One of my best moments with the marines was some time back on NS_Hera.
After having set up enough defenses and making heavy weaponry available, we decided to try an assault.
So, about five marines, equipped with HMGs and shotguns, went down into the fog corridor you all know from the screenshots on RR.org. HMGs slow you down quite drastically, so we didn't move really fast, which made some of the players with voicecomm start to recap our strategy once we'd reach the hive. Just when we neared the end of the fog, one said: "Some will have to stay ba... <b>Wahhhhh</b>!". He literally screamed into his mic when a lvl3 appeared out of nowhere and started throwing sporeclouds our way. The cloud animation consists of two phases: First, there are almost massive blue 'particleballs' everywhere, which flock up into real clouds almost instantly. I had never realized this before.
Shaking our suprise off, we took aim, and three HMGs plus two shotguns started firing at the same time... When the sporecloud had lightened, we moved on, leaving the next room behind us without of being bothered. Suddenly, a lvl1 leapt from a nearby corridor, exactely between me and Ecks, the two shotgun carriers. <i>Bad</i> idea.
When reaching the hiveroom, we split up into a group of one or two men with HMGs who stayed behind and kept the backs of the rest free while they were moving further into the room, attacking the alien defenders.
It is impossible for me to describe the chaos that broke out in there, especially since I got killed by a lvl4 pretty fast, but when I respawned shortly after and ran back to assist my fellow marines, all I could do is help them set up some turrets to fortify the conquered room.
sweet i cant wait till the fate ful day when the wrold shall see the shining light of Ns and thus its glory will raingh supreim for a thousand years and then THE NEXT VERSION will be given to a needy public and though some will say ah they killed it others will be filled with joy and the wrold will be a better place!
FamDiaper-Wearing Dog On A BallJoin Date: 2002-02-17Member: 222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
I joined a small game the other day, and joined Aliens on Hera. Upon joining, I spawned in the middle of a huge base full of all kinds of alien buildings. However, I was soon to learn this was our only stronghold against a very tough marine force (despite there only being 2 marines and 3 of us, they were very advanced and had all of our other hive positions heavily defended). They had captured the Holoroom, so we had very few chances of getting to another hive, Humbaba was sitting there with a shotgun surrounded by a triad of turrets, guarding two resource towers and an armoury, a very nice forward base.
A plan was called for, so coil lured Humbaba away from his base with the premise of an easy kill on an injured Level 3. What he didnt expect was Level 1 at the end of the tunnel, about to parasite him. (Parasite meaning the aliens can see that marines position using Hive Sight at all times)
Now this lone marine called Humbaba was moving nice and slowly because of all his equipment, and decided it would be easier to persue a few kills that returning to his front base. Again he wasnt expecting the Level 3 and the Level 1 perched on the guard rail and ceiling respectively, who both filled him with spikes and had a good nibble on his legs.
A break in their defences, we rushed past the Holoroom, the Level 3 with upgraded armour taking a hit for the team. Up into a vent, to a Hive location. Just before we got to the corner, we heard a mass of bleeping, sentries, and lots of them. With a bit of skilled spike gun from the Level threes (Coil and Hida at this time, I hadnt got enough resource points to upgrade <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo--> ) we got it down to one, which was sitting in the very middle of the room. With the flapping of membrane wings one of the Level three flyers tried to spike the Sentry from the air. A good counter against a sentry is a Level 4 or a level 5, but without the hive we had no chance.
There was only one thing for it, a rush. With the clicking of my claws on the catwalk, the flapping of wings, the attack growl was sounded. This was to get back into the game, to even everything out and start a comeback against the marine incursion. I dived at the turret, its targetting mechanism had picked out one of our flyers, and I started jumping in and out biting it. Then, to my horror, the turret lost track of the Level 3 (who had retreated due to low heath) and started turning towards me. And the next few moments were the best experience I have had in NS.
The turret shot at me, and scored a good hit, taking me down to 3 health, just as I lunged in for a final bite before death, I saw a stream of spikes from the second Level 3 nail right into the turret, and my bite stopped its bleeping and carnage forever. The shouts over voice comm made me realise that, out of all TFC and CS clan matches I have ever played, this (with 2 people I had hardly played with before) was the most teamwork I have ever seen in a game. But the story doesnt end there.
