UMG League

[Dr.Corndog]

Once again, it' a very slow and boring day at work and I need something to do. I thought that I would put together something for some of the newer players to look at if they are interested in Onslaught, Torlan. This is just a collection of some helpful tips that I know I could have used when I first started playing. Of course - any comments, suggestions or complaints are welcome.


TORLAN 101

The first 2 Minutes of the match, are probably the most important! Depending on how quickly and effectivly you set your team up for node construction, you either take a defensive roll or an offensive.

The Manta Situation
The manta can seat one player, but can also hold quite a few more, but having the players stand on it while it is moving. This is referred to as a "ride". If you hop in the manta from the beginning, and everyone starts complaining about you not giving rides, it's for a good reason. Many people stand on the wings of the Manta. I did this for awhile, but it's not too uncommon to fall off. Personally, I would recommend hopping up on top of the manta, and riding in the middle. Two people can stand up there, and your chances of falling off are minimal. So, from the start of the match, if you are the first person to the manta, you should hop on top of it and wait for someone to drive you (and how many other people ho on) to the first node. Bringing that Node up quickly will help your team. You should proceed to the first node. If you're having one of those wild moments and you are planning on attacking the other team at their first node, please have the common sense to at least fly by your teams node first, to give your riders a choice.

The Bender
You should Proceed directly to Node 3 (middle). The nastiest fight is going to be at the center node. Depending on who has the Redeemer, a match can go very quickly after the middle node has been fully constructed and is left unchecked. The bender has a rear turret that (in the right hands) can cover the middle node pretty well. It's skymine turret can also help to cover the narrow path.

The Raptor
It's goal should be to capture the redeemer at the beginning of the match. Even if you don't like the deemer, or don't want to use it - You want to pevent the other team from having control over it.
The redeemer is located on top of the Center Tower. The only way to reach it, is with a Raptor. Once on top, you can collect it, and a super shied pack - which providing you have enough health - will allow you to jump off the tower once you have recovered the Redeemer, and survive.

I think that's the most Basic startup, and while variations of it exist, they tend to follow this trend.

Now Listed are some basic rules of UT Etiquette:

Dont' Flak the Manta
Under no condition should you shoot the Manta with ANYTHING at the beginning of the Match. If you're looking for a sure fire way to piss everyone off, then by all means go for it. While I cannot speak for UMG League, I know that some server will ban you simply for doing it. The Manta is a light vehicle, and is easily moved around. If you fire on a parked manta, it has the potential to move and run over another player (or 3) and cause a TK (Teamkill). I don't know of many servers that do not Ban for a TKing.

Don't stay in the base
The base is a place for you to start off at, and that's about it. The only time you should really be there is if your base is under attack towards the end of the match - and even then you should be trying to destroy the node connected to your base. Yes, the Turrets are very appealing to the newer players, but there is no point in you hopping into the at the beginning of the match and pretend like you are defending the homefront. Likewise, your team doesn't need a squad full of snipers. Don't be one of those guys sitting on top of your tower with the Lightning Gun for the last 15 minutes of a match.

Don't Move the Bender
This is especially important in Primeval, but will piss off someone just as much in Torlan. Many players are excellent marksmen, and the Hellbender's rear turret is a perfect weapon in the right hands. If there is someone sitting in a Hellbender's rear turret, firing at targets, He probably doesn't need your help. Try to refrain from hopping in the driver's seat and putting him in harms way. There's an excellent chance that he has positioned himself there for a reason, and is probably using his position to cover a node, and/or your teammates.

Don't camp the Raptor
I never understood why the Raptor is so appealing to new players. It took me a long time to become anything near effective with it - however, new players will sit in the base and just wait for this thing to spawn, when they could be doing something helpful.

Don't be a Link ***
Linking up to build a node is great, but believe it or not, the difference between 2 linked players, and 2 Stand-Alone players building a node is very slight. If you see someone building a node, don't jump in front of them, and use their link to your point advantage. If you desire the link to happen that much, then link them. I don't know why this pisses me off so much, but it's pretty common. If you don't want to link them, then just link the node and let them decide if they want to link you or not.

