Lower the pylon timer from 01:00 to 00:30, maybe even 00:25?
Why?
I think it’d be nice to incentivise Xenos to hold outside caves where fights are generally more fun for every single role on the server. 00:25 or 00:30 is still a long time relatively between Marines dropping and Pylon but I feel like 00:20 would punish CICs who don’t drop in time too harshly.
Whenever Xenos hold LV colony side in serious numbers I think every single person reading this can agree that it’s far more fun than a standard walk from T-Fort to caves.
Obvious Disclaimer
A lot of Maps have terrible Comms locations where Comms are handed to Marines, sometimes ON their LZ (Fiorina). This wouldn’t impact much often but sometimes would be interesting as a secondary objective the front / a squad could focus on.
Then youd have to remove the immediate +1 point gain when you capture a pylon for the first time , otherwise you basically give Xenos surge incredibly quickly.
Assuming Marines drop at 00:20 which isn’t too uncommon most rounds (anecdotal)
Xenos have to hold both pylons for 10 minutes to get 2 points, then both pylons for 10 MORE minutes to get 6 points and Larva Surge.
Or
Since Marines will go for Comms, Xenos hold one pylon for 10 minutes (1 point) then one pylon for 20 minutes (4 points) to get Larva Surge. If Marines can’t force Xenos off of one Pylon at full strength within 30 minutes then they’re doomed anyways.
It’d be interesting to see what’d happen. I mean, surely something like this is a simple one-line change. I do recall morrow’s initiative for objective-based gameplay, this seems like a cool middle ground that forces people to abandon the boring ,abcd push to hive (or slightly less boring ,abcd push to sensors and then push to hive). Inb4 hivecore secondary comms, no cap hive, win anyway from surge
At the same time I fear this will cause a massive Meta-rushing of comms towers before 1 hour… MAN FUCK CAVE COMBAT, I LOVE CAS, LET ME BOMB XENOS!!!
This would be a good step into not repeating the same tactics and gameplay every round, would shake up the game’s meta a bit more and would make it so that the xenos don’t immediately hold caves.
Since the pylons block CAS and OBs marines would have to get in there, and since most comms towers are open from all sides marines can try to flank and or attack from multiple positions.
My only caveat is that xenos should only be capable of holding 1 pylon tower before 1 hour.
The resin roof on pylons is already half size. pretty certain they can’t even adequately block a HEx2. I like this idea all around it will give Xenos a proper objective outside of metagaming the marine comms. In game lore reasons could be the same as why Xenos get stronger in space : they can reach QMs frequency without a planets magnetic field interrupting it.
I’d be interested in giving xenos something to do outside of caves too; that I guess isn’t kill survs, prep the map, deny apc’s/other items on map, or find smalls. I just wouldn’t want it to become a weird snowball element (maybe unless the purchasing power was eyeballed again and maybe expanded or modified or something.) Lotta the worse rounds (in my own opinion) are the ones that end on the first encounter and only make it to the hour mark either due to hijack or delaliens (funniest term ever btw.) I like a lot of the larger maps like annex but I can’t disagree that the marines are at a pretty big disadvantage when it comes to covering the flanks on those maps. I’ve only attempted to use the mortar once, and it was the other day on Dam and all the cords being underground made me wanna blow my brains out (its so funny because I remember seeing the roof overlay when it was worked on and not caring but its pretty sad to actually deal with when receiving cords from marines when they dont shift+click terrain to check if its open.) When marines are utilizing both optimally though the dchat salts usually going strong.
There are xenos that are designed to harass/trap and xenos designed to tank (both are rav btw.this is a joke) Playing outside of caves is an option, its just not pushed in the meta like it used to be. I dont even see xenos use the tunnels when it isnt to just enter FOB. All the mobility wasted, or squander trying to giga kill every marine solo rather than accepting the limitations. Overwhelming marine comms and disrupting marine backlines or applying pressure to them in general is valuable.
I said a bunch of random shit but I do agree that it could be fun to give xenos a goal outside caves. (stop spamming fireproof boon though I’m weeping)
Seconding having any reason for non-backline xenos to hold ground outside caves before 1hr.
If we are worried about purchasing power or early larva surge, we can time lock stronger boons to 1:00 mark, but I think you need both relays for major boons anyway. If marines can’t hold a single relay roundstart, the round needs reset anyway.
Of note is that for every comms relay inside the LZ, there’s a map with the relays on opposite sides of the map. It’s a shame we don’t have smaller, more focused squads to clear the distant relay and keep the backline secure.
The OB protection on Pylons is only when growing King. Pylons have only CAS protection normally.
This is probably my main fear with this idea, forcing Marines into first contact with the Hive at a Comms Relay might be make or break if Marines are really bad. Some rounds Marines only win because T3s make a small mistake in caves and die.
