Lethal is broken beyond repair.

[ahoboman]

I had invested 300 plus hours into this game. I had learned every tricks in the game to its core and to the extend of what this game can possibly offer. I consider myself a veteran player, good even but definitely not the best. However I don't think that matters much granted lethal is broken.

Zombie spawning is broken to the that point fair or unfair is irrelevant, rather unplayable. You kill literally one zombie, a group of zombies appears. It does not matter what method. Hand to hand, run in gun blazing, stealth sneaking, the zombies just spawn somewhere near especially quest related. They spawn all around you. In front of your face! When you are on the roof! And in your base? They spawn forever during Plague Heart. Spawn in and every direction you run? Spawn out of your sight next to you. No escape.

The zombies tracking makes the game unplayable. Regardless of where you are, they follow or wait for you to the end of the world. Go to a quest related area and the zombies will wander indefinitely in the area refusing to go anywhere. Throw noise related stuff, nope. Blow up car. Nope. Zom bait? Nothing. Zombies will guard the quest area no matter what. Try to sneak in? Zombie will aimlessly look into every single direction, wander in all directions, have two or more looking in opposite directions pissing you off to no end.

Zombies outright ignore hostile A.I. Granted they will attack hostile A.I. if they don't detect you first. But even then, zombies won't even do damage to the hostile A.I. unless you are close enough in proximity to the hostile A.I themselves. The hostile A.I. will then detect you and give off your position to the zombies. They will head shot you and follow of by you getting pounce on by zombies. What the heck is this? I am convince that the hostile A.I. and zombies are in alliances with each other. Like you can not make this up.

Speaking of A.I.? The game generate them in the most broken and immersion breaking area. Oh wanna go talk, trade, assist, or even save a survivor? Spawn the survivor/survivors literally next to and sometimes in the actual Plague Heart fort? Like what heck? Why would anyone wanna live next to a Plague heart? Why would any wanna even go near a Plague Heart? Why would anyone get themselves caught in the heart? I mean I get it if the quest is related to a suicide mission or something but come on!

All your investments, weaponry, and resources means nothing as they barely or don't even assist you in quest. Hand to hand, blade or blunt, and guns is suicide as it draw every zombies in the vicinity and those that spawn after. Bows and knives while sneaking is pointless as eventually your position will be given up because the quest demands it. Bombs are to scarce and few in numbers that its not even an option. Bring your partners and they will get themselves killed. Food and medicine do nothing but postpone.

At this point I have taken down 9 Plague heart, but it is getting progressively worse and draining. As I venture deeper into the heart of the map, zombies is liter everywhere. In places where I clear the plague. Places where there are no plague. Places where I placed safe zones. And then of course the plagued areas themselves. They are literally everywhere. I would clear a group of zombies, drive up a few blocks, loot a house or two, drive back the way I came and zombies are already there again. Sometimes more.

I am about to just give up and move on as the game in it so call most difficult mode doesn't respect immersion, lore, time, rules, and game play mechanics. Its not even difficult or unfair, but broken. You basically have to exploit and cheese your way through This gets repetitive and boring quick as it is the only way to beat any quest reliably. Like driving a car to the plague heart area, stand on top of the car and blasting the the heart. Or go to a quest only then to immediately leave the area but slowly going back until the A.I. sorts itself out. And then some quest you just have to failed or let people dies as they are doable like two Juggernaut, feral and infinite zombies quest.

[Sweatington]

Publicado originalmente por danadkins1:

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

I have never had zombies spawn on roofs or billboards. Can anyone else confirm this is a thing?

Yes, I've had them spawn on roofs many times and on a billboard right behind me. Also they spawn inside of rocks and the side of mountains! LOL.

This will most likely be fixed in SoD3, seeing as NPC/mob meshing is an old version UE4 engine bug.

[ahoboman]

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

When you fight plagues hearts, you have to exploit. Your first plague heart may not be a problem as it can be quest related. But once you venture into the heart of the map, plague heart is not winnable other than by three methods. This is single player of course.

The first being that you drive a car to the plague heart building and park it in front of it. Then pray there with a window in sight that expose the plague heart itself then proceed to blast the living heck out of with the absurd amount of ammo you can muster up. And I mean an absurd amount. The only three things that can stop you if they spawn is screamer if they spit at you, bloater who move to your location to blow up, and Juggernaut who will knock your car over. You cant kill the bloaters and screamers easy but for the Juggy, just quit the game to main menu and reload. Repeat the process and the heart will fall. Easy but is an exploit.

