Hive Theorycrafting!

[x31stOverlord]

So, with the new changes to the Queen and what I assume will be changing tactics of the Xenos in general, what are your thoughts on some new Hive Locations that were previously a bad idea/unfeasible due to how the queen previously worked?

LV-624 - I don't think this will change much due to the fog so typical locations may still be used. Might see a few sandtemple hives perhaps, maybe more western cave hives.

Big Red - Lots of places for a hive to be done on this map anyway. Likely locations I think will be Lambda or south research. Due to how open the map is I don't think we'll see the queen being close to the LZs.

Ice Colony - Ice has a lot more freedom than most of the maps because of its sheer size and multilevel map. Most commonly the Xenos main hive will be underground. Location depending on where the queen wishes. Typically in the underground caves or near engineering. However with the new system and the slightly updated map I can see the old T-Comms being an interesting new choice for a Xeno Hive. With little real reason to go there I think marines might be tricked into hunting through the underground colony whilst the main hive is tucked away. Might not work but without actual experimentation I can't say how effective it will be.

Prison - Haven't really played Xeno on this map so I can't speculate too much but again due to blast doors the ability to set up outside of the civilian residences.

OW - Never played the map.

However. Now that eggs can be moved the main egglaying location can be different from the nesting sites so Hive Lords are more important and can prove a lot more tactical.

So the main point is for your ideas and theories on good tactics and nesting places/hive locations. I think it's a good time for Xenos to get creative in movement and locations afforded to the tunnels and flexibilities created by mobile egg placing activities!

[Dumblike]

Prison - Haven't really played Xeno on this map so I can't speculate too much but again due to blast doors the ability to set up outside of the civilian residences.

I don't think xenos have much of an option of where to make their hive at Prison, it's either civilian sector or slowly making front hives, like in high-sec, because of the timed doors.

Ice Colony - Ice has a lot more freedom than most of the maps because of its sheer size and multilevel map. Most commonly the Xenos main hive will be underground. Location depending on where the queen wishes. Typically in the underground caves or near engineering. However with the new system and the slightly updated map I can see the old T-Comms being an interesting new choice for a Xeno Hive. With little real reason to go there I think marines might be tricked into hunting through the underground colony whilst the main hive is tucked away. Might not work but without actual experimentation I can't say how effective it will be.

I've seen some good rounds in which xenos setup their hive at dorms/hydro and it's just really good, having access to almost any point on the map with ease; and, the Queen can keep underground while the xenos maintain the hive at the surface, because of the ladders near. The con of these hive locations are that, they are easily
surrounded/flanked, but, overall, pretty strong if done right.

Big Red - Lots of places for a hive to be done on this map anyway. Likely locations I think will be Lambda or south research. Due to how open the map is I don't think we'll see the queen being close to the LZs.

I had a really amazing round in which the Queen (after the ovipositor update) did setup the main hive at the SW caves, and marines were pushing from virology, and, just by the layout the place had, we were able to capture one by one, and, well, won easily. It's a great place to defend, and marines can't use CAS or OB to get in.
Though it is not as deep as research, I think research has many more spots to be flanked by

[jalen earl]

From what ive seen that SW virology cave pocket is awesome. 2 narrow passages in. Just get a hivelord to make loads of tunnels and you are good

[A normal peep]

The hive will almost always be on the queen spawn location so she can grow an ovipositor fast as possible and let the xenos evolve

[jalen earl]

The hive will almost always be on the queen spawn location so she can grow an ovipositor fast as possible and let the xenos evolve

However larva still tick over while the queen is mobile so it does open it up to location changes for a short window of time

[A normal peep]

However larva still tick over while the queen is mobile so it does open it up to location changes for a short window of time

They are almost always in places with only 1 entry area and far away from LZ 1

[misto]

had a rotten round last night that was a bit of a perfect storm of poor decisions. south central research hive on big red. now, this location can work, if you really make it work or if the marines are dumb or lazy, but they were not dumb or lazy on this round. queen insisted we stay home and build up this hive instead of ever engaging the isolated scouting squads throughout the rest of big red. this culminated in research being surrounded from basically all angles as the marine squads all converged from the north, east and west in an overwhelming mass of grunting ape flesh and slaughtered the 40 or so SSD larva that were stockpiled (because it was a lowpop time of day and only a few people have roundstart as xeno turned on)

anyways, the point here is that its good to spread weeds out and get the team skirmishing outside the hive to cut down on enemy numbers instead of putting all your eggs in one mega hive basket that gets surrounded and pulled apart by 80 marines converging at once

[GoliathTheDespoiler]

So, with the new changes to the Queen and what I assume will be changing tactics of the Xenos in general, what are your thoughts on some new Hive Locations that were previously a bad idea/unfeasible due to how the queen previously worked?

LV-624 - I don't think this will change much due to the fog so typical locations may still be used. Might see a few sandtemple hives perhaps, maybe more western cave hives.

The Northwest and maintaining your frontline in the west is quite effective, marines aren't used to it yet.

Big Red - Lots of places for a hive to be done on this map anyway. Likely locations I think will be Lambda or south research. Due to how open the map is I don't think we'll see the queen being close to the LZs.

T H E C A V E S A R E G R E A T P L E A S E U S E T H E M

Ice Colony - Ice has a lot more freedom than most of the maps because of its sheer size and multilevel map. Most commonly the Xenos main hive will be underground. Location depending on where the queen wishes. Typically in the underground caves or near engineering. However with the new system and the slightly updated map I can see the old T-Comms being an interesting new choice for a Xeno Hive. With little real reason to go there I think marines might be tricked into hunting through the underground colony whilst the main hive is tucked away. Might not work but without actual experimentation I can't say how effective it will be.

If you want to bully marines, hive at the crashed ship, if you want a somewhat fair game, hive west of hydro. If you want it to be greatly in your favor, but not as stupid as the crashed ship, hive underground anywhere.

Prison - Haven't really played Xeno on this map so I can't speculate too much but again due to blast doors the ability to set up outside of the civilian residences.

Sadly Prison only has 1 place you can hive unless everyone opts out of queen and a drone goes somewhere else.