Spy Bullet

[Cronky]

I've been thinking for a while and for this thread... Re-purpose is the name of the game this time. (And simply to bring back these AWESOME ideas)

I loved me some Spy Bullet, but others on here for some reason liked the Heartbeat sensor. Which did basically the same thing, without a limited number of shots... plus no voice hacking. If this is true, then instead of trying improve the spy bullet why not just make it have a whole new functionality.

Here is my proposal.

Throw out the Proxy Radar it had when shot anywhere. Trash the Merc voice hack (or MAYBE NOT).

INSTEAD of these, make the spy bullet a level/gadget oriented... gadget.

FIRST FUNCTION:

A while ago, wireless hacking (Of general panels, not objectives) was brought up. Much like DA, the further away you were the longer it took to hack. At minimum it would take at least a few seconds longer regardless. Shoot near a hackable panel and BAM. No more headshots because you want to open a door.

If possible I'd like Mercs to be able to see the wireless "Direction" through EMF. Like Tiny particals that points to where the Spy is hacking from.

Perhaps not though, Spies are already at a disadvantage with time. If this were in there then Spies should be able to hack from behind walls, or in vents. (Not have to be within eyesight, but just general proximity)

If said EMF Direction were not included. Then Eyesight must be maintained for the whole of the hack.

SECOND FUNCTION:

Mines are a bitch, but nothing we haven't come to terms with. Disarm and go on your way. Now if I were to shoot said Spy bullet on a Mine. It would simply disable the mine. Disarm is bad for Spies cause that means the Merc can set a new Mine. Disable simply takes the danger off the mine.

Through technological incapability (Not explained in game) this can only affect 1 mine at a time. So no... Disabling all the mines in a level.

Merc's can easily tell when their Mines have been disabled because instead of a blinking red light, it will be a solid green. It's up to him (or her) at this point to either simply take the Spy Bullet off, or take the mine somewhere new.

THIRD FUNCTION:

This one has already been brought up too.

Static defenses are also a bitch. They always try and warn the Mercs about even your most MINOR of slip ups.

So in opposition to this, when you shoot a Spy Bullet on a Motion detector or camera (Not camnet). It will now warn you (The Spy) of a Merc's movement in said area much like it does for the Merc.

Mercs could tell when a motion detector was bullet'd because it would blink for them; a camera if it was following them. Simply shoot the bullet off and it's back to normal.

FORTH FUNCTION:

Mercs love themselves some Camnet. Some people will camp ALL day just to get a glimpse of your position. Whether they tell their teammate to react, or actually do the dirty work themselves is up to them at that point.

With a Spy bullet on a Camnet Camera Spies will have themselves a makeshift sticky cam. Minus the Gas. To Mercs on Camnet, that camera simply wont pop up. Knowledgeable Mercs will get what's going on and go find the bullet... or get their teammate to do it.

DRAWBACKS (a.k.a. Why this isn't overpowered):

Now I know what you're thinking at this point, "Hey... with this gadget you wouldn't need ANY other gadgets. EVER." There is a price to pay for said gadget though.

In CT you had 5 Spy Bullets. PS would only have say... 3. Much like Merc mines and their millions of placements... you just don't have enough to do everything.

Again, through technological incapability Spies can only use 1 Spy Bullet at a time. This means that you can't disable a mine, take out a camnet, and hack a door at the same time. Each Spy Bullet disables the last active one.

Lastly. You miss. You lost one. You better have a plan, and good aim. There is no do-overs with this gadget.

I have a feeling I've already had this whole thread before, but like I said at the start. I love me some Spy Bullet.  8)

[Spark Mandriller]

Regular spy bullets are way better than these ones. These ones aren't very good at all. Wireless hacking is okay, disabling mines is completly pointless when you could just shoot them, being told where a merc is once before he destroys your bullet is worthless, and breaking one camera until it gets shot isn't very good either.