Second is being a complete stealth character. Bring a lot of bombs and I mean a lot. Molotov, grenade, pipe, doesn't matter as long you can muster them up. Go to the plagues heart building and bash straight through the door. Lots of zeds is going gun for you but this wont matter. Just run as fast you can to a corner and then pause the game, quit to menu. Reload and sneak you way around to until see the heart. Began throwing your bombs at it. As soon your position is given away or a feral spawns, quit the game to main menu. Repeat this process until the hear is down. Again very easy but is another type of exploit.

The last is being that you somehow mass an insane of supplies, have some the of the strongest weaponry in game both range and melee. and level up all your offensive stats preferably anything stamina related. All you have to is bring strongest weapons and OP recovery health and stamina items and run in gun and blazing. Atttack the heart to no end and when you are about to die, just use your plague healing. You will hAVE quit to main menu and reload if things gets outta hand like ferals spawning. But you should ultimately take the heart down easily given your over power weapon and heals. Easy but again exploiting.

You can do it without exploits, its just slow. Hearts will save any damage you do, so just kill them in two stages. Many hearts have at least a window in the same room, so find a position outside and lob as many explosives as you can until things get too heated and a feral shows. this usually takes them down to at least half health. Jump in the car and take off. Get far away and wait till things cool off a bit then go back and finish it.

For hearts you cant get good access to, just leave them until you get scent block. Ferals see through scent block on lethal, so you may still have to 2 stage it. The scent block still makes it much easier though.

I have already been there. Technically, this is exploiting. You leave the area is like quitting and reloading. Only quitting and reloading is a lot faster. Why would I waste my time driving away when I can just quit and reload. After all I came to destroy the plague heart, not come back slowly drain the life out of it. Both method completely breaks the flow of game play, immersion, and any attachment to the mission. So why choose the one that makes your game play experience even more draining, like wasting gas driving very far away, zombie potentially beating on your car getting run over by it damaging it, getting potentially damage yourself by ferals and plague zeds, wasting time and feeling unsatisfying driving away to go do something else?

Also this kind exploit is not full proof. You can't out run the feral so it might catch you off guard sometimes. The building for plague hearts fight is not always windowed. Your car might get destroy as feral is not the only threat. Some 20 to 30 plagues infinite spawning zombies will be after you as well. Bloater can spawn by your car and make your car not accessible. Screamer can spawn near your car and stun you before you reach the door. Juggernaut can spawn near your car and one shot your car. There is so many ways things can go wrong. But you nothing can stop you from pausing, quitting and reloading. That one is full proof. Either way you are exploiting.

[redmaster9989_ca]

unreal engine. that is the problem. ever since UNREAL the game. it has been an issue. spawns exploits things being simply buggy. most games these days use this engine, its just bad. im used to everything this game has to throw at me. bloaters poping in. juggys spawning directly behind me out of thin air. feral packs appearing beside my car. getting a telephone pole stuck in the trunk of my truck. ive seen it all. you just gotta grind your teeth and get used to it if you want to play this game. i like it. keeps me busy. most importantly keeps me outta trouble.

[redmaster9989_ca]

even the cars spawning and graphically showing you only the tires.

[-Singularity-]

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

You can do it without exploits, its just slow. Hearts will save any damage you do, so just kill them in two stages. Many hearts have at least a window in the same room, so find a position outside and lob as many explosives as you can until things get too heated and a feral shows. this usually takes them down to at least half health. Jump in the car and take off. Get far away and wait till things cool off a bit then go back and finish it.

For hearts you cant get good access to, just leave them until you get scent block. Ferals see through scent block on lethal, so you may still have to 2 stage it. The scent block still makes it much easier though.

I have already been there. Technically, this is exploiting. You leave the area is like quitting and reloading. Only quitting and reloading is a lot faster. Why would I waste my time driving away when I can just quit and reload. After all I came to destroy the plague heart, not come back slowly drain the life out of it. Both method completely breaks the flow of game play, immersion, and any attachment to the mission. So why choose the one that makes your game play experience even more draining, like wasting gas driving very far away, zombie potentially beating on your car getting run over by it damaging it, getting potentially damage yourself by ferals and plague zeds, wasting time and feeling unsatisfying driving away to go do something else?

