Little alien wannabe

[zaltar]

I'd like you to post here any tips and hints to play aliens.
Humans are quiete simple, I experienced real trouble just being a dretch.

I saw people turn advanced marauder, dragoon or tyrant pretty easy and I can't understand how they do that.

The evolution costs are killing based, not experience based, so even if as a dretch I bite a lot of humans I get no points until I blow the lethal strike.
It's really annoying, but I'm not here to complaint, I'm here to learn from some other players.

Write here your tech, pros, dummy's listening.

[benplaut]

i'm pretty sure that if the human dies within X seconds of you doing damage, then you get a certain amount of experience (just guessing... i jumped on the heads of a few bsuits before a tyrant got them, and got a ton of points).

Here's the way you use dretch:
NEVER STOP MOVING.  The only reason dretch works is because it's frikkin fast, and damn hard to hit.  As long as you are continually jumping and strafing aorund your target, you're really hard to hit.  Always jump at your target, never just run into them.  Two torso hits and a hit to the feet will kill an unarmored human.

Learn to be really good with a dretch before doing much with higher evo - it's worth the trouble for the times when you run out of points and have to earn a few.

[next_ghost]

Errr, no. You don't get evo points for killing but for hurting the dead guy more than the rest of your teammates. If one alien hits the human for 21 points, 3 other aliens for 20 points and the last alien for 19 points, the human is dead and the 21hp hitter gets full evo point.

[PHREAK]

Also as dretch, stay off the floor. Learn how to move on a wall and cielings. I do a lot of damage as dretch and never bother to evolve until humans hit s2.
I barely get killed that way, unless i run into a turret by mistake, of course

[Ardbug]

Yeah definitely move ALL the time as a dretch, with 25HP, even a small break is enough for a rifle to pick you off easy.
Wallclimb wallclimb and wallclimb, learn it, use it, love it, the dretch is practically impossible to target when zooming all over the walls floor and ceiling, in the beginning you will be totally and utterly confused, but soon you will get into the mindset of a wallclimber, and start to navigate using the sound of the humans rifle, the blue radar dot, and general visual direction, you cannot be a succesfull wallclimber and at the same time always have your bearings, just wont work, you need to jump into the chaos, continously shifting from wall to ceiling to wall to floor and so on, you will quickly find that its quite an enjoyable way of killing those humans.
A really good wallclimber, can eliminate entire groups of humans on S1.

There are some walls that simply are too wicked, those that are full of pipes, lightfixtures, pillars, corners, wires and so on, often you will find yourself going in endless circles around some object.
Best corridors to wallclimb in, have semi smooth walls and ceiling, and is somewhat enclosed, the best spot I can think off is on Tremor, the backdoor to the human base is a long narrow smooth tunnel, dretches are simply impossible to kill in there.

The Basilisk is like a grown up dretch, it require a LOT more strategy, but moves just like a dretch, just as fast and nimble, but it can latch onto a target, keeping him imobile while you and teammates pound him, I find the basilisk to be one of the hardest bugs to pilot really well, only topped by the goon

[SLAVE|Mietz]

Mietz-Guide

Aliens 4 dummies

DRETCH

-Noob tactics: Ambush, try with a few team-mates to fall from the ceiling and surprise the enemy (if you are lucky, you even get a headshot)

-Semi-Leet-Tactics: Jump-Strafe (JS), strafe to avoid hits from human, jump to get a torso-hit (2 times) and then leg-bite.

-Leet-Tactics: Headshot, Jump-Strafe, Wallwalk, Jumpstrafe and Wallwalk to avoid, jump for the head to get headshot, then legbite.

-U3ber-Leet-Tactics: Matrix-Headshot, jump BESIDE the head, in air, at head-height turn to face the enemy (flight-path is static, no air-control), you get a headshot and land just behind the human for instant leg-bite.

BASILISK

-noob: Ambush, wallwalk > drop > swipe

-semi-leet: Enhanced Ambush, get behind human, > hold > swipe

-leet: ??

-u3ber-leet: ??

