Grenade Launcher Spamming

Dusda_KisouDusda_Kisou Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24773Members
<div class="IPBDescription">A real problem in Combat mode</div> I noticed while playing some co_ maps today that marines love to spam grenade launchers. Now, I know its a common thing to resort to grenade launchers, since they are very effective at clearing rooms and blowing up your average onos. But when I see some marine firing the grenades at his FEET so he can blow up two skulks running around him, succeed, and come out with barely a scratch, somethings the matter.

How come a grenade going off at your feet does so little damage to you? It really bothers me that a marine can walk around blowing the ground in front of him up without significant consequence. I would think it would make sense for the marine that shot the round to feel the full force of it.

Comments

  • AgentOrangeAgentOrange Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9244Members
    The nanites protect him. Or something to that effect. If your friend shoots you in the face and you don't take damage. It's the nanites. Everything that can't be explained...nanites!
  • Dusda_KisouDusda_Kisou Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24773Members
    No no no, I'm not talking about friendly fire. I'm talking about A marine shooting grenades at his OWN feet and blowing up a bunch of aliens around him without killing himself in the process. I've seen this happen repeatedly.
  • RokiyoRokiyo A.K.A. .::FeX::. Revenge Join Date: 2002-10-10 Member: 1471Members, Constellation
    edited February 2004
    Marines do friendly fire damage to themselves with explosives. A grenade round does 125 damage, which translates into 42.25 damage to the marine the fired it. A full clip of 4 rounds does 169 damage, but an unupgraded LA marine can only take exactly 150 damage before dying.

    If nades did full damage then one single misfired round would bring a marine down to 25 HP. A tad unreasonable considering your unaware teammates will continually run in front of you and block your shots after you've already fired them. When friendly fire is off you'll get a chance to run away, but if it's on the Nade will instantly explode in your face when it wasn't even your fault.
  • SpazmaticSpazmatic Join Date: 2003-05-10 Member: 16184Members
    I'm one of the people who've been doing nade tricks like that since... Hmm. A while now. Obviously, it's better if I can get motion (or even use my ears) and hit the skulk on their way in, but if I'm swarmed, or being assaulted by fades, or they're at my feet, I don't have a lot of choices.

    However, firing at my feet and NOT running is not something I'd do in the general case. People who do that are stupid, they're simply damaging themselves (armor, at least, even with resupply), meaning they become 1 hit kills. The only time that is effective is when you're <i>trying</i> to kill yourself, such as being swarmed by fades and wanting to do damage and deny them experience.

    Better is firing grenades at your feet, in an intelligent location, and then getting the heck outta dodge. I've killed up to 3 incoming skulks by doing that without taking any damage, because of the weird way grenade damage seems to work. If you can't hit them on their way in, that's often your last hope.

    Now, rant over. My point is, it's A) not really that effective (2 or 3 acid rockets will take you out if you're doing that). Also, it's B) not really that effective (you'd have to be largely immobile, or moving predictably). Also, it's C) not really that effective (you're not AIMING at the best possible location for a nade).

    It's nice, imho, that most players now getting a chance how to learn grenade launchers effectively, especially when your silly hmg/shotty teammates are dead and you're left to fend for yourself. I don't think it's broken, in Combat anyways, as it's simply not that effective compared to actually AIMING your shots, unless you are the #1 target. In Classic, however... I don't know how the now increasing number of capable grenade launcher players will affect gameplay in the long run.
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