Question on alien resource towers
weeschwee
Join Date: 2010-11-19 Member: 75031Members
Join Date: 2010-11-19 Member: 75031Members
Hey everyone!
I was playing a game the other day and while myself and a few marines were moving out into alien territory, we were killing their resource towers. The marine commander adamantly urged us to only kill the cysts and move on since it eventually kills the resource tower. My question is, does the resource tower still gather resources while it's dying? Does it still gather if the cyst chain is broken? I tried to listen to the commander, but I knew killing their RT would set them back if they want to rebuild it. Also, it was a safe way to make sure they couldn't gather anymore resources. And a small group of marines can effectively kill RT's quickly anyway.
I searched the forums here, but I couldn't find an answer. Sorry if a similar thread already exists.
I was playing a game the other day and while myself and a few marines were moving out into alien territory, we were killing their resource towers. The marine commander adamantly urged us to only kill the cysts and move on since it eventually kills the resource tower. My question is, does the resource tower still gather resources while it's dying? Does it still gather if the cyst chain is broken? I tried to listen to the commander, but I knew killing their RT would set them back if they want to rebuild it. Also, it was a safe way to make sure they couldn't gather anymore resources. And a small group of marines can effectively kill RT's quickly anyway.
I searched the forums here, but I couldn't find an answer. Sorry if a similar thread already exists.
Comments
I was playing a game the other day and while myself and a few marines were moving out into alien territory, we were killing their resource towers. The marine commander adamantly urged us to only kill the cysts and move on since it eventually kills the resource tower. My question is, does the resource tower still gather resources while it's dying? Does it still gather if the cyst chain is broken? I tried to listen to the commander, but I knew killing their RT would set them back if they want to rebuild it. Also, it was a safe way to make sure they couldn't gather anymore resources. And a small group of marines can effectively kill RT's quickly anyway.
I searched the forums here, but I couldn't find an answer. Sorry if a similar thread already exists.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In both cases the RT continues to gather. It does not stop gathering until it is dead. Your commander was bad, you should always prioritize killing the RT over killing the cysts (unless you can secure a marine extractor at that location, they make sure the infestation is clear early enough to drop the extractor as soon as the harvester is killed)
It takes something like 3 full minutes for a dead cyst network to pop and all of the RTS on the network to die. An RT alone without infestation lasts close to 2 minutes. It's just a big risk letting the aliens potentially regrow cyst network without losing any incoming res flow. Much preferable to just minimize your risk and take the 15 some odd seconds it takes to rip down the node, and at VERY least cost the opposing team 10 res.
Unless its an Onos with 2 Georges!
I have found myself attacking the cyst first then attacking the harvester if I feel I can get both. My thought (right or wrong) is that while it does take a few swings longer it gives the other team less notification as to what I'm doing? It also requires the comm to recyst before dropping the rt. I noticed when I do it enough in game comms start double cysting or the jig is up and I instantly notice cysts being placed after or while im killing it, then at that point I just go for RTS the rest of the game.
And it takes time to connect the RT again, due to the fact that new cysts do not use the "old" infestation.
But if it was a good khamm you should focus the RT, because he will replace the cysts immediately.
Another interesting thing is:
if the khamm was replacing cysts all of the sudden, sometimes it is an indication that lifeforms are on the way =)
In conclusion: it depends. as always =D
For example, if you killed a single cyst but this was the main choke point for a many routes, and you proceeded towards the hive and killed a couple more (distant from the first) it was doing more damage than just killing the rt (as you were damaging also the other routes).
If your commanded asked to kill cyst and to push the hive that was just deployed, it was a right decision, for example: you slow just some seconds to damage the chain, but moved to the prioritized target
For example, if you killed a single cyst but this was the main choke point for a many routes, and you proceeded towards the hive and killed a couple more (distant from the first) it was doing more damage than just killing the rt (as you were damaging also the other routes).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This isn't right.
Killing cysts is a waste of time in 99 out of 100 cases.
Even if you kill 5 cysts, it only takes the alien time about 5-6 seconds and 5 res to replace those cysts. Even if you stand around killing the new cysts, you have to keep the chain down for over 1-2 minutes before you are causing significant damage to alien resources nodes, and over 3 or 4 minutes before any harvesters go down. Holding an area this long, isn't practical and generally isn't going to be hurting the alien team very much.
Killing a harvester ends up costing the alien team some where between 10-20 res, at a minimum, if they put the harvester immediately. It can cost them a lot more if they can't put it up immediately, like if they are low on res or you stand around and deny the location.
There are exactly 2 times when killing a cyst is worth while:
1. In order to build some where, you need to clear out the infestation
2. to prevent the alien commander from popping mines with infestation around a base or phase gate.
Any other time, if you are killing cysts you are wasting time.
I think that losing an hive just placed is more costly than a rt killed.
but if i dont need it: kill the cyst then crags then rt.
cyst first so it helps doing damage.
The damage down by being off infestation is so low it is laughable.
The damage down by being off infestation is so low it is laughable.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The amount of times a kham doesn't notice stuff off cyst until too late.
I've lost count when RTs / Shades / Shifts have died....
I've lost count when RTs / Shades / Shifts have died....<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
don't base your strategy / plans / actions off the assumption that it will work because your opponent is bad. That is just teaching yourself bad habits.
A better commander wouldn't go brain dead in the hive, and would have re-cysted properly. If your tactics hinge on your opponent playing poorly, or making mistakes, you are going to lose badly against people who have their act together.
On the other hand, I'm not actually sure if my way is faster or just going straight for the tower is though.
However, I will not go out of my way to destroy every cyst I see. It's a total waste of time, it reveals your position, and it leaves you quite vulnerable. The only exception is if you have a flamethrower, 'cause it takes no effort to destroy cyst chains with a flamethrower.
Plan for your opponent to be good and you will never be unpleasantly surprised.
Anyway, YMMV... it depends on if you are alone, how much time you think you have before the aliens start running in to stop you, how close to your spawn you are... that sort of thing.
Ultimately, the goal is to kill the RT, the fastest way to do that is to hatchet it early and often.
On the topic of killing cysts in general... sometimes you really have to... cutting a cyst chain from bar to cafeteria on docking is critical to holding cafeteria in many situations. If you don't, they can fill cafeteria with cysts and start dropping unpleasant things there or prevent you from building up your own structures. In this case, focus only on the cysts at the doorways to rooms and don't get too close (use your pistol). Again, its highly situational, but the goal is to prevent new cysts from being built down-stream, not being a one-man-anti-cyst-machine.
Also, I have killed a alien RT and left the cysts then came back 1 minute later to see a new RT being built. This is awesome, i call that another -10 res for aliens!
BUT, it seems like it's best to just listen to your commander, it keeps teams together, it keeps frustration down. Right now marines aren't doing too hot so doing something a lil different isn't the worst idea in the world.
On the other hand, I'm not actually sure if my way is faster or just going straight for the tower is though.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
it is faster to just kill the res tower with your axe. The starving dps is pretty low and it takes quite a while for it to kick in. I don't remember the specifics but it only takes about 30 seconds for a marine to take down a harvester with an axe. I think it takes over a minute for an rt to die from starvation.
I'm not talking about doing one or the other. I already know the starvation dps is pretty low. I'm saying whether attacking the nearest cyst THEN focusing the RT is faster or slower than ignoring the cyst and going straight for the RT.