non official place to talk about in game play

I don't know if everybody reads every post on this forum, but i'm posting this in banter as a general discussion.

I would like this post to be a non official place to talk about in game play and concerns.

Things we like, things we don't like. (play styles, monsters, classes, etc)

A place where you can post an idea where you don't have to feel like your intruding on the developing community.

First I would like to say how much I appreciate all the people that put so much time and effort into this game for the rest of us to enjoy. Hats off to Slat, Bot, Moof and all the other people with the knowledge to make this a great experience for all us, at no monetary benefit. A special hats off to Dru and Shan for supporting (and creating) my habit.

Ok, first thing

I really like this game "as is". No explanation, I just really like it.

Next,

I really like the people I play with.

Next,

After reading some post, I worried my game play style is annoying people.
Particularly, the use of the lightning rod/triple combo.

I like it because I get a big kill spree and xp in the right situation, but I also feel like it helps the team like a well placed deemer.

An example of this would be:

Sometime ago Dru set up a 2003 game that was 32(?) waves and everyone was hiding in a bunker sniper the really hard and many monster left. It was taking a long time and all the other super weapons were already long gone, so I jumped in the middle of the fray turned on the triple/rod combo and was able to lower the HP's of the monsters so we could win the level. I felt it was a big help to the team and wasn’t worried about dieing.

Also, I use the bolt for sneeky Nalis, Vamp flies, and Flying Skarrj. Sometimes it fires at the wrong thing and I need to fire more then once. It's a good way to beat trouble before it starts.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Also,

Contrary, i think, to the idea. I dont treat my AM like a sniper or archer.

P.S. Ive started playing in the morning when nobody is on and have found that I cannot beat wave 12 solo, no way no how, it's just a slaughter.

I guess at Lvl 190 something i'm still not to powerful.

Ratar_Killer wrote:

I really like this game "as is". No explanation, I just really like it.

Me too

Ratar_Killer wrote:

After reading some post, I worried my game play style is annoying people.
Particularly, the use of the lightning rod/triple combo.

I like it because I get a big kill spree and xp in the right situation, but I also feel like it helps the team like a well placed deemer.

The combo doesn't annoy me at all. It kills more monsters and allows more players to stay alive, and as you say, it's a lot like a super weapon. I can see where some people consider it 'kill stealing,' but I can't count the number I've been saved by a high level player as a low level LA from titans or queens (by the combo or otherwise). But from that viewpoint, how do you not steal a kill in a game where waiting can cost you and others their lives? Sure, it doesn't require as much skill as aiming a lightening from a long distance, but I think LA's already pay the price. Especially with the new monsters where just one can kill you within two seconds.

Me 3.

I'm litterally addicted to this whole thing. The game, the server, the forums...
I'm regressing back to my younger geek days.

And yes, early AM sessions are quite difficult when all the low level bots are cleared out. Was almost possible before the new monsters came to play. And power has nothing to do with living past the time when you have every damage amplifying thing you can buy, short of Retaliation. All you can do is max the Vamp and other items to help keep you alive longer. Or find a good hiding spot where they can only get you from one narrow area, which is on only few maps.

Let me first say I have no gripe with anyone who openly finds some way to do something better. However, if you're hiding a particular tactic, from my days as a MUD admin I can tell you that's the first sign of someone who knows they're abusing a bug/vulnerability.

As a player I don't have any issue with any of the tactics you've described. If someone's gonna gripe about that as a player, then they're going to gripe about the Awareness people kill stealing simply by shooting more damaged monsters first.

However, as a developer ...

It becomes a bit of an issue when any artifact stacks with any other artifact - yes you're spending the adren, but what happens if you find some combination that does an "unusual" amount of damage for little cost?

Example: The DMM and Triple, before modification, could be applied to a Vorpal (for math purposes, say, a 10) - you would have a +20 vorp, 15% chance to instajib, that would *also* do 9x the damage of a normal non-magical weapon. Extreme, and in Dru's opinion (understandably), too much. And with Surge, you'd be able to keep that running for a while.

