Taunting fix without pissing anyone off

[HolidayFromReal]

Taunting is intensely discussed here on Steam and on Discord. Some players don't have a problem with it at all while others find that it especially makes playing online unbearable because it breaks the games flow and overall enjoyment. You might also think like me that it makes dodging, clever fighting and planning ahead unnecessary 'cause you can just simply spam it in between battles and clear a screen with a press of a button.

Here are four solution and why I only think the last one might work:

1. Limit taunt to battle screens only: While it might sound like a good idea (it's called taunting for a reason) it will be hard to communicate to the player when taunting is possible and when it isn't. Where is the line? Is it only possible when enemies are visible on the screen? Or can you only activate it when the screen is locked to a certain area in which enemies can appear? It might just be more confusing than helpful.

2. Make it toggleable in the main menu: Great for single player but not for multiplayer. After choosing your difficulty setting there shouldn't be more options to choose from. There shouldn't be two different versions of "okay" for example. Especially because that option changes the difficulty so dramatically.

3. Only disable it on gnarly: Players who are now used to gnarly want to keep playing it that way. Imagine only checking in once a week/month and don't follow the patch notes. For a gamplay change that big it needs to be it's own difficulty setting. Therefore...

4. Introduce gnarly+ or similar: To add to this. Explain the settings (lives, how many hits enemies take, etc.) more in the select screen. On "chill" your super meter is not interrupted by hits. On "okay" and "gnarly" it is interrupted however taunting is still possible. "Gnarly+" removes taunts completly.

Tinkering with existing options isn't the best solution in my eyes. Creating a new mode might be the best solution without pissing anyone off. Love to hear your thoughts on this.

[Radical Rat]

Youp, i'm totally ok with 4 where it's just removed. Best game i had so far was where players actually played without taunt. It's totally different experience

Also add difficulty filter to online lobby, so players won't accidentally join those games and boom problem fixed without pissing anyone

[Naoya]

I am absolutely with 1 and 2 myself. Toggling it on and off would solve all issues, and making it only useable in battle screens would be a lot more fitting thematically (Why would we get super from taunting the air?) while also making it more of a risk/reward system.

[senitewolf]

Personally I think 1 is the best option (it's called taunting for a reason indeed). It is a risk/reward that way and thematic it sort of makes sense (characters do actions that would give them an extra kick of mental energy).
"Where is the line for taunting" isn't too hard for the game to check ("is there an enemy life meter counter active anywhere at the start of taunting?"). However I agree that communicating that to the player might be trickier now that the original rules are established and looking at how most forum posts are going.

[TekFan]

Its always amusing when folks get what they want by taking something away from someone else who was just fine with it.

[Radical Rat]

Yeah, no taunt just means no insta special

That Donatello's taunt is pretty comical when someone does it before high fiving after beating stage boss

[KoopaTheQuicc]

IMO they should allow you to taunt as much as you want but it only gives you a special bar after you've defeated at least one enemy since the last time you taunted.

For example:
Start stage having defeated no enemies and taunt immediately. No special bar awarded.
Navigate to first enemy wave, defeat one, taunt, get one special bar. Defeat the rest on the screen, taunt, get one special bar. Taunt again immediately, no additional special bar awarded.

This way you can decide whether you want to taunt in safety or risk taunting more mid combat to get more special bars but you can't just spam it in safety to get as many as you want.

[Morlock]

A Gnarly+ would probably be a good idea. No taunts at all (or like a minute cooldown and it only fills half a ninjitsu bar) and also you can only revive a teammate once per stage, or you need to transfer your own HP like when cheering up. I have never seen a player lose a life with 3+ player games where you can generate infinite HP through reviving. It also renders cheering up completely pointless.

[el3mel1995]

I hate it personally. It should have had a different purpose than filling the special meter, that or should be hard to pull off which isn't true.

But anyway, I just don't use it at all and pretend it doesn't exist.

[nightbreed_16]

Yeah then it will truly be gnarly dudes :)

[Cave Waverider]

I'd like the taunt to have at least three different voice clips and animations per character. Looking/listening at the same taunt three times in a row is annoying.

[Zagryzaec]

Originally posted by Cave Waverider:

I'd like the taunt to have at least three different voice clips and animations per character. Looking/listening at the same taunt three times in a row is annoying.

Then don't use it so often.

[Nude Dude Mood]

Taunt is kind of ruining an otherwise excellent game right IMO.

If you could only Taunt once per minute or so it would feel better. It's the ability to easily chain Taunt after Taunt that makes the game a festival of super attacks.

[Mumrah]

How about if taunt did nothing gameplay-wise?

Taunt should just be something fun to do, a communication of triumph.