Troodons are one of the most left in the dust creatures in the game as far as any useful mechanics are concerned. Not only are they a pack based creature that is very low on the food chain but they are one of the most difficult (or rather annoying) tames just based on the preparations and conditions needed tk even tame them. Unfortunately, in comparison to how much effort it takes to get them, they hardly make up for it and end up being pretty low on the roster of creatures people will think of using.
Since AI is getting overhauled and more TLCs are going to be rolled out in the future for ASA I thought it would be useful to lay out some ideas for the Troodon, for whenever or if it ever gets a TLC. Because in my opinion it needs one a lot. Almost as much as the Therizino needs a role assessment and overhaul.
Troodons are pack creatures and operate best when unimpeded and allowed to take advantage of their element, swarming and quick damage that can quickly weaken and overcome underprepared enemies. Because of this they are most effective at night, when they get buffed and their pack buff on top of possible mate boost makes them strongest. They should be usable without this however. Furthermore many other pack based creatures overshadow them, mainly because they are rideable or larger. This coupling with their difficult taming method makes it extremely unlikely someone will even ever tame one let alone enough to even use.
New Passive Mechanic - Strength in Numbers
Troodons have a pack bonus, this gives them an edge and makes them viable in the niche of small pack hunters more than you'd think, they actually have quite a bit of good attack and hp compared to most other small swarmers. But they are still squishy and lack the ability to wear a saddle, something that critically allows small pack hunters like Raptors to be ridden and even give armor to creatures like Hyenadon who cannot. Troodons also do not have a unique Mechanic or benefit to using them as most pack creatures do each. Raptors have a pounce and high speed/attack speed, Sabertooth are tankier but still good all around, direwolves have high attack at the cost of armor and health, hyenadon have saddles for armor and a pet buff, Ravagers are extremely tanky and versatile along with high weight carry, etc. Troodons lack one. Therefore let's give them their own niche. They should be the prime on-foot non ridden companions.
Most dinosaurs in Ark are mostly used for riding, or are carried on the shoulder. But Troodons can't do either of these, to make this a benefit, let's bring out their greatest strength, the pack bonus. When a Player is near Troodons that are in a pack of at least 3, they will themselves gain a portion of the pack buff too, this increases things the same way the pack buff does too. Making you more durable and deadly, and capable on foot. But this buff only applies IF you are on foot. Using this a player could be able to be off their mounts while being able to use pack dinos in a way that is more engaging and not spent entirely on the back of a tall dinosaur, while nice, is not the only way to go about it.
This could finally give a good reason to actually be on foot as well. If this becomes hard to balance somehow becuase of PvP reasons, this could be toggled off by default for PvP, or it could even just apply to players who are not wearing heavy or more natural/raw resource based armor..so anything that is not Cloth, Hide, Ghillie, Desert, Fur or Chitin. Omitting the high tech and high armor sets.
New Passive Mechanic - Adaptive Mimicry
Troodons, despite being removed as a viable dinosaur from current paleontology, still carry the persona as a super smart theropod. With this, their brains should be a mechanic that makes them extra deadly. To both the common Survivor and for those brave and cunning enough to tke them.
Troodons have high intelligence, in their depictions, and if Wildcard doesn't just scrap this concept entirely, they can expand upon it by giving Troodons a learning and adaptation system that allows them to actually hunt and 'strategize' or at least adapt to the situation intelligently without the need for complicated AI. This can be possible by simply checking for specific environmental Triggers and conditions.
Aka - If a Troodon senses you have multiple allied tribemembers or a large and powerful dinosaur or 2 nearby, especially a carnivore, they will be likely to stay out of reach unless they can get behind you or may even abandon the hunt altogether. Running and relocating elsewhere. This kind of system is already kind of in the game in the Hyenadon via their opportunistic aggression that is based on the overall health of creatures and numbers and strength of both parties.
They will also learn when you are about to use certain weapons, and be able to sense you about to shoot them with a Ranged weapon like a bow, gun or Crossbow. This applies to Troodons that are aggroed, not ones that are far away.
Same thing applies to using shields, they will attack you from behind after failing to inflict damage through a shield after a bit. They will also learn to evade shocking weapons like Prods.
Because of this kind of thing, Troodons will be able to adapt to certain things the player does and learn it to do themselves.
