Planetside
<div class="IPBDescription">A soon to be nublet at it</div> Right-o. I've just ordered Planetside, and the Core Combat add-on, for the arrival of broadband (which I have been waiting bleedin' AGES for), and I wanted to get some playing tips from people *WHO ACTUALLY PLAY IT* (I know who you are too)
I have been recommended to get pilot certification, and go for the transport pilot/heavy bomber route, or go for the Engineers certifications, and help the vehicle advances.
A few questions beforehand that need answering.
1. Does PlanetSide suffer from Character Regret?
2. If so, which would be the most versatile route for a character?
3. If not, which specialist routes are most useful to the team as a whole. (Those of you who played NS with me will know that I do not rambo, unless forced to).
Bwah cheers for the inevitable replies (or Nem0's inevitable lock! ^_^)
*edit*
And please, no one tell me "How much better WoW/GW is over PlanetSide". I don't do "Traditional" MMO's
I have been recommended to get pilot certification, and go for the transport pilot/heavy bomber route, or go for the Engineers certifications, and help the vehicle advances.
A few questions beforehand that need answering.
1. Does PlanetSide suffer from Character Regret?
2. If so, which would be the most versatile route for a character?
3. If not, which specialist routes are most useful to the team as a whole. (Those of you who played NS with me will know that I do not rambo, unless forced to).
Bwah cheers for the inevitable replies (or Nem0's inevitable lock! ^_^)
*edit*
And please, no one tell me "How much better WoW/GW is over PlanetSide". I don't do "Traditional" MMO's
Comments
The game itself revolves mostly around zergs on other bases with you and your friends doing your own thing within the zerg -- everyone has a different agenda than you, and you hardly commicate outside your group. Sometimes though, a really spectacular attack can be pulled off if each side communicates well with everyone on their side. I had a particular fight on the desert continent which took about three hours with each side fighting back and forth, myself being a sniper so I saw it all from afar. The game certainly has its moments.
Class wise with tips, I suggest starting out as a "basic cannonfodder infantryman." Get all the close combat gear you can, like an upgraded armor suit and assault weapons. Get with groups, find an outfit, and just <i>watch</i> what people do when you fight. You'll find something that you like doing that way so you can specialize more in that area. Just like the pilots, the game isnt a traditional combat game, so a lot of things are slightly different than your first perspective. Thats honostly all I can tell you.
Myself? I loved being a sniper and HARTing (i think thats what it was called) by enemy bases, then finding some obsurd way to get to an obscure piece of cover, picking off infantrymen and laying low before firing off another shot. The lone commando who did the scout work and told several groups which way to go. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Have fun! The game certainly has its flaws, but if you've got a nice group of friends, its a friggen blast -- just like any MMORPG!
Lt.Patch:
First thing to do when you go into the game is to go through all of the VR training. What the VR training centre is, is a place where you can try out all of the weapons and vehicles that your empire has access to, without having to spend any cert points. The major benefit of this is that you get XP (battle experience that is) for every new weapon you pick up, so if you go through all of the weapons and vehicles (making sure to get into the gunner seat of each vehicle as well), you can go up about 3-4 battle ranks before you even see a real enemy.
This isn't a seperate part of the game, it's in your empire's "Sanctuary", but I can't give directions unless I'm actually in the game, sorry. I think when you first start there's a waypoint to it anyway.
Certs I'd recommend you get right away (or as soon as you can get them):
<b>Medium Assault.</b> Sonic (if he reads this thread) will second this. The starter weapons (which everyone has access too) aren't really that bad, but if that's all you're using, you'll get chewed up and spat out by every other player out there (unless there's more than one person shooting at them and/or they're already damaged).
This cert gives you access to the Sweeper shotgun (at least I think that's what it's called) which is one of the most useful weapons in the game IMO (only the Jackhammer can beat it up close, and that's only because the Jackhammer is basically a beefed up Sweeper) and the Punisher, which is a crappy machine gun with an underslung grenade launcher which can be quite useful.
It also gives you access to whatever your empire's special medium assault weapon is, but they're all good (except the NC's is the worst imo, but I bet Nil_IQ will have something to say about that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->).
