1.04 Balance Suggestions!
Commando
Join Date: 2002-05-22 Member: 657Members, NS1 Playtester
Join Date: 2002-05-22 Member: 657Members, NS1 Playtester
Everyone knows that 1.04 is the most unbalanced patch for a game since they added pogosticks to Counter Strike in CS 1.5B, so to solve this we have to decided to have a brainstorm and come up with some fantastic solutions that Flayra should implement or we will send the Harlem Globetrotters around his house to steal his television.
*Recycle marine button - Thanks someone on IRC
*Server inconsistency option. With this option enabled no players with any default files will be allowed on to the server.
*NS_eclipse renamed to NS_dust. Crates added.
*1.05 changes NS_dust to stop aliens camping the AWP.
*Seiges now function as health dispensers. If a siege detects an injured player within range it fires a medkit at him, bulkhead or no bulkhead!
*Decompressions caused by high speed medkits up 25%
*Keyboard shortcut to convert infantry portals into turrents in case of accident construction of a useful building.
*All turrets renamed to turrent to avoid last change looking silly.
*Aliens are able to cloak and when they cloak they look like mines and when marines stand on them they die because marines should watch for mines! - Thanks Injury
*To attract a larger audience new gamemode added, "The Skulks", in this mode the player looks after a family of skulks. Players are free to customise their skulks hive with bright wallpaper and expensive televisions! Let your skulk laze around all day munching on circuit boards or get him a job in anything from the military where he takes over ships and eats people or McDonalds where he serves milkshakes and eats people! Fun for the whole family! Rated Mature.
*Gorges can now be strapped to helium baloons to float around level and enjoy the view.
*Number of gorge players surge, players complain about lack of resources.
*1.05 changes balance. Marines can now take out a gorge baloon with a well placed thumb tac. Number of gorges plummet. Literally!
*Accurate simulation of what happens if you try and build an IP inside a furnace or in space. Marines building outside the level stops.
*Eject commander option now ejects the commander out an airlock.
*Recycle marine button - Thanks someone on IRC
*Server inconsistency option. With this option enabled no players with any default files will be allowed on to the server.
*NS_eclipse renamed to NS_dust. Crates added.
*1.05 changes NS_dust to stop aliens camping the AWP.
*Seiges now function as health dispensers. If a siege detects an injured player within range it fires a medkit at him, bulkhead or no bulkhead!
*Decompressions caused by high speed medkits up 25%
*Keyboard shortcut to convert infantry portals into turrents in case of accident construction of a useful building.
*All turrets renamed to turrent to avoid last change looking silly.
*Aliens are able to cloak and when they cloak they look like mines and when marines stand on them they die because marines should watch for mines! - Thanks Injury
*To attract a larger audience new gamemode added, "The Skulks", in this mode the player looks after a family of skulks. Players are free to customise their skulks hive with bright wallpaper and expensive televisions! Let your skulk laze around all day munching on circuit boards or get him a job in anything from the military where he takes over ships and eats people or McDonalds where he serves milkshakes and eats people! Fun for the whole family! Rated Mature.
*Gorges can now be strapped to helium baloons to float around level and enjoy the view.
*Number of gorge players surge, players complain about lack of resources.
*1.05 changes balance. Marines can now take out a gorge baloon with a well placed thumb tac. Number of gorges plummet. Literally!
*Accurate simulation of what happens if you try and build an IP inside a furnace or in space. Marines building outside the level stops.
*Eject commander option now ejects the commander out an airlock.
Comments
.......or get him a job in anything from the military where he takes over ships and eats people or McDonalds where he serves milkshakes and eats people!
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roflmao
On a more serious note, there are a few things that should be changed before 1.04 becomes a full release. I was perturbed at the whole 54 res thing for a while, but I can understand it since fades are just so darn good. The only problem I've seen is if the marines need a line of sight to siege through walls, ping SHOULD NOT COUNT. there should have to be a marine looking directly at the hive, otherwise it was a pointless addition and I'd rather play 1.03 where fades only cost 44 res. The only other thing I can think of is that on the 1.04e servers I've played on, marines are <b>incredibly</b> accurate, taking down carapaced skulks with clerity with trailing fire from many many many long rooms away while the skulks are bunny-hopping like mad. I thought it was probably a hack of some sort until I noticed EVERY marine had this incredible accuracy. I'm afraid if these changes reflect the final release, I'm going to have to wait until 1.05 to start enjoying NS again..........
I liked that eject commander out an airlock idea <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
1) If by ping you mean scan, then scanning takes 3 rps per scan. So to kill a hive purely by scanning, you're looking at the marines having to spend at least 15 or so additional RPs, if not more. It also means that if you build a DC on the other side of the wall from the siege, it won't automatically get toasted, preventing marines from creating massive dead zones on the map. Personally speaking, I'd call that handy.
