Ideas for TLC Patch 3

[[KR-X] Tarbtano]

Several years back I made this thread
https://steamcommunity.com/app/346110/discussions/0/483367798515504156/


At the time, Ark had a serious problem with species viability. Many animals, especially older ones, were just flat out useless in the current gameplay; largely outclassed by newer species even in cases where it didn't really make that much sense. For instance, the Trike and the Raptor were both effectively useless ability wise past the first couple levels and had comparably level tiered creatures that completely outclassed them (Iguanadon and Stego for Trike, Terror Bird and Wolf for Raptor).

Since then Ark has vastly improved numerous older species by giving them a buffed stats and unique abilities that not only make them appealing to tame early on rather than hold out for later level creatures, but even give them usability in the late game. While some have debated certain parts of the TLC, I largely want to congratulate Wildcard for doing this.


In the spirit of my old thread, here are some ideas I had for a possible TLC 3 for several creatures I think deserve the TLC treatment. Here's part 1, more to come.



Sabretooth
Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Smilodon used to be second fiddle in terms of carnivores only to the Spino and Tyranno, having more power and HP than the Raptor and better agility, speed, and DPS than the Carno. When the direwolf came into the scene, it had a strong competitor in started to lose ground due to the wolf's later added pack bonus, howl, and now tracking prowess. It even lost it's dossier claim to fame in no longer being the best animal to skin hides, keratin, or chitin with. Let's change that shall we?


Cosmetic/Stat change
For looks I think the current model is very good, though I think the look could use some sprucing up. Instead of looking like a tiger with teeth tacked on, I'd say something more akin to a buffed up lynx or bobcat fit the forest and mountain aesthetic nicely. Shortening the tail (which is more realistic and gets rid of the weird model anyways) and giving ear tufts be a nice pick, as well as possibly swapping out the stripes for spots. For a cosmetic call, a patherid roar could possibly be swapped out for the eerie shriek Mountain Lions, lynxes, and bobcats can give off.

As for stats, I think it needs a boost to attack and maybe a decrease in stamina. Big felines are all pretty consistent in that they hit fast, hit hard, but don't keep hitting for long. So a boost of base damage from 29 to 40 to put it above the direwolf be nice.

Additionally, a decrease in hide/chitin weight and an increase in loot rate be nice.



Abilities
Pounce (crouch charged)
The Sabretooth crouches down and braces, building up strength and tensity before it springs out. The longer its charged, the further the Sabretooth will spring and the harder it'll hit, at the cost of more stamina. At full charge, the cat hits for x3-x4 damage (similar to Gryphon divebomb scaling) but uses up a large chunk of stamina. This both emulates how real felines hunt and how Smilodon itself excelled, a full on tackle.

Alternatively if not for scaling damage outright, the pounce knocks prey down and pins them similar to the raptor's pin, but works on larger game and has bigger reach to compensate for lack of pack buff.

As a small cosmetic, pretty jump when crouched emits a shriek/roar


Stealth (right click)
At the cost of continuous stamina burn, the sabretooth enters a stealthened state akin to the Rock Drake. It is not exactly the same however. Unlike the rock drake the sabertooth can stay in stealth mode permanently but only if it's not moving. Moving even at a slow pace burns stamina, the rate of which increases greatly if sprinting or charging up the pounce. The stealth function can be initiated when not riding through a radial menu, much like other animals can burrow. This can help you set up a sabretooth as a guard animal and trap.

[retsam1]

You know the sabertooth already had changes this past summer though with patch v260 I believe.

[WrierGold]

Yeah. the Saber was pretty much the first creature to get a TLC actually. A new model, and higher hide and pelt gathering properties.

[Good Question]

I love this, I was thinking more of a Primeval look than the current one, and maybe keep a roar instead of a little shriek though.

I think the Carno should get a TLC too, maybe where the creature is faster, (These things could go like 45 mph last time I checked) and maybed a stamina buff, ditch the headbutt attack for an attack where it'll lower its mouth and keep it hung open, where maybe it could just swallow smaller things like dilos and troodons whole. Then make it attack faster and have it get a nice model update to make it look more smooth and skinny, these things were built pretty lightly. Boom, better carno right there.

[Pebbles-chan]

Originally posted by CamBamGamerDude:

I love this, I was thinking more of a Primeval look than the current one, and maybe keep a roar instead of a little shriek though.

I think the Carno should get a TLC too, maybe where the creature is faster, (These things could go like 45 mph last time I checked) and maybed a stamina buff, ditch the headbutt attack for an attack where it'll lower its mouth and keep it hung open, where maybe it could just swallow smaller things like dilos and troodons whole. Then make it attack faster and have it get a nice model update to make it look more smooth and skinny, these things were built pretty lightly. Boom, better carno right there.

The carno model is probably the best from the first ones, you should watch the chest move as it breathes, i'd ask a good ability switch, but not a total skin rework