Abilities anolysis and updates : Othor Games

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:00 am

http://i.imgur.com/Dtsuq.jpg warning: large image

A few observations:

The soldier and engineer have two unknown icons with a kevlar vest, but the engineer icon has the 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevron_(insignia) in it and the soldier's doesnt. I suspect the engineer has an armor buff for teammates, and soldier has something else.

Soldier's rank 5 ability interests me. At first glance it looks like c4. If it is, it doesn't look the same as the bomb we see soldiers planting on objectives in the videos. The explosive charge planted on objectives has a keypad and handles on it, whereas the charge in the icon has what looks like an antenna and the bomb sitting on a block of something, as well as a tag hanging off of it. Remote bombs? Kill-by-mail fun pack? It could also be an equipment pack, it's hard to tell.

One more thing on soldier, taken from the almighty compendium:

Pretty likely that's the shield with bullets on it.

I think maybe the soldier's one provides more armor against explosives.

is it true downed fire comes at the penalty of having less incapacitated health or did i just make that up?

I have yet to see this. Link.

It appears the compendium is out of date then. [heresy] H0RSE's compendium must be a bad source of information. [/heresy]

http://www.fragworld.org/frag/brink/brink-compendium-update-2.html

After listing the Soldier’s “Shield teammate” ability in a thread discussing abilities on the SD forums, a dev had this to say:
“...after lots of playtesting - hit the cutting room floor so to speak, as it didn't turn out to be quite as fun as we had all hoped.”
- Richard Jolly, Media Director

You might try finishing the Compendium before you start :flamethrower: or else

bliviongate:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:49 am

I'm really tempted to read the post, but I want to save the ability progression for when I play the game.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:06 am

I'm really tempted to read the post, but I want to save the ability progression for when I play the game.

After I did all that work? :cry:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:08 am

I'm really tempted to read the post, but I want to save the ability progression for when I play the game.

Yeah after all that work. HOW DARE YOU!!!!

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:36 am

It appears to me, that you can't get any of the class specific abilities till rank 2. I find that slightly interesting. It does give you time to get to know your classes before you make your choices. This way everyone also gets all the basic universal abilities at first.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:07 am

The soldier and engineer have two unknown icons with a kevlar vest, but the engineer icon has the 3 chevrons in it and the soldier's doesnt. I suspect the engineer has an armor buff for teammates, and soldier has something else.

I thought the same thing, i remember in an interview Paul mentioned the Eng able to give out a buff for weapons and armor. I am trying to find said interview so when i do i will post.

Just from the pictures though thats what it looks like. Anything with the chevrons on everyone else is a buff that the classes give out.

:chaos: going to go look for that interview now

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:41 am

Maybe the soldier's "armor" ability is just that; a passive ability that gives him higher damage resistance/more health. Would make sense when you consider that it's a soldier, they should have a comparative advantage in combat vs. other body types.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:16 am

Nope Dub5ac you are correct, which is nice because it will help balance it out. I'm also glad its one of the last ones to be unlocked.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:51 am

Thanks Wraith. I loved the info. ^_^ Tell Horse thanks if you see him.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:24 am

After I did all that work? :cry:

If it's any consolation, everyone else read it.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:15 pm

If it's any consolation, everyone else read it.

Thrice. Actually.
Going to read it again right now just because I only primarily play Soldier classes.
I need to read more info about the other three before I start making the threads/lists I was planning to.

Wonder if SD will supply us with bird's-eye-view maps so we can plan routs.
Sure would help me help everyone else later on. I enjoy these things.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:22 pm

Thanks Wraith. I loved the info. ^_^ Tell Horse thanks if you see him.

You haven't thanked him for the Compendium?

If it's any consolation, everyone else read it.

Well I suppose I can live with that :spotted owl:

Thrice. Actually.
Going to read it again right now just because I only primarily play Soldier classes.
I need to read more info about the other three before I start making the threads/lists I was planning to.

Wonder if SD will supply us with bird's-eye-view maps so we can plan routs.
Sure would help me help everyone else later on. I enjoy these things.

