Board Thread:Suggestions/@comment-30248084-20181108043241

[NEW] - Mob Suggestion: Sponger
'''NOTICE: This is only a suggestion and is not even considered to be completely official. It is unlikely that a Mob such as this will likely even be in the game at all. TL;DR is NOT included in this discussion!'''

Howdy once again ladies and gentlemen to another Mob Suggestion - which as been a while. I had been going through this for some time with the re-configuration to make this as balanced as possible, and have ended with these results. So the mob I will introduce to you is called the Sponger - a mob in Riot/Juggernaut-like armor that has the capability to have a shield with it. Ahem, so without further ado, see what concoction I have created this time!

Summary
The Sponger, while equipped in a Juggernaut Suit, is a slow but highly resilient zombie for the sole purpose of providing protective cover while being - as the name suggests - a literal sponge to Firearms & Explosive weapons; which some would say to be the Tank in the earlier years, with some extra protection slapped onto it.

Unlike all of the zombies, it is the only zombie (that can be play-able) to have a shield equipped; which when used, can provide protection from the RPG and other various Firearms. The major downsides are it's mobility, powerful explosive ordinances and typically common flames.

If used and played carefully, it could be a vast game-changer to how zombies would be dealt with.

Background Story
Hearing of zombies being in bulky armor is nothing new to survivors, it has been that way ever since the collapse of Modern Society - while also considering that they were very few in number. Lots of things can happen out in this eerie and un-natural apocalypse - which unfortunately comes to this, as bulkish zombies have been attracted by Survivor interference.

However, these Spongers - which most are generally named - are capable to wield (and in some cases, use) riot shields and seen off of some old security footage, provide protection to zombies.

Controls, Abilities, & Passive Bonus'
Scratch: The Sponger attacks the targeted survivor that is very similar to the Normal Zombie & Ticker. However, it deals only 6 HP Damage.

Consumes no energy.

Shield Ram: The Sponger swipes it's Shield-arm into any closest survivor(s) in it's arm's range. Being in contact would inflict 10 HP Damage and bring Tripped/Stunned - this makes Melee Combat tedious for survivors.

Consumes 35 energy - whether missing or successfully hitting the target.

Hold Out: Once you hold the shift key, the Sponger will go into a 'defensive position' and become immobile with it's shield in-front of it. Unlike the Stalker & Brute (Standard)'s protective shield, the mob can still be inflicted damage - however damage from firearms/explosives is profoundly ignored, so long as the mob's shield is aimed to the survivors shooting at it.

Important Note: The Shield can withstand 40 shots until breaking, for as a single RPG Round will demolish the shield, yet leave the Sponger intact. Immune to Melee Weapons! Pellets from shotguns COUNT as shots!

Consumes 3.5 energy per second unless manually stopped or out of energy.

Stun/Trip Immunity [Passive]: The Sponger's armor is built to protect the user from more than just firearms, but from blunt weapons to be nearly invincible to stuns - for as the armor is heavy to make the user untrip-able which would render melee combat futile.

Kevlar Body Armor [Passive]: The Sponger's armor is primarily built with Reinforced Kevlar and cushioning to reduce the damage of weapons by 85%, while for Melee Weapons & Snipers such as the Barrett 50 Cal. have a 35% damage reduction.

FOR EXAMPLE: a Steyr M has 55 Damage per bullet, minus that with 85% and you get 8.25 total damage per bullet when you hit the Sponger, while the Barret 50 Cal. (To live up to it's Anti-Material role) will deal 97.5 total damage (150 - 35% = 97.5)

It does NOT protect them from Fire based or Anti-Material weapons, RPG & Airstrike's instantly kill this mob!

