Map "exploits"
NinjaBurger
Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9931Members
Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9931Members
<div class="IPBDescription">When are they legit?</div> It seems to me that the grayest area of server administration (and game play) is dealing with so-called "map exploits."
I've seen others kicked and banned, and have been kicked and banned myself for doing things which on other servers are perfectly legitimate.
What is the opinion of the community on these and others? What is the opinion of the map designers? Will maps be redesigned to remove *all* these exploits? If not, is it fair for admins to kick people for using features that the map designer intended to be there?
I think there are two distinct categories of "exploits" - real exploits, and non-exploits that are used as excuses to kick people because the admin happens to be on the losing team at the time.
The best-known examples of true exploits:
Building outside the spacecraft - (any map where you can see portions of outer space) Obviously a map bug and an exploit that should be fixed in future incarnations of a map; marines can't live in space, and you can't walk there.
Building in areas that should be inaccessible - (various maps with flame pits, damaged doors with empty spaces behind, etc.) Also obviously a map bug and an exploit in my eyes, since the fact that you can't walk there indicates you weren't meant to go there.
Examples of "not an exploit" (in my opinion):
Fades shooting through sealed vents with acid splash - (esp. on Tanith) It's acid, isn't it? It should be able to leak through places that bullets and bites won't go. And a marine can technically reach any Fade thus sealed up. So if the marines can stop it, and it's merely annoying, I don't think it's a true exploit.
Sieging from various vents (esp. on Nothing, above viaduct) I have actually seen people banned from servers for doing this. WTF. If you weren't intended to siege Viaduct from the vent, why on earth would the map designer have put in such a high-ceilinged vent in that spot? That's what it's for. Not an exploit.
Skulks biting people through catwalks - (eg. Nothing, Docking Wing) I was actually banned from a server for doing this, unfairly I think. Marines can easily shoot or blow up skulks hiding underneath if they get the right angle; it's simply easier to yell to the admin to kick someone than to think your way through tactically. If the map designer hadn't intended for the bridge or catwalk of an area to be chewed through, he could have used a different texture, or eliminated that element altogether. If there's a bridge for a skulk to climb under, I'm going to climb under it. And if I can chew through it, I'm going to chew through it. Because it is my nature. Not an exploit.
Marines camping vents - (most maps) Not an exploit, because the problem now (the crouch bug) is not due to the maps, but due to the hit box. So this will be fixed and the problem will go away.
Speaking of camping, the other thing I've seen servers banning people for (with increasing frequency, unfortunately) is "camping". Which seems ridiculous in a game where camping is precisely what you have to do. Is the comm camping? Is the marine he keeps at the base to build and protect camping? Is the gorge building at the hive camping? Ridiculous. There's absolutely no justification for kicking/banning/etc. people who choose to sit in an area and guard it from attack in a game like this.
I'd like to hear the opinions of others, players, admins and (especially, if possible) designers about these and other map "features". Whereas cheating to turn your alien into a marine is an OBVIOUS exploit, it seems these map-based "exploits" are in much more fuzzy area.
I've seen others kicked and banned, and have been kicked and banned myself for doing things which on other servers are perfectly legitimate.
What is the opinion of the community on these and others? What is the opinion of the map designers? Will maps be redesigned to remove *all* these exploits? If not, is it fair for admins to kick people for using features that the map designer intended to be there?
I think there are two distinct categories of "exploits" - real exploits, and non-exploits that are used as excuses to kick people because the admin happens to be on the losing team at the time.
The best-known examples of true exploits:
Building outside the spacecraft - (any map where you can see portions of outer space) Obviously a map bug and an exploit that should be fixed in future incarnations of a map; marines can't live in space, and you can't walk there.
Building in areas that should be inaccessible - (various maps with flame pits, damaged doors with empty spaces behind, etc.) Also obviously a map bug and an exploit in my eyes, since the fact that you can't walk there indicates you weren't meant to go there.
Examples of "not an exploit" (in my opinion):
Fades shooting through sealed vents with acid splash - (esp. on Tanith) It's acid, isn't it? It should be able to leak through places that bullets and bites won't go. And a marine can technically reach any Fade thus sealed up. So if the marines can stop it, and it's merely annoying, I don't think it's a true exploit.
Sieging from various vents (esp. on Nothing, above viaduct) I have actually seen people banned from servers for doing this. WTF. If you weren't intended to siege Viaduct from the vent, why on earth would the map designer have put in such a high-ceilinged vent in that spot? That's what it's for. Not an exploit.
