The Robot Devil wrote:A minimum to two kinds of cloaks are needed. One is the standard cloak- the merc is totally undetectable but can only move at 25% speed, a 30s cool down before recloaking and weapons don't work for 15s. Of course the attributes would be changed by skill level. The second cloak would be at a high skill level with secondary skills needed. The merc would move at 90% speed, 15s cool down and weapons wouldn't work for 5s. Also the more advanced cloak would have a CPU/PG so high that only covert suits (with cloaking CPU/PG reduction built in) could fit them.
The cloak would turn off within 5m of anything except the ground. Any type of damage would de-cloak the suit- self induced, falling or stray damage from enemies- and the Marc cannot recloak if another player can see them directly. The standard should be entry level and usable by any suit.
The aspect to this that I really don't like is the speed decrease. I agree that using a cloak means some sort of handicap is required but I play as a scout because I have a need for SPEED! This was the intent behind the shield drain upon decloaking, you get to make your one surprise sneak attack but you had better finish your opponent quick because without shields a scout isn't going to get a second chance.
If a speed decrease really is necessary then I would hope it takes the form of the 'blur-a-flauge' effect similar to predator. As you move faster, the effect becomes more noticeable thereby increasing your chance of discovery. Standing still would make you completely invisible. This would not penalize speed directly, but would offer a mechanism by which players would be forced to slow down to avoid detection by an observant player.
I still hope for a 'perfect' type of cloak though without speed restrictions.
Here's an idea, the longer you keep your cloak active it eats away at your shields until they deplete and you are forced to decloak. The cloak cannot be reactivated until you recharge to a certain level, for example 2/3 full. This threshold and sheild drain rate could be improved by better cloaks and skills.
I like the idea of having your weapons being inactive for a few seconds after an unplanned decloaking though.