411 Interview : Fallout: New Vegas

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:23 am

ANYway, moving on, I'm a little disappointed about the Archimedes laser. So you can use the superweapon on low-HP targets. What's the point?

I'm feeling the same way.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:01 am

Agreed about the achievements.
However, I wouldn't mind seeing points make a comeback. Beating each other's high scores was fun back in the 8-bit days. They could reset after a while or something maybe, or maybe each area/quest has its own scoreboard?

ANYway, moving on, I'm a little disappointed about the Archimedes laser. So you can use the superweapon on low-HP targets. What's the point?

Yeah if you give us achievements let us exchange them for MS points but we all know M$ is way to greedy for that. About the laser, I thought it was a late game item. Whats the problem with having a late game item be really powerful? I would just finish off low hp enemies with what ever I used to dwindle there health in the first place. Leaving the laser just another role play item for my Mad scientist and Alien characters

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:52 am

ANYway, moving on, I'm a little disappointed about the Archimedes laser. So you can use the superweapon on low-HP targets. What's the point?

<= 150hp doesn't qualify as "low-HP" to me.

The point is that you collectively cause far more damage to a large number of targets with a single shot than you ever could with a conventional weapon. Even if you don't kill the targets and immediately switch over to a conventional firearm, you've already significantly wounded a large number of targets, making the subsequent combat that much easier.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:13 am

Whats the problem with having a late game item be really powerful?

Because power is relative, and if a weapon effectively makes the application of all other weapons in the late game irrelevant, why should the other weapons be included in the game?

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:25 am

<= 150hp doesn't qualify as "low-HP" to me.

Did the HP system get reworked a bit? I think you start out with more than that in Fallout 3 at level 1.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:06 am

<= 150hp doesn't qualify as "low-HP" to me.

The point is that you collectively cause far more damage to a large number of targets with a single shot than you ever could with a conventional weapon. Even if you don't kill the targets and immediately switch over to a conventional firearm, you've already significantly wounded a large number of targets, making the subsequent combat that much easier.

Does everyone run around screaming and beating their arms because they're on fire, thus gaining the PC a tactical advanttage of shooting at preoccupied targets?

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:53 am

Did the HP system get reworked a bit? I think you start out with more than that in Fallout 3 at level 1.

Enemies in F3 and F:NV have far fewer HP than the PC.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:07 am

Is the laser limited to certain areas or can it be used anywhere? Can I use it in the strip?

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:06 am

Because power is relative, and if a weapon effectively makes the application of all other weapons in the late game irrelevant, why should the other weapons be included in the game?

Holy [censored] your him, I mean... *Head Explodes

In all seriousness Im not trying to be critical of your game balancing, I think we just need to get our hands on it to really judge it. I think the radius of the weapon will determine its effectiveness for me, plus seeing when the weapon actually shows up. I use weapons based on my character/build roleplay wise. I could care less how effective said weapons were, so I would still use an inferior weapon late game even if the laser was OPed, depending on my character of course. also If you can only use it every 24 hours and only outdoors, it wouldnt make all other weapons irrelevant, unless you waited every 24 hours to kill something. :disguise:

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:29 am

Pretty much all of the large AoE weapons (ARCHIMEDES II, Fat Man, Grenade Machine Gun) in the game do moderate damage over large areas. Having a hand-held "you win once a day" weapon without any regard for tactical use would be bad. Explosives (and ARCH. II) are for use against groups and will whittle down HP much more quickly than any standard single-target weapon. Against targets with less than about 150hp, all of the above will destroy the group handily. But against single high HP targets (especially if armored), it is typically much better to use weapons like the Anti-Materiel Rifle or Gauss Rifle.

All weapons are intended to have tactically sound uses and tactically unsound uses. Single high HP targets are the wrong application for ARCH. II.

Does that mean that the Fatman in NV does less damage than it did in FO3?

(most players considered it underpowered then. ~The problem with the Fatman was that you could find ammo for it everywhere... You could find a nuke on a shelf in an exposed barn less than ? a mile from Megaton.)

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:34 pm

Does that mean that the Fatman in NV does less damage than it did in FO3?

(most players considered it underpowered then.

:blink: Oh really? Seemed pretty overpowered to me.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:20 am

:blink: Oh really? Seemed pretty overpowered to me.

Seriously? How exactly? (I mean... A mini nuke like that should obliterate areas from the game :lol:

)

*But even so.. doesn't it take 4 or five of them to kill a behemoth?

**As an experiment... Fire the Fatman at Mr. Burke in his chair in Moriarty's.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:26 am

Seriously? How exactly? (I mean... A mini nuke like that should obliterate areas from the game :lol:

)

*But even so.. doesn't it take 4 or five of them to kill a behemoth?

**As an experiment... Fire the Fatman at Mr. Burke in his chair in Moriarty's.

It takes most things out of commission. Behemoth was an exception. Some of the Broken Steel bullet sponge enemies can probably take one too but I've never tried.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:11 am

Maybe there will be a perk that lets the orbital laser produce greater damage on enemies.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:13 am

<= 150hp doesn't qualify as "low-HP" to me.