Skulks biting people through catwalks - (eg. Nothing, Docking Wing) I was actually banned from a server for doing this, unfairly I think. Marines can easily shoot or blow up skulks hiding underneath if they get the right angle; it's simply easier to yell to the admin to kick someone than to think your way through tactically. If the map designer hadn't intended for the bridge or catwalk of an area to be chewed through, he could have used a different texture, or eliminated that element altogether. If there's a bridge for a skulk to climb under, I'm going to climb under it. And if I can chew through it, I'm going to chew through it. Because it is my nature. Not an exploit.
Marines camping vents - (most maps) Not an exploit, because the problem now (the crouch bug) is not due to the maps, but due to the hit box. So this will be fixed and the problem will go away.
Speaking of camping, the other thing I've seen servers banning people for (with increasing frequency, unfortunately) is "camping". Which seems ridiculous in a game where camping is precisely what you have to do. Is the comm camping? Is the marine he keeps at the base to build and protect camping? Is the gorge building at the hive camping? Ridiculous. There's absolutely no justification for kicking/banning/etc. people who choose to sit in an area and guard it from attack in a game like this.
I'd like to hear the opinions of others, players, admins and (especially, if possible) designers about these and other map "features". Whereas cheating to turn your alien into a marine is an OBVIOUS exploit, it seems these map-based "exploits" are in much more fuzzy area.
Comments
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Skulks biting people through catwalks - (eg. Nothing, Docking Wing) I was actually banned from a server for doing this, unfairly I think. Marines can easily shoot or blow up skulks hiding underneath if they get the right angle; it's simply easier to yell to the admin to kick someone than to think your way through tactically. If the map designer hadn't intended for the bridge or catwalk of an area to be chewed through, he could have used a different texture, or eliminated that element altogether. If there's a bridge for a skulk to climb under, I'm going to climb under it. And if I can chew through it, I'm going to chew through it. Because it is my nature. Not an exploit.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am not sure about this; however, I believe that attacking people through a floor is probably an unforseen bug by the map maker and is most likely an exploit. Simply because you can do it doesn't mean you should.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Marines camping vents - (most maps) Not an exploit, because the problem now (the crouch bug) is not due to the maps, but due to the hit box. So this will be fixed and the problem will go away.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The camping in vents I have no problem with as long as it's not a lone marine trying to make the aliens quit so he doesn't lose. The "crouch bug" however is a bug and simply because it is not map related does not make it a valid tatic. Everyone uses it and I often find myself doing it with out realising it. I have a habit of ducking when shooting simply to make myself a smaller target. It still does not make it a valid tatic.
Everything else I agree with 100%.
IMHO ALL 'map exploits' are legal.
e.g.
- sealing a door with d-chamber
- blocking lifts
- sieging from various places
- biting through grates (e.g. the catwalk in sewer on ns_caged).
- building stuff outside
- camping vents
- camping the top of ladders
The server admin might have a different view, and kick you for some/any of that. If you don't like the admin's opinion - then play somewhere else. [think of NS like soccer/football/tennis -> the umpire/referee enforces the rules as they see them]
- if the acid rocket goes through the grating then that is probably a bug, and would then be an exploit in my opinion.
- camping vents can be very lame, and I hate people that do it. [most people stop doing that sort of thing if you point out the problems]. But I don't think you can ban someone for being lame.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Because it is my nature<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
lol nothin special there but kinda a funny line.
And doom bringer thats what he meant i think
Also the acid rocket through the grates and such, i do it my self and dont REALLY consider it an exploit but i think it should be fixed in later versions.
Allowing that it is not intended (I'd love to hear from the mapmaker), then, what would (should) the response of the NS team and the map maker be - redesign the map?
Certainly, you can't just leave something the way it is and say "don't do this" - if people are trying to do it, then you need to acknowledge it's legit for the map, or else fix the map.
Analogy - If you design your child's bedroom with a large, dangling exposed wire, and you say "Don't touch that wire or you will die." Either the child is eventually going to touch the wire, or you need to fix the room to remove the wire.
***
As for marines crouching, I think that, too, is a fuzzy area. Crouching itself (without the crouch bug) is an advantage that people have used in HL games since the game was released. What is a marine supposed to do?
Skulk: I can't kill you when you're crouched. Please stand up.
Marine: OK, I will stand up so you can kill me.
Skulk: *chomp*
Demanding that people do things that make them easier to kill runs counter to the philosophy of the game. It would be like asking Fades to stop shooting acid.
Now, I acknowledge that there's a crouch bug and it should be fixed. And it's probably unfair for marines to take advantage of it. But realistically, can you expect people to intentionally make themselves easier to kill?
