*sam* Posted Nov 20, 2009, 8:50 am	There's two new features in here that I hope will be fun... 1. Creatures will now sometimes turn up in wilderness car combats, generally towards the end when they get the smell of human on foot and/or the waft of blood on the wind. Most creatures will avoid vehicles and try to pick off peds (although the more ferocious ones might attack cars too if they’re being injured by them in particular). The intelligence of the creature is also a factor in determining whether it recognizes an active car versus one that’s not moving or firing* (all creatures, no matter how dumb, recognize active versus dead peds!). 2. Mutants - as discussed in this announcements thread. * You may have noticed for example that zombies in the Halloween arena combats didn't appear to notice that a car was 'dead' and would tear it to shreads regardless. This is because zombies are low-intelligence creatures.
Karz Master Posted Nov 20, 2009, 9:14 am	Ooooh sexy
4saken Posted Nov 20, 2009, 9:15 am	W00t! Are these of a size where they have any effect on a small vehicle's trajectory if you ram them? I can't wait to find out!
*sam* Posted Nov 20, 2009, 9:17 am	4saken said: Are these of a size where they have any effect on a small vehicle's trajectory if you ram them? I can't wait to find out! Actually no.. not yet. Thanks for the reminder, this is something I intended to implement when first working on creatures but didn't do.
*Ninesticks* Posted Nov 20, 2009, 11:56 am	Nice one Sam, now all we have to do is figure out how to get a Safari running.
*sam* Posted Nov 20, 2009, 2:48 pm	Has anyone met any creatures yet during a car-v-car combat? I'd be interested to hear how it went... hopefully they'll add some fun and occasionally some danger, but not be tedious.
FireFly Posted Nov 20, 2009, 4:05 pm	*SirLatte* said: *sam* said: Has anyone met any creatures yet during a car-v-car combat? I'd be interested to hear how it went... hopefully they'll add some fun and occasionally some danger, but not be tedious. Have not seen creatures...but I had an enemy ped seem to do something odd...It looked as if she was attacking my buzzer by hand. Zombie hangover
4saken Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:19 am	Maybe we should up the chances of these encounters until we get some feedback? Quote: Have not seen creatures...but I had an enemy ped seem to do something odd...It looked as if she was attacking my buzzer by hand. The AI has learned some new tricks. I'm sure Sam would be happy to hear some feedback. I have been meaning to make a discussion thread on that.
FireFly Posted Nov 21, 2009, 11:20 am	Right, yesterday in a firelight scout, after I demoralized the last enemy car, 7 rats spawned and started to tear up my loot, grrrr
*Rezeak* reecestensel@hotmail.co.uk Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:00 pm	do the mutants have accelerated skill training as they die a lot faster?
*sam* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:32 pm	FireFly said: Right, yesterday in a firelight scout, after I demoralized the last enemy car, 7 rats spawned and started to tear up my loot, grrrr  I'm sure you dispatched them fairly easily? Not too tedious? I like the idea of you being a bit wary of leaving your cars and running around just in case some creatures are hiding nearby..
*sam* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:33 pm	Rezeak said: do the mutants have accelerated skill training as they die a lot faster? No, they have higher stats and in particular a much better chance of psionics. One thing that maybe *could* train faster is courage?
*Rezeak* reecestensel@hotmail.co.uk Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:40 pm	Do mutants deteriorate faster than humans via "blue text" as well as through age? so will it take less battering to get a mutant down from exellent to good? (than it would for a regular human)
*sam* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 3:51 pm	No, they're the same as norms in that regard Rez.
*Rezeak* reecestensel@hotmail.co.uk Posted Nov 21, 2009, 4:22 pm	okay, because i was thinking that maybe they could be harder to batter down... what with them having more strength and all... surely they should have more endurance?
FireFly Posted Nov 21, 2009, 4:36 pm	*sam* said: FireFly said: Right, yesterday in a firelight scout, after I demoralized the last enemy car, 7 rats spawned and started to tear up my loot, grrrr  I'm sure you dispatched them fairly easily? Not too tedious? I like the idea of you being a bit wary of leaving your cars and running around just in case some creatures are hiding nearby.. Well, no, it was rather hard killing them considering I sat on top of a hill, and creatures are harder to hit than cars  Still, it ended after about 10 turns, even thou some of the creatures were still active, another funny thing I saw was the only car with a conscious driver drove of to try and save his knocked out buddies
*Longo* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 8:01 pm	I just hope these new animal add ons doesnt ruin peds. Its already risky for you to get your guys outa cars in scouts...
