Natural Selection 2 News Update - NS2 Build 185 released

245

Comments

  • SmasherSmasher Join Date: 2005-03-06 Member: 43732Members
    Hmm, does anyone know how much DPS the new Lerk Spores do?
  • twilitebluetwiliteblue bug stalker Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13116Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2011
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lerk spikes no longer shoot spike projectiles, but are hit-scan. They now do Heavy damage (treat armor like health) and do between 14 and 17 damage, depending on range (closer is better, but medium/long still strong). Also, alt-fire on spikes now fires a cluster of 5 spikes.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Spikes actually still do Light damage (bug), and deal 20-24 damage. It was Sniper spikes that had its damage type changed to Heavy. Since the new Alt attack for Spikes shoots 5 spikes identical to the primary fire, they also only deal Light damage.

    Spore trail is quite fun in early game, when Marines are scattered throughout the map. Later on, Grenades, Shotguns and Flamethrowers turns "crop dusting" missions into "kamikaze". Consequently the Lerk is a better duelist, but rather too weak for group confrontations in B185.

    The new Spore trail could spawn a little further below the Lerk. I often find myself (as Lerk) bumping into Marines as I dust them. The opaque trail is the main reason that Lerks can do fly-bys. If it was less opaque, Lerks would be dropping like flies.


    <!--quoteo(post=1871463:date=Aug 27 2011, 03:00 AM:name=Smasher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Smasher @ Aug 27 2011, 03:00 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871463"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Hmm, does anyone know how much DPS the new Lerk Spores do?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The Spore trail deals 18 DPS. That may sound like a lot, but the effect area only has a radius of 1.5 (the old Spore had an expanding radius of 3 to 6).

    <!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Important:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> Holding Forward when gliding now flies the Lerk in its facing direction. Holding Jump alone will prevent the Lerk from gliding downward (and its maintain altitude), unless you face downward beyond 45º (I know, it's not perfect). You can check the Lerk mod post link my sig for the controls to the new flight model. I will try to improve it before the next patch (check my sig).



    I think Fade's Stab attack is in need of a revamp. It used to be useful due to its long range and relative low energy cost. Now, Swipe is superior in every way.

    I would also suggest a change to how the Stab attack's behavior, to make it more responsive: by allowing the Stab to be unleashed early (before reaching maximum charge), but deals less damage, while restoring the Fade's normal movement. In addition that, perhaps the LClick could store the energy of the Stab attack, once it reaches maximum charge, so the Fade can unleash it on an unsuspecting Marine in the blink of an eye (~0.5 second). This will make the Stab attack more flexible, and can also be used almost just like the Swipe attack without having to switch weapon.

    Alien melee attack should also increase Stab damage IMO, so Stab can consistently kill a Marine in one hit, as long as alien Melee upgrade is on par with Marine Armor upgrade.

    Another alien upgrade, Frenzy could use a small tweak. Its minimum healing amount (10) should be increased, as most aliens deal very little overkill damage, even Fades heal for very little after the Swipe damage nerf.

    I like the Umbra buffs, they definitely feel more useful. Perhaps Fury could receive a similar treatment soon?
  • Matthew94Matthew94 Join Date: 2011-08-06 Member: 114690Members
    Patch notes sound great, can't wait to try it out in a few hours.
  • SteelBladeSteelBlade Join Date: 2005-01-07 Member: 33240Members, Reinforced - Gold
    Pretty much unplayable now because of the MASSIVE fps drop. I had a decent 30fps and 20ish in combat but now I'm on 15fps and it dropped to 2fps when Marines were attacking data core.

    Loving the Lerk though. Need time with the new flight because I seemed completely unable to fly away from marines because I had no speed whatsoever.
  • MelatoninMelatonin Babbler Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14551Members, Constellation
    you know I love you, but...

    there are two big things really killing the experience for me right now.

    1) tightness of combat:

    server rate/ frame rate/ responsiveness/ feed back that I am taking damage...
    whatever it is down to, there is something fundamentally not finished with the combat in the game.
    the thing is, it really makes me rage. It doesn't matter that I was outclassed, it doesn't matter that I made a poor tactical decision and that is why I lost my fade, it <b>feels</b> like the engine let me down.
    In a game where things can ride on a single lifeform staying alive, and the whole game can be win or lost in a moment of combat, I get really riled up when I drop those few frames mid battle and wake up dead.
    I have a thoroughly decent system, and choose to play on low settings/ resolution, god help those out there with a lesser machine/ eye for high graphics settings.

    please, please, <b>please </b>focus first of all on this most crucial part of the experience.
    I know its probably more esoteric, and harder to effect than a new unit, or gameplay element, but ultimately it doesn't matter that a new class was added or tweaked for balance when the world that class lives in feels sluggish and consequently 'unfair'.

