Counter-Intelligence: is it worth it?

Discussion in 'PlanetSide 2 Gameplay Discussion' started by DarkStarAnubis, Mar 22, 2018.

  1. DarkStarAnubis

    To the lucky planetmen who own a counter-intelligence implant. Is it worth all the thousands of certs invested in trying to get it?

    My understanding is that it will warn you if you are q-spotted, but NOT if you are targetted by a weapon, which limits its usefulness: some people q-spot, then aim then shoot whereas other people aim and shoot without q-spotting (e.g. a cloaked sniper).

    Thanks!
  2. CplRDaWiggy

    I actually got it during that period when the servers were suffering from continuous amnesia recently and it didn't save, so I wish I could tell you as shortly after my game froze and the amnesia took over.

    By the time it was fixed, I had logistics specialist, which is handy enough but nowhere near as useful as counter intelligence.

    Thinking about it, I really should be more vexed by this.
  3. TheSunlikeOne

    It is one of the most useful exceptional implants in the game. Being warned when you are spotted helps a lot. Especially in areas, where you can be seen from a lot of directions. You know when to hide and when you are less likely to be shot.
    Also it helps if you are an infiltrator - you can clean the spotmark just by cloaking.
  4. Inzababa

    I have it on permantenly on my heavy, I love it, first of all because most people don't know / use it and I like being cool like that, but also because it's so useful, like, passively usefull, until you get used to it and can't do without, and after that, until you learn how to make the best use of it, it's LOVELY I LOVE IT .

    yeah it's great

    for me, that is

    but not all that is great for me is great for you, it's basically the same thing as for the question "what is the best weapon". No lie, it depends, it depends how you play, what you like, your strengths and weaknesses, and so on.

    btw, I think you forgot that IF ANYONE AT ALL HITS YOU, ANYONE, AT ALL, they get spotted, for all your friends.

    Trust me, that's awesome, like really better than "America is great" AweSOME !!

    no really, it depends on you, try it, I love it, yup!
  5. Prudentia

    I used it a lot in it's old iteration on my Light assault, back when you could only use 1 implant. very fun to use for flanking.
    nowadays i'd probably settle for my sensor Shield 5 even if i had counter intelligence, but replacing Regen 5 might or might not be a fun option to go full on rooftop flanker in small to medium fights.
  6. Cyropaedia

    Counter-Intel is almost a requirement for ESF and Lib pilots. The implant automatically spots anyone - Air or Ground - who damages you for you and your allies in the entire hex.

    Other than that, it's still a nice implant for LA and Infil. Also one of the better implants when you have no other default.

    I would go for it if you've reached your end-game in terms of other cert purchases. With RNG, I've received duplicate Exceptional Counter-Intel and Carapace and other all exceptional except for Minor Cloak and Logistics Specialist so you kind of run a long gamble (potentially costing 100k+ certain).
  7. DarkStarAnubis

    Thanks guys,

    I forgot to mention I am an average Joe Doe player not a salty 5 years veteran. I reckon I play 1-2 hours per day on average so I can grind maybe 1000 certs/week --> the quest for Counter-Intelligence may take a long time.

    Still, it is worth trying from what I read.

    In terms of implants 90% of my toons have Ammo Printer/Health Regen aside from the snipers (Target Focus&Sweeper HUD) so there is some room for improvements (e.g. Deep Operative, Combat Surgeon, Carapace, ...). Let's see what PS2 gods will give.
  8. Prudentia

    no need for Deep operative btw. it does literally NOTHING :p
  9. SuperGrover

    I like it for the above mentioned reasons. I hadn't realized it works in vehicles - thanks Cyropaedia! Gotta change my kits around again.

    But I also enjoy that last F-you to snipers. I play medic and engineer frequently so I'm easy sniper fodder. When you get that spotted contribution xp you know 1) The sniper is dead, and 2) You're probably the reason.

    As a side note, if you play 1-2 hours daily then a subscription is worthwhile. It doesn't take me long at all to get 1000 certs. Besides the extra nanites makes the game that much more fun.
  10. strikearrow

    Yes exceptional implants are about the closest this game comes to pay-to-win (and even then they are not really critical), but at least you still have a random chance of getting one. It can be annoying to have a medic with carapace and nightmare run into a packed room and start knifing and cloaking after every knife kill. Or sometimes worse a HA with minor cloak and nightmare...
  11. ParakeetLord88

    Almost true. It doesn't do anything meaningful if you're stationary or crouched, but it can reduce the distance you are seen if you are sprinting cloaked. Realistically, people who have good computers will see you if they're paying attention and people with low end systems generally will not.

    As always, acting as if the enemy can see you is your best safety net, and DO doesn't change that.

    If you're running sniper, I imagine target focus is useful to hold your breath longer and maybe regeneration implant is useful, but I don't really do that so I can't say. A stalker really, really, really wants catlike, and sweeper to figure out where mines are around a corner can be invaluable too.
  12. Silkensmooth

    Battle hardened and infra-vision is usually pretty win.
  13. Prudentia

    assimilate rules :p
  14. PlanetBound

    What is the notification you receive from the counter-int implant?
  15. CplRDaWiggy

    Same as spotting a target.

    Just the implementation of the act is more flexible in its acquisition.
  16. Silkensmooth

    The implant icon on the hud turns red when you are spotted.
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  17. typnct

    its useless unless you run a stealth build and its crucial to know when you are spotted, else - useless
    works great for harrasers and libs but id suggest to use the reg build for them

    counter intelligence is honestly the most useless rare implant in the game, id trade it for any other rare implant if i could because you can hear when you are spotted even when the enemy is 200 500 meters away(the players prob have lungs of steel)
    id rather it be changed to advanced hearing(nullify your own sounds of the vehicle etc... and be able to hear better for the sides when somethings coming - then it will have some use!)
    btw their screaming is enough to find their exact location without the implant(nullify the bass to hear their perfect direction and with time you will understand the distance)

    the only use for it in inf is basically small fights where you might be attacked from every direction so it does give you a huge advantage at these situations

    air - well its not a bad pick but not the best either as you can hear vehicles pretty well without the implant telling you where they are
    most useful in a2g fights and id reccomend to use it alongside with ammo printer or the health detector implant :D

    i would put it as 1/5 in vehicles
    air 4/5
    ground 1/5
    harrasers 3/5
    esf 4/5