Aliens mutating and controlling marines

M00_cow · August 2008

<div class="IPBDescription">Like those exploding guys in SC</div>Hey,

<span style="color:#FF0000">My idea here is probably been largely suggested before but i see it this way in my mind: </span>

Imagine if after you gain your third <span style="color:#FF8C00">hive</span>, a <span style="color:#FF8C00">skulk</span> gains the ability to inject a <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span> into a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span>. I suppose this would technically be somewhere along the lines of or in replacement of or just another move next to their exploding move but what would happen would be that a <span style="color:#FF8C00">skulk</span> would leap at a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> and if he hit the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> in the upper body, the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> would became <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span>. <span style="color:#FFFF00">BUT WAIT!</span> It's no ordinary <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span>. It's much, much worse!

Once the <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span> has been injected, the <span style="color:#FF8C00">skulk</span> drops dead. It's like a bee. When it stings, it dies. Once the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> becomes <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span>, based upon it's remaining hp, a timer begins to tick. Starting off on 45 seconds for a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> with full health, and probably 25 seconds for half hp. Also, depending on remaining time left until <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> is taken over, the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> begins to lose his or her abilities to walk as fast, and maybe some or most of his ability to see.

Finally, once a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> has run out of time, the character is killed, and the <span style="color:#FF8C00">alien</span> player who <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span> the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> gains control of the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span>. A newly <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> has 50% of its hp and the gun the player had minus the handgun and all other equipment (because <span style="color:#FF8C00">aliens</span> only know how to pull the trigger lols). The mutated <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> now under the <span style="color:#FF8C00">aliens</span> control has added speed, the ability to leap and claw/swipe but no other moves. He becomes a gun wielding, leaping, clawing monster! Also, he can be healed by <span style="color:#FF8C00">gorges/hives/dcs</span> and maybe if he gained some wicked huge veins and some green goo on his face he would look cooler.

Altho, <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines </span>can get rid of <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasites</span> (of course) at their local <span style="color:#00BFFF">turret factory</span> or <span style="color:#00BFFF">armory</span> via a 2 second removal process. The thing is, they have to get there which is the hard thing. <span style="color:#FF8C00">Parasited</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines</span> are see'able by other <span style="color:#FF8C00">aliens.</span>

<span style="color:#FF0000">Other things to note: </span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Parasited</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines </span>can still stand there and mow down more <span style="color:#FF8C00">aliens</span>.
Other <span style="color:#FF8C00">aliens</span> are still able to kill <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines</span>, but via a little icon on the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span>, know that he is <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasited</span> and therefor may not bother.
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Skulks</span> are only able to <span style="color:#FF8C00">inject parasite</span> on full health (I spose the idea would be that the <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span> was originally controlling the <span style="color:#FF8C00">skulk</span> and has now changed hosts)
The <span style="color:#FF8C00">alien</span> player that used inject <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span> would be out of combat till either he gained control, the<span style="color:#00BFFF"> marine </span>was killed in combat or the <span style="color:#FF8C00">parasite</span> was destroyed.
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Parasited </span><span style="color:#00BFFF">marines</span> only became <span style="color:#FF8C00">mutated</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines</span> when the timer ran out and the process was not hurried up via the <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> being killed.
When an <span style="color:#FF8C00">alien parasited </span>a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine,</span> the timer that started was unchangeable.

This may sound like another easy way to own a <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span>, but just think. If a <span style="color:#00BFFF">turret factory</span> was on hand, the <span style="color:#FF8C00">alien</span> pretty much just wasted his life.

This to me sounds uber fun and would be an exciting new aspect of NS2 but it also sounds like a hell of a lot of work and very hard to balance, but it would be fun as an <span style="color:#FF8C00">alien</span> to own <span style="color:#00BFFF">marines</span> this way and to jump around in <span style="color:#00BFFF">marine</span> form! Yah!

Sound like fun or much to much work?

