Ribby
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Post by Ribby on Nov 6, 2021 0:51:00 GMT -5
We all get it that mines could have limited uses, compared to the other special weapons from the other MAV classes. Still, we can at least improvise, can we?
I had once (and already) suggested that dropping mines from jetpacking heights is a good way to use the mines for a more direct approach. Unfortunately, the mines can explode upon hit, which is flaky. I would usually do this method as a flanking move, better yet followed up with a hit and run tactic. No surprises there. I don't think I can engage the battle heads on afterwards, too much adjustments of map coordination. So it's a cheap tactic, with some flaws. At least the mines are in better position?
There's actually one good thing about mines, there are weapons that could be used under constant cloaking. I haven't figured out a good way to lay mines in the walking proximity of targets. Probably it's because despite the cloaking ability, the mines can be seen and your cover is blown. Perhaps, it's a single shot type of situation? Still, I don't want to play cat and mouse. Too risky, plus the mines are quite close! I'll say that the cloak is a good way to close the distance, cover the advance/flight to drop the bombs, and if necessary cover the retreat. Just remember that like mines, jetpacking is a dead giveaway, a really dead giveaway! Use mines with caution, extreme caution.
Mines are thrown weapons, thus the greater the height, the farther you can project with safety against the targets on floor surface.
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Post by aqualung on Nov 7, 2021 12:43:33 GMT -5
Mines are good for objective-based maps. Throw one or two (I don't think damage stacks but would need to test this) by the core or a capture point and you can get some free damage on a careless opponent.
Sometimes I'll mine an important bridge or similar (such as the one in Sector 2) but I have to make sure my allies know about it. I consider mining the spawning/healing area bad mannered (and more importantly not fun for either side - it's a lame way to die, and nothing impressive about mining a spawn area), but don't feel as strongly about a neutral healing or ammo bay. Again for the neutral bay make sure you tell your allies.
Other than that though I've found they're hard to use. Dropping from above is just too hard to aim. I've also tried laying mines across the path of a moving assault MAV or tank while cloaked, but it doesn't hit often, you need to be sure you don't get in the blast radius, and they could see the mines being placed.
All that said, I think they're fine just being used to mine objectives. When I take scouts on objective-based maps I use mines quite a bit.
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Ribby
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Post by Ribby on Nov 7, 2021 15:49:13 GMT -5
You're definitely right about the mines. Mines are basically traps/barricades. Again, I sometimes wished for a mine shower, which is basically dropping bombs, but I could get flaked/backfired and dh is more of a infantry (infant? bad joke) role than a air force anyways.
Laying mines on objectives is a good means of defense. I just think that opponents would be expecting any surprises since fortification and flanking would be in the way. I mean, of course, mines need to be well noted if they are to defend a perimeter. The same concept applies to the opponents. Mines cannot be used actively, but it cannot be expected. Surely, there's got to be a better way!
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Hypothesis:
I think I just been forgetting this game for quite a while. If I recall real life scenarios regarding guerrillas, mines are randomly placed on path (or not). So what I think I was supposed to do as offense, mine in expected paths of the opponent, particularly from a safe and hidden distance. Cloaking is expected. Jetting is at your own risk (jet sparingly), but dropped mines are hard to pinpoint on map coordinates. You just got to look out where they step. Of course it's not a guarantee, but at the very least, mines slow down advance/jetting, buying time to make a quick decision in the matter. As defense, mines may work well to protect retreat. Again, cloaking is expected and jetting have compromises. The opponent may slow down advance/jetting as well.
In terms of my hypothesis, I guess I was thinking of the scorched earth policy concept, as to deprive resources from the enemy. It is quite the desperate move, but it can also be appropriate at times. Man, I wonder if firebombing would also serve as deterrent? Its potential smokescreen can obscure visibility, masking target and terrain (may not apply to bots so this idea may opt out). I wonder smokescreen projectiles can serve as a flare/decoy? Reference is the Eastern Front campaigns during World War 1/2 and Sherman's March to the Sea campaign during the American Civil War. While mines can't deny resources, they can at least help delay advance, if nothing else.
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Ribby
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Posts: 110
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Post by Ribby on May 30, 2022 1:21:32 GMT -5
I was thinking that jumping and mining might be a mine with a respectable short range than close range distance. It's not that close for a suicide bomber attack, but it make due as a makeshift grenadier technique. I am not sure about jumping while cloaked and mining. I am sure it's at least minimal grenadier tactic. The cloak might give away after the first mine deployment. Of course, jumping while cloaked is a good start to jet pack with visible flame as unexpected surprise. It's probably best to devise a plan regarding cover to retreat or advance to, doesn't matter if the recuperate plan is to go over target, forward, sideways, or backwards.
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Post by Slingshot on May 30, 2022 10:14:01 GMT -5
The mines were originally meant to be placed around power cores and objectives. I gave the new EC Cricket and FS Spirit a grenade launcher for the special weapon. They work great for airial attack.
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Ribby
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Post by Ribby on May 30, 2022 16:35:56 GMT -5
I personally prefer to use the alternative method of mine when a opposing MAV is not firing upon my MAV, lol  It's like a hit-and-run tactic, quite cowardly, but it have its uses at times. It's also like a charge attack, quite foolhardy, but does have situational uses. I second guessed about the effectiveness of laying mines near power cores and objectives. It's too expected and counterplans to address the expected mines could be easily devised. One has to just mitigate resistance enough to focus on detecting mines, however, the assumption is around cores and objectives. I rather lay mines in paths where some form of deterrence or area of denial can take place. The idea is to keep the mines from absolute/certain expectation and detection. If I can have enemy combatants fighting in a mined area, where they cannot afford the time and effort to look down for mine detection, I have achieved that strategic goal. From what I can see with the current mines, they are effectively used under the guise of shrubs and smoky/foggy areas. Even sandstorms, tornadoes, haboobs, heavy rain, blizzards, and day-to-night cycles will help if only for a temporary period. Maybe the current mines can be saved with additional functions such as rolling in long distances before deployment. It would be a subtle form of attack and safer range of defense. Another suggestion is that the mines are engineered to be highly magnetic (or heat seeking, but highly unlikely) area of denial weapon. Like other A2s/ADs, it knows no friend, foe, or civillian. If there is a way to counteract against magnetic mines, one can outrun its relative magnetic radius or shoot at it. In real life, magnetic mines would been much easier to detect, but this is the Lore story context. We can simply said the magnetic material is artifically engineered to avoid most magnetic detection scans. Or that its magnetic attraction field can tranverse through specialized plastic/rubber material designed to deter detection scans from the magnetic field. Anyways, I'm just putting out a research hypothesis or huble juble. |
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Post by Slingshot on May 30, 2022 22:59:01 GMT -5
The scripts are there for all to see. Go for it Ribby!
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