Remove the Mech Spam

[UnKuT]

Summary (a quick, 2-3 sentence summary): Limit the amount of Ripleys that the marines can have on a round

Benefits (How this will benefit the server and game as a whole): Put an end to the constant complaints/fighting that the players have because of this.

Details (Description of how you think this would work, the benefits, etc): I have been hearing a lot of players complain about how the marines have been spam building Ripleys in order to win the rounds. Personally I have never witnessed this before except for last round, where I spawned as an Alien larvae already approaching the Sulaco with the rest of the Xenos, waiting to board it. When I got there there were literally around TEN Ripleys, waiting for us. I don't know if it was meta or not, but that's besides the point anyway. As you can imagine, Xenos did not STAND A CHANCE and were immediately slaughtered; Tier 3 Aliens included. Now I was preferring to stay out of this fight but after what I witnessed I think this tactic is far too OP and will grant the marines a serious exploitable advantage during rounds. So what I personally suggest is limiting the amount of Ripleys that the marines can build and use during a round to a lesser number, around three to five, depending on the amount of Alien players on the server. That way the Ripleys can still be an option without making the game straight out unbalanced.

Keep in mind I usually play more as a Marine than as a Xeno, therefore it's not like this would affect me this much and in fact I shouldn't even be complaining about this; in other words, I am not butthurt or upset. But from what I've witnessed I simply think is one serious flaw right now and has to be addressed. However you guys can feel free to discuss this on this thread; it's better than fighting about it IG, at least you can do so here. Just try to be reasonable.

Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it): Either add a rule stating that depending on the server pop, only 3 to 5 Ripleys can built (something like, idk, 80 players in server: 3 ripleys 100: 4 ripleys 120: 5 ripleys, this is just an example, not an exact calculation though) or literally edit the code as to not allow any more than a few Ripleys to be active on the server at any given time.

[CaptainBritton02]

Summary (a quick, 2-3 sentence summary): Limit the amount of Ripleys that the marines can have on a round

Benefits (How this will benefit the server and game as a whole): Put an end to the constant complaints/fighting that the players have because of this.

Details (Description of how you think this would work, the benefits, etc): I have been hearing a lot of players complain about how the marines have been spam building Ripleys in order to win the rounds. Personally I have never witnessed this before except for last round, where I spawned as an Alien larvae already approaching the Sulaco with the rest of the Xenos, waiting to board it. When I got there there were literally around TEN Ripleys, waiting for us. I don't know if it was meta or not, but that's besides the point anyway. As you can imagine, Xenos did not STAND A CHANCE and were immediately slaughtered; Tier 3 Aliens included. Now I was preferring to stay out of this fight but after what I witnessed I think this tactic is far too OP and will grant the marines a serious exploitable advantage during rounds. So what I personally suggest is limiting the amount of Ripleys that the marines can build and use during a round to a lesser number, around three to five, depending on the amount of Alien players on the server. That way the Ripleys can still be an option without making the game straight out unbalanced.

Keep in mind I usually play more as a Marine than as a Xeno, therefore it's not like this would affect me this much and in fact I shouldn't even be complaining about this; in other words, I am not butthurt or upset. But from what I've witnessed I simply think is one serious flaw right now and has to be addressed. However you guys can feel free to discuss this on this thread; it's better than fighting about it IG, at least you can do so here. Just try to be reasonable.

Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it): Either add a rule stating that depending on the server pop, only 3 to 5 Ripleys can built (something like, idk, 80 players in server: 3 ripleys 100: 4 ripleys 120: 5 ripleys, this is just an example, not an exact calculation though) or literally edit the code as to not allow any more than a few Ripleys to be active on the server at any given time.

I agree with this. Even as a Marine, the ripley spam is too much.

[mcalexev]

Well, there goes my right to deploy my mecha kill squads. XD +1

[Gentlefood]

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3450 Beat you on this one by a few minutes, but your post is more detailed. I'll leave it up to staff on which one to keep.

