How Rubbery...

Well, this isn't a suggestion so it doesn't fit there. If anything this section of the forums seems to be the best place. With that said...

I'm pretty sure rubbery/elasticity/super-stretching has been suggested many times by now, as it's one of those powers that look interesting and fun. With more elastic heroes showing up, one of them being Elastagirl from NickToons' new show which has escaped my mind. It's actually the commercial for said show that brought up these two questions.

1. Has anything been said regarding such a power set?
1. If it is impossible/improbable, may someone inform me as to why?

It's been suggested from time to time - however, I honestly don't think it would be possible to pull off without a complete overhaul of the game engine, especially in the way the game renders objects.

An open letter to NCsoft

Elastic powers are one of several suggestions that would require a new character rig or even a whole new engine to implement. The developers' haven't got the tools to even make a fakey version of the power, and considering that they've said they only want to do things that look good, not even a fakey version of elasticity will be considered.

It's a shame, but I'm thinking maybe if the engine gets an upgrade and the developers' get those needed tools, they'll consider the idea.

No comment.

The issue (as I understand it) is to do with the targeting mechanics and animations as much as anything and falls into the same issue as whips do.

There is no interaction between your attack animation and the targets attacked animation. Which is why you punch someone who just strolled 10 feet away and still land the punch. Rubber mechanics really call for attacks that interact with the targets.. wrapping around them, tripping them up etc, which are impossible under the current mechanics.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubberlad No comment.

hehe, gold

Its really hard to do.

Physically, most game characters have no arms and legs. They have a position, and a cylindrical capsule to represent their size, and thats it - the rest is just animation. CoH uses this model almost definitely.

Stretchy characters start to violate the assumptions that make this work - they can extend their arms and legs outside the capsule.

It would be possible to fake a stretchy punch by making a tube-like arm graphic and stretching it out as a beam as the character punches forwards. Think of an energy blast Power bolt whcih is the same colour as your costume, and skinned with your arm texture. It wouldnt look very good or give a very satisfying effect though.

What else do stretchy supers typically do?
Deforming as attacks hit them is tricky, You could make it a custom flinch/dodge animation, but lining it up to the direction of the attck would be problematic.

Wrapping your arms around an enemy to hold them - there is no game mechanic for this, because its pretty boring really. Imagine it working like a sustained Hold (like Mind Control - Telekinesis) that stops you from moving, or even attacking if you use both arms. Its a pretty dull thing to do in-game, and probably wouldn't be allowed to work against AVs, where it would be most useful. Could you have two arms to hold two separate targets? Or hold one and attack with the other arm? Can you move while holding one target? If so how far? What if you try to move round the corner form them?

Then theres targetting. If you're standing behind a corner with an arm extended out around the corner, can an enemy shoot you in the arm? You're no longer a simple capsule...

Technical limitations aside, I wouldn't even know where to start in just designing powers for this type of character.