2) Marine accuracy will improve significantly as ping improves. Despite what people may or may not think, playtesting comfortably proved (one game on Hera highlighted this) that the higher the ping, the greater advantage Kharaa have. Consequently, as newer versions of NS arrive with greater CPU optimisation, apparent ping will drop. Now the game may need rebalancing for this slightly, but I have no problem with lower CPU utilisation.
Just worth considering. And just as a point of ettiquette, it would be nice if people could occasionally phrase their suggestions a little bit more humbly than "there are a few things that should be changed" or consider how saying things like " I'm afraid if these changes reflect the final release, I'm going to have to wait until 1.05 to start enjoying NS again.......... " sound to people like Flayra who works extremely hard for your enjoyment.
Thanks. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
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heh gorge strapped to blimp <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> and drops babblers <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
(GoodYearblimp)
<!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&::skulk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&::sentry::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::sentry::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The only other thing I can think of is that on the 1.04e servers I've played on, marines are incredibly accurate, taking down carapaced skulks with clerity with trailing fire from many many many long rooms away while the skulks are bunny-hopping like mad. I thought it was probably a hack of some sort until I noticed EVERY marine had this incredible accuracy.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm glad somebody else noticed this too, I thought I was just really bad last night, or the marines were using hacks, or they were all above average kick **** players... wait that never happens... anyways when I mentioned this on the server somebody said "the only change in 1.04e is that the fades now cost 54 res, nothing else was changed" so I later quit the server and went to bed as a mentally and physically damaged skulk.
looks like it's because of a small change in Carapace... seemed to make a big difference for me, could be the ping thing too i guess, here's the list of changes for 1.04e beta if anyone wants to read them:
<a href='http://forums.joe.to/viewtopic.php?t=7077' target='_blank'>http://forums.joe.to/viewtopic.php?t=7077</a>
can't wait for 1.1... so far so good though... fun to watch the development of this game...
-pdub
Release the attack gorges! <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'><!--endemo-->
Future additions will include:
- A Completely new weapon made from scratch! The "Alien Warfare Magnum" is a sniper rifle for aliens that goes through walls and kills all the marines in the map. Now skulks can tell their "hive queen" to send them an "Alien Warfare Magnum" claw attachment and no more 'skulks are nerfed' talk will be heard!
- The incredible addition of the long awaited for paratrooper marine, this marine class will be able to land on top of the gorge blimps and destroy them with his incredible supply of pin tacs from above!
1) If by ping you mean scan, then scanning takes 3 rps per scan. So to kill a hive purely by scanning, you're looking at the marines having to spend at least 15 or so additional RPs, if not more. It also means that if you build a DC on the other side of the wall from the siege, it won't automatically get toasted, preventing marines from creating massive dead zones on the map. Personally speaking, I'd call that handy.
2) Marine accuracy will improve significantly as ping improves. Despite what people may or may not think, playtesting comfortably proved (one game on Hera highlighted this) that the higher the ping, the greater advantage Kharaa have. Consequently, as newer versions of NS arrive with greater CPU optimisation, apparent ping will drop. Now the game may need rebalancing for this slightly, but I have no problem with lower CPU utilisation.
Just worth considering. And just as a point of ettiquette, it would be nice if people could occasionally phrase their suggestions a little bit more humbly than "there are a few things that should be changed" or consider how saying things like " I'm afraid if these changes reflect the final release, I'm going to have to wait until 1.05 to start enjoying NS again.......... " sound to people like Flayra who works extremely hard for your enjoyment.
Thanks. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, alright mr I-have-ants-in-my-pants playtester man, I'll phrase my suggestions a little better so as not to offend you , your guruness. Goodness. people who are friggin sticklers over a word when they know the actual meaning should be shot. If I say "ping" because pretty much everyone else in the whole friggin mod community uses it, and I really meant "scan", then excuse me, my bad. Reminds me of when I said an alien was "skin-hacking" and some butthole made it his personal vendetta to let me know over and over and over again that HL doesn't use "skins", and it's not a "skin-hack", but and "exploit". Excuse me that everyone calls it "skin-hacking" so I do to in order to promote uniformity.
Also, sure, the sieges won't create dead zones anymore, but as a very, very experienced gorge, I don't mind the dead zones, I mind the "SCANNING" for the hives more. 3 res per scan isn't much, and an additional 15 res to kill a hive is ridiculous. What is the point in making scans count as line of sight? And what was the point of flaming me for that suggestion?
Sure, maybe I'm a little cheezed off at 1.04e, and I think I have every right to state my concerns just as you all do. I mean absolutely NO disrespect to Flayra or anyone else on the NS team, I just think that SOMEONE should voice these concerns that I've heard all over the GWB servers (so far the only ones I've played on 1.04e). Sure, I'll probably be blacklisted for confronting the almighty playtester, but so be it. I love the mod and the direction in which it is going, but this whole stage is trial and error, and I'm just trying to point out possible errors before they get released and we have to wait for another server patch to fix them. Seems redundant to spend a ton of time to put something in the game only to pull it out again. Anyways...... if a mod doesn't listen to it's community, it's destined to fail. Period. So if I'm wrong to state these concerns, then I'm wrong, and that's the way it is.
