Commanders: Spread Your Turrets

NSCentral · November 2002

This old strategy takes back to my Starcraft years. Playing as any race, I noticed that ground targets can only attack one target at a time. Noticing that this slows them down, I decided to spread my turrets out so that once 1 turret gets destroyed, it must move on to the next turret.

Too many times did I see the commander place turrets in bad positions. They bunch them up and group them, which makes them less efficient.
If you spread your turrets out, you can do more damage to the enemy. Example:

You have your room, and 3 turrets to be placed.
If you do this: <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'>
An Alien like This: <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'>

can decided whether he wants to try and damage all three or take out one.

But, if you strategically place your turrets like this: <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'>

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> ---------------------- <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'>

The alien can only choose one target, whilst all the other sentries can focus on hitting him. It also provides better running space for your soldiers, and can still effectively clog up the enemies attack.

Any opinions on my technique ? Thanks

FlatlineUTD · November 2002

Your best bet is to place them in a triangle, with the turret factory in the middle. Spacing your turrets out really doesn't matter anymore - any alien player that's played more than 2 games will know to go for the turret factory first. The triangle covers all sides of the factory.

Mindmeldme · November 2002

An excellent point flatline. Worry more about covering the TF then stopping power. The kahraa now target the TF anyways more then the turrets at times. Only add more then 3 or 4 if it's really...really nessesary. Most of the time it'll just be wasted resources because they will hit them from range with fades. Remember...they are they to hold an area from the one or two skulks on patrol...and stall a major advance so you can move up reinforcements..turrets alone will not hold an area...

V_MAN · November 2002

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mindmeld_me @ Nov 22 2002, 03:34 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>An excellent point flatline. Worry more about covering the TF then stopping power. The kahraa now target the TF anyways more then the turrets at times. Only add more then 3 or 4 if it's really...really nessesary. Most of the time it'll just be wasted resources because they will hit them from range with fades. Remember...they are they to hold an area from the one or two skulks on patrol...and stall a major advance so you can move up reinforcements..turrets alone will not hold an area...</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
He speaks the truth people. turrets to me are a waste of RUs because fades can clean out a room of them so fast it hurts <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='sad.gif'>

They are there just to stall an attack long enough for marines to jump through the phase gate to save the day. Besides investing to much in static defences is a defeatist mentality.

Injury · November 2002

Yes, sadly I've seen massive swarms of turrets defending each and every resource tower. One Fade and a Lerk with Umbra is all it takes..

Commanders should consider that placing eight turrets to protect the Horseshoe on ns_eclipse is just wasting resources. For Marines, the resources should be wisely used, after all a Marine right a Light Machine Gun doesn't really have too much of a prayer against a Fade. Why waste 95 resources on uneeded turrets when you can distribute some heavier weapons or completely outfit a Marine (whom is mobile and can inflict much grief).

Automated defenses are nowhere <b>near</b> the effectiveness of a human player. If it doesn't move, it'll take a lot of hurt. Static defenses could never stand up very well to a determined attack. Take the French Maginot Line for example..

Inexorable · November 2002

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Injury @ Nov 22 2002, 02:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><b>One Fade and a Lerk with Umbra is all it takes..</b>
</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
<u>EXACTLY</u>

I try not to build turrets at all if possible. Right now all turrets are good for is warding off lone, small, aliens and the occasional pair of Skulks. Once the Kharaa get 2 hives, don't build turrets anymore, and recycle the ones you've got. Siege if you must, but stop building Sentries. Just today myself, another Fade and a Lerk going by the name of Banana took out Eclipse Command, Triad Generator and Station Access Alpha on Eclipse in less than 3 minutes with Umbra.

All I had to do was tell Banana to run up and Umbra the Eclipse Command Turret Factory. He decided to play along, and everything fell into place after that. The hive outpost fell, and we just blew through the rest of the marine resource spots like they weren't even there. Each time we took out a resourcer, 6+ turrets, the TF and whatever other equipment they happened to have there. If I remember right somebody even came through the Phase Gate at Eclipse Command. Didn't last very long though; he warped into an Umbra cloud directly beside my Fade companion. <i>Munch</i>

Do not build turrets. You might as well just give the resources to the Kharaa with a little note that says "For your 3rd Hive. Love, The Marines"

Commanders: Spread Your Turrets

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