Armour first in nearly 97% of cases without doubt. That is not to say that there are not rare occasions when it will be the other way around however. Never categorically say anything for sure is my moto <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--r3dsk4r3+Nov 25 2003, 06:39 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (r3dsk4r3 @ Nov 25 2003, 06:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> in my personal opinion, armor one is better. when 2.1 focus comes out this will probably change considerably, but who knows. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Actually focus just reinforces armour 1 first. Otherwise your relegating your rines to 1 hit kills.
<!--QuoteBegin--Stoneburg+Oct 30 2003, 08:20 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Stoneburg @ Oct 30 2003, 08:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I do not subscribe to the idea that going Wep1 before Arm1 is a matter of 'preference' or "depends on your Marines". Armor level 1 simply is a lot better simply because 95% of the damage dealt to Marines early game is by skulks biting you, you effectively increase your life by 50%. You can take an extra bite.
This makes a <b>huge</b> difference. Being a rather mediocre skulk, even I don't have trouble taking out Marines with no armor upgrades. Once armor is upgraded, my kill ratio drops <b>drastically</b>. As Com I know how Marines drop like flies once the skulks get close, until the upgrade is done, which is why most of the time I start researching it as teh Marines are leaving base for the first time.
There are two arguments that the people who prefer weapons first use:
1. If the Marines are good they kill the skulks before they get close, and do so even more effectively with weapon upgrades. This is only true in theory, and even in theory it's not even very impressive. Weapins level 1 means it takes <b>one</b> bullet less to kill a skulk. 10 instead of eleven LMG bullets to kill one without carapace, 15 instead of 16 to kill one with. This is a <b>miniscule</b> difference compared to the factual increase in life expectancy given by armor upgrade.
You also need to realise that "killing the skulk before he gets close" is not always a realistic option. If you're entering a room, there might be a skulk around the corner, effectively close enough to bite before you can even theoretically fire 10 shots. Lots of areas on lots of maps have places where you can not even in theory fire 10 rounds before the skulk is up close and personal with you. If multiple skulks are attacking you, even with an aimbot you can't always keep them from arriving at your ankles, simply because it takes time to fire the shots.
2. It makes turrets more effective. This is just false. Weapon upgrades simply have no effect on turrets, try it yourself in game if you don't believe it.
Even the absolutely most amazing shooters I have played with prefer armor first. In fact, many players assume that the com is a complete nublet if he starts researching weapons. I've seen coms go for weapons 3 before armor one, which invariably ends up with a lot of dead Marines and happy skulks, not to mention Lerks becuase armor also protects against spores (at lvl 2 you live about 20% longer, at level 3 almost twice as long).
Many things are preference in NS. You may want to get MT before any upgrades, that's fine. You may prefer to hand out shotguns instead of HMG's, fine. You might like JP's better then HA, that's your choice but <b>please</b> realise that Armor 1 <b>is</b> simply the only choice to make when you're looking towards the armslab for your first upgrade.
(If I can only change one persons mind....) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Agreed, btw: most clan tactics get armor 1 before mostly all upgrades. My clan personally ushally starts this upgrade before even putting up a node.
Sadly in the games where I play marine and don't command, I still see weapons 1 first at least 1/3 of the time. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> ::cry::
Level 1 Armor then get up to Level 3 guns. There isnt a big enough difference in level 2 and levl 1 armor to make it worth it unitl you get HA. I always do this now, even though I personally as a grunt would rather have lvl 3 guns before lvl 1 armor. Course I can avoid gettin jumped by skulks better than your average NS player.
Comments
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually focus just reinforces armour 1 first. Otherwise your relegating your rines to 1 hit kills.
weapon 1, 2, 3
armor 2, 3
thats my order. thought if im cash strapped i do armor 2 before weapon 3 to give HA some more chance
Armor 1
Upgrade armory
Build obs
Weapon 1
Phase tech
Weapon 2
Proto lab
Weapon 3
level 1 armor
upgrade full weapons
finish armor
if you do anything else you are a **** comm.
oh yeah, <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>SENSORY OWNS YOU!</span>
I just start the build sequence as IP, Armory, Arms Lab and Obs for PG's and Armor 1 while a few people rush out for rts
This makes a <b>huge</b> difference. Being a rather mediocre skulk, even I don't have trouble taking out Marines with no armor upgrades. Once armor is upgraded, my kill ratio drops <b>drastically</b>. As Com I know how Marines drop like flies once the skulks get close, until the upgrade is done, which is why most of the time I start researching it as teh Marines are leaving base for the first time.
There are two arguments that the people who prefer weapons first use:
1. If the Marines are good they kill the skulks before they get close, and do so even more effectively with weapon upgrades. This is only true in theory, and even in theory it's not even very impressive. Weapins level 1 means it takes <b>one</b> bullet less to kill a skulk. 10 instead of eleven LMG bullets to kill one without carapace, 15 instead of 16 to kill one with. This is a <b>miniscule</b> difference compared to the factual increase in life expectancy given by armor upgrade.
You also need to realise that "killing the skulk before he gets close" is not always a realistic option. If you're entering a room, there might be a skulk around the corner, effectively close enough to bite before you can even theoretically fire 10 shots. Lots of areas on lots of maps have places where you can not even in theory fire 10 rounds before the skulk is up close and personal with you. If multiple skulks are attacking you, even with an aimbot you can't always keep them from arriving at your ankles, simply because it takes time to fire the shots.
2. It makes turrets more effective. This is just false. Weapon upgrades simply have no effect on turrets, try it yourself in game if you don't believe it.
Even the absolutely most amazing shooters I have played with prefer armor first. In fact, many players assume that the com is a complete nublet if he starts researching weapons. I've seen coms go for weapons 3 before armor one, which invariably ends up with a lot of dead Marines and happy skulks, not to mention Lerks becuase armor also protects against spores (at lvl 2 you live about 20% longer, at level 3 almost twice as long).
Many things are preference in NS. You may want to get MT before any upgrades, that's fine. You may prefer to hand out shotguns instead of HMG's, fine. You might like JP's better then HA, that's your choice but <b>please</b> realise that Armor 1 <b>is</b> simply the only choice to make when you're looking towards the armslab for your first upgrade.
(If I can only change one persons mind....) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed, btw: most clan tactics get armor 1 before mostly all upgrades. My clan personally ushally starts this upgrade before even putting up a node.
When I research armour first, marines live longer, weapon uppgrades makes no difference ingame for me as a comm.
The real difference comes with lvl 3/3 however, with really sharp bullets and alot of armour...
BTW: Who ever goes for HA before lvl 3/3?
-Red