To playtesters...

lazygamer

<div class="IPBDescription">How hard is it to kill a level 5?</div>So i've been reading some of those stories about NS gameplay. The level 5 sounds invincible. I assume he can be killed.... but how? It sounds like this guy can gib a marine in a flash, and he really isn't phased by all those little distractions... such as rifle fire.

Perhaps the only way is to weaken him over time. So he would have to cross through 4 turrets, get hit and runned by marines(fire some then fall back to a "safe" place), get blown up by 6 tripmines, and then finally cross 30' to reach 4 marines firing for all their worth, only to have tiny collapse 1' from the marines.

Do you think that is a good estimate of the "toughness" of tiny? Perhaps it would take more then this, or maybe it takes less? TELL ME!

Silver_Fox

Well, the lvl5 is like the Aliens Ace - or Trump card.

Thats as advanced and about as powerfull as the aliens can get.  Safe to say, if you see a few lvl5's running around - the marine's have already lost ...

Not saying you couldn't win when lvl5's appear, however its extreamly doubtfull ..

Anyway, he's damn near invincible.  He has an increadible ammount of health and hes basically a big tank.  I mean, after a 20 minute game and alot of work on the Alien team, would you be happy if you evolved into a lvl5, only to be taken down by one marine off in a corner ...?
<!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

er, in regards to how much damage total he can take ...

Er, I dunno - a few turrets, tripmines, hmg's, shotguns ...

Its sort of relitive to the skill of the person using him.  If you just go and stand there, your not going to last long.  But if you attack with a stratagy and use your head, it will be very rewarding.

Hell, sometimes you dont even need to.  Many-a-time I've just ran into the marine base as a lvl5 for some good ol romping fun and be able to come out on top.



<!--EDIT|Silver Fox|Aug. 05 2002,04:26-->

Sono

Does it need three hives to get evolved into a lvl5?

Sorry if this is handeled in one of the faqs.

Silver_Fox

yes, it needs three hives - and yes I'm sure its already been stated in the FAQ - if not there, then in another post.

Unknown

<!--QuoteBegin--Silver Fox+Aug. 05 2002,07:22--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Silver Fox @ Aug. 05 2002,07:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thats as advanced and about as powerfull as the aliens can get.  Safe to say, if you see a few lvl5's running around - the marine's have already lost ...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That doesn't sound like a "good thing".  It's like the Aliens <i>really</i> only have 4 levels, with 5's just being used to finish off the marines once the A's have already won the game . . .

Kidzelda

No, I think he means that if the marines <b>allow</b> the aliens to get a lvl 5 , they're as good as dead.As in that's what the marines are trying to prevent the whole game, because if that happens, the aliens will probably win.

lazygamer

Well, the only thing I can see would be to make the tiny cost ALOT of resources. So much that even when you get 3 hives, the aliens won't be able to evolve to level5 for a few minutes... if it has been a somewhat close game(lack of major resource stockpiles and all). Although a runaway alien game means... BRING OUT THE TINYS! <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

Kidzelda

Well, since resources are individual chances are when the third hive is built <b>someone</b> has enough resources.

MooMoo_the_SnowCow

Maybe a couple marines with gl's can take one down... just a thought.

Longtooth

<b><span style='color:lightblue'>*removed off-topic post*</span></b>



<!--EDIT|Moleculor|Aug. 05 2002,19:36-->

Gwahir

<b><span style='color:lightblue'>*removed off-topic post*</span></b>



<!--EDIT|Moleculor|Aug. 05 2002,19:36-->

Longtooth

<b><span style='color:lightblue'>*removed off-topic post*</span></b>



<!--EDIT|Moleculor|Aug. 05 2002,19:36-->

Battousaix

umm the marines dont loose coz of the lvl 5...... well they do, but if u have a lvl5, that means that the aliens got the 3 hives and a lot of resources.... that means that the marines are all makin their last stand in their cc.....
its more like a symbol of victory <!--emo&:p--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'><!--endemo-->

Longtooth

I am getting tired of seeing my fun conversations turned into bold light blue "Removed Off Topic Posts".  Like Flayra said it is draconian.

