Following many suggestions PM'd to me and the few that were commented on in the "Comments" section, in relation to the Predator species/class/selection of the mod, the ideas present were brainstormed, accepted & rejected (The rejected aren't shown) based on the possibilities the Crytek engine presents, and our modder's abilities. (Note: All of these presentations stated will be in the mod, unless an unforseen circumstance presents us entirely unable to include the feature into the mod. I doubt that may happen, but who knows.)
Predator "Skin":
Simply as put, what you will look like in the game. A few are rejected suggestions that are noted. Concept art will soon follow these selections.
Unblooded (Rejected): A Predator which has not yet completed the rite of passage into manhood, which requires to have been on the hunt for the "ultimate prey" (Xenomorph/Alien), and succeeded. Failure was death.
Young Blood (Rejected): A Predator which has hunted and succeeded in defeating the "ultimate prey". These Predators are noted by the acidic mark of their clan upon their head.
Blooded (Rejected): A Predator which has held the title of "Young Blood" for an acceptable amount of time, and has succeeded on other hunts.
Warrior (Accepted): A mature Predator which adheres to the Predator's code of honour and ethics. They are solo hunters who often travel the universe in search of honourable hunts.
Elder (Rejected): A Predator which has survived a "thousand" (Possibly exaggerated) hunts. They consider honoured fighters of other species as respectable as another Predator of the same species.
"Bad Blood"/Outcast (Accepted): A Predator which has committed an unforgivable crime or failure of a hunt. These Predators flee, instead of accept punishment, and often wander aimlessly, or continue hunting for their own reasoning. Sometimes a "Bad Blood" may not hunt honorably, and simply kills everything in sight, including other Predators.
"Honoured" Predator (Accepted): A Predator which has been on more hunts, and earned more kills than the average hunter. This type of Predator is skilled in all ways, and shown with the highest regard of respect by other hunters and warriors.
"Arbitrator" Predator (Accepted): A Predator involved with their form of "law enforcement". They eliminate outcasts and "Bad Blood" on sight, and often are "Cleaner Predators" (As seen in AvP:R). An Arbitrator is usually an Elder that is bored with the hunter, or a type of "retired" Honoured Predator.
The main reason some of the types of ideas were rejected was due to the fact that type of Predator proffession would have no reason to be in the modification, due to the storyline.
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Predator Equipment:
The Predator has many tools, weapons, and traps available to him at any time. All of these will be available to each Predator class, but only two primary weapons, two secondary weapons, and three tools will be available to the Predator for selection.
The Mask (Tool):
A symbol to their kind, the Predators wear distinctive headgear which serves multiple functions. The basic Mask worn by lower class warriors offers protection during combat, and houses a respirator which is also capable of being used underwater similar to scuba gear.
The higher-class mask used by Blooded Predators and higher ranks performs the functions of the basic mask, but also contains other devices. It can filter through multiple visual settings: Infrared, Ultraviolet, Thermal Imaging, and Electromagnetic pickup. The visual setting may also be modified for X-rays as seen in both AvP movies.
Also the mask is used as a tracking device for the shoulder-cannon, and a type of voice mimicry used to communicate or taunt another species.
Armor (Tool):
Armor is worn by all Predators, but some more-so than others. The armor is light and maneuverable, but vulnerable to strong blasts, direct hits, and heavy strikes. The composition is from unknown materials, and some armor is capable of resisting Xenomorph blood.
(Note, all skins will be wearing armor. This feature allows an additional +50 HP to the Predator, and reduces the "blood trail" function from activating at 25 HP, to 10 HP.)
Optic Camouflage (Tool):
The Predators ultimate signature, the camouflage bends the light around the wearer to offer near total invisibility. The camouflage conceals the wearer, and all equipment and weapons attatched. Most unattatched equipment (Such as the speargun, combi-stick, etc), become visible once used, due to not being directly attatched to the cloaking device, or the wire mesh.
The device does not function if immersed or touched by water, rendering it useless in rainy conditions. Due to the way the device bends light to create a "steam" or "heat" shimmer, it is suggested the wearer is easily spotted in fog, dust, or otherwise undesired weather conditions.
Medicomp (Tool):
A Predator's in-field medical tool. It contains the ability to reduce or stop the bloodflow from a wound. It contains surgical blades, a crystallised-medicine burner, medicine dispensers, an emergency breather, and surgical hypodermics. Brought with only three charges, it is still an indispensable tool.
Wristblades (Universal Weapon/Always available):
The wristblades are the common universal weapon, the blades are made from an unknown material (As are all Predators weapons and technology), that is nearly unbreakable. The blades come in forms from 12 to 18 inches long, in dual or triple blades. In the mod, the blades will be the standard dual blade, but retractable from 12 to 18 inches long.
Shoulder Cannon (Primary):
A weapon located on the shoulder (sometimes both) of the Predator. Guided by the tracker in the Predator's helmet, the shoulder cannon is capable of firing multiple shots of charged & heated plasma energy. It has two firing methods, a mandible controlled trigger in the helmet, and the forearm console.
Speargun (Primary):
Similar to a sniper rifle, the speargun can be fired from great distances with incredible accuracy. It fires a small spear-like weapon, capable of even piercing flesh and bone, or pinning the creature to a nearby wall or surface. It is the perfect silent ranged weapon.
Spear or Combi-stick (Primary):
The Spear (or Combi-Stick) is a self-powered spear that is compacted to one meter at its shortest length, but extends by two meters at each end when activated for use.
It can be thrown to puncture a target or object, and is known to have electromagnetic tips to cut through certain types of surfaces or objects.
Net Gun (Secondary):
The Net Gun is small and usually reserved for when temporary incapacitation of a subject is necessary.
The net gun launches a web of razor-sharp wire powerful enough to propel a target to the floor/wall and pin them there, and in certain cases, lacerate the flesh (Or exoskeleton, in a Xenomorph's case).
If the target tries to struggle the damage increases, and this keeps up until the subject is released, cuts free, or is killed.
Smart Disc (Secondary):
A disc-like weapon with razor sharp edges, it is carried by the Predator and can be used as a melee object, or thrown.
The disc can cut through multiple types of surfaces, or multiple opponents at once (The version of the disc used in the mod will NOT have homing features).
Computer-controlled gyros guarantee that the disc returns to its wielder, but if it becomes embedded in a solid material it can be returned by the push of a control-panel button.
Shuriken (Secondary):
Much like the smart disc, the shuriken is a compact weapon, but when activated, multiple prongs spring from the center. The weapon can be used as a melee function, or thrown in a boomarang-like manner, to return to the thrower (The version of the shuriken used in the mod will NOT have homing features).
Self-Destruct (Tool):
This weapon is of last resort for a warrior to retain honour in their death. The timer can be set to near-instant detonation, to a one minute countdown. Once reached, a micro-nuclear explosion will occur (The version of self-destruct will be automatically set to a one-minute countdown and the Predator is immobile during this period of time to prevent abuse).
More to come on Predator updates when the time comes.
*Returns to the workshop*
Also, in the next news update which will occur tomorrow, I will release the first few pieces of music composed for the mod. Expect "formless ethereal" type music, for horror and ambience.
