An idea: Special Infected Variations!

[Ulysses S Grant]

So, the CI have variations among them, called Uncommon Common, which possess different strengths from the standard CI. Why not carry this principal over to the SI, with sub-classes that are chosen by the director when needed? Plus, it would be a way to add "new" infected without new voice-lines or drastically different models and gameplay. Here are some ideas (please take these with a grain of salt, I'm not so good at gameplay ideas):


Hit-and-Run Charger:

A Charger with a car door stuck to their arm sort of like a shield (maybe someone was trying to restrain them mid-infection, maybe they got into an accident). The Hit-and-Run Charger specializes in doing a lot of damage and spreading out survivors at the cost of being able to grab them due to the car door stuck to their arm.
Slightly wider hit radius for charges.
Higher damage on impact as well as increased melee damage.
Reduced cooldown time on successful charges.
Increased cooldown time on unsuccessful charges.
Cannot grab survivors.


Roller Spitter:

In her pre-infected form, she was a roller skating waitress at a drive-in restaurant. In her infected form, she's a hideous roller skating monster! Roller skates offer increased (if difficult to control) mobility, even while spitting. However, she can't jump in those roller skates, she's none too skilled with them...
Can move around a bit faster.
Can move whilst spitting.
Cannot jump.
Movement is floaty.
Slower climbing speed.



SWAT Hunter:

Some of the local police force have mutated not just into common infected, but into Hunters as well! While immune to bullet damage, they'll go down quickly with melee, fire, explosives, or even a couple of shoves.
Immune to bullet damage.
Has EXTREMELY low health.
Not resistant to shoving, melee, fire, or explosives.



Thanks for reading, if you've read this far. It's not too serious of an idea, just a bit of fun. Hopefully they don't seem way unbalanced. :)

[bloodfox1222]

Warning, Stream of haters who will complain that video games should not have variety inbound in 3...2...1...

[iMusic4Life]

nice idea of thought! I like it :D
I remember in the press conferences or whatever, they said that each individual special infected would be different, and the only thing I've noticed was that some smokers are normal, and some have a second tongue sticking out of them, which really doesn't do anything other than cosmetics -_-
Although the changes could be a bit more subtle and not major, like the roller spitter, some people already hate it enough, having terrible mobility might just make them break their keyboards :p

[AstralLunar]

I can see this working fantastically in Co-Op, but it'll be a problem in Versus. Half of it is sort of like the Female Boomer thing: you're a different model, but you have no way to see it. This would change skills and stats.

The other problem is that it gives a lot of newcomers trouble, because it doubles the amount of SI needed to learn.

That being said, it'll still be a nice spin in Survival or Co-Op.

[ImJTHM]

If this were its own gamemode (something like Vaccine or something), I'd like this.

As a part of the regular game, sounds confusing.

[BuckALE]

I like this idea, but I can't see how they would easily implement it. We're talking about adding new object resources as well as doing new animations (or would we just make the skating spitter walk the same what she does now?) so, probably wouldn't work as a mutation, but it could be done as a mod.

[iMusic4Life]

I can see this working fantastically in Co-Op, but it'll be a problem in Versus. Half of it is sort of like the Female Boomer thing: you're a different model, but you have no way to see it. This would change skills and stats.

The other problem is that it gives a lot of newcomers trouble, because it doubles the amount of SI needed to learn.

That being said, it'll still be a nice spin in Survival or Co-Op.

Actually you can tell the difference between male and female boomer, listen to the gurgling noise carefully.
Male boomer is more deeper

[RugbyOddjob]

I didn't hate any of the above and can see how they would be usefull at times.

Regarding the Hunter being immune to bullets; just look at the riot cops. Therefore possible.

[My Beard Turned]

Campaign this'd be good for. Versus though... Let's take the hunter for example. You get the bullet proof hunter on DeCe1, when a team of idiots all go dual pistols. If they're bad enough to not grab at least one melee weapon it's likely they're bad enough to sit there unloading into the hunter wondering why it won't die. I realize it's an extreme example, but I think my point still stands.

[RugbyOddjob]

Campaign this'd be good for. Versus though... Let's take the hunter for example. You get the bullet proof hunter on DeCe1, when a team of idiots all go dual pistols. If they're bad enough to not grab at least one melee weapon it's likely they're bad enough to sit there unloading into the hunter wondering why it won't die. I realize it's an extreme example, but I think my point still stands.

Survival of the fitest. If they are so dense as to take 4 x double pistols then Darwin will be confirmed as correct ;)

Or make the Hunter a mutated Riot Cop, so has a weakness in the back and during it's melee stumble..

