Common scenarios as a Predator vs the Code of Honour

[ThePiachu]

So, I've observed a few Predators here and there, and I'm wondering how the various actions should be treated (as in, should the Predator fight, run, or murder everyone):

1) A Predator is hunting xenos. They roam around the map, and eventually get swarmed by xenos.

2) A Predator is hunting humans. Eventually the Marines decide to hunt the Predator in a group.

3) A Predator is on the Almayer. The ship goes to Code Red and a mob of non-combat personel starts hunting the Predator.

4) Another Predator has been taken into the hive and is infected.

5) Another Predator has been taken into the hive and killed.

6) Another Predator has been taken onto Almayer, along with their gear.

7) A Queen is in OVI and knows the Predator is close by. She refuses to de-ovi.

8) A Predator has put their pray into crit. Their friends, xenos or Marines come in and take the victim away to heal them.

9) A Predator is on Almayer, an MP is actively pursuing the Predator with non-lethals.

What should the Predator do in these situations? Are there any other specific situations which should be addressed?

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As I see it:

1 and 2) If a Predator hunts a specific group, that group retaliating in numbers definitely makes them a Hunting Worthy Prey. Not sure if they'd fall under Unworthy Prey - the Predator is definitely hunting and disrupting them. Would running away from them plasma stunning them be considered an act of cowardice, or a sensible retreat?

3) While killing the people with lethals would be somewhat justified, it's still a bit of a dick move - best avoid confrontation. So somewhere between Hunting Worthy for engaging you and Innocent because they are essential to the round and you are in their territory.

4) As per Imperator Titan's post, this is a situation where an all-out assault on the hive is justified to prevent the Abomination from spawning.

5) If you know for sure the Predator is dead and not infected, you probably should retrieve them / detonate them. This would probably not warrant "Unworthy Prey" rules though to avoid being a dick to xenos. An active xeno hunt might be in order though...

6) See, this one is tricky, because going onto Almayer is a process, and not everyone you'll come across will be on the know about the Predator necessarily. Definitely try rescuing them but try stealth above everything else until you see who has Predator gear / your hunting buddy.

7) If you're doing this early game, you're being a dick, so stop it. If you're doing it late game where there are only a few xenos around, give the Queen a warning shot or slash and probably escalate from there. Hunting Worthy Prey for giving orders to kill.

8) This is a bit of a tricky one. On one hand, taking your trophy away is an insult. If this was a Predator, it would be honour duel time. However, since humans or xenos have no honour, "Prey insulting a Predator" is a Hunting Worthy Prey. On the other hand, taking on a group of Marines or a medic for trying to save their buddy can be a large escalation. Best to figure out a limit on how far to pursue the grudge and who to hunt, but don't start breaking down the FOB or the like?

9) Probably try disarming them first and if they pursue further they obviously are asking to be hunted?

[Sneakyr]

So, I've observed a few Predators here and there, and I'm wondering how the various actions should be treated (as in, should the Predator fight, run, or murder everyone):

1) A Predator is hunting xenos. They roam around the map, and eventually get swarmed by xenos.

2) A Predator is hunting humans. Eventually the Marines decide to hunt the Predator in a group.

3) A Predator is on the Almayer. The ship goes to Code Red and a mob of non-combat personel starts hunting the Predator.

4) Another Predator has been taken into the hive and is infected.

5) Another Predator has been taken into the hive and killed.

6) Another Predator has been taken onto Almayer, along with their gear.

7) A Queen is in OVI and knows the Predator is close by. She refuses to de-ovi.

8) A Predator has put their pray into crit. Their friends, xenos or Marines come in and take the victim away to heal them.

9) A Predator is on Almayer, an MP is actively pursuing the Predator with non-lethals.

What should the Predator do in these situations? Are there any other specific situations which should be addressed?