    2) flamethrowers energy sapping quality.

    absolutely the definitive antithesis of fun. perhaps because its coupled with point 1 in that those 2/3 swipes I <b>am</b> allowed are harder to make count, but standing next to my dying hive, <b>completely unable to do anything about it</b> is frustrating and a complete turn off.

    1 flamer among a squad of marines, can more or less <b>completely</b> incapacitate any number of aliens.
    heavy armour will only compound this issue.

    (I don't profess to know how exactly but...) Please look at making the flame thrower a 'positive' weapon, rather than its current negative impact on alien movement... you wouldn't want an alien weapon which stopped marines from using their guns, don't have a marine weapon that stop fades from blinking and attacking (I know you don't lose energy, but its very possible to get hit by the flamer after already swiping twice, and then you are lucky to survive).

    [/rant]
    I'll see you guys in 186.
  • ZenoZeno Join Date: 2007-09-05 Member: 62183Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1871472:date=Aug 27 2011, 01:27 PM:name=Melatonin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melatonin @ Aug 27 2011, 01:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871472"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2) flamethrowers energy sapping quality.

    <!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->absolutely the definitive antithesis of fun<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->. perhaps because its coupled with point 1 in that those 2/3 swipes I <b>am</b> allowed are harder to make count, but standing next to my dying hive, <b>completely unable to do anything about it</b> is frustrating and a complete turn off.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Agreed.
    The big problem is that the aliens keep burning for almost a decade after being hit by flamers...
  • vrexvrex Join Date: 2009-10-03 Member: 68931Members
    Performance is strange. Even though the fps has dropped a lot my gpu stat recording is showing that only ~30 of one of my SLI card is working. I think it was much higher before. Otherwise I like the collision updates and new sound/graphic effects.
  • TimTim Join Date: 2011-07-24 Member: 111958Members
    Balance is definitely starting to feel much nicer.
    Really, really enjoy the new lerk. The new gas bombing is amazing.

    Really like the new skulk sounds and appreciate the fade nerf - I don't feel like a massive tank anymore.

    The bad thing is the FPS drop, had a considerable loss of FPS from ~25-30 down to 10-12fps.


    In general... flamethrowers and turrets are still an annoyance.

    Overall the patch is great, if the FPS issue is fixed it will be an amazing patch.
  • subshadowsubshadow Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15710Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1871455:date=Aug 27 2011, 05:24 AM:name=Yuuki)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Yuuki @ Aug 27 2011, 05:24 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871455"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I like the new lerk. Against shotgun we can shoot them from far away.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    This I like, I was starting to hate the fact that shotgun became the marines primary weapon.

    <!--quoteo(post=1871471:date=Aug 27 2011, 06:26 AM:name=SteelBlade)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SteelBlade @ Aug 27 2011, 06:26 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871471"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm on 15fps and it dropped to 2fps when Marines were attacking data core.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Welcome to my world. I'm hoping to be able to play at 1.0
  • Paul-HewsonPaul-Hewson Join Date: 2008-02-25 Member: 63737Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Weird build for me too again, very low fps & very lag boost. We are in the wrong way from the past 6 builds. Love how you optimize your game.
  • vsechnechvsechnech Join Date: 2011-07-11 Member: 109757Members
    edited August 2011
    <b><!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Found bugs today<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b>
    <ul><li> I got accidentaly twice today under the Data Core hive. Nobody could have killed my but I could shoot anybody (and hive) above.
    <a href="http://2i.cz/0a950d27f4" target="_blank"> <img src="http://2i.cz/2i/t/0a950d27f4.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /> </a></li><li> I rr-ed (went to ready room) during the 15-second warm-up period and I couldn't move there. I had to disconnect.</li><li> I saw an egg running, jumping, climbing trees in ready room too. It was kinda nice.
    <a href="http://2i.cz/e47be3c91a" target="_blank"> <img src="http://2i.cz/2i/t/e47be3c91a.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /> </a></li><li> Almost everybody noticed that FTP dropped.</li><li> Some people in marines team crashed during the game but they stayed in the score table (TAB). They stayed there even after the round ended. Anyway this seems to be client-side bug only, after reconnect they disappeared.
    <a href="http://2i.cz/1b841c36e5" target="_blank"> <img src="http://2i.cz/2i/t/1b841c36e5.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /> </a></li><li> Black screen bug still present :-(.</li></ul>
  • TopperTopper Mr. Parasite Himself Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8462Members
    The balance is excellent in this patch.
    Battle-Gorges are no longer immortal and Fades finally die!
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2011
    <!--quoteo(post=1871416:date=Aug 27 2011, 03:57 AM:name=LORFCASTER)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LORFCASTER @ Aug 27 2011, 03:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871416"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->WinXP SP2, Asus P5B motherboard 2.93gigs Dual chan mode DDR2 ram
    Core2 Duo 6400 @ 2.13 and 2.54 Ghz, XFX Black edition GTX 260 896mb RAM Graphics card
    <i>Edit: Sound blaster audigy2 sound card</i>