The proximity detector on spy bullets was the best thing ever, it was way more useful than any of your ideas.

[Cronky]

I've read many times that the heartbeat sensor was used WAY more than the Spy Bullets. Thus came up with this.

I like the original spy bullet as a whole, but if it were to become it's own gadget I would hope that it didn't just do the same thing as another one with a tiny difference.

Wireless hacking - Yeah, it would be nice

Disabling mines - Again, you COULD shoot one, but then the Merc has the ability to set another immediately. In this instance the Merc doesn't know that his Mine is doing nothing. Thus having a useless mine until either:

A.) You, the spy, make an attempt to do something else with another spy bullet.

or

B.) The Merc sees his mine and fixes it.

Being told where the Merc is once - This is one of those "If they notice" deals. How much as a Merc have you ever actually paid attention to the Motion detectors or the Cameras? Again, you would have a proximity detector still, but instead this one would give you a message much like a Merc gets with said defenses. (Instead of doing exactly what the heartbeat sensor does... which actually came after the bullet... hrmm)

Breaking one camera till it gets shot - This is more for "Balancing" Camnet, as I've also read (mostly by spekkio) that it's not exactly PERFECT. This forces a Merc to either get his partner to move, or himself to leave his position to fix this problem. Either way opens up an opportunity for a spy to do... Something... if used right.

And it makes the spy bullet, in this instance, an Anti-Camping kind of gadget. As some Camnet users undoubtedly are.

[Spark Mandriller]

I've read many times that the heartbeat sensor was used WAY more than the Spy Bullets. Thus came up with this.

HBS is good, but spy bullets are pretty good too. Can you shoot a heartbeat sensor around a corner to keep you totally safe while you hack? No you can't.

Disabling mines -

Mercs check mines pretty frequently, and they'll run out pretty quick if you keep destroying them. Poiiiiintless.

Being told where the Merc is once -

I think they're gonna notice pretty quickly if a fucking camera is looking at them while blinking.

Breaking one camera till it gets shot -

Fuckin' pointless dude. The point of camnet is to let you know where the spies are. If you shoot out a camera then you tell them where you are. Camnet is only bad on some maps, anyway. Just make camnet more like it is in Aquarius instead of more like it is in Factory and there'll be no problem.

[Cronky]

I've read many times that the heartbeat sensor was used WAY more than the Spy Bullets. Thus came up with this.

HBS is good, but spy bullets are pretty good too. Can you shoot a heartbeat sensor around a corner to keep you totally safe while you hack? No you can't.

Is there still an option to do this with this rendition of the Spy Bullet? Yes. Check the 3rd function. It just uses the levels defenses instead of your own gadget.

(Yes, I understand that is not EXACTLY the same. The point was to make it significantly different than the heartbeat sensor. Not a variant of it)

Disabling mines -

Mercs check mines pretty frequently, and they'll run out pretty quick if you keep destroying them. Poiiiiintless.

Blow it up - Make some noise

Disable - No noise, No alert.

Hell even at that it's like a "Get out of a mine raping Free Card", or a "I don't have time to sneak to it" gadget.

Laser Mine in a doorway that you can see, but can't blow up lest you hurt/kill yourself? Disable, then disarm.

You can see said laser mine, Merc is patrolling the room, and in this situation your teammate is on the otherside of the door without this gadget?

Disable it for him.

Being told where the Merc is once -

I think they're gonna notice pretty quickly if a fucking camera is looking at them while blinking.

I think I get what you're getting at. You mean the orange square that plops over it saying "You got caught foo"?

I didn't imagine the Mercs getting to see that. Simply the motion detector blinking, or the Camera staring at them. That is all. Alerting the Spy, not the Merc.

Breaking one camera till it gets shot -

Fuckin' pointless dude. The point of camnet is to let you know where the spies are. If you shoot out a camera then you tell them where you are. Camnet is only bad on some maps, anyway. Just make camnet more like it is in Aquarius instead of more like it is in Factory and there'll be no problem.

