Getting enemies to surrender

[temnix]

When fighting NPC enemies there are two bars that supposedly matter, the pink and the blue. But I never pay attention to their Endurance and all powers that are said to drain Endurance don't do anything as far as I am concerned. They matter when used on me, they may be of some relevance in PvP, but not for defeating computer-controlled enemies. If the enemies are stronger than myself, their economy of Endurance is the last thing I care about, and if they are weaker than myself, they won't be around for long enough to let that matter. All attacks cost a laughably tiny amount of Endurance from them, hand-to-hand attacks practically none. The highest damage in the shortest time is the only objective in this game, all the other effects and protections make that possible. The most Endurance I have seen spent in difficult fights I was lucky enough to prolong was perhaps a third of the blue bar. And from my side to drain any amount of Endurance I must score a hit first, which is the number one challenge against stronger enemies. My suggestion here is twofold: first, reduce enemies' Endurance by a factor of five at least to make draining them and waiting them out a meaningful strategy, second, make them surrender when they run out of it. This would become an alternative road to their defeat. They are not SUPERvillains or SUPERheroes, after all, only smaller fry, and when they can't keep the fight going, they give up. (They are not connected to a medical teleporter either.)

 

When this happens they should play suitable animations - raise hands or turn around to be handcuffed if beaten by a hero PC, prostrate themselves and beg if beaten by a villain. For inhuman creatures there could be a jump or they might retreat, fly or hobble away, because we don't lock zombies up. The enemies should become unselectable, yield their experience and drops, then disappear after a few seconds. Lieutenants and Bosses might have higher Endurance beyond their better overall stats and this mechanic would need adjustment in Archvillains' case, but it ought to apply even then. What is the difference between laying someone out on the floor and making him beg for mercy? You win not by knockout but by going the distance.

Edited March 14 by temnix

[Glacier Peak]

I want my orange numbers!!

[CrusaderDroid]

That would make powers that drain endurance incredibly good for their ability to defeat enemies much faster than any other manner. Try playing some of the Electric sets - Elec Controller was my intro to endurance drain - and you'll pretty quickly see that you can bottom out enemy endurance well in advance of their health, especially with Elec Controllers.

 

Also, while any endurance lets enemies fight back, totally drained enemies can't make any attacks and are fairly harmless to you. That's a pretty big bonus.

 

Give some of the Elec sets a try! You might like being able to interact with your enemies' endurance.

[Rudra]

Like @CrusaderDroid said, if you run an electric set, you can floor the enemies' endurance bars with almost no effort. And you can keep their endurance bar floored for the entire fight. So all mobs can do is use Brawl on you (since it has 0 END cost). As for your comment that they aren't supers? Either you have only been fighting the starter mobs or you think that only PCs can be actual supers. Because there are a LOT of full on supers among the enemies' ranks. From Captain America style villains among the 5th Column and Council, to the Batman style among the Malta and Knives of Artemis, to the Cyborg style of the literal cyborg Freakshow, and so on. (Edit: In fact, I think the only group that is all strictly just normal humans are the Contaminated from the hero tutorial Outbreak.) Your reasoning is flawed.

Edited March 14 by Rudra

[Saiyajinzoningen]

7 hours ago, Rudra said:

Like @CrusaderDroid said, if you run an electric set, you can floor the enemies' endurance bars with almost no effort. And you can keep their endurance bar floored for the entire fight. So all mobs can do is use Brawl on you (since it has 0 END cost). As for your comment that they aren't supers? Either you have only been fighting the starter mobs or you think that only PCs can be actual supers. Because there are a LOT of full on supers among the enemies' ranks. From Captain America style villains among the 5th Column and Council, to the Batman style among the Malta and Knives of Artemis, to the Cyborg style of the literal cyborg Freakshow, and so on. (Edit: In fact, I think the only group that is all strictly just normal humans are the Contaminated from the hero tutorial Outbreak.) Your reasoning is flawed.

warriors in talos?

 

@temnix

there are a few blue side quests that have your character teleport enemies into jail/prison using temp powers.

Actually there's tons of temp powers from low quests that do all kinds of nifty things.

Check out Ouroboros for more info. 

[Rudra]

40 minutes ago, Saiyajinzoningen said:

warriors in talos?

Don't know how I missed them. Though technically they use magic artifacts as well. Anyway, good catch.