11-04-2023, 03:48 PM
Lings seem to be the antag that causes the most derision, argument, and discussion. I thought it would be prudent to just list a few things about lings that I feel I see as common complaints, suggest any counters I have, and get feedback from others, possibly bringing someone to an inspiration to tackle the onerous project.
Common complaints I hear
-Hive mind is boring
-Making victims unclonable makes them the most direct target and basically gurantees death in any instance
-Poisons are not always satisfying
-High visibility, easy trackability
-Kit limitations lead to formulaic loop
My suggestions to these things:
-Make body parts a ghost tag that they can toggle on or off as they wish to allow body parts to become animated by a new ghost to hive mind spirit which can then be popped at will. This could allow a ling to also get 'backup parts' to pop off in case of am ambush instead of just one of each, imagine trying to cuff the ling and their arms and legs all fell off at the same time and attacked in a swarm.
that change would also let the hive mind be an opt in ghost role, allowing for people to not 'have' to be in the hive mind. It also means that if a ling spits out a bodypart they know 100 percent its going to be taken by someone that wants to be the part.
-Make it so a long could get less but leave corpses unmarked and harder to determine less cause, for example you can get like, 6 points but leave no sign, 10 points and leave a husk as normal, or who knows maybe like...immobilize you while your chest splits in half and you shove a corpse in for an additional 5 points, making you defenseless and making alot of noise but eliminating evidence and getting more points for a risk
-I think the sting should be a single timer, I think it should take from a central pool of resources that slowly recharges but auto refills eating, I think it should be the 'cost' of the pool rather then a cool down. Like... Capuletium 70 out of 100 neurotoxin 60 out of 100 solpizine 50 out of 100 lsd 30 mimitoxin 25 or such. Let a ling play with perceptions and ideas, give them varied ways of hunting and dealing with targets, and adaptability. Ya know some secoff is gunnin for ya with a smelling salt in hand? Vanish with solpizine instead and plan your attack.
-I think a lings DNA should show as unknown if scanning their blood or bodyparts. I think this should extend to ling parts. I think handprints should stay the same. The ling itself isn't even the original person. I feel that making their dna from normal non print dna evidence harder to pinpoint without finding the ling will open up the ling to doing some more daring stuff or using bodyparts more often. As is a bodypart is a 100 percent trap to catch the ling. Plus being able to scan someone and say 'you're nolt who you say you are' is fun.
ANYWAY those are the things I've observed people having complaint with and my own ideas for possible alterations or additions to alleviate those. I'd love to hear your feedback or others' ideas or perceptions! Kinda want just a...round table ling discussion here.
Common complaints I hear
-Hive mind is boring
-Making victims unclonable makes them the most direct target and basically gurantees death in any instance
-Poisons are not always satisfying
-High visibility, easy trackability
-Kit limitations lead to formulaic loop
My suggestions to these things:
-Make body parts a ghost tag that they can toggle on or off as they wish to allow body parts to become animated by a new ghost to hive mind spirit which can then be popped at will. This could allow a ling to also get 'backup parts' to pop off in case of am ambush instead of just one of each, imagine trying to cuff the ling and their arms and legs all fell off at the same time and attacked in a swarm.
that change would also let the hive mind be an opt in ghost role, allowing for people to not 'have' to be in the hive mind. It also means that if a ling spits out a bodypart they know 100 percent its going to be taken by someone that wants to be the part.
-Make it so a long could get less but leave corpses unmarked and harder to determine less cause, for example you can get like, 6 points but leave no sign, 10 points and leave a husk as normal, or who knows maybe like...immobilize you while your chest splits in half and you shove a corpse in for an additional 5 points, making you defenseless and making alot of noise but eliminating evidence and getting more points for a risk
-I think the sting should be a single timer, I think it should take from a central pool of resources that slowly recharges but auto refills eating, I think it should be the 'cost' of the pool rather then a cool down. Like... Capuletium 70 out of 100 neurotoxin 60 out of 100 solpizine 50 out of 100 lsd 30 mimitoxin 25 or such. Let a ling play with perceptions and ideas, give them varied ways of hunting and dealing with targets, and adaptability. Ya know some secoff is gunnin for ya with a smelling salt in hand? Vanish with solpizine instead and plan your attack.
-I think a lings DNA should show as unknown if scanning their blood or bodyparts. I think this should extend to ling parts. I think handprints should stay the same. The ling itself isn't even the original person. I feel that making their dna from normal non print dna evidence harder to pinpoint without finding the ling will open up the ling to doing some more daring stuff or using bodyparts more often. As is a bodypart is a 100 percent trap to catch the ling. Plus being able to scan someone and say 'you're nolt who you say you are' is fun.
ANYWAY those are the things I've observed people having complaint with and my own ideas for possible alterations or additions to alleviate those. I'd love to hear your feedback or others' ideas or perceptions! Kinda want just a...round table ling discussion here.