Just because you shoot out a camera doesn't mean you have to stand in that room. Unlike the wireless hacking, the other functions don't need you within eyesight of it.

You COULD stand in the same room, knowing at one point a Merc will HAVE to come into that room to fix it. Ambush Style.

OR

You could go to another room while the Merc is distracted away in the room you hacked. Decoy Style.

[CurdyMilk]

I loved me some Spy Bullet, but others on here for some reason liked the Heartbeat sensor.

Add me to the HBS list.  For some reason?  1.  You don't have to waste time shooting it on a merc
2.  It can't be removed by another merc  3.  You never run out

[monterto]

I loved me some Spy Bullet, but others on here for some reason liked the Heartbeat sensor.

Add me to the HBS list.  For some reason?  1.  You don't have to waste time shooting it on a merc
2.  It can't be removed by another merc  3.  You never run out

Yes, both have advantages/disadvantages that favor certain maps/play styles lets avoid discussing this

[Cronky]

I loved me some Spy Bullet, but others on here for some reason liked the Heartbeat sensor.

Add me to the HBS list.  For some reason?  1.  You don't have to waste time shooting it on a merc
2.  It can't be removed by another merc  3.  You never run out

Yes, both have advantages/disadvantages that favor certain maps/play styles lets avoid discussing this

It's a good gadget. That is no doubt. Perhaps my favorite (Mostly just for Voice Hacking). This thread was a big WHAT IF it was to change, and what I think would make it more unique.

Bringing both the Heartbeat Sensor and Spy Bullets to any level though was pretty redundant. It's like if the spies had Nightvision and a Flashlight gadget. Sure, each is useful in it's own sense, but both are so close to each other in functionality that it would make sense to remake one.

If that makes any sense ;D

[CurdyMilk]

I loved me some Spy Bullet, but others on here for some reason liked the Heartbeat sensor.

Add me to the HBS list.  For some reason?  1.  You don't have to waste time shooting it on a merc
2.  It can't be removed by another merc  3.  You never run out

Yes, both have advantages/disadvantages that favor certain maps/play styles lets avoid discussing this

I know, I wasn't saying it was better or worse.  Just my opinion.

Bringing both the Heartbeat Sensor and Spy Bullets to any level though was pretty redundant. It's like if the spies had Nightvision and a Flashlight gadget. Sure, each is useful in it's own sense, but both are so close to each other in functionality that it would make sense to remake one.

I would die if the HBS didn't make it in PS.

[Cronky]

Bringing both the Heartbeat Sensor and Spy Bullets to any level though was pretty redundant. It's like if the spies had Nightvision and a Flashlight gadget. Sure, each is useful in it's own sense, but both are so close to each other in functionality that it would make sense to remake one.

I would die if the HBS didn't make it in PS.

Coincidentally, I would kill if it made it in.

;)

[Farley4Fan]

I prefer HBS but nothing a bit of boosting for SB can't fix.

Maybe boost the range and duration a bit.  One of the things fixed through testing.

[Cronky]

You're probably right.

SB should stay as is.

If Voice Hacking is axed...

Oh there will be SOOOO many angry letters.



...Or I guess in my case a VEEEEEERY long Forum Post. ;)

[Farley4Fan]

You merely need to write a strongly worded letter.

That always works.  It's how I brought down the Berlin Wall.

[Cronky]

Point taken.

I guess I'll have to..

Beef up my vocabulary.

8)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[DreadStunLock]

I think it would be easier to make a sub-category for the gadgets like, You go on the equipment screen, click on the Spy Bullet, then it takes you to sub-options of spy bullet, like an attachment of what it's going to do, either disable the mine and you lose the radar, or it does the radar thing but it doesn't disable the mine hmm?


PS: Anyone thinks you should be able to taze a CNet Camera for few seconds? Would be cool if it had an animation of rotating wildly and turning the torchlight and laser sight on and off for that duration ^^