[coroneljones]

+1
The ripley is designed as a POWER LOADER,A DAMN CARGO MECH
Researchers making them for combat should be slapped and stripped of their diploma,cause why the hell would you mass produce cargo loaders as combat mechs,they should only be used as a desperate weapon by say...anyone stuck near one without a gun and xenos getting into the room

[HiddenRebel]

Mech Spam sure looks funny! Though I do agree, its OP for the marines, If we lower the limit due to amount of players, that chance for spam isn't that bad, it means that if aliens are beat by them, then their not skilled enough to be large enough or the marines are actually organized, which means that the server is probably close to crashing, as that is nearly impossible

[K0NFL1QT]

You know what needs a limit? The size of peoples signatures, holy crap.

[Feweh]

Ya... showing up to Sulaco as a Xeno to fucking 8 Ripley's chillin in the hangar is ridiculous

[HalfdeadKiller]

One could make ripleys take less damage. I remember some reskinning was in the works. If that was done, find a way to make it so the ripleys aren't air tight closed cockpit mechs. Have them maybe be weaker, or the pilot take some brute damage every slash.

[Surrealistik]

-1 until Crushers are nerfed and lose their immunity to devastation level explosions (ground zero of demo charges/massive potassium bombs, supermatter explosions, and orbital strikes).

Sorry, if Aliens can spam bullshit Crushers, Marines get to spam bullshit Ripleys in response; that's what we call an arms race and adaptation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaOgu2CQtI

[Sgtkumar]

I do agree a limit should be placed. Having seen five ripleys pop up within 20 minutes is kinda bullshit, even though they may die really quick.

I don't know if I have the authority, but +1 for having a limit.

[K0NFL1QT]

Have any of you actually tried Researcher? First off, the research room has the barest minimum to get research started at the lower levels. You have NO plasteel, and by the marine rules the there is no way to go and get any apart from begging engineering, because you're not allowed on the planet. Even after working all the way up to getting the Exosuit Fabricator board, and constructing it, the Researcher doesn't even have access to use it. So you can't use the Exosuit fabricator, and even if you did you have no plasteel to make even one Ripley, let alone several. Yes, it's happened once or twice, but those were exceptional rounds that must've had a lot of command collaboration specifically to allow the Ripleys.

So Ripley Rushes are in no way, at all, common enough to worry about limiting them specifically.

[genjufens]

I can understand the desire to limit the use of Mech units as they are quite powerful. Lately it feels like playing a round as a researcher is a huge waste of time. Of the many actions I could take to help, it is whittled down to two things I see at this point. Making PAI's for anyone who wants one. And making grenades, of which I can really only make poly acid, as we can't use napalm for obvious reasons, but then beyond that I have had staff members ask me to not use chloral hydrate or even potassium,water explosives as they could cause ship decompression. So i can make poly acid....which I have yet to see a xeno die from, but I have seen plenty of ways in which the poly acid harms the marines. Attempting to use the chemical sprayer for instance usually ends with other marines dieing because they get in the way of the spray. Since polyacid melts most marine weapons and items and doesn't really seem to harm the xenos or just barely hurts them, maybe its just the meta fact that people run like hell when they see a grenade. whatever the case it's a joke to make them as they are more than likely just going to harm marines and promote the xeno progression.

So moving toward the mechs. I would appreciate if we just removed them entirely from the game as I have been put in the brig already for a whole round becuase RP wise i "couldn't see the combat value of using a powerloader to fight the xenos".....honestly i did this because staff directly contacted me with a warning saying that this mech better not be for combat. If a researcher, whos job it is to see things outside the box, yet I am unable to see the combat value in a metal suit with a big drill and clamp, I do not deserve to be a researcher and I deserve to be put in the brig for such horrible stupidity. This is why I say that you should just take them out or take the circuits out or something, because as it stands if i play a researcher, my time is spent getting harrassed by command for things i can't give them, and any attempts i make to improve the life of marines is more likely to get them killed.

