Now that the website is backup. I'd like to address the balance concerns I brought up in my latest review and expand on them.
http://orange-box-group.deviantart.com/journal/Source-Mod-updates-112-Some-proper-Dakka-373837495.
Astartes go first.
General:
I've seen players complain that they feel underpowered. Though that can be chalked up to new players, lack of skill or lag. 40K players know Tyranids usually own most races in CQC, and the damage the Genestealer causes is a source of complaint from Marine players. Though I usually read that as player skill or a lack of if anything. Might need more testing.
Tactical: Bolter is well balanced , Grenadier will however get owned in CQC by any of the Tyranid close combat classes. His only real advantage is tossing grenades at hiding nids, otherwise he is useless in most match ups.
Suggestion: Give the Chainsword a faster attack speed. The only other suggestion is maybe giving him a Plasma pistol in place of the blot pistol. Alternatively give it the ability to damage the Carnifex but only the lowest possible amount of damage. He might need better grenades than frags.
Assault: Assault suffers from the same problem as the Grenadier. His only advantage vsm be negated by a skilled player adapt at circle strafing.
Suggestion: The only real suggestion I can give is replacing his bolt pistol with a plasma or flamer pistol.
Veteran: A better choice than assault, but with the new flamer and Plasma Gun he ends up being an inferior choice compared to the Tactical Specialist. Melta Gun is balanced with other weapons but the Plasma pistol is feels lacking.
Suggestion: Give the Plasma pistol a weaker version of the Plasma gun's charge attack.
Observation:
If my ass knew how to model and compile I would make a scoped Kraken or Stalker Bolter. So there can at least be a representation of the Sterngaurd. But with Blender functions not letting me flip my P90 compile to the right side that won't happen anytime soon.
Also would it hurt to make him at least looks like a first company veteran? Any picture of an Ultramarine veteran has a bit more white on his helmet, maybe switch his with the specialist, only the higher ranks should be getting the Beakie.
Apothecary: Oddly more effective in battle than either Grenadier or Assault. Mostly due to his higher health. However having him cost as much as other Tier 2's means that players have to wait a long time for a medic. He also isn't as fun to play as the more offensive based classes and becomes useless at protecting his team mates when Tyranids get the stronger shooty classes.
Suggestion: Give him better ranks for each Tier.
Example:
50-75 Points: Chain sword and Bolt pistol
100 Points: Add either a Plasma Pistol or Power weapon.
150 points: Plasma Pistol and Power weapon at the same time.
Specialist: The most balanced Space Marine class. This is the go to for defeating just any of the Tyranid classes. However the Flamer feels underpowered against the shooty classes as even the Zoanthrope can out last him with good enough skills.
Suggestion: It's been observed that the flames push back the large Tyranid classes as the flamer has more push back against the Carnifex than it does the Genestealer. It would be best served if this was the other way around. Right now the current behavior feels a bit odd.
Devastator: The most balanced of Tier 3 classes. He defeats just about anything the Nids can throw at him. Nothing to add here, unless a Multi-melta or Plasma cannon is in the works.
Terminator: The Storm Bolter can defeated just about anything the Nids throw at him. However this is where the problem lies as its. Most players feel the Power Fist is outright useless. Which I agree with as this Terminator configuration should be able to own at least the Tier 1 classes in CQC.
Suggestion: The Storm Bolter acts more like a shotgun instead of a actual bolt weapon. It should behave more like the Counter Strike M249 to the Boltgun's M4. Highly accurate when used correctly but becomes less so when holding the trigger. Machine guns have higher muzzle velocity than Assault Rifles. So it should do slightly more damage per hit than the Bolter per shot, but not enough to be noticed right away.
Powerfist is outright useless, it should be able to one shot the Genestealer and its range is pitiful. Even the weakest classes have nothing to fear from a Terminator when his ammo runs dry.
Tyranids: Om nom nom!
General: Most concerns is that Space Marines feel somewhat underpowered compared to the Nids. I didn't bother saving any conversations due to them being over the in game chat.
Genestealer: Some think he's overpowered, otherwise the opposite. Myself included think the latter, since I circle strife to deal with him. Space Marines do die very quickly against the Stealer but a skilled shooter can take down at least two before going down himself.
Suggestion: I suggest nerfing the Stealers Primary giving him a very weak poke attack while giving him a Tertiary that's very slow but two or three shots Astartes if it hits.
Warrior: Balanced in certain conditions. He will own most classes in CQC, but Deathspitter feels lacking compared to Bolters when it comes to shooting it out with Marines.
Suggestions: In the 6th Edition Deathspitters are basically three round bolt guns. I think the best way to balance him is to do exactly that, while nerfing his Talons but making them attack faster. As Talons now get rerolls on their attacks. I have yet to read the Fluff on either weapon.
Lictor: Mostly balanced, but he starts getting worse in large player games mostly due to lag. This is mainly because his Talons short range and as such the most susceptible to latency.
Suggestion: The most I can suggest his giving the Talons a range boost. I would also suggest Flesh hooks as a third ability, in that way he can at least has something to fall back on when server ping gets too high.
Biovore: So far the most balanced of any Tyranid class. With a degree of skills, he can defeat any opponent at range, while most can beat him. However he lacks fun of playing like his Tier 2 counterparts has.
Suggestion: I am assuming his current Spore Mines are bioacid. So give him either Frag Spores or Poison. Color coated so players know what the other is using.
Zoanthrope: Mostly balanced, however the range of his Warpblast feels too short and players in the way of your shot can waste it. Medi thrope gets the least use as he is less fun to play.
Suggestion: Make the Warpblast either ignore collisions or damage team mates. As for Medic Thrope the Primary is only good up close, he should be giving a very weak Warp Lance or the ability to steal health to heal himself instead.
Carnifex: The sole Tier 3 class. The Screamer is agreed by most to be balanced, however Venom Fex reaction seems to be that he is a bit overpowered. Even with the nerf that came with manual reloading.
To me its mainly poor player choices and the fact that the Specialist has taken over the Veterans role as being the anti Fex Class. Both Carnifex load outs will own the Astartes Melee classes. While the shooty classes are a big as threat to Venom Fex as he is to them. The Plasma Gun, Melta, Devastator and Terminator can push back just about any Fex rush if applied correctly.
However the Venom Cannon doesn't feel like a powerful anti tank weapon. Instead it's like a simi automatic rifle with explosive rounds.
Suggestion: The Venom Cannon should be more like the rocket launcher instead of just an upgraded Deathspitter.
Damn that went longer than I excepted.
