[ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

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Surrealistik
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[ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 29 Jul 2015, 15:49

CM Version (alpha or Regular):

Alpha

Summary (a quick, 2-3 sentence summary):

A new Overwatch support option. Allows an Overwatch Officer to deploy up to X (5?) Marines from the Sulaco Hanger bay to an outdoors area within 5 squares of a droppod beacon.

Benefits (How this will benefit the server and game as a whole):
  1. Interesting new support option that allows for additional strategic and tactical possibilities via direct reinforcements.
  2. Faster return to the action for marines.
  3. Reduces the effectiveness of aliens/preds camping the shuttles like a bitch.
Details (Description of how you think this would work, the benefits, etc):
  1. Sulaco Hangar level gains a 'drop pod' facility.
  2. Marines standing in the 5 1x1 droppod stalls in the drop pod facility are eligible to be deployed by droppod to a designated location within 5 squares of a drop pod beacon.
  3. Overwatch Officers can remotely launch the drop pods from their Overwatch Console. They will be told the number of marines ready in the drop pods, their name, role, and general condition (per the crew console computer).
  4. After being launched, the Droppods have a short delay before they appear at their designated landing positions.
  5. Droppods push away and knockdown mobs within a one tile radius of their landing, while dealing minor brute damage, or major brute damage on a direct impact. The drop pods themselves work similarly to anchored lockers that the marines open and exit upon deployment (they can be destroyed/hacked apart like tables).
  6. Squad leaders normally have and utilize drop pod beacons.
  7. Obviously drop pods cannot deploy inside caverns or indoors.
Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it):

Coding. Spriting for the drop pod sprite.
Last edited by Surrealistik on 30 Jul 2015, 00:13, edited 5 times in total.
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Sargeantmuffinman
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons

Post by Sargeantmuffinman » 29 Jul 2015, 15:50

Is it like the ODST?

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons

Post by Pillow » 29 Jul 2015, 15:51

that sounds interesting but I feel like some marines would decide to stay on the sulaco and drop in when the hive is found right on top of it and just use it to rush or something... but it does sound like a fun area
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Surrealistik
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 29 Jul 2015, 15:55

@ Pillow: There's pros and cons to that; sure, you can get where you're most needed ASAP, but in the meanwhile you're doing shit all, so it does balance out. Keep in mind there's also a maximum to the number of marines that can deploy via drop pod at once.


@ Sargeantmuffinman: Not really sure of the reference, but this is pretty much an allusion to any sort of drop pod infantry prominently featured in a lot of sci fi from Battlefield 2142 to Tiberian Sun.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by UnknownMurder » 29 Jul 2015, 16:04

Image

Having a drop pod looking like this?
Image

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by HalfdeadKiller » 29 Jul 2015, 16:21

+1 This would allow another interesting reinforcement mechanic. Have it function similarly to orbital strike beacons, minus the offset setting. Have the drop pods be a vehicle type thing, like cryo pods or ripleys, that have no controls for movement. Also ensure they are not pullable unless destroyed. So if they land and block a door, you can unblock it. The beacon cannot be placed in the caves, similar to the orbital strike beacon. Have the drop pods land near the beacon, randomly offset by + or - 5 tiles in the X and Y directions. Maximum deployable on a beacon should be 5 pods, then perhaps implement a one minute cooldown. Add in a cool sound upon landing. Drop pods are controlled by a console on the bridge, and are one time use more than likely. Might need a drop pod bay of about, 10 to 20 single tile drop pods. Shouldn't take too much room if done efficiently. I see a 4 tile by 10-20 tile room. Drop pods lined alone the wall next to eachother, with a two tile walkway between the rows.

Drop pod console should list the name and role of the trooper inside the pod, similar to the overwatch console or the crew manifest. Also, the drop pod vehicles need to be destructable, so aliens can slash the drop pods when they land on the surface, if marines hide in them. Or, simply have them eject the marine and then become un-enterable. Whicher is easiest. Drop pod access should be restricted to bridge officers and higher.

This is just my thoughts on implementing it. I didn't really like the sound of having marines appear out of thin air, and I felt like having a vehicle type thing would be more immersive.

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by MikeBluer » 29 Jul 2015, 16:58

+1 I'm tired of aliens camping near the shuttle but it got a little problem, some marines are going stay in the sulaco waiting for the others to find the hive and then do a rush

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Peachy2912 » 29 Jul 2015, 17:00

This sounds really cool.

Perhaps the drop pods could be based off of mechs so they are easily destructible after landing but before hand a marine can sit inside and wait to be launched. Either way it would be pretty awesome to see this in game.

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 30 Jul 2015, 00:18

@ UnknownSoldier: Yeah, pretty much. Might be smaller, individual one man pods.


@ HalfdeadKiller: They don't materialize out of thin air; they arrive via drop pods and exit from them. Also, I'd rather keep the offset; just make deploying to interior areas illegal and it's all good.


As for the droppods themselves, they'd either be locker like things if they're made to contain one marine apiece, or they'd be more like stationary/anchored multi-tile mechs if they contain multiple marines. In both cases they'd be durable, but destructible.

