Why Were Spikes Removed? =/

XyrcaiXyrcai Join Date: 2004-05-25 Member: 28898Members
<div class="IPBDescription">I mean really..</div> Bite-lerk is just a skulk with wings and bad breath..

Spikes was a great ability, and the only quick-speed long range projectile that Aliens had. (Acid Rockets are 3-hive, and not that great anyways, Parasite has limited range it seems like and definitely isnt a move you want to kill with unless its as a joke, Gorge spit is slow moving and easy to dodge)

Why was Spikes replaced with bite? Why was Lerk turned into a rat with wings?
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Comments

  • Robert_PaulsonRobert_Paulson Join Date: 2003-07-29 Member: 18543Members
    why ask why...

    We are in beta stages, things are changing, the BUS is around the corner, and reactions are being measured...Next build could involve a Lerk with parasite...only time will tell.
  • TastyTasty Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18988Members, Constellation
    The only answer I have heard so far is that Flayra wanted the aliens to be mele fighters. In other words it was an artistic decision. I am not trying to be sarcastic or critical, this is just the only answer I have heard.

    Some one please correct me if I am wrong.
  • MrMojoMrMojo Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9882Members, Constellation
    Flayra wanted bite and there was no more space left for spikes?
  • MarineAnimalMarineAnimal Join Date: 2004-05-14 Member: 28676Members
    The only thing I don't like about lerk bite is, spores, umbra and primal scream are all support weapons. Bite forces the lerk to go into combat, and a marine with good aim will take a lerk out quickly. If it's going to be fighting melee, give it some more armor.
  • ThardinThardin Join Date: 2004-01-05 Member: 25081Members
    edited May 2004
    Bite and lerk doesn't mix.

    It's barely, in a resource view, stronger then a skulk.

    30 res for a flying skulk or stay skulk for the (over)power(ed)ful fade? Most choose fade but the lerk can only support, melee combat for a lerk is just to risky for 30 res, or 2 DCs or a RT ect.

    They did buff the lerk's HP/Armor but the hitbox now makes it realistically easy for a lerk to get hit, thusly it's much weaker then it was in 2.1.

    The lerk is a combat gorge basically, but a support role that flies.

    A gorge just plain sucks, most skulks run to a hive then search out a gorge for a heal, one of it's main uses, and bile bomb elect RTs and pray that a marine doesn't pass by.

    How I miss hive 2 Web, but none of the current skills could be put with web and not massively overpower the gorgie.

    I wished they made bile bomb do 40-50 damage to marines, maybe 10 splash, I mean, it takes a lot of energy and to get a direct hit with it would be very hard, or something else that the gorge could do to feel useful, (reduce OC cost to 5?)

    I know Beta5 is coming so I won't support these views until it is released.
  • ThorStrykerThorStryker Join Date: 2003-01-08 Member: 12025Members
    Bite is excellent if you know how to use it with the lerk though. In combat, with a half upgraded lerk you can hunt jetpackers, in NS, well, its more of a sniper unit untill he is with higher lifeforms, in then which he can umbra/spore and bite while the bigger units take the damage.
  • RueRue Join Date: 2002-10-21 Member: 1564Members
    Lerks would be beter with a little tweak to the length of umbra and primal scream imo
  • Jared101Jared101 Join Date: 2004-02-22 Member: 26804Members
    bite is perfectly good
  • kltower4kltower4 Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19855Members
    Bite for lerks just plain sucks!!!

    Now aliens don't have any powerful projectile weapons at their disposal.
    - Lerk don't spikes anymore
    - Fade's Acid Rocket are like pea-shooters

    The only projectile weapon for aliens are OC but they sure do great when they die just with 3 clips of Level 0 LMG.
  • ssjyodassjyoda Join Date: 2002-03-05 Member: 274Members, Squad Five Blue
    i never understood what the fuss was about. i absolutely hated spikes... i always rather stayed skulk and pushed in that way. I often go lerk now, if u know what your doing its not so easy to kill. Do not just fly into battle, never against more than 1 rine, if there are more, just spore them to the point where u can get 1 bite on each of them for kills. if u want spikes back, if they are so so great, then think of it as they are now a 3rd hive fade wep... just as worthless, and similar.
  • kltower4kltower4 Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19855Members
    From my understanding from previous versions, spikes was good counters agianst JP'ers.
  • mightymat5mightymat5 Join Date: 2003-05-26 Member: 16743Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-kltower4+May 27 2004, 08:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kltower4 @ May 27 2004, 08:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Bite for lerks just plain sucks!!!

    Now aliens don't have any powerful projectile weapons at their disposal.
    - Lerk don't spikes anymore
    - Fade's Acid Rocket are like pea-shooters

    The only projectile weapon for aliens are OC but they sure do great when they die just with 3 clips of Level 0 LMG.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ok first Lerk Bite pwns
    Bite > spikes lerks cant get rushed by marines with bite when they had spikes lerks couldn't defend them selfs and without spikes theres no yelling at n00bs about them spikeing down ele RTs come on really spikes did 16.2 damage thats dumb bite is 75 and is faster then skulk lerk bite is so better then spikes.

