Cadet I/Nanning

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Basic Nanning

A ship equipped with a Nanite Repair Gun is the most important ship in Allegiance. Without it, many games would be lost. Here we cover the basics, and in week 3 we cover everything about escorting a bomb run from start to finish.

Note The word "Nan" can refer to both the item itself, or a ship equipped with one.

Basic features of nans:

• Slow rate of fire, projectiles travel slowly, low range, fairly poor accuracy.
• Energy weapon
• Repairs the hull of any ship or station (but not shields!)

The third point is why it is important. Other than powerups or returning to base, nans are the only way to get repairs (and unlike powerups and bases, nans are mobile).

Equipping nans

Normally only scouts can mount nans, and only in their primary weapon slot. It is highly recommended that you always carry a nan in cargo when you're flying a scout. As explained earlier, you can swap between your mounted weapon and your cargo weapon by pressing Ctrl-1.

Tip: Of course there are exceptions to the rule. With Belters every small ship can mount a nan (except the basic interceptor). This can allow some interesting tactics such as a stealth fighter repairing friendly ships while cloaked, or a group of heavy interceptors repairing each other while dogfighting! The Ga'Taraan scout permanently mounts a nan in a second weapon mount, allowing pilots to instantly change from offence to defence. But you have to be careful you don't fire both at once! The Technoflux advanced and heavy scouts can mount 2 nans, allowing twice the repair rate (albeit at twice the energy drain rate!).

Escorting with a nan

The first question is "Who should I escort?"

Nans escort key ships that the enemy will be concentrating fire upon.

• Bombers always need a nan escort. If your team is currently bombing or planning to bomb, get to the correct sector (using your minimap or by reading the chat) and get ready to dive into enemy territory.
• Constructors nearly always need an escort. It is important when escorting a constructor to not get too close because the AI will think you're on a collision course and dodge - resetting its build sequence!
• Miners often need an escort, whenever they are near the front lines or the enemy has tac is a good rule of thumb.
• Heavy troop transports often need an escort, but often they will want to be stealthy. If you don't yet know how to be a low-sig nan, avoid them.

The second question is "How do I nan?"

• Follow along behind your target.
• If you can, ram it straight up the backside to give it a boost of speed (you can not ram miners or constructors in this way and trying to will just make them slow down).
• After ramming, side-strafe out of the way to allow other scouts to ram it.
• When the enemy starts attacking, it's time to start dodging. Use your side-strafe keys to corkscrew around your target, keeping your crosshairs on it.
• Stay close to ensure you can hit them with your nan.
• Drop proximity mines if you think the enemy will be in the area in 5 seconds time (prox takes about 4s to activate).
• Spam countermeasures whenever you get missile lock warning.
• When your target's shield drops start repairing the hull.
• If the hull is at full strength CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY. You can NOT repair SHIELDS
• If you can, keep an eye on other nans and repair them if they get damaged (known as cross-nanning or Xnan)

Load out

If you're using your scout to escort you will want a different loadout than if you were using it to probe, or hunt miners. So let's discuss your options:

• Nan only or nan + gat?
  • If you decide to take just a nan then you save a cargo space which can be used for other, more useful items. On the other hand, you leave yourself virtually defenceless. The choice is up to you but it is recommended that you take a gat unless you have a strong reason not to.
• Missiles
  • It is recommended that you take seekers. As a nan you will be a priority target for enemy pilots and you will spend a lot of time dodging around, which makes it difficult to get a good dumb shot off.
• Countermeasures
  • Take extra CM if the enemy has gone Tac.
• Dispenser
  • Take along a rescue probe if your faction has them available. Drop them somewhere slightly out of the way where they're unlikely to be spotted.
  • Prox or minepacks will be your most useful tool when escorting ships. Drop them around the ship you're defending - of course if the ship is moving that makes it more difficult. Minepacks weigh twice as much and deploy in a smaller area, but you get twice as many per slot and they do more damage.

Emergency nanning

Sometimes you will be sitting in base and spot an enemy about to attack your miners or constructors. It may be tempting to launch a fighter, boost to the enemy, and stop them by shooting them dead.

Do not do this.

Too many miners and constructors have been lost because nobody launched a nan. For any decent veteran it is very easy to kill a miner or constructor faster than they get shot down themselves. However, a nan would be able to repair it faster than they can damage it, or at least slow them down. Often they will have to stop attacking the target in order to kill the nan, thus wasting time and ammunition.

The important thing is that a nan can buy time for more defenders to arrive. Even if you can not reach the miner before it dies (and you would of had you been in a ship with a booster), it is still the right choice to launch in a nan.

Station repair

Whenever a station needs to be repaired it is best to repair it as quickly as possible before the enemy attack again. Equip a nan and launch. As soon as you gain control of your ship turn around and start repairing the station. Meanwhile use your sidethrusters to move toward a green door and stop in front of it.

When your energy is depleted move forward into the green door and relaunch. Voila! your energy is completely regenerated..

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Scout guide →