*sam* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 10:35 pm	Rezeak said: okay, because i was thinking that maybe they could be harder to batter down... what with them having more strength and all... surely they should have more endurance? Yes, absolutely. Higher strength means a character gets injured less easily.
*sam* Posted Nov 21, 2009, 10:42 pm	Quote: Still, it ended after about 10 turns, even thou some of the creatures were still active The combat ends as soon as none of the creatures have targets that they're trying to attack. Apart from the very large creatures which attack cars, this generally means you just need to get back into your cars to end the event.
*goat starer* Posted Nov 22, 2009, 3:10 am	sam... it would be interesting if there was a point to killing animals.... perhaps bits of them could start appearing in loot as medicines / food?
darthspanky Posted Nov 22, 2009, 3:54 am	i dissagree well goat you obviously dont know the joys of clubbing baby seals sometime they just do it for fun
FireFly Posted Nov 22, 2009, 12:23 pm	I agree with spanky (Oh the humanity!) those should not drop anything. And rats attack cars, well, didn't think that
*Tinker* Posted Nov 22, 2009, 3:28 pm	be nice if animals droped hides, like that we could give our gangsters rad-resistant leather suits?
*goat starer* Posted Nov 22, 2009, 4:16 pm	*Tinker* said: be nice if animals droped hides, like that we could give our gangsters rad-resistant leather suits? you may want to dress your gangers in some kind of rat leather bondage gear.... I will settle for saville row
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Nov 22, 2009, 5:11 pm	Yep i can see you in that kinda gear
Groove Champion Posted Nov 22, 2009, 6:13 pm	Quote: The intelligence of the creature is also a factor in determining whether it recognizes an active car versus one that’s not moving or firing By that rationale NPCs are the dumbest creatures in the game
*sam* Posted Nov 22, 2009, 7:07 pm	Groove Champion said: Quote: The intelligence of the creature is also a factor in determining whether it recognizes an active car versus one that’s not moving or firing By that rationale NPCs are the dumbest creatures in the game  LOL. I think they do recognise it too, honest. It's their decision-making after realising it that's at fault ;-)
Groove Champion Posted Nov 22, 2009, 7:59 pm	I'm just busting balls... To be quite honest, the NPCs sitting around my vehicle and pounding my characters with lead has sometimes tempted me to turn around and charge in. So far I've resisted. (Sorry for hijacking the thread!) ---- 1. I'm quite happy about creatures spawning in vehicle events! Sometimes I run out of pedestrians to run over... and that makes me sad. I'm itching to run something over that moves on four legs (or slithers) 2. As for the mutants, I'm extremely happy to see them exit the RP universe and enter the game universe! Great move as far as game diversity! You can bet your Buzzers I'll be the first to join up the mutant factions once they are implemented!
Zephyr Posted Jan 19, 2010, 9:22 pm	*sam* said: Rezeak said: okay, because i was thinking that maybe they could be harder to batter down... what with them having more strength and all... surely they should have more endurance? Yes, absolutely. Higher strength means a character gets injured less easily. It's certainly not a guarantee.  I lost my 154-strength mutant when the landy she was in caught fire and exploded.
*Lugal* Posted Jan 19, 2010, 9:25 pm	Zephyr said: I lost my 154-strength mutant when the landy she was in caught fire and exploded.    I'm pretty sure a car popping is an insta-gib for any crew inside.
Lord Foul Posted Apr 15, 2010, 2:32 am	Has anyone seen creatures in your scouts lately or since it was last reported by Goat when he battled wolves? It's been almost 2 DW years since creatures in scouts went live and I recall hearing of only a few reports of them spawning.
Marrkos Posted Apr 15, 2010, 2:34 am	I've seen wolves twice, but don't know if it was after Goat's report or not. It's definitely been a while, but at the same time, I've not been giving the enemy too many opportunities to get out of their vehicles.
*jimmylogan* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 2:59 am	I had a scout a few weeks ago where there were lots of people in and out of cars (outside of Elms) and insects attacked. I had to demo them all to finish the event.
*Burden* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 3:04 am	A ped-only scout I was running was attacked by creatures as well.
*sam* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 9:24 am	Is it too rare?
Serephe Posted Apr 15, 2010, 9:42 am	Yeah, I'd like to see them become a regular feature rather than a rare once in a blue moon thing. Perhaps tie them in to aurora effects.