    <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> bite > <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> spike
    and yes Fades acid rocket sux

    and dude OCs go down in 2 clips of LMG lv.0 <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ThorStrykerThorStryker Join Date: 2003-01-08 Member: 12025Members
    Spikes were good because you coul snipe marine bases (including the marines) while sitting in the vents. Thats why they were also removed. Lerks WERE the effective cheap res counter to a turret farm. Now all you can do is spore ****.
    Personally, I liked the 1.04 lerk. Movement allowed for stylish stunts and attacks, (Biting sideways always prevented crashing into the target like nowa days.) and Bite AND spikes were in. The lerk was a beast if you knew how to use him back then. He was just over-shadowed by the fade's end all Acid Rockets.
  • mightymat5mightymat5 Join Date: 2003-05-26 Member: 16743Members
    Why do so many people want 1.04 back its the future not the past live with it.
  • EvenFlowEvenFlow Join Date: 2002-12-18 Member: 11046Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Thor-Stryker+May 28 2004, 07:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thor-Stryker @ May 28 2004, 07:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Spikes were good because you coul snipe marine bases (including the marines) while sitting in the vents. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    And how many hours did you spend sitting doing this? It took forever to take out structures with spikes, anyways, I see more lerk-bite kills these days than there were spike kills when they were still around.
  • TastyTasty Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18988Members, Constellation
    I got lots of kills by gassing the marines and then spiking them, the spikes were so quiet they often didn't realize I was shooting at them until it was too late and they died.

    Yet another successful tactic removed from the game.

    Does anyone know what issues the team is looking at for the next update?
  • WirheWirhe Join Date: 2003-06-22 Member: 17610Members
    edited May 2004
    First some people complained of not having bite.

    Now people complain of not having spikes.

    <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    IMO, bite is good to have, as it is completely different for rines to know that the fellow can bite back, instead of having to fly away (or become toasted by 1 shot gib). Still, it's utterly useless to even think of trying anything vs. heavies as a lerk, spores being the only effective weapon they have.

    /Thinks that onos isn't the only one needing balancing...
  • kltower4kltower4 Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19855Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-mightymat5+May 28 2004, 12:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (mightymat5 @ May 28 2004, 12:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-kltower4+May 27 2004, 08:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kltower4 @ May 27 2004, 08:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Bite for lerks just plain sucks!!!

    Now aliens don't have any powerful projectile weapons at their disposal.
    - Lerk don't spikes anymore
    - Fade's Acid Rocket are like pea-shooters

    The only projectile weapon for aliens are OC but they sure do great when they die just with 3 clips of Level 0 LMG.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ok first Lerk Bite pwns
    Bite > spikes lerks cant get rushed by marines with bite when they had spikes lerks couldn't defend them selfs and without spikes theres no yelling at n00bs about them spikeing down ele RTs come on really spikes did 16.2 damage thats dumb bite is 75 and is faster then skulk lerk bite is so better then spikes.

    <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> bite > <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> spike
    and yes Fades acid rocket sux

    and dude OCs go down in 2 clips of LMG lv.0 <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If noobs were spiking rts, they must be idiots.

    Bite just makes lerk a flying skulk. Spiking will make them more of a support unit. Anyway, thx for clearing out that ocs die in 2 LMG Lvl 0 clips. This proves that aliens are getting weaker and weaker by the minute or shall I say by the betas.
  • RueRue Join Date: 2002-10-21 Member: 1564Members
    The reason I liked spikes was not to snipe rines but say for instance to take down PG's in power silo hive.

    Remember there has never been a time when we had spikes & electric stuff, therefor the problem of taking out PG's and turrets that are protected by electricity have never been looked at.

    For instance if the team has no fades/onos then no number of skulks can really take out a PG in that situation.
  • kltower4kltower4 Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19855Members
    True...

    But a lot of ppl is misusing electrifications these days. E.g comm puts an RT and a phase gate. He electrifies the RT so that the Phase Gate is protected. This is very annoying, he can cover that phase gate with just a 30 res upgrade.

    I feel if marines can't be bothered defending their own phase gates, then the phase gate should be destroy and humiliated by a skulk. Remember, aliens are doing passive teamwork and marines are doing active teamwork.

    PS. I think we better stop. We are straying away from the main topic. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    Spikes were a good counter to JPers as they were the only hitscan weapon that aliens had. Otherwise you have to resort to carefully timed leaps, blinks, or spit and acid rockets. All of those require pretty impeccable timing, especially with gimpy lag compensation and broken hitboxes thrown into the mix.
  • mightymat5mightymat5 Join Date: 2003-05-26 Member: 16743Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-kltower4+May 28 2004, 10:05 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kltower4 @ May 28 2004, 10:05 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-mightymat5+May 28 2004, 12:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (mightymat5 @ May 28 2004, 12:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-kltower4+May 27 2004, 08:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kltower4 @ May 27 2004, 08:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Bite for lerks just plain sucks!!!

