Give Lings the Ability to Reproduce

[Azande]

In classic 'The Thing' style, I think changelings should be able to reproduce in some way.

Whether they can create egg-like things that eventually grow into a new ling in the form of one of the people they've succ'd, or if a limb is torn off or severed it has a chance to grow into a new Ling.

Right now, ling basically progresses with more and more deaths until the crew either capture and contain the ling, or it goes final form and then murders everyone. I think it'd be nice if there was a way for the Ling Collective to grow.

[Carver]

I'd take a vampire-lite of 'lings being able to infect people with some amount of time investment, assuming they have the person alone and cornered - some form of 'infection sting' as it were. The whole deal with the Thing wasn't it replacing people so much as infecting them.

I would also prefer it not be tied to killing someone, or limb loss. Though I'm not against 'lings being able to possess their own lost/severed limbs after death.

[Kintsugi]

Hard agree. I think a method to make more lings, or ling-lites, would be a huge improvement to changeling overall, and would do a lot to up the paranoia value inherent to the game. I believe Doxx had some plans related to this?

[Doxxmedearly]

16 hours ago, DanseMacabre said:

Hard agree. I think a method to make more lings, or ling-lites, would be a huge improvement to changeling overall, and would do a lot to up the paranoia value inherent to the game. I believe Doxx had some plans related to this?

There were plans for it before I fell into an inactivity slump. So right now the future of my work on ling is up in the air.

What I will say is that yes, something along these lines was intended; ling right now is very limited by the linear nature of their progression and powers, and this idea (closer to "egglike growths" than the limb thing) was intended to be one of several ways to combat that. The first part of the ling overhaul (PR is still up I just need to get it up to date with the last 2 months and hit some requested changes) sets a good framework for this by implementing the local hivemind. 

 So even if I end up burning out on ling stuff, a dev or contributor will have a good base to work on for this. I stand by it being a good idea, as it provides several unique avenues to pursue for both the ling and its victims (Who may have a chance to re-enter the game as a horrorthing or something similar). 

[Carver]

I'd still prefer a live infection system, turning the mode into more of a group antag sort of deal. It'd promote a better system of paranoia when it's the player behind a character who's playing the infected version of their character, as no mimicry is needed for someone who knows their own character in and out - whilst also pushing away from the selfish elements of current Changeling.

Something akin to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(video_game)

Quote

The game also features an infection system, which determines whether or not an NPC is infected by the Thing. Although most NPCs are scripted to transform into a Thing at specific points in the game, they can also be infected at any time prior to this. When the team comes under attack by enemies, the possibility of infection is based upon a probability system whereby any teammate who comes into direct contact with an enemy can be infected. Although infection does not alter their immediate behavior, it will result in them turning into a walker-Thing after a set period of time, at which point they will attack the team.

Paranoia is a feeling sorely lacking.

[Kintsugi]

I think the problem with a live infection system is that you will have people who will just play their character but, oh no, they're a ling now! They didn't want this! They're the same person but a ling! That's crazy! That's so sad! We should help them! And then they turn around and rat out other changelings. At the very least, if it is a live infection system, the player should be explicitly told that they are not the same person anymore, merely imitating them.

[Carver]

You run the same risk of sourness from people by going the death conversion/infection route, unfortunately. I'd argue people can handle joining a cult, they can handle becoming a thing-monster.