MouseThe Lighter Side of PessimismJoin Date: 2002-03-02Member: 263Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
If you're talking about doing everything perfectly, with exception to perfect aim; then yes. If the alien team is smart, skillful and working with a flexible strategy then you are quite capable of being defeated.
But if you team does everything perfectly <b>and</b> has perfect aim the chances of being defeated decrease, but they are still there. The aliens just have to attack your nodes, avoid your marines (maybe sensory first). Because if your team is perfect, than the only vunerable place for the aliens to attack is the imperfect areas; ie. your nodes and your base. Most guerrilla tactics involve attacking where your enemy is not and when they get there, attacking where your enemy was.
a team with pathetic strats making no errors can easily lose , they could perfectly walk into a hive and shoot all ammo into while 6 skulks kill the ip & cc : <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Perfection is impossible. That's why playing versus humans is fun <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
there isn't a set game for NS, almost everything has a counter.
if both teams play "perfect" games, responding to each others attack's and tactics, then i think marines would win as u can unload 9 bullets into a skulk faster than he/she can bite twice.
and when you said the marines take a hive down and leave the base open, that isn't perfect. because they left their base open :/.. comm needs to play a perfect game aswell <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
edited: for political correctness xD (GIRL POWER!) <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
You can have a game where you kill everything you shoot... and still lose because you just weren't there to shoot the skulk who ate your IP and CC.
I would imagine then that if you lose a game where you did everything "right" then your concept of "right" is probably flawed, or you just didn't see the bad stuff happening.
This question is not a question of perfection, but one on knowing how to accept defeat. Ignore perfection, it doesn't exist here.
Example: Two somewhat equally matched teams play against each other; one team wins and one team loses. The losing team doesn't blame other people, or ill tactics, or carelessness or bad aim. They review the demo and aren't able to find specific errors or mistakes that caused their defeat.
What can they do now?
Simple.
Say: 'Good Game' and play again for the love of the game.
I find no reason to be bitter about it. I play to have fun, and I admit I have the most fun when I win a challenging game, but I'd rather have a good challenging loss then some 'definitive' formula to winning or perfect aim or having to hear the opposite team argue about who did what wrong.
I hope that's not just me. <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo-->
like i said in the rine forum, there is always going to be one dominant tactic meaning that there will be a perfect game to follow (a game that can't be improved upon).
but no-one knows what this is cause no-one is sad/stupidly-inteligent enough.
AbraWould you kindlyJoin Date: 2003-08-17Member: 19870Members
erhm....guys...
i think we have settled what perfection is by now, no more need for copies of the previous post. PERFECTION IS WHEN THERES NO ERRORS/PROBLEMS/THINGS YOU CAN BLAME YOURSELF, its simple - it dosnt exist!
Discussing what perfection is in a strategy game is rediculous. That'd mean you'd have to counter the enemies counters before they even got around to doing it. For instance: Your strategy is to secure as many resources as possible then go for the hives (being very basic here). The alien strategy is to secure a hive location, then secure resources. Notice how these teams are doing the same thing but in the opposite order. To be perfect you would have to prevent the aliens from ever securing a second hive. This requires a lot of marines to do and if you decide to stop the aliens from holding a hive than you are getting resources a lot slower since there would be a small squad (1-3 rines) getting resources instead of 5-7 rines. There is no way in hell 1-3 rines can secure all the resource towers (all because we need to be perfect) without getting killed. It simply can't be done, especially since there's a resource node near hive locations.
Anyways, if you react to the enemy (a good thing) you are already imperfect since you've strayed from your main objective. Even if you do stop the aliens have securing a second hive you have to worry about aliens having too many resources ... that means fades, as a reaction your commander drops shotties, as a reaction to that the aliens try to take out your RTSs in order to choke you, in reaction you defend ...
In conclusion perfection is not reacting because if you were perfect you wouldn't have to react.
Those of you who said False, what would happen if both teams "made no errors"? One of the teams would inevitably lose, so the answer to that question is True.
TheAdjHe demanded a cool forum title of some type.Join Date: 2004-05-03Member: 28436Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
edited July 2004
Strategy games at their essence are playing in a way that exploits an enemies weakness while enhancing your strengths. A perfect game would be a game in which you counter the enemy strategy so well as to prevent them from ever beginning to execute it, and never know you countered it until the game was already over. It's impossible to play a perfect game that requires teamwork because we can't percieve each other's thoughts. If we were telepathic, then sure we could play a perfect game. Good teamwork makes the team appear as one, each part moving in sync with the other part, the individuals not standing out. It's impossible for us to play a perfect game due to our limitations, and thus only speculation can result from discussion on it.