We needed to get the hive and some defences up, so both myself and Hida evolved into the Level 2 builder class. Hida finished evolving before myself and started the hive off. Just as I finished evolving I saw a sillouhetted figure at the end of the corridoor. Now we consisted of two builders and a heavily injured level 3, and this marine had full heath and upgraded armour, and carried a shotgun, a pistol, a LMG and a HMG.
We were pushed back inside the vent route we had entered through, just as our hive came online, giving us builders access to webs. We all ran and flew out, spitting, webbing and spiking this marine. Against the odds, one of the web spits hit the Marine full on, causing him to lose control of his weapons and reducing his speed even further. Not only had we broken out of a stalemate, created a new hive, got back into the game, but now we had a tasty snack for our troubles.
Theres only one thing that can beat NS, and thats real life itself. And then only rarely. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
Glad to hear that due to Fam and his team's coageous action the aliens won't be going extinct anytime soon. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> I mean it would be boring if they were all dead just before the TSA accepted my commision.
coilAmateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance.Join Date: 2002-04-12Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Man that was a fun one, Fam. For the record, Fam's late appearance saved our slimy behinds. (:
A story from yesterday... We were working really hard trying to clean the marines out of Space Station Nothing (ken20banks' map); had 2 hives when I joined, and general alien pwn4ge was going on. We had cleared the main base, but they weren't dead... they had a new base somewhere else. While we located a satellite base near a resource node by the marine base, one hive came under attack and went down... but when we cleared that base, they still were respawning!
Finally, we tracked them down to the hive location we had just lost - they'd fortified heavily and started rebuilding protected by small alcoves on either side of the main room (the socalled "Room with Thing" from screenshots), where we couldn't get to them.
It was a nasty battle... they had just enough resources to keep a few grenade launchers, and along with the turrets these made them pretty much unreachable from their protected position. Finally I started calling for aliens with more resources than I had to go builder and get some resource towers and the other hive online. While that was going on, the marines decided to make a push... against our last remaining hive. It's funny how quickly tables can turn.
I heard the attack happen from across the map, and jumped in the nearest vent to get there as quickly as I could. As I approached the viaduct hive from the right entrance, I saw marines at the opposite entrance tossing grenades at our forward cluster of turrets. I knew I couldn't get to them through the explosions, so I jumped into a vent nearby and climbed to where I knew it let out... directly above the attacking force. I peeked out and nearly got my nose shot off by a shotgun-carrying marine playing rear guard.
They knew about the vent. I pulled back, pondered for a moment... and then with a growl, jumped out of the vent and went straight for the shotgunner. He went down, I spun and took a grenadier out. Then they realized there was a Bob among them and started backpedalling, trying to get a clear shot at me. I took one more out before succumbing to the repressing fire of their retreat...... but the hive was saved. Phew.
exelent storys looks like NS is going to be packed with Best Fps experiances <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo-->
I want to be a <!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> . And a <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo--> , or a <!--emo&:bob:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'><!--endemo--> , or even a <!--emo&:pudgy:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pudgy:'><!--endemo--> .
Oh well, I'll just have to wait. If I give you developers 250$, will you release it any earlier?
I remember that game Fam. Boy was that a good game.
In another game of NS-Nothing, I was on marines and we were doing a final push on the last hive. All was going to plan when the commander yelled over comm, "Level 1s in Vents!" Just then three level 1s jumped down and instantly killed two marines, leaving me and possibly one more. I pulled out my LMG (for a GL wasn't going to save me) and fired like a madman. I took out two of them, and confidently reloading. Just then, another one surpised me and reduced me to 17 health. I was unleashing my clip; one of us would live; the other would die. But just as the fateful duel was about to take place, MonsE changed maps! I almost got to do some alien pwnage there.
