Really Bad Balance

DayofdeadDayofdead Join Date: 2004-06-05 Member: 29119Members
Ive been playing this game for 6 months and this is what i think about it:
First of all it took me a whole month, before i could kill a marine as alien on a decend way in 1v1 (im talking about a co with focus). After last update focus costs 2 (much). Because a shotgun is equal to the focus (you can say that an sg costs 2, but it gives you a damagelevel aswell). Co games r quit fun cus its way better balanced then ns maps.
When you play an ns map you ll notice immidiatly that every1 wants to be a marine, when i join aliens in a 24 men server, its always the same thing. Every1 plays on his own, 50% of the alien players are complete noobs, marines win 85% of the games, VERY frustrating idd !! I think i kno why no1 wants to be alien is: Its just way TOO difficult. Every ns player has played some fps games before, so when they go marine, they can kill everything in their way. But when they go alien, they always get killed.

Isnt there anything we can do about this?
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Comments

  • napinapi Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14172Members, Constellation
    edited June 2004
    The big issue with what you just said, is that you're playing on 24 man servers - thats 12 people a team - thats double what the game is set to work at

    It's balanced for clan matches - which are traditionally played with 6 people per team. As soon as you double things, it does, as you said, become massively unbalanced.

    In a 1v1, one skulk vs one marine, the marine is very likely to win. You should be attacking in groups, or ambushing (ie sneaking up on the marines / dropping from above etc)...

    it Is hard - NS has a particularly difficult learning curve, and marine stacking is an issue on some servers - Team work is nothing to do with the game, but again, to do with the players - try playing some more organised games (ie pugs in #nspug etc) or find servers where the standard is better

    edit - mis-read what you put... thought you said you'd be only been playing for a month - thanks CMEast for pointing it out
  • Norml_E_HighNorml_E_High Join Date: 2003-03-30 Member: 15055Members
    Well, you can't really apply any general fps game balance to ns, because the teams are completely different. Balancing a game as such is very difficult, but the devs are (hopefully) working very hard collecting data to balance it as best as possible.
  • SkydancerSkydancer Join Date: 2003-03-28 Member: 14959Members, Constellation
    And, as I am typing, aliens still win 70% of the matches. Try different servers, there are many playing styles out there.
  • Diablo_fxDiablo_fx Join Date: 2003-02-21 Member: 13793Members
    Balance is fine for 6v6.
  • RecoupRecoup Join Date: 2004-04-25 Member: 28195Members
    I think this person just isnt good at NS if they cant win against a marine, using focus, or being a skulk for that matter. Even someone with descent aim cant hit a skulk if hes flyin all over the place...
  • ZekZek Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 7962Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Regardless, he's absolutely right about the horrendous balance in large games. It's true that the game only attempts to balance at all for mid-sized games in the vicinity of 6v6, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Many pub servers prefer playing in large games, and there's no reason NS shouldn't accomodate them. Something needs to be done about the imbalance, namely the alien res problems.
  • Diablo_fxDiablo_fx Join Date: 2003-02-21 Member: 13793Members
    I sugest changing the "balanced" size to 16 players (8v8) of course clans would need 2 more members for this to work.
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    Co being more balanced than Ns? That's a laugh. Suicide onos/fade charges aren't balanced, and neither are shotty/jp rushes. First team to get a good player as a lvled up onos, fade, or jp wins. That's it.

    And don't take focus in combat. Focus is only worth it once you get really really good and leap-jump, blink-swipe, or if there are jps with resupply around. Take celerity, leap, cara, silence, any two upgrades basically will get you more kills than focus alone.
  • NecrosisNecrosis The Loquacious Sage Join Date: 2003-08-03 Member: 18828Members, Constellation
    Most people just try and get better. Practice helps. Helpful tips like "Do not crouchwalk up to an HMG marine from the front" will keep you alive longer.


