Updated 12/11/23
You could consider this a sequel to my thread on the potential of Compsognathus. Tracking from the evolution of JWE to JWE2 we saw some big improvements to the Velociraptor, and wider dromaeosaurs, and there was even the example within JWE with the introduction of the Troodon. Dromaeosaurs are distinct in fence climbing and pack hunting behaviors (at least they should be) while the Troodon brought along an entirely new mechanic that only the Scorpios Rex has gained since being venom. Somewhere along the way I think our friend Dilophosaurus was left out of the equation despite the components for it sitting there on the sidelines.
A Unique Dilophosaurus
First, the Dilophosaurus is going to be given venom making it one of a select few with this capability. However, this venom will behave differently than Troodon or Scorpios Rex as its not intended to be lethal. Rather it will legitimately blind now, the duration and effectiveness of the venom may scale with the number of Dilos attacking a target making for a unique form of pack hunting distinct from that of dromaeosaurs. Secondly, the Dilophosaurus will live up to its nickname of the "Spitter" as it will be the sole animal capable of producing a projectile attack further itself apart from its fellow venomous peers.
Moreover, I think it is necessary to reduce the level of overlap in roles between species as it makes them homogenous and boring. Dilophosaurus should not have the ability to climb fencing this should be a distinct ability of dromaeosaurs and hybrids such as the Indoraptor.
The Spitter
Okay, we know what innate abilities distinguish the Dilophosaurus now. On its own, kind of interesting, but it is how it uses these capabilities that will leave an impression. A few changes need to be made to the game to allow this behavior to shine:
You should already know where I am going with this. The community has long requested for paths to grant some form of visibility for your guests. I concur, mostly because it provides an incentive for players to want to place paths very close to their enclosure fencing. This is great for small harmless animals like Compies or Coelophyses which require modest fencing and most importantly they are carnivores, so players are encouraged to try this method with other small carnivores. Velociraptors might make players more cautious from the onset given their film presence, but the Dilophosaurus is still vastly overshadowed and might sneak through.
Now fencing is arguably in need of the most tweaks for Dilophosaurus and Compsognathus both. It must be more modular and robust, and for the Spitter any fencing that has gaps---which is everything but Concrete Walls---it can spit projectile venom at guests. This would make the Dilophosaurus a unique threat since it has a very low Security Rating (2) and wide range of fencing that it can work around to attack guests from within its own enclosure. While the solution is obvious to swap for a Viewing Gallery, Platform, Dome, or Log this may clash with the layout of the park or players who want both Dilos and that close-up experience for Adventure Guests.
An alternative then is the new modular fencing "Security Glass" which works both to keep Compies out of enclosures and also blocks the Dilo's venomous projectiles from reaching guests. Bad PR and lawsuits stemming from injuries isn't good for your bottom line, but with reinforced glass fencing you can have the benefit without the risk. Admittedly, this fencing would need to be a high-end research item to avoid trivializing it while also being fairly brittle. Double-layer fencing is recommended to mitigate any subsequent security breaches.
Tour Threat
To wrap things up for the Dilo, we need two changes to how it can interact with tours to ensure that the easy fix and new fencing doesn't preclude this behavior from being taken seriously.
Conclusion
Nothing too crazy, as I don't believe anything will ever touch the complexity of the Compy. However, I believe this would lead the Dilophosaurus to being a rather unique creature in your park that tasks the player with making meaningful decisions while encouraging them to experiment with different upgrades and features they might not have touched otherwise. I envision these changes not as a scripted scenario for a mission, but as a base part of the game incorporated into all game modes.