NS_Nothing seems to lend itself to a lot of interesting game experiences. Like the time that a bunch of marines are being equipped in the marine spawn for a raid, and the commander finishes up and issues his order. I'm in the lead, and just as I start to move out, I see a level 4 come around the corner and start lobbing acid rockets. Level 4's usually aren't that scary despite their power, but given the circumstances (I'm feeling all powerful and confident, and not expecting an alien attack), it made me jump like a foot in the air.
coilAmateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance.Join Date: 2002-04-12Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
<!--QuoteBegin--Hida Tsuzua+June 26 2002,19:17--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Hida Tsuzua @ June 26 2002,19:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->In another game of NS-Nothing, I was on marines and we were doing a final push on the last hive. All was going to plan when the commander yelled over comm, "Level 1s in Vents!" Just then three level 1s jumped down and instantly killed two marines, leaving me and possibly one more. I pulled out my LMG (for a GL wasn't going to save me) and fired like a madman. I took out two of them, and confidently reloading. Just then, another one surpised me and reduced me to 17 health. I was unleashing my clip; one of us would live; the other would die. But just as the fateful duel was about to take place, MonsE changed maps! I almost got to do some alien pwnage there.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Go back one page, and you'll see my story about taking out 3 marines in NS_Nothing... believe it or not, these are the SAME SERIES OF EVENTS! I think it's absolutely awesome that both Hida and I, on opposite sides of the story, found the battle to be particularly memorable. Sweet!
BTW, Hida remembers 3 level1's, while I said I was the only one... I think the other two attacked and died just before I showed up.
Who was there for the game on ns_penumbra last night?
I won't get into many details, but basically the aliens had launched a fairly early attack on the marines' base, using the tram tunnels, so we retreated to the tram junction between our base and the transit hub. With nothing but an infantry portal and resource tower, we all camped out in there, waiting for any aliens that might come through, each time the tram tunnel opened up.
We started making bets on how long we could last. Most of us thought we could only live a few minutes at most. Despite all the exploding bobs, flyers, and blinkers that tried to take us out (thank you, overwatch), we managed to survive over twenty minutes before one of the aliens found our infantry portal and cleaned out the last of us.
The feeling I got from being in a hopeless situation with all of my squadmates, in addition to MonsE's teasing, made the whole game quite a memorable one (despite the fact that we lost, hardcore).
You know, I have been reading here for some time (even before registering), and I think this is one of the best topics I have read. It is great reading these experiences from the testers. So please, don't stop!
One of the things I have been concerned about was the static nature of the bases (particularly the hives). My current MOD-of-choice provides great flexibility in base structure and location, which often leads to "hidden" bases and some great come backs.
Sounds like that sort of thing is possible in NS too, which makes me a happy critter! <!--emo&:bob:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'><!--endemo-->
coilAmateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance.Join Date: 2002-04-12Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Yeah, a tense game on Hera yesterday lasted so long because the marines relocated from the very start... Reception is a very difficult room to get into!!
One highlight of that game was approaching Reception from the former marine base... I went up the elevator as a level1, where I saw a screen of tripmines covering the doorway. However, I realized that the level 1 and 3, small as they are, could fit underneath the lowest trip-laser without setting it off! So I evolved to level3 and started dodging back and forth into the hallway, playing hide-and-snipe with the two turrets at the far end of the hallway. Just then, I heard the elevator moving... I looked down and saw a level5 coming up.
I was in the process of saying "Here, I'll suicide and blow up these mines for you," when he just barreled RIGHT through them, blowing them (and me) up, and ran down the hallway and destroyed both turrets before continuing in to wreak havoc on the marine base. It was beautiful, and the epitome of the level5 "I'm a lot bigger, stronger, and meaner than you are" mentality. Woo.
<!--QuoteBegin--coil+June 27 2002,13:58--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (coil @ June 27 2002,13:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Yeah, a tense game on Hera yesterday lasted so long because the marines relocated from the very start... Reception is a very difficult room to get into...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> LOL, that's hilarious. Except for the part when you die. But I don't doubt that he lost much life.
That level 5 was me. I knew that you couldn't get all the mines yourself, and I thought "Hey I'm a Level 5, I fear no mines!" So I activated charge and ran for it. I took out at least three turrets and some marines. Sorry about killing you though didn't know.
