noise audibility

[Spekkio]

Things you need to hear:

-Placing of sticky cam near you (moderate radius)
-Frags being launched (large radius)
-Sticky shocker being fired (relatively short hearing radius)
-Things blowing up (large radius)
-Merc footsteps (moderate radius)

Things you shouldn't hear:
-Spy drawing a gun silently.
-Spy motions (unless it pings the reticule, or you're *very* close)
-Camo activation (camo needs to be silent otherwise it sucks)

Generally if a spy doesn't ping the reticule, he shouldn't be heard via normal sound, with the exception of firing the sticky shocker or the gadget launcher.

I agree mostly. What I don't agree with is that the spy must ping the reticle for you to hear the noise audibly. The way I see it, there is a "threshold" for the sound detector that will ping it if crossed. Some actions aren't loud enough to do that, but can still be heard if the merc is close. These include rolling, drawing your gun, dropping to the ground when crouched, using camo, or moving quickly on loud surfaces like vents or shallow water. And yes, some level of realism/common sense has to be used when determining what constitutes a "loud surface."

The problem arises when the merc can hear these things from quite a distance away, which leaves players stumped as to how the merc found them. Basically, what I think needs to be fixed in PS isn't WHAT you hear, but WHERE you hear it.

Now, you might say "but these distances seem arbitrary and thus complicate the game too much!" But wait! All you have to do is tweak the spy's radar to reflect the audible range differences. Have a circular line for short, medium, and far radiuses. If you are using HB or have a merc marked on bullet and he's in the medium radius, then you know it's safe to draw your gun, but not safe to roll around. If he's beyond the radar's large radius (which would be the end of the radar), you know that you could make all the noise in the world and the merc won't find you.

Of course, I also think that you should not be able to hear stuff on another floor. For example, a merc on lower level of club should not be able to hear a spy shoot out vents on the upper level.

[Farley4Fan]

The problem with EAX is BOTH what you hear and where you hear it.

[Westfall]

Spekkio pretty much said it all. HB sensor should be heard when it is drawn from a distance that could be heard normally. Unless you can create a speed for pulling out your gun. But is that really necessary?

[Farley4Fan]

Again everyone, think about balance before realism.  I know I've already said that but before you suggest something be sure it would improve balance on both sides.

[Westfall]

Spy making a noise because he is pulling out his HB sensor in a distance audible to the merc is both realistic and balanced.

[neth]

Im not really sure if spy should be punished for scanning the area.

[Farley4Fan]

How is it balanced?  All the guy has to do is turn on emf and he's found the guy with hearbeat.  Since he can hear him pull it out, that's all he has to do to find him.

[InvisibleMan999]

Im not really sure if spy should be punished for scanning the area.

Yeah, I mean the HBS is a device used specifically to find and avoid mercs. I can see hearing things like sticky cams or even spy bullets/snares, but the HBS, like camo, is a stealth tool. If it gives away your location, then it's usefulness is seriously compromised. And out of everything, stealth tools need to be defended in PS.

And really, I can't think of a great balance reason why pulling out your gun (w/o laser) should be audible.

Now I suppose we could just make it audible to a very short range, but I don't know if I see the point.

There are some motions, like rolling in a vent which I think maybe should be audible, since rolling is faster and therefore should increase your chance of being detected, it should have a drawback. But regular spy footsteps on stealth mode should never be detected (regardless of surface), and landing after a jump also shouldn't make sound unless it pings the reticule.

[frvge]

I still don't know if rolling (not diving) is faster =/ I checked a few times and it's either the same or slower.

[neth]

Im not really sure if spy should be punished for scanning the area.

Yeah, I mean the HBS is a device used specifically to find and avoid mercs. I can see hearing things like sticky cams or even spy bullets/snares, but the HBS, like camo, is a stealth tool. If it gives away your location, then it's usefulness is seriously compromised. And out of everything, stealth tools need to be defended in PS.

And really, I can't think of a great balance reason why pulling out your gun (w/o laser) should be audible.

Now I suppose we could just make it audible to a very short range, but I don't know if I see the point.

There are some motions, like rolling in a vent which I think maybe should be audible, since rolling is faster and therefore should increase your chance of being detected, it should have a drawback. But regular spy footsteps on stealth mode should never be detected (regardless of surface), and landing after a jump also shouldn't make sound unless it pings the reticule.

QFE

In CT its harder to play stealthy and thats why IMO stealthy players need buff. As Invisibleman said above mercs wont suffer if they dont hear pulling out a gun, hbs, camo or stealth landing.

[Farley4Fan]

Well, stealth players ARE getting a buff just by the way that maps are going to be designed.  AFAIK they will be as dark as PT and darker than CT.  I agree though, hbs and your gun should be audible at about 10 feet.  Who's going to pull out their gun when they are that close to merc's anyways?  Of course I mean other than when you want to sticky cam him or something.  But if you are that close to a merc and he doesn't know you are there then you should be able to grab him anyways.

[Gawain]

imo cams should be audible only from close distance. They need a buff cause now theyre kinda useless.

omg stfu cams decide most games atm

[Succubus Dryad Of The Undying Comet]

imo taking cams is dumb since all mercs take gasmask, so if you don't have smokes or cams you make them waste an eq slot.

[neth]

imo taking cams is dumb since all mercs take gasmask, so if you don't have smokes or cams you make them waste an eq slot.

thats about gamestyle. Often its impossible to set a trap with cam, cause theyre well audible from very far, which makes them useless in these situations.

[Westfall]

imo taking cams is dumb since all mercs take gasmask, so if you don't have smokes or cams you make them waste an eq slot.

You must be new. Welcome.

Im not really sure if spy should be punished for scanning the area.

Yeah, I mean the HBS is a device used specifically to find and avoid mercs. I can see hearing things like sticky cams or even spy bullets/snares, but the HBS, like camo, is a stealth tool. If it gives away your location, then it's usefulness is seriously compromised. And out of everything, stealth tools need to be defended in PS.

And really, I can't think of a great balance reason why pulling out your gun (w/o laser) should be audible.

Now I suppose we could just make it audible to a very short range, but I don't know if I see the point.

There are some motions, like rolling in a vent which I think maybe should be audible, since rolling is faster and therefore should increase your chance of being detected, it should have a drawback. But regular spy footsteps on stealth mode should never be detected (regardless of surface), and landing after a jump also shouldn't make sound unless it pings the reticule.

Spekkio's idea was perfect, with the rings around the radar. A spy being careless and pulling out his gun with a merc. nearby because he wants to check the surrounding area is his own fault. Thats not stealthy at all. I agree that camo should be silent. Whipping out your gun for anything should have an audible noise heard within a certain distance.

Make a slower motion for pulling out the gun if you want it more stealthy. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't make sense to eliminate the sound. Like some1 said, its not a big deal for the mercs to hear it, so what are you afraid of. Don't be careless in your stealthy ways. If you can't hear the merc anywhere, then you're probably safe.

The only drawback I see from this is that the radar is small. With the circles inside for audibility purposes, it actually balances it out.