Why I think this game struggles to make predator fun.

#1

I was just playing a couple matches, and I think I finally can put it simply why predator isnt fun. Or at least as fun as can be.

My first match was against a PC pred, I believe he was hunter, He was highly mobile, Constantly leaping, Firing arrows or handheld plasma caster shots in between leaps. quite literally never standing still.

My second match, was against a PS4 Pred, A scout. He was trying very hard to make the cloak work and standing still but I just kept shooting him in the head till he lost his mask, then soon after died.

The issue I think is present, is that to have any chance at winning against a fireteam that is hyper aware of clicking/shimmers, you have to be so aggressively mobile, that you dont ever really get a breather. Where as if you try to just play slow and stealthy its pretty much a guranteed loss.

Basically, I think for a lot of people that want to play pred, its difficult to enjoy because you are damn near infinitely sweating the entire match and its just exhausting to play honestly.

And maybe thats why they decided to flip the script for this game, and make fireteam more casual, and enjoyable, because if it were exhausting to play as FT the game would struggle to maintain a playerbase.

I dunno. Thoughts?

5 Likes
night mode game play
#2

I went up against 3 scouts yesterday playing FT. All three matches were successful exfil with the Predator being difficult to hit, but having the same trouble hitting the FT.
Decided to play a pred game as scout and figured out why real fast. Second I stood still to line up shots my health bar started melting like an ice cube in death valley. Same result as the FT games I played, complete exfil. Right now the bottom line is if you can see the FT they can see you and they do a lot more damage than you can.
I’ve had some good success with hunter since the update simply because he can take enough damage to deal damage, but scout? If you stop moving your dead.
Granted I’m no where near the best at Pred but that’s my observation at this time.

2 Likes
#3

I don’t think it’s as easy as that, but do think you have a point about sweating.

Pred’s are going to sweat a bit, you are against 4 people. If you don’t have to sweat then that means it’s likely too easy to get a kill and stops being fun for the majority.

I really do hope that we get a mode that is Pred vs Pred, then you’ll really understand what sweating is. 😘
Personally think balancing FT damage will happen when there’s FT PvP.

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#4

Yeah. It also doesnt help that as pred you are fighting the controls a lot while trying to maintain that mobility. Its a struggle.

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#5

Some sweet FT vs FT action would definitely be useful in finding balance. And just as fun to watch from a tree while sending some turtle power plasma shots down range to make things spicy 😁

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#6

Thats why ive been saying stealth is such a must have. Pred needs to be able to take a breather, analyze the situation, capitalize on fireteam mistakes.

Without that stealth hes playing leaping simulator and its really tiring. I dont expect to not have to be mobile but if the stealth were better it would create some better pacing I feel.

5 Likes
#7

Yeah, those Pred controls bug me too. Just go where I point and stop banging your head on shit I can’t see when I hit leap.

Turtle Power!

2 Likes
#8

Leaping simulator…yep pretty much sums it up

Predator: Jumping Grounds

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#9

Dont get me wrong. Some people have really good mental stamina and can consistently do well with that.

But between the adrenaline and the lack of breaks of any sort, I get tired of playing pred like 3 games in. Its too exhausting.

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#10

Night mode… come on I know you wanna. 😁

Just imagine how much freedom Pred will have to reposition and shoot down into compounds. Yeah when you fire you’ll give yourself away, but then just hop to the next tree and chill, then rinse and repeat.

Every time FT has to move between compounds you get to drop down somewhere in ambush, stalking waiting. (Ok, so the glowing eyes will need to have some work done on them, but that’s easy, add a passive thermal mode with limited range.)

night mode game play
#11

Ive never said night mode wouldnt be amazing

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#12

I know, but people seem to think it couldn’t work… the devs might be having issues, and there’s no one better on the forum to give us a solid foundation to build from.

#13

The problem is slasher. I have to make a difficult choice before I can even start that…

Do I use the current game in its weird state, as the foundation?

or do I use my rework as its foundation and build from there?

#14

No I agree. But honestly, pre 2.0 when I saw scout pred on in game, I leaned in, little more grip on the controller and buckle in so I was ready. Now I pause and wonder if they read the patch notes.
Pre patch mediocre players like me could play scout effectively. Now you really need to elevate your game to be effective with that class. Even running hunter it’s more rushing around and less planning. I haven’t tried zerker yet but I imagine it’ll be similar to hunter except you can slug out a bit more at range

Edit: Zerker you’re handicapped though needing to take adrenal and long jump just to move around enough

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#15

Against any decent team or at least one person who knows what they’re doing you cannot stand still and be methodical. You have to be fast and aggressive otherwise you get spotted for trying to hide or the FT will rush through the objectives.

#16

You also need energy regen of some sort since they have horrible energy management.

1 Like
#17

The devs are likely starting from here, so that makes the most sense.

I’d metaphorically cannibalize any useful balance change that made sense to borrow.

The premise in my head I see having the most potential, is moving from one compound to the next with the FT being vulnerable while outside of the light and it being dangerous for the Predator to risk going in it. The Predator could jump down into the light and treat in as a normal match so pushing him off needs to be a thing that can be done. Either through damage or a modification to how Spotting works. Maybe you stay outlined or marked until you are back in the jungle.

The mode encouraging the Pred to get them in the stealth kill state and likely a choice between cutting across the map in the dark or following a road or other lit path to the exfil.

#18

I wish there was better mechanics for the stealth in this game.

I hide in a tree but they know exactly which branch I’m in with them loud ass clicks

I really like scout and the only way I manage to win against pre-made with that class is by staying on the move, I have no time to sit and analyse like I’d want too

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#19

Well it depends.

1 Like
#20

On whatttt?

In compounds it could also remove the ability to quick claim until the bleed out timer is up, so if you do your accepting the risk. (Can’t be buggy)