Mini Alien Lifeforms
twiliteblue
bug stalker Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13116Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
bug stalker Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13116Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
These ideas have been floating around in the community for a while. I am just trying to gather feedback and opinions to hopefully develop them further.
Upon death as a Lerk/Fade, alien could respawn as a Lerkling or Fadeling respectively (limited versions of Lerk and Fade). it would make the game more interesting and easier to learn IMO. Even if the light versions of Lerk and Fade are much weaker, they would give new players much more time to practice the common lifeforms, and improve the flow of the game, instead of suddenly taking away a new "toy" they just earned and discourage players from spending resources.
For balance, mini Lerk/Fade would be similar in combat effectiveness as Skulk. Lerkling and Fadeling would have less health and maximum energy, and only have the basic abilities available, and cannot evolve abilities or upgrade traits. (edited) You can repurchase the full Lerk or Fade at a discount. Switching lifeform would incur the full cost.
Additionally, a more powerful Skulk which costs PRes to evolve which starts with Leap could be interesting, sort of like Marines can pay a few res to boost their combat abilities with hand grenades. Maybe Skulks could buy a "second life" upgrade (once per life) and become a tougher Babbler when they die?
Returning to Skulk after death is another reason why aliens concede so often when things go bad, I think. I know it's for balance. But it's not fun when marines do a push and most of your team die, and it goes downhill fast. It's not very fun though... Whereas Marines can still recover a little better with beacon or relocate, and don't take a long time to repurchase their weapons/upgrades to get back in the fight.(edited)
Upon death as a Lerk/Fade, alien could respawn as a Lerkling or Fadeling respectively (limited versions of Lerk and Fade). it would make the game more interesting and easier to learn IMO. Even if the light versions of Lerk and Fade are much weaker, they would give new players much more time to practice the common lifeforms, and improve the flow of the game, instead of suddenly taking away a new "toy" they just earned and discourage players from spending resources.
For balance, mini Lerk/Fade would be similar in combat effectiveness as Skulk. Lerkling and Fadeling would have less health and maximum energy, and only have the basic abilities available, and cannot evolve abilities or upgrade traits. (edited) You can repurchase the full Lerk or Fade at a discount. Switching lifeform would incur the full cost.
Additionally, a more powerful Skulk which costs PRes to evolve which starts with Leap could be interesting, sort of like Marines can pay a few res to boost their combat abilities with hand grenades. Maybe Skulks could buy a "second life" upgrade (once per life) and become a tougher Babbler when they die?
Returning to Skulk after death is another reason why aliens concede so often when things go bad, I think. I know it's for balance. But it's not fun when marines do a push and most of your team die, and it goes downhill fast. It's not very fun though... Whereas Marines can still recover a little better with beacon or relocate, and don't take a long time to repurchase their weapons/upgrades to get back in the fight.(edited)
Comments
When all of your lifeforms die, yes, of course it goes downhill fast. That is how it should be. You can solve this problem by not losing your lifeforms.
Thanks for the feedback.
I deleted the suggestion that returning to the full lifeform could be done at a discount. Since the Lerkling and Fadeling are mainly intended for keeping movement consistent across deaths rather than giving aliens too much comeback power.
I disagree with the respawning at a higher lifeform. The game added a lerk/fade training recently. It does help (or should) new player learn the game.
I think that is a dead ringer for awesomeness mate
A great replacement to Combat since its effectively dead.
combined with halucination = oh gwd
We should let dead players control hallucinations
I'd still rather be a Babbler
Babbler hallucinations?
Only if you can have a swarm of them.
Now that's just elite trolling right there. Don't play with my feelings like that T_T
Babblers are life!
Spectate mode while waiting for respawn could be improved by prioritizing following teammates who have the same weapon/lifeform as you had when you died, who have higher skill ratings.
This might help players learn by watching first hand how the game should be played.
That is a genuinely interesting idea.