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Apr 15, 2010, 10:06 am	Never seen creatures in any scout or travel i have been on ever
*sam* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 10:25 am	OK, I'll have another look at the decision calcs..
*Bastille* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 11:55 am	Burden said: A ped-only scout I was running was attacked by creatures as well. Yup, it was. An awesome sight. Scorpions attack near Somerset gates
*Tinker* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 12:09 pm	Bastiel said: Burden said: A ped-only scout I was running was attacked by creatures as well. Yup, it was. An awesome sight. Scorpions attack near Somerset gates Awesome screen shots... they belong in the gazette!... my god some of them were huge
*Dark Tempest* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 12:15 pm	The first one where the GIANT scorpion is over towering the 2 peds is amazing.
*sam* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 12:42 pm	Nice pictures. Were you actually shooting the scorpions though, or just driving around teasing them? BTW I have made some changes which will make creatures turn up vs cars more often, especially at times of high red aurora.
Serephe Posted Apr 15, 2010, 12:56 pm	Yay nice work Sam.
*Bastille* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 1:14 pm	Burden and others fought to the last, no questions there. The photo Dark mentions is testament to that. Those guys got in the Eaton, luckily before they were eaten. S192923 Almost scary when they popped up, and I was long in town. Great moment, here's to seeing it more often. Nice one Sam.
*Longo* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 4:33 pm	They just appeared in Tx in my event. 2 Rats attacked the NPC peds....
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Apr 15, 2010, 5:02 pm	*Tinker* said: Awesome screen shots... they belong in the gazette!... my god some of them were huge Watch this space
metrocube Posted Apr 15, 2010, 7:10 pm	*sam* said: Is it too rare? No, I just don't think people are using their pedestrians.  Someone asked me in the lobby last night how I got such comparitively high handgun skill on a lot of my crewmembers. The answer is: I get out of my car and shoot things up with rifles and SMGs! If you don't use your crewmembers regularly as ped combatants, you won't regularly see creature spawns. For example, I've had at least 3 scouts in the past 2 weeks in which after my peds got out of their cars for a few rounds, rats or insects spawned around them and attacked. A couple of my guys got munched on because I didn't see the rats until it was too late.
metrocube Posted Apr 15, 2010, 7:18 pm	*sam* said: BTW I have made some changes which will make creatures turn up vs cars more often, especially at times of high red aurora. Do creatures count as a third faction for purpose of ending a combat event? Must there be no confident creatures to finish combat, or is it enough to not have any confident NPCs.
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Apr 15, 2010, 7:19 pm	That could be why i have never encountered any, i do not use peds !!!
*jimmylogan* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 7:44 pm	metrocube said: Do creatures count as a third faction for purpose of ending a combat event? Must there be no confident creatures to finish combat, or is it enough to not have any confident NPCs. All creatures must be demo'd as well.
HAR_Flattire Posted Apr 15, 2010, 8:17 pm	I am too scared to scout much still much less get my gangers out of the car.
*Longo* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 10:20 pm	*jimmylogan* said: metrocube said: Do creatures count as a third faction for purpose of ending a combat event? Must there be no confident creatures to finish combat, or is it enough to not have any confident NPCs. All creatures must be demo'd as well. Actually the last one I had, the NPCs were out of the car, and 2 rats were attacking them. I demoed teh NPCs, and there was still 1 rat at 100%, and the game went to the looting screen.
*Rezeak* reecestensel@hotmail.co.uk Posted Apr 15, 2010, 10:25 pm	Longo said: *jimmylogan* said: metrocube said: Do creatures count as a third faction for purpose of ending a combat event? Must there be no confident creatures to finish combat, or is it enough to not have any confident NPCs. All creatures must be demo'd as well. Actually the last one I had, the NPCs were out of the car, and 2 rats were attacking them. I demoed teh NPCs, and there was still 1 rat at 100%, and the game went to the looting screen. Longo, that'll be because the other rat got stressed and demod/ran away
*Longo* Posted Apr 15, 2010, 10:31 pm	*Rezeak* said: Longo said: *jimmylogan* said: metrocube said: Do creatures count as a third faction for purpose of ending a combat event? Must there be no confident creatures to finish combat, or is it enough to not have any confident NPCs. All creatures must be demo'd as well. Actually the last one I had, the NPCs were out of the car, and 2 rats were attacking them. I demoed teh NPCs, and there was still 1 rat at 100%, and the game went to the looting screen. Longo, that'll be because the other rat got stressed and demod/ran away Well, it went to loot screen after I shot the last NPC ped....this Rat hadnt even reached the fighting yet. (there were two)
*sam* Posted Apr 16, 2010, 8:30 am	You don't need to kill all creatures to end these combats; they end as soon as there are no more creatures actively pursuing anyone.