<b>Air Calvery (Scout).</b> This gives you access to the Mosquito, which is the fastest aircraft in the game (and i'm fairly sure it's the fastest vehicle at all). It can generally outrun a reaver (and unless you've been playing a while, you shouldn't be attacking Reavers in a mossie), and it's just very useful to get from place to place. I agree with haze that Piloting isn't exactly easy with all the Anti Air around, but the mossie will usually get you somewhere fast enough so that you can just bail out (ALT+G. Learn it. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->) before you get killed.
<b>Reinforced Exosuit (more commonly, Rexo).</b> This is the heaviest armour (apart from the MAX unit which isn't technically armour, it's more like a walking vehicle), and also lets you carry two rifles as well as more ammo. The agile exosuit (which everyone automatically has access to, but you don't spawn with it) has 100 armour points, and the rexo has 200. It's slower, but tough, great for base assaults/defences. You can't pilot a mosquito in it, however, or any other aircraft or vehicle except the Harrasser (which is useless really, unless you're doing LLU runs). Although I think you <i>might</i> be able to drive the ATV vehicles (basically quadbikes and a floating thing) with it, but I'm not sure.
Aside from these, just mess about in the VR arena to get a feel for all the other weapons in the game. Sniping is actually quite good now that i'm used to it, but it really does take a lot of getting used to (moving the crosshair makes you wildly inaccurate, so you have to basically predict where someone will go and keep your crosshair there and time the shot right, as it's not insta-hit). Special Assault is also extremely useful, as the Thumper (a kickass grenade launcher) is very useful against large groups of people (especially with the plasma grenade), and the Rocket Rifle helps against armoured targets.
Other than that, just play the game and see what's going on. If you create a character on the Werner server, add "XStickman" to your friends list and /t me if i'm online if you have any questions.
Also, if you go into the target range, and just equip every gun, then go to the vehicle VR and get in every vehicle, you'll get BR3 in a little under 1/2 an hour, giving you an extra 2 cert points to work with.
But if you're like me and didn't have a steady group, then here's what you need (please note that the last time I played was just before the big mech thingies came out).
My last solo build (as best I can remember it):
-Infiltrator suit. Going invisible is key for solo players to be effective.
-The respawner vehicle, I forget what it's called. Drive one of these badboys to somewhere in the general area of your target, but far enough away so that people won't even be looking for it where it is.
-Basic hacking.
You *should* be able to get that combo almost instantaneously. The idea early on is to practice your skills in NOT DYING. A good infiltrator is all about knowing how to be sneaky.
As soon as you hit rank 6, get yourself the audio amplifier. This has seriously saved my **** more times than I can count. Whenever you hear someone, just crouch and stay still. It's good for hunting other infiltrators too.
Once you get up a few levels. Either aim for advanced hacking or for engineering->advanced engineering.
Once you get advanced hacking, you can HART drop near a portal to a locked continent. Go into the locked continent, hack one of their own vehicle terminals, buy the respawner, park it off in a ditch somewhere, and go about your evil deeds without interruption.
With advanced engineering, you can sneak up on people (namely snipers and max's), plant a high explosive right behind their butt, walk a safe distance away, blow the **** outta them. And see everyone around them go apeshit. If that's not your fancy, running around placing turrets behind enemy lines in combat zones is a VERY good distraction so your faction can press the offensive.
Or, as a specialized alternative to advanced engineer, once you get advanced hacking. Get a good MAX cert for anti-infantry. And practice up on a technique I like to call "The ScatterMAX Surprise". You sneak into an enemy spawn room while invisible, hack a terminal, buy yourself that anti-infantry max suit, and go nuts on the confused people all around you wondering where that MAX just came from.
Oh, and random note, for a second implant in the solo build, definetly get the silencer one. Then you can *run* around a lot more without fear of being detected.
...dammit, now I wanna play planetside again.
I probably wouldn't have touched the training room, if you lot hadn't told me that not only do you learn the weapons, but you also get Exp for just equipping the weapons.
