Boomer Headshot

[Dead Fish]

I was just thinking about what would happen if you shot a Boomer in the head? I know, it would explode, but that doesn't sound quit right, does it? Since only his belly would be filled with methane gas, he should die without a boom.

So what do you guys think? How about a small hit box at his head, that lets him die like a regular infected, so skilled players can avoid the explosion. I know, it's kind of an anti climatic end for a guy like him... Maybe a delayed explosion for headshots. He hits the floor and lets out a long burp (~ 3 seconds) from his now headless neck, ending in him tearing apart.

[freakypred]

There are boils on his head too, and my guess is the extreme friction against the bones would cause sparks and the methane gas set free would interact, makeing the boomer catch fire. (A follow-thru with the explosion, of course.)

[Dead Fish]

Hmm, probably right. But still, there should be clean shots like with the hunting rifle too.

[hool10]

Holy smokes! Best idea I have heard for this game in a long time. Yeah he just falls to the ground and burps really loudly like a wet, long burp. Then he fills up and expands like the blueberry girl in Willy Wonka. Then explodes. Similar to the flood in Halo. When things die, the CO2 that is created from the bacteria makes bodies swell up as well. Once he gets too big the pressure escapes and KABLAM! Great idea Diabolic!

[freakypred]

Maybe some melee weapons like a knife(in case your one of those blade artists in CSS)

[Puscifer]

I was just thinking about what would happen if you shot a Boomer in the head? I know, it would explode, but that doesn't sound quit right, does it? Since only his belly would be filled with methane gas, he should die without a boom.

So what do you guys think? How about a small hit box at his head, that lets him die like a regular infected, so skilled players can avoid the explosion. I know, it's kind of an anti climatic end for a guy like him... Maybe a delayed explosion for headshots. He hits the floor and lets out a long burp (~ 3 seconds) from his now headless neck, ending in him tearing apart.

thats a brilliant idea, if u shoot the fat bas**ds head he aint gonna go kadumaaaaa!

we'll see though it might be a bit too much to implement in game, cant wait to see some new media now. I think theres gonna be some big changes from what weve seen:)

...so exited:)

[freakypred]

Me too. I have 65$ saved up, and im adding new things for my computer like new RAM and disk space and stuff.

An added bonus...I CAN HOST ONCE MORE!

So yeah, I shall be one of the first servers that are errected for the survival of humanity.

[Armored_Zombie_Cow]

this is a great point; im surprised no1 had thought of this b4

[Kamikaze189]

I liked this idea at first, but I still have to say no. Ask yourself "why" you want this idea.

My "why:" I liked it because I'm used to games like CS, where personal skill is usually more important than your whole team skill.

You don't want that in L4D. I mean, what do you think would happen when the Boomer drops down in the middle of your group if you can HS kill it? Everybody would probably start shooting at its head. So, you see, the Boomer's affect on gameplay has changed. No longer is it "holy crap run for your life, get away!" it's just "shoot him in the head!" And people would probably botch their shots a lot of the time... it'll be bad enough playing with noobs who just shoot him, but even more so when the noobs think they'll just shoot him in the head every time they seem him, no matter how long they play the freakin' game.

I say the satisfaction of "headshotting" will still be there. Here's a Boomer headshot: Your team of four is walking along. A Boomer jumps down in the middle of you. You melee him back, he walks next to a teammate, then the teammate melees him further back, until -- finally -- you all unload on him. He doesn't even get a chance to spew and nobody gets hurt. (Well, except the Boomer)

Just like in CS, you (and your pals) have dealt with an enemy without taking a bit of damage in a way that requires a lot of skill and quick thinking/acting.

The only way I could see you wanting this is if you didn't trust your teammates to deal with the Boomer effectively. In which case, why are you playing with those teammates? Or maybe co-op isn't your thing?

The other "why" that comes to mind is realism. But consider the gameplay mechanics I pointed out above.

I don't think this is truly in the game's favor.

[Eddy_of_the_dead]

erhmm good idea Diabolic Forelle
but what kamikaze had so say...welll erhmmm right..

[Dead Fish]

I don't think this is truly in the game's favor.

You do have a point, and it crossed my mind too. So maybe it had to be a rather short delay compared to the regular explosion.

So, if you headshot the Boomer from a distance it doesn't make a difference, because nobody gets hurt anyways. If it happened right next to you, the Survivors wouldn't get punished instantly, right. That doesn't mean they are out of harm yet, though. Everybody would be like "Shit, run!!" ^^

Reminds a bit of that CoD4 perk in multiplayer, that makes you automatically drop a grenade as soon as you die. I think it would be fun in hectic situations.

[dontleave]

Lol. Dead Boomer just lying there...

"So uhhh... anyone wanna jump on him?"

[kyrickell]

How about this.. you know the Boomer's vomit attack, right. If you shoot him in the head and his head explodes.. all his vomit type stuff comes spewing out of his neck straight up into the air. Now, if you're inside with relatively low ceiling (That is.. not in a warehouse or something) his vomit gets on the ceiling.. Then all the infected rush in and start jumping around trying to claw at the ceiling to get their hands on some of that zombie crack. Meanwhile, you're free to mow them down or just run away or something.


