ARCS optimization
RiCexEaTeR
Join Date: 2010-05-10 Member: 71700Members, Reinforced - Shadow
Join Date: 2010-05-10 Member: 71700Members, Reinforced - Shadow
<div class="IPBDescription">'Cuz 20 rez for a cyst killing machine is crazy</div>1. State the problem/Issue you are tackling.
Arc's long charge up time can be exploited by alien commanders by placing cysts in regular intervals causing arc's to be somewhat ineffective.
2. Suggestion or solution.
Arc target priority
3. Description and implementation.
When multiple alien structures are within range and LOS, have an algorithm that prioritizes structures. For example, Hydra's first, then Hives, etc...etc...
4. Reason you are submitting (not found on search/ expanded out of current discussion/ old thread has train wrecked etc).
Found arc scrambled eggs but wasn't in the direction I wanted the conversation to go.
----Original post---------
Arcs cause a lot of damage. But when 4 arcs take ten seconds to fire at the same mini cyst, there is a lot of waste there.
How about we make the shots more frequent and do less damage. That way alien players would aslo know sooner when the hive is under attack/dying/dead
Current
900dmg/shot = 10sec/shot = 90DPS
Proposed
3sec/shot = 270dmg/shot = 90DPS
Arc's long charge up time can be exploited by alien commanders by placing cysts in regular intervals causing arc's to be somewhat ineffective.
2. Suggestion or solution.
Arc target priority
3. Description and implementation.
When multiple alien structures are within range and LOS, have an algorithm that prioritizes structures. For example, Hydra's first, then Hives, etc...etc...
4. Reason you are submitting (not found on search/ expanded out of current discussion/ old thread has train wrecked etc).
Found arc scrambled eggs but wasn't in the direction I wanted the conversation to go.
----Original post---------
Arcs cause a lot of damage. But when 4 arcs take ten seconds to fire at the same mini cyst, there is a lot of waste there.
How about we make the shots more frequent and do less damage. That way alien players would aslo know sooner when the hive is under attack/dying/dead
Current
900dmg/shot = 10sec/shot = 90DPS
Proposed
3sec/shot = 270dmg/shot = 90DPS
Comments
But outside of that they are very very dangerous to aliens now...even just a single one.
I agree that non-cyst prioritization would be nice and probably solve the problem.
I do however think there is 1 issue with arcs in ns2, that is to bring them in early in the game. Since you are forced to use your team res into other stuff paying for 40 res for a single arc is to painful to be viable. Marines also need 2 arcs to battle gorge healing.
I think arcs should be made cheaper, their range/attack damage can be tweaked to compencate. Then have upgrades to bring it to full power for the late game(more range, more damage etc).
Them killing cysts/hydras/res nodes is probably the only thing giving aliens enough time to push the marines back and stop them.
<b>You can't honestly think building a phasegate/armory, lining a doorway with mines and camping a hallway with 7 marines each with a shotgun while an ARC two shots an alien hive is a BALANCED strategy.</b>
Arcs need to be nerfed either in DMG or in HP, because 2 Arcs destroy any building near the hive with 1 shot and the Hive with the next 2 shots of both. But it is almost impossible to hinder the Arcs to place the 1. shot, so that you lose houndreds of res in 10s.
Also if a marine com can send 2 arcs to 2 different hives, he will get a high chance of killing one, because it takes a long time for 2 or 3 skulks to kill 2 lone ARCs, not to mention how long it takes if you have some rines covering.
We had a game today where the enemy com wouldn't stop producing ARCs and sending them all over the map keeping us busy killing them but losing several hives and 1000s of res in structures. Finally after 70min aliens gave up, because it was stress pure to be aware of any ARCs on the map, hunting and destroying them and not having the time to the push of 6 rines in reactor because Cross and FC was under siege... Best game ever.
After that i instructed a friend to do same thing while i play in alien team. Well we lost. Those damn arcs are really really hard to destroy its not possible with a skulk or one fade. All alien team must attack them which is not gonna happen really or several lerks will bilebomb(we tried we took down arcs after they got the
<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyuovvOgD01qcjp30o2_250.jpg" target="_blank">hive</a>).
Well they need to be optimized for sure. And 20 res is too low for something that powerful imo.
Them killing cysts/hydras/res nodes is probably the only thing giving aliens enough time to push the marines back and stop them.
<b>You can't honestly think building a phasegate/armory, lining a doorway with mines and camping a hallway with 7 marines each with a shotgun while an ARC two shots an alien hive is a BALANCED strategy.</b><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This post is not truthful. Along with a few others in this thread.
The ARCs are ALREADY able to manually select a target.
It's written a few times in this thread, but it seems the message didn't get across to everyone.
ARCs were really well balanced when gorge had his ranged bilebomb. It cleaned them up, fast.
This is one of the reasons why gorge needs his bilebomb back.
Lerk bilebomb will never cut it, it requires the lerk to get too close to the ARCs. The gorge could take cover and bile from a distance.
But against hive 1 aliens, ARCs are really strong, and they should be.
If you only have one hive and you got ARCs on your doorstep, you're about to lose the game.
One ARC does not only take two shots to kill a hive, I don't know why you're making up stories.
The ARCs are ALREADY able to manually select a target.
It's written a few times in this thread, but it seems the message didn't get across to everyone.
ARCs were really well balanced when gorge had his ranged bilebomb. It cleaned them up, fast.
This is one of the reasons why gorge needs his bilebomb back.
Lerk bilebomb will never cut it, it requires the lerk to get too close to the ARCs. The gorge could take cover and bile from a distance.
But against hive 1 aliens, ARCs are really strong, and they should be.
If you only have one hive and you got ARCs on your doorstep, you're about to lose the game.
One ARC does not only take two shots to kill a hive, I don't know why you're making up stories.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
To clarify a single arc would take 4 shots if there is no crag or gorge healing. I actually played on the alien side the other night where the marine com brought 4 arcs to crushing hive while the rest of the team was engaged on the other side of the map.
In context that was 80 tres to take out one hive and as an onos with one skulk we were able to get 1 of the arcs down while they were deploying before the arc volleys killed the crushing hive. In the end the skulk and I took out the 4 arcs but if there were 3-4 marines backing up the arcs the outcome of the game would have been very different.
It was a smart move from the commanders perspective because it worked but in reality that was a hell of a gamble, 80 tres to take out 1 of 3 hives. While I do think arcs are fine dps wise they have a lot of damn hit points and as an alien, by the time marines have arcs at your doorstep and your still at 1 hive then the writing is on the wall.