- Stealth - Troodons will mimic the crouched position of players, crouching low to the ground to slink low and out of sight, reducing detection range, during this they will not attack unless whistled to or attacked, and wearing Ghillie will also give them the same buff as the armor if the player is on foot with the Troodons.
- Fetching Corpses/Bags - Whistling them onto bags or picking them up yourself will encourage Troodons to retrieve any body bags left by corpses.
New Ability - Tracking and Trailing
Troodons currently have a tracking Mechanic, but it is poor and very clumsy to use. I understand that Ark Ascended added a tracking system for things. But personally I find it really unfitting for Ark and kills my immersion in the experience of the game. I understand that tracking things is difficult but it's also had literally no other option available ever. Except for the very sub-par tracking GPS with transponders you have to actually deploy on Dinosaurs that can literally be destroyed by damage, there is no other way beyond sight and sound to track something down. There is no footprints or scent system or anything even remotely useable. It's not that there's options, there are none. That's why it's so frustrating. The closest we have are Parasaurs, who can let out a ping every so often. But this isn't enough, it's also a fairly basic and primitive form of detection rather than proper tracking.
In order to give the Troodon a good purpose and use besides being a small pack hunter, it should be given a new tracking system to compensate for the technology and improvements but make it an option that is not as terrible and short lived as the Transponder.
- Sensing nearby creatures, this ability, not being on a cooldown unlike the old version will make the Troodons react to things and make indicative vocalizations based on what is nearby.
If it is negligible or harmless, they will behave quite neutrally and put little effort to do much more than pointing out the creatures location.
The presence of prey animals such as passive herbivores or moderately strong but neutral creatures will cause them to act more excited.
For stronger, hostile or carnivorous creatures then they will act more aggressive, while substantially dangerous things provoke an alarmed or very alert response.
This mode can be toggled off all at once for the whole pack by the Radial wheel or even a whistle.
(It would be very useful if a whole dino command mini set of whistles or hand gestures could be used to signal your dinos when they are following/aka paying attention to you so you can more effectively move them about and ensure they don't run off in a stupid direction because the game tripped and fell into a bowl of spaghetti for no reason. Give them a reason to add hunting or tame whistles as a tool specifically for this purpose for more advanced commands and directions for dinos.)
This basic proximity detection doesn't require the immersion breaking portraits that look terrible and function badly in crowded areas. But they can also track more specific targets using some very underused items.
First, if you attack a creature, the Troodons will learn its scent and be able to track it for a while even if it runs. This can help when trying to tag a skittish creature that may run and you might not have the means or desire to trap it. Then being able to find it later. To tell them to do this you need a specific whistle to tell them to track scent while having selected the packs target in their Radial wheel. This can be either an inventory based or learned scent.
However this can also be done without harming creatures, or alternatively by killing them. If you give your Troodons a Trophy item of a specific species it can consume the item and teach the scent to the entire pack of Troodons around it. Adding it permanently to their repertoire of scents they can track nearby. This particular Mechanic only works with Trophies and can be built up overtime.
Another tracking form though is both far wider in scope but also focused. If you give a Troodon a Taxidermy sample of a specific creature they will be able to track not only that species but that specific organism. They do not need to consume this item to do so. Using this you can keep a DNA cabinet of every creature you own, and then use it to find it later if you ever lose them.
Yes i know we literally have a tribe-wide tracking system now. But I still feel like this ability has a use in being able to effectively track dinosaurs both allied and wild.
New Taming Method - Cooperative Hunting
Because Troodons are such complicated creatures compared to most animals on Ark, it'd only be fitting to give them a still more unique taming method that is less hair pulling. Using a similar system as thr Carchar, you should be able to gain the Troodon's interest by throwing Trophies of killed creatures onto the ground, the higher tier the more effective, they will eat them off the ground like Honey. Troodon packs are also tamed as a whole. So any wild troodons grouped together will share taming progress each time it is made. Once a packs taming progress reaches 30% they will become neutral to the player and act like Carnos that have been rallied by a Yutyrannus or a Carchar that has been fed. Following the player at a short distance and watching with interest at what they do. Once you have their curiosity piqued you can then start killing creatures in order to fill the taming progress the rest of the way. Each kill fills it more and stronger creatures give more effectiveness and progress. Eventually the pack will join in on the kills and assist at 50 or 60%, speeding up the process until the pack is tamed.