To those who meant this thread as a joke, I'm sorry I changed it. I just saw my opportinuty to voice my concerns, and took it.
Why bother alerting us to these balance changes? With the level six alien in the form of a garg and the marines now capable of buying tanks, these tiny little changes have no effect on the game. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
As for people complaining about how long it took to fix the siege bug etc.? It could've been worse if NSPlayer(7) was in charge. An IRC log/game from the conversation that never was... count yourselves lucky!
<Marine> Siege doesn't work.
<Alien> Nothing to do with me!
<NSPlayer(7)> Ok, I'll nerf the def chamber.
<Marine> Siege <i>still</i> doesn't work.
<Alien> I hate you. I HATE YOU.
<NSPlayer(7)> I'll remove the def chamber then
<Alien> NOOO!
<Marine> But the siege doesn't work.
<idi0t> OMG FCKIGN SIEGE TOO EXPSIV CHANG IT To 3
*** idi0t was kicked by Admin
<NSPlayer(7)> alright, the majority speaks
<Marine> Now we have hordes of 3 res siege's that don't work. The aliens can't advance.
<Alien> Ohhhh NOOOOOO!!!
<NSPlayer(7)> The problem is clearly the phase gate. I'll get rid of it.
<Marine> WHAT?!
<Alien> WAH??
<NSPlayer(7)> While I'm at it, let's get rid of this dreary mod altogether.
*much, much later*
<Marine> Well, I'm not so sure about the chainsaws and axes but the karate just has to go... and what the hell is with the pogosticks?!
1. Uber-Motion Tracking - for a resonable price (1200 resources) marines can research uber-motion tracking. This upgrade is so sensitive it updates the marines hud with a twelve-foot circle for every moving nanite or bit of alien bacteria. To help differentiate between alien and marine structures/units/microscopic things, the marine's things will be a dark navy-blue, while alien's will be a somewhat blueish-black. Marines can deactiviate it by turning off their monitor.
2. l337 Filter - anyone that doesn't say "STUF NW3B!!!!!11" At least twice per minute gets kicked for not being l337 enough for NS.
3. Flame Thrower added - New weapon usable only on forums. Anyone that proposes any changes to the game at all will automatically be (volumetrically!) flamed. Only weapon usable by both marines and aliens.
4. Ready room changes - The hive's voice sings "You are my sunshine" on a loop in ready room to get people to pick a team more quickly. The volume of this voice creeps up over time as added incentive.
5. Scope added to the lerk's teeth, just because it looks good.
6. To encourage people to continue playing untl the last moment, once a team gets two more hives, the other teams F4 keys are all bound to "format C:\" to stop people from leaving.
<img src='http://www.lgriffin.net/images/betatesters.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
This would involve a crack team of commando skulks (outfitted with night vision goggles) penetrating the marine defences to rescue muzzled gorges. The marines would be able to move the gorge using their +use key, to cunningly hide the gorges and strategically block lifts with them.
The Kharra would win by rescuing all the Kharaa and moving them back to their one hive. The marines win by camping by the gorges and killing the skulks or alternatively by killing all the gorges and rushing the skulks.
Well, alright mr I-have-ants-in-my-pants playtester man, I'll phrase my suggestions a little better so as not to offend you , your guruness. Goodness. people who are friggin sticklers over a word when they know the actual meaning should be shot. If I say "ping" because pretty much everyone else in the whole friggin mod community uses it, and I really meant "scan", then excuse me, my bad.
Also, sure, the sieges won't create dead zones anymore, but as a very, very experienced gorge, I don't mind the dead zones, I mind the "SCANNING" for the hives more. 3 res per scan isn't much, and an additional 15 res to kill a hive is ridiculous. What is the point in making scans count as line of sight? And what was the point of flaming me for that suggestion?
Sure, maybe I'm a little cheezed off at 1.04e, and I think I have every right to state my concerns just as you all do. I mean absolutely NO disrespect to Flayra or anyone else on the NS team, I just think that SOMEONE should voice these concerns that I've heard all over the GWB servers (so far the only ones I've played on 1.04e). Sure, I'll probably be blacklisted for confronting the almighty playtester, but so be it. I love the mod and the direction in which it is going, but this whole stage is trial and error, and I'm just trying to point out possible errors before they get released and we have to wait for another server patch to fix them. Seems redundant to spend a ton of time to put something in the game only to pull it out again. Anyways...... if a mod doesn't listen to it's community, it's destined to fail. Period. So if I'm wrong to state these concerns, then I'm wrong, and that's the way it is.
To those who meant this thread as a joke, I'm sorry I changed it. I just saw my opportinuty to voice my concerns, and took it.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ping has a very specific meaning in NS and online games and is already confused with CPU utilisation. I thought I'd clarify it, especially since the subject of ping comes up in the second point.
Please don't descend to personal insults. I didn't insult you, have the courtesy to reciprocate.
I suggested you contemplate my observations, I didn't say you were "wrong" and I didn't flame you.