<!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo--> = Big Huge Heavy Assualt Tank, INDUSTRUCTABLE (or close enough)
coilAmateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance.Join Date: 2002-04-12Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Some people use voice, some don't... I don't, for one. When I "yell" something, it's usually typing frantically "FAN HIVE!! FAN HIVE!!!!" or similar. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
Yeah, there's nothing like hearing screaming over voice comm though. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> Someone was about to call for backup or give us a report from his recon mission, and all of a sudden we hear screaming and then... nothing. Don't remember who that was (probably cyanide), but it was an awesome feeling.
coilAmateur pirate. Professional monkey. All pance.Join Date: 2002-04-12Member: 424Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Two stories from KFS's *excellent* new map, Eclipse, and the new feature-complete build!!
#1: I was a level1, scouting near the marine base. The base can be approached on a high or low route, both wide corridors with a series (3 or 4) of large, button-operated, vertically-opening doors. I and another alien were heading through the "high ground" route when the doorway in front of us beeped in a pre-open sequence. I jumped up the wall and prayed my cloak kicked in before I was seen... it was a pretty dark area. As the door opened, I saw the hivesight indicator of my compatriot and three marines, and then the alien was gunned down.
So it was me, hiding in the dark, against three marines. As fortune would have it, I was positioned directly above the button to open the door I had just come through (which had closed behind us)... as a marine approached the button, I dropped down on top of him and tore him apart. The other two pretty much instantly mowed me down.
Why's this a happy story? Because as my screen faded to black, I saw: <span style='color:orange'><MonsE>: ****@!!!!</span> When I respawned, I responded with "Awww... did I scare you, MonsE? XD "
------------------
#2: This actually occurred in the same area as the preceding encounter. I was approaching as a level1 again, with several other aliens all around me. One builder opened the last door leading to the Command Console... and disappeared in a spray of green ichor. I strafed quickly in front of the open door and saw the muzzle flashes of at least 4 turrets down a LONG stretch of hallway. A level1 didn't stand a chance making it up that hallway.
However, I had 75 RPs, so I called to my teammates: "I'm going Level5... once I spawn, we gotta charge en masse so the turrets can't track all of us." As one level1 went for the door button, I used my "primal scream" attack - a blood-curdling roar that provides speed, armor, and attack bonuses for nearby aliens. Then the door opened, and about 6 of us charged down the hallway. I *literally* charged, smashing into the turrets and ripping them to pieces. Level1s exploded all around me, their Xenocide attacks ripping into costly marine buildings. The turrets destroyed, I moved into the room that held the command console and infantry portal and tore into them until turrets in the adjacent room finally pulled me down.
Hehe, i think i was the marine who ripped you to shreds in the first part coil, ahh that was a good game.. until the end... your second half, where we were overrun by a million of you! :/
things that scare me a bit: 1. it seems like everything was about building turrets and besieging them. well... 2.everybody tells stories about being level 5 and having so much fun with it. what about the level 4? or level3? shouldnt the aliens be the team to do the mass-approach?
The level 5 is a lot of fun to play, but I believe every playtester has their preferences. I know some that prefer the level 3 due to the flying or even the level 1 because of the wall-climbing. I, personally, LOVE the blinker. There's just something soothing about having the ability to blink behind your enemies and pelt them before they have time to think. Blinking beside them is even a greater scare for them. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
I personally *love* playing as the level 3. It's really exhilirating and challenging, because you don't have many hit points and you're a slow target while on the ground. In order to be effective in combat, you really have to fly around almost constantly, dodging marine attacks, all while returning fire. And his attacks are deadly if you know what situations to use them in. It's such a rush to fight people as this guy.
One time on bast, as a level 3 I was engaging a few marines near the bridge area, where a lone catwalk stretches over a Pit o' Death. The marines were coming alone, so it wasn't terribly difficult to kill them with my spikegun. However, as I fought a 2nd or 3rd marine, I suddenly found myself sinking towards the pit -- I didn't have enough energy to keep myself aloft! For a minute or so, I drifted perilously close to the bottom of the pit, unsure whether or not I would make it. Finally, I regained enough strength to fly up to a safe height and finish off the marine. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
BTW coil, I think I might have been one of the level 1's in your second Eclipse story. I just remember a whole bunch of aliens including a level 5 attacking the marine base at once, and I xenocided taking out a marine and damaging some buildings.
It's interesting about the Flyer's energy. Us non-playtesters don't really know how the Flyer's energy works -- or at least I don't. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
Coil: Great stories! You tell these really well; especially for us alien-wanna-be's. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
now we know it takes around 75 RP's to morph to a level 5! this means one thing, then. Marine weapons and equipment and buildings most not really be that expensive!