Suggestion
Luux
Troodons are one of the most left in the dust creatures in the game as far as any useful mechanics are concerned. Not only are they a pack based creature that is very low on the food chain but they are one of the most difficult (or rather annoying) tames just based on the preparations and conditions needed tk even tame them. Unfortunately, in comparison to how much effort it takes to get them, they hardly make up for it and end up being pretty low on the roster of creatures people will think of using.
Since AI is getting overhauled and more TLCs are going to be rolled out in the future for ASA I thought it would be useful to lay out some ideas for the Troodon, for whenever or if it ever gets a TLC. Because in my opinion it needs one a lot. Almost as much as the Therizino needs a role assessment and overhaul.
Troodons are pack creatures and operate best when unimpeded and allowed to take advantage of their element, swarming and quick damage that can quickly weaken and overcome underprepared enemies. Because of this they are most effective at night, when they get buffed and their pack buff on top of possible mate boost makes them strongest. They should be usable without this however. Furthermore many other pack based creatures overshadow them, mainly because they are rideable or larger. This coupling with their difficult taming method makes it extremely unlikely someone will even ever tame one let alone enough to even use.
New Passive Mechanic - Strength in Numbers
Troodons have a pack bonus, this gives them an edge and makes them viable in the niche of small pack hunters more than you'd think, they actually have quite a bit of good attack and hp compared to most other small swarmers. But they are still squishy and lack the ability to wear a saddle, something that critically allows small pack hunters like Raptors to be ridden and even give armor to creatures like Hyenadon who cannot. Troodons also do not have a unique Mechanic or benefit to using them as most pack creatures do each. Raptors have a pounce and high speed/attack speed, Sabertooth are tankier but still good all around, direwolves have high attack at the cost of armor and health, hyenadon have saddles for armor and a pet buff, Ravagers are extremely tanky and versatile along with high weight carry, etc. Troodons lack one. Therefore let's give them their own niche. They should be the prime on-foot non ridden companions.
Most dinosaurs in Ark are mostly used for riding, or are carried on the shoulder. But Troodons can't do either of these, to make this a benefit, let's bring out their greatest strength, the pack bonus. When a Player is near Troodons that are in a pack of at least 3, they will themselves gain a portion of the pack buff too, this increases things the same way the pack buff does too. Making you more durable and deadly, and capable on foot. But this buff only applies IF you are on foot. Using this a player could be able to be off their mounts while being able to use pack dinos in a way that is more engaging and not spent entirely on the back of a tall dinosaur, while nice, is not the only way to go about it.
This could finally give a good reason to actually be on foot as well. If this becomes hard to balance somehow becuase of PvP reasons, this could be toggled off by default for PvP, or it could even just apply to players who are not wearing heavy or more natural/raw resource based armor..so anything that is not Cloth, Hide, Ghillie, Desert, Fur or Chitin. Omitting the high tech and high armor sets.
New Passive Mechanic - Adaptive Mimicry
Troodons, despite being removed as a viable dinosaur from current paleontology, still carry the persona as a super smart theropod. With this, their brains should be a mechanic that makes them extra deadly. To both the common Survivor and for those brave and cunning enough to tke them.
Troodons have high intelligence, in their depictions, and if Wildcard doesn't just scrap this concept entirely, they can expand upon it by giving Troodons a learning and adaptation system that allows them to actually hunt and 'strategize' or at least adapt to the situation intelligently without the need for complicated AI. This can be possible by simply checking for specific environmental Triggers and conditions.
Aka - If a Troodon senses you have multiple allied tribemembers or a large and powerful dinosaur or 2 nearby, especially a carnivore, they will be likely to stay out of reach unless they can get behind you or may even abandon the hunt altogether. Running and relocating elsewhere. This kind of system is already kind of in the game in the Hyenadon via their opportunistic aggression that is based on the overall health of creatures and numbers and strength of both parties.
They will also learn when you are about to use certain weapons, and be able to sense you about to shoot them with a Ranged weapon like a bow, gun or Crossbow. This applies to Troodons that are aggroed, not ones that are far away.
Same thing applies to using shields, they will attack you from behind after failing to inflict damage through a shield after a bit. They will also learn to evade shocking weapons like Prods.
Because of this kind of thing, Troodons will be able to adapt to certain things the player does and learn it to do themselves.
