Misuse Of Lerks
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Join Date: 2003-07-16 Member: 18218Members
Join Date: 2003-07-16 Member: 18218Members
<div class="IPBDescription">It is not a killing machine</div> After playing as both sides (marines and aliens) on various servers, I have noticed that many people still don't understand the use of lerks.
Lerks are meant to be support units and not individual killing machines. One of the biggest reasons the aliens can't finish off the marines is the fact that there aren't any lerks, or the ones that are lerk don't know how to use it.
Umbra is by far the most useful support weapon the aliens have; however, it is also one of the most underused weapons in the game. When you see a melee alien attacking a group of marines or buildings, shoot umbra into that area to support it. Don't start shooting spikes or spores, unless you are skilled enough to keep the flow of umbra going while spiking and sporing.
What annoys me even more is when the lerks shoot spores to kill heavy armor. For god sake, shoot some umbra into that group for heavies so that the melee aliens can get in close and do what they are suppose to do.
Most people simply skip being lerk because of its weak nature, and if they do evolve to lerk, all they do to spore spam. Don't misunderstand me, spores has it's place, but supporting a melee fighter will get the job done faster and more efficient.
Lerks are meant to be support units and not individual killing machines. One of the biggest reasons the aliens can't finish off the marines is the fact that there aren't any lerks, or the ones that are lerk don't know how to use it.
Umbra is by far the most useful support weapon the aliens have; however, it is also one of the most underused weapons in the game. When you see a melee alien attacking a group of marines or buildings, shoot umbra into that area to support it. Don't start shooting spikes or spores, unless you are skilled enough to keep the flow of umbra going while spiking and sporing.
What annoys me even more is when the lerks shoot spores to kill heavy armor. For god sake, shoot some umbra into that group for heavies so that the melee aliens can get in close and do what they are suppose to do.
Most people simply skip being lerk because of its weak nature, and if they do evolve to lerk, all they do to spore spam. Don't misunderstand me, spores has it's place, but supporting a melee fighter will get the job done faster and more efficient.
Comments
The reason umbra isn't used much is because of its tax on energy while lasting for only 2-3 seconds. Only adrenaline lerks can afford to use it. A lot of new people are still learning how to use lerks, and even experienced players often avoid it because they can't master it. The lerk is still awsome, even without its bite.
You forgot to mention primal scream.. which is an incredible support weapon. It is incredible to see the destruction that ensues if about 5 Kharaa aliens receive primal scream from a lerk.
As long as marines have LA, they're vulnerable to spore/spike attacks. Some maps have convenient vents to weaken or kill marines right in their spawn. It doesn't take too much damage to let Skulks chompeh the marines in fewer bites. Most comms don't drop medkits on LA marines unless they're doing something vital. Shooting spores at HA is just stupidity. As is firing spores when you should be using umbra on the Fade/Onos. I usually hang out with an Onos when I come across one, since marines shoot at him, even if he's in the umbra.
I rarely go onos, seems I'm either a lerk (mostly) skulk (often) or gorge (as needed). Fades, eh, never did like them. Onos, I'd be an onos more often, but we _always have onos, often too many onos, all yelling at the (often nonexistant) gorge to heal or build.
As a lerk, early on, I _am a killing machine. Spore and spike, hit and run, and SoF, I'll munch marines.
As times goes on, the marines _should be getting weapon and armor upgrades, and eventually HA. So, as the game progresses, I transition from a killing machine (okay, from a great bloodly nuisence machine <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> to a support class.
I actually find this natural progression a good thing, plays well.
But, I really find the 'gotta rack up kills over everything else' lerks really annoying. They just won't umbra, or scream. Idiots.
But with the short lasting time of umbra and the consuming rate of energy it can barely be used as a support unless you use 3 lerks at once to umbra
Oh yea that. THat works when ya team aren't going solo <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
You can really rack up a lot of kills though, even if skulks (or fades, which don't cost much more really) could do certain jobs better.
To those who properly support their team, I salute you.
O and umbra + regen onos = DEAD EVERYTHING.
And primal scream increases efficiancy by 250%. Uber deadly. 25% damage increase + 2 attack speed.
remember lerks role because more and more support as round goes on and as armor and weopons increase.
It should last 10 seconds but only block half the bullets, that way the lerk can do other stuff, instead of having to umbra again and again and again.
Quite true. It's actually kinda surprising that people are so keen on being gorge (from a gameplay perspective), but NS is pretty unique in how lovable and fun the builder class is.
Indeed... The lerk is usually a relocation killer. Exemple : Cargo Hive on ns_nothing , the comms still have the habit of dropping their stuff on the Room with Things (that should be called the "Room begging for Things" instead) , and the TF rarely covers the Hive Room itself. A lerk in the Cargo vent can turn the marine outpost/relocation into a gas chamber with ease... maximal vent cover , easy retreat (it's not like marines can catch you quickly , they have to form a human ladder to reach the vent) , and dream line of sight. There is a pretty wide spot on the vent where you can shoot spores in the heart of the Room with Things , without exposing yourself. The marines just can't avoid your spores. You can accumulate loads of res by gasing the poor marines... and once they kill you , you can either drop a hive and chambers , or evolve to fade or onos. If you survive till hive 2 , you can cover skulks and fades with umbra from your vent , dismantling turret factories and dismembering freshly spawned marines.
Lerks are evil. 2.0 lerks may not seem as dangerous as the 1.04 ones , but they are the comm's worst nightmare. Distracting your troops , slowly damaging them , frustrating them , messing with your squads , and making a weak alien force a threat to your base.
It should last 10 seconds but only block half the bullets, that way the lerk can do other stuff, instead of having to umbra again and again and again. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know avbout energy cost but the should definatly leanthen it.
its fun to watch the pure carnage primal scream incurs.
on bast again me and a fade teamed up at the rine start vent and i umbraed/primaled him while he acid rocketed <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
primal, 3, umbra, umbra, 4, primal, 3, umbra umbra, let fade heal, repeat <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
BTW, how long does Umbra REALLY last? Isn't it 4 seconds?