Cadet I/Constructor escort: Difference between revisions
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{{:Cadet I/Week 2}} | {{:Cadet I/Week 2}} | ||
{{Nav|Floating technology|Miner defense}} | {{Nav|Floating technology|Miner defense}} | ||
{{Title|Escorting your Constructors}} | {{Title|Escorting your Constructors}} | ||
At the beginning of the game | 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=== | ===Objective=== | ||
Your task is to deliver the constructor to it's destination asteroid and make sure it builds there. | Your task is to deliver the constructor to it's destination asteroid and make sure it builds there. Optimally, 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. | ||
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. Since this is the Cadet I course we will be dealing with the scout solely. Fighter/interceptor escort is covered in-depth in the [[Cadet II]] course. | |||
===Loadout=== | ===Loadout=== | ||
#Take a [[nan]]. Always! Your scout is rendered almost useless without one. Either mount it in your gun slot, or pack it into cargo. Never escort constructors in a scout without a nanite gun! | |||
#If your faction is either [[Iron Coalition]], [[Technoflux]], or [[Belters]] you will have rescue probes available for purchase. Try asking the commander for one. If you drop it somewhere safe before the firefight begins, all your podded companions will return home much faster than the enemy pilots in the same situation. | |||
#Proximity mines. These are your friends, take a bunch. Preferably fill your cargo with them. Some pilots skip a gun, carrying nothing but a nan, shields, and an entire cargo full of 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 <u>not</u> going out there to dogfight! Fighters or interceptors should be close by if you need cover. | |||
=== | ===Phase one - safe sector=== | ||
Once your constructors launch the commander directs them towards their destination rocks. If you are on either command, charlie, delta, or echo wing it will come in your chat log which sector this is, so you know without being told where to head. At this stage you will have either gone out scouting the map, waited at home until the cons launched, or the comm told the team where he is sending the cons beforehand and you are heading there already. If you're scouting the wrong part of the map then get back as best you can. | |||
Your role is to be ahead of the constructors. That way you can spot and destroy 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, one sector ahead at most - less if enemy appear. | |||
After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. | After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. 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 enemy scouts and avoid any kind of dogfight! | ||
===Phase two - 'hot' sector=== | ===Phase two - 'hot' sector=== | ||
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:*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. | Either way, you have to deliver that con to the rock at all costs! Stay close to the con, always within your nanite range (400m), but try to avoid getting closer than 150m from the con. This is because the AI will try to avoid a collision with you 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? | 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!)? 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 | 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 damaged. Remember a nanite repair gun only repairs hull, ''not'' shields. Drop a prox or two around the con, you probably won't kill anyone but you will force the attackers to avoid your mines. | ||
When under fire | When under fire use your sidethrusters to make yourself harder to hit, try not to die. Although the con is the primary target the enemy will have to kill the nans first. Keep an eye on your fellow teammates health (cycle your HUD view to maximum by pressing {{k|i}}) and nan them if you can! (This is called "cross-nanning"). 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 buddy's in interceptors and fighters aim too. | ||
===Phase three - on the rock=== | ===Phase three - on the rock=== | ||
Phew! The constructor made it to the rock | Phew! The constructor made it to the rock, now it has to align itself to build. It has to stop and rotate to the desired position undisturbed. The enemy will try to buy time by ramming it off course, making it restart this 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! | 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! | ||
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The con builds, the enemy has failed. Nice work! But what to do next? | 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 | 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 commander pushed the constructor next to an enemy sector chances are the team is about to launch an assault on their miners. Your teammates 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 enough time to change their loadout for the next phase, or launch at home to defend against a different attack. | |||
Once you're done, wait for the base to build and dock at it and get ready for another mission. At the initial stage of the game it is likely to be your choice of: | |||
*Attacking enemy miners | |||
*Defending friendly miners | |||
*Escorting the second wave of cons | |||
*Helping bomb an enemy base | |||
*Scouting and probing enemy sectors | |||
{{Nav2|Floating technology|Miner defense}} | {{Nav2|Floating technology|Miner defense}} | ||
Revision as of 00:44, 6 February 2009
| ← 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. Optimally, 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.
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. Since this is the Cadet I course we will be dealing with the scout solely. Fighter/interceptor escort is covered in-depth in the Cadet II course.
Loadout
- Take a nan. Always! Your scout is rendered almost useless without one. Either mount it in your gun slot, or pack it into cargo. Never escort constructors in a scout without a nanite gun!
- If your faction is either Iron Coalition, Technoflux, or Belters you will have rescue probes available for purchase. Try asking the commander for one. If you drop it somewhere safe before the firefight begins, all your podded companions will return home much faster than the enemy pilots in the same situation.
- Proximity mines. These are your friends, take a bunch. Preferably fill your cargo with them. Some pilots skip a gun, carrying nothing but a nan, shields, and an entire cargo full of 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
Once your constructors launch the commander directs them towards their destination rocks. If you are on either command, charlie, delta, or echo wing it will come in your chat log which sector this is, so you know without being told where to head. At this stage you will have either gone out scouting the map, waited at home until the cons launched, or the comm told the team where he is sending the cons beforehand and you are heading there already. If you're scouting the wrong part of the map then get back as best you can.
Your role is to be ahead of the constructors. That way you can spot and destroy 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, one sector ahead at most - less if enemy appear.
After the constructor leaves home, always be in the same sector as the con. 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 enemy 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 (400m), but try to avoid getting closer than 150m from the con. This is because the AI will try to avoid a collision with you 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!)? 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 damaged. Remember a nanite repair gun only repairs hull, not shields. Drop a prox or two around the con, you probably won't kill anyone 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. Although the con is the primary target the enemy will have to kill the nans first. Keep an eye on your fellow teammates health (cycle your HUD view to maximum by pressing i) and nan them if you can! (This is called "cross-nanning"). 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 buddy's in interceptors and fighters aim too.
Phase three - on the rock
Phew! The constructor made it to the rock, now it has to align itself to build. It has to stop and rotate to the desired position undisturbed. The enemy will try to buy time by ramming it off course, making it restart this 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 commander pushed the constructor next to an enemy sector chances are the team is about to launch an assault on their miners. Your teammates 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 enough time to change their loadout for the next phase, or launch at home to defend against a different attack.
Once you're done, wait for the base to build and dock at it and get ready for another mission. At the initial stage of the game it is likely to be your choice of:
- Attacking enemy miners
- Defending friendly miners
- Escorting the second wave of cons
- Helping bomb an enemy base
- Scouting and probing enemy sectors
| ← Floating technology | Miner defense → |
