Macros? The ultimate pred killer (apparently)

[Gentlemanly_headcrab]

So apparently, it goes deeper than previously expected.

If you've noticed a sudden steeper incline of aliens being super-robust when in pred duels and sort I have too. And there's a very very specific reason.

People have been sharing and coming up with a specific set of macros for A. Locating invisible preds. And B. Insta-hitting them everytime they pass right by them.

I'm not going to point fingers at specific people.

If you already know of this, good for you. If you don't, this is a heads up if you see a young runner being able to run a full circle around a pred and insta-disarm on every pass without fail.

There's already a fix in the works but I made this just as a general heads up for pred players if this sorta thing starts happening more and more often in-game.

[Heckenshutze]

Yes I'm aware of that and I've encountered myself in such duels, which are extremely difficult even if it's a mere young alien.

[Boltersam]

I noticed. It makes me hangry.

[Monoo]

Taking the honorable high road like you're supposed to, and then getting killed in an unfair fight, is never fun. Glad to hear it's being worked on.

[Xurphorus]

Jeez, I've had my suspicions even though I most of the time come out on top in those kind of duels. I always found it cheezy to see a hunter almost ALWAYS get this hit on me, and even faster than the rate it would take to click/slash. I have my thoughts on who uses them as well but I will bide my tongue and hope that it is handled correctly.

[Sarah_U.]

Got reported on an ahelped by a xeno player that had tailstab, insta-disarm and cloak-stab while fighting them for just straight out not caring and murdering them on the spot for trying to rush and kill me on sight.

I don't think I got a note, but seriously I'm not okay with players trying to get an honourable duel when using such shit-tier tactics: I will, and will keep very low-RP for a player that tries to kill me with said macros; Thus, don't do it and I actually recommend you do the same. A player with macros like these will not give you any chances as they'll target limbs (Much like Sailor has been promoting) and almost instantly delimb you.

It's shitty, I'm not okay with it, players doing it and whining just have to stop and start roleplaying / interacting before trying to act like badasses.

PS: I don't use macros and I'm on the numpad keyset. I'm elitist about macros and the fact they're just polluting the game and that they're literally unfun for anyone in combat. Hope you understand the message and why I'm saying it.

[Boltersam]

Got reported on an ahelped by a xeno player that had tailstab, insta-disarm and cloak-stab while fighting them for just straight out not caring and murdering them on the spot for trying to rush and kill me on sight.

I don't think I got a note, but seriously I'm not okay with players trying to get an honourable duel when using such shit-tier tactics.

Xenos can't participate in actual honour duels. At best, they get a fair hunting battle. Due to them being the main users of the macros, at the moment it may be time to emphasise the fact that we're hunters, not butlers.

[Shyguychizzy]

Xenos can't participate in actual honour duels. At best, they get a fair hunting battle. Due to them being the main users of the macros, at the moment it may be time to emphasise the fact that we're hunters, not butlers.

With some competent or known Xeno Players they are atleast attempt to be honorable or just those type of xenos. I'd prefer to hunt xenos rather duel em being they purposely take advantage of honorable duels, have any of you had to slash any xenos that start the fight and auto or lay to do that Xeno laying down slash, and pretend to be wounded on first fight or first slash?

[Toroic]

Xenos can't participate in actual honour duels. At best, they get a fair hunting battle. Due to them being the main users of the macros, at the moment it may be time to emphasise the fact that we're hunters, not butlers.

This is a good point, because xenos don't havr free will. If the queen orders them to break honor, they have to.

There's really no honor code as applies to xenos except that young aren't really worthy prey. I never hesitated to violently defend myself as a pred through, or to force runners to leave my territory or die.

[Xurphorus]

Textbook Machismo as a pred is all well said and done but it doesnt count for shit when a Macro using xeno comes in and ruins your time cause they wanna fight using insta-slash to delimb you.

[Sarah_U.]

All in all, I'm pretty done trying to RP with xenos as pred. I've been doing domination roleplay and such, but xenos straight out SHOVE THEMSELVES IN YOUR FACE trying to force their roleplay and wannabe cuddly-pet attitude on you.

Next time it happens, I may just step back, shoot plasma and just don't care beyond the measure of saying "I'm not hunting you, so why you came over and presented yourself as a ripe prey awaiting your death to one's most feared and known threat to your race?"

[Boltersam]

All in all, I'm pretty done trying to RP with xenos as pred. I've been doing domination roleplay and such, but xenos straight out SHOVE THEMSELVES IN YOUR FACE trying to force their roleplay and wannabe cuddly-pet attitude on you.

Next time it happens, I may just step back, shoot plasma and just don't care beyond the measure of saying "I'm not hunting you, so why you came over and presented yourself as a ripe prey awaiting your death to one's most feared and known threat to your race?"

Dishonorable. I've seen the cuddly pet thing more than a few times. Just melee them.

[Jackie Estegado]

>tests targetting macro for first time>doesn't even work properly in the situation>people start complaining>0_0

Also most aliens use macros because 1.: The marines get the advantage of needing really only the pump macro but elsehow they can just easily operate with the mouse. Even though realisticly combat is supposed to be more complex for marines because they have to operate a gun, while prettymuch for an alien thats supposed to be only using it's natural abilities has a bunch of commands that they need to use.
2.: Preds are still just overpowered in combat compared to an alien, the pred can just 2-3 hit even an ancient hunter while said ancient hunter needs to put in atleast 20, and thats considering its an ancient hunter, if you can't deal with a squishy runner then go to some free for all server and practice your goddamned melle there then.

