ReactiveDrop
BioGen - Invisible Threat: Reduce Red Uber health for lower difficulties
Currently it's normal-sized Drone's health plus unscaled 2000 HP, in result ranging from 2015 health on 1-marine Easy to 2104 on 4-marine Brutal - and they come in packs of 5 and are much harder to escape from. Compared to 400 HP Shieldbugs on 1-marine Easy (or even 1000 HP Shieldbugs on 4-marine Normal), this is insanity and will likely kill entire 8-player team for the mistake of one.
Have them have, say, 1-2x the base Uber health. Though given they somehow don't count as big aliens (and also ignore twin pistols' speciality), Boomer health may fit better - these naturally max at pretty close 2080, too. [Edit] Though with their general OPness and numbers, lower health may be warranted even on Brutal...
There is a similar issue with Accident 32's Research Center: the top-right Red Uber has 815-904 HP (again ignoring modifiers for big aliens and of twin pistols). It's not such a big deal, as it's a lot less likely to be encountered and still has reasonable-ish health relative to most difficulties.
Sure, I could change it, but honestly I don’t really want to. I didn’t even know there were those ubers there until you mentioned it -and I’ve been playing this game for like a dozen years.
That trap's the point, you see, a special, secret test. For those who leave the pathway, and venture from the rest. It's just some tasty flavor, a sharp and playful prize. It's not a bug, it's bait - a spicy little snack for anyone who tries.
@jhh8 please remove the bug tag ~~and close this issue~~.
"this doesn't impact me personally so it's fine" + random filler + backseat moderation... Perhaps you need less ChatGPT and a vacation before you forget how humans talk?
While we indeed could dismiss these Red Ubers as a noob killer like the Lab Ruins forklift and a few other things, that'd be wasted potential. They could instead be an actually engaging/fun gimmick in the otherwise unfittingly short and easy map in the campaign. In general terms, make them less absurdly overpowered and then make them a guaranteed encounter (I should've mentioned that in the original post). Kind of a semi-boss, Lana's Sewer / Confined Facility style, except technically optional. Maybe one pack from front and one from the back. ~~Maybe play soviet anthem when the reds march~~
"this doesn't impact me personally so it's fine"
This doesn't affect anyone as a bug because it's not a bug, it's an intentional mechanism designed by the map author.
random filler
Please read this "random filler" carefully. I think it's saying exactly what I said earlier – it's not a bug, it's intentional, and should be treated as a SECRET on the map.
backseat moderation...
A public request to change a tag and/or close an issue is, in your opinion, backseat moderation? If I were a moderator, I would change the tag to "suggestion" instead of the misleading label "map bug".
Perhaps you need less ChatGPT and a vacation before you forget how humans talk?
And that's just not nice. ~~I could say that if you're too overwhelmed to understand a simple epigram, rhyming couplet, you should start reading books and take a vacation before you forget what it's like to have a mind. Do you understand? It's very easy for me to write such a text, but why? Firstly, I don't think so, and secondly, even if I did, it would be rude and still very subjective, personal, and irrelevant to the topic.~~
Below is the decryption of this "random filler"
I don’t consider this a bug. It’s definitely more like SECRET, a deadly secret ;). What you propose in your last post is more of a suggestion to rework the map. That’s not what I’m referring to. I’m only pointing out that this trap is intentional - it’s designed to wipe the team, but at the same time it’s not something you can easily fall into. It only comes into play if you go poking around the map. However, your suggestion for changes is definitely worth considering and let those interested discuss it, I have no objections.
an intentional mechanism designed by the map author. this trap is intentional - it’s designed to wipe the team
So, a mapper putting some special enemies in his map is... mapper's intention? Whatever point you might've had got sunk in this meaningless filler talk again.
A public request to change a tag and/or close an issue [...] let those interested discuss it
Isn't one supposed to first read what he's about to send, to at least avoid self-contradiction like that? Especially when it's not quite you writing the message in the first place.
I don’t consider this a bug.
Had you checked how this place operates before jumping in, you'd have known it's the tag used for any map-related things rather than bugs only, like in #868, #747 and #818, and the suggestions tag for stuff not directly related to a specific map.
But alas, the will to hijack the thread for an useless pasta was stronger, and no good faith is visible in those deeds, given you proceeded with "that's not nice" (not that any of what you've done in this thread was nice) only to capitalize on insults while once again adding nothing to the subject. This place does not welcome this behavior, may I repeat in case you would, due to your prolonged generative AI exposure, subconsciously skip what's not bolded and duplicated into a summary. Take a deep breath and realize how much you're working towards setting more ASRD people against yourself here and on Discord.
Now, I'm sure we'd all appreciate if you moved any further personal beef with me or anyone else to respective Discord direct messages (though I have nothing to add) or something, keeping this thread about Red Ubers and letting those interested discuss it.
It would be good if you could re-read my first post and consider whether it was truly unfriendly. My impression is that what upset you was simply that I suggested closing the thread.
You could have responded differently to a playful rhyme, but instead you chose to write about random fillers, artificial intelligence, and suggesting I take a break. Don’t you see how that invites escalation? And then you raise the issue of community standards. But what exactly are you accusing me of? If that’s the standard, then please don’t start it yourself - don’t tell others to take vacations, don’t suggest they are too close to AI, and refrain from personal remarks.
I’ll set aside the rest, including the suggestion that the community is turning against me, although I could respond to that as well — it seems you are not entirely beyond reproach either, which could easily be shown. Constant ad hominem arguments - doesn’t that tire you?
As for the thread itself: you don’t want it closed, preferring to leave more than 240 issues open, most of which will never be addressed. Fine- I said okay, let it remain a suggestion, since it’s not a bug. I even edited my first post and struck out the request to close the thread. I said: ok, right, if someone wants to discuss, let them discuss.
Allow me to focus on practical work for the community, as I always do. And I do appreciate that you submit tickets we can work on.
Kind regards.
These red ubers were added as an easter egg.
However there's an issue with them: some players like to trigger them intentionally, to wipe the entire team on purpose for the laughs.
I think we certainly can reduce the health of those ubers for lower difficulties to give newbies which play on Easy, Normal or Hard a chance to fight them when some veteran player intentionally triggers them. Or if a newbie trigger them accidentally.
It's not a bug, but an improvement request. Lets be polite and discuss an issues rather than fight each other.
