Respawn Time
XCan
Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5904Members, Constellation
As it is now, the alien's equalent to the marine's IPs are the hives. Basicly the aliens would have 1 IP until they build their second while the marines gain their second IP very early in the game. It doesn't matter in a small game but in a large like 10/10 the marines could build 3 IPs and spawn MUCH more rapidly than the aliens who spawns 1 and 1. What I suggest is to change the current system so the spawn time is based on amount of players.
Ex: Currently: Let's say respawn time is 10 second / spawnthingie and the teams are 5/5. If the marines have 2 IP and aliens 1 it would take the marines 30 seconds to spawn up a dead team (included comm) and aliens 50 seconds. So it's not that unfair since the aliens have other advantages, being better solo etc..
Ex: Currently: Now we make teams 12/12. If the marines have 2 IP it will take them 60 seconds to spawn up a dead team (included comm) while it takes alien 120 seconds. The difference is 1 minute, as you surely can see it gets more unfair as the amount of players increase. Not to mention if the marines build more IPs early game at the correct time.
I believe changing the respawn time so it's based on players would make this more fair.
Ex: Currently: Let's say respawn time is 10 second / spawnthingie and the teams are 5/5. If the marines have 2 IP and aliens 1 it would take the marines 30 seconds to spawn up a dead team (included comm) and aliens 50 seconds. So it's not that unfair since the aliens have other advantages, being better solo etc..
Ex: Currently: Now we make teams 12/12. If the marines have 2 IP it will take them 60 seconds to spawn up a dead team (included comm) while it takes alien 120 seconds. The difference is 1 minute, as you surely can see it gets more unfair as the amount of players increase. Not to mention if the marines build more IPs early game at the correct time.
I believe changing the respawn time so it's based on players would make this more fair.
Comments
Fast respawn + phase gates makes it much easier for marines to have a constant presence in an area even if you kill far more of them then they kill of you.
If redemption worked better for a skulk...
What I propose is the respawning of aliens two or three at a time. This encourages teamwork a bit more and makes it a bit easier for the aliens to counter the big marine hive rush.
Of course, I am fine with leaving the spawn times the way they are. If there are enough dead aliens to warrant wide spawn intervals, perhaps those slow spawn times are deserved.
take for instance, the marines are trying to build outside your hive. they've got up a phase gate and are working on the turr. factory. Of the 6 marines there, 5 are killed by the 5 attacking skulks but all the skulks die in the attempt thanks to the unfavourable attacking conditions. The final marine now completes the tf and starts working on the turrs. A marines spawns, grabs ammo and jumps through the phase gate and helps build. Another marines spawns and does the same. Finally a skulk respawns, that skulk now has to by himself charge 3 marines and a few turrets or wait for support. If it attacks it's going to die and maybe take a marine or two. If it waits, then 2 skulks will have to take on 5 or 6 marines.
Marines can speed up there respawn time by building more inf. portals, which helps esp. in the early game as aliens have just the one hive. If as in the above instance most of the team dies in one quick battle, then for the whole lot to respawn can take 2 or 3 times the time it would take marines. That wouldn't be too much of a problem if it wasn't for phase gates. Phase gates allow fast respawning marines, to get ammo/weaponry and get back to the scene of a battle faster than a skulk can respawn.