I even tried to just make power cells for APC's one round just to do something not combat to improve the marines game....I can't open an APC even when i gain engineering access.....Why do i even have improved power cells? In the end it just feels like i can make all these silly toys but I can't actually do anything to help the round. Either remove the mechs or just remove the researcher entirely. I for one never intend to play as one again. No desire to be complained to for two hours and eventually put in the brig. Or make actually useful grenades, but have staff frown upon my actions.

These are just my opinions on the researcher, so take them at that, but know that it really seems like the researcher needs change.

[UnKuT]

That's one hell of a first post.

[genjufens]

Just wanted to be thorough on where I am coming from. Would love to hear other peoples opinions on it as well.

[Mycroft Macarthur]

anyone who says mechs shouldn't be used for combat has clearly never actually watched aliens, of COURSE we're taking them into battle because giant robots and mechs are fucking BOSS! if you dont want us to use them then dont give em to us at all because if i see an empty one and i think it'll be awesome, change my name to char aznable because im going IN and those alien fucks are going to find out first hand why gundam is still popular after 35 years.

lets be honest, people will do anything as long as it'll be cool as all shit, our new directive one is to be fresh as all fuck.

[UnKuT]

Yeah no, admins themselves stated powerloaders are POWERLOADERS, they're meant for labor, not combat. There was only one used in Aliens and that was by Ripley when she really had nothing else to use. That's also how it can apply to the server, when a survivor is unnarmed with aliens breaking in his room or something.

[genjufens]

No i get why they want it to be the way it is, I am just saying to remove the option to build them then because it kind of feels like a slap in the face to have an occupation which is effectively worthless. Just don't even give us the option to make a powerloader then and this isn't an issue. There is a crapton of items i could make as a researcher that serve absolutely no purpose to helping the marines or the ship in any way and if the option is there, someone is going to want it. Most of the time if i played a researcher I have command and the CL asking for the mechs for "Robot Boxing" or the like. And now when i tell them i can't even through looc I am met with hostility and usually put in the brig for insubordination. Please if we can't use them, take them away so i can stop being harrassed by other players to make them.

[Mycroft Macarthur]

dude, ripley was on the sulaco when she fought the alien queen, she had an armory all of five feet away filled to the brim with pulse rifles, smart guns, anti tank weapons of numerous types, ammunition, flamers, it would be like being a kid in a candy store, she went for the power loader because it was big, noticeable and imposing, the alien will take notice of the largest scariest threat nearby because the xenomorphs are like animals in that respect, now you tell me whats cooler.

walking to the armory, grabbing a pulse rifle and unloading into the alien queen for the effortless kill

or getting into a goddamn mech and facing the best the alien hive can bring to bear in fucking MELEE, in honorable combat up close.

facing enemies with fists or knives or swords or some shit is always for a much more intense fight, and therefor more exciting scene then just shooting someone dead is, thats why in action movies people lose or otherwise throw away their guns all the time so they can finish the battle in close quarters, it becomes a much more PERSONAL battle, half the time when you had swordfighters in films from the 40's they spent more time insulting each other then they actually did FIGHTING because that made for better films, more interesting characters and interesting stories, thats why in gundam half the time they throw out their pimp ass rocket pods and beam rifles and gatling guns and shit only to pull out a fucking lightsaber or a knife or some crap like that.

as for them not being meant for combat WELL NO SHIT! if they were dedicated combat machines not only would they be made to look it with the addition of new weapons and armor but they'd probably be painted up, in mechwarrior online people trick their mechs out ALL THE FUCKING TIME, i spent half as much time customizing my mech's appearance as i did the weapon systems, bombers and fighters in the second world war very often had cool paintjobs applied to their craft by their crews and the guys in the tanks did it all the time too! in fact camouflage was something done by individual tank crews and didn't exist as a military wide concept outside of the german and soviet military until vietnam, but guess what? people use weapons that were never meant to be used AS weapons, ALL THE FUCKING TIME, its called HUMAN HISTORY, look it the fuck UP! the only reason we even INVENTED weapons was because we'd been using tools made for hunting or mining or farming up till that point and we realised it could be even BETTER at killing people, firearms didn't even really even HAVE a distinction between a dedicated military weapon and a hunting weapon until the technology was one or two hundred years old, people will use things as weapons which were never meant to be weapons as long as human beings exist and have a psychological need to kill something else, if we're using ripleys its because its the best melee combat option we have, you think i'd fuck around with a ripley if i had a chainsaw or a longsword or some shit? fuck no! i'd be out there taking the risks for the potentially big gains, especially if i had b18 armor.

long story short.