- Stealth - Troodons will mimic the crouched position of players, crouching low to the ground to slink low and out of sight, reducing detection range, during this they will not attack unless whistled to or attacked, and wearing Ghillie will also give them the same buff as the armor if the player is on foot with the Troodons.
- Fetching Corpses/Bags - Whistling them onto bags or picking them up yourself will encourage Troodons to retrieve any body bags left by corpses.
New Ability - Tracking and Trailing
Troodons currently have a tracking Mechanic, but it is poor and very clumsy to use. I understand that Ark Ascended added a tracking system for things. But personally I find it really unfitting for Ark and kills my immersion in the experience of the game. I understand that tracking things is difficult but it's also had literally no other option available ever. Except for the very sub-par tracking GPS with transponders you have to actually deploy on Dinosaurs that can literally be destroyed by damage, there is no other way beyond sight and sound to track something down. There is no footprints or scent system or anything even remotely useable. It's not that there's options, there are none. That's why it's so frustrating. The closest we have are Parasaurs, who can let out a ping every so often. But this isn't enough, it's also a fairly basic and primitive form of detection rather than proper tracking.
In order to give the Troodon a good purpose and use besides being a small pack hunter, it should be given a new tracking system to compensate for the technology and improvements but make it an option that is not as terrible and short lived as the Transponder.
- Sensing nearby creatures, this ability, not being on a cooldown unlike the old version will make the Troodons react to things and make indicative vocalizations based on what is nearby.
If it is negligible or harmless, they will behave quite neutrally and put little effort to do much more than pointing out the creatures location.
The presence of prey animals such as passive herbivores or moderately strong but neutral creatures will cause them to act more excited.
For stronger, hostile or carnivorous creatures then they will act more aggressive, while substantially dangerous things provoke an alarmed or very alert response.
This mode can be toggled off all at once for the whole pack by the Radial wheel or even a whistle.
(It would be very useful if a whole dino command mini set of whistles or hand gestures could be used to signal your dinos when they are following/aka paying attention to you so you can more effectively move them about and ensure they don't run off in a stupid direction because the game tripped and fell into a bowl of spaghetti for no reason. Give them a reason to add hunting or tame whistles as a tool specifically for this purpose for more advanced commands and directions for dinos.)
This basic proximity detection doesn't require the immersion breaking portraits that look terrible and function badly in crowded areas. But they can also track more specific targets using some very underused items.
First, if you attack a creature, the Troodons will learn its scent and be able to track it for a while even if it runs. This can help when trying to tag a skittish creature that may run and you might not have the means or desire to trap it. Then being able to find it later. To tell them to do this you need a specific whistle to tell them to track scent while having selected the packs target in their Radial wheel. This can be either an inventory based or learned scent.
However this can also be done without harming creatures, or alternatively by killing them. If you give your Troodons a Trophy item of a specific species it can consume the item and teach the scent to the entire pack of Troodons around it. Adding it permanently to their repertoire of scents they can track nearby. This particular Mechanic only works with Trophies and can be built up overtime.
Another tracking form though is both far wider in scope but also focused. If you give a Troodon a Taxidermy sample of a specific creature they will be able to track not only that species but that specific organism. They do not need to consume this item to do so. Using this you can keep a DNA cabinet of every creature you own, and then use it to find it later if you ever lose them.
Yes i know we literally have a tribe-wide tracking system now. But I still feel like this ability has a use in being able to effectively track dinosaurs both allied and wild.
New Taming Method - Cooperative Hunting
Because Troodons are such complicated creatures compared to most animals on Ark, it'd only be fitting to give them a still more unique taming method that is less hair pulling. Using a similar system as thr Carchar, you should be able to gain the Troodon's interest by throwing Trophies of killed creatures onto the ground, the higher tier the more effective, they will eat them off the ground like Honey. Troodon packs are also tamed as a whole. So any wild troodons grouped together will share taming progress each time it is made. Once a packs taming progress reaches 30% they will become neutral to the player and act like Carnos that have been rallied by a Yutyrannus or a Carchar that has been fed. Following the player at a short distance and watching with interest at what they do. Once you have their curiosity piqued you can then start killing creatures in order to fill the taming progress the rest of the way. Each kill fills it more and stronger creatures give more effectiveness and progress. Eventually the pack will join in on the kills and assist at 50 or 60%, speeding up the process until the pack is tamed.
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