NovusAnimus · August 2008

It does sound like a lot of fun. As a parasited marine, I'd be dragging myself back into base, making funny gargling noises in my mic and yelling 'KILLLLLL MEEEE ARGHAARLBLAGLARGL'. And the dudes would be like 'Hurry up, use the armory and get yourself unparasited!' but then I'd just crawl around in circles going 'ARG IT HURTS, KILLLLlllllll MMEEEEeeeee'. And then I'd be fully transformed and I'd start shooting them.

darktimes · August 2008

there were many other suggestion of parasiting and controlling marines, and i must say that this one is far the best i seen.

lua FTW!

ratclaw · August 2008

I WAS thinking that it would be cool to have a skulk as a pet. Not anymore though...
<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#>/skulk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::skulk::" border="0" alt="skulk.gif" />

M00_cow · August 2008

There would be many, many fun uses for this:

Like when a huge fight has taken place and the aliens have been pushed back, so a few skulks fly out of the hive, parasite the marines they just nearly killed in the previous fight and then XPLODE the marines!!~~

On the flipside, we all know how easily flying skulks are to shoot down mid flight (unless they hav epic flying skills)

Or,
When a lone skulk stalks a marine who is far, far from base slowly munches down the marines hp, then when the marine is nearly dead, become a marine! :O

Just 2 fun instances when this could be mighty handy and extremely fun hehe

ryknow69 · August 2008

i do believe he gave the idea that the infected marine will be played by the infector, the skulk who launched the parasite, and the original marine player jsut respawns after the infestation is complete.

I saw you should require an armory than a turret factory, an armory gives out health packs, which would be all you need to dislodge a parasitic lifeform slowly mutating you into a horid creature that slowly hears voices, those voices are the hive, scaring the arine into giving up and letting the beast take over. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hive5.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::hive::" border="0" alt="hive5.gif" /> If a soldier is smart enough to realize he has a parasite growing in him, he can call for a medpack, 3-4 medpacks should be needed or a simple use of the armory just like you get ammo should kill off the parasite.

This idea is the best of all I've seen, but has some small flaws. In the 45 seconds the marine is slowly dieing, what will the original Skulk palyer do? Will he respawn and kill and die once the marine turns? Or will he spectate till the marine dies or turns? A Turret Factory has no real way of killing a parasite, an armory does, and a TF can be in the front lines easily, the armory is in base only.

M00_cow · August 2008

Well,

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>In the 45 seconds the marine is slowly dieing, what will the original Skulk player do? Will he respawn and kill and die once the marine turns?</div>

I think this is only fair in my opinion. Because of the type of move and how such a move could effect gameplay (i.e. 5 parasited marines turning into 5 aliens) it would only be fair if the aliens who parasited the marines were taken out of combat. Realistically, I do not think that aliens would even parasite marines on full health because they would rather
a. Get a bite in and try and take a little bit of hp off the marines before parasiting the marine so the parasiting process was sped up.
b. Wait till the marine died a little by some other forces
c. Not do it at all because they didnt want to have to wait 45 seconds.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Or will he spectate till the marine dies or turns?</div>

I didn't really say it in my first post, but I'm all for the alien player's vision being changed into what the marine sees. I think that this would be wicked because the alien would get to see some epic destruction from the marine shooting other aliens and also get to see the marine trying to limp back to base while having his powers sucked out of him.

And the Turret Factory part. I think it should be both for this reason and it is kinda explain in C. of the first question.
If an alien was lazy enough to not encounter a marine and just parasite him instead, the marine should be easily able to get rid of it. But if an alien was man/girl enough to actually encounter the marine, damage him/her a bit and still be able to parasite him, the marine should die imo. By all means, if he is close to a TF he can get rid of it but in most occasions with 15 seconds or less to live he should die. Also, on paper 45 seconds sounds like a massive amount of time. But i dare say when in game, the 45 seconds will fly.

first-man · September 2008

What if the parasite is slowly taking control of the Marine. At the beginning the Marine still has 100% control about himself but during the count down (the 45 secs) the mouse movements of the two players are adding up like:
45 secs Marine 100% Parasite 0%
40 secs Marine 90% Parasite 10%
...
0 secs Marine dies Alien takes full control

Might look funny seeing a Marine walking around like he is drunk. And the Alien has something to do. So it is not that easy for the Marine to pick up some health packs to get rid of the parasite.

And it can be the same with all the other controls like walking and shooting. I think it is funny if an alien walks around in front of you and you trie to fire but you cant and are realising that you are parasited. So if the control is >50% to the parasite it controls shooting.

EDIT:
I agree with M00_cow that only a hurt Marine can be parasited.

ryknow69 · September 2008

if the marine has armor, he shouldnt be able to be parasited, cause the parasite cant get through the armor.

M00_cow · September 2008

Yer,

The armour comment, i think it would still be a good idea if armoured marines could be taken over. I think that falls under the part where you can only parasite hurt marines. I.e. so in theory you would have to hurt them (break their armour a bit) so that parasite could get in.