The point is that you collectively cause far more damage to a large number of targets with a single shot than you ever could with a conventional weapon. Even if you don't kill the targets and immediately switch over to a conventional firearm, you've already significantly wounded a large number of targets, making the subsequent combat that much easier.

So does that mean that creatures will starting hunting in packs in the game?

Enemies in F3 and F:NV have far fewer HP than the PC.

O_o
Say what now?
Albino's, Behemoths, Tribals, Hillfolks, Reavers, Overlords...

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:31 pm

<= 150hp doesn't qualify as "low-HP" to me.

The point is that you collectively cause far more damage to a large number of targets with a single shot than you ever could with a conventional weapon. Even if you don't kill the targets and immediately switch over to a conventional firearm, you've already significantly wounded a large number of targets, making the subsequent combat that much easier.

Supporting the statement before that even if it doesn't kill the enemy its still a good starting assault weapon for a group of targets :thumbsup:

Maybe there will be a perk that lets the orbital laser produce greater damage on enemies.

I highly doubt there would be perk like that, of course thats only speculation on my part,
but I'm sure its damage is increased with a higher energy weapons skill

O_o
Say what now?
Albino's, Behemoths, Tribals, Hillfolks, Reavers, Overlords...

well he didn't say all enemies,
and of course higher ups like those are bound to have more

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:45 am

Because power is relative, and if a weapon effectively makes the application of all other weapons in the late game irrelevant, why should the other weapons be included in the game?

I wish this kind of thinking went into balancing guns in FPS games that focus on multiplayer. Bad balancing is one of my biggest annoyances with games these days. Its good to see you are taking care of balancing.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:52 am

I wish this kind of thinking went into balancing guns in FPS games that focus on multiplayer. Bad balancing is one of my biggest annoyances with games these days. Its good to see you are taking care of balancing.

Balance is very a good thing. The games that I play the most, are the ones that seem the best balanced; these games garner a measure of respect from players (or at least from me).

But I would rather no fatman at all than a nuclear rifle that behaves like a souped up grenade launcher. :shrug:
*There is a mod I believe that converts it to just that ~and this doesn't seem to affect gameplay much if at all. (except that it makes it more ~~sensible~~ plausible).

**The point [for me] here is that the series has always treated nukes with the utmost respect... not so in FO3, and I was just hoping things would change in FO:NV, that's all.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:31 am

Well balance is one of the most difficult aspects to master with almost any game

Its like trying to balance a pencil on your finger without even seeing the pencil (from the way I see it)

If a game can acheive that then it deserves an A+

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:22 am

I wish this kind of thinking went into balancing guns in FPS games that focus on multiplayer. Bad balancing is one of my biggest annoyances with games these days. Its good to see you are taking care of balancing.

But his statement is still flawed, even if the laser could 1 hit a few deathclaws it still can only be used outdoors and every 24 hours. Meaning other weapons wouldnt be irrelevant.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:22 pm

Well balance is one of the most difficult aspects to master with almost any game

Its like trying to balance a pencil on your finger without even seeing the pencil (from the way I see it)

If a game can acheive that then it deserves an A+

Play Homeworld, Myth & Myth 2 :trophy: :trophy: :trophy:

But his statement is still flawed, even if the laser could 1 hit a few deathclaws it still can only be used outdoors and every 24 hours. Meaning other weapons wouldnt be irrelevant.

Something to consider though... as Exploit... FO3 (and possibly NV) are timeless. So long as you end combat alive, you can wait 24 hours right there on the spot and have another shot with the laser to use against the opponents around the corner, or just outside of the building you are in. ~that's no good.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:51 am

But his statement is still flawed, even if the laser could 1 hit a few deathclaws it still can only be used outdoors and every 24 hours. Meaning other weapons wouldnt be irrelevant.

Do you honestly not see how easily it could be exploited with the waiting system?

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:28 am

But his statement is still flawed, even if the laser could 1 hit a few deathclaws it still can only be used outdoors and every 24 hours. Meaning other weapons wouldnt be irrelevant.

We do not question "Him"!!!
SHUN THE NON-BELIEVER!!!
and as stated before a player can abuse the wait function

Play Homeworld, Myth & Myth 2 :trophy: :trophy: :trophy:

Oh trust me I'm definitely going to get Homeworld......as soon as I get a decent gaming computer :brokencomputer:

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:10 am

Do you honestly not see how easily it could be exploited with the waiting system?

I agree, but it seems the difference between it is now and it being OPed would be a couple coup de grace shots in VATS. The fact is you could clear out a valley of deathclaws either way relatively easy with the wait feature, the only difference would be a hand full of bullets. honestly it doesnt really matter as only 2 of my character are going to use it anyway, plus im not trying to argue with a lead dev person.

» Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:58 pm

If Fatman ammo is as plentiful, then the only real advantage I can see in the ARCHI, is a free shot, daily. I think other than for the "OMG" moment, I won't be firing this very often. I suppose that means I'll be finishing the quest in a way that either destroys or gives power to someone else.