TheNightTerror on 21/2/2010 at 09:55
I haven't been here in dog's ages, (it doesn't look like anyone else has, either) but I have been playing SS2 a bit lately, brought up something that bugged me back in the day too.
Do you guys think that the Straylight patch should alter the gameplay, or simply fix bugs? I originally got the patch because it seemed to be a bug fix only, but they've been ripping out French-Epstein tools, repair tools, ICE-picks, all because it ‘unbalances the gameplay'.
There's other things I find rather annoying, such as the assault rifle only needing standard 3 to be used, which was changed from 4 in earlier versions, and 6 in the original game. It's funny how they're removing the F-E tools because they unbalance the gameplay but they made anything above standard 3 pointless.
A person who shall remain nameless did go back and try to replace the ICE-picks, but half of them still aren't showing up, and we got into a sparring match over the purpose of the Straylight patch. Since I've heard it'll be renamed the Unofficial Patch soon, I have an ever bigger stick up my ass over the whole thing, if it's the unofficial patch it shouldn't alter the gameplay at all.
So, what do you guys think about it?
(I seriously hope I can figure out how to get the poll working here, I really haven't been here in way too long.
ZylonBane on 21/2/2010 at 16:08
Quote Posted by TheNightTerror
I haven't been here in dog's ages, (it doesn't look like anyone else has, either)
Geeze, when did you get so crabby?
Nameless Voice on 21/2/2010 at 16:24
*sigh*
Once again, I'll reiterate that the ICE picks, French-Eps and Auto-Repair units were only reduced on higher difficulty levels. There are still enough ICE picks (4) for all the mandatory hacks on Impossible, and one each of the French-Esptien Device and the Auto-Repair unit. Easier difficulty levels still have the full compliment of devices.
Quote Posted by TheNightTerror
It's funny how they're removing the F-E tools because they unbalance the gameplay but they made anything above standard 3 pointless.
The French-Epstein Devices make ever having Modify 6 pointless, since you can just use FEPs to freemodify any guns that require it.
Rainalkar on 21/2/2010 at 17:32
Quote Posted by Nameless Voice
The French-Epstein Devices make ever having Modify 6 pointless, since you can just use FEPs to freemodify any guns that require it.
Second that. ADaoB has to change some things to balance things out.
Syndy/3 on 21/2/2010 at 18:47
The AR used to be terribly unbalanced. In the original game it was a super gun with lots of ammo, with the only downside of becoming available late in the game. With ADaoB it becomes available earlier, needs less standard skill, but it's weaker in the beginning, then the damage rises with more standard skill.
Quote Posted by Straylight changes.txt
It's nice to be able to
use any standard weapon with just skill 3, but it's a bit misleading.
It makes the Assault Rifle seem weak and pointless to use it at skill 3,
when it's about the equivalent of a modified pistol. Pistols are easier
to modify, and a fully modified pistol does more damage per bullet than
an unmodified Assault Rifle. Once you get up to Standard 5 and modify
the Assault Rifle, it becomes noticably better than the Pistol, but not
quite as Uber as it used to be. If you do max out Standard skill, as
you would have had to in the original game just to use it, it's still a
mighty weapon, effective against any enemy, worthy of spending all those
points on and skipping the other weapons, but it's not so overpowered
that Standard is the single optimal path.
TheNightTerror on 21/2/2010 at 23:00
Crabby? I was just commenting that the forums looked pretty quiet?
And I'm not sure if I explained myself correctly, I see the purpose of a mod to balance the gameplay, I agree the game needs one, but I don't think that's something Straylight should be doing. It shouldn't remove anything from the game if it's supposed to be the the unofficial patch.
And NV, leaving 2 tools in the game when there used to be 6+, that counts as gutting the game, and you only left 2 easy to access ICE-picks in the game. And not using a weapon that requires mod 6 also negates ever needing it. And way to blow your cover!
Nameless Voice on 22/2/2010 at 02:09
There were meant to be 3 easily accessible and 1 difficult-to-access ICE pick, the one being missing is a bug that I'll fix at some point. If anyone is going to play through the game without Hack and without weapons capable of piercing the shields in the finale, then it's fair enough that it's up to them to find enough ICE picks.
Another solution to the French-Epstein issue could be to have FEPs maybe 50-75% as effective as normal modification, so you get some bonus, but not the full bonus. SecMod's modification goes one better, of course, but that's well beyond the scope of ADaOB.
TheNightTerror on 22/2/2010 at 02:17
The one ICE-pick isn't just difficult to access, it's near impossible to get to in time and not everyone knows about it. I didn't learn there was an ICE-pick at the top of the stairs for a very long time. There should be four in the main part of the game, the fifth is so difficult to get to that most people probably can't. (That or I suck at mantling.)
That's a perfectly valid idea? It's not a total fix but it's enough to shut me up? What about the repair tools, any ideas there? Even if you put back one repair tool before the point where a person would need one, that'd work? Anyone stupid enough to break their guns would still be on their own.
RocketMan on 22/2/2010 at 04:23
I hope that stick doesn't have any burrs on it :O
blaydes99 on 22/2/2010 at 17:40
I just find this thread funny as this is coming from the girl who likes to go wrench-only through the whole game. Didn't know you even liked to use firearms... :)
In all honesty though, I just started a new game with the latest ADaOB and it feels just fine to me.
