Runners in B41

[Ficelle]

So, ive tried quite a few games with runners (random speed mostly), other lore default
So far, no success...2 weeks at best, more often just a few days


Main problem i face is that there is nothing i can do if i agro more than 1

They run at the same speed as the player (slightly less with sneakers), are like magnets and very hard to lose in the wild....and you can only hit 1 at a time, allowing the other(s) to get free hits if you try to fight

Even with infection disabled, 2 at once is pretty much game over as they will damage the player very fast or just grab him down...and you cant really outrun them

Only 'solution' seems to be the sprint to get some distance...
Fine when it works....but more often than not, you just agro some more...plus the exhaustion

Of course, living in the woods is also a possiblity, but well...not really interesting


They are fun and very stressful...but it seems a bit unfair right now to have no solution against 2... not even flying
I think a more randomized speed between different runners would be better, to get a way to separate them at least a bit

[Zaidah]

Having runner zombies is quite a hardcore challenge. It you do so, maybe you should lower their strength and resistance, as well as allowing you to push multiple zombies at a time. Then you would have an experience comparable to left 4 dead (imagine if you could push only 1 zombie at a time in this game).
Speaking of which, maybe you should have some friends or fellow survivors to help you to fight them, that would balance things, this game is also intended to be played in coop/multiplayer.

[Septimus]

Originally posted by Zaidah:

Having runner zombies is quite a hardcore challenge. It you do so, maybe you should lower their strength and resistance, as well as allowing you to push multiple zombies at a time. Then you would have an experience comparable to left 4 dead (imagine if you could push only 1 zombie at a time in this game).
Speaking of which, maybe you should have some friends or fellow survivors to help you to fight them, that would balance things, this game is also intended to be played in coop/multiplayer.

All ficelle said isright. And because that i gave up runners in very little time.

About coop/multiplayer you suggest, we still haven't that in B41.

Ficelle why you dont try that crazy NPC mod ? they will help a lot, at least distracting one runner to you fight alone against the second haha, crazy mod but you can config it .

[Myriad]

Anyone who uses runners is a sick individual who hates life and wants to die in the most horrifying fashion.

Seriously they're more like your typical insectiod aliens from a sci-fi flick, basically leaping out of bushes left right and center swarming your character faster than you can say Zed.

Seriously, if you have them on your tail you have to keep running. And how long can you run before you attract more, and finally have 100 of them grabbing at your sorry butt as you're getting more and more exhausted... Then you get eaten alive without even having a chance to catch your breath.. what a way to go.

And when they move just as fast as you, how much time do you have to check doors and windows to deek through? I've had many games where I was exhausted and couldn't seem to lose the zombies on my trail, because everywhere I turned I ran into more. Those who know, know this can become a very real cumulative issue. The only salvation is being able to walk for half a day to finally find a spot where there numbers are half low.

This game is already 'one slip up and you're dead. Runners takes that to a whole new level of stressed the ♥♥♥♥ out!

[VERMILLION GATES]

Try using the mutli-hit option in the sandbox settings. I also always make my zombies the weakest settings, everything else normal. So basically, you can kill zombies a lot easier (no more hitting zombies 7-10 times just to kill one) but having runners enabled balances it out. It still only takes one mistake, you aren't invincible. This just gives you a fighting chance, and makes combat actually fun, rather than something you always want to avoid. I think this is the best way to play the game, imo.

[Myriad]

Originally posted by Nick:

Try using the mutli-hit option in the sandbox settings. I also always make my zombies the weakest settings, everything else normal. So basically, you can kill zombies a lot easier (no more hitting zombies 7-10 times just to kill one) but having runners enabled balances it out. It still only takes one mistake, you aren't invincible. This just gives you a fighting chance, and makes combat actually fun, rather than something you always want to avoid. I think this is the best way to play the game, imo.

Yeah you'd definitely have to weaken them and enable multi-hit. And even then, I would guess it's game over if you aggro a group somehow, meta event anyone?

[Ficelle]

Eheh, yep, runners are quite for the masochists
Still, they add so much more tension it is hard to give up on them ;D

That stress when running to your car with a pack on your trail and the engine doesnt start....
And the alarms and meta events...
Plus, they are nicely animated and very fluid


I know the multihit option could help a lot, but...i would prefer to not have to use it

I also prefer to not use a NPC mod as i want a vanilla 'solution' (if there is any...)

Now, i will definitely try the 'weaken them' option as suggested


I still think they are a bit too unfair in their current stage if trying to stay true to the B41 singlehit spirit
It makes them only a gimmick you use once in a while for a fun (very) short change... but discard for any serious playthrough...and this is a pity

[TheSurvivalist]

i guess using fences can help you, they still fall slowly like shamblers

[Ficelle]

Originally posted by TheSurvivalist:

i guess using fences can help you, they still fall slowly like shamblers

Well, not really

They run as fast as you
Once they are on your back, they will stay glued to you
And you exhaust while they dont...

Fences can buy you like 3 seconds at best, not enough time to kill one most of the time...and not enough space to lose them reliably

1 is 'never' a problem
2 is were it becomes very hard
3+, you dead if you cant lose them

High fences work of course, but...they are not everywhere...and there could be some on the other side too

[Myriad]

We need to add climbing trees in this game, so you can at least wait for a meta event. LOL

[TheSurvivalist]

Originally posted by Ficelle:

Originally posted by TheSurvivalist:

i guess using fences can help you, they still fall slowly like shamblers

Well, not really

They run as fast as you
Once they are on your back, they will stay glued to you
And you exhaust while they dont...

Fences can buy you like 3 seconds at best, not enough time to kill one most of the time...and not enough space to lose them reliably

1 is 'never' a problem
2 is were it becomes very hard
3+, you dead if you cant lose them

High fences work of course, but...they are not everywhere...and there could be some on the other side too

yeah why i said "i guess" haha

[Alabeo]

Do not use high population with sprinters. Use lower population so they are rare, but manageable and threateing still.

[Ficelle]

Originally posted by Snek:

Do not use high population with sprinters. Use lower population so they are rare, but manageable and threateing still.

Eheh, im a bit masochist, but not totally crazy ;D

Right now, i play a 0.75 to 1.25 pop, which is quite low
Random speed too, so i expect only 33% runners...(they are more like 75% in fact...but well, random speed has always been like that...confirmation bias perhaps)


Having weakened them seems to help quite a lot...but havent faced 2+ in this playthrough yet ;D

Edit
Well, 4 just jumped on me...ahah
Back to normal speed i guess...

[geras]

I like playing Apocalypse settings but with sprinter zeds. Great challenge.

[NickySins]

Just make the zombies weaker, also make the total population less.

Now you can Roleplay 20 Days later.

[Lemonhead]

How do you think they'd feel if they had to make some sort of agility check like the player? Do these things trip? (I feel no compulsion to punish myself by finding out firsthand, sorry)