Jetpacks
briDge
Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17583Members
Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17583Members
<div class="IPBDescription">are NOT useless</div> I am seeing too much heavy armor and Heavy weaponry.
The new jetpacks have decreased thrust, yes, but if you simply take a minute to adjust, they are VERY effective tools. Something many people missed was that Flayra designed the kharaa to no long have dramatic counters to the Jetpacks early in the game, because JP's now take longer to research and require more research.
<b>Why should I use Jetpacks?</b>
Lets assume a commander has aquired one hive. And lets assume the Kharaa have aquired two. Lets assess the realistic threats to an experienced jetpacker, even in their nerfed state, based on the two hive abilities.
<i>Leap (only in the hands of a very good skulk)
Spikes
Spores</i>
Now lets assume the same situation except the commander has chosen to get heavy armor instead. Lets assess the threats of heavy armor.
<i>Bite
Leap
Spikes
Swipe
Stomp
Devour
Gore
<b>UMBRA <- BIG one</b></i>
I put emphasis on the umbra because of the lack of mobility that Heavy armor have. The only real way to counter umbra unless you have a grenade launcher is by forcing the alien out of the umbra. As a heavy armor that is not an option, because your mobility is so low. Jetpackers do not have this problem. A well coordinated alien team simply sprays umbra into a whole train of heavy armor, and the onos roll in. There isn't much of anything any marine can do about that.
<b>What do I equip my Jetpackers with?</b>
Your first instinct will be HMG's. Resist that urge. When a skulk, fade or onos closes distance in on your jetpacker (and they will) you do not want that to become an advantage for the skulk, fade or onos. You want that to give advantage to your Jetpacker. The shotgun does an amazing amount of damage at level 3, killing a carapaced fade in two hits if all pellets connect, and a redemption onos in 5.
Grendade launchers will be very important of course, as they encounter offensive chambers along any path to your waypoints assigned. Other than that there should be no use for your upgraded armory.
<b>So in conclusion for the people who don't like to read.</b>
Jetpacks are not a waste of resources
Shotguns are better than HMG's
The new jetpacks have decreased thrust, yes, but if you simply take a minute to adjust, they are VERY effective tools. Something many people missed was that Flayra designed the kharaa to no long have dramatic counters to the Jetpacks early in the game, because JP's now take longer to research and require more research.
<b>Why should I use Jetpacks?</b>
Lets assume a commander has aquired one hive. And lets assume the Kharaa have aquired two. Lets assess the realistic threats to an experienced jetpacker, even in their nerfed state, based on the two hive abilities.
<i>Leap (only in the hands of a very good skulk)
Spikes
Spores</i>
Now lets assume the same situation except the commander has chosen to get heavy armor instead. Lets assess the threats of heavy armor.
<i>Bite
Leap
Spikes
Swipe
Stomp
Devour
Gore
<b>UMBRA <- BIG one</b></i>
I put emphasis on the umbra because of the lack of mobility that Heavy armor have. The only real way to counter umbra unless you have a grenade launcher is by forcing the alien out of the umbra. As a heavy armor that is not an option, because your mobility is so low. Jetpackers do not have this problem. A well coordinated alien team simply sprays umbra into a whole train of heavy armor, and the onos roll in. There isn't much of anything any marine can do about that.
<b>What do I equip my Jetpackers with?</b>
Your first instinct will be HMG's. Resist that urge. When a skulk, fade or onos closes distance in on your jetpacker (and they will) you do not want that to become an advantage for the skulk, fade or onos. You want that to give advantage to your Jetpacker. The shotgun does an amazing amount of damage at level 3, killing a carapaced fade in two hits if all pellets connect, and a redemption onos in 5.
Grendade launchers will be very important of course, as they encounter offensive chambers along any path to your waypoints assigned. Other than that there should be no use for your upgraded armory.
<b>So in conclusion for the people who don't like to read.</b>
Jetpacks are not a waste of resources
Shotguns are better than HMG's
Comments
I guess JP might be good if the player knows how to use them properly, but IMO it's largly a waste of 15 res. I've downed refinery hive on bast before with a jp/shotty (btw shotty or gl would probably be best for jp), but that was using very sneaky travelling.... everyone else was taken down on route.
A couple of JP-Shottys are the ultimate anti onos tool, as shottys deal enough quick damage to counter redemp, while the jetpacks will counter all the other abilities.
Blink right next to him, swipe, *shotgun blast*, swipe, *shotgun blast*, I'm dead.
a 10 credit marine took out a 50 credit fade <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> Never, will I go fade again before I have acid rocket.
As a marine, yeah, I can freakin wipe out that skulk running by, but I'll let him go, so I can wait for the following gorge.
EDIT ALL F WERE R'S ARRRR
Spikes and OC's really hurt, and are honestly better at hitting a jper in 2.0 (no funky arced animation for spikes, spit never hit jack, more reasonable jp physics). Neither do jack against HA. A combined force will allow you to use the jp when they are in an advantage, and back them off when they are not. A group consisting only of jp'ers will be forced to engage the enemy in unfavorable conditions, and can be slaughtered.
HA is fairly good at everything. JP is extremely good at some things, and not nearly worth the res for others. Use both in at least a somewhat intelligent way, and it'll all work out.