Comments
One of my best moments with the marines was some time back on NS_Hera.
After having set up enough defenses and making heavy weaponry available, we decided to try an assault.
So, about five marines, equipped with HMGs and shotguns, went down into the fog corridor you all know from the screenshots on RR.org.
HMGs slow you down quite drastically, so we didn't move really fast, which made some of the players with voicecomm start to recap our strategy once we'd reach the hive.
Just when we neared the end of the fog, one said: "Some will have to stay ba... <b>Wahhhhh</b>!". He literally screamed into his mic when a lvl3 appeared out of nowhere and started throwing sporeclouds our way.
The cloud animation consists of two phases: First, there are almost massive blue 'particleballs' everywhere, which flock up into real clouds almost instantly. I had never realized this before.
Shaking our suprise off, we took aim, and three HMGs plus two shotguns started firing at the same time...
When the sporecloud had lightened, we moved on, leaving the next room behind us without of being bothered.
Suddenly, a lvl1 leapt from a nearby corridor, exactely between me and Ecks, the two shotgun carriers.
<i>Bad</i> idea.
When reaching the hiveroom, we split up into a group of one or two men with HMGs who stayed behind and kept the backs of the rest free while they were moving further into the room, attacking the alien defenders.
It is impossible for me to describe the chaos that broke out in there, especially since I got killed by a lvl4 pretty fast, but when I respawned shortly after and ran back to assist my fellow marines, all I could do is help them set up some turrets to fortify the conquered room.
/me wants to hear more stories <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
A plan was called for, so coil lured Humbaba away from his base with the premise of an easy kill on an injured Level 3. What he didnt expect was Level 1 at the end of the tunnel, about to parasite him. (Parasite meaning the aliens can see that marines position using Hive Sight at all times)
Now this lone marine called Humbaba was moving nice and slowly because of all his equipment, and decided it would be easier to persue a few kills that returning to his front base. Again he wasnt expecting the Level 3 and the Level 1 perched on the guard rail and ceiling respectively, who both filled him with spikes and had a good nibble on his legs.
A break in their defences, we rushed past the Holoroom, the Level 3 with upgraded armour taking a hit for the team. Up into a vent, to a Hive location. Just before we got to the corner, we heard a mass of bleeping, sentries, and lots of them. With a bit of skilled spike gun from the Level threes (Coil and Hida at this time, I hadnt got enough resource points to upgrade <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo--> ) we got it down to one, which was sitting in the very middle of the room. With the flapping of membrane wings one of the Level three flyers tried to spike the Sentry from the air. A good counter against a sentry is a Level 4 or a level 5, but without the hive we had no chance.
There was only one thing for it, a rush. With the clicking of my claws on the catwalk, the flapping of wings, the attack growl was sounded. This was to get back into the game, to even everything out and start a comeback against the marine incursion. I dived at the turret, its targetting mechanism had picked out one of our flyers, and I started jumping in and out biting it. Then, to my horror, the turret lost track of the Level 3 (who had retreated due to low heath) and started turning towards me. And the next few moments were the best experience I have had in NS.
The turret shot at me, and scored a good hit, taking me down to 3 health, just as I lunged in for a final bite before death, I saw a stream of spikes from the second Level 3 nail right into the turret, and my bite stopped its bleeping and carnage forever. The shouts over voice comm made me realise that, out of all TFC and CS clan matches I have ever played, this (with 2 people I had hardly played with before) was the most teamwork I have ever seen in a game. But the story doesnt end there.
We needed to get the hive and some defences up, so both myself and Hida evolved into the Level 2 builder class. Hida finished evolving before myself and started the hive off. Just as I finished evolving I saw a sillouhetted figure at the end of the corridoor. Now we consisted of two builders and a heavily injured level 3, and this marine had full heath and upgraded armour, and carried a shotgun, a pistol, a LMG and a HMG.
We were pushed back inside the vent route we had entered through, just as our hive came online, giving us builders access to webs. We all ran and flew out, spitting, webbing and spiking this marine. Against the odds, one of the web spits hit the Marine full on, causing him to lose control of his weapons and reducing his speed even further. Not only had we broken out of a stalemate, created a new hive, got back into the game, but now we had a tasty snack for our troubles.