References: Potential of Compsognathus, Guest Attractions (Revisited), Iterative Fencing Design Improvements, Guest Management - Comprehensive Overhaul
You could consider this a sequel to my thread on the potential of Compsognathus. Tracking from the evolution of JWE to JWE2 we saw some big improvements to the Velociraptor, and wider dromaeosaurs, and there was even the example within JWE with the introduction of the Troodon. Dromaeosaurs are distinct in fence climbing and pack hunting behaviors (at least they should be) while the Troodon brought along an entirely new mechanic that only the Scorpios Rex has gained since being venom. Somewhere along the way I think our friend Dilophosaurus was left out of the equation despite the components for it sitting there on the sidelines.
A Unique Dilophosaurus
- Venomous
- Projectile Attack
- Blinding Affliction
- Fence Climbing Removed
First, the Dilophosaurus is going to be given venom making it one of a select few with this capability. However, this venom will behave differently than Troodon or Scorpios Rex as its not intended to be lethal. Rather it will legitimately blind now, the duration and effectiveness of the venom may scale with the number of Dilos attacking a target making for a unique form of pack hunting distinct from that of dromaeosaurs. Secondly, the Dilophosaurus will live up to its nickname of the "Spitter" as it will be the sole animal capable of producing a projectile attack further itself apart from its fellow venomous peers.
Moreover, I think it is necessary to reduce the level of overlap in roles between species as it makes them homogenous and boring. Dilophosaurus should not have the ability to climb fencing this should be a distinct ability of dromaeosaurs and hybrids such as the Indoraptor.
The Spitter
Okay, we know what innate abilities distinguish the Dilophosaurus now. On its own, kind of interesting, but it is how it uses these capabilities that will leave an impression. A few changes need to be made to the game to allow this behavior to shine:
- Paths grant visibility (minimal)
- Projectiles can pass through fencing
- New Fence Type
- Security Glass
- Expensive
- Brittle (Security Rating 1)
- High on Research Tree
- Security Glass
You should already know where I am going with this. The community has long requested for paths to grant some form of visibility for your guests. I concur, mostly because it provides an incentive for players to want to place paths very close to their enclosure fencing. This is great for small harmless animals like Compies or Coelophyses which require modest fencing and most importantly they are carnivores, so players are encouraged to try this method with other small carnivores. Velociraptors might make players more cautious from the onset given their film presence, but the Dilophosaurus is still vastly overshadowed and might sneak through.
Now fencing is arguably in need of the most tweaks for Dilophosaurus and Compsognathus both. It must be more modular and robust, and for the Spitter any fencing that has gaps---which is everything but Concrete Walls---it can spit projectile venom at guests. This would make the Dilophosaurus a unique threat since it has a very low Security Rating (2) and wide range of fencing that it can work around to attack guests from within its own enclosure. While the solution is obvious to swap for a Viewing Gallery, Platform, Dome, or Log this may clash with the layout of the park or players who want both Dilos and that close-up experience for Adventure Guests.
An alternative then is the new modular fencing "Security Glass" which works both to keep Compies out of enclosures and also blocks the Dilo's venomous projectiles from reaching guests. Bad PR and lawsuits stemming from injuries isn't good for your bottom line, but with reinforced glass fencing you can have the benefit without the risk. Admittedly, this fencing would need to be a high-end research item to avoid trivializing it while also being fairly brittle. Double-layer fencing is recommended to mitigate any subsequent security breaches.
Tour Threat
To wrap things up for the Dilo, we need two changes to how it can interact with tours to ensure that the easy fix and new fencing doesn't preclude this behavior from being taken seriously.
- River Tours implemented
- Jurassic Tour vulnerability
Conclusion
Nothing too crazy, as I don't believe anything will ever touch the complexity of the Compy. However, I believe this would lead the Dilophosaurus to being a rather unique creature in your park that tasks the player with making meaningful decisions while encouraging them to experiment with different upgrades and features they might not have touched otherwise. I envision these changes not as a scripted scenario for a mission, but as a base part of the game incorporated into all game modes.
References: Potential of Compsognathus, Guest Attractions (Revisited), Iterative Fencing Design Improvements, Guest Management - Comprehensive Overhaul
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