Alien Commander gameplay issue possiblitys :(

VmanVman Join Date: 2007-09-11 Member: 62251Members
edited January 2008 in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">Post your opinions here</div>I have heard around in game that there may be a alien commander in natural selection two... yea that is a good thing, but when you think about it... Its not all that great. It will alter the game style of aliens [if only slightly]

I like the freedom of being a alien because i can use my res as i please [with always keeping aware of whats needed too] Why should I/you/us/we be restricted to a alien commander? The reason i play alien is because i dont have to go...

Me: Comm can i get shotty plz (when we have enough res of cource)

and i dont get it because he is busy.

Personally I enjoy atleast being able to controll my own res.


As far as i see this idea has good and bad points.

Pro:
<b>-Res hoarding rambos will cry <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /></b> [I am so sick of someone with 70 res no... 50 res and dosent put up a hive when we have only 1... and no chambers possibly]

<b>-No more [place chamber here] spamming gorges ect.</b> [Quite annoying imo]

Con:
<b>-It will be more team based</b>
[Khaara are independant but also depend upon the judgement of the seperate minds of the life form this for me ruins the feeling of independance]

<b>-The style of play will turn into that of the marines</b>
[Alien: Comm [leader?] can i get focus?]
[Marine: Comm can i get a shotty?]


I sereously think that this [possible?] implamention of a alien commander will compleatly RUIN/Blur the lines between Alien/Commander

Aliens are wild and you have to deal with the good [team players] along with the bad [res hoarders] Im sure someone else would think otherwise but not everyone enjoys being controlled [thats how i feel on marine side >_> (go to your way point! Weld this! Weld That...)]

How do you feel about this? Post what you think.

edit: sorry if this has already been posted

Comments

  • pSyk0mAnpSyk0mAn Nerdish by Nature Germany Join Date: 2003-08-07 Member: 19166Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, NS2 Community Developer
    There are like 2-3 threads about the alien commander out there... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />

    Considering your "res hoarder" thread, I'm pretty sure that you'd have a problem with a res distributing alien commander.
  • VmanVman Join Date: 2007-09-11 Member: 62251Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1668010:date=Jan 21 2008, 12:12 PM:name=pSyk0mAn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pSyk0mAn @ Jan 21 2008, 12:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1668010"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There are like 2-3 threads about the alien commander out there... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />

    Considering your "res hoarder" thread, I'm pretty sure that you'd have a problem with a res distributing alien commander.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    lol? I play gorge medic all the time if i wanna squeeze some res for myself to go onos occasionaly it shouldent be a problem.

    I was just wondering what constitutes as being a res hoarder anyway, for me i play gorge/onos 5/2
    Dont take my thread as me being the worst res hoarder out there i mean sereously lol there are people out there 10X worse than that... (but also people who are 10X better)

    Anyway dose anyone have anything constructive to add to this topic? or are people gonna poke at me for using my res to suit my needs every so often?
  • james-d-f-james-d-f- Join Date: 2008-01-21 Member: 63465Members
    I am sorry but aliens can not have a commander.

    whole fun of being an alien is that the gorges make hives and every thing else kills.
    and pluss they are one huge team all working in groups.
    that what make th two teams different.
    humans follow order aliens make them.
    cant w8 for NS2 gonna be AWSOME.

    and for the fun of it
    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lerk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::lerk::" border="0" alt="lerk.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lerk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::lerk::" border="0" alt="lerk.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lerk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::lerk::" border="0" alt="lerk.gif" />
  • KhazeKhaze Join Date: 2006-12-12 Member: 59031Members
    This topic is made in the assumption that the Alien commander would be a clone of the Marine equivalent. I think that's a pretty bold assumption to make, don't you think?
  • VmanVman Join Date: 2007-09-11 Member: 62251Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1668082:date=Jan 22 2008, 08:04 AM:name=Khaze)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Khaze @ Jan 22 2008, 08:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1668082"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This topic is made in the assumption that the Alien commander would be a clone of the Marine equivalent. I think that's a pretty bold assumption to make, don't you think?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I know there will be 'some' differences but i stand my ground, Aliens are fed on instinct. It just seems more imo to fit them NOT to have a commander...

