How would Turtle actually function?

(Kirstµ) #1

Turtle seems like a very interesting merc idea, but after thinking about it, how would he function? The shield doesn’t seem notable enough to really differentiate him from the other mercs without any special weaponry. The shield seems odd in a game that is focused around quick movement in combat. I have a feeling that he’d be blatantly OP or UP upon release, and don’t know if it is even possible to make him fun enough to play.

Some idea of the shield’s size: https://youtu.be/kOz24Pp-vaI

Any comments?

(gg2ez) #2

The best he can.

(Kevin) #3

The shield probably needs to be a wee bit taller or your going to get a shot to the face while ducking.

(Amerika) #4

I brought this up months ago in regards to how his shield should function. The issues I saw is that if it works like a simple barricade it won’t be a very good ability. Not only could it be easily naded but if you crouch behind it anybody could jump ADS shoot you at many ranged (especially when jumping off a wall). So it offers little protection. Also, it could be used to block doors similar to how people block areas with Kira’s ammo station. But that’s mostly just annoying and, again, not much of an ability.

I actually think the shield should work similar to an ability that is in World of Warcraft for the Deathknight class (at least it was an ability when I played) called the Anti-magic zone. How it works is you’d put up this zone that people could stand in and take reduced magical damage for a certain period of time and up to a certain amount of damage. Apply this same concept to turtle’s shield where you get a small area of protection where people can enter and take reduced damage. So instead of being something physical you hide behind (which you could probably still do) you would also take reduced damage while in the area of effect.

That would make his ability be good without making it too tall and thus having the ability to completely block doorways. Which, especially on a pub, could be a nightmare with multiple turtles trolling doors and limiting entrances constantly.

That’s my idea on how it could be useful while avoid being useless and abused. Not sure if it’s the best but it’s what I have :slight_smile:

(LifeupOmega) #5

It could honestly emit an aura-station type ring which reduces damage taken slightly, while still keeping the shield to prevent any direct damage from the front.

I really don’t know. Turtle is an odd merc in a fast game like this.

(Kirstµ) #6

@Amerika Mmmm, a fine idea indeed. That would definitely make him alot more viable than he currently seems. I could see Turtle working very well with Phoenix with that kind of an idea, bringing him closer to viability as well.

A cool concept would be to be immune to instagibs while in the shield’s radius. This would allow more people to use the shield while not being incredibly weak to frag grenades to the nest. Also would apply to Vassilli headshots and the like. Not sure how that would actually work, maybe a tad OP, but definitely interesting.

He would also benefit from having custom weapons as well, maybe add some kind of a tertiary ability regarding his bionic arm. (Ability to charge a powerful melee attack with knockback?)

(RyePanda) #7

Also, will we be able to wall jump off of them?

But that will need to be taller to be effective as a means of cover.

(Kirstµ) #8

@RyePanda I don’t see a reason why you couldn’t, since they are solid objects.
If they’re going to keep the shield theme, my proposal would be to make it an actual wall, which covers the entire body while also being see-through like a riot shield.

(capriRocket) #9

cover all but the head and its a great ability.
i dont see nader being a problem.

(TheOrangePhantome) #10

1st of all Turtle ain’t even released yet so making suggestions for him isn’t really logical and we haven’t seen any footage of him so we can’t know how he’ll play out. 2nd of all from the footage I’ve seen from @kAndyREW of him using the shield in the test lvl the shield was able to be used to cover entrances. Also it could be used as mobile cover but we still cant know yet.


This is the video i was talkin about.

(capriRocket) #11

i hope they make the shield actually cover your body, nobody needs protection for their feet.

(TheOrangePhantome) #12

@capriRocket You know that if you crouch behind the shield you’ll be fully covered.

(capriRocket) #13

yeah but you cant win a gunfight when crouched, you just get shot in the head like a sitting duck.
if the shield only acts as means to block paths or as cover to plant/defuse then im disapointed.

i know his name is turtle but come on, let that shield have some offensive use or i dont see myself ever picking him over the other engineers.

(Amerika) #14

Ask all the people I shoot in the feet while on the first part of Chapel defense :slight_smile: Those sniper perches aren’t very good yet people use them all the time anyway.

Also, there is already a thread on this page that has a lot of discussion regarding Turtle and his shield mechanics. So I’m going to merge the threads.

(SirSwag) #15

At the moment I’m having a hard time thinking of reasons to choose Turtle over any of the other Machanics as I feel the shield has limited use. My suggestion is to give Turtle the ability to fortify things like the turret. He would then get assist points for every kill made. What are your thoughts on his shield?