Nomadic · October 2008

I'm gonna say that I think the skulk should have a Headcrab type of ability where it attaches itself over the face of the marine and then the 45seconds of control countdown begin. And can only be performed on a marine that has less than 50% health.

aNytiMe · October 2008

Terrible idea unless its reserved for the onii. When the onos digests a marine, out pops a NPC zombie ready to eat some marine brains.

Jedibling · October 2008

I think

A: There should be a new building for removing parasites, like Field Hospital (can only be built in main base so its not so easy for infected marines to kill parasites) and it could give out health packs too.

B: "The longer time the parasite is in the marine the more control it gets" idea could work. it would be fun if a infected marines goes and kills players from both teams and when sight gets worse for the marine the parasites sight gets better.

C: That if a onos eats a marine a npc marine zombie pops out and follows the <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tiny.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::onos::" border="0" alt="tiny.gif" /> and when <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" /> comes and starts to <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" /> at the <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tiny.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::onos::" border="0" alt="tiny.gif" /> s npc zombie attacks <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" />
( i <3 smiles )

D: A marine got to be wounded to be infected and armored marines can only be infected if they have "body" and armor damages

and do any one know how NS2 will be distriburd on the internet?

ryknow69 · October 2008

never liked the idea of controlling marines.

Steam, and by paypal/other paying to the NS2 Site.

barb · November 2008

This thread is great, and made me create an account! I like the idea. Mutated monster marine! Arrghghllrrlrlrlrrrggh!

I'm however thinking that it would be some kind of second (perhaps third would be better) hive ability or something, with which a skulk would jump at a marine and at close range spit out a parasite, killing the skulk, and giving the player the marine's vision, by a parasite sitting on his neck, something like seeing the marine's head and what he's doing.

This parasite could be knifed or perhaps welded off by the help of another marine, if he can get to it before the health runs out. If the marine is alone, the commander could medspam, but why waste res on a lost cause? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

During this time, the marine loses health constantly, and when he dies, the alien gains the control (this kills the marine, putting him in the spawn queue).

The mutated monster marine alien becomes much like a fade (think instead of fade arms, marine hands with one glove ripped of, red and green blood everywhere!), doing the same amount of damage as the fade swipe, and with some leap ability as mentioned above. This monster marine has something like 90 hp and whatever amount of armor was left by the victim.

When the monster marine dies, the alien dies!

Oops, very long post. Anyway, I would love it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

Recupel · November 2008

-_-
I vote NO...

We are not in alien...
Why aliens must everytime takes the control of humans?

(I hate guys who create a account just for submit a ultra-mega-cool idea as big as a house...
NS2 will not be a revoltuion but a sequel to NS1...
The aliens doesn't evolve as fast... They will not begin to control others lifeforms for fun...
I think a lots of minor updates would be better than 3-4 heavy ideas whose completely changes the game...)

barb · November 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Recupel @ Nov 8 2008, 05:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1692876"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>-_-
I vote NO...

We are not in alien...
Why aliens must everytime takes the control of humans?

(I hate guys who create a account just for submit a ultra-mega-cool idea as big as a house...
NS2 will not be a revoltuion but a sequel to NS1...
The aliens doesn't evolve as fast... They will not begin to control others lifeforms for fun...
I think a lots of minor updates would be better than 3-4 heavy ideas whose completely changes the game...)</div>

Well first off because I think it would be fun, and it could encourage marines to move in groups and watch eachother's backs. But on second thought it might not be that great.

And yes; what I clearly should have done was to create an account just to hop about posting tiny spam comments on all the threads instead, and not wait until I actually felt I had something to say. Thanks for the put-down, unregardless of if it was directed at me or the thread starter.

ryknow69 · November 2008

Eh, yes, NS2 takes place 10 years after NS1.

NS1-First Contact.
NS2-ALL OUT FUC-KING WAR!

10 years would give aliens enough time to evolve to fight the marines better, but aliens controling marines.....out of the question.

You point out it'll be fun, how will it be implemented as 'fun' for that player over there, or that one, or me!?
Encouraging group tatics? This isn't the way to do that. Having the marines benifit in staying in the groups the Commander assigned is the best way of doing that.