    In game Graphics setting on High, default console commands, 1280 x 1024 res<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hmm, the larger memory (HD4850 512Mb vs GTX260 896Mb) on your Graphics card might do the trick to up the Texture quality. Your system is almost identical to mine although I've got a E6420 (more cache). But the FPS I get is about the same, if not a tiny bit higher FPS running at 1280x720@medium

    I shall try high once more to see IF I can run it, keep getting crashes or "out of memory" errors when I try, but hey I'm stuborn like that, every new build I try the high setting :P
  • WavesonicsWavesonics Join Date: 2006-12-02 Member: 58833Members
    Ya I was averaging 60-70fps in v184, Now i'm averaging in the 30s
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2011
    Well I can run on high settings, but the text (console or HUD) blurs and some models simply won't load (ingame or weaponry) And if I dare to press the record key for Fraps, NS2 commits suicide... At least as of build185 on high it actually manages to run at 30 FPS mostly, which is something unheard of for my old rig... So in short it's merely a lack of VRam :)

    Impressive, and weird you guys who were getting ~60FPS now are in my FPS range...
  • theshishtheshish Join Date: 2011-08-27 Member: 118751Members
    Spawn bug (where alien can't click to spawn in) seems to be back with a vengeance. Happened eventually to almost all aliens on the server I was on.

    Really annoying when you lose all your res.
  • FloodinatorFloodinator [HBZ] Member Join Date: 2005-02-22 Member: 42087Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I dind't play 185 yet (no time...) but I am sure Vsync is the problem of Frames drop. I run NS2 f.e. With double vsync ant it runs at 30FPS at all time.
  • Matthew94Matthew94 Join Date: 2011-08-06 Member: 114690Members
    edited August 2011
    Played the new build.

    I LOVE the changes to the lerk, it seems faster and more deadly.

    I dislike the performance hit, down from always above 60 to 35.
  • GeneralBowserGeneralBowser Join Date: 2010-05-19 Member: 71801Members
    I had a black screen again recently after the previous game ended, and before I joined a team..
  • Matthew94Matthew94 Join Date: 2011-08-06 Member: 114690Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1871511:date=Aug 27 2011, 06:21 PM:name=GeneralBowser)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GeneralBowser @ Aug 27 2011, 06:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871511"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I had a black screen again recently after the previous game ended, and before I joined a team..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Same with me, black screen after game end.
  • vsechnechvsechnech Join Date: 2011-07-11 Member: 109757Members
    <b><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Ad low fps and application crashes:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b> I find a lot of "unable to create vertex buffer" DirectX method calls failures in console because of not enough memory on my on my 1024MB GTX560. NS2 crashed on me twice during the play in tram. Also non-textured objects appeared, models were missing (I couldn't see turrets, I couldn't see my lerk/fade body) etc.

    I think you bugged something in the engine and now it takes down all the memory and FPS :). Anyway this build was the first one my game FPS was not fluent with.

    Looking forward to next patch :).
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2011
    Well after a round of being stuck in marine start and with a Fade hot on my tail, I crashed out of the game after a good amount of time.
    <ul><li><b>first 10 min:</b> FPS 25-30, server tickrate 25-30</li><li><b>around 15 min:</b> FPS 22-26, server tickrate ~17</li><li><b>around 20 min:</b> FPS 20-22, server tickrate ~14-17</li><li><b>around 30 min:</b> FPS 15-19, server tickrate ~8-12 <i>(Fade and Lerks just couldn't take down the base)</i></li><li><b>around 40 min:</b> FPS 15-19, server tickrate ~6-9 <i>(turrets were among us, alongside cysts and DI all over)</i>
    <ul><li><b>FPS same as around 30min and remained so until I crashed --></b></li></ul></li><li><b>around 50 min:</b> Game crashed being chased by a Fade who wasn't happy about shotty to face :P</li></ul>

