New to NS2 gameplay, some questions/observations
radforChrist
USA Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6871Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Subnautica Playtester
USA Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6871Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Subnautica Playtester
<div class="IPBDescription">Looking for help</div>Maybe you guys can help me out a bit with a few things. I just got a new PC to play NS2 (and I'm not really kidding when I say that's the only reason I bought it). Unfortunately, I'm really mixed right now as to whether I'm happy I can play NS2.
Here's where a long itme NS player jumping into NS2, after reading threads and watching NS2HD, fairs. These are open questions, maybe out of ignorance, but I sure could use some insight.
<ul><li>netcode/lag/fps
I spent my first day trying to find out why my PC was lagging so much because I didn't know it was the server side. every respawn I get the "Connection Problems Detected". I don't think I can adequately say anything about gameplay needs until I can hit midgame without the server chugging. I know this is a BIGGIE for the devs, and doesn't need to be hounded on; I'm sure they're working on it. However, in the little time I play, I find myself wanting to just give up as I can't tell if it is my connection, my aim, my PC, the server, or whatever that makes problems arise. I REALLY want to help playtest and find bugs, but the actual overall experience makes me wonder if there's any specific bugs, or just an aftereffect of the poor netcode/performance.</li><li>HUD/Upgrades Notifications
I don't even KNOW if there's a such thing as Weapons 1-3, or armor 1-3. I don't even KNOW what alien abilities I can have/evolve. Do I get more abilities with new hives/structures? How about marine buildings? Do we even have Motion tracking or other team wide upgrades/enhancements? How do we know when we have them? Or if they are in progress?
I did learn about running leap, and once it's researched I can use it, but the HUD doesn't give any data. Even if it's text only place holders, some info on what's researched/researching, or what upgrades you have/can evolve would be AWESOME!
The evolve menu is basic, and the little squares, do I choose from them? Are they already things I have? How come I can click on Running Leap (no leap while jumping though?), but the rest won't let me?</li><li>Map Presence/usability
When a hive/CC is attacked, where? Are all buildings green/red boxes? Remember SoF, can lifeforms be beige, structures green? The dots on the minimap are easy for me to miss.
Where the HECK is the power node for the Alien hive at the top (don't know which map)? Can the map show the PN, and then a overlay of the rooms it supports? Like if a powernode is up, then the area it controls is BLUE and the PN icon on the map is GREEN, but when it is destroyed, the map area is GREY and the PN flashes RED? Maybe reverse which one flashes for the ALIEN map?
Can my locator on the map show me what direction I'm looking? I get pretty disoriented, and the white location doesn't always pop out to where I am. And I don't know what's vents, maybe a different color on the minimap?</li><li>Other
How do I select all MACs, or all marines? Shortcut? Or a select all MACs/Marines button? How many resources do we have as aliens? I just feel I'm running blind most of the time. When I'm at the armory and hover over a weapon, can it tell me how many marines on the team have it? On a 6 person team, we don't need 5 flamethrowers, but I'm not sure the best way to check. I know the scoreboard shows it (but not when you're re-inforcing), but if there's multiple people at the armory, how to check then...
As a gorge, I found it difficult to get a bead on how much health a hydra, or harvester had. I had to look at it just right. Since healing is a secondary now, it's not like the HP ring shows up. Maybe have an HP ring/notice on anything under 100%?
Can I hit my flashlight as commander and have all marine structures glow/highlight on my screen, maybe even a health bar? So I can toggle it? Have the structure automatically flash red in Comm view and health bar show? Do the same for the gorge, in addition to alien view mode, alien structures/lifeforms are yellow and show a health status?
Also, when I drop a sentry, or whatever, and a MAC starts building, often times if the MAC dies, I can't for the life of me FIND the building. Sentries are small unbuilt, and on one game I dropped 3 in the same area because I didn't know if they were built/dropped/there. I don't think a building appears until a mac is close enough to start it. Is that on purpose? Can we not drop a building/sentry for a marine in the field to build, without a MAC?</li></ul>
I think what UWE is doing is great, and for some of this, it just might be coming. but if there's something I am missing, please let me know. I've been with this project since reading Humbaba's playtesting stories pre-NS release. And I'll be here when NS2 is finished. Thanks for 9 years of gaming!
