Predator

I was just watching a little bit of "Aliens vs Predators", and thought it would be an interesting concept to create a Predator type alien in-game.

SOA seems to be the best fit, but having never played one, I'm not sure which flavor to select. The Predator in-game appeared to have a mix of ranged energy blasts and melee attacks, and good durability.

Which branch do you think would be the closest, Crab or Bane?
If I decided to go Crab, is is possible to have the Crab attacks without the spider legs actually being visible? (I'd really love to have that shoulder mounted weapon ) Are you stuck with the SOA armor, or can you pick from regular costume options?

With a SOA your first costume slot is forced into the SOA uniform. Crab spiders will have the leg backpack in all costumes. The Crab Spider is close in game to a predator, although I think a Claws Brute, Stalker, or Scrapper with energy or weapons mastery is pretty close from a concept pov, especially if you are talking about the predator hunting Danny Glover on Predator 2. Laser Beam eyes can simulate that backpack laser, or Suriken/Exploding Shuriken can be that self guided throwing disk, and Targeting Drone would fit very well. I really think I'd go with a Claws/Nin/Weapons Stalker for the concept.

Claws/Nin/Weapons would be good for concept. If you wanted to do an SoA, though, Banes would be good. Just because we always see Predators with lethal weapons doesn't mean there isn't one out there that prefers a spiked mace. Surveillance + Poisonous Ray would be good for the shoulder cannon + targetting lasers (you could use another mace blast, but they suck compared to the other attacks).

An Energy/Dev/Munitions blaster could work, too, for a ranged Predator.

I'm gonna have to go with the claws/nin/weapons stalker. It's pretty much perfect. Unless you wanted to go for Body Mastery for just the energy attacks. In the original Predator movie I don't remember him using any throwing weapons at all. It was just his claws and his laser cannon.

Since predators are sneaky, and use lasers/claws/blades, I'd lean toward banes/night widows. Night widows use claws, but you might have to skip psy attacks unless you tweak the idea a bit. Banes use a mace, but have stealth gadgetry, lasers, and more of a 'tech' vibe.

Yeah I'd say night widows as well, but if it has to be a soldier, then I'd say bane.
Funny because I thought of making a predator-themed costume as well, the Surveilance and Cloacking give the branch a pretty Predatory feel. If you can perceive the mace as a predator javelin, you're good to go son. lol

I guess I'll try out a Bane, and followup with a Claws Stalker. Thanks for the suggestions.