1. Cargo Bay Vent -
I've seen a single Marine sit in there and kill the hive. Impossible to kill him though since both entrances to the vent are so far away its easy to kill incoming skulks. Offensive chambers don't reach. If you have Fades you can take them out, but see exploit number 2 for why you will likely not have Fades.
2 Marines in this vent makes them essentially invincible. And if the comm is dropping ammo/health on them, just F4 and save your time.
2. Viaduct Vents -
Sorry, this is an exploit, it allows you to kill a hive with near complete immunity from 3 of the 5 Alien classes? How is this NOT an exploit?
Build 1 TF in here (which you can build in one of the nitches, making it next to impossible to kill with a skulk or lurk) and 4 or 5 turrets near the vents and bam, nearly invincible base. I was in a game where Marines sat in that vent for <b>4 hours</b> and there was NOTHING we could do.
They had siege that would take out Viaduct hive so we couldnt get Spores or Bile Bomb, they had at least 10 turrets in a very enclosed space meaning it was nearly impossible to get in (plus the fact the turrets blocked part of the vent). The only 2 classes that could get in were Skulks and Lurks, both of which were easily killable by the Marins + turrets inside.
Our attempts at getting a Fade in were defeated when we found it was impossible for a Fade to get through the turrets blocking the vents. Only something as small as a Lurk or Skulk could get through, and even then it was troublsome.
------
I have seen the above 2 EXPLOITS happen on almost every round of ns_nothing I play. Even on Voogru where its possible to get the 2nd hive up in a matter or minutes, its just as easy for Marines to kill it.
How you can possibly justify the ability of 1 or 2 Marines to kill a hive while the whole team looks on unable to do anything, or a base thats unkillable is beyond me.
Sorry, this is an exploit, it allows you to kill a hive with near complete immunity from 3 of the 5 Alien classes? How is this NOT an exploit?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have personally beaten this tatic several times. Here is how:
1) Once you have secured viaduct go skulk, climb up into the vent, become gorge and build OC's and DC's up there
2) If they already have siege up there, find a lerk or a skulk to give the fades aboost up into the vent
3) One time I snuck up there as a skulk and evolved into a fade in one of those alcoves
I've seen a single Marine sit in there and kill the hive...
2. Viaduct Vents -
Sorry, this is an exploit, it allows you to kill a hive with near complete immunity from 3 of the 5 Alien classes? How is this NOT an exploit?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think either of these is an exploit, and here's why: they may be difficult to deal with, but they are not impossible to overcome, as you suggest. There are two ways to handle both situations - one is preemptive, the other reactive.
Cargo Bay Vent
Preemptive - build Off Chambers on both ends of the vent. Makes it more difficult for a marine to get in in the first place. Stack an OC on top of a DC at the Cargo Bay side to get a line of fire into the vent. Put DCs under the hive to make it difficult for a marine to kill easily - LMG fire from farther away is less accurate and less damaging, so you force him closer, which means the OC can get him.
Reactive - if the above failed or never happened, team tactics can get him out. Skulks can eat marines in vents if they crouch themselves (difficult, but can be done). Lerks and Gorge spit can get him out. Heck, parasite the bugger to death if you have to. If the comm is health spamming him, rush the base. The comm will be distracted and you'll have your opening.
Viaduct Vent
(I refuse to believe this is an exploit under any circumstances. Why else would such a large vent be here? The mapmaker could just not have put it here.)
Preemptive - Whenever I gorge on this map, I stay skulk, run up into the vent, and build a few Offensive Chambers. Marines need jetpacks to get up here, so they can't do it immediately, which means you have time to get the resources to do this. If you have 2 hives, webbing the entrances and putting OCs there will kill most Rambos trying to build a TF there. And even if they survive, the flashing red "Structure is being attacked" message gives you adequate time to get there and kill the marine(s) before the TF and siege go back up. Before they can siege, they need to drop TF, build, upgrade, drop siege, build. If you can't rally the troops before that time, you're in trouble regardless.
Reactive - You *can* get up there with Fades and Gorges. Simply use Skulks as elevators. Jump on their backs and then jump jump jump, the Skulk moving up each time. Simple teamwork can get you up. The only time this is difficult to manage is if the marines have relocated their comm here, and have it all fortressed up with turrets, marines, IPs, etc. But in this case, they're desperate and losing. Just eat all their resource towers and keep them pinned down. It's not easy, but it can be overcome.
In short, something that is hard to deal with is not an exploit. An exploit is something that the map was not designed to let you do. And a big long vent behind cargo, and a tall vent near viaduct were *obviously* designed for uses like this.