Don't leave the Tank
You decided to get in it, now it's yours. Seriously, don't leave your tank laying around. A hijacked tank can straight-up suck for your team. If you must get out of the tank to engage a raptor, then stay right next to it - ready to hop back if if the Pilot tries to eject into it, or if you are close to dying. If possible, place mines next to the tank, or put some sticky grenades on it in case of a hijack.


Finally, here are a few tips that can benefit you, and your team.

Link
Always link up. When building a node, even if you decide not to link the other player, at least link the node. ONS is a lot different than DM. Remember, once a node is built, you can attack the next node/base for as long as your node stands. If your node is close to being built, you're taking fire and it's doubtful you will be able to survive - instead of going down Rambo style, put your stock into linking that node. Someone could be in place, waiting to attack the next one.

Reverse Skymies
I'm always suprised by who doesn't know this classic. If an enemy Hellbender is firing shock balls, you can detonate them with your Hellbender, and send a Skymine combo all the way back to them. This is ESPECIALLY useful for node 3 in Torlan. If the enemy is building the node, and a bender is pulling security with the shock cannon, just alt fire their chain with your bender's turret. Chances are, you will kill off all the soft targets in the valley, and destroy any mantas in there as well.

The Shock Rifle is your Friend
The shock rifle is the most versitle weapon in your Arsenal. It's Primary fire mode is a scanseek, high velocity beam. The beam doesn't seem to have a maximum range, and it's rate of fire is good. The secondary fire mode is perfect for putting supressive fire down a narrow path, or engaging vehicles. The Shock Ball has a lot of Mass, and it can stop a Manta in it's tracks, flip a scorpion, and push around a Bender. If you have never fired a shock ball into a stationary manta, I would recommend giving it a shot. Finally, a skilled rifleman can perform a Shock Combo by first firing an Alt-Fire Shock Ball, and then firing a Primary-Fire shock beam into the ball. The result is a very powerful explosion.

It's not all about you!
Try to remember that Onslaught is not all about you. Even if you're not very experienced with the game, you can still offer a lot of help in Onslaught simply by using your link gun. The Alt fire mode of the Link Gun fires a laser that can be used to Build/Heal Nodes and also heal vehicles. If you see a friend in a vehicle or turret that is in critical condition, link it up. A player in a vehicle will most likely make it to the next node to attack before you - so you might as well try and send them in the in the best possible condition.
Another excellent point to remember is the Power of the Double Damage. At node 3, try to pay attention to your teammates. If you see another player with a Purple Weapon, they have Double Damage! Allow this player to take a manta (if available) to the next node. A double damage manta can rip down a node very quickly.

Denied!
An enemy Redeemer can be shot down. The sound a redeemer being fired is pretty distinguishable. If you hear that sound, look around. rapid fire weapons are an easy way to shoot down a redeemer. Personally, I think the Tank's Minigun is the best bet, but a Player Minigun or Assault Rifle are also excellent choices.

Headshot
You can perform a headshot on another player with a Sniper Rifle, or a Lightning gun even while they are in a Scorpion or Manta. This is a great way to take down a stationary manta or scorpion while they are blasting your node. The best part is, that you can hijack their vehicle after they are done.

Crushing
If you can push a vehicle into an enemy (or friendly player), it will kill them. This is a great way to take out an ENEMY player when they are running towards a manta. You can also shoot your own vehicle for the same effect. Next time you eject from a manta (to build a node; due to dmg; etc) try firing on it with Flak, or a Shock Ball. This will not damage your vehicle, and will give you credit for anything it runs over, since you were the last person in it.



If anyone has something to add go for it.

[bob]

Good Tutorial

[Dr.Corndog]

Thank ya. I just think it's interesting, for as long as the game has been out, it seems like there is someone new playing every day. If I can think of some other stuff, I'll plug it in - but I thought that would at least help some of the newer players to fit in better.

[copperhead]

nice! expecially the getting out of base the best base defense is destroying the node. looks like that took some time

[CodeX Magic]

should be official required reading for demo and full version people.

[Mikko]

one note i want to add-when you combine your redeemer with the purple double-damage thing, it makes for a very very very devastating nuclear warhead..........

use the purple warhead against the enemy powercore when they're vulnerable...........those purple missiles end the game pretty quickly..........









otherwise dr.corndog, nice advice!! even though experienced UMG players know it by heart............essentail advice for the torlan-illiterate...

[Mikko]

i want to add more stuff to Dