Deep Penetration Onos

Morat · November 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">In from behind...</div> This will work best in maps where the command chair is on a different level from the rest of the marine base, ideally behind glass and up a ladder, but try it elsewhere and see how it goes. My recipe for utter chaos in the marine base as tried last night is as follows:

-Stay skulk but take regeneration, cloaking and adrenaline

-Head for the marine base the sneakiest way possible and avoid enemy contact.

-When you reach the base wait outside for a wave of marines to leave, then enter. Your goal is to reach the command chair area alive. Ideally you should not be spotted by any human players or you'll be hunted down, but you should be able to dodge and jump the turrets well enough. It doesn't matter if marines hear the turrets firing and come back, they will likely assume the turrets got you.

-Once you reach the command chair find a quiet corner and go cloaked to regen any health lost. Approach the command chair and cloak again, then evolve into Onos. At this stage it provides much amusement for your team if you tell them what you're up to, but don't make the mistake of using global chat <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'>

-When your team next attacks the base, or after a wave of marines have just left, hit charge and pound the command chair

-When the marines pound up the ladders for you keep attacking the command chair until you get a bit low on health then stop attacking, move off to one side and cloak.

<i><b>This is the good bit, if you pull this off you're laughing...</i></b>

-Evolve into Skulk. Instantly you change from a huge cloaked target the size of a barn, to a tiny cloaked gestation sac. If you're lucky 99% of their rounds are now going over your head and attacking marines assume that you're dead. If you moved away from the chair then you should be in a position where they won't run into you while they move to repair the chair.

-As soon as your health regens rinse and repeat. Unless the marines are really not clued up you might only get one more chance, so make it count.

Yep it uses a lot of resources, but if your team is dominating the map you should have plenty, this is an end-game maneouvre.

Spura · November 2002

This is one of the more useless tactics I've ever seen. I'm a noob and I play only kharaa but I know this wont work. You think you are the first who thought of that cloaked size reduction? Anyway it won't work because Marines WON'T think they got you, cos it displays on the HUD who killed whom if they would get you, and since in your case there won't be any message player1 killed player2, thy won't be fooled and commander will do sensor sweep. And it will uncloak you. And besides by the time aliens have 3 hives humans have MANY observatories(at least one in the main base), and cloaking si therefore useless. In NS_hera is jump with skulk behind the command chair and so I can chew it without getting shot from marines or commander if he exits the chair. They have to go behind the chair to hit me. This is when I use xenocide. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

XHydralisk · November 2002

you know how much money it would cost to go from skulk - onos - skulk - onos?

FrickenMoron · November 2002

Bad Idea
But I like skulking around near the commanders chair, especially on hera.
Once i got in as a skulk, evolved into a gorge and placed a lot of defence chambers in the commanders room (it was the beginng of the map, so no sieges) Then I placed about 5 offense chambers on the outside room and instantly evolved back into a skulk. While I was smiting the CC, the offense chambers held back the pesky marines desperadely trying to save themselves from being doomed.
That was a really fun round for us Aliens <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

Morat · November 2002

Before I answer my detractors I just want to say one thing. This tactic is not likely to work. However, if you're an Onos, you're attacking the command chair and you're down to your last 100 hp then <b>it's worth a shot</b>. You're going to die anyway, right? You may say that it's not worth pounding that chair as they'll just repair it, but that means marines not defending the front door, a commander low on resources having to buy welders, and an increased level of chaos in their base.

There's more to this stuff than taking down a CC in one rush. You're telling the enemy team they're playing against a sneaky lot that managed to get to the CC undetected, that know the game mechanics and are to be feared. Anything that spreads FUD on the marine team will help you in subsequent rounds if it makes them more defensive of their initial spawn.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>by the time aliens have 3 hives humans have MANY observatories</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
I've yet to see a single functioning observatory in any end-game situation. Maybe they get built in the mid game, but I've not seen one. I'll just clarify that, I've <i>never</i> seen an operational marine radar dish in the whole time I've been playing Kharaa. I dunno why, it'd be my first upgrade. I've posted a separate topic on this, because I just don't understand why they're not getting built in the games I've played.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>You think you are the first who thought of that cloaked size reduction</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Nope. But this is a forum to share ideas, and someone coming along new might not have thought of it. Heck, I admit it won't work against a clued up marine team.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>cos it displays on the HUD who killed whom </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
That's why you do it co-ordinated with your team attacking the front door. Much chaos ensues and success is slightly more likely.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>you know how much money it would cost to go from skulk - onos - skulk - onos? </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
144 from memory. I doubt you'll get to do it twice. A drop in the ocean at the end-game though Perhaps you didn't read the end of my post:

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Yep it uses a lot of resources, but if your team is dominating the map you should have plenty, this is an end-game maneouvre.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

Most of all, this is just something fun to do when you're tearing up the marine command centre in the end-game. Heck if you're lucky you might get a result at the end of the mid-game. If it's not for you don't do it, but it worked for me. You're not going to get to do it more than once, but it's good fun.

HeadFeast · November 2002

It's true that it's sweet to get the drop on Mr. Command Center, but most marines I play against are voracious; they want to see your alien guts spatter the walls at any cost, even moreso if you're in their base. And they will easily find you, in most cases. If they didn't see you moving in the first place, Observatories are quite common for me to see in end-games (Marines, understandably, don't like cloaking, and they want to make it less useful for you). Evolving to Onos right next to the command center isn't the best idea, because the commander can easily say "OMG THERE IS A ALIEN EVOLVING NEXT TO CC" and while you're a quivering egg-sac, they'll blast you to pieces. Maybe you can evolve to an Onos up there without dying, but don't expect to make it out of that room alive once you become one.

I do like the idea of getting the CC unawares, but a good commander will catch you quick, quick, quick. To be fair, the fact is, the aliens CAN do it, but they have got to have tons of luck.

MercenaryForHire · November 2002

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Morat @ Nov 21 2002, 05:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>There's more to this stuff than taking down a CC in one rush. You're telling the enemy team they're playing against a sneaky lot that managed to get to the CC undetected, that know the game mechanics and are to be feared. Anything that spreads FUD on the marine team will help you in subsequent rounds if it makes them more defensive of their initial spawn.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
I don't think you understand the mindset of the typical jarhead.

There's only one thing required to spread FUD - <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'> charging the gates. A typical Marine team response is:

"OMFG THY HAV ONOS WE LOSE!!1"
"gg"
"COMM I NEED HA YOU (string of expletives)"
"OMFGONOS"

Nowhere in there is "Open fire!" or "Weld that S.O.B!" And certainly when a wounded Onos goes off to retreat, no one ever follows it except me. And I'm happy to say, I've pistol-whipped one from behind while he galloped off into the distance. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>That's why you do it co-ordinated with your team attacking the front door. Much chaos ensues and success is slightly more likely.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
I wouldn't rely on the entire Marine team being dumb enough to fall for that one. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'> If I'm hosing an Onos with bullets and I don't see it slump down on my screen, I'm going to keep shooting. If there's no blood splatters, I'm going up there to find out why.

- M4H

Neoskeptic · November 2002

Actually it doesn't matter what order you build, in terms of being able to build more when you lose a hive. what matters is WHICH hive you're about to lose. remember, even if you build DCs second, if you lose the first hive, you lose sensory or movement. It's important to note the chamber icon beside the hive being attacked. That indicates which hive is being attacked and which chamber type you are about to lose the ability to build. If you value building DCs so much, then make sure that you are rushing to the defense of the hive that is associated with DCs.

Benolan · November 2002

It's real easy in forums to keep saying why something wouldn't work.. if you do this, I'll just do that.. or if you do that, I'll just do this...

Wacky things like this have a chance to catch a team off guard.. it's no different than a football team doing a run play on 3rd and 30.. sometimes it works because it's not what makes sense to do and the opponent isn't expecting it.. Usually it doesn't work, sometimes you get lucky.

It's no fun to always do the logical thing <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

bitnine · November 2002

I don't think the strategy is all that bad, except for the "hide and do it again" part. I'd try to coordinate this with some of my teammates attacking instead, especially if they are attacking another part of the map. An onos at the command console is perhaps the best way to get marines to rush to their spawn and leave behind every other point on the made. Hell, you could make it a fade and you'd get most of their attention. You just try to survive as long as possible and half the marine team will dally there after you're dead, repairing and putting up defenses and staring at the ceiling.

Alarik · November 2002

if you had actually ever pulled this off, it would have made for a funny story, but there is no way it is even close to a viable tactic, not even as a funny one-time clever trick kind. good tactics dont really on trying for a fluke...if you have to rely on sheer dumb luck, then do it, but its bad business to plan on it. so, uhhh...yeah, that would be funny to do, but i wouldnt go out of my way to try it.

dark_sun · November 2002

i think its a FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY (would have used one "obsenity" but u know the boards) tactic, ive managed to get into a marine base and skulk the CC quite often, not skulk it to death, but enough to make the commander get out to try to ge me....

Now admitedly this would require a bit of luck BUT imagine the marine chat

"OMFG ONOS HITTING COMMAND CENTER HELP"

rofl, its little ideas like this one that give the game so much (as useless as some might consider them to be).

Keep the crazy impracticle ideas coming <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

-Dave

Redford · November 2002

This dubious plan would only work if the base 1. has no observitory, and 2. no turrets protecting the command chair. As the observitory is needed for the arms lab, then therefore the phase gate, the chances of finding a marine base without one 3 hives into the game is almost nil. and even so, why do this when the rest of your team should be attacking the marine spawn until the dirty apes die?

kID-Icarus · November 2002

bad tactic...
sorry sir

Rokiyo · November 2002

I haven't quite done it with an Onos, but that strat is still bloody good with a skulk as long as you are on a pub.

What you really want to do is grab cloaking, silence, regen. The silence will halth all noises from your cloaking and your regen. On ns-bast, use the airlock to get into the back part of the marine base. It's a fairly small gap between a safe corner and the inside of the comm chair's room, so you can make it without taking damage. Start chomping at the comm chair, stopping every now and again to listen for marines. When one spawns, stop attacking and go cloak in a corner. If the commander has had the brains to tell people to come help him, they'll come up but hopefully wont find you. If you have a spot of bad luck and they starting shooting you (remember: newly spawned marines with lmgs) just before you silently cloak, you can then pretend that you really were using redemption. (Sometimes blood does not spray from cloak ppl).

Once they get welding on the cc, kill the welder and get chomping again. They will now know for certain you are up there, but the average commander wont think to scanner sweep you. Just sit still until the marines get bored and walk off, or turn their backs to weld. You can carry on for a heck of a long time like this.

Kieran · November 2002

It's actually a pretty interesting plan. If you're attacked as you're raping the CC, you could just turn around, parasite, and gore any marines that come up behind you.

Hirebrand · November 2002

An interesting way to get an Onos past defenses, for sure!

Ablack_ratE · November 2002

i came up with this sooooo long ago. anyway its nice to see other people thinking sneaky!

Nimbus · November 2002

This entire plan is trivial since it's game over for marines anyways once aliens have three secure hives with a lot of resources.

edit: well, unless the aliens are complete jag offs that is

bitnine · November 2002

I'm thinking it's more useful if they are still strong and in danger of sieging your third hive. Onos at their spawn gets them all to run back there and stay there for a while, while the rest of the team destroys every marine structure near their third hive.

littlewild · November 2002

...A simple variation of this will be to morph into fade rather than <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'>.
Personally, a fade will be much more effective. With regeneration and adrenalin + the fact you can shoot and blink, you will have an easier time dealing with the <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> or <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'>

Nailer · November 2002

Ive pulled it of with lerks... BUt they killed me 1 second befor the CC went down.. Bad luck... This happened 3 times. Its a REALLY good way of winning if the marines are getting the upper hand

Pika-Cthulhu · November 2002

Nice strat, I like the sneaky very much. My own effort (Rush at CC while whole team is away as skulk) Managed to take it down to red (Several rushes, I died two time IIRC) SPammed teamchat saying the CC is down to low health RUSH IT. Nobody did, they all ran about doing their own thing (Pubs, blech) but lucky for me the comm was stupid and didnt issue welders, or his team didnt want to use them, so I eventually took out the CC with I think help from one other skulk, we then ran around frantically searching for another CC, we left the base for the marines to play with, broken toys n all, and found another CC sitting out in the middle of a corridor (apparently the Comm had JUST enough sense to put another CC down, but not enough to hide it well) we began to chomp chomp away, destroyed it, while the rest of the team destroyed the MArine base, and the lone MArine left just sat in a corner crying, waiting for his death. In maps where the CC is on another level than the rest, its a good idea (not mine his) but id rather put several creatures up tehre (1 to go lurk, 2 to go fade) who can really mess things up in a nasty sort of way (Beats getting em past some horrid turret farms (that is if theres a handy vent nearby, HANDY THAT!).

TheGunslinger · November 2002

I like this idea. A cloaked Ono beside the one and only undefended CC. Have your team attack their base hard in a suicide attack. With that distraction, I could easily take down the CC before anyone knew I was up there. You would even have time to execute a Primal Scream + Charge while Goring combo.

Unfortunatly, if you have three hives and the marines are missing a backup CC, radar <b>and</b> defenses around their one-and-only, there is little need for strategy. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

Deep Penetration Onos

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