Cadet I/Constructor escort: Difference between revisions
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===Objective=== | ===Objective=== | ||
Your task is to deliver the constructor to it's destination asteroid and make sure it builds there. Optionally, try to avoid the enemy detecting it's whereabouts. Sounds simple? Well, it isn't. The enemy team will do whatever they can to destroy the constructor or at least delay your team's expansion by making your commander redirect his constructors. | Your task is to deliver the constructor to it's destination asteroid and make sure it builds there. Optionally, try to avoid the enemy detecting it's whereabouts. Sounds simple? Well, it isn't. The enemy team will do whatever they can to destroy the constructor or at least delay your team's expansion by making your commander redirect his constructors. | ||
===Loadout=== | |||
There are two ways in which you can aid your constructor: you can either avoid it's destruction by nanning it or shoot down the attackers trying to destroy it. In this lesson only the scout application for constructor escort will be covered, fighter/interceptor escort is covered in-depth in the Cadet II course. | There are two ways in which you can aid your constructor: you can either avoid it's destruction by nanning it or shoot down the attackers trying to destroy it. In this lesson only the scout application for constructor escort will be covered, fighter/interceptor escort is covered in-depth in the Cadet II course. | ||
===The scout=== | ====The scout==== | ||
#Take a nanite gun. Always! Your scout is almost rendered useless without one. Either mount it in your gun slot, or at least pack it into cargo. Never escort constructors in a scout without a nanite gun! | #Take a nanite gun. Always! Your scout is almost rendered useless without one. Either mount it in your gun slot, or at least pack it into cargo. Never escort constructors in a scout without a nanite gun! | ||
#If your faction has rescue probes available (Iron Coalition, Technoflux, Belters), try asking the commander for one. If you drop it before the firefight begins, all your podded companions will return home much faster than the enemy pilots in the same situation. | #If your faction has rescue probes available (Iron Coalition, Technoflux, Belters), try asking the commander for one. If you drop it before the firefight begins, all your podded companions will return home much faster than the enemy pilots in the same situation. | ||
#Proximity mines. They are your friends, take a bunch. Preferably fill your cargo with them. Some pilots don't even take any offensive guns to free up a slot for an extra prox. | #Proximity mines. They are your friends, take a bunch. Preferably fill your cargo with them. Some pilots don't even take any offensive guns to free up a slot for an extra prox. | ||
#Missiles. Take one rack of seekers. They are good for shooting that probe 1k away and, if need be, you can lob them at attacking ships. Don't pack any more missiles | #Missiles. Take one rack of seekers. They are good for shooting that probe 1k away and, if need be, you can lob them at attacking ships. Don't pack any more missiles you are not going out there to dogfight! Fighters or interceptors should be close by if you need cover. | ||
===Phase one - safe sector=== | ===Phase one - safe sector=== | ||
Your constructors launch, the commander directs them towards their destination rocks (always be on command wing to see where the commander sends his constructors). Your role at this stage is to be ahead of the constructors. That way you can spot enemy probes in their paths, detect enemy scouts, sometimes even find the aleph leading to the destination sector. Never stray too far away from constructor though. If you headed to the first sector it has to cross after leaving home, clear the way as best as possible and wait for the constructor. | |||
Your constructors launch, the commander directs them towards their destination rocks (always be on command wing to see where the commander sends his constructors). Your role at this stage is to be ahead of the constructors. That way you can spot enemy probes in | |||
After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. Just before the constructor catches up with you at the aleph, go in ahead of it. Make sure you have time to call out a warning in case the enemy is sitting there in an ambush. Remember not to follow stray scouts and avoid any kind of dogfight! | After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. Just before the constructor catches up with you at the aleph, go in ahead of it. Make sure you have time to call out a warning in case the enemy is sitting there in an ambush. Remember not to follow stray scouts and avoid any kind of dogfight! | ||
===Phase two - 'hot' sector=== | ===Phase two - 'hot' sector=== | ||
There are two most common reasons that will make you actively defend the constructor: | There are two most common reasons that will make you actively defend the constructor: | ||
:*Your constructor has been spotted and an enemy assault squad has reached the sector. | :*Your constructor has been spotted and an enemy assault squad has reached the sector. | ||