[amazin grego]

the bulletproof hunter cant jump as well since its armor would be pretty heavy

[RugbyOddjob]

the bulletproof hunter cant jump as well since its armor would be pretty heavy

Good trade off but you are only talking an extra 15lbs with modern composites. Yeah heavier but not over the top.

[MrFatPaws]

The Hit-and-Run Charger sounds like a good idea, but maybe if a charge is missed, the door is damaged and does less melee damage.

Edit: It just came to me, what about a boomer variation.

Kamikaze Boomer:
Prior to being infected, a worker in a demolition crew was setting up the dynamite, but when he was setting it up, he got tangled and infected. Now he is a deadly boomer. (might need a less corny back story)
*Death explosion now damages (similar to pipebomb self-damage in expert)
*Falling from a certain height also sets off the explosion.
*Puke/Bile summons less infected.
*Even lower health.

[BaconServ]

I like this idea, but a roller skating spitter sounds sillier then a jockey. I know L4D2 isn't going for a super-serious atmosphere, but honestly that's a bit too much.

[AjBastian27]

I really like maybe changing the looks of SI, kind of like girl boomer boy boomer variation. But I don't think any of there abilities should change. But thats just me :)

[Deus.EXE]

I swear to god I made a thread about 6 months ago about this exact thing... Can't find it to copy pasta my ideas.

Anyway, I always thought having variations of the Special Infected would be a great thing.

Some ideas I remember posting...


"Sticky Spitter" (ew?)
This Spitter spits out a red/white mix of loogie that covers 2x the ground, and brings the survivors to a "Down to 1 HP" movement speed as long as they are in the goo. Hover, it does 75% less damage, but it's great against rushers or an ambush.


"Slammer" (Charger)
Sort of acts like he did in the beta. He charges (With a 50% cooldown reduction), but instead of grabbing someone, he simply plows through everyone dealing little damage. An alternate attack he has- he can overhead slam his fist down on the ground (Again, like beta... but unlike beta-) that causes survivors close by to stumble (Like the Boomer exploding), but deals no damage. More of a Support Charger. His attacks can be combo'd. Slam the ground, then charge away through 2-3 of the staggering survivors and send them flying.


"Chainer" (Smoker)
Has a 50% longer tongue that cannot be broken by melee or fire. Must kill the Chainer to release it's grip. It pulls players away at 2x normal speed, but only deals 50% damage.


"Predator" (Hunter)
A silent variation of the Hunter. It doesn't growl or scream when it pounces. However, it cannot do more than 15hp of damage per pounce, and does 33% less damage.

[Ulysses S Grant]

I like this idea, but a roller skating spitter sounds sillier then a jockey. I know L4D2 isn't going for a super-serious atmosphere, but honestly that's a bit too much.

Well, at least it has some story behind it, that's the only defense I can offer. :p

Also, another idea!

Acid-Reflux Boomer:
This particular Boomer vomits goo that, while lacking the zombie-attracting pheromone, causes the victim's skin to soften and become more vulnerable to attack. It's extra viscous too!
Survivors covered in vomit take extra damage from all sources.
Survivors are covered in vomit longer than normal.
Vomit does not attract common infected.

[iMusic4Life]

Well, at least it has some story behind it, that's the only defense I can offer. :p

Also, another idea!

Acid-Reflux Boomer:
This particular Boomer vomits goo that, while lacking the zombie-attracting pheromone, causes the victim's skin to soften and become more vulnerable to attack. It's extra viscous too!
Survivors covered in vomit take extra damage from all sources.
Survivors are covered in vomit longer than normal.
Vomit does not attract common infected.

o.o
people are really going to hate that special infected.
Like I said, subtle changes, not major changes, the whole point in boomer is to ATTRACT the horde. That will just officially kill the booomer :o

[Ulysses S Grant]

o.o
people are really going to hate that special infected.
Like I said, subtle changes, not major changes, the whole point in boomer is to ATTRACT the horde. That will just officially kill the booomer :o

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/8031/1298224910690.jpg

[iMusic4Life]

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/8031/1298224910690.jpg

?
Define plz o.o

[Ulysses S Grant]

?
Define plz o.o

"Oh well, I tried."

[Ettanin]

I can see this working fantastically in Co-Op, but it'll be a problem in Versus. Half of it is sort of like the Female Boomer thing: you're a different model, but you have no way to see it. This would change skills and stats.

This could be fixed with a separate UI display showing which variation of the SI class you're using.

[Ceral4d]

the only thing i say change is make the smokers cloud have minor damage