Many thanks, and you should be seeing me in Planetside in about a weeks time, if DSL gets activated on time...
Me to... <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
That reminds me of C&C:Renegade. It makes me want to buy a PS account just to try that.
And from what I've played (not a lot):
-Medium assault is pretty essential (Except for infiltrators, they can't carry rifles)
-Vehicles are hard to fight with (Unless you're not a complete newbie like me). I can't remember how many times I got my newbie **** kicked by someone with a vehicle crappier than mine.
(goes off to look at it)
(actually it's one year two months I believe)
Ok, the first tip I have to give you is join the TR. We're the best. Maybe not in terms of weaponry, but we have the best colour scheme and zee stylish goggles.
Now then, to actually answer your questions, which everyone else has actually already done quite well. I've put an ADD summary at the bottom if you can't be bothered to read it all.
1. Does PlanetSide suffer from Character Regret?
Nope, there are no "classes" as such, only certifications. You can learn as many as your cert points (which go up with rank) allow, but you can only FORGET one per 24 hours. You might regret your choice of empire if you get nerfed in the next patch though. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
2. If so, which would be the most versatile route for a character?
If you want to be versatile, you need an indoor option and an outdoor option. I recommend the following:
Indoors:
Re-inforced exo-suit: extra armour, an extra rifle slot and more inventory space, it's win-win! Only downside is you can only driver open-topped vehicles whilst wearing one, although you can still be a gunner.
Medium assault: Because you're not going to get far with your standard issue suppressor <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Heavy assault: Optional. If you want ultimate indoor pwnage, take this. If you're TR i'd be inclined to say don't bother because our HA weapon is a bit pants.
Anti-vehicular/Special assault/Sniping: I'd recommend one of these, but only one at a time. Special assault is good for flushing out guys from around the corner, whilst anti-vehicular gives you a fighting chance against those dang MAX units. The cert really should be called "Anti-MAX" because you're sure as hell not going to be killing any vehicles with any anti-vehicular guns. Sniping does exactly what it says on the tin.
Engineering: You can heal yourself with medpacks, but the only way to repair your armour is with a BANK, and for that you need engineering. Definately a must-have.
For your outdoor option, I recommend the following:
Cert the Mosquito; it is essential. You really can't do without this one. If you just need a way to get to the fight quickly, a mosquito is the way to go. Also excellent for dogfighting and picking off unsupported snipers.
As for ground vehicles, I really don't know what to suggest. Most ground vehicles require several crew to be effective, so bear that in mind. You might like to try the light scout bundle, for five certs you get a lot of vehicles, which gives you a lot of options. Just bear in mind the harraser is near useless <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
ADD summary:
Must have certs: Mosquito, Rexo, Engineering.
If you want to kill****: Heavy assault, Reaver, Anti-air MAX.
If you want to be a support player: Advanced hacking, Advanced medical, Engineering, Ground support.
I probably wouldn't have touched the training room, if you lot hadn't told me that not only do you learn the weapons, but you also get Exp for just equipping the weapons.
Many thanks, and you should be seeing me in Planetside in about a weeks time, if DSL gets activated on time... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I will say that infiltrator suit is fun, but it's not exactly as easy as THEM made it out to be.
1) You can be seen when running quite easily (it's like a skulk, you see a blur, and after fighting outside for a while you start to really notice them) and if someone can get a few shots off at you, you're dead (the infiltration suit has 0 armour, and that's not an exaggeration, it literally offers no protection).
2) Darklight is a <b>must have</b> for pretty much every troop out there. What darklight does is basically invert the colours that you see (it doesn't exactly invert them but it gets the idea accross), limits your view range to about 25-30m, but makes cloaked suits glow white. If someone sees you running (or even just suspects that you're there, see point 1), they'll most likely switch this on and do a quick sweep, and your only option is to run away and maybe be seen by others, or try and hide and hope he doesn't look at you (because if he does, you're dead, no questions).
3) You can only use pistols. This isn't all that bad as most of the pistols are fairly good (the NC one especially makes mincemeat out of things up close) but A) People will hear you and B) People can see the muzzleflash and just spray the general area with bullets (last night in the caves, a few TR cloakers were attempting to snipe people with the TR pistol, and I was sniping with a bolt driver based solely on seeing the muzzleflash).