MARAUDER

-noob: Hit and Run, madly jump around and swipe instantly

-semi-leet: marauder-kung-fu, jump along coridor to gain speed, swipe

-leet: Marauder-Master, jump along coridor to gain speed, land before human, jump OVER head and swipe for head

-u3ber-leet: Marauder-Ninja, jump along coridor, land before human, jump over his head, get headbite (larmour), jump again, turn at wall, go for his head again, again, again......

DRAGOON

-noob: Ambush, hide behind a entrance > pounce

-semi-leet: Pounce-Run, Pounce > in flight charge pounce > pounce again

-leet: Pounce-Swipe, pounce > swipe > charge pounce > punce > swipe...etc

-U3ber-Leet: Pounce-Strafe, pounce beside human > in flight turn for human > swipe > charge pounce > pounce beside human > in flight turn... etc. (circle-pounce with swipe)

Advanced MARAUDER

-all classes: hit-ZAP-run

-semi-leet: hit-hit-zap, anything that survives is a Bsuite

-leet: matrix-zap, zap > jump > circle enemy with walljumps (till charge is empty) > zap again

Advanced DRAGOON

-semi-leet: Snipe, stay out of range of turrets > snipe with barbs

-leet: Battle-Snipe, snipe while battling (needs AIM << its not that instant messenger prog)

-u3ber-leet: Pounce-Snipe, pounce > snipe > swipe > bsuit dead

TYRANT

Noob: Tesla-Slayer: go for that tesla/turret > destroy > run

semi-leet: Loner, go for lonely humans without BS and luci

leet: STOMP, charge stomp > go for a group of humans without BS and luci

u3ber-leet: do whatever you want, you cant die

GRANGER

-noob: run
-semi-leet: run
-leet: run
-u3ber-leet: dont run and whine it was LAG

Advanced GRANGER

-noob: run
-semi-leet: run
-leet: run
-u3ber-leet: spit till the other players computer breakes from decal-overflow

DANGER, not everything in that guide is necessarily true!!

[Neo]

I'd go for Ninja-Adv Granger, as you can drop from the ceilings and headshot humans who have no helmets

[Ardbug]

Advanced GRANGER

-noob: run
-semi-leet: run
-leet: run
-u3ber-leet: spit till the other players computer breakes from decal-overflow

Actually the uber elite granger is either building, or in the middle of evolving into a warrior, I seriously doubt anyone good would waste time in a granger at the front, when he/she could drive something usefull.

It should look like this I think :

Advanced GRANGER

-noob: spit till the other players computer breakes from decal-overflow.
-semi-leet: run/build.
-leet: run/build.
-u3ber-leet: run/build.

 

[D.C.]

As a not-so-skilled dretch, I usually hide behind a corner not too close to enemy base, then wait for non battlesuited humans. Run, jump, hit, hit, and if they don't die and they retreat I run away.

When humans are S3, I rush and try to deal as much damage as I can, often ignoring bs's and targetting light armoured humans. Even if I don't get a kill, keeping 3-4 humans busy shooting at you seems useful while your team gets tyrants.

I usually save evo points so I can get advanced marauder at stage 2. I keep targetting first non battlesuited players and zapping base structures, then run away and hide. I try over all to not lose the adv mara so when I get enough points I can get a tyrant. Then I camp a corridor and when I see them approaching, I trample and hit and feed like mad. When I get +5 evo points to get another tyrant I rush the enemy base.

The highest human kill count I got that way is 39.  

[Lava Croft]

There is this one thing most people seem to forget when playing as Dretch, and this it: DO NOT ATTACK HEAD ON! Just be patient and wait around for a human or two. Also, never attack in a straigth line, and remember that every jump you make is also another chance for the Human to kill you, since air-control is nonexistent. Last but not least, take note of the sound you are making, nothing more annoying than your hiding spot being given away by noisy dretches.

[hodge]

So you want to know how good players end up with all the evolve points, okay I will do my best to explain. Basically a good alien player is more aware of the human's weakness then the human is. It's not a bad idea as a beginner alien to learn the maps hotspots and get try your best to get used to how each alien moves and attacks. The best way to end up with 9 evolve points is basicallly to become a killing machine, aliens that evolve early get the advantage in tremulous, you could also wait in your current class (you get a point every 2 minute you dont evolve or die so that's why dedicated builders end up with goons or tyrant at s3) if your not good at killing for evolve point.