    Asus P5B with an Intel C2D E6420 @ 2.4Ghz, 2Gb DDR2 @ 900Mhz with a HD4850 512Mb




    <b>Lerk:</b>
    So far from what I can tell, the new Lerk is awesome. however I'm not so sure about the "unable to catch a decent Lerk using the bombing runs" bit. The annoying fact is that you're basically firing blindly into the spores to try and hit the Lerk, the spores are a bit too opaque for my taste. Even more so because stacking them behind each other makes it impossible to see the retreating/bombing run Lerk...
  • SkipjackSkipjack Join Date: 2005-04-13 Member: 48323Members, Constellation
    my opinion on the lerk:
    movement:
    got better but still not agile enough to be strong enough in close combat. (upward thrust feels very weird. you shouldnt need to release "w" to gain height)
    spikes:
    hit-scan is a very good idea since lag/fps problems made it very frustrating to kill a marine
    spike-shotgun:
    good idea but the cooldown is too low. u can burst a marine down too quickly.
    spore:
    plain useless... i like how they tried to make something new out of the spore, but spore has always been the alien "siege" and thats how it should remain.
  • HathaHatha Join Date: 2011-08-27 Member: 118765Members
    edited August 2011
    Ok, first of all, I'm new to NS2 but I played NS1 quite a long time. There are a few things that grabbed my attention but I've only played ns_summit for 2 hours until now, so be forgiving.

    1) I agree that the game is kind of balanced, but I don't think that one round is supposed to last more than 2 hours does it?
    2) During my 2 hours of playing, I haven't seen any onos or jetpacks. Are they still available? didn't do any research yet.
    3) In the ready room I have 90 fps, ingame i have 40 fps and in combat it goes down to 8 fps. This seems to be common. got AMD Phenom X4 BE and GTX560Ti (vsync out :-)

    that was it.

    Ty
  • CandideCandide Join Date: 2011-06-28 Member: 106766Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->spore:
    plain useless... i like how they tried to make something new out of the spore, but spore has always been the alien "siege" and thats how it should remain.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I strongly disagree. I'm for an evolution in the game, and this new lerk is really awesome, not only because them gave him reason to go in the combat, but also because his spore now is DEADLY, even more than before. It's not only damage over time, it's blinding every marine caught in that cloud! I really enjoy this "scout" lerk that fly through the room to gas the battlefield before the swarm comes and bites everybody with alien vision. That's maybe a little to strong, as Kouji_San said making the clouds more transparent is surely needed for balance issue.

    Regarding the fps, I dropped from 20-25 (definitely playable) to 8-9 (impossible to do anything good) in this 185 version. I guess I'll wait for 186 to try again the Beta =)
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1871534:date=Aug 27 2011, 07:20 PM:name=Hatha)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hatha @ Aug 27 2011, 07:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871534"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2) During my 2 hours of playing, I haven't seen any onos or jetpacks. Are they still available? didn't do any research yet.

    Ty<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not yet in, will be in the game eventually :)
  • YuukiYuuki Join Date: 2010-11-20 Member: 75079Members
    I agree the spore should be more transparent, I had a couple of games where the lerks enjoyed the new spores and it wasn't such a great gaming experience to run around into this green mess.

    <img src="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7669/ns2spores.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    I didn't find the fade nerf very effective, I usually play conservative and heal often, so the health reduction didn't change much, games were quite laggy though.
  • ZycaRZycaR Join Date: 2002-11-12 Member: 8263Members
    everything you want to know:
    - lerk farts are not transparent :D
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2011
    10FPS gameplay on EPIC, Gorge is the only playable class in that case :P


    <center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pkNJjg8yaus"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pkNJjg8yaus" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>
    <div align='center'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkNJjg8yaus" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkNJjg8yaus</a>
    <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=113837" target="_blank">Added to the NS2-720p list</a></div>


    <!--quoteo(post=1871568:date=Aug 27 2011, 10:00 PM:name=ZycaR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ZycaR @ Aug 27 2011, 10:00 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871568"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->everything you want to know:
    - lerk farts are not transparent :D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    He who smells it, dies by it? :D
  • wilson502wilson502 Join Date: 2004-01-08 Member: 25169Members, Constellation
    edited August 2011
    <!--quoteo(post=1871586:date=Aug 27 2011, 07:03 PM:name=Kouji_San)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kouji_San @ Aug 27 2011, 07:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1871586"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->10FPS gameplay on EPIC, Gorge is the only playable class in that case :P



    He who smells it, dies by it? :D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hmm im getting this same issue on anagram #2 as well, where everyone will get 10-15 FPS no matter what( even if theres only a couple players no strcutures). We should call it the 10 FPS bug, since everyone on the server drops down to 10 fps due to it.
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