M00_cow · November 2008

In relation to aliens evolving,

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>The aliens doesn't evolve as fast... They will not begin to control others lifeforms for fun...</div>

10 years of fighting in my mind kinda alludes to the fact that both teams have worked out slight strengths and weaknesses of each other. i.e. aliens have eggs, marines have ammo and have to reload, so... yeah I'm gonna say this is just another weakness of the marines that the aliens have worked out over time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>The mutated monster marine alien becomes much like a fade (think instead of fade arms, marine hands with one glove ripped of, red and green blood everywhere!), doing the same amount of damage as the fade swipe, and with some leap ability as mentioned above. This monster marine has something like 90 hp and whatever amount of armor was left by the victim.</div>

I don't think it would be necessarily fair for the mutated marine to have a fade swipe because fade swipe is amazing. The whole point of this mutated marine idea is that the aliens can gain control of the marines weapons. Think of it like this. Marines develop their guns to specifically kill aliens. How effective are their guns marine to marine? Not giving away the fade swipe ability completely, but i think more of a dual zombie hands clawing at enemies would be a better idea, and YES! Completely green and red blood! They have gotta look gross.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>...and with some leap ability as mentioned above.</div>

Rethinking this idea a little, to keep this sub-class away from the fade as much as we can so that it is unique, maybe the leap could be more a slightly larger jump instead of a 'I'm flying through the air. Catch me if you can'. This would be a more, last resort 'I've run out of ammo' ability or just plainly an escape/dodging ability.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>This monster marine has something like 90 hp and whatever amount of armor was left by the victim.</div>

Or a little bit more. Maybe 130-150. I think it would still be fair bit stronger than a skulk, yet weaker than a fade, with the help of the remaining marine armour (which is why is would be a bonus to parasite a lone marine).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I didn't really say it in my first post, but I'm all for the alien player's vision being changed into what the marine sees.</div>

Yep. I'm all for the alien gaining the marines vision and maybe slight control, say 10% - 20% max, just because it would be annoying and would mean that the marine would constantly have to be making sure he was running in the right direction.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Terrible idea unless its reserved for the onii. When the onos digests a marine, out pops a NPC zombie ready to eat some marine brains.</div>

IMHO, I think this is a terrible idea. lol. Just think of the balance issues. Would the NPC's be able to see hidden marines? Would the NPC's be only allowed to see marines the alien was seeing? Would the NPC's be >= to skulks? This would turn your average Onos into a fully fledged tank, who could not be stealthed upon because the NPC's would see you are you would be dead. Plus, how many NPC's at once? Just a few things to think about...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>There should be a new building for removing parasites, like Field Hospital (can only be built in main base so its not so easy for infected marines to kill parasites) and it could give out health packs too.</div>

Building on the idea of 10 years of marine advancement as well as alien, the marine Armory now has new technology to hand out medpacks and kill parasites. Probably the TF only has the removal of parasite ability. Also, the part about it only being able to be built in the marine base. This is part of the whole strategy of the idea. The idea is that removing a parasite isn't really that hard! It has to be fair. If it was hard it would be very overpowered. As an alien, you have to choose for yourself whether you want to parasite a marine and possible have him remove your parasite 3 seconds later. You have to be smart, and parasite a marine that is nearly dead, or a marine who is far, far from base.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>This parasite could be knifed or perhaps welded off by the help of another marine, if he can get to it before the health runs out. If the marine is alone, the commander could medspam, but why waste res on a lost cause?</div>

The idea of medpacks keeping a marine's hp up while being parasited doesn't really work as the parasite is on a timer and not so much based on hp. (Although the marine will automaticly lose hp as he becomes more parasited). And parasite removal via welders or knives? Too easy. Parasiting wouldn't be worth it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>10 years would give aliens enough time to evolve to fight the marines better, but aliens controling marines.....out of the question.</div>

Well, the marines built a mobile siege cannon... I thought this was a bit out of the question...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>You point out it'll be fun, how will it be implemented as 'fun' for that player over there, or that one, or me!?
Encouraging group tatics? This isn't the way to do that. Having the marines benifit in staying in the groups the Commander assigned is the best way of doing that.</div>

As i said, i don't know. I can only see in my mind and i am not so good at translating between my mind and my fingers. Also, you don't think hanging with your mutated marine buddy sounds boring? Better yet, trying to be that yourself? And laughing at your fellow marine buddy as he loses control of himself over mic? Sounds awesome to me...

And if you weren't taking advantage of moving in a group already just out of plain human instinct, well lols. 3 or 4 marines is always better than 1. The commander assigning you to a group is a plus!

Hope i kinda answered some/most of this stuff for you guys

Aliens mutating and controlling marines

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