Lets face it, no one likes it when there are big shakeups on the frontline. But at the same time there isn’t enough t3 slots open to get boilers up. Or alot of people go Prae just to avoid the normal non-strain prae. A while back I did up some sprites that can still be seen in the discord, and could be asked to resprite some of the ones I Was working on again on my new hardrive. But my main ideas go like this:
Spitter Strains: Bleeder, ballista
lets start with the Ballista: Sacrificing it’s spit abilities, it gets the Praetoreans acid grenade, and the ability to lob it a bit further than the prae. Making it fall into a grenadier style gameplay, or incredibly light weight boiler offshoot. Giving the Xenos an alternate route to a bit of crowd control effect. People who know how to avoid the Prae’s acid ball already know how to deal with this.
Bleeder: A less contentious way of doing the Despoiler, instead of a chonky t3, it could be a t2 side grade to the spitterr. Instead of just being a gigantic vomitorium. It could have the same acid claw ability, but this time a passive that triggers small bursts of acid spray off it when it takes damage. Low armor, but the highest health of any t2 to compensate. With the overall goal of being a ‘spitter up close’ in the same way the sentinels are up close support.
Additionally- I still feel like we owe a certain nasty an homage,
Warrior Strain - Chrysalis:
Retaining the head shield ability of a defender. A flared plate of lighter color to differentiate it lines it’s head. Trading out it’s fling ability and lunge for a ‘lower head crest’ stance, and a hardening ability that takes plasma to give it a stacking armor shield. a means of bringing defender style play to the T2 slot. Giving them both the ability to swing with other warriors, and be a lifeline to protect the injured of their hive from finishing blows.