DEAL

WITH

IT

oh but fighting with the weapons and tools at our disposal is WRONG you say? we shouldn't fight smart, the rules are there to prevent marines from abusing shit!

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=1363

notice the section that says marines cant use ripleys in combat?

THERE ISNT ONE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ednKK8GlvwI

[genjufens]

Macarthur, I am well aware the rule isn't on the rules board, but I have had staff just straight up tell me to stop building them and never build them again unless RO loses theirs. I personally find that the concept is a little silly as of course we would use everything at our disposal to try to win and telling the commander I can't give them a powerloader for combat because it's not for combat makes me feel like the stupidest fucking researcher ever. But i am trying to follow rules laid down by staff members.

If they decide that we can't use a big robotic suit with a massive clamp and a drill for combat, then fine. It sucks ass, but fine. just take the option away because everyone who comes into research is going to ask me for one and some of those people are gonna get mad enough to make my round experience shit. If your gonna make it a rule not to use it, then please put it on the rules so I can stop being harassed by people to make one. That's all I am saying.

I do agree with you Macarthur that humanity would use this mech for a weapon and they would mass produce them to try to stop a xeno invasion. Humans are a sentient species and they adapt to their surroundings. Attempt to solve problems by any means and generally do whatever it takes to stay on top. For the sake of gameplay balance though 8 ripleys all next to each other is a real bitch to fight against and it def. becomes something I could see xeno players complaining about.

Bear in mind it took the researcher doing a lot of work to make those. Convincing engineering to give plasteel. Ordering a bunch more metal, Building the exosuit fab. Convincing command to give you engineering access so you can use the exosuit fab. then actually building the mech. It's an ordeal and it will likely take all your time and resources. I would make combat mechs, but you just straight up can't anyway. The Ripley is the only mech option. In any case as I have reiterated, either put it in the rules not to make one for combat, or remove them entirely because as it stands, playing as a researcher following staff requests = spending time in the brig.

[Mycroft Macarthur]

oh dont get me wrong, i agree 8 ripleys is kind of ridiculous and would give xenos just as hard a time as we tend to have with crushers but ripleys in combat as a concept in ITSELF isn't bad, i dont see anyone punishing xenos for their hand meta so it seems unfair to me marines get bitched at over every little thing but xenos only scarcely get punished for shit.

i also agree that a decision should be made as regards to whether or not something is allowed in the rules or not, flip flopping of that kind pisses me off and i tried for AGES to get them to make rules for survivors due to bullshit i had been witnessing when i joined the forums regarding survivor rp, once we have a solid stance on a topic we can then see about deciding whether its fair or not and make a proper discussion and decision accordingly.

[genjufens]

oh god the hand meta. well i agree that it feels like the xeno's get a lot more weight on leniency toward them regarding meta. But it happens on both sides....just yesterday I found out about the whole wheelchair+fire extinguisher abuse and how unbelievable overpowered it can be. Allowing you to literally make a t1 xeno's body disappear from the round and it's smashed into the chair when it was at full health. Just goes back to the whole people use anything as a weapon issue.

So +1 on getting some solid rules down for the mechs. I'm not happy with not being able to use them, but hopefully when the xenos blatently win round after round with one hit hand crits and atmos leaks and every other meta abuse i can think of they will give us back our powerloaders for combat purposes.

[RED119]

ripley must be nerfed or lessened in power, it is too much as is +1

[Kinrany]

"You don't know that mechs are powerful" rules are stupid. Either make Ripley weaker than conventional weapons or let us use them as we please.

[apophis775]

Aleady Implemented.