Mode Discussion - Synapse

[ChromeAngel]

One of the four game modes shortlisted, by the team for Exterminatus - Rival Species 2 (a one week poll to settle this subject will start on January the seventh).

Synapse

++Full Mode Description++

Most ambitious of the four modes shortlisted, possibly the most inventive also.  A combination of AI controlled tyranids directed by player controlled monsterous player tyranids, the imperium could be in serious trouble unless they have some seriously heroic players on their side  :twisted:

Questions?  Suggestions?

[JEBUS]

This one for sure. I would love to be a huge Nid and controll smaller ones and make them attack the marine. I hope others will support me in this one. The other modes seem a bit dull.

Just think of controlling the antlions in HL2 but as an antlion gaurd. But instead as a huge powerful Tyranid.


Questions:

 Once the AI nids die will they respawn or will the player have to "create" more of them?

Will the AI nids rely on strength or in numbers?


Suggestions:

The player controlled nid should be massive and able to take marines down with one or two hits. Have around 4000 Hp able to heal by eating marines or something. Slow but should have some kind of short sprint/charge attack.

The AI nids should have ALOT of hp but do around 35% of the damage the player ones do. Pretty quick, speed similar to the antlion.

All nids should be weak against fire and explosions. Bullets from the Bolter should do around 3 dmg each.

The 3 commands the the AI nids could be sent by the Player nid is Attack, Move to this area, Defend me or follow me.

Around 4-5 player controlled nids(depending on the amound of players) And 3-4 AI nids each player nid can controll.

Thats about all I can think of.

[ChromeAngel]

Q)  Once the AI nids die will they respawn or will the player have to "create" more of them?

A) The way i'm thinking of having it work is to have all the nid troops (player and AI) will enter the map by being air-lifted in by a big AI flying nid (*1).  Players that spawn this way will ahve a new brood of AIs spawned with them.  Any surviving players in the drop zone with less than an optimum number of  AIs in thier brood will also recieve reinforcements.

Q) Will the AI nids rely on strength or in numbers?

A) The player nids will be really quite dangerous, i'm aiming for a ratio of 1 synapse creature being worth about the same as 3 tactical marines.  The AIs would be essentialy a meatshield / camoflague / nuisance (to the marines).  Well directed AIs might make a few kills, but it will be the players who are the dangerous component of the tyranid army.  I foresee using the number of AIs in a brood as a balancing tool.

*1)
Something like the Harridan, but bigger.  We may have to invent a new strain of tyranid to fulfill this role, unless we can come up with something better.  Mycetic spores were rejectied because of they would build up over time, rather than being recycled.

[The Vastator]

this is, in my opinion, the best playing style!

[migb]

It's this one, or the Genestealer cults. No cooperative, no team-deathmatch.

I think different PC Tyranids should have a different number of minions. For example a Lictor is a master of infiltration and camouflage, it will work alone rather than with the company of minions.

[JEBUS]

Thanks for helping me iwth my questions.

Now everyone here needs to vote for Synapse. Other wise it will be a future coop mod.

[Alhaus]

Or vote synapes and get a 40k NS clone:P

[Typheron]

Ah but its not, NS is about a CnC style thing with players, this is not that as theres no overmind dropping things or building things.

Its not NS.

[blackt]

i think there should be somekind of hive where the nids are crawling out or taking biomass into... i think it would be fun to see rippers coming out and take the corpses with them...

could also be made to missions... first one is a plain fight nids fast attack strains versus marines... let the fights begin  :wink:

if the marines win they could try to destroy the hive by throwing a meltabomb or two in it... while the tyranids only have i dont know.. some kind of defense class?

if the nids win you have this desperate defense against the big heavy support nids with the AI nids

[The Vastator]

Ah but its not, NS is about a CnC style thing with players, this is not that as theres no overmind dropping things or building things.

Its not NS.

yeah, Typh is right. The idea is completely different.

[migb]

Let us observe the differences:
NS E:Synapse
 +   +  Humans marines in heavy armor
 +   +  Different species of aliens
 +  (+) Spaceship fights
 -    +  Cityscape fights
 +   -   Building system
 -    +  AI sidekicks
 -    +  Asymetric balance of players on teams

I guess that was it. 3 similarities, 4 differences  :wink:

[Wolf]

the ratio is diffewrent iswell, NS has fairly even teams, Synapse will be few marines v many nids

[The Vastator]

migb, in NS the marines haven't an heavy armor and can be killed in a blow or two. Secondarily, there is no building/evolution (and that's a big difference).
You can't say it's similar to NS until we play it: I think that the differences will be fully viewable in game.

Plus, it's 40k!

[Razielk]

we are still playing around with how many guants each synapse creature will get.

if each synapse creature has 2 gaunts, that is equal to 3 marines points wise, in which case there wont be more nids then marines!  if we want hoards of smaller gaunts, they are going to have to be as weak as anything in order to balance the game out.  for the full hoard effect we would need to go with the exterminatus game mode.

[migb]

migb, in NS the marines haven't an heavy armor

They do, if they research and buy heavy armor. HOW heavy the armor is, is really more a detail than a real difference.

Secondarily, there is no building/evolution (and that's a big difference).

I've already said that.
As my little calculation showed, there are some similarities, and some differences between NS and E:Synapse.