So you're using something (the Rod) that does %5 of the Max Health of the target with no DR/DB figured in, and Tripling it. That's something that should take 20 shots (10 seconds I think) to kill something, now killing it in 7 (3.5 seconds, assuming you haven't damaged it some other way). I would say that there wouldn't be a problem with that admin wise if it DB/DR were in the equation, *or* if the adren usage scaled a little more (say, if the damage done by the Rod with the Triple not only ate adren from the Triple, but tripled your adren from the Rod usage). But it might be considered a bit of an issue if the costs were simply:

Adren from the Rod figured at 5% of damage
Adren from the Triple

Fair on the surface, but if it appears to be overkill, might need some tweaking, either by recalculating the Rod's adren usage, or blocking their stacked usage.

Now, on to the other Lightning artifacts:

I tend to limit the Bolt to red flies (as if I could target them - sometimes, as you said, it picks something else to shoot at). I'll probably start using it on Ghost Skaarj soon ...

Beam I use on almost anything, particularly if it's wounded.

BotFodder wrote:

I tend to limit the Bolt to red flies (as if I could target them - sometimes, as you said, it picks something else to shoot at). I'll probably start using it on Ghost Skaarj soon ...

If I notice the bolt not targeting vamp flies I try to lure them away from others and then zap...zap...zap.

Even tho this would effect zapping flies quickly I wouldnt be again a time cycle on the bolt and only earning adren from spree bonuses.

I've become very good at turning on/off the triple and rod quickly. Maybe there should be something like... When you stack artifacts you can't turn them off until adren is gone. I'm sure this would make people think more before stacking.

Or hey, how about an artfact that lets you make a single use stacked artifact (triple/rod, triple/globe).

Lets say this stackedartifact cost 200 adren. Save adren make stacked artifact, save adren, wait for your moment use stacked artifact, save adren make new stacked artifact. Thusly your spending 200+ time/cost adren, effectivly spending 450 adren for 1 use.

I like this idea.

I wouldn't worry Ratar about going in the middle of a bunch of monsters and using the lightning rod or something like that. That is what it is there for. People should be here to play and have fun, not to challenge one another.

Chameleon wrote:

I wouldn't worry Ratar about going in the middle of a bunch of monsters and using the lightning rod or something like that. That is what it is there for. People should be here to play and have fun, not to challenge one another.

I agree, There has been many times that another player saved my "you know what" even tho it could be viewed as kill stealing, and I'm sure that I returned the favor. The idea is to have fun, try to win the map, and level up.

Ratar_Killer wrote:

BotFodder wrote:

I tend to limit the Bolt to red flies (as if I could target them - sometimes, as you said, it picks something else to shoot at). I'll probably start using it on Ghost Skaarj soon ...

If I notice the bolt not targeting vamp flies I try to lure them away from others and then zap...zap...zap.

or you could do what i do...try to play maps like junkyard with those streams of lava and lure them into it!! it works quite nicely!!

as for the lightning rod...i dont worry about them. i just need to aquire one once in a while! but i have to say that when you guys come i ntwith those combos i know im greatful!!! you guys have saved me and my rare inf mini's so many times!! so thank you!!!

I remember 320 posted quite awhile ago that he used to save monsters for lower level players if it looked like they were going to kill it, but then when those players got killed by a monster, they got angry at him. From then on he killed everything in sight, I'm the same way. With the exception of someone lining up a headshot on a nali I'll pretty much kill anything I see even if it ends up being a wolf or raptor.

Mach wrote:

I remember 320 posted quite awhile ago that he used to save monsters for lower level players if it looked like they were going to kill it, but then when those players got killed by a monster, they got angry at him. From then on he killed everything in sight, I'm the same way. With the exception of someone lining up a headshot on a nali I'll pretty much kill anything I see even if it ends up being a wolf or raptor.

i know what you mean. i mean...everytime i see a turtle i just get this urge to push em off a ledge but..mach...we have to resist these urges!!

PyRo wrote:

i know what you mean. i mean...everytime i see a turtle i just get this urge to push em off a ledge but..mach...we have to resist these urges!!

I get that same urge whenever I see a box or magical fairy thing. Sometimes other turtles too.

But back to the topic, yes nalis are the one exception. I normally leave them alone unless I see a shield nali jumping into a group of low level players. Then I just blow it to bits.

im kinda the oppisite way with nalis..i see them and its like i HAVE to kill it...alot...

I'll have to watch my back if friendly fire is ever turned on.