Also this kind exploit is not full proof. You can't out run the feral so it might catch you off guard sometimes. The building for plague hearts fight is not always windowed. Your car might get destroy as feral is not the only threat. Some 20 to 30 plagues infinite spawning zombies will be after you as well. Bloater can spawn by your car and make your car not accessible. Screamer can spawn near your car and stun you before you reach the door. Juggernaut can spawn near your car and one shot your car. There is so many ways things can go wrong. But you nothing can stop you from pausing, quitting and reloading. That one is full proof. Either way you are exploiting.

I dont agree that it is exploiting. You dont have to drive away until they despawn, just far enough that they lose your scent, stop chasing and calm down. It also pulls apart the blob and gets the feral away to kill easier. Sure its easier to just log out and back in, but thats cheese. My method is part of the games mechanics and is even used in zombie movies quite often. Doesnt break immersion.

[danadkins1]

Publicado originalmente por danadkins1:

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

I have never had zombies spawn on roofs or billboards. Can anyone else confirm this is a thing?

Yes, I've had them spawn on roofs many times and on a billboard right behind me. Also they spawn inside of rocks and the side of mountains! LOL.

I know off subject but wanted to add we've had zombies literally falling out of the sky and raining on rooftops of houses. Same with screamers and ferals. I had a feral under a house trying to get me. lol.

[Jamesy]

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

You can do it without exploits, its just slow. Hearts will save any damage you do, so just kill them in two stages. Many hearts have at least a window in the same room, so find a position outside and lob as many explosives as you can until things get too heated and a feral shows. this usually takes them down to at least half health. Jump in the car and take off. Get far away and wait till things cool off a bit then go back and finish it.

For hearts you cant get good access to, just leave them until you get scent block. Ferals see through scent block on lethal, so you may still have to 2 stage it. The scent block still makes it much easier though.

I have already been there. Technically, this is exploiting. You leave the area is like quitting and reloading. Only quitting and reloading is a lot faster. Why would I waste my time driving away when I can just quit and reload. After all I came to destroy the plague heart, not come back slowly drain the life out of it. Both method completely breaks the flow of game play, immersion, and any attachment to the mission. So why choose the one that makes your game play experience even more draining, like wasting gas driving very far away, zombie potentially beating on your car getting run over by it damaging it, getting potentially damage yourself by ferals and plague zeds, wasting time and feeling unsatisfying driving away to go do something else?

Also this kind exploit is not full proof. You can't out run the feral so it might catch you off guard sometimes. The building for plague hearts fight is not always windowed. Your car might get destroy as feral is not the only threat. Some 20 to 30 plagues infinite spawning zombies will be after you as well. Bloater can spawn by your car and make your car not accessible. Screamer can spawn near your car and stun you before you reach the door. Juggernaut can spawn near your car and one shot your car. There is so many ways things can go wrong. But you nothing can stop you from pausing, quitting and reloading. That one is full proof. Either way you are exploiting.

That is straight up not an exploit my guy. Quitting and reloading is, leaving the area is a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ retreat. You know...the thing you do when ♥♥♥♥ gets too rough?

[Protectron]

The notion that the only proper way to attack a Plague Heart is to stand there like a dunce and wait for the zombies to come so that you get to kill them like a MAN is ridiculous.

[Scorp721]

Publicado originalmente por Protectron:

The notion that the only proper way to attack a Plague Heart is to stand there like a dunce and wait for the zombies to come so that you get to kill them like a MAN is ridiculous.

I guess they'd rather spend half their play time watching the loading screen by repeatedly quitting out than use some stamina items and the dodge button.

[Protectron]

The reloading, while technically a feature of the game, is not really what I object to in this debate about exploits. It's using the in-game features like climbing on top of things, using ScentBlock, and all these other methods of avoiding fighting the infinite zombie spawns when attacking a Plague Heart that I reject as being exploits.

If it is, then using any form of out-of-the-box thinking is so-called metagaming and frowned upon by these clowns.

[Analog.]

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

Publicado originalmente por Analog.:

This was fairly common (for me) in the weeks after Homecoming was released. I assumed it was the typical 'bug that slipped through' scenario. But, I haven't seen it since then.

It still happens. Happened to me like a week ago. why do you think I am here complaining.

