Why does everyone use shade hive last? Simple.....

The Hitchslap

Hi folks!

Firstly, I just want to say thanks to the devs and community who have made NS2 a pleasure to play and support. Please keep up the good work!

Now to the topic....

I've seen Charlie/Flayra wondering why Shade hive is not used as much...Well, I'll tell you why I don't use it.

As a commander, I never go shade hive first or second, always 3rd. And it's not because I don't think it can be useful... It's because I can't see a god damn thing! Having to squint my eyes while frantically trying to find my whips or upgrade chambers is frustrating and time consuming.

Bottom line - the cloak effect should be subtle for aliens but that's not what's in the game right now.


Cheers!

Dusteh

Could do with it being toned down a bit yeh.

Maybe have them flicker invisible every so often?

PsympleJester

<!--quoteo(post=2011037:date=Nov 5 2012, 01:55 PM:name=Dusteh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dusteh @ Nov 5 2012, 01:55 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2011037"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Have to agree, they should do something similar to how they have spores. Just tone it down a bit for the alien team.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Could make them all be blue (like the orange in alien vision but blue instead)...
Would be nice if they were blue in alien vision as well, it is annoying when the invisible structures no longer show up in alien vision....
It would follow the theme in aliens...

Alien vision = Orange
Hallucinations = Purple
Shaded (cloaked) = Blue

Zek

Alien comm readability in general definitely needs work. It's just too difficult to identify structures in a crowded area right now.

The real reason Shade isn't popular as a first/second hive though is because of Carapace and Celerity, and the fact that the Shade and its upgrades don't do much at all for higher lifeforms.

tarquinbb

the few times i've sat in the alien hot seat, i've been pairing up the upgrade structures to make them easier to see.

however... it's not cloaking that's the problem for me, i just find it difficult to see them because they all look similar and kind of blend in with the eggs, infestation and cysts. therefore reducing the cloak effect wouldn't really help.

at least the upgrade icon is highlighted, otherwise i wouldn't be able to find them at all.

as for finding whips, drifer and crag/shift/shade... i just have to memorize where they are :X

Temphage

<!--quoteo(post=2011004:date=Nov 5 2012, 01:31 PM:name=The Hitchslap)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Hitchslap @ Nov 5 2012, 01:31 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2011004"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I've seen Charlie/Flayra wondering why Shade hive is not used as much...Well, I'll tell you why I don't use it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Where was this at? There's like three multi-page threads that explain this one pretty well... I agree the Khamm is damn hard to tell what's going on due to visibility and visual noise from the infestation everywhere, but the #1 reason is because Shade doesn't give you enough / is too easily countered / the other upgrades are more useful.

The Hitchslap

<!--quoteo(post=2011085:date=Nov 5 2012, 02:40 PM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Nov 5 2012, 02:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2011085"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Where was this at? There's like three multi-page threads that explain this one pretty well... I agree the Khamm is damn hard to tell what's going on due to visibility and visual noise from the infestation everywhere, but the #1 reason is because Shade doesn't give you enough / is too easily countered / the other upgrades are more useful.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I was watching one of the recent tournaments in which Charlie was commentating and he was very excited to see Shade hive being used....then he mumbled on about fixing/changing it :D

Maybe I should have titled this thread "Why "I" use shade hive last" it looks like there are many other valid problems!

Temphage

<!--quoteo(post=2011104:date=Nov 5 2012, 02:57 PM:name=The Hitchslap)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Hitchslap @ Nov 5 2012, 02:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2011104"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I was watching one of the recent tournaments in which Charlie was commentating and he was very excited to see Shade hive being used....then he mumbled on about fixing/changing it :D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I know people hate it when I give the developers a hard time, but how do you seriously respond to that? He's the one responsible for implementing the things that hard counter it!

HeatSurge

I have a good memory and I remember where I put things ;-P . And I like shade 1st.

Shade is sorely missing feign death though, for late-game fades/lerks, and that makes it a lot less attractive.

I agree though, not just the cloaking effect but a few other things (e.g. highlight upgrade chambers upgraded/unupgraded/upgrades available) is missing.

Temphage

It would probably help greatly if infestation used a much more simple, muted texture for the Khamm. That's a lot of samey-looking visual noise, so it's not hard to see how easily things can get lost.

Blindga

I've never used shade first, but second is often a good option of me sometimes.