    Second, if you don't like unskilled players, then simply find a clan. If you're so hot, you'll find one very quickly. Then simply play on their passworded server. Your problem is solved.


    Third, if the clans don't appreciate how "good" you are, create your own server and password it. Only let in people you like/can beat. Again, solves most NS problems.


    Happy motoring! Enjoy your server experience.
  • Amped1Amped1 Join Date: 2003-02-08 Member: 13287Members
    So far we have had two scrims in BFTG. One was 8v8 and the other was 10v10. We lost horribly in the 10v10 but in the 8v8 we won. We were aliens by the way.
  • ikirikir Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18265Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Gold
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dayofdead+Jun 13 2004, 07:26 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dayofdead @ Jun 13 2004, 07:26 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ive been playing this game for 6 months and this is what i think about it:
    First of all it took me a whole month, before i could kill a marine as alien on a decend way in 1v1 (im talking about a co with focus). After last update focus costs 2 (much). Because a shotgun is equal to the focus (you can say that an sg costs 2, but it gives you a damagelevel aswell). Co games r quit fun cus its way better balanced then ns maps.
    When you play an ns map you ll notice immidiatly that every1 wants to be a marine, when i join aliens in a 24 men server, its always the same thing. Every1 plays on his own, 50% of the alien players are complete noobs, marines win 85% of the games, VERY frustrating idd !! I think i kno why no1 wants to be alien is: Its just way TOO difficult. Every ns player has played some fps games before, so when they go marine, they can kill everything in their way. But when they go alien, they always get killed.

    Isnt there anything we can do about this? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    In the server where i play on, aliens wins at least 75% of the games. It depends on the player skill and also on the number of slot in the server. 12 vs 12 adavntage a little the marine.
  • God_KillerGod_Killer Join Date: 2004-02-16 Member: 26592Members
    I really don't know why some servers go over 20 slots, Ns is NOT balanced for over 9vs9. And the competition is pretty fierce in ns and the learning curve is longer than other Fps's. Unless you've always been good in FPS and own in RTS's too(Like me <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
    But I guess if it took you a mount to kill a marine, you probably have low fps's experience, damn you gotta compete against ppl that play FPS's for more than 10 years. (Like me:p)
    But even a low skilled player can help the team a lot if he's smart. These are the things that i think a low skilled player can do fine :

    GL spaming with motion tracking
    Weld the whole team and the cc or buildings
    Lerk : umbra and spore with scent of fear keaping distance
    Cloaked focus skulk
    Onos in combat
    Gorging is both modes
    Take a Heavy in combat, at lest youll be a bait for a while...

    I'm not saying someone with skill should'nt use these kind of tactics but I know that when you start to get good, cloaking will never make you better over time.
  • WirheWirhe Join Date: 2003-06-22 Member: 17610Members
    edited June 2004
    "Balance is fine for clan-matches"

    God, but this comment makes me see red every time -and not from love. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Really, most public games are 8v8, so they should aim for that or strictly keep tourny and casual as different game-modes.
  • Lt_HendricksonLt_Hendrickson Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14761Members
    I always thing 8v8 would be perfect match size, but getting 6 people is a pain enough.
  • ApocalypseApocalypse Join Date: 2003-12-23 Member: 24700Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Wirhe+Jun 13 2004, 04:21 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wirhe @ Jun 13 2004, 04:21 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->"Balance is fine for clan-matches"

    God, but this comment makes me see red every time -and not from love. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Really, most public games are 8v8, so they should aim for that or strictly keep tourny and casual as different game-modes.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Too bad that statement is competely untrue. Marines are absurdly overpowered and it gets worse as the number of players goes up. 6vs6 IS NOT BALANCED!!! Marines have an overwhelming advantage.
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    1 v 1 = heavy alien advantage
    2 v 2 = heavy alien advantage
    3 v 3 = heavy alien advantage
    4 v 4 = alien advantage
    5 v 5 = slight alien advantage
    6 v 6 = balanced
    7 v 7 = slight marine advantage
    8 v 8 = marine advantage
    9 v 9 = marine advantage
    10 v 10 = heavy marine advantage
    11 v 11 = heavy marine advantage