4) The "setting up explosives" and "putting turrets behind enemy lines" requires the "Combat Engineer" certification, which is 5 cert points (Engineering, then Combat Engineering). Plus the infiltration suit's iventory is so small that you can only carry 5 of the ACE things (the ACE is something that basically morphs into a mine, turret, motion sensor or "boomer" which is a remote-mine that's very powerful). So that's 5 certs for combat engy, plus the two for infiltrator suit, which is 7. And that's without having any other certs on you (but depending on how much you play, this won't be a problem as you'll pretty much fly through the early battle ranks).
5) The "hacking a max out of the spawns" thing has two problems. The first is that you need adv hacker, which is 5 cert points. The second is that if you enter an enemy spawn room now without blowing the generator up (and if you've taken the generator down, there's no real point in going into the spawns), you'll take damage. The rate and ammount of damage depends on whether they've got a pain module installed or not, but I think the minimum is 2hp per second is lost (with a pain module i think it's 5hp per tick, and it's a slightly faster rate). Not a lot, but annoying, especially since you'll be taking shots from others at the same time.
Plus an AI (anti-infantry) MAX unit is 3 cert points. So 2 for infiltrator suit, 5 for advanced hacking, 3 for max, 10 cert points. But again, not much of a problem depending on how much you play.
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying that the infiltration suit is crap. I've had plenty of fun using it myself, but I don't think it's the best choice for the first thing you go for, especially at the expense of medium assault, rexo or mossie.
Few tips in case you do go for it:
O Don't use the infiltration suit when defending a base against an assault if the enemy is in the corridoors. They might not see you but the sheer volume of fire in such a small space will obliterate you.
O Stay close-ish to enemy spawn points... I don't mean inside the towers, bases or AMS cloak-circle things, I mean stay close enough that their implants haven't activated when you attack them.
O If someone is shooting at you, just shoot back because you really don't have the health to make a getaway if they've spotted you (although this is just my opinion, probably not a good idea to follow this advice.
Oh I just noticed you said "setting up turrets in the enemy spawn room". You can't set up turrets inside buildings. You can, however, set up the triggered-mines <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'd advise you to cert some kind of MAX unit for your first few battle ranks; they're pretty much self-supporting as they don't require any other certs to be effective (they have guns bolted on already).
Please note that anti-vehicular MAX units are totally useless at everything.
For those of you who play or have played planetside, you might be interested in some of <a href='http://www.io.eclipse.co.uk/index.html' target='_blank'>these</a> upcoming developments <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As for a couple other things.
Turrets at enemy bases doesn't work, but, there are plenty of battles that aren't in a base, then you can plant them right behind an enemy troop for all the game cares.
New Conglomerate is best, period. TR is for people that have trouble with the whole concept of aiming.
Your visibility is indeed speed based. So that's why the first thing I suggested was the practice of not dying. You can run and run your heart out without really being seen as long as you know what you're doing. But when someone might be looking at you, you really have to crouch walk which leaves you nearly invisible.
The Dark Light implant which exposes infiltrators has some drawbacks, for one, the user can suddenly only see like 15 feet. So there are situations where the infiltrator can still see the user, but the user can't see the infiltrator because of that range. Second, if memory serves, it uses the most energy of any implant. Poeple won't be randomly using this implant for no reason.
And sneaking up on people isn't really that hard with some practice. But to do it, it's best to get the sound silencing implant. Turn that on and you can pretty much run up right behind people with full run on as long as they're not looking right at you. Pop them twice in the back of the skull with your NC shotgun pistol. They're down for the count, Run as fast as you can in a random direction for a second or two, then stop and duck. Usually people don't react fast enough to have seen you make your very small getaway, and since you're invisible, a 20 foot search area is impossible to find you in without darklight. If they turn on said darklight, just turn around and keep running, you're faster than them.
EDIT: Edited for clarity.