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going to answer these twice one with what the honor code allows and what I would do before someone else comes in
disclaimer: this is all from memory and I've been gone a while

honor code:
1. this one isn't specific enough, depending on whether or not they were engaged in combat with a specific xeno at the time or not determines what is acceptable
2. unga blast authorized
3. those non combat personnel can get unga blasted but any time a predator has a not retarded "hurr i got fuckin stuck on the ds and didn't try to leave" reason to be on the almayer there's some other clause that would allow them to unga blast anyway
4. unga blast until that pred is detonated or dead, extra hardcore
5. unga blast until you get the gear secured
6. see above
7. kind of grey. really you shouldn't attack the queen but someone could probably rules pretzel into saying that they were metagaming the fact that you wouldn't attack them unless they de-ovi'd or use "issuing kill orders" or something
8. unga blast authorized on those assisting, authorized on the target if the help was intentional
9. like I said any non-retarded reason to be on the almayer already authorizes unga blast, and but regardless "fuck em up" is allowed since inevitably the pred will either get cuffed and looted or ganked by whoever shows up after the MP stuns them

my opinion:
1. still not specific
2. i'd fuck off and then try to isolate the guy I was hunting unless they cornered me
3. since I'm probably here for pred gear or some shit, fuck them up as much as I need to to send them the message to start retreating, then let them go
4. unga blast
5. try to get their corpse without too much of a fuss, and unless the xenos are intentionally guarding it just to be dicks about it (not an impossible situation) try to minimize casualties
6. stealth preferred, unga blast when I must
7. >hunting queen
8. stun caster, grab my target and fuck off
9. obliterate with unga caster

why did you make this thread?

[Steelpoint]

A lot of it is just common sense. Some people seem to have a idea that a Predator is a lot more restrictive than it is, which is not quite true. Although the pressures of being a Predator oft make Predator players more timid in their responses to avoid causing drama. To the point where its kinda expected you'll get a Player Report for the most mundane thing, usually killing another Marine/Xeno when it was not convenient for them.

I'll also say that the situations where a Predator has a legitimate reason to board the Almayer are few are far in between, and in the cases where they do have a reason, the reasoning often gives more leeway to use lethal force to a greater degree.

As you noted, the mere fact a Predator is infected, or there is a Abomination in play, gives all the other Predators full authority to go balls to the wall and blast anything and everything in their way to undo the mistake.

As far as I'm concerned, the Queen is fair game to hunt. But the Queen is generally one of the last Xenos a Predator will consider Hunting. Mostly because the moment you touch the Queen the entire Hive is going to come down on your hard and fast. If anything, killing a Queen when the Xenos are in the single digits usually helps end the game faster.

On number eight, you can go full stun caste on people trying to steal your kill.

[Casany]

lol just use the spike launcher isn’t against honor code and can kill a queen in like 8 shots

For real though, I feel like predators and the honor code in general need a bit of a rework because ranged weapons aren’t supposed to be honorable yet you can use the spike launcher and plasma pistol and it’s honorable, just as well you can interpret it in a lot of different ways which isn’t really good, I as a player would rather it be black and white so predators don’t have to worry about being reported for things they thought were OK

[Steelpoint]

Spike Launcher is honourable, Plasma Pistol is not.

[Casany]

Spike Launcher is honourable, Plasma Pistol is not.

Yeah but why is the spike launcher honorable? It does more damage than most other pred weapons, and I’ve seen it shoot limbs off with one lucky hit. Why use any other weapon if you can just stand in the dark shootin someone with the spike launcher?

[Steelpoint]

Because it is a non-plasma weapon.

That's it.

[Karmac]

A few things are kind of iffy in regards to stuff like spike launchers, but ideally once we fix our Elder council we'll have the rules sorted good and proper to fit in with the new CM.

[ThePiachu]

Yeah but why is the spike launcher honorable? It does more damage than most other pred weapons, and I’ve seen it shoot limbs off with one lucky hit. Why use any other weapon if you can just stand in the dark shootin someone with the spike launcher?

Predator gear exists to be used. If you are a new Predator, as long as you follow the honour code, you can use anything at your disposal. If you're feeling robust, feel free to restrict your tool use - that's part of the fun. Playing a Predator is not about "winning", because you don't have a win condition, it's about having a fun Hunt while making the game more interesting for other players as well. Restrictions apply to Plasma Caster because it's something you use that is very strong in comparison.

A few things are kind of iffy in regards to stuff like spike launchers, but ideally once we fix our Elder council we'll have the rules sorted good and proper to fit in with the new CM.