Sgt_X

There's an easy way to avoid it, if you're wanting to discuss something that has nothing to do with the topic and\or NS then send it in the form of a PM or hold your peace, or start a new thread in Off-Topic. This goes for everyone.

humbaba

Its a good estimate, regarding the GLs. A lot of it depends on the situation, but balancing has or is occuring that makes it so any two things of equal skill, and more importantly, equal RP cost will be capable of killing each other. It is well known that the lvl 5 costs many rps to evolve to, so you do the hypothetical math and figure out the cost for the marines to kill one . .

the_stalker

<!--QuoteBegin--Sono+Aug. 05 2002,07:32--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Sono @ Aug. 05 2002,07:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Does it need three hives to get evolved into a lvl5?

Sorry if this is handeled in one of the faqs.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
hhmmm, youve done your history  <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->

Longtooth

Are there no spontaneus people left in the world?  You don't go out and start a topic like "Lets go questing with my viking battle axe"  topics like that just happpen almost always inside other topics and don't have a bad effect on the topic generally people who don't want to involve themselves in the off topic simply ignore it and get back on topic.

Sgt_X

It does get annoying though, and some of the newer ppl seem to have extremly randomn thoughts, I mean I used to be able to track the transition from on-topic to sorta-on-topic to getting-off-topic to completly-off-topic I toke a couple of posts for each stage in most cases. Recently certain recently joined memebers have posted several things which had nothing to do with either the topic or any of the posts in it. It basicly came as a, "WTF, where'd this come from?"

Scythe

I see the level 5 as the ultimate anti-turtling weapon. If the marines aren't out there killing hives they can expect several tonnes of angry alien heading their way.

--Scythe--
the_only_scythe@subdimension.com

Longtooth

If it annoys you don't read it,  no need to deprive us of a conversation just because you choose to read it.
Off Topics Never hurt anyone!

mark_nec

if you are on the alien team and you do absolutly nothing. (i mean literally nothing) do you still get a fair share of the resources? i mean if that were the case then couldnt you just sit in respawn untill you had enough resources to become a lvl 5. or do you get fun little bonus points for wacking a couple marines?


sry if this has been asked before...its late im tired and dont want to flip through page after endless page of posts tryin to find it

dragonsblade

i bieleve it has been answered and yes you do get a fare share of resourses unless your team doesnt control any recourse nods

Surge

I'm guessing that the Lev5's are gonna be tougher than a Stalker in Gloom.  <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->

That's bad news for a Marine like me. Looks like I'll have to take the highground or crouch in a corner and constantly shout "We need more defense!"

Here's a question: Which is, relatively, harder to get? Level 5 as an Alien, or Power shielded armor as a Marine? I mean, do you think Marines would get Power-shielding before Aliens get Level 5, if <i>both teams try to go for power shielding and level 5, respectively?</i>

Grendel

If you sit around doing nothing, you wont get any closer to being a level 5 than if you die several times and then evolve. The key is getting 3 hives. That requires teamwork. The whole concept of NS is:

Play well as a team.

Get bigger guns.

Ownage.

So just remember, rather than being rude or angry at n00bs, patiently help them out. They are more likely to back up a helpful person than an ****hole, they will enjoy the game more (thus populating the servers) and they may well become a friend.

It's a team game. It's nasty out there. PTers can testify that teamwork works. Solo heroics end up in messy squidges on the nice textures.

Slycaster

i completely agree grendel, and yes, i am a playtester, and i can vouch for grendels comment. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

Comprox

surge, no idea, because we have never tried that. I think those 2 come usually around the same time, but it really varies.

If the marine take a hive for a few minuts, it can rally slow the aliens, if the aliens pester the marines and make them expend RP on helth/ammo early on, it can really hurt the marines also. If the aliens donate RP to build or not, and how close the hives are, and where the alien evovles to level 2 and, etc <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> I think you get the point, it is ALWAYS different.