    There ya go. You can't say it's never balanced, because if it's leaning towards the aliens on one side and leaning towards the marines on the other, somewhere in the middle it's going to be balanced. From my experience, it's best balanced at 6 v 6. However the relative skill of the players and the map can turn a slight advantage into a heavy advantage, and vice versa.
  • God_KillerGod_Killer Join Date: 2004-02-16 Member: 26592Members
    LOL 6vs6 marine advantage!!! Anyway 5kyh16h91 is right, xept i don't see any marine advantage at 7vs7, at 10vs10 the advantage is trenmendously big.
    You gotta count as if every player is at the same level of skill to decide balance, id say ns is a lot more balanced now than other realeses...well i did'nt play before 2.1.
  • ApocalypseApocalypse Join Date: 2003-12-23 Member: 24700Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-[QcBs+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([QcBs)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->God Killer,Jun 13 2004, 09:53 PM]LOL 6vs6 marine advantage!!! Anyway 5kyh16h91 is right, xept i don't see any marine advantage at 7vs7, at 10vs10 the advantage is trenmendously big.
    You gotta count as if every player is at the same level of skill to decide balance, id say ns is a lot more balanced now than other realeses...well i did'nt play before 2.1.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes, Marines have an advantage in a 6vs6 and it gets worse with more players, assuming a high level of skill. Why then do some servers have 75% alien wins? Most pub comms do not know how to comm and thus lose the game for their team.
  • ChodsChods Join Date: 2003-04-25 Member: 15838Members
    It all depends on the skill, not how many players there are. 10 vs 10 with skilled aliens and decent marines will result in a drawn out alien victory. If you have a really good comm and a couple of good marines, then you will win. I've seen 1 guy take down the whole alien team and the start of the game and the aliens ended up f4'ing before we could decide who went comm.
  • RecoupRecoup Join Date: 2004-04-25 Member: 28195Members
    Christ another one of these topics...
  • XCanXCan Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5904Members, Constellation
    I reckon that the devs have said that they do not intend to only balance NS for clan-plays meaning 6v6. However this is worked on. (HELLO WAITING STILL). Anyhow, really the better both of the teams get the marines get more advantage simply because of their default ranged weapon. Think about it, if everyone during a match had aimbot who would win? Funny how it even takes more time for a skulk to bite twice than a marine to unload 9 bullets into its paper-body. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • redScareredScare Join Date: 2004-05-18 Member: 28752Members
    I have been playing NS for just a month. I play 2.01 cos I dont like steam. I only play on pubs cos I haven't found a good server to became a regular... yet. And I think 5kyh16h91 its at least 90% right. Aliens win (in the servers I play) 80% of the games, even if it's a 8vs8 game. This is of course cos most players and comms are n00bs (I still can't believe that I'm better comm with just a month of experience than the average pub comm).

    The only way to make NS balanced for games with any number of players (but 4vs4 at least, NS is not meant to be played by less ppl) would be to change the rate alien rt give res. It is of course VERY difficult to find the perfect rate for each number of players, but I think NS team should try. Faster rate for bigger games and slower for smaller games is the only solution I see to fix game balance.
  • kolokolkolokol Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9166Members
    edited June 2004
    The advantage of large teams comes entirely from the basic gameplay. In general skulks need a greater number of players to clear a room if it is defended by marines. Ok ambushes still work and most skilled skulks will take at least one with them. However marines can secure areas and cannot be removed simply because their firepower multiplies exponentially. The power of skulks also does this but the slow respawn rate of one hive vs multiple ips means that organizing and getting toghether a rush is extememly difficult and will take a long time. I would expect most skulks to die when taking a defended area anyway and by the time they recover the marines may well have half the map. Ok so aliens will find it extremely difficult to take out multiple rines. The reality is that aliens need superiour coordination and teamwork to beat deccent marines. The advantages to marines ive mentioned mean that you effectively have to have an alien team of clan level and coordination to win against a good rine team on large servers. And its no good waiting for fades because of reliance on rfk due to horrendously slow res. A viable option would be sealing off two hives and some nodes...unfortunetly ocs are completely useless.
  • God_KillerGod_Killer Join Date: 2004-02-16 Member: 26592Members
    edited June 2004
    I never understand why some go fade or lerk before having dcs, or starting a 2nd hive in big games...hello? Hives are THE key for large playe games. Whats better, a fade or 10 skulks that can leap?

