I think many of us like, that there are machines that are stronger than others, but limited in their amount. I talk about the rivals.
What some of us don’t like as much is that these rivals aren’t very special. Well, they are stronger, have an own leveling/experience system and have own names that show where they come from. But that’s all.
They look the same as the other machines of the same class, have the same weapons, the same behaviour, the same weak points.
What if they would be more than just that?
Summary:
- change them optically by
- more armor,
- other or additional weapons and
- additional components and features.
- change their their behaviour by changing how they react on nearby players
- change their presentation (on the map)
In detail:
Optical changes
Imagine rivals getting some more armor or other upgrades you can see instead of just making them stronger.
Or what about additional components?
I just imagined a hunter which gets a reaper-like shield generator at its back.
There could also be experimental stealth generators at their back which just aren’t active if they start an attack (you would need IR-view to see them). Or smoke, gas or shock generators. Or seeker-like sound modules.
You would be able to destroy these components, but as they would be on their back, it wouldn’t be too easy.
The same could count for runner rivals.
Tank rivals could get some more armor at critical points or additional weapons. Maybe there could also be one shield generator at highest level.
Harvesters could get more armor and also smoke generators or a defensive weapon like a mine layer.
The reaper should be updated, too. Well, it already is very strong and deadly, but if you know how to beat him, it’s just time consuming, not much harder. It’s just difficult to destroy him before he starts his suizide. Why should he do that?
So the reapers health or armor could be a bit less, the suizide should be removed (it’s the Boss, he should fight 'til the end) and he could also get a smoke generator for making it harder to target specific components without using IR-view. He could also get another weapon under his head. The only tank with 3 weapons. Maybe an additional flamethrower?
The soviet rivals would need to get an update, too, of course. In my eyes the wolf rivals could get armor plates like a turtle.
Their weapons (the launchers) are very easy to destroy while the gattling isn’t. They should get secured by the armore, maybe add another weapon on top.
A smoke generator would be awesome for them.
Maybe they could get a trophy system to intercept incoming rockets with a chance of maybe 75% (destroy the component to destroy this ability).
So what about lynx rivals? I haven’t seen one yet, but maybe they are possible like runners may become rivals.
They could get an instant rotating saw blade around their ball surrounding frame as well as some more armor plates.
Behaviour
For all rivals it would also be cool if they wouldn’t just roam around, but would try to hunt the players. They could have a radius of maybe 1km within their region where they would automatically start chasing the players instead of waiting to get attacked by us.
Presentation
Rivals shouldn’t be seen on the map all the time. By this it could be more exciting. But instead there could be a message if you get within the radius of a rivals like “RIVALS NAME has detected you and is on the hunt. Be careful.”
If you spot the rival, it will be shown for about half an hour (or more, or less) on the map, not earlier. I imagine there could be some surprises when just walking around.