FireFly Posted Apr 16, 2010, 6:40 pm	There were 15 rats in total, man, just a trashtruck sure bring them out, love the increased frequency on creature spawns!
Lord Foul Posted Apr 16, 2010, 10:38 pm	Nice pic, I like those glowing demon rat eyes. lol
*Bastille* Posted Apr 17, 2010, 3:56 am	So thats why its called a Chomper. Great pic!
Oscoda Posted Sep 26, 2010, 12:57 pm	Since I've been playing (Feb 2010), I've only seen creatures spawn once. It happened to be when I was chasing down the traders, and it spawned with the other cars, so I really didn't get to do/see much. I've seen bad guys get out of cars fairly often, and had people out of cars myself, usually to lob Molotovs. Are the creatures much rarer near Somerset? Does it take a while, like a certain number of turns outside the car before they come out to play?
*Tinker* Posted Sep 26, 2010, 2:39 pm	Animals are attracted to peds out of cars and bleeding Also the season has a lot to do with it, in mid summer and winter, I once had wolves appear at gates of SS after just a few turns of popping out 3 peds all unharmed in a February game time
Fifth Posted Sep 28, 2010, 3:00 pm	I use peds as clean-up fairly often, running around between dead/demoed cars and making sure their crews really ARE dead. I've had encounters where critters showed up, but not recently. Since it's November in-game now, looks like we'll be seeing some soon. I'd love to see them again, especially when my peds are all "Mmmm executions OH NO RATS AUGH"
*goat starer* Posted Sep 28, 2010, 4:37 pm	well that serves you right for being very naughty you should be treating the wounded and then giving them a meal and a good supply of water before sending them on their way with their hand weapons and protective equipment.
Fifth Posted Sep 30, 2010, 7:20 pm	Just noticed I haven't been seeing the aurora at all in my last few scouts, has something changed?
*Wolfsbane* Posted Sep 30, 2010, 7:24 pm	Just saw some mutant insects in BL, but the event ended as soon as all my guys were back in their cars. Is that how it's supposed to work?
*sam* Posted Sep 30, 2010, 7:33 pm	It all depends on the creatures and how hungry and/or brave they are, wolf. Many creatures aren't willing to stand up to a car..
*Wolfsbane* Posted Sep 30, 2010, 7:44 pm	Fair enough. I was just disappointed I didn't get to fire my HRs
*Rev. V* Posted Sep 30, 2010, 8:02 pm	Ah, so you fixed some issues? Because a few weeks back, they were NOT afraid of cars...heh.... Or bullets.... Or rockets.... It was like a chapter of John Steakley's "Armor" out there!
*Tinker* Posted Sep 30, 2010, 10:21 pm	Rev. V said: Ah, so you fixed some issues? Because a few weeks back, they were NOT afraid of cars...heh.... Or bullets.... Or rockets.... It was like a chapter of John Steakley's "Armor" out there! A few weeks ago would have been a different season in DW time, some seasons are just bad, that's the way it's meant to be... now what about them locust storms Sam?
*Bastille* Posted Oct 1, 2010, 1:28 am	Nice idea
Shapeshifter Posted Oct 27, 2010, 8:21 pm	Never fought an animal, then again i'm still in SS. I agree with anyone that would like to splatter some bugs with there cars
*Tinker* Posted Nov 11, 2010, 5:34 pm	is this a bot?
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Nov 11, 2010, 5:59 pm	weird cant even edit it lol
Flaming savage Posted Nov 11, 2010, 6:33 pm	hmmm
Flaming savage Posted Nov 11, 2010, 6:34 pm	Maybe a post from a banned player? Would explain no name and not being able to edit but now why it came up.
*sam* Posted Nov 11, 2010, 6:52 pm	Yeah, I deleted the spambot's account and the effect was to leave orphaned posts in mercuryboard. There was only about 3 posts made anyway..
*Longo* Posted Nov 11, 2010, 8:36 pm	Darn, thought we had our 3rd female player.....heheh (Toes GF, Damon)