    Aliens/marines are good because of their differences like.

    lerk/jp
    onos/heavy

    ect. so maby a alien comm could be a representation of a marine comm? with a few differences... I just say its best to leave the alien commander out of ns2

    (or have a OPTION on servers either to have a comm or not)
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    I really think the Devs should adopt our usage of "Hive Mind" to avoid panic when Kharaa Commander is mentioned...
  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    edited January 2008
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Con:
    -It will be more team based
    [Khaara are independant but also depend upon the judgement of the seperate minds of the life form this for me ruins the feeling of independance]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Ironically, I've seen aliens do much better, in terms of teamwork, than marines. Personally, I do like the alien "system" better than marines, since it actually seems to promote teamwork. Marines are rebels, they don't listen to their commander and rambo off all the time while aliens listen to their teammates and fight together.

    Least, that's what my experience with the alien and marines in public games are.



    About the topic - I do agree with the topic, I wouldn't want an alien commander. Like if aliens get a commander and if they became dependent on a alien commander to upgrade for them and to drop structures/lifeforms for the aliens like marines with the marine commander.

    Now I just heard of this "alien commander" thing, so I don't really know if it's alien commander like the marine commander or if it means something else.

    I really like the alien system as it is, since it actually seems to promote teamwork and you get to do whatever you want and have more "freedom" than the marines and their commander.
  • RadixRadix Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1668435:date=Jan 26 2008, 12:52 AM:name=Petco)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petco @ Jan 26 2008, 12:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1668435"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ironically, I've seen aliens do much better, in terms of teamwork, than marines.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's because you only need 2 decent players to win the game on aliens, marines need significantly more.
  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    edited January 2008
    <!--quoteo(post=1668471:date=Jan 26 2008, 06:19 AM:name=Radix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Radix @ Jan 26 2008, 06:19 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1668471"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's because you only need 2 decent players to win the game on aliens, marines need significantly more.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    The server I play is 15v15, which mean a couple of aliens can't do anything alone, they need the whole team. Because of the fact that it's a bigger server, means more marines are backing up each other, and aliens are cramped(i.e. One onos can only go through a hall way at a time, blocking issues, etc).

    We(alien team) need everyone to do their part and rush an area or attack an area, or movement chamber rush, etc.

    There are several games where marines have marine start and a hive locked down, and it's sort of a stand off between two teams. Aliens have to cooperate and rush both marine start and the locked down hive with a couple of onos at the same time to get through, or else the marines will be able to just defend.

    I guess it's because it's a huge server that marines rambo more often but aliens are more cooperative, I rarely play small matches so I am not sure about the teamwork on there.
  • RadixRadix Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
    The marines in ns2 will have greater control over what they buy.
  • xposedxposed Join Date: 2006-10-26 Member: 58092Members
    edited January 2008
    Why are you assuming that the aliens will need their commander to drop them chambers and give them attributes etc? Of course they won't make the kharaa commander exactly the same as the marine commander, that would be rubbish.

    No-one knows yet how exactly the kharaa commander will influence the game but if past exerpience is any indication they should find a really cool way to integrate it into the game without diminishing the unique game play feel of the Kharaa. That's what I hope anyway <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • F4tManMGS2F4tManMGS2 Join Date: 2004-04-10 Member: 27842Members
    What made NS unique was the vast differentiation in sides. Isn't that why we stopped having just 1 gorge? If they do have an alien commander in NS2, I would sure hope it was extremely different than the marine one.
  • HarimauHarimau Join Date: 2007-12-24 Member: 63250Members
    Yeah. I think a big part of it would be to consider viewpoints other than the top-down view that the marine commander has access to.

