Director becoming sadistic in Normal mode

[Dave_Billing]

Recently, I've noticed normal mode has become a lot harder.

Normal mode for me was relatively cruisy, but now the director AI is decidedly sadistic as hell.

In a map say, the Roller Coaster, I seem to be getting pummeled with special infected left right and center. The bots don't fare much better, either.

Given I've clocked up around 180 hours in L4D2, I don't suppose the director is simply upping the ante to match my hours played?

Or is there a bug of some sort?

[Baos]

Last time I checked, Normal difficulty is still fairly easy for me, even with 600 ping - throwable to attract common, outrun the horde, and shove Jockeys/Hunters plus strafe Chargers, and keep a keen eye on your surroundings in case of a Smoker/Boomer.

It would probably be the bugged Survivor bots again, Bot Fixes should help for a bit, but playing with actual players whenever possible will still be your best bet.

[TheCombatMedic]

The director is a ♥♥♥♥ no matter the difficulty.

[wootin]

Originally Posted by Dave_Billing

Recently, I've noticed normal mode has become a lot harder.

Normal mode for me was relatively cruisy, but now the director AI is decidedly sadistic as hell.

In a map say, the Roller Coaster, I seem to be getting pummeled with special infected left right and center. The bots don't fare much better, either.

Given I've clocked up around 180 hours in L4D2, I don't suppose the director is simply upping the ante to match my hours played?

Or is there a bug of some sort?

I found I was trying to guard the bots almost constantly once I got reasonably competent, and because of that, I was slowing the pace to where the director could have a field day on my @ss. Once I stopped saving everyone and trusted the 3 bots to rescue each other while I moved us forward, that problem went away. I can now get the bots through Expert on a good day.

[RedHyuuga]

The director is indeed a sadist, especially when you play Mill Escape and when you go up the elevator a Tank stands there waiting for you, before you can get out of the elevator.
I don't know if you need luck or skill to slide past that tank, I haven't managed to successfully dodge it, and it makes me dislike the director a little.

[Jay_la_haine]

Originally Posted by RedHyuuga

The director is indeed a sadist, especially when you play Mill Escape and when you go up the elevator a Tank stands there waiting for you, before you can get out of the elevator.
I don't know if you need luck or skill to slide past that tank, I haven't managed to successfully dodge it, and it makes me dislike the director a little.

Shoot it before you enter the elevator

[RedHyuuga]

Originally Posted by Jay_la_haine

Shoot it before you enter the elevator

And what if it wasn't there when you entered the elevator but got there once the elevator started? Then what? :O

[Jay_la_haine]

Originally Posted by RedHyuuga

And what if it wasn't there when you entered the elevator but got there once the elevator started? Then what? :O

Can't happen . They spawn at the start of every maps.

[RedHyuuga]

Originally Posted by Jay_la_haine

Can't happen . They spawn at the start of every maps.

Really?
The tank music started when the elevator started though.. and then he was there to greet us..

[TheCombatMedic]

I call bullocks on Tanks being already spawned in. It's still decided by the director on the fly since you can sometimes suddenly hear one really close to you when you heard nothing for a while.

[Peachrocks]

Originally Posted by RedHyuuga

Really?
The tank music started when the elevator started though.. and then he was there to greet us..

The music in campaign does not play until the tank decides to engage you or less commonly you engage it. This is why tanks can sometimes catch players by surprise because it doesn't engage and can't be seen until its fist is practically in your face.

The post elevator tank is a pretty merciful one because you can gun it down well before you get out. If we are talking normal you should be able to practically kill it before you are let out. Even on advanced you should be able to do significant damage before it can do jack. Tier 2 weapons make mince meat of tanks pretty damn fast.

[Cougarific]

Well I'm glad to see someone else noticed, I thought I was the only one.

The Specials suddenly seem smarter and more coordinated in their attacks. Smokers are positioned to make killer tongue-moves, Chargers are better positioned for deadly charges, Hunters seem better able to stay hidden before the pounce, etc.

I swear I'm not imagining this. I was *thinking* it during a playthough and later one of my teammates said it on his own. Noticed the same thing in the next playthrough as well.

[Milkycookie]

Originally Posted by TheCombatMedic

I call bullocks on Tanks being already spawned in. It's still decided by the director on the fly since you can sometimes suddenly hear one really close to you when you heard nothing for a while.

Tanks all spawn in at the start of the map. You can hear it, because it's actually near you but you can't reach him yet. If you've not noticed by now, the maps are basically a little maze, something like those roundabout queues at disneyland.

[TheCombatMedic]

If you go in spectator freelook mode and fly around the map, most likely you aren't going to see a Tank at all until the director decides to spawn one near the survivors.

[Milkycookie]

Originally Posted by TheCombatMedic

If you go in spectator freelook mode and fly around the map, most likely you aren't going to see a Tank at all until the director decides to spawn one near the survivors.

In the Safe Room? Yes, but the minute that Door unlocks, the match starts and everything that needs to spawn will spawn.