Theres only one thing that can beat NS, and thats real life itself. And then only rarely. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
<edit: Mixed a few of the names up>
<!--EDIT|Fam|June 26 2002,14:07-->
A story from yesterday... We were working really hard trying to clean the marines out of Space Station Nothing (ken20banks' map); had 2 hives when I joined, and general alien pwn4ge was going on. We had cleared the main base, but they weren't dead... they had a new base somewhere else. While we located a satellite base near a resource node by the marine base, one hive came under attack and went down... but when we cleared that base, they still were respawning!
Finally, we tracked them down to the hive location we had just lost - they'd fortified heavily and started rebuilding protected by small alcoves on either side of the main room (the socalled "Room with Thing" from screenshots), where we couldn't get to them.
It was a nasty battle... they had just enough resources to keep a few grenade launchers, and along with the turrets these made them pretty much unreachable from their protected position. Finally I started calling for aliens with more resources than I had to go builder and get some resource towers and the other hive online. While that was going on, the marines decided to make a push... against our last remaining hive. It's funny how quickly tables can turn.
I heard the attack happen from across the map, and jumped in the nearest vent to get there as quickly as I could. As I approached the viaduct hive from the right entrance, I saw marines at the opposite entrance tossing grenades at our forward cluster of turrets. I knew I couldn't get to them through the explosions, so I jumped into a vent nearby and climbed to where I knew it let out... directly above the attacking force. I peeked out and nearly got my nose shot off by a shotgun-carrying marine playing rear guard.
They knew about the vent. I pulled back, pondered for a moment... and then with a growl, jumped out of the vent and went straight for the shotgunner. He went down, I spun and took a grenadier out. Then they realized there was a Bob among them and started backpedalling, trying to get a clear shot at me. I took one more out before succumbing to the repressing fire of their retreat...... but the hive was saved. Phew.
with Best Fps experiances <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo-->
I want to be a <!--emo&:asrifle:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':asrifle:'><!--endemo--> . And a <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo--> , or a <!--emo&:bob:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'><!--endemo--> , or even a <!--emo&:pudgy:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pudgy:'><!--endemo--> .
Oh well, I'll just have to wait. If I give you developers 250$, will you release it any earlier?
In another game of NS-Nothing, I was on marines and we were doing a final push on the last hive. All was going to plan when the commander yelled over comm, "Level 1s in Vents!" Just then three level 1s jumped down and instantly killed two marines, leaving me and possibly one more. I pulled out my LMG (for a GL wasn't going to save me) and fired like a madman. I took out two of them, and confidently reloading. Just then, another one surpised me and reduced me to 17 health. I was unleashing my clip; one of us would live; the other would die. But just as the fateful duel was about to take place, MonsE changed maps! I almost got to do some alien pwnage there.
Go back one page, and you'll see my story about taking out 3 marines in NS_Nothing... believe it or not, these are the SAME SERIES OF EVENTS! I think it's absolutely awesome that both Hida and I, on opposite sides of the story, found the battle to be particularly memorable. Sweet!
BTW, Hida remembers 3 level1's, while I said I was the only one... I think the other two attacked and died just before I showed up.
I won't get into many details, but basically the aliens had launched a fairly early attack on the marines' base, using the tram tunnels, so we retreated to the tram junction between our base and the transit hub. With nothing but an infantry portal and resource tower, we all camped out in there, waiting for any aliens that might come through, each time the tram tunnel opened up.
We started making bets on how long we could last. Most of us thought we could only live a few minutes at most. Despite all the exploding bobs, flyers, and blinkers that tried to take us out (thank you, overwatch), we managed to survive over twenty minutes before one of the aliens found our infantry portal and cleaned out the last of us.
The feeling I got from being in a hopeless situation with all of my squadmates, in addition to MonsE's teasing, made the whole game quite a memorable one (despite the fact that we lost, hardcore).
One of the things I have been concerned about was the static nature of the bases (particularly the hives). My current MOD-of-choice provides great flexibility in base structure and location, which often leads to "hidden" bases and some great come backs.