:*The enemy commander sent his constructor(s) to the same sector as your commander. | :*The enemy commander sent his constructor(s) to the same sector as your commander. | ||
Either way, you have to deliver that con to the rock at all costs! Stay close to the con, always within your nanite range, but try to avoid getting closer than 150m from the con. It will try to avoid a collision and slow down - you don't want to buy the enemy more time to kill it | Either way, you have to deliver that con to the rock at all costs! Stay close to the con, always within your nanite range, but try to avoid getting closer than 150m from the con. It will try to avoid a collision and slow down - you don't want to buy the enemy more time to kill it. | ||
Take notice of your surroundings: are the numbers in your favor? does the enemy squad see the constructor (yes, sometimes the enemy might forget to bring a scout along with a bunch of interceptors)? from which direction will the assault come? Try to note those things, especially the direction part. This is a good moment to drop your rescue probe, if you have one. | Take notice of your surroundings: are the numbers in your favor? does the enemy squad see the constructor (yes, sometimes the enemy might forget to bring a scout along with a bunch of interceptors)? from which direction will the assault come? Try to note those things, especially the direction part. This is a good moment to drop your rescue probe, if you have one. | ||
If the enemy reaches your constructor | If the enemy reaches your constructor before it builds, make sure you keep a constant eye on it's health bar - nan it as soon as it's hull starts getting hit. Remember, a nanite repair gun only repairs hull, not shields. Drop a prox or two, you probably won't kill anything but you will force the attackers to avoid your mines. | ||
When under fire, use your sidethrusters to make yourself harder to hit, try not to die. Remember to always have your nan fixed on the con. Don't run if you're about to die, nan the con till the bitter end. You are the expendable part here. You can say a little prayer for your buddies in interceptors and fighters aim too. | When under fire, use your sidethrusters to make yourself harder to hit, try not to die. Remember to always have your nan fixed on the con. Don't run if you're about to die, nan the con till the bitter end. You are the expendable part here. You can say a little prayer for your buddies in interceptors and fighters aim too. | ||
If there are several of you in scouts repairing the con, take a quick look at your buddies health. If you can, nan him back quickly. Remember the con is priority #1 | If there are several of you in scouts repairing the con, take a quick look at your buddies health. If you can, nan him back quickly. Remember the con is priority #1. | ||
===Phase three - on the rock=== | ===Phase three - on the rock=== | ||
Phew! | Phew! The constructor made it to the rock. Now it has to align itself to build. For that, it has to stop and rotate to the desired position undisturbed. The enemy will try to buy time by ramming it, making it restart the positioning sequence. This is when your full cargo of prox comes in handy. Drop your mines around the constructor, preferably to the side you are expecting the rammers to come from. There is a good chance that desperate enemy pilots will ignore your mines in hope to reach the constructor before they die. You're quite likely to rack up some kills at this point. Remember to keep your nan fixed on the con at all times! | ||
There is also the tricky part: the constructor will need space to build! If you get | There is also the tricky part: the constructor will need space to build! If you get too close to it, it will attempt to dodge you (just like in-flight) and, as a result, restart it's aligning sequence! Remember: always keep at least 100m distance from the con! Preferably 150m! | ||
===Epilogue=== | ===Epilogue=== | ||
Revision as of 21:05, 22 January 2009
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| ← Floating technology | Miner defense → |
Escorting your Constructors
At the beginning of the game, the commander will almost always buy the following things: a miner, a teleport receiver constructor, an outpost constructor and, for most factions, a refinery constructor. We will focus on the constructors (the first ones bought in the game are called initial cons).
Objective
Your task is to deliver the constructor to it's destination asteroid and make sure it builds there. Optionally, try to avoid the enemy detecting it's whereabouts. Sounds simple? Well, it isn't. The enemy team will do whatever they can to destroy the constructor or at least delay your team's expansion by making your commander redirect his constructors.
Loadout
There are two ways in which you can aid your constructor: you can either avoid it's destruction by nanning it or shoot down the attackers trying to destroy it. In this lesson only the scout application for constructor escort will be covered, fighter/interceptor escort is covered in-depth in the Cadet II course.
