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Joined: August 23rd, 2007, 11:09 am
Posts: 130
Location: Norway - Kristiansand
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Offensive Strategy "Ice Ice Baby" - By Jòñßlûñd  ™
The basics of this tutorial, or parts of it, can be used on other maps than "Ice Ice Baby" as well. But the defensive part won't work very well on maps like "Paranoia" or "Moon" (maps where bases are exposed from more than 2 directions)..
Newbies may find this strategy alternative very hard to practice to start with, but there should be quite some usefull info here for them too..
Deploy the Recycler fastest possible at the nearest geyser; build 2 Scavs, Constructor (make it follow you immediately), and 3 more Scavs.
While building this, place 3 Nav Beacons at your base entrance -nav 1 right outside the entrance, nav 2 about 200 meters further to the opponent you will not attack first, and nav 3 about between your Recycler and nav 1.
Get constructor and Scav number 3, 4 and 5 to follow you to the large scrap field, build your first silo there and put Scav 3, 4 and 5 to work there. While you are there, travel about half the way down that canyon to be sure the Scavs detect all of the scrap there (scrap seen on your radar is detected by the Scavs as well). In the meantime you have built and deployed factory and armory already and are building 4 tanks while you and the constructor travel back to the base entrance (4 tanks will, together with you, be a good defense to start with). Command armory to drop sp’(s) for upgrading your tank. (Don’t waste time on travelling to Armory to wait for sp’s to come down there!)
While building tanks you build a Supply/Hangar there where you placed nav 1, the nav should be in the middle of these two buildings. 1 more Silo is good to have here as well because the first fighting may soon begin and your Scavs will use this Silo instead of travel 300-400 meters further to the Recycler.
After the Tanks you continue with building 3 Minelayers and send them to each their nav.
Place also 1 or 2 more Nav Beacons towards opponent 2. An important part of your defense is constantly keeping an eye on radar!
(Those 3 navs you dropped right at the start have 3 functions: 1) You are able to organize defense while away from base. 2) Reloading Miners by just sending them to nav 1. 3) Repair/reload Tanks by sending them to nav 1)
At this point you have your Tank support following you out in the field and are about to engage opponent 1 (only 3-4 min in game!). Command Miners to lay mines before you leave base with Tanks and Constructor. Build 3 Bombers (you will be out of pilots and need to rebuild Factory after having build the second Bomber) and command them to defend Recycler while you are building your second outpost:
(A third Silo about 400-600 meters (towards opponent 1, the one to attack first) from your second silo and get your Scavs to follow it as soon they gathered all Scrap at your corner. 2) 200 meters further you build another Supply/Hangar. Ahead of that a GunTower would be good).
The Bombers and Miners/minefields are your defense and remember that this defense is only just enough to buy you 20-30 sec time to get back to base and help defending in case opponent 2 attacks. Keep an eye on your Miners and send them to nav 1 for reload if needed. Later on, if Scrap enough, you can recycle empty Miners and rebuild, which is faster. Maintain that minefield! Miners get stuck on the cliffs sometimes so kill those and rebuild or get them down.
You will need to link the Tanks and Bombers to each their F-key (your own Bombers will get in the way for the Tanks when they get mixed up). Do not forget, it's done in a second and saves you seconds when you really need them.
Do some scouting alone and check what your opponents are up to from time to time. If you see that your second opponent has very little defense, then a large attack force could be on the way to your base soon. You have far to little defense to stop such so stay awake so you and your tanks can get back home in time. Opponent 1 could come after you with his troops as well and then you'll be busy at home. And if radar tells you there is an attack force on the way, then send 1-2 Bombers to nav 2 and command “hunt” as soon they get in touch with the second opponent. Buy’s you seconds.
You are ready to attack in less than 5 min into the game..
Depending on opponent and his defense you may have to wait until he’s getting low on scrap/defense. Taking out his Tank a few times, some Towers and some Scavs, will provide you scrap needed if you want to upgrade Tanks, or maybe build stronger defenses, as you in this game are using the defending Bombers in your attack as well. Lost Supplies/Scavs/Tanks and so on, need to be rebuilt before you get to the base attack.
One more Bomber and Tank would be good too (and remember to link all AI to their F-keys once more if you build more, or rebuild Bombers and Tanks!)
Base attack:
Have at least 10 pilots in reserve. (nothing more annoying than no pilots left when you really need a new Tank or Scav). Keep laying mines at home.. Do a quick scouting alone to the base to attack. Hit the F-key linking the Bombers, hit 3 (attack) and pick the target you want them to attack (usually the first Guntower or maybe a Power?). Hidden, upgraded Turrets can spoil everything so take a good look at that list of units to attack.
Get back to gather your Tanks and wait until the Bombers pass you on their way to their target, then follow behind with your Tanks and Constructor following you.
Make sure the Bombers arrive at opponents base as some sort of a group (bombers start firing 300 meters from the target you command them to attack so they need open space to become fully effective) You could leave behind 1 Tank to pick you up in case, or command Armory to drop 2 ammo/repair if you have the scrap for it.
Have Constructor building another Silo near enemy base and command your Scavs to scavenge while the Bombers run into their death.
You are now losing the Bombers probably but the opponent gets weakened his defense and gets low on ammo. Don't panic. Lead your Tanks in behind the last Bomber(s) and try finish the job...
