What you can expect from the Gorgeous Patch
Ohnojojo
Join Date: 2011-08-01 Member: 113400Members
Join Date: 2011-08-01 Member: 113400Members
For those of you who don't check the NS2 Facebook page enough or watch NS2HD enough, here is a quick highlights preview of what to expect from the upcoming Gorgeoues Patch that is set to come out within the next couple weeks.
Here are some highlights according to an article I found.
Gorge Tunnels -
"You need to put two holes down and once set, any ally and enemy units, even the Onos and mechs, can go through the tunnel at will. Fights can happen in the animated tunnels, and the tunnel will always be the same size in length no matter how far apart you place the entrances."
Gorge Babblers -
"After Babblers are spawned by the Gorge, players can order them around similarly to the Antlions from Half-Life 2. You can have up to nine of the little guys around at a time, and they can either attack players and structures, or you can place them on other aliens as an extra layer of shielding."
Rail Gun -
"You can simply shoot off small bolts, and holding the trigger for a charge will obliterate smaller enemies. Like, literally. Unknown Worlds has added a new disintegration effect and you'll see enemies like the Gorge just explode like a watermelon getting hit with a hammer"
NS2_Descent -
"The last major update for the game is the big new map set in space, Descent. It's the first new map, of the official maps at least, that isn't set on the same planet as the others. This means that players will now get a map that features new art assets, and lots of other unique new features they haven't seen before."
Other -
"Other features players can expect are SDK improvements, custom tools will be easier to use, changes to existing maps for better balancing, better lighting, and a better modeler. There's also a better spectator mode in place now that's been made friendlier and more meaningful to use for eSports casters."
Other things that were noticeable from NS2HD's video preview:
bullet hole and blood decals
Will edit to add others that people have noticed.
http://www.destructoid.com/the-first-dlc-for-natural-selection-ii-is-gorgeous-245927.phtml
Here are some highlights according to an article I found.
Gorge Tunnels -
"You need to put two holes down and once set, any ally and enemy units, even the Onos and mechs, can go through the tunnel at will. Fights can happen in the animated tunnels, and the tunnel will always be the same size in length no matter how far apart you place the entrances."
Gorge Babblers -
"After Babblers are spawned by the Gorge, players can order them around similarly to the Antlions from Half-Life 2. You can have up to nine of the little guys around at a time, and they can either attack players and structures, or you can place them on other aliens as an extra layer of shielding."
Rail Gun -
"You can simply shoot off small bolts, and holding the trigger for a charge will obliterate smaller enemies. Like, literally. Unknown Worlds has added a new disintegration effect and you'll see enemies like the Gorge just explode like a watermelon getting hit with a hammer"
NS2_Descent -
"The last major update for the game is the big new map set in space, Descent. It's the first new map, of the official maps at least, that isn't set on the same planet as the others. This means that players will now get a map that features new art assets, and lots of other unique new features they haven't seen before."
Other -
"Other features players can expect are SDK improvements, custom tools will be easier to use, changes to existing maps for better balancing, better lighting, and a better modeler. There's also a better spectator mode in place now that's been made friendlier and more meaningful to use for eSports casters."
Other things that were noticeable from NS2HD's video preview:
bullet hole and blood decals
Will edit to add others that people have noticed.
http://www.destructoid.com/the-first-dlc-for-natural-selection-ii-is-gorgeous-245927.phtml
Comments
Plus.. it spoils it for many imo.
forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/128163/gorgeous-new-cloaking-mechanics-and-effects/p1
Also I have heard about new commander selection features, although I don't have any source on that one.
a set for each gorge?, one set in total?, unlimited pairs of tunnels?
While it looks nice, I just don't understand the justification for giving aliens a means to move around the map even FASTER than they can now. Seriously, does anyone want to take a shot at justifying the change? Why did the faster team in an asymmetric game need to get 'alien phase gates' so they can move around even faster?
Citation required
and it's still asymmetrical given that an exo can travel through it, unlike an onos through a pg! Which also can be an indirect buff to exos if you think about it ...
But I get the overall concern about the mobile team being more mobile. Guess things will have to be adjusted to balance around it instead of without it.
@ohnojojo : thanks
My point still stands. Why do aliens need 'phase gates' that can be used offensively when by nature they have an advantage with speed?
Its a game modifier thats for sure.. but its not simply a direct buff to aliens. I really like that it can be used offensively or defensively for reasons i just provided.
But you have a point with map size (As i pointed out) and hopefully this change will allow for that to once again occur.
So you won't be forced to shift first every match?
Is this at least something that can only be placed on infestation? Please tell me they can't place these anywhere.
But *why* do the aliens need this offensive tool, when they have superior speed on smaller maps?
I'm open minded. I'd love to buy into this. But it just doesn't make logical sense to give the team with superior mobility, further improved mobility. Furthermore, the slow Onos can now zip across the map - as can gorges - without any risk, and faster than ever before.
So again, I just want to hear justification. What is this supposed to accomplish? Why water down game asymmetry? Why give fast aliens on small maps a means to move around even faster?
Convince me, because for the life of me I can't think of a single reason why this is needed.
From what I read and heard from devs it is supposed to be only place on infestation which leads me to think that it may die if no infestation on one end. Plus is it still true that bile bombing the tunnel bile bombs all marines inside?
Because its a cool feature I guess.
Currently, there is no reason that something must be added. The game can be balanced simply using the tools that are currently available to each team, with a few coefficient tweaks. Marines don't need a rail gun, and aliens don't need babblers. Content patches are just about adding new stuff that keeps the game interesting. Balance can be applied to the game in any state it is in. Even if the aliens had 20 different life forms to choose from instead of 5, the game could still be balanced.
Like I said, it's not that I'm against it; it's just that it seems entirely counter-intuitive based on the asymmetric nature of the two teams.
Or to put it simply, it doesn't make a lick of sense.
I dislike the idea of the distance being fixed. That does mimic the phase gate a little too much.
I think that, given the speed boosts of things like celerity, leap, blink, lerk flight, etc. , a straight line path to their destination would have been sufficiently advantageous as well as keeping with the asymmetric nature of the game.
.. hooray
Will commanders be able to see the overhead of these tunnels? How would that work, a separate map that needs to be toggled to maybe? Or perhaps only the alien commander can visibly see the tunnel and place structures. Or not.
What is this under the left skulk? A new building? hemorrhoids? Just part of the tunnel?
Phase Gates are instantaneous. These are not. You physically need to walk down the connecting tunnel.
You can have more than 2 connected Phase Gates. You are limited to two entrances/exits per Gorge Tunnel.
Only Marines can use Phase Gates. Both Marines and Aliens can use Gorge Tunnels.
Exos cannot use Phase Gates. They can use Gorge Tunnels
Combat can happen in the tunnels. A good Marine could camp their end and stop it being used.
Oh yeah I see what you mean... it's really not asymmetrical at all, is it?
ffs...
I was thinking babbler spawner
This doesn't make sense. How are aliens are able to move quicker *because* they aren't able to teleport instantly between locations? I can understand the logic that they'd be quicker DESPITE beacon/phase gates (though I don't necessarily agree with even this), but not 'because' they don't have them - that's just absurd.
Phase gates give marines a huge mobility advantage than they would without it. If aliens had them too they would be even faster, not slower...
I think you are misreading what Savant wrote. "The aliens are [designed to be] quicker because they [lack] teleportation technology." is probably a lot closer to what he meant.
Babblers will sure be interesting as well.
A little concerned for marines, I still feel there is some sort of weapon missing between LMG and EXO chaingun.