The scout
- Take a nanite gun. Always! Your scout is almost rendered useless without one. Either mount it in your gun slot, or at least pack it into cargo. Never escort constructors in a scout without a nanite gun!
- If your faction has rescue probes available (Iron Coalition, Technoflux, Belters), try asking the commander for one. If you drop it before the firefight begins, all your podded companions will return home much faster than the enemy pilots in the same situation.
- Proximity mines. They are your friends, take a bunch. Preferably fill your cargo with them. Some pilots don't even take any offensive guns to free up a slot for an extra prox.
- Missiles. Take one rack of seekers. They are good for shooting that probe 1k away and, if need be, you can lob them at attacking ships. Don't pack any more missiles you are not going out there to dogfight! Fighters or interceptors should be close by if you need cover.
Phase one - safe sector
Your constructors launch, the commander directs them towards their destination rocks (always be on command wing to see where the commander sends his constructors). Your role at this stage is to be ahead of the constructors. That way you can spot enemy probes in their paths, detect enemy scouts, sometimes even find the aleph leading to the destination sector. Never stray too far away from constructor though. If you headed to the first sector it has to cross after leaving home, clear the way as best as possible and wait for the constructor.
After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. Just before the constructor catches up with you at the aleph, go in ahead of it. Make sure you have time to call out a warning in case the enemy is sitting there in an ambush. Remember not to follow stray scouts and avoid any kind of dogfight!
Phase two - 'hot' sector
There are two most common reasons that will make you actively defend the constructor:
- Your constructor has been spotted and an enemy assault squad has reached the sector.
- The enemy commander sent his constructor(s) to the same sector as your commander.
Either way, you have to deliver that con to the rock at all costs! Stay close to the con, always within your nanite range, but try to avoid getting closer than 150m from the con. It will try to avoid a collision and slow down - you don't want to buy the enemy more time to kill it.
Take notice of your surroundings: are the numbers in your favor? does the enemy squad see the constructor (yes, sometimes the enemy might forget to bring a scout along with a bunch of interceptors)? from which direction will the assault come? Try to note those things, especially the direction part. This is a good moment to drop your rescue probe, if you have one.
If the enemy reaches your constructor before it builds, make sure you keep a constant eye on it's health bar - nan it as soon as it's hull starts getting hit. Remember, a nanite repair gun only repairs hull, not shields. Drop a prox or two, you probably won't kill anything but you will force the attackers to avoid your mines.
When under fire, use your sidethrusters to make yourself harder to hit, try not to die. Remember to always have your nan fixed on the con. Don't run if you're about to die, nan the con till the bitter end. You are the expendable part here. You can say a little prayer for your buddies in interceptors and fighters aim too.
If there are several of you in scouts repairing the con, take a quick look at your buddies health. If you can, nan him back quickly. Remember the con is priority #1.
Phase three - on the rock
Phew! The constructor made it to the rock. Now it has to align itself to build. For that, it has to stop and rotate to the desired position undisturbed. The enemy will try to buy time by ramming it, making it restart the positioning sequence. This is when your full cargo of prox comes in handy. Drop your mines around the constructor, preferably to the side you are expecting the rammers to come from. There is a good chance that desperate enemy pilots will ignore your mines in hope to reach the constructor before they die. You're quite likely to rack up some kills at this point. Remember to keep your nan fixed on the con at all times!
There is also the tricky part: the constructor will need space to build! If you get too close to it, it will attempt to dodge you (just like in-flight) and, as a result, restart it's aligning sequence! Remember: always keep at least 100m distance from the con! Preferably 150m!
Epilogue
The con builds, the enemy has failed. Nice work! But what to do next?
I know that the build sphere is pretty and all, but you are allowed to stare at it only from your pod. If you survived, there are still things to do! Look around, check if some of your fellow pilots don't need to be nanned up. If your constructor built next to enemy home, they are likely to be regrouping for a miner assault, they will need every hitpoint they can get.
Check for any friendly pods nearby, if there are some, pick them up. I know that a base is building right next to you, but every second counts: if you pick them up, they will have just enough time to, let's say, change their loadout. Once you're done, wait for the base to build and dock at it and get ready for another mission.
| ← Floating technology | Miner defense → |