<!--QuoteBegin-Dr. Jekyll+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dr. Jekyll)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> making errors=inferior stratergy <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Wow this makes no sense whatsoever. Making errors is human, none of us are perfect. Strategy is an overall plan with a precise endgoal and specific goals that form a tree to reach the endgoal. Choosing the appropriate branches of the tree reaches the endgoal, and the exercises required to move along the branches are tactics. If you choose the appropriate tactics for each branch, you eventually reach the endgoal. If you make a tactical error, say not checking a corner for a skulk and the skulk ambushes the team from behind, then you remedy that by checking corners. That doesn't mean the endgoal of reaching the hive to siege it is an "inferior strategy".
<!--QuoteBegin-j3st+Jul 11 2004, 06:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (j3st @ Jul 11 2004, 06:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Those of you who said False, what would happen if both teams "made no errors"? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> This is impossible.
no it isn't. some things you can't control and without making any errors you can end up losing cus one team is ALWAYS dominant. so stop being a fool tbh.
<!--QuoteBegin-Lump+Jul 7 2004, 07:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lump @ Jul 7 2004, 07:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> if both teams play "perfect" games, responding to each others attack's and tactics, then i think marines would win as u can unload 9 bullets into a skulk faster than he/she can bite twice. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> u must neva be responding to the enemy, u must try and keep them on the ropes not urself
<!--QuoteBegin-jamespsx+Jul 12 2004, 02:09 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (jamespsx @ Jul 12 2004, 02:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Lump+Jul 7 2004, 07:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lump @ Jul 7 2004, 07:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> if both teams play "perfect" games, responding to each others attack's and tactics, then i think marines would win as u can unload 9 bullets into a skulk faster than he/she can bite twice. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> u must neva be responding to the enemy, u must try and keep them on the ropes not urself <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> read the rest of this thread <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
if you had complete control as marines what would be the point in playing! both teams have a say LIKE IT OR NOT.. u can control the game as much as you want but you still have to respond to things they do. gawd.
actualy, If both teams were to play perfectly, NEATHER TEAM WOULD LOSE. it would be a perfect dealock, and end up in a perfect tie. each team having the same amount of points. so it is tied there.
It is possible to play a perfect game and still loose. If your people make no errors, they can still loose to flaws in both their tactics and strategy.
Two opposing sets of strategies and tactics inherantly seek each others blind and weak points, and there isn't a strategy in an even playing field where strengths exist without weaknesses. Both sides would be deadlocked until one side applied a strength to their opponents weakness before such is done unto them.
This is inherant with NS, with both the Marines and Aliens bearing very different tactical and strategic priorities, which lie as an extention beyond the differences in capabilities and physical size.
Therefore, any perfectly played tactic or strategy may very well fail to an opposing set that strikes at its weak point. Be it weak base defenses, securing resources, upgrades, hives, chambers, or even building placement/order.
Perfect strategies exist only insofar as counter-tactics have not yet been designed to detect, predict, and defeat them; the possibility continues to exist, just not yet. Should counter-tactics prove ultimately inneffectual, then it's time to light a fire under our dear Devs.
Let's assume we have the team of perfect marines. They can aim perfectly. No shot is wasted. They have perfect co-ordination. The commander doesn't even need to waste time with waypoints or communication. His marines just know. All he has to do is drop structures and equipment. They have perfect strategies, they can sense from a glimmer of a skulk what the alien team is doing and devise the perfect counter-strategy that uses a minimum of resources for maximum effectiveness.
Given all this, they can *still* lose.
How, you might ask?
Because.. there's only three of them and the other nine players stacked the aliens. Dontcha love trick questions?
Comments
But if you team does everything perfectly <b>and</b> has perfect aim the chances of being defeated decrease, but they are still there. The aliens just have to attack your nodes, avoid your marines (maybe sensory first). Because if your team is perfect, than the only vunerable place for the aliens to attack is the imperfect areas; ie. your nodes and your base. Most guerrilla tactics involve attacking where your enemy is not and when they get there, attacking where your enemy was.
So in short, True.
That's why playing versus humans is fun <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
if both teams play "perfect" games, responding to each others attack's and tactics, then i think marines would win as u can unload 9 bullets into a skulk faster than he/she can bite twice.
and when you said the marines take a hive down and leave the base open, that isn't perfect. because they left their base open :/.. comm needs to play a perfect game aswell <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
edited: for political correctness xD (GIRL POWER!) <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
What is perfection, in this case?
New question.
What is perfection without relying on intangible meanings such as 'imperfection' or stupid philosophies.