[Neo]

Well newer people can adjust by hanging around base to defend against egg runs, which are so annoying when they don't give a warning.

[kozak6]

Dretch is very hard to play.  Like someone else said in another topic, you have to play it like a ninja.

I find that it helps a lot to hide somewhere, let a human run past, and then you attack from behind.  A headbite does 90-something damage to an unhelmeted human.

Also, don't evolve to the Basilisk right away.  The basilisk is even harder to play as.  It's better to save the point, and put it towards a Dragoon or a Marauder.

Also, if they is a lot of alien traffic around you, it's best to stay off the floor so you don't block them.

[Paradox]

The point system IS experience based, you just dont see as many numbers as you do on human. If you do 25%, someone else does 25%, and a third person does 50%, you each get 25% or 50%.

[Survivor]

The point system IS experience based, you just dont see as many numbers as you do on human. If you do 25%, someone else does 25%, and a third person does 50%, you each get 25% or 50%.

From another topic

I take it back!

[10:51] <jex|work> Timbo: "Errr, no. You don't get evo points for killing but for hurting the dead guy more than the rest of your teammates. If one alien hits the human for 21 points, 3 other aliens for 20 points and the last alien for 19 points, the human is dead and the 21hp hitter gets full evo point."
[10:51] <jex|work> that is incorrect, right?
[10:53] <Timbo> no, that's correct
[10:53] <jex|work> really
[10:53] <Timbo> though if the human is worth several frags, it'll get divided up
[10:53] <jex|work> interesting
[10:54] <Timbo> you don't accumulate partial kills or anything

next_ghost is correct.

[benplaut]

The point system IS experience based, you just dont see as many numbers as you do on human. If you do 25%, someone else does 25%, and a third person does 50%, you each get 25% or 50%.

From another topic

I take it back!

[10:51] <jex|work> Timbo: "Errr, no. You don't get evo points for killing but for hurting the dead guy more than the rest of your teammates. If one alien hits the human for 21 points, 3 other aliens for 20 points and the last alien for 19 points, the human is dead and the 21hp hitter gets full evo point."
[10:51] <jex|work> that is incorrect, right?
[10:53] <Timbo> no, that's correct
[10:53] <jex|work> really
[10:53] <Timbo> though if the human is worth several frags, it'll get divided up
[10:53] <jex|work> interesting
[10:54] <Timbo> you don't accumulate partial kills or anything

next_ghost is correct.

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA

that explains the game last night.  5 bsuit were coming in a tight hallway, and i managed to stay alive while prettty much walking from head to head.  None died, but i got 4 evo

speaking of which, it's a damn nice strategy when you have the chance, especially with ff on.  Crossfire is useful  

[Henners]

Maybe I'm going blind, but it seems no one has posted the "big secret" of alien play.

Actually look at the humans head when you are attacking. Its really that simple. A dretch doesnt even need to jump, just look up very sharply and your bite will be a head hit. You can silently creep up much more effectively like this, and easily take out groups of 2 of 3 people at once by just weaving through them facing upwards. Gives you a lot more control since you dont have the problem of dead time when you are airbourne. I keep on getting accused of cheating when I do this, as so many people dont know that you dont need to jump to get head hits as a dretch.

The same is true of all alien classes, aim at the head and you will become a killing machine in no time. Dragoons can chomp through things like nobodies business if you aim correctly. Adv dragoons and tyrants kill Bsuits in 3 hits if you do it right.

My other tip for dragoons fighting pulse and lucy spammers if the low pounce. Leap just high enough to clear their head, and chomp directly downwards as you pass them. They wont have time level their weapon directly on you at point blank (most effective way to kill something with pulserifle and lucy incidentally), as you will land well past them, and can turn and repeat instantly. My tip for killing chaingunners in BSuits, (and it can be done, even with a basic goon), is to get stuck in and chomp on their head repeatedly. If you do it right, and are undamaged before the fight, you WILL kill them first. Of course if you do it wrong you will die horribly.... But then doing it right gets you 3 full evo points, so if you get  a couple of kills like that your laughing.  Oh and dont forget your barbs as an adv goon! They can be used at the same time as your pouncing and chomping, and do severe damage to unarmoued and light armoured, and can also finish off injured Bsuits. Also handy for those morons that sit flaming a corridor, not moving, although you will find the previous method of low pouncing will work well on them as well...