Oh and marines can use targeting macros too, one can even just use it to locate the queen from waaaaay off screen.

[Sarah_U.]

Test the damage, ancient hunters have an higher health and armor than what you deal in form of damage to them. They also recover way faster and deal much more damage than you. I can confirm this after SEVERAL tries and tests.

I've gotten pretty shitty lag spikes lately and the concurency on actions make it extremely shit in combat. I can barrely hit my targets despite actually clicking them (They still reach me 2-tiles away for example). So yea, having this added up does not improve on my pleasure or make it to the very least, in any way, enjoyable or competitive.

Post-scriptum: Promoting an exploit or powergame to balance the use of said mechanic is not the way to solve the problem or make it enjoyable for others.
Post-scriptum II: Bolter, I'm saying almost as a way of translating my feelings toward this. I won't start dishonorably shooting things and all that, but I will do so if I am allowed at times.

[Boltersam]

2.: Preds are still just overpowered in combat compared to an alien, the pred can just 2-3 hit even an ancient hunter while said ancient hunter needs to put in atleast 20, and thats considering its an ancient hunter.

I've slugged it out one on one with an Ancient Hunter before, and I call some buuuull sheet on that, and it broke my remaining unbroken leg halfway through the fight.

if you can't deal with a squishy runner then go to some free for all server and practice your goddamned melle there then.

Even without macros, tackles have a high chance to proc and leave a Predator completely defenceless when used. With macros, even a Young Runner could dominate, say, Jones. The caste doesn't matter, tackles are very powerful against Predators. With macros, doubly so. If you want, try to fight a macroing Runner yourself, one on one, using melee. Then come talk to me.

[Jackie Estegado]

In my last fight when I gotten hit one time I got more than half my health taken AND stunned as an ancient hunter. And runners have stupid low tackle time and even the chance isn't that great, even as a marine I can often get up and without using a single macro blast the runner/hunter off of me with a shotgun.

[Boltersam]

In my last fight when I gotten hit one time I got more than half my health taken AND stunned as an ancient hunter. And runners have stupid low tackle time and even the chance isn't that great, even as a marine I can often get up and without using a single macro blast the runner/hunter off of me with a shotgun.

See, that's just the thing right there.
A shotgun.
With buckshot.
That will guaranteed hit at close range as long as you point it in their direction.

PS: It highly depends on what weapon is being used.

[Xurphorus]

I've slugged it out one on one with an Ancient Hunter before, and I call some buuuull sheet on that, and it broke my remaining unbroken leg halfway through the fight.



Even without macros, tackles have a high chance to proc and leave a Predator completely defenceless when used. With macros, even a Young Runner could dominate, say, Jones. The caste doesn't matter, tackles are very powerful against Predators. With macros, doubly so. If you want, try to fight a macroing Runner yourself, one on one, using melee. Then come talk to me.

Bolter, just last night as a pred I faced a YOUNG runner and it kept insta-tackling me as EVERY pass, I think it was Slc who was the other pred watching that fight I could be wrong, but the rate of succession for which that runner kept hitting made an eyebrow raise.

[forwardslashN]

I'm going to implement a fix, but it will be a partial fix. It will still be possible to do this, just much harder. If you want to really screw with anyone trying to do this now, just have another predator observe each duel while cloaked.

[ShortTemperedLeprechaun]

I'm going to implement a fix, but it will be a partial fix. It will still be possible to do this, just much harder. If you want to really screw with anyone trying to do this now, just have another predator observe each duel while cloaked.

I mean, wouldn't that be meta knowledge in a way? as a player, sure you can say 'yea they're macro'ing", but you can't exactly tranfer that to IC and say "they are using divine intervention, the duel is over, shoot them"

[Jackie Estegado]

If they are using a targeting macro just ahelp it so a mod can see that the person is doing it and goes the banhammer.

[forwardslashN]

I mean, wouldn't that be meta knowledge in a way? as a player, sure you can say 'yea they're macro'ing", but you can't exactly tranfer that to IC and say "they are using divine intervention, the duel is over, shoot them"

That's not it. Their macro won't work if there are two players with the same name, and visible to them, leading to a fair fight.

[Sarah_U.]

I've been extremely lonely playing pred, so even thou it's nice to know you can counter it, I can't quite play most of my games with people being dicks with that stupid thing. Especially during lowpop, I just don't bother anymore then due to how much rushing xenos do since I'm alone. (Marines generally collapse to the slightest bit of intervention from preds during lowpop... They're not stable at those times)

[Shyguychizzy]

I've been extremely lonely playing pred, so even thou it's nice to know you can counter it, I can't quite play most of my games with people being dicks with that stupid thing. Especially during lowpop, I just don't bother anymore then due to how much rushing xenos do since I'm alone. (Marines generally collapse to the slightest bit of intervention from preds during lowpop... They're not stable at those times)

I feel yah. Since its low pop...the same runner or hunter keeps on re spawning to do the same shit over and over again. Either with other preds or alone, this tends to happen quite often.

[forwardslashN]

Fixed.