There is a great slideshow that shows the CC map.

http://www.slideshare.net/thrmoptc/tao-of-level-design-brink

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:04 am

You haven't thanked him for the Compendium?

I don't know how to get a hold of him.......:sweat:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:00 pm

You haven't thanked him for the Compendium?

Well I suppose I can live with that :spotted owl:

There is a great slideshow that shows the CC map.

http://www.slideshare.net/thrmoptc/tao-of-level-design-brink

:ninja: <3

Thank you kind sir.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:08 am

:ninja: <3

Thank you kind sir.

Be sure to use the speakers notes and there is another one

http://www.slideshare.net/thrmoptc/gdc2011-level-design-the-design-conduit

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:07 am

It's a shame that the ability that let team mates use the Soldier as cover had to be cut, I was looking forward to picking it. Still, molotovs, Kevlar and the concept of incinderary ammo seem awesome (I don't remember reading about what exactly that ammo did in the compendium, a straight up damage buff seems uncreative and redundant since Engies have weapon buffs), and everyone needs ammo sooooo. :tongue:.

Also, since we saw a silenced shotgun in the latest video blasting someone on a ledge away, are shotguns confirmed to have be close range only weapons? I really don't see why anyone would choose a limited range shotgun over a high DPS automatic weapon with decent range. I realize Shadow brought up that because shotguns have burst potential they can be really useful if used with corners, but that seems incredibly situational if shotguns have limited range.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:37 am

In most games, the main advantage of shotguns over SMGs is that they give the victim much less time to react at the cost of even worse range than SMGs.

Sneak up behind someone, and they're down in 1-2 shots. If you were using an SMG, their screen would light up and they might be able to turn and shoot back.

Also, shotguns have a mixed blessing when it comes to aim. If you miss, you have a chance to have part of the spread still land. If you miss too badly though, you might be in a bad position, depending on the fire rate.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:55 am

Is there any limitation on universal selections?

Seems be able to reload and throw grenade during sprinting are really the "must" skills for me... :celebration:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:00 am

Is there any limitation on universal selections?

You can get as many abilities as you have points.

Active ones are limited to 3, universal ones are not limited.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:51 am

You can get as many abilities as you have points.

Active ones are limited to 3, universal ones are not limited.

Thanks :foodndrink: :celebration:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:08 am

New vid (well some old clips but new info in the interview and some cool new footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGr46hCqeSs

states that soldier gets armor upgrades...not buffs so the engineer gives out buffs to teammates

EDIT: credit to Hatter for originally finding this and posting in the Gstaff thread

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:08 am

New vid (well some old clips but new info in the interview and some cool new footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGr46hCqeSs

states that soldier gets armor upgrades...not buffs so the engineer gives out buffs to teammates

EDIT: credit to Hatter for originally finding this and posting in the Gstaff thread

Thanks to both you and hatter. Saw the knife finally.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:50 pm

In most games, the main advantage of shotguns over SMGs is that they give the victim much less time to react at the cost of even worse range than SMGs.

Sneak up behind someone, and they're down in 1-2 shots. If you were using an SMG, their screen would light up and they might be able to turn and shoot back.

Also, shotguns have a mixed blessing when it comes to aim. If you miss, you have a chance to have part of the spread still land. If you miss too badly though, you might be in a bad position, depending on the fire rate.

That still seems situational considering ambush oriented Lights can't even hold Shotguns. Also, even though SMGs lack burst, they still can kill people really quickly, are people really going to be missing with them at close range? I don't even think most people will be able to turn around with controllers quickly enough when being targeted by an automatic weapon unless they're a Heavy.

I realize I'm being a broken record here but I'm just really concerned about the shotguns, god knows Crysis 2's starting shotty is just... Ugh...

edit: Off topic, but in the Matter of Class video, did anyone else find it funny when the Operative said "Attempting Disguise. Disguise Successful"? Kind of seems counter productive to announce something while being stealthy.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:34 pm

When planting a bomb, you have lightning hands.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:18 am

"The Ark is this immense artificial city ..."

Paul and Ed are hilarious, but Paul definately needs a new starting line. :laugh:

But this is a great new video! Very informative, nice gameplay.

Aaaaand radioactive slime.