I'm not a fan of the crouching bug, but what the hell can you do about it? Just because he's going through a vent and an alien found him doesn't mean he has to die automatically. If you find a Marine in a vent as an Alien, back out and wait for him on the other end. If he's just trying to be a lame, game prolonging camper, get your third hive up and spore him out.
All those other map bugs: Putting buildings where they aren't supposed to go, building in walls, all that crap, I don't like. If I was a server admin, I'd at least kick for that, and maybe ban.
I've seen a single Marine sit in there and kill the hive...
2. Viaduct Vents -
Sorry, this is an exploit, it allows you to kill a hive with near complete immunity from 3 of the 5 Alien classes? How is this NOT an exploit?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think either of these is an exploit, and here's why: they may be difficult to deal with, but they are not impossible to overcome, as you suggest. There are two ways to handle both situations - one is preemptive, the other reactive.
Cargo Bay Vent
Preemptive - build Off Chambers on both ends of the vent. Makes it more difficult for a marine to get in in the first place. Stack an OC on top of a DC at the Cargo Bay side to get a line of fire into the vent. Put DCs under the hive to make it difficult for a marine to kill easily - LMG fire from farther away is less accurate and less damaging, so you force him closer, which means the OC can get him.
Reactive - if the above failed or never happened, team tactics can get him out. Skulks can eat marines in vents if they crouch themselves (difficult, but can be done). Lerks and Gorge spit can get him out. Heck, parasite the bugger to death if you have to. If the comm is health spamming him, rush the base. The comm will be distracted and you'll have your opening.
Viaduct Vent
(I refuse to believe this is an exploit under any circumstances. Why else would such a large vent be here? The mapmaker could just not have put it here.)
Preemptive - Whenever I gorge on this map, I stay skulk, run up into the vent, and build a few Offensive Chambers. Marines need jetpacks to get up here, so they can't do it immediately, which means you have time to get the resources to do this. If you have 2 hives, webbing the entrances and putting OCs there will kill most Rambos trying to build a TF there. And even if they survive, the flashing red "Structure is being attacked" message gives you adequate time to get there and kill the marine(s) before the TF and siege go back up. Before they can siege, they need to drop TF, build, upgrade, drop siege, build. If you can't rally the troops before that time, you're in trouble regardless.
Reactive - You *can* get up there with Fades and Gorges. Simply use Skulks as elevators. Jump on their backs and then jump jump jump, the Skulk moving up each time. Simple teamwork can get you up. The only time this is difficult to manage is if the marines have relocated their comm here, and have it all fortressed up with turrets, marines, IPs, etc. But in this case, they're desperate and losing. Just eat all their resource towers and keep them pinned down. It's not easy, but it can be overcome.
In short, something that is hard to deal with is not an exploit. An exploit is something that the map was not designed to let you do. And a big long vent behind cargo, and a tall vent near viaduct were *obviously* designed for uses like this.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Good post man.
We tried to get a gorge up there to build, but the Marines already had another phase & jetpacker up there in a few seconds. This is on Voogru, one of the few pub servers you will see teamwork on, and we could still not get these gys out of the vents. So if we can't do it with teamwork...what do we use? Love???
As for the vent in Cargo, OC's will not reach if you can even manage to build them up there. Parasite won't reach either. And building OCs at the other entrance dosent help as the Marines can kill them from across the hallway without being fired at a single time (OC range is somewhere between point blank and 5 feet apparently).
Gorge spit will work, but do you want to risk your Gorge dying only to see the Comm spam a few medpacks on the guy?
Lets face it on most servers its impossible to combat these exploits. And before you say it, yes Lurks can kill marines in the vent at Cargo, unless the Comm is dropping medpacks. In which case, press F4 and go get a snack.
Even if the aliens boost a fade up, he cannot escape the explosions, and has no indirect fire weapon to fight back.
Lerks use umbra and rip up marines who do not have GLs in the vent.
Get a GL, and the game goes on until the commander stockpiles enough RUs to make a counter-offensive. That can take hours though...
No, it is unbeatable.
Fades will not live long enough to do any decent acid rocketing.
Even if they launch 1-2 up before they die, they still will not damage any of the important structures which are placed in the middle, where the splash does not hit.
why not phase in?
I think people have replied well... certainly, if you wait too long to gain control of such a strategic location as the vent near viaduct, you're going to have difficulty getting rid of the marine infestation
ns_nothing is a fun map... esp once you gain control of the cargo hive area and the wealth of nodes in that area
-d$
Secondly, if the marines are up there, and they're still getting resources pouring in, then you have a crappy alien team. The minute they camp up there you should have every single one of their towers eaten up. They own that vent, but you own the rest of the map.
