a detriment to the gameplay as well. I don't think anyone is going to want to have to do anything that requires more than five seconds, especially if it requires some moderate cover, if it only revealed something that would be obvious anyways.

Bacillus

I think the upgrade tracking fits quite naturally into commander's role due to the RTS relation. At best it's a dialogue between the commander and field troopers where both keep each other informed on details they can detect.