NEW SKILLS PERK: Tech Expert

[Lamron]

New Skills Perk: Tech Expert

This Skill Perk is unique because it modifies how other Gadgets and Devices work, so the benefit you'll get from it will depend on your other selections.

There is way too much info to remember it all, so I added an in-game "Click For Info" quick reference guide.




These benefits are in ADDITION to whatever the Equipment or Device normally does.


Equipment Upgrades:

Spawn Beacon:
- 3 Second Protection After Use. Normally, Spawn Beacon is a use-at-your-own-risk item. Now you don't have to worry about what's waiting for you.
- Spawn Beacon can be manually activated without dying.

Explosive Detector:
- Shows ALL explosives, even those hidden by ECM.
- Ability to disarm other player's explosives. You'll need to stand very close and hold down USE. There will be a 5 second countdown message on screen. If you release USE or move, the process will be aborted. After it is disarmed, it will be added to your inventory, IF you are carrying appropriate gear to make use of it. You can never have more than 5 total Claymores and 2 total C4 in inventory.

Proximity Detector: Longer effective range.

ECM Package: Invisible to helicopter and explosives are hidden from Explosive Detector.
The Helicopter will ignore you, UNLESS you shoot at it. Then you are fair game. ( I also improved the Heli logic to prevent Spawn Kills for everyone. )


Dog Tags: Earn Killstreaks with one less kill.



Other Upgrades:

Mini-Map is visible in scope

EMP: Auto-trigger when Ninja is within range
Your EMP will automatically trigger if a Ninja is within range, disabling the Stealth Suit and making him immediately visible.

First Aid Kit: Auto-Use When Health Is Low
If your health falls below 30%, your First Aid Kit will automatically heal you.

Stolen Supply Drops Never Explode


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Notes:

- Explosive disarming will NOT work through walls, even if you are actually close enough. You must have a clear line of sight to the explosive to disarm it.

[Lamron]

Two tweaks after playing with it tonight:

- Proximity Detector plus Tech Expert now gives you longer detection range. The alert beep now works with both Basic and Expert versions.

- The automatic First Aid Kit was getting me killed by preventing me from using my weapon to stop the fight, then worry about health. Happened enough times to be a problem. Now it will heal you when your health is below 20% without forcing you to lower/raise your weapon.

[RedRock]

Can you put on the menu a suggested default deployment package, one for beginners and forgetful persons, one that has a reasonable collection of weapons and perks including Tech Expert, so that I can actually try it or visitors can jump in a little easier? Otherwise, it hurts even to try to think about it and get started, it's all so confusing, so many option at odds with each other.

[Lamron]

I did the math, and my Loadout Menu currently offers you 4,939,200 different combinations to choose from (more to be added later!). I can see how it might seem a little overwhelming to try them all and see which ones suit you.

By design, there isn't a "best", but certainly some are much better than others and picking the right ones makes a huge difference in how well you do.

You have to take these things into account when you pick your loadout:

Which map are you playing? (Size, layout)

How many players?

Your play style (cautious, aggressive, prefer distance, prefer CQB, precision shots / hoser style, etc.)

Who are the other players? What is their play style and what best counters it?



I'm not sure how to best answer what you're asking for. Perhaps you should start a new thread describing your favorite loadouts and asking for suggestions for improvement for different circumstances. Maybe everyone else could list what setups they like and why.

[RedRock]

If I can put it into words, I will try.
But my feeling is.....4.9 million combos is an understatement!

[Lamron]

The auto-EMP was causing the same problem as the auto-First Aid: unexpected lowering of weapon during fight getting you killed.

The same fix was applied. Now auto-EMP happens without weapon lower/raise and won't interrupt anything else you're doing.

[Lamron]

The updated menu arrangement of Equipment and Perks required some changes to Tech Expert, detailed in the first post.

[Lamron]

I removed the "no hit markers" upgrade to ECM. The lack of hit markers felt too much like a problem with the game connection, and frustrating to play against.