Here's where a long itme NS player jumping into NS2, after reading threads and watching NS2HD, fairs. These are open questions, maybe out of ignorance, but I sure could use some insight.
<ul><li>netcode/lag/fps
I spent my first day trying to find out why my PC was lagging so much because I didn't know it was the server side. every respawn I get the "Connection Problems Detected". I don't think I can adequately say anything about gameplay needs until I can hit midgame without the server chugging. I know this is a BIGGIE for the devs, and doesn't need to be hounded on; I'm sure they're working on it. However, in the little time I play, I find myself wanting to just give up as I can't tell if it is my connection, my aim, my PC, the server, or whatever that makes problems arise. I REALLY want to help playtest and find bugs, but the actual overall experience makes me wonder if there's any specific bugs, or just an aftereffect of the poor netcode/performance.</li><li>HUD/Upgrades Notifications
I don't even KNOW if there's a such thing as Weapons 1-3, or armor 1-3. I don't even KNOW what alien abilities I can have/evolve. Do I get more abilities with new hives/structures? How about marine buildings? Do we even have Motion tracking or other team wide upgrades/enhancements? How do we know when we have them? Or if they are in progress?
I did learn about running leap, and once it's researched I can use it, but the HUD doesn't give any data. Even if it's text only place holders, some info on what's researched/researching, or what upgrades you have/can evolve would be AWESOME!
The evolve menu is basic, and the little squares, do I choose from them? Are they already things I have? How come I can click on Running Leap (no leap while jumping though?), but the rest won't let me?</li><li>Map Presence/usability
When a hive/CC is attacked, where? Are all buildings green/red boxes? Remember SoF, can lifeforms be beige, structures green? The dots on the minimap are easy for me to miss.
Where the HECK is the power node for the Alien hive at the top (don't know which map)? Can the map show the PN, and then a overlay of the rooms it supports? Like if a powernode is up, then the area it controls is BLUE and the PN icon on the map is GREEN, but when it is destroyed, the map area is GREY and the PN flashes RED? Maybe reverse which one flashes for the ALIEN map?
Can my locator on the map show me what direction I'm looking? I get pretty disoriented, and the white location doesn't always pop out to where I am. And I don't know what's vents, maybe a different color on the minimap?</li><li>Other
How do I select all MACs, or all marines? Shortcut? Or a select all MACs/Marines button? How many resources do we have as aliens? I just feel I'm running blind most of the time. When I'm at the armory and hover over a weapon, can it tell me how many marines on the team have it? On a 6 person team, we don't need 5 flamethrowers, but I'm not sure the best way to check. I know the scoreboard shows it (but not when you're re-inforcing), but if there's multiple people at the armory, how to check then...
As a gorge, I found it difficult to get a bead on how much health a hydra, or harvester had. I had to look at it just right. Since healing is a secondary now, it's not like the HP ring shows up. Maybe have an HP ring/notice on anything under 100%?
Can I hit my flashlight as commander and have all marine structures glow/highlight on my screen, maybe even a health bar? So I can toggle it? Have the structure automatically flash red in Comm view and health bar show? Do the same for the gorge, in addition to alien view mode, alien structures/lifeforms are yellow and show a health status?
Also, when I drop a sentry, or whatever, and a MAC starts building, often times if the MAC dies, I can't for the life of me FIND the building. Sentries are small unbuilt, and on one game I dropped 3 in the same area because I didn't know if they were built/dropped/there. I don't think a building appears until a mac is close enough to start it. Is that on purpose? Can we not drop a building/sentry for a marine in the field to build, without a MAC?</li></ul>
I think what UWE is doing is great, and for some of this, it just might be coming. but if there's something I am missing, please let me know. I've been with this project since reading Humbaba's playtesting stories pre-NS release. And I'll be here when NS2 is finished. Thanks for 9 years of gaming!