    And I'm sure that if I made 11 clones of me to do 6vs6, aliens would always win. If you say the contrary its probably because your a better marine.
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-[QcBs]God Killer+Jun 14 2004, 02:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([QcBs]God Killer @ Jun 14 2004, 02:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I never understand why some go fade or lerk before having dcs, or starting a 2nd hive in big games...hello? Hives are THE key for large playe games. Whats better, a fade or 10 skulks that can leap?
    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Still kinda depends. There are plenty of people out there who can fade and then slaughter the marine team completely better than even a large group of leaping skulks, mostly because at least half of those skulks won't be able to leap-bite properly.

    Of course, that fade player is probably on the wrong server anyway, and just enjoys picking on new/average players....
  • God_KillerGod_Killer Join Date: 2004-02-16 Member: 26592Members
    Yeah you got a point, I always think ppl are all normaly skilled.
  • Nemesis_ZeroNemesis_Zero Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    The big problem of such threads is that <i>everyone</i> speaks from their own experience, which will lead to three different groups cheerfully explaining to each other that they do, in fact, know better, because they know how people of superior skill play. For a change, it'd be nice to have people found their reasoning with qualifiable arguments.
  • kolokolkolokol Join Date: 2002-11-18 Member: 9166Members
    I think about the only thing we can say here is if you are always getting hammered then you need to get better until you can hold your own and youre an asset to your team. If your team always ends up getting hammered because most players don't have the skills and knowledge to make it work for them then i suggest trying to find out the basic mechanics from the web and practice on lan, then ask people for advice. Once you know the basics try and find a good server with people who know about teamwork. Basically move on when your team is worse than you until you find a server that suits you. If you get better then you should hopefully end up on a server that plays ns as it was intended to be played and you should find it quite balanced.
  • SkydancerSkydancer Join Date: 2003-03-28 Member: 14959Members, Constellation
    Buy doom2, get yourself gothicdm 1 & 2 map packs, download the cajun bot and practice with the double shotgun. Your skulking and shotgunning will skyrocket <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • XiileXiile Join Date: 2003-02-22 Member: 13818Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dayofdead+Jun 13 2004, 08:26 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dayofdead @ Jun 13 2004, 08:26 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ive been playing this game for 6 months and this is what i think about it:
    First of all it took me a whole month, before i could kill a marine as alien on a decend way in 1v1 (im talking about a co with focus). After last update focus costs 2 (much). Because a shotgun is equal to the focus (you can say that an sg costs 2, but it gives you a damagelevel aswell). Co games r quit fun cus its way better balanced then ns maps.
    When you play an ns map you ll notice immidiatly that every1 wants to be a marine, when i join aliens in a 24 men server, its always the same thing. Every1 plays on his own, 50% of the alien players are complete noobs, marines win 85% of the games, VERY frustrating idd !! I think i kno why no1 wants to be alien is: Its just way TOO difficult. Every ns player has played some fps games before, so when they go marine, they can kill everything in their way. But when they go alien, they always get killed.

    Isnt there anything we can do about this? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I hope you realize that this version is a BETA. This means that it can still undergo many major (or minor) balance changes. This is, of course, up to the devs.
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