[benplaut]

Maybe I'm going blind, but it seems no one has posted the "big secret" of alien play.

Actually look at the humans head when you are attacking. Its really that simple. A dretch doesnt even need to jump, just look up very sharply and your bite will be a head hit. You can silently creep up much more effectively like this, and easily take out groups of 2 of 3 people at once by just weaving through them facing upwards. Gives you a lot more control since you dont have the problem of dead time when you are airbourne. I keep on getting accused of cheating when I do this, as so many people dont know that you dont need to jump to get head hits as a dretch.

i don't beleive you, but i'll try in a few min.

that seems kinda cheat...

[PanKot]

this dretch thing, I-can-bite-yer-head-and-don't-have-to-jump-like-ninja
works for real, but it's usefull against one human, don't try to do this against few of them , or you'll be dead meat in no time

[chompers]

A picture says a thousand words, so here is my 2000 word essay on dretches and headchomps

[Henners]

Of course, so simple! You shoot the human and the player with your red wireframe gun, and get 175 credits!

 

[D.C.]

nothing more annoying than your hiding spot being given away by noisy dretches.

Well, you didn't count the paranoia effect on humans. :O

[hodge]

Maybe I'm going blind, but it seems no one has posted the "big secret" of alien play.

Actually look at the humans head when you are attacking. Its really that simple. A dretch doesnt even need to jump, just look up very sharply and your bite will be a head hit. You can silently creep up much more effectively like this, and easily take out groups of 2 of 3 people at once by just weaving through them facing upwards. Gives you a lot more control since you dont have the problem of dead time when you are airbourne. I keep on getting accused of cheating when I do this, as so many people dont know that you dont need to jump to get head hits as a dretch.

i don't beleive you, but i'll try in a few min.

that seems kinda cheat...

How is aiming for the head on the ground as a drench cheating? The "trick" isn't easy to perform and most of the times you end up with a body hit on a good human that is probably wearing light armor, so henner's tactics is legit. and I don't know why someone would consider that as "cheap" since you should be very familar with hit locations as a player. This just proves that a good alien player needs as good as a aim as a decent human.

Oh, and if you want to to be a good drench learn to walk on walls and drop on humans head (while aiming), keep the human confused and never aim for the leg.

[Stof]

How is aiming for the head on the ground as a drench cheating?

Because there's no rational to justify it, because it's absolutly not intitive abd because it's incredibly confusing for the poor human who dies because of that. Quite a few times I've suspected oponents of cheating when they used that trick instead.

The dretch is so small, how can it do a headshot on a human without jumping

[benplaut]

i tried it last night, and by gollee, it works!!

my tactics must now change >.<

[BabyAlien]

Hmm now I'm starting to understand the guy who suggested putting a piece of tape in the middle of the screen to improve your game.  I just didn't get it.

Remember though, safe dretch = fast and erratic.

[PHREAK]

If the hit system has to do with the clients view point, does that also mean that if you do a jump-head shot and are NOT looking at the head, you won't hit?
I'd be really pissed if thats the case.

[benplaut]

If the hit system has to do with the clients view point, does that also mean that if you do a jump-head shot and are NOT looking at the head, you won't hit?
I'd be really pissed if thats the case.

good point, i'll investigate later.

that could be a very bad thing...

[zaltar]

Guys, I'm really glad this thread is getting constructive and I think many newbies like me are learning a lot reading it.
Thank you all.  

[chompers]

Hmm now I'm starting to understand the guy who suggested putting a piece of tape in the middle of the screen to improve your game.  I just didn't get it.

Remember though, safe dretch = fast and erratic.

Just played a few games after editing the alien hud to add crosshairs to all classes. It makes a HUGE difference as a dretch in s1.