The effectiveness of cloaking

[Monoo]

Now that I've had a chance to play through several rounds - most of which were spent observing potential targets - I've noticed that plenty of observant players can easily and almost instantly spot a cloaked predator on the move. In my most recent predator game, I intended to step around a large group of xenos to get to the one I wanted to challenge. It ended with me being tacklespammed and mobbed to death by about eight of the less roleplay-inclined players because they saw me as soon as I got near.

I wanted to discuss this with the rest of the community. Do you think that what we have is an appropriate level of concealment? Do we need to be more invisible so that we can observe in secrecy, or are we meant to be partially visible? Since my predator's style is to observe a lot before making their presence known, it's irritating to try to get a bead on my prey and have them immediately discover me before I can settle in to watch.

[Shyguychizzy]

From what I have noticed as predator on Big Red, you are very visible, its not even funny.(Regards cloaking either LV or other maps) Yes, sometimes you may get away with fooling those average or even veteran players either marine or xeno. Though, going up close is a bold move it is quite a risky one as they can see you easily, certain spots or places you are on helps you if you stay stationary your not so open to be seen (Depends on the surroundings) behind a some plants or large items you stand on can help you while cloaking. Mostly standing in marine blind spots helps but xenos can see you got to be a bit more careful with them. When I ever am on the hunt I either for instance the start of the round I see a few runners or hunters I stand very still checking on my energy until they pass away or I am clear to move out of their field of view. Our cloak could be a bit concealing but then again you get an outline in which you can see in this way they got it or can possibly get it a silhouette. I think they gotta do something about Big Red regarding our cloaks, while cloaked you can automatically see the the outline or people can see oh there's invisible guy over there.

[Boltersam]

You can fool most people if you keep a fairly good distance. However, if there's a big group of people, just try to arc around them and stay out of their vision, even if cloaked. There's always someone that sees you, and more often then not, when one person starts attacking, everyone else joins in. I have not seen this fact proven wrong very often.

On Big Red, the problem lies that in making cloaking much more transparent to allow for it, it makes cloaking too powerful on LV624. My suggestion is that instead we gain a specialised camouflage device that makes our sprite cloaked, but also turns it to the same colour as the terrain, or a shade lighter or darker.

On LV624, just keep your distance, large groups of Aliens are to be avoided (Tackling is another thing that needs to be addressed, it's way too effective right now.), and stick to objects like the trees that are all over the map, and especially use any corpses you find to hide on.

[Sarah_U.]

I generally go all out on preys if they tend to attack me. If I see 2 xenos I leave no quarters and immediately pull out more dangerous items rather than stick to my melee weapon (AND THAT'S BEING NICE, preds generally use ANYTHING against xenos).

My personal recommendation is to completly avoid xenos as they LITERALLY see you in the dark spots they can't see. In the open they'll see a shaded edge shape thing of an humanoid, but as soon as you enter an area they can't see they PERFECTLY SEE YOU.
So yea, I generally only duel xenos when I know they're away from everyone else or alone. As soon as you see more than one person you should immediately consider that A) Your opponent is either cheating by gaining assistance B) The newcomers are destroying their honour and that of your prey thus needs to be taken care of quickly.
Personally, I've grown attached to the idea of blasting anything that annoys the duel in any way, but never applied it.


BACK ON TOPIC: Cloak would work better as a full body shading with lower alpha and/or a resprite using such method and a fluctuating gradiant... Either way, preds get CC'd way too hard to perfectly stick to their honour code.

[Biolock]

Cloaks shouldn't work on xenos anyway, as it's uncannon, as for humans, it'd be nice if the backdrop your standing on didn't make a difference as to whether or not you look like an asshole trying to hide under a bed sheet.

[northcote4]

Truth be told, I've not often had issues with cloaking. Obviously it's not completely infallible, and certain keen-eyed marines and xenos will be able to spot you (xenos having the obvious advantage), but I'm fine with that.

In general, if I don't want to be spotted it comes down to using the terrain: standing on top of certain items makes you easier or harder to spot. The same occurs with certain terrain features, such as the trees around LV-624. And I've not once been spotted by a marine whilst standing on sand, as the sprite is (as far as my eyes can see) literally indistinguishable.

Though I can't speak for Big Red, my experience with cloak on LV-624 is that it pretty much works perfectly as it should (barring the xenos-can't-see lore shenanigans).

[Biolock]

I'd rather there be a way to quickly toggle between low light vision and regular vision like there is with the xenos. That way sticking to the shadows can be more fluid. That, or perhaps being able to see shades of darkness as a predator so you can know where you will be /less/ visible.