Edit:
Whoever uses the word they're trying to define in the definition, anyways? Morons...
Perfect med placement for all marines when in close range combat.
all structure positioning with optimum cover and most ergonomic.
the correct order of upgrades and marine positions to attack reacting to all alien movements and structures.
etc etc.
dont think anyone knows enough about the game to understand what the exact perfection ingame would be.
I would imagine then that if you lose a game where you did everything "right" then your concept of "right" is probably flawed, or you just didn't see the bad stuff happening.
Ignore perfection, it doesn't exist here.
Example:
Two somewhat equally matched teams play against each other; one team wins and one team loses. The losing team doesn't blame other people, or ill tactics, or carelessness or bad aim. They review the demo and aren't able to find specific errors or mistakes that caused their defeat.
What can they do now?
Simple.
Say: 'Good Game' and play again for the love of the game.
I find no reason to be bitter about it. I play to have fun, and I admit I have the most fun when I win a challenging game, but I'd rather have a good challenging loss then some 'definitive' formula to winning or perfect aim or having to hear the opposite team argue about who did what wrong.
I hope that's not just me. <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo-->
but no-one knows what this is cause no-one is sad/stupidly-inteligent enough.
For aliens, its not the same.
i think we have settled what perfection is by now, no more need for copies of the previous post. PERFECTION IS WHEN THERES NO ERRORS/PROBLEMS/THINGS YOU CAN BLAME YOURSELF, its simple - it dosnt exist!
Anyways, if you react to the enemy (a good thing) you are already imperfect since you've strayed from your main objective. Even if you do stop the aliens have securing a second hive you have to worry about aliens having too many resources ... that means fades, as a reaction your commander drops shotties, as a reaction to that the aliens try to take out your RTSs in order to choke you, in reaction you defend ...
In conclusion perfection is not reacting because if you were perfect you wouldn't have to react.
"Even if you and your team make no errors or mistakes, you may still be defeated."
Let's just say it's hypothetically possible. Then if you play with no errors... you will always win. So your statement is FALSE.
Quite trying to be psuedointellectuals people. Most of your arguments were crap anyways.
making errors=inferior stratergy
One of the teams would inevitably lose, so the answer to that question is True.
<!--QuoteBegin-Dr. Jekyll+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dr. Jekyll)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
making errors=inferior stratergy
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow this makes no sense whatsoever. Making errors is human, none of us are perfect. Strategy is an overall plan with a precise endgoal and specific goals that form a tree to reach the endgoal. Choosing the appropriate branches of the tree reaches the endgoal, and the exercises required to move along the branches are tactics. If you choose the appropriate tactics for each branch, you eventually reach the endgoal. If you make a tactical error, say not checking a corner for a skulk and the skulk ambushes the team from behind, then you remedy that by checking corners. That doesn't mean the endgoal of reaching the hive to siege it is an "inferior strategy".
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is impossible.
u must neva be responding to the enemy, u must try and keep them on the ropes not urself
u must neva be responding to the enemy, u must try and keep them on the ropes not urself <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
read the rest of this thread <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
if you had complete control as marines what would be the point in playing! both teams have a say LIKE IT OR NOT.. u can control the game as much as you want but you still have to respond to things they do. gawd.
Two opposing sets of strategies and tactics inherantly seek each others blind and weak points, and there isn't a strategy in an even playing field where strengths exist without weaknesses. Both sides would be deadlocked until one side applied a strength to their opponents weakness before such is done unto them.
This is inherant with NS, with both the Marines and Aliens bearing very different tactical and strategic priorities, which lie as an extention beyond the differences in capabilities and physical size.
Therefore, any perfectly played tactic or strategy may very well fail to an opposing set that strikes at its weak point. Be it weak base defenses, securing resources, upgrades, hives, chambers, or even building placement/order.
Perfect strategies exist only insofar as counter-tactics have not yet been designed to detect, predict, and defeat them; the possibility continues to exist, just not yet. Should counter-tactics prove ultimately inneffectual, then it's time to light a fire under our dear Devs.
Let's assume we have the team of perfect marines.
They can aim perfectly. No shot is wasted.
They have perfect co-ordination. The commander doesn't even need to waste time with waypoints or communication. His marines just know. All he has to do is drop structures and equipment.
They have perfect strategies, they can sense from a glimmer of a skulk what the alien team is doing and devise the perfect counter-strategy that uses a minimum of resources for maximum effectiveness.
Given all this, they can *still* lose.
How, you might ask?
Because.. there's only three of them and the other nine players stacked the aliens.
Dontcha love trick questions?