let aliens evolve in their base even if outnumbered

Seen on @sweet235, alienPvE1, sol.

Previous title, when tagged as T-Bug:
aliens are unable to evolve near overmind when in sight of enemies

Indirectly linked to Unvanquished/Unvanquished#1416

[mjstahlberg]

What is the intended behavior?

In theory, aliens should be able to evolve near OM, even if enemies are around. This is required for them to defend their base.

[sweet235]

Is this about users or bots or both?

[Gireen]

Not a bug if its only the OM.

An exception applies to alien bases and outposts. Once more alien buildings are present than human players (50% more to be exact), the class can be changed without restriction.

About Unvanquished gameplay updates, the restrictions against aliens evolving near humans have become more forgiving. Nearby humans are only counted if there is a line-of-sight connection, so a player can sneakily evolve in the next room. Plus, evolution is allowed “in the alien base”, i.e. if the nearby humans are outnumbered by nearby alien buildables. Aliens can also devolve (return to inferior classes) near the overmind,

From 0.52 release

Ah, right, "outnumbered"... indeed.

Well, I think this is rather bad, but right, not a bug then.

This at least is very annoying in PvE btw. I also think it makes very little sense in PvP too, though.

[mjstahlberg]

I see; and I agree that this is confusing as players have no way of knowing when they can or cannot evolve. Moving to the gameplay tracker.

[mjstahlberg]

Is it a problem if aliens run at you with a dretch and then evolve right into your face though? Should we keep a minimum distance to enemies even if within your own base? Or some cooldown after attacking/being hurt?

Is it a problem if aliens run at you with a dretch and then evolve right into your face though?

outside of A base, yes, but in A base, it's their only way to defend.

Should we keep a minimum distance to enemies even if within your own base?

Why not.

Or some cooldown after attacking/being hurt?

Meh.

We could also only let dretches do that (evolve in sight) and only if distance is, i.e. 2 times the attack range of their desired class?
Or, we could simply immobilise aliens for, say, 1s while they evolve?

All those are suggestions, and values should probably be cvars so that we can more easily find a balance.

[Gireen]

I think the idea is pointless.
If there is a base then there are enough buildings to outnumber attackers.
If not then its no more a base and even then aliens can still evolve if they get out of sight of humans.