Trust your Tanks! Do not fly at high speed in front straight into your opponent. Keep in touch with them and keep some distance and overview while the Tanks detect the nearest target. I'll promise you it will be down in seconds! When they smell blood they become beasts and you won’t even need to fire a shot yourself. (Usually when they get within 180 meters of nearest target). They fly and shoot like pretty good DM-ers as long they are set to follow you and you just have to take care of following behind them. The Tanks will advance and fight aggressive until about 100 meters in front of you before they return to the leading unit, which is you. Stay close behind and they will eat their way through the base., especially when upgraded..
Use your ammo on Powers/Turrets/the player if needed. Your Tanks do the Recycler.. Commanding Constructor to build another Silo at the battlefield is a
bright idea in the heat of the fight..
Rebuild lost Bombers/Tanks/Constructor/Scavs while fighting. Keep Scavs going (they run all the way home because of just 1 scratch and you won't get in any scrap).
Keep your Miners working at home.. Your Tanks are killers as long they follow you, so pay attention and don't get blown out of your Tank. After the Recycler, you could send tanks after the Factory and go for Constructor or/and Armory yourself. And be ready to deal with the second opponent (you're building new Bombers and command them to defend your Recycler, don't you?), either at your base or at the battlefield. He might be out after the scrap there too, so you may have to fight for it.
These were basics. A lot can happen before you get to the base attack on the area between the two (3) bases. When playing good players a lot depends on succeeding to keep up your outpost(s) and keep your Tanks/Scavs going. Outposts, Tank support can get destroyed 10 times before you finally get to attack the base. It depends on how quick you manage to build up again and to manage to get most of the Scrap from the battlefield. The game can last 10 min or 2 hours. But the faster you are at gamestart, the earlier you can attack and surprise the enemy..
A lot depends on your DM and how you lead your Tank support. It depends on not getting killed, and killing the opponent when you have the chance; and using that little time advantage it will give you. Also knowing when/where to engage or pull back..
So what to do when you’re busy elsewhere and the second opponent decides to sneak "over the top" trying taking out your Recycler?! Count on it will happen sometimes but no reason to run out of a good game, because this can be real fun..
If you detect that climbing, high red dot on radar then it's about time to call Recycler out of base while you hurry back home. The guy will get to deal with your Bombers and mines in his attempt to follow your Recycler out of base. I caught Sir Stratking dozens of times this way. Sure, you will lose your Recycler sometimes, and lose games because of this, but who cares. You were playing BZ, while that "over the top" stuff isn't even an attempt? Anyway, I can promise you many good laugh’s watching those guys hunting your Recycler..
Use the same defending tactics when off-guard and one of your defending Bombers get sniped.
Once a player went after my Recycler "over the top" while I was in the middle of attacking the other opponent. I had only a minefield as defense and called the Recycler to follow me. He damaged my Recycler bad but got finally blown up and killed by mines. By the time I had destroyed the first base my smoking Recycler arrived there too and I deployed it there..
When playing this map with only 2 players it will be a different game. The host will have a disadvantage when sync-on because of longer way to travel to the third scrap field. However, both players will have to decide if they want to go for it and fight for it. The player who gets the Scrap can afford a strong defense and offense and will be a tough fight. The better DM player has the best chances to survive fighting for the scrap and sometimes it's better to leave it and try to manage with only the Scrap at your corner. Still a great challenge and by using the scrap about the same way as the example above you certainly have a chance to do a good game.
I believe it was Dredd who said once that this map can cause heart aches.. Sometimes the two others will team up on the best player; sometimes two good players kill the weakest player and share the Scrap before they kill off each other. Sometimes you are just unlucky and get attacked from 2 directions. That’s all part of this map and the good thing of having 2 players against you is that it really improves your game. No reason to get mad or leave the game and I’m pretty sure after some 2 vs. you, you have become a better player. Play until the bitter end even when you know you are going to lose. You will be forced to think faster to survive longest possible and that prepares you for taking on better players 1 on 1.
Attacking, or defending against good Stratters, who are good DM players as well, can be rough. You must be patient and clever against those guys. Or maybe run them over with all you got? Attack them (on your ground!), as if they were an entire base; by sending the Bombers after him and follow behind with the Tanks. And always keep rebuilding lost units/Silos and Supplies, and have enough pilots in reserve.
As you may have noticed by now, the succes of the strategy in this example depends on being the first out in the field, ready for fight. Or at least being ready to take on your opponent who might be even faster than you in the opening minutes of game. This is in general important for every game, on every map and against any opponent.
A pack of Tanks, preferably upgradet, is a great tool to get close to the enemies
base/outpost(s).. They cover you while setting up Towers/Supply/Hangar/Silo., and help control the Scrap after fights nearby the opponent..
Practice how to let them fight for/with you, I would say, is as important as working on your
DMskills:
(The single player mission “Wrangling The Fleeing Herd” gives some nice practice. Snipe the CCA Tug at the end of the mission but do not kill the Tug. 5 Czars and 4 fighters are programmed to follow that Tug. Try to kill all those offensive units with 5 tanks following you (don’t upgrade them!), without firing a shot yourself. Is a tough fight. Learns you where you need to be in battle and what stock Grizz's (or Czars) can do for you)
Attackunits most suiteable to back you up (following command) in fight are: Grizz’s, Czars, Scouts, Fighter, NSDF Lighttanks.
Attackunits most suiteable to command to attack targets are: Bombers, upgradet Rockettanks, APC’s, Walkers (especially Golems!), and Howitzers..
Good luck and have fun.
Jòñßlûñd ™
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Jòñßlûñd ;)™