^^I'm not actually serious about that.. but I thought it might be funny :P

[Skeetles]

How about after hes down you can use his belly like you would an exploding barrel, wait for some infected to run by it and then BAM!

[Kenny]

The idea of a headshot is cool.. but I don't think it would be a wise idea. Sounds kind of game-breaking for whoever is playing the boomer. He's supposed to pose a danger up close, not just intimidate you into headshotting him.

[Sifer2]

This is a good idea actually. Since only the Rifle an Pistol probably have the accuracy to get a headshot anyway. And in a frantic zombie attack its going to be hard to try to pull out the pistol an land a headshot on the Boomer but if you can that would be cool. His corpse should still be a bomb just waiting to happen though. Now the question is does the game even have multiple hit boxes though?

[Kenny]

The kind of have to to be able to shoot of limbs and whatnot, wouldn't you think?? I thought they did anyway.

[globalenjoi]

The idea of a headshot is cool.. but I don't think it would be a wise idea. Sounds kind of game-breaking for whoever is playing the boomer. He's supposed to pose a danger up close, not just intimidate you into headshotting him.


Thats the reason I don't like the idea. If I am playing the boomer, it'd be kinda lame for me to get headshot and not get to do anything special. None of the other boss infected have weaknesses like that, so why should the boomer?

It might be a somewhat 'realistic' option, but it wouldn't really help the gameplay much.

[Dead Fish]

I sent an e-mail to Turtle Rock Studios about this idea and this thread and Mike Booth already responded! (Less than 2 hours. ^^) This is pretty cool, makes me happy. =D

Here is what the reply says:

I missed that one on the forums, but it is a very interesting idea. One problem I see with this design change, however, is that it would not be clear (especially to new players) why sometimes the Boomer explodes, and sometimes he doesn't – particularly when you factor in the chaos of the battles and the "cone of uncertainly" of the actual bullet's trajectories. There is also the issue of expert players who would (nearly) always land headshots on the Boomer, thus removing his most potent attack. Not to mention the frustration of the player who is actually controlling the Boomer.



Still it is an interesting idea. We'll think on it some more. Thanks, Riccardo.



Michael Booth

CEO

Turtle Rock Studios

http://www.turtlerockstudios.com



That's the message I sent them:

Hello!

I've been following the progress of Left 4 Dead for a while; my anticipation has been growing ever since. :)

You are probably reading the left4dead411.com forums anyways, but this is a thread I started, and I thought it might be an interesting idea:

<insert first post of this topic here>

(forum link)

Thank you for reading and good luck!
Riccardo

[Puscifer]

Thats cool taking the time to reply like that:)

Try sending EA one lol..

[Ilkoo]

Respect for Michael Booth and TRS

[MadMan]

Thats cool taking the time to reply like that:)

Try sending EA one lol..

FFS. Ea has this fucking shit tons annoing loop with trying to register xbox live gamer tags so you can see the videos you recorded in the game skate ( I know i been tryingto get around it for 3 days). + i had to call customer support because my cd key diddnt work a few months back for battlefeild 2 and they're genious soloution to my 90 doller problem (AUS.$) was to buy a new game.

E.A can suck my dickk.

*end of irrelivant to the topic post*

[hool10]

Well they could have like a tip system. Like &quot;shoot the boomers head for a delayed explosion&quot;. Could even be an achievement. ;-) I still like my idea of the flood carriers in Halo: URL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-wipIdXl88)

[Skeetles]

Maybe a mix of the corpse laying there ready to explode and vomit shooting out of his head hole. Then it would be more of a pick your poison idea than a real advantage.

[Dead Fish]

Then it would be more of a pick your poison idea than a real advantage

Yeah, that's what I thought about in the first place too. No explosion at all would be disappointing.

[OBLITROX]

That would be funny though if you got a head shot, and it fell over and let out a gigantic Fart of Burp then exploded.

[ShadowSlayer7]

That would be funny though if you got a head shot, and it fell over and let out a gigantic Fart of Burp then exploded.

LOL

The boomer makes burping and farty noises while moving around. Sounds funny and disgusting at the same time.

[xxbl4ckxx]

I agree with Kamikaze189 because if that heppend with the head shot you where playing and you kill it and not hit it's head and you injur someone every one is going to start bitching at you.

[GuStick]

I really dont want it...why ? Because then the little 10 year olds who play the game will start teabagging it,and that wouldnt look really pretty

[Skeetles]

Then shoot the corpse while they are teabagging it, teach them a lesson!

[USS_Stud]

Try sending EA one lol..
ROFL!

Good one man. Best thing you've said by far. (Considering I was thinking the same thing)

[Reptile]

I dont like the idea. Meleeing and then shooting him at distance sounds way better. It brings more challenge to the game, anyway.

[GuStick]

True,and it would be annoying if some guy who doesnt aim very well comes in,thinks he can pull off a headshot,misses,boomer explodes,hurts teammates...
DEMERIT !

Learning to aim isnt really a nescecetty(sp?) in this game,tons of zombies,just shoot ur gun like crazy,just watch out for friendly fire