    Now aliens don't have any powerful projectile weapons at their disposal.
    - Lerk don't spikes anymore
    - Fade's Acid Rocket are like pea-shooters

    The only projectile weapon for aliens are OC but they sure do great when they die just with 3 clips of Level 0 LMG.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ok first Lerk Bite pwns
    Bite > spikes lerks cant get rushed by marines with bite when they had spikes lerks couldn't defend them selfs and without spikes theres no yelling at n00bs about them spikeing down ele RTs come on really spikes did 16.2 damage thats dumb bite is 75 and is faster then skulk lerk bite is so better then spikes.

    <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> bite > <!--emo&::lerk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/lerk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lerk.gif' /><!--endemo--> spike
    and yes Fades acid rocket sux

    and dude OCs go down in 2 clips of LMG lv.0 <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If noobs were spiking rts, they must be idiots.

    Bite just makes lerk a flying skulk. Spiking will make them more of a support unit. Anyway, thx for clearing out that ocs die in 2 LMG Lvl 0 clips. This proves that aliens are getting weaker and weaker by the minute or shall I say by the betas. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah but without Bite lerks are easy to kill 1 Marine can rush a lerk and kill it cause it cant defend its self.

    But yeah true about the aleins weakness

    And one thing ths off topic the fade is fine.
    if ur good at the game they dont murder you fades are what balences Ace aim marines cause it takes 12 lmg bullets to kill a skulk and 5 pistol bullets to kill a skulk so if u dont miss aleins are screwed.
  • mightymat5mightymat5 Join Date: 2003-05-26 Member: 16743Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-BobTheJanitor+May 28 2004, 10:58 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BobTheJanitor @ May 28 2004, 10:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Spikes were a good counter to JPers as they were the only hitscan weapon that aliens had. Otherwise you have to resort to carefully timed leaps, blinks, or spit and acid rockets. All of those require pretty impeccable timing, especially with gimpy lag compensation and broken hitboxes thrown into the mix. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Lerk bite works great on JPs to you fly bite fly away for like .4 seconds come back bite again like 3 times and hes dead.
  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    A decent JPer can keep a whole team of aliens dancing around a hive blinking and leaping at him. They're a small target, and they're fast. Good fades and skulks can eventually get them, but I'm simply pointing out that a nice spiking lerk made things a lot easier.
  • WirheWirhe Join Date: 2003-06-22 Member: 17610Members
    edited May 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The reason I liked spikes was not to snipe rines but say for instance to take down PG's in power silo hive.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I remember that; had more than one game where I was commanding and had a two hive lockdown in a good 'ol 1.04 fashion. Seriously, it was a pain in the arse for marines to smoke out lerks from those vents and guard the PG's as lerks could just fly away for a moment and then come back.

    But, of course, turret accuracy was horrible back then; lerks could just sit and spike while bullets shot everywhere but at them. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • MaianMaian Join Date: 2003-02-27 Member: 14069Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Gold
    edited May 2004
    Celerity bite lerks right now are better than the old spike lerks against JP. Also, bite is a lot more fun <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> As for the base seiging problem (taking down PGs), I consider reverting back to spikes a last resort option. There are other ways to address it, such as reducing PG health.

    I agree that lerks aren't exactly cost effective, except for the very skilled players. The time to morph into a lerk is also frustratingly long, especially during late game when lerks are dying left and right to grenades.
  • WirheWirhe Join Date: 2003-06-22 Member: 17610Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Celerity bite lerks right now are better than the old spike lerks against JP.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    JP means lv3 ups, and 95% of time also a shotgun or HMG. 1 shot means 1 dead lerk, whereas lerk needs ~5 bites to kill one jet. So I wouldn't say lerks to be very good against them.
  • badmoonbadmoon Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7212Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I always thought spikes were not kept in because they were so useless. Bite or spores are better in just about every case, especially with the current flight system.
  • geekanarchygeekanarchy Join Date: 2004-03-09 Member: 27244Members
    I don't think this has been considered....

    Why not, if Flayra isn't 100% against spikes back in the game, have a the second hive (or third) ability for lerk actually be 2 abilities, the normal ability *and* spikes. The system can obviously handle multiple weapons per level and lerk only gets support abilities after level 1 right now. I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but this thread just made it pop into mind as a possibility.

    <!--emo&::skulk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::skulk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::skulk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • NolSinklerNolSinkler On the Clorf Join Date: 2004-02-15 Member: 26560Members, Constellation
    Bite was added because everyone wanted bite back in 2.0. Now everyone wants spikes, and maybe they will add them, but everyone will want spikes again...
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