Predators and Queens?

[Renomaki]

In lore, if a predator manages to kill a queen, it is considered to be one HELL of an accomplishment that would be spoken of for generations and the killer in question would become highly respected as a result of it.

In game, however, hunting queens is... Iffy.

Due to their importance to game progression, they are much too valuable to hunt outright. In my time as a predator, I seen fellow hunters kill plenty of queens, but mostly it was out of self defense or by the orders of an elder, never on their own choice.

This makes me wonder... While I normally avoid queens like a plague in order to not risk a player report (even if the queen deserves to get the blade), when WOULD it be ok to hunt a queen during normal circumstances? Do we just NEVER hunt them? Would be count towards dishonor to pop a cap in the queen's ass like it would to kill the human Commander?

I'd like to see what fellow predators think of this touchy subject. I know there have been a few very rare situations where a pred managed to make a queen into a trophy, and I myself wish I could have such an honor... But still, such a thing to me would be far too hard on the xenos, and would create absurd amounts of salt to do such a thing. What are your thoughts?

[Heckenshutze]

Third law of Newton.

If a Queen attacks, you defend. The final blow is up to yourself and how the game is evolving.

[Sailor Dave]

The issue with hunting Queens here is - in actuality - they're really not that much stronger than any other T3 caste besides having a bit more health. While in most other media they'd be a very difficult threat all on their own, their real power here is they have most of the hive with them, usually, and she controls the evolution.

Therein lies the issue, you can't kill a Queen without potentially killing a decent chunk of the hive in the process, and setting the game back by potentially ruining the xenos. Even if you managed to pull the Queen away by herself, the hive will be on her in an instant.

Lore-wise, the Queen might be valuable, but it's not really worth the cost compared to the reward. Maybe if she's persistently going out of her way to fight me and ruining any chance of getting a decent hunt out of the other xenos, or maybe if something had been building up during the round that would make it appropriate. Hard to say beyond that. It's not something I'd go out of my way to do unless it would spice up the round in a positive way, and most of the time it doesn't.

[Steelpoint]

Queens can be dangerous if its a Elite Empress. They have a high tackle chance, they have a high RNG chance of knocking off your helmet and their screech will stun you for a long time. If you are unprepared or caught by surprise a Empress can really ruin your day.

Personally if a Queen is going out of their way to attack me I'll have no issue with hunting the Queen, otherwise I leave it alone generally.

[Shyguychizzy]

Many instances, never upright considered against the rules to hunt em. Queen is the best or upmost highest accomplishment to even have slain. Usually queen tends to or always have been surrounded by xenos, and we know how fighting swarms usually wind up. At round start, yeah quite dickish, and a bit unfair. They can replenish another queen if a drone is ready to evolve though might strike or cross out competent queen in the process. Queens can be easily fought however what is just the issue with fighting queens is the screech sometimes good being able to get up but other times, queen when they have their hunting packs are quite tough. Trying to dodge xeno hunting parties or the endless waves of their tackle spam is sorta why we not hunt em being the entire hive usually gets alerted after successfully killing a queen. Have done so before but now a days hunting queen eh, like Sailor said I wouldn't put myself in position to hunt em, if there is a chance perhaps or circumstances like Queen declared or had the horde to destroy the lodge maybe. It is your judgement as predator as indeed take players out of the game except xenos...xenos are iffy being they have re-spawn capabilities if they have the larvae.

[Symbiosis]

Reno - the Empress we killed went out of its way to focus solely on us. In those situations I don't hold back. Why? Because Queens know we don't target them. Same as Young Runner (420) knows we don't enjoy hunting them.

When the player tries to abuse that OOC knowledge and attacks us - all bets are off. Two days ago I killed four young runners. They kept attacking me unprovoked and kept destroying tables in the lodge. I didn't make trophies out of them - but rather left the bodies as a warning sign.

If Queens attack Preds - they're a target. One that I will attempt to Hunt and claim. Maybe the next Queen will have more respect for our kind!