My dude, I was just backing up your claim. The other poster said he hasn't heard of that happening. I just threw in that it's happened to me as well. That's it.

[Jamesy]

Publicado originalmente por Analog.:

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

It still happens. Happened to me like a week ago. why do you think I am here complaining.

My dude, I was just backing up your claim. The other poster said he hasn't heard of that happening. I just threw in that it's happened to me as well. That's it.

He was too busy picking fights with everyone to notice lmao

[Mooman]

The essence of strategy is knowing how your opponent reacts and exploiting their weakness accordingly.

Computer game A.I. is fixed to act a certain way, bugs and glitches aside, and knowing that and countering it is just good strategy.

Not adapting and expecting your A.I. opponent to adjust to your gameplay isn't how this game is made, unlike L4D and its director.

Sniping, using the tools and environment at your disposal is just smart play, the essence of strategy.

[ahoboman]

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

I have already been there. Technically, this is exploiting. You leave the area is like quitting and reloading. Only quitting and reloading is a lot faster. Why would I waste my time driving away when I can just quit and reload. After all I came to destroy the plague heart, not come back slowly drain the life out of it. Both method completely breaks the flow of game play, immersion, and any attachment to the mission. So why choose the one that makes your game play experience even more draining, like wasting gas driving very far away, zombie potentially beating on your car getting run over by it damaging it, getting potentially damage yourself by ferals and plague zeds, wasting time and feeling unsatisfying driving away to go do something else?

Also this kind exploit is not full proof. You can't out run the feral so it might catch you off guard sometimes. The building for plague hearts fight is not always windowed. Your car might get destroy as feral is not the only threat. Some 20 to 30 plagues infinite spawning zombies will be after you as well. Bloater can spawn by your car and make your car not accessible. Screamer can spawn near your car and stun you before you reach the door. Juggernaut can spawn near your car and one shot your car. There is so many ways things can go wrong. But you nothing can stop you from pausing, quitting and reloading. That one is full proof. Either way you are exploiting.

I dont agree that it is exploiting. You dont have to drive away until they despawn, just far enough that they lose your scent, stop chasing and calm down. It also pulls apart the blob and gets the feral away to kill easier. Sure its easier to just log out and back in, but thats cheese. My method is part of the games mechanics and is even used in zombie movies quite often. Doesnt break immersion.

Even if you don't wanna call it exploit like climbing onto of the car and blasting the damn thing to death, regardless of how you leave the area the zombies that spawn there will never leave that spot. You cannot quickly just leave and come back the zombies are gone. They stay there wander around in that area and guard it like no tomorrow. I tested it so many times. Its like the games knows what you are doing.

You have to drive very far away and literally do something else for awhile and come back. And I refuse to do that because it completely kills the flow of the game play. The whole point preparing for that mission in the first place. And any immersion and interest in the mission. Like completely breaks it.

[-Singularity-]

Publicado originalmente por ahoboman:

Publicado originalmente por -Singularity-:

I dont agree that it is exploiting. You dont have to drive away until they despawn, just far enough that they lose your scent, stop chasing and calm down. It also pulls apart the blob and gets the feral away to kill easier. Sure its easier to just log out and back in, but thats cheese. My method is part of the games mechanics and is even used in zombie movies quite often. Doesnt break immersion.

Even if you don't wanna call it exploit like climbing onto of the car and blasting the damn thing to death, regardless of how you leave the area the zombies that spawn there will never leave that spot. You cannot quickly just leave and come back the zombies are gone. They stay there wander around in that area and guard it like no tomorrow. I tested it so many times. Its like the games knows what you are doing.

You have to drive very far away and literally do something else for awhile and come back. And I refuse to do that because it completely kills the flow of the game play. The whole point preparing for that mission in the first place. And any immersion and interest in the mission. Like completely breaks it.

You misunderstand what I am saying. I dont want the zombies gone. I dont drive away to get them to despawn, thats no fun and is immersion breaking. When you are at the heart throwing bombs, we know they start to pile on like crazy. They get your scent and come straight at you. You drive far enough that they lose track. The feral keeps your scent longer and gets far away from the pack, who by this time has lost you and starts milling around calmly. Kill the feral, sneak back to the heart area and stealth kill the zombies. None of this is immersion breaking.

I dont begudge someone for finding fun in a game any way they can, but I dont understand the draw of cheating in a single player game. You're only cheating yourself.