Extra Information - About The Sponger
General Weaknesses: The Sponger is NOT resilient to everything. There are many ways to counter this mob, which is listed below:


 * It's Mobility - (Easily avoidable for direct contact and is slower than Ticker)


 * RPG - (So long as it does not use it's shield, it is a general insta-kill)


 * Airstrike - (Ignores armor & shield - a general insta-kill)


 * Molotov, Flamethrower or any fire-based weapon/item - (Ignores armor & shield)


 * Anti-Material Snipers such as the Barrett 50 Cal. - (Ignores armor and shield)

Shield Lifespan: The Sponger's shield is for sacrificial purposes, yet each item and weapon deals different amount of damage to the shield, which is listed below:


 * Firearms - 40 shots until breaking


 * Steil Grenade - 1 Hit until breaking (Since it contains more power than a grenade)


 * Grenade - 2 precisive hits until breaking


 * RPG - 1 Hit until breaking

Survivors

 * Don't be blinded by it's slowness, when within a structure or tight space, these mob's are just as dangerous than they are in open space.
 * Consider it's mobility a blessing and a curse - depending how you plan your strategy when handling this mob alone.
 * Molotov's are excellent tools to use to soften them up.
 * Going for headshots would be the best thing when fighting them on your own.
 * Be aware that this mob has a shield, and will use it to make it invincible - to where it's shield points at.
 * The shield is breakable if the following in Extra Information is followed closely.
 * Another Survivor - if around - would be able to fire at it's sides or back until it either stops or runs out of energy.
 * You can use an Airstrike as the Airstrike's missile blasts can instantly kill one, solving your problem.
 * Use the Ice Staff or Ice Gun instead of stunning the Sponger. It is recommended because it can act as a Stun-Substitute to the Sponger being immune to stuns/trip and to use it's abilities.
 * This includes relocate.
 * Using the Flash on the Sponger should provide some easement to take the mob out - as it has no counter for it.
 * Using the Flamethrower will work out very nicely on clearing both the Sponger and a horde of mobs that support it.
 * Hence, it is best to keep your distance in the first place.

Zombies

 * Prioritize certain locations to ensure a much difficult time to a survivor.
 * Tight spaces or inside buildings are what will make this mob very difficult to kill off
 * If you're in trouble or if you are needing a faster travel time, relocate from the In-Game Store. You can't relocate if you are under attack.
 * Your energy is not as significantly plentiful, using your abilities must be planned and played out carefully.
 * Beware of the Barrett 50 Cal. & any flame-based weapon/item, they are a serious threat when you are out in the open or when your advantage is turned against you.
 * Fighting lone survivors as the Sponger would most likely be impossible due to it's movement speed.
 * You do not have to be afraid of trips/stuns, the best course of action is getting close and personal to survivors - if lucky enough.
 * Do take warning: RPG & Airstrike will instantly kill you!
 * Despite your shield capable to ward off an RPG round, the Airstrike will kill you regardless of using the shield.
 * Your attacks can ignore their melee immunity, take any opportunity you can with it.

Trivia

 * The mob's movement speed & posture is similar towards the Ticker.
 * However, it is a beefier Ticker that does not explode, but be rather annoying to kill.
 * The model, decals and color are inspired by giahuyarmy's model (found here).
 * Besides the Stalker Standard and Charged Brute, the Sponger has a different mechanic to using it' protection instead of having a forcefield.
 * The Sponger would be one of the mobs to have many abilities, while the only one to be immune to stun/trip effects.
 * The current model has lots of meshes to look what it is. It isn't guaranteed that is what it will look like if it ever is accepted.
 * Besides many non-canon mobs I have created, this is a mob I had been working on for some time - with MANY re-configurations to it's abilities and such to maintain a balanced mob.
 * As the usual, whether this mob is accepted or not is up to PlaceRebuilder.

TL;DR
[Straight To The Point]: View - Statistics | Controls, Abilities, & Passive Bonus | Extra Information - About The Sponger - for a brief view on how the mob works - then post your overall opinion on what changes could be needed.

[Other Notes]: It is not required to read everything. If you wish to do so - do what pleases you.

[EDITS]: - N/A

Conclusion
And that concludes the Discussion.

But hey, this is only a suggestion! So if it does get accepted, do not take the stats/model listed here as fact - as they are succeptable to change by the owner's decision.

Hopefully you guys like my suggestion!

Feel free to leave a kudo - either by love or liberty - I am not forcing you to like this.

=( Lost Ratchet )= 