It would be interesting to have review of the Honour Code to clarify a few things as they come up. Sounds neat!

why did you make this thread?

Because I want to figure out what is the appropriate response level for situations that I've seen come up.

[Casany]

Predator gear exists to be used. If you are a new Predator, as long as you follow the honour code, you can use anything at your disposal. If you're feeling robust, feel free to restrict your tool use - that's part of the fun. Playing a Predator is not about "winning", because you don't have a win condition, it's about having a fun Hunt while making the game more interesting for other players as well. Restrictions apply to Plasma Caster because it's something you use that is very strong in comparison.

You seem to be underestimating the spike launcher.

Infinite ammo, (15 with auto recharge over time) two shots can take hands or feet off, even on an armored opponent, always leaves shrapnel and almost always breaks bone if they hit the head.

It’s much more fucking powerful then the plasma caster imo, at least if an anihilation blast hits me I’m not gonna break bones and lose a limb, just gonna be stunned.

Imagine, if you will.

A predator player isn’t in the mood to fight with a sword or spear and just wants to stay back but also hunt. They get the spike launcher, go out and kill a few marines. From the preds point of view they did nothing wrong, and technically they didn’t.

Imagine it from the marines point of view. You’re standing there about to fight xenos when suddenly a predator appears a bit away (or in the dark) and opens up with its spike launcher. In a matter of seconds your hand is gone and head is broke!, with shrapnel in your chest. You fire back at the predator like any sane marine would and then it runs up and decaps you because you’re too slow to escape.

Who’s that fun for? The predator sure but it adds nothing to the round and gives the marine player no chance to even try and escape to fight again. Nor does it add any semblance of RP.

Take it from a xeno side. You’re just an elder lurker, you’ve taken a while to get here and have had a good round. Marines are retreating and you’re almost ancient. Suddenly you see a predator materialize. You think nothing of it, queen said not to mess with it. The it fires on you with the spike launcher, getting 4 off before you react because you weren’t exactly paying attention to it when it was that far. You’re close to crit and are forced to retreat, only to be tracked by the predator. You call in the hive, the predator is swarmed and blows up, killing you and half the other xenos in the process.

Again, no RP, barely any chance for fighting back, nothing.

The spike launcher promotes the OPPOSITE of what a predator player should be trying to do, which is add to the round. It subtracts, it takes away player choice.

This is why I don’t think it should be honorable

[Karmac]

This isn't worth aguing over, I can guarantee it'll be under review sooner or later.

[CABAL]

Another example: Predator kidnaped researcher and you as a PFC marine are trying to do some RP by talking to him. Predator "common sense" response? Stun you with plasma.
Immediately after that a xeno emerges from vents and attacks you. Predator "common sense" response? Laugh.

Code of Honor is not enough for Pedators in my opinion. Currently it is "valid" to do like stated above sentencing marine to death by dick move without him being "unworthy".

[Steelpoint]

The common sense thing to do would be to shoot the Predator, but no one does it because likely the shooters will die before the Predator dies.

The current code of honor, while lacking in some areas, does give Predator players some broad room to play the role in their own way.

At the end of the day, the Predators are just as much antagonists as Xenomorphs. Only with some extra rules due to the individual Predator being "generally" more powerful than a individual Xenomorph.

[Karmac]

Another example: Predator kidnaped researcher and you as a PFC marine are trying to do some RP by talking to him. Predator "common sense" response? Stun you with plasma.
Immediately after that a xeno emerges from vents and attacks you. Predator "common sense" response? Laugh.

Code of Honor is not enough for Pedators in my opinion. Currently it is "valid" to do like stated above sentencing marine to death by dick move without him being "unworthy".

perfectly acceptable, changing the honor code to restrict situations like this is a terrible idea both mechanically and lore-wise, humans are lesser creatures and if we had to cater to every marine that walked up and decided to play nice we'd be spending the entire round talking to retards

[ThePiachu]

Yeah, if you go hunting in the woods, you don't talk with the rabbits or the deer. If a deer gets caught in a root and a cougar starts mauling it, you might find it funny.

As the saying goes, wolf doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.

[Karmac]

that said no one's going to judge you if you hate preds that do that kind of thing