Again, if Marines want to waste time camping the drop pod stalls waiting for a deployment, that generally works against Team Marine, rather than for it; in which case they can be ordered to fuck off to the shuttle.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by UnknownMurder » 30 Jul 2015, 15:09

One Man Pod?
-1 Marines shouldn't be Rambo marines.

I'm up for a 3-4 Squad pod.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Jeser » 30 Jul 2015, 16:00

Well, now let's ask coders: if this at all can be made? Cause if you place beacon near dome, drop pod will merge with dome or what??
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 30 Jul 2015, 19:56

UnknownMurder wrote:One Man Pod?
-1 Marines shouldn't be Rambo marines.

I'm up for a 3-4 Squad pod.
They shouldn't be Rambos; keep in mind that the marines don't decide when to launch, Overwatch does. If Overwatch is retarded it'll launch one; if Overwatch isn't retarded it'll launch more simultaneously (simultaneous multiple deeeep strikkkesss).

Doesn't matter whether there's a big drop pod or individual ones, there's still the possibility OW will blow a load of one marine either way if it's dumb.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 01 Aug 2015, 19:13

Jeser wrote:Well, now let's ask coders: if this at all can be made? Cause if you place beacon near dome, drop pod will merge with dome or what??
What do you mean by that exactly?

And it's basically a teleport function slapped onto a bunch of logic gates/checks with some embellishment for the pods.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by xywenx00 » 01 Aug 2015, 19:36

Would be awesome, but I could imagine People droping pods onto the face of the queen and just squising it, or blocking of Areas and stuff. 1 man pods who destroy themselves a few sec after dropping seem to be better, but have like 4 of them drop at once or somehting like that. Anyway, +1.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by tenshar » 01 Aug 2015, 21:02

I like this idea, but you should generally have pods of 3-4 people ...would also be interesting if there was a counter option as in like emergency evac pods. Sending the shuttle back and forth trying to evac just one marine or so each time is stupid silly and takes so long most people burst well before a medic can even get a scalpel in them with the 6-7 minute wait between calling it down, cooling down, launching, arriving and then another minute getting to medical.

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 02 Aug 2015, 16:25

Between the delay involved between the launch of a drop pod and impact (which could be slightly randomized), the fact that it can't be used indoors/in caves, and that the damage inflicted even on a direct hit wouldn't be enough to instakill anything outside of a T1, I really can't see it being used effectively in an offensive capacity; way too awkward.

_Could_ see it being used to blockaide spots/provide impromptu cover. That said though, if it's just one tile in size, it's not going to be especially effective at that. Either way, not a big deal.

Overall I'm not partial towards either several pods with individual marines or one pod containing multiple marines; both have their pros and cons.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by coroneljones » 02 Aug 2015, 18:10

UnknownMurder wrote:Image

Having a drop pod looking like this?
The Codex Astartes names this maneuver STHEEL RHEIN!
I am Crornel Jrones, grorious admin of Coronial Mahreens. U ar arr nast Trorr and will be ding dong bannu. U critizize Xenos? Ding dong Bannu. U no rike grorious adminnu? Ding dong Bannu. U comrpain about Marine nerfs? Dingdong bannu. U comprain about grorrious adminnu? O yoo betta bereev dat's a bannu. It has come to my Grorrious attention dat nasty trorr has been imidatingu me on serveru, dis is a shamfrul dispray and unacceptaboo so dey ding dong bannu. End of Rine -----------------Rine ends here.'
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by block1 » 02 Aug 2015, 23:48

+1 I think it'd be great to have a squad of marines drop-podded into the AO.

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by RangerFrank » 03 Aug 2015, 00:11

+1 great idea in theory just gotta make it happen and find a way to balance it out. Also, if the worry is marines camping the pods just make them spawn later into the round for use.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Sebro » 04 Aug 2015, 19:46

+1 For reasons everyone stated above.
:(

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Evilkyle24 » 05 Aug 2015, 15:54

STEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHLLLLLLLLL RAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNNNN
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Densane » 05 Aug 2015, 16:05

Honest question: I know you can drop crates from the RO, but can you just, like, use a locker instead of a crate and put a marine in it instead of product? Can't we technically do this already?

I'm a filthy noob so I don't actually know.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Jeser » 06 Aug 2015, 01:41

Densane wrote:Honest question: I know you can drop crates from the RO, but can you just, like, use a locker instead of a crate and put a marine in it instead of product? Can't we technically do this already?

I'm a filthy noob so I don't actually know.
I never tried to drop closet, but I think we can only drop crates.
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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by indy4321 » 06 Aug 2015, 03:04

Jeser wrote: I never tried to drop closet, but I think we can only drop crates.
Huh... this gets me curious now. Closets, body bags, and coffins...

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Re: [ALPHA] Drop Pod Beacons - New Overwatch Support Option

Post by Surrealistik » 15 Aug 2015, 13:16

Bump due to popularity/lack of implementation to date.
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