So you're muching on that RT, helping the team out. A marine comes near on the other side of the hallway, but you don't worry, you're protected by being behind the resnode. Thats what you thought until he pistolwhips you from across the hall.

There is a safe way to bite the res node:

Step 1: Pick the best angle. The best angle is the angle that is 180 degrees from where the marine is most likely to come from.

Step 2: Get in the body of the res node. That is, the main big fat part, near the top. You'll know you're in it because you can then see right through the res node. Make sure you're in the correct position then start biting now.

Step 3: While you're biting, this is the important part, Move to the left or right EXTREMELY slightly ONCE.

What does this do?

->When you position yourself at a 180 degree angle from the marine, the res node's hitbox blocks the marine's fire. This forces the marine to come VERY close in order to register any hits on you, in which case it is to your advantage.

->Even though you can crawl into it, the body of the resnode does have a hitbox, and will block bullets. Once in it, you can also see through it, giving you a visual advantage as well.

->Once in position in the body of the res node, moving slighty to the left or right causes you to turn SIDEWAYS. This allows your body to be completely covered by the res node, yet makes no difference to what you see.

You'll find yourself a bit slow getting into position at first, but once you practice, you'll be able to take down res nodes without fear of being pistoled from miles away.

I'll get some screenshots of it later.

edit1: Gah, I thought I was in the Khaara Strategy Fourm. Moderator, please move this.

Okay. Here we have the Horseshoe node on ns_eclipse. There is the skulk trying to kill it incorrectly.



This is an example of the '180-degree' angle bit. The red box indicates the direction of the marine if he was coming from Maintenance Hive. The red X indicates where you should be. The blue box indicates the direction of the marine if he were coming from marine start. The blue x indicates where you should be in this case.



The skulk gets up into the body. The 'body' i was talking about is outlined in red here. He is turned sideways for maximum coverage. If he didn't, chances are some parts might stick out from the top or bottom, which are exposed to fire.




Heres a look at a different angle



Now lets take a look as if I were the marine, walking up trying to save the node. You cannot see the skulk. He is completely hidden. In the game you could hear him bitting. Proof that he is still there is the map in the upper right, clearly showing a skulk on that node. There is no way to harm him from this angle



I moved closer and to the right a bit. Now I can see him. I try to pick him off. The third picture is a picture from the skulks point of view. See how he can see me very well as I try to pick him off.







No blood.



Lets try it when i'm this close at this angle. Here a look from the skulk POV, too. He is VERY close. In fact, you could go out there right now and try to kill him, but he can't hurt you from there, so its better to wait.





Still no blood.



Finally, If I shoot him from this angle, I see blood! You can shoot him from here! But take a look at the map. Look how close I am. That is prime owning position for the skulk.



Thanks to Sonic for help with the screenshots.

Jesus Lito, Good Job. But you couldve easily summed it all up into 1 sentence

This is actually caused by bugs in the skulk hitbox rotation code. Even though the visible skulk is facing side to side, the skulk's hitbox is pointed straight in towards the RT. So the skulk head sticking out is nothing but a decoration, which is why bullets will pass right through it. You get the same effect with a skulk on a wall looking straight out perpendicular to the wall. You can't shoot his head or his tail, but if you shoot the air directly in front of him, even where there is no visible skulk, you'll hit him.

Now let us go forth, in true NS tradition, and abuse the hell out of this bug.

Edit: Spelling.

Generally you can beat skulks who do this easily by going behind them and approaching from the angle oppisite of which they face. As they move and try to make sure they aren't exposed they will invaribly expose themselves and die.

Some res nodes are better for this than others. You can't even climb some nodes.

very well said (although i knew most of it,except the left annd right part)