Even allowing that they have a siege up there, you have access to Hive 2 upgrades. Which means Umbra and Web. Combined with Carapace and Adrenaline, there's no reason your Fades can't cooperate to take out anything they can throw at you. Yes, you will die a lot. Yes, it will take a while. But you can kill it.
Simply because it's hard doesn't mean it's an exploit.
Dont (wanna) know if it is reproduceable.
In ns nothing go from marine main base (left way) to the nearest Ressource point, there right to the next ressource point (not elevator), there climb up the small ladder were fog comes up from the bottom lattice.
As alien I upgraded regeneration there standing on the lattice-
result: I stuck below (!) the lattiche and could bite any marine coming the way. Marines could not really hurt me brcause of the lattice, bad lightning and fog. There are 2 nice regeneration places too, if you are wounded.
You cant leave this place and you stuck, but you can move around down there and bite up anything that walks or stands on the latice, including 3 marines one Turret and the ressource point.
Secondly, if the marines are up there, and they're still getting resources pouring in, then you have a crappy alien team. The minute they camp up there you should have every single one of their towers eaten up. They own that vent, but you own the rest of the map.
Even allowing that they have a siege up there, you have access to Hive 2 upgrades. Which means Umbra and Web. Combined with Carapace and Adrenaline, there's no reason your Fades can't cooperate to take out anything they can throw at you. Yes, you will die a lot. Yes, it will take a while. But you can kill it.
Simply because it's hard doesn't mean it's an exploit.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Then they drop GLs.
Fades cannot escape the explosions, and lerks just die in half a second flat, their umbra doing nothing against the explosions...
Yes you will die a lot as aliens, but no, you cannot kill it if you are facing a 1/2 way decent marine team.
I've seen a single Marine sit in there and kill the hive. Impossible to kill him though since both entrances to the vent are so far away its easy to kill incoming skulks. Offensive chambers don't reach. If you have Fades you can take them out, but see exploit number 2 for why you will likely not have Fades.
Marines in this vent makes them essentially invincible. And if the comm is dropping ammo/health on them, just F4 and save your time.
2. Viaduct Vents -
Sorry, this is an exploit, it allows you to kill a hive with near complete immunity from 3 of the 5 Alien classes? How is this NOT an exploit?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
(1.) You will have fades because ... (2.) will not happen if a smart <!--emo&::skulk::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'><!--endemo--> with 33 res gets in there , gorges and makes 3 OCs near the entrances with 1 DC (only jetpackers can get in there <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> )
Teh <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'><!--endemo--> took the redroom (your soo called viaduct vents) and we killed all marines but they rebuilt in there ... they had <!--emo&::sentry::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'><!--endemo--> and <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='siege.gif'><!--endemo--> so we chouldnt make 3 hives ... after 30 mins if me (fade) with a lerk that boosted me to acidspam them but they kept repairing ... and had nades ... we got bored and the admin "nuked" them <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Next round i had 33 res as skulk and I build the OCs in redroom ... bam killed bout 3 jetpackers <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I always builld in there and BTW they cant get there w/o jets whitch u get in late game <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Next time when u cant get to them/kill them in redroom think how u can prevent them from getting in there and not going "I CANT DO THAT!!!1 - !!!!!EXPLOIT!!!!1 - FIX IT!!"
As for ns_nothing its perfectly balanced if you play it right <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
ummm Torak posted the same thing ...lol didnt see that <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
Well thanks for making the point, I can see a lot of people agree with u from the replies. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Trust me, we tried boosting Fades up. Everytime they would simply peek over the edge and finish us off after the turrets nailed us a few times. All it takes is <b>1</b> jetpacker to do this. 1!!! All he has to do is build a phase gate and bam, no more Viaduct.
It helps with the 1.04 patch that you need to have visual, but then the Comm just spams sensory sweep. And since you don't know when hes going to spam it, you could get killed at any time.
Never mind the fact Aliens usually go for Viaduct first, so its unlikely if the Viaduct gets taken down that they will be able to get Powersilo up.
Imagine if a Fade could Bile Bomb your base, and everytime you tried to get to him you would be pummeled by his fellow Fades and OCs (lets add your in light armor, because thats the closest thing there is to a Skulk vs an upgraded TF). I sure bet we would be hearing EXPLOIT!!! then.
That red room was made for an impromptu siege base if I ever saw one. Ask the map maker, I'm sure he'll agree.