Possible fix for Shade hives

adventurer

Problem: Shade hives get locked down by effective use of Observatories.

Solution: Give Shade hives an anti-Observatory evolution by moving Feign Death to the Crag hive (should it come back) and adding the Shadow evolution to the Shade hive. The Shadow evolution prevents you being detected by a Scan or Observatory. The Shadow effect is temporarily disabled if you are map visible for another reason (Marine sees you or you are attacking a structure).

The idea here is to allow the aliens to mix up cloak and shadow to create even further doubt in the minds of the Marines and Commander about the true nature of the battlefield. Note Scan is still useful because buildings cannot get the Shadow evolution.

* If IR goggles ever get added, the Shadow evolution should make you completely cloaked while the IR goggles are active. This is a steal of the concept of the Cold Suit from Dystopia.

halfofaheaven

Yes, because why wouldn't you introduce a cheap hard counter to an expensive soft counter. It makes perfect sense.

kalakuja

scan immunity would be quite interesting in competetive games.

d0ped0g

Scan/obs immunity would be interesting. However, I think what shade needs is an upgrade that keeps it viable in the late game for high-level lifeforms - maybe not as useful as something like carapace, but something to make it so your lifeforms aren't crippled if you only manage to secure 2 tech points.

That's why focus worked in ns1, despite being a little overpowered. It kept SC viable in the late game. Wouldn't be THAT against focus returning in ns2 (although i'd prefer something new), due to armouries healing armour might make it a little less powerful (less 1-shot kills).

Feign death also kinda works for this (in providing a late-game upgrade) though IMO was a bad mechanic.

It's hard to think of something late-game high-level lifeform viable that falls under the definition of a 'confusion' upgrade.

slayer20

I think the Shade's Ink ability should stop the Marine commander from being able to see.

Vigilantia

<!--quoteo(post=2056372:date=Jan 4 2013, 09:11 PM:name=d0ped0g)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (d0ped0g @ Jan 4 2013, 09:11 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2056372"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Scan/obs immunity would be interesting. However, I think what shade needs is an upgrade that keeps it viable in the late game for high-level lifeforms - maybe not as useful as something like carapace, but something to make it so your lifeforms aren't crippled if you only manage to secure 2 tech points.

That's why focus worked in ns1, despite being a little overpowered. It kept SC viable in the late game. Wouldn't be THAT against focus returning in ns2 (although i'd prefer something new), due to armouries healing armour might make it a little less powerful (less 1-shot kills).

Feign death also kinda works for this (in providing a late-game upgrade) though IMO was a bad mechanic.

It's hard to think of something late-game high-level lifeform viable that falls under the definition of a 'confusion' upgrade.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Redemption would fit in that vein (it's the upgrade that immediately ports you back to a friendly hive if you're below a certain threshold of health) Can't say if it'll be balanced though in NS2...