    Also, I'm quite sure that (originally) the idea of an alien comm was to address the issue of resource distribution, through having a unified resource model.
  • PFC_lyon_843PFC_lyon_843 Join Date: 2008-01-30 Member: 63537Members
    i think i would be good if u can bite a arm or a leg off and watch the sqerm about screaming <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" /> or u get 2 blow them in half wiv the weapons <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> thanks
  • HarimauHarimau Join Date: 2007-12-24 Member: 63250Members
    you know, that might work if it's a guaranteed death.
    like, they've gone under 0 health; so they'll start respawning anyway, but for the players that remain, they get to see people with bitten off limbs, flailing around, bleeding to death. basically: better death animations.
  • thecowsaysmoothecowsaysmoo Join Date: 2008-02-02 Member: 63557Members
    edited February 2008
    just gonna throw out my 2 cents. Alien commander should be a unit, that you have to gestate to but only 1 aloud at a time per alien team(or maybe 1 per 10 alien players if game is scalable) This unit would be baiscically a gorge but it gives off an "aura" or phermone that makes the aliens in a close range more usefull as in skulks are faster when within 50 feet of alien commander, or gorges heal 25% faster, etc. The comm would baisically be a more skilled alien player who would then roughly organize attacks and defenses of the hive. the alien comm could also have some sort of "vision" when combined with the hive to see heat vents too see if the marnes are using a particular resource node, just one idea for an alien advantage. The offesive attack would have to be limited to a bite, and the agility of the comm should be low, their role should be like the marine comm to lead the team to victory at sacrifice of self gameplay, but still having the knowledge that u lead the assault to victory. So baiscally the new alien mode would allow a semblance of teamwork, having someone ask the other aliens to assist him in rushing the marine base or taking over a resource node.


    I feel like the big jump from ns1 to ns2 needs to be the fairness of the alien side, when the marines have good comm and teamwork. I think the Alien comm needs to be an option (more of a bonus to the aliens than a must have)to keep the uniqueness, alien comm should have no responisbilities that are necessary. But like the gorge, if someone wants to be it they should be allowed to. This alien comm's aura could have some other powers too such as when its around or in a room maybe the marne comm cant drop turrets and upgrades in that room etc. Last thing I thought alien comm could control is where aliens are spawning,(or maybe she plops the eggs out herslef and her whole job is supposed to be to stay alive so the spawning can go on outside the hive) either pick a hive or a room or resource node etc, in this way atleast he could help guide some newer players in pub.

    the "Queen" (as i feel it should be called no matter what it does) i think would be a healthy addition to the alien side, i could see it being unfair in an all out skulk rush with an alien comm so there would have to be some kind of reprimand if an alien comm died, like cant gestate another for 5 minutes or something.
  • DeadmanDieingDeadmanDieing Join Date: 2004-02-23 Member: 26811Members, Constellation
    well considering the talk about the marine group spawning i think that is about the only thing it could do... I mean it could be a glorified gorge (that made me smile and i dont know why lol) maybe an acid cloud aura sort of thing.....


    ok im tired starting to think like a 5 year old lol
  • EvilSmooEvilSmoo Join Date: 2008-02-16 Member: 63662Members
    Hmm, an alien commander could work. I haven't played NS in ages, but I have a few fond memories.

    IMO, it would make more sense to have a sort of medium-combat "queen" unit that enhances units/structures somehow. Not a HEAVY combat type, then people would simply use it as an early Onos, and that would likely negatively impact gameplay. But if it was some kind of heavy support gorge, with no ability to actually build anything by itself, it could work.

    Like the gorges could build an extractor, and the Queen could come along and use a skill to latch onto it, to give a bonus to extraction. Meanwhile, the gorges toss down a couple support structures, and a lone rambo marine comes along and promptly gets eaten by the Queen (more than 1-2 marines should be able to kill it though).

    MAYBE have the Queen able to give the bonus resources out (base is distributed as normal) ... maybe not. Give someone the res for an Onos, and resupply a gorge so it can plop down a hive. For that matter, the Queen wouldn't build or mutate, so it would have to spend its resource on SOMETHING. Maybe let the Queens build JUST hives?

    Then in a defense, the Queen could support the turrets, boosting their resistance and damage, say 5 or so at a time via AOE. In offense, the Queen might have some sort of resurrection ability... a skulk would be easy and fast, an Onos... less so. Still, the Queen would be a primary target, too fat to fit down vents, so rezzing in combat would be quite tricky. Marines could get a rez thingey too?

    And in a last-ditch defense, the Queen might be able to latch onto a last hive to gain massive armor and a powerful ranged weapon. >:) I <3 stalemates.
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