"Damn Seraphim t2 pd bug!!!!" (emphasis on quotes)

[Morax]

I had an interesting encounter during my lunch break game today on Syrtis 3v3 (SCMP 017 I think is the actual name...)

It was claimed by someone rushing in with a UEF gun comm that met 2-3 sera t2 pds that they are going to lose because of the "Seraphim t2 pd" bug.

My instant reaction was, "What the hell bug did I stumble upon and expose?" I kindly asked and it was immediately replied with "you can't see or hear the shot" to which I replied "that's not a bug..." and back-n-forth "YEAH IT IS!" ensued - to say the least, my stomach began to get irritated and thought I might lose my lunch on the PC screen.

Is this actually a bug? It was to my understanding that it's a laser and silent like the Cybran t2 pd, which is one of its strengths if the player under attack doesn't have vision (go ahead and test in sandbox). There is a visual scarring and smoke from both cybran/sera t2 pd, so I don't think it's really a bug. This is just something that screams "diversity" as the pds use direct-fire and will get impeded by terrain. The Aeon "burst energy" and UEF make a loud splash sound since they use shells and explosions vs lasers that are - even in real life - silent... One needs to ensure they have vision/scout when up against Sera/Cybran defenses for that matter.

Just thought I'd share. I have had a number of encounters like this with some players (not going to mention rating to avoid that war) and the purpose of this thread is to fuel my belief that only top-level players and those who understand the mechanics VERY well should make balance input.

[Softly]

There's already a visual effect from the seraphim t2 pd around where it impacts, so I've never had problems not knowing I'm taking damage.

Maybe this effect could be made slightly more noticeable, in line with aeon splash for example?

[keyser]

well the only issue with the sera T2 pd, is that you can only the impact of the laser on your units.
if you are in strategic view, you will see nothing. Cybran/uef/aeon does have a visible "shell" when you are in strategic view.

It would be better to make the laser visible imo.

[KD7BCH]

How about Sera T4 Bomber, why does that thing not always drop on first pass, it hardly ever lives past first pass anyway.

[Morax]

well the only issue with the sera T2 pd, is that you can only the impact of the laser on your units.
if you are in strategic view, you will see nothing. Cybran/uef/aeon does have a visible "shell" when you are in strategic view.

It would be better to make the laser visible imo.

That's a good point, keyser (one how the strategic view doesn't show a "shell"), while the Cybran one does.

It could be a bug that there is no icon. It could be on purpose. We'd probably have to look at the game development notes from 2008-2009 to know why it is that way when the Seraphim faction was designed.

It really shouldn't be held under a microscope too much in my opinion. The simple solution is to understand your opponent's faction and be aware of this kind of thing:

e.g. don't make a fire base against Cybran with the intention of stopping MMLs, don't run a comm into sera t2 pds without being zoomed in so you can properly track damage taken, don't make an attack unless you know you can win else you'll just mass dump (mmmmm Monkeylord wrecks after trying to fight percies!).

[da_monstr]

As I see it, sera PD should really have a more noticeable effect. if you want to see the current one, you need to zoom in REALLY close.

[keyser]

yes and if you are zoom in, you will see the lazer only if you have vision over the T2 PD (i'm not sure of it, i will re-test that later and compare too cybran one)
but even without vision on the pd, you can still notice the effect on the unit taking the damage

[ZLO_RD]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Mufx-rIFM

you REALLY need to pay attansion to those sera t2 pds, cause you can't tell if it is shooting you or not, very very very very annoying

you often notice it when you already dead

[keyser]

https://youtu.be/Y4Mufx-rIFM?t=15m38s
there you go

[CodingSquirrel]

Isn't this the case with all laser weapons, including the ML and GC? My understanding is that the way beams were hacked in, if you can't see the source of the beam then you don't see it at all, even if part of it is out of view. I also remember about this very problem being the reason why the Cerberus effect was changed. Even if the beam problem can't be fixed (I think I remember people saying that we would need engine access to fix it) wouldn't one solution be to add a projectile effect alongside the beam? I definitely prefer the particle effect of the beam, but at least it would be something you could see if that was out of range.