Alien Fungus Beacon Trap
SamR
Join Date: 2002-09-30 Member: 1382Members
Join Date: 2002-09-30 Member: 1382Members
Did anyone see the Planet Earth episode about ant colonies?
A particular fungus grows, in rainforests I believe, that poisons the air and infects ants when they are nearby. the infected ants become disorientated and then die. when they die, the fungus then grows from inside their bodies, and protrudes through, creating a new beacon to infect more ants.
What if an alien could set a trap like this? not necessarily a fungus, but maybe a plant that can swing at you and stab / sting at you, kill you and then turn you into a beacon that then infects an area. the player would die and respawn, but his corpse could turn into a zombie, turn around, head back to marine spawn before keeling over and turning into the beacon. this would also give marines a little time to destroy the infected marine.
in the documentary, the other ants could tell when an ant was infected, and would carry them far way from the colony to stop them from also being killed. it's entirely possible with the half life 2 engine to pick up pretty much anything, so marines could carry a body and dump into a furnace or some other means of disposal. maybe aliens could be infected by this fungus, so marines could take it to an alien base? or maybe this would make a flame thrower an appropriate addition to the game?
the fungus/plant/thing could even grow around the level and spread like that dynamic infestation video. perhaps it could actually be something that just grows when infestation has spread far enough, as a natural defense? rather than an alien class being responsible for creating it.
or, the commander could create a new type of structure that dispences radiation into surrounding area that combats the fungus?
here are some images of this bizarre occurance, which is called cordyseps.
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/cordyceps_campanotus%20.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/fungus_campanotus%20.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/cordyceps_fly.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/fungus_moth.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
A particular fungus grows, in rainforests I believe, that poisons the air and infects ants when they are nearby. the infected ants become disorientated and then die. when they die, the fungus then grows from inside their bodies, and protrudes through, creating a new beacon to infect more ants.
What if an alien could set a trap like this? not necessarily a fungus, but maybe a plant that can swing at you and stab / sting at you, kill you and then turn you into a beacon that then infects an area. the player would die and respawn, but his corpse could turn into a zombie, turn around, head back to marine spawn before keeling over and turning into the beacon. this would also give marines a little time to destroy the infected marine.
in the documentary, the other ants could tell when an ant was infected, and would carry them far way from the colony to stop them from also being killed. it's entirely possible with the half life 2 engine to pick up pretty much anything, so marines could carry a body and dump into a furnace or some other means of disposal. maybe aliens could be infected by this fungus, so marines could take it to an alien base? or maybe this would make a flame thrower an appropriate addition to the game?
the fungus/plant/thing could even grow around the level and spread like that dynamic infestation video. perhaps it could actually be something that just grows when infestation has spread far enough, as a natural defense? rather than an alien class being responsible for creating it.
or, the commander could create a new type of structure that dispences radiation into surrounding area that combats the fungus?
here are some images of this bizarre occurance, which is called cordyseps.
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/cordyceps_campanotus%20.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/fungus_campanotus%20.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/cordyceps_fly.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.utexas.edu/courses/zoo384l/sirena/species/fungi/fungus_moth.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Comments
It's not a concrete idea, but open to discussion.
It's not a concrete idea, but open to discussion.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think it bears exploration. Already suggestions have been made that Dynamic Infestation (DI) spread from Kharaa structures. The fallen bodies of a Kharaa or Marine that has been, say, parasited, could make an interesting addition to the DI growth.
Other thoughts on it might be that it could be an avenue for the Kharaa to take in a biotech research tree, an enhancement to a structure or a new growth of a fungus on their DI landscape.
I'm open to discussion about this too. Looking at things in our own natural world should make for great inspiration for game play. Wasn't there a HL2 mod that explores team game play from the point of view of a insect?
Other thoughts on it might be that it could be an avenue for the Kharaa to take in a biotech research tree, an enhancement to a structure or a new growth of a fungus on their DI landscape.
I'm open to discussion about this too. Looking at things in our own natural world should make for great inspiration for game play. Wasn't there a HL2 mod that explores team game play from the point of view of a insect?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
yes, i saw a video of that on youtube :
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9VIILQl13g" target="_blank">Ant Infestation Mod for Half-Life 2</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3t4v8PmY_Q" target="_blank">Planet Earth - Ants vs Cordyseps</a>
anyways back on topic - its a pretty sweet idea
my 2 cents:-
i dont really like the idea of reanimated corpses so what if a parasited/infected marine just dies as normal, but when the corpse dissappears it leaves a patch of DI.
then maybe it could grow towards the nearest aliens structure or bigger patch of DI - so say you killed a few infected marines the patches would join together and then start taking over an area if unchecked by the marine team. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
i would me more inclined to say that its truly chest busting lol
I wonder if D.I. will even have any effect, or if it is just a cool thing in the world...?
Well it will certainly effect the geometry surfaces. I'm not sure if this could actually be implemented in online play though, but I hope they manage !
Has anyone play any HL2 maps where the geometry morphs into an alternate surface? I know it's possible to do with the current source engine.
Well it will certainly effect the geometry surfaces. I'm not sure if this could actually be implemented in online play though, but I hope they manage !
Has anyone play any HL2 maps where the geometry morphs into an alternate surface? I know it's possible to do with the current source engine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
in single player hl2, where you are finding your way to the hover craft, there are areas where headcrabs burrow out of the sand, it makes a bludge in the sand where they came out of - thats the only one I can think of
Well it will certainly effect the geometry surfaces. I'm not sure if this could actually be implemented in online play though, but I hope they manage !
Has anyone play any HL2 maps where the geometry morphs into an alternate surface? I know it's possible to do with the current source engine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, this is possible with the source engine. Do keep in mind that the video you link to was only made for preview purposes. The actual infestation will occur much slower. Also, I trust they'll make a max. "thickness" to it, so mappers can take this into account. Also, I do think there will be a posibility for the mapper to indicate where dynamic infestation will be unable to spread to (for instance vents), to prevent parts of the map from getting clogged. If you put the things I just said together; then you'd have a manageable dynamic infestation, which you could have affect the map in ways where for instance a corridor can be accessed by marines running, after being infested, it'd be more like a vent in size, skulks could pass through, but marines would have to crouch. Adding even more dynamics to the game.
To point a bit more back on topic; corpses could indeed contribute to DI, but they shouldn't spawn it. That would allow for abuse, for isntance running to a certain point in the map and mass suiciding could create the infestation, for what ever reason possible. However, I do like the idea in a sense that if marines die <b>on</b> or <b>near</b> DI, the spread could occur just a bit faster. (the organic tissue of the dead lifeform recycled)
sorry, i meant in an online dm map <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />
To point a bit more back on topic; corpses could indeed contribute to DI, but they shouldn't spawn it. That would allow for abuse, for isntance running to a certain point in the map and mass suiciding could create the infestation, for what ever reason possible. However, I do like the idea in a sense that if marines die <b>on</b> or <b>near</b> DI, the spread could occur just a bit faster. (the organic tissue of the dead lifeform recycled)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, if a corridor was turned into a vent sized hole from infestation, I disagree that it will add more dynamics to the game. Onos will no longer be able to fit down the hole, and it's pretty easy to get skulk kills by shooting down vents. The Dev team will have to be careful with how much they let DI occur.
Good point about marines mass suiciding, though that could be a viable game tactic <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> ! kamikaze runs at fungus infections !
However, I don't think this should have anything to do with DI, but a variation on DI, whereby minor fungus grows on the walls, or even models of fungusy crap that grow out of the marine. It is possible to have the marine corpse change to an alternative model which then has animated goo and plants growing out of him/her.