Yes, of course, because your jackhammer and splatterMAX require VERY careful aiming. Many a time I have been sniped by a skillful shotgun user from 500 metres away, oh yes.
For the record, the VS are for those who have no concept of aiming seeing as their heavy assault weapon doesn't actually need to hit you in order to cause damage.
Yes, after all, we only have the hardest to use anti-vehicle weapon, which, you know, actually requires aim rather then fly-by-wire or lock on <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Yes, of course, because your jackhammer and splatterMAX require VERY careful aiming. Many a time I have been sniped by a skillful shotgun user from 500 metres away, oh yes. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Says Mr. "Hold down fire while moving mouse from side to side" MCG user <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Them, I don't know about using the most adrenaline of the implants, but even in a rexo, you can have darklight on long enough to perform a pretty good search of the surrounding area, especially if you run to a point, turn it in, check everywhere, turn it off, run to another point etc...
I've been outfit-hopping too, thinking that maybe if I found the right outfit with uber-coordination and teamwork, I'd start rocking. haven't quite found an outfit like that yet - they all have like 5 people on at a time, max. right now I'm in like the 5th top outfit on Emerald, and I have no clue how they got so high, because only like 10 of them have been on in the last 5 days or something... I keep hoping to find that elusive perfect outfit, with everyone having complimentary roles, always together, and everyone taking turns at squad leadership to go up in command rank...
the only success I've had has been as a liberator bomber, but let's face it, that's not exactly a skilled profession (except maybe for the driver)... wait til the crosshairs are over the enemy base, then spam fire... and it's not exactly every 5 minutes that someone's willing to let some stranger jump in their bomber...
anyway this is turning out to be a really long rant =P I'm just desperate for newbie advice before I utterly lose faith in the game <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> it's obviously a practice-makes-perfect thing, but I don't feel like I'm making progress... and I'm a pretty good player at 'normal' FPS games, like CS and NS and the like, so it's not just that I have sucky aim or something... in PS I've been getting like 2 kills an hour, and that's just not right =p
what do I dooo? =p
edit: a couple more concrete questions: vehicle drivers don't get xp for their gunners' kills, right? why not? there's so little incentive to get multi-passenger vehicle certs; it would seem so easy for them to make it so that xp is evenly split between driver and all gunners...
and how about the knife - is it any good for infiltrators, or are infiltrators still better off with pistols?
Fixed.
DZombie, you really need to stop hopping between different certs, you'll never get used to them and learn the tricks of the trade for that cert.
Of course, if you want something easy to do that yields lots of kills unless youre really unlucky, switch to VS, and get AA MAX. It's fun, too(jetfeet ftw!).
I don't like your ideas, communist! I would advise to not join the TR, but rather that VS. They have cooler-looking BFRs and MAXs. And plus, they usually need more members on at least one server.
im having a good bash at ww2 online look up other topic i made if you want to know about it
*edit* also knife is best aside from one of the side which has a uber pistol use knife then turn on the little chainsaw 3 hits = ded but carful it makes noise
Oh btw Nil, don't fill this forum with opinion based crap, jackhammer is as good as the lasher, if not better. Lasher's orbs dont have range thus making the vanu move closer, then the jackhammer is potent and it kicks real ****...i would take jackhammer over lasher if you know how to use it.
I take offense to the fact that you labelled that as quoted by me.
You can state your opinion, but don't even hint at the idea of stating mine for me. Remove it now.
I take offense to the fact that you labelled that as quoted by me.
You can state your opinion, but don't even hint at the idea of stating mine for me. Remove it now. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Quoted for sheer bluntness and truth.
Speaking of which, happy Blunt Day!
And I agree with Align. You definately have to stick with a cert for a week or so before you really start to notice yourself getting better. Ages ago, I finally picked up heavy assault and I utterly sucked with the jackhammer, I mean, I was really bad (i got owned in the enemy spawns by a guy who had just spawned, and this was before the pain fields). But now I like to think i'm pretty good with it, especially since I've started carrying around armour-piercing bullets again (you can take a MAX down surprisingly fast with a jackhammer using AP bullets). I can run into a tower and get about 3-4 kills before going down, if I do go down. I very rarely run back out though, never seen the point, you just block up the doors.