Sounds like that sort of thing is possible in NS too, which makes me a happy critter! <!--emo&:bob:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'><!--endemo-->
One highlight of that game was approaching Reception from the former marine base... I went up the elevator as a level1, where I saw a screen of tripmines covering the doorway. However, I realized that the level 1 and 3, small as they are, could fit underneath the lowest trip-laser without setting it off! So I evolved to level3 and started dodging back and forth into the hallway, playing hide-and-snipe with the two turrets at the far end of the hallway. Just then, I heard the elevator moving... I looked down and saw a level5 coming up.
I was in the process of saying "Here, I'll suicide and blow up these mines for you," when he just barreled RIGHT through them, blowing them (and me) up, and ran down the hallway and destroyed both turrets before continuing in to wreak havoc on the marine base. It was beautiful, and the epitome of the level5 "I'm a lot bigger, stronger, and meaner than you are" mentality. Woo.
<!--EDIT|coil|June 27 2002,14:03-->
LOL, that's hilarious. Except for the part when you die. But I don't doubt that he lost much life.
<!--emo&:turret:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/turret.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':turret:'><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&:turret:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/turret.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':turret:'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo-->
#1: I was a level1, scouting near the marine base. The base can be approached on a high or low route, both wide corridors with a series (3 or 4) of large, button-operated, vertically-opening doors. I and another alien were heading through the "high ground" route when the doorway in front of us beeped in a pre-open sequence. I jumped up the wall and prayed my cloak kicked in before I was seen... it was a pretty dark area. As the door opened, I saw the hivesight indicator of my compatriot and three marines, and then the alien was gunned down.
So it was me, hiding in the dark, against three marines. As fortune would have it, I was positioned directly above the button to open the door I had just come through (which had closed behind us)... as a marine approached the button, I dropped down on top of him and tore him apart. The other two pretty much instantly mowed me down.
Why's this a happy story? Because as my screen faded to black, I saw:
<span style='color:orange'><MonsE>: ****@!!!!</span>
When I respawned, I responded with "Awww... did I scare you, MonsE? XD "
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#2: This actually occurred in the same area as the preceding encounter. I was approaching as a level1 again, with several other aliens all around me. One builder opened the last door leading to the Command Console... and disappeared in a spray of green ichor. I strafed quickly in front of the open door and saw the muzzle flashes of at least 4 turrets down a LONG stretch of hallway. A level1 didn't stand a chance making it up that hallway.
However, I had 75 RPs, so I called to my teammates: "I'm going Level5... once I spawn, we gotta charge en masse so the turrets can't track all of us." As one level1 went for the door button, I used my "primal scream" attack - a blood-curdling roar that provides speed, armor, and attack bonuses for nearby aliens. Then the door opened, and about 6 of us charged down the hallway. I *literally* charged, smashing into the turrets and ripping them to pieces. Level1s exploded all around me, their Xenocide attacks ripping into costly marine buildings. The turrets destroyed, I moved into the room that held the command console and infantry portal and tore into them until turrets in the adjacent room finally pulled me down.
<!--EDIT|coil|June 29 2002,11:32-->
1. it seems like everything was about building turrets and besieging them. well...
2.everybody tells stories about being level 5 and having so much fun with it. what about the level 4?
or level3? shouldnt the aliens be the team to do the mass-approach?
One time on bast, as a level 3 I was engaging a few marines near the bridge area, where a lone catwalk stretches over a Pit o' Death. The marines were coming alone, so it wasn't terribly difficult to kill them with my spikegun. However, as I fought a 2nd or 3rd marine, I suddenly found myself sinking towards the pit -- I didn't have enough energy to keep myself aloft! For a minute or so, I drifted perilously close to the bottom of the pit, unsure whether or not I would make it. Finally, I regained enough strength to fly up to a safe height and finish off the marine. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
BTW coil, I think I might have been one of the level 1's in your second Eclipse story. I just remember a whole bunch of aliens including a level 5 attacking the marine base at once, and I xenocided taking out a marine and damaging some buildings.
<!--EDIT|RhoadsToNowhere|June 29 2002,11:31-->
It's interesting about the Flyer's energy. Us non-playtesters don't really know how the Flyer's energy works -- or at least I don't. <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
Coil: Great stories! You tell these really well; especially for us alien-wanna-be's. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->