Sniping is by far most effective in either a large battle (where you can attack enemy snipers as they're usually sitting still, looking for you) or a tower battle (where you can keep your sights trained on the doors and wait). I've had sniper for a while but I still can't get used to hitting someone on the run. You do know the sights have to be still for a few seconds before the shot becomes accurate, right?
Also, as odd as it sounds, I've found that one of the best ways to get used to fighting in a reaver is to use the wall turrets in bases to attack aircraft. You get used to leading your shots (I see so many people aiming for the actual plane that it makes me mad) that it becomes second nature when dogfighting, and leading your shots is amazingly useful when using that blue-beamy gun for the NC BFR (shooting mossies out of the air and magriders JUST as they think they're safe = fun).
I also agree with you about combat engineer. Some people set up a spitfire behind a tree, and it'll take out an entire squad before anyone notices it. I try the same thing, and it gets killed as soon as it appears. I dropped Combat Engineer pretty much as soon as my cert-forget timer ran out.
I have to get more careful with friendly fire, I just racked up my first 1000 grief points... how careful do I need to be now to avoid getting another weapons lock? maybe I should trade special assault for jackhammer or anti-vehicle so I don't accidentally plasma like 5 guys anymore...
I take offense to the fact that you labelled that as quoted by me.
You can state your opinion, but don't even hint at the idea of stating mine for me. Remove it now. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I take offense to the fact that you take offense to the fact that I made a joke using your words. Get happy now.
Huh? I never said anything about the jackhammer sucking, it's easily the best of all three heavy assault weapons, I just said it requires little to no skill to be effective with. Run up to dude, shoot at point blank (thus requiring no aim), repeat.
The Lasher requires a little aim, since whilst the orbs DO do a little bit of splash, they do far more if you actually hit the target. Add to this the slow projectile speed meaning you have to lead your target, and you've got a much harder to use (but no less effective in the right hands) weapon.
The MCG is flawed purely by it's concept. Medium assault is a set of weapons for long range combat. As such, the cycler, gauss and pulsar all have roughly the same effective range (except the pulsar which fares well up-close as well). All three MA rifles do the same job though; long range suppression, mostly in outdoor battles.
Heavy assault is supposed to be a selection of weapons for close-quarters fighting, but they could have forged three different certifications from the three weapons they labelled "heavy assault". They gave one empire a weapon most effective point-blank, one empire a weapon most effective at medium range and around corners, and one most effective at long range.
Now this would be fine if all three of the above situations occured with the same frequency, but they don't. 90% (or some other made up figure designed to mean "a lot") of all fighting over a base takes place in the stairwell. Either that, or in towers which are essentially one big stairwell. Now which weapon fares best here? Could it be the weapon which is most effective point-blank? Well yes, it's pretty good, since wherever the defender sets up in the tower he can never be much more than 10 metres from any attacker. How about the lasher? He fares pretty well too; he can hit that jackhammer user while he's still around the corner, and do decent damage while the JH user closes in.
What about the MCG user? As I said, the jackhammer user starts off at about 10 metres, so whilst he can't do much damage, he can still HIT the MCG user. He fires. He hits the MCG user. The MCG user's cone-of-fire goes all over the place, thus rendering his range advantage useless. The jackhammer user closes in and splatters the MCG user all over the wall.
Ok, so maybe the MCG isn't supposed to be used in stairwells, where most of the fighting takes place, maybe it's area of expertise is elsewhere, like long corridoors, or outside? That's right, the MCG <i>is</i> pretty good at those ranges. But guess what? So are the other empire's medium assault rifles, and so are thumpers, which every empire has access to.
So to sum up:
-Every empire has an MA rifle which is effective at range
-The NC and VS have HA weapons which are effective up-close
-The TR's heavy assault weapon is essentially redundant, given that in any given situation, there is another weapon which will do a better job.
For this reason, I use a sweeper and a thumper.
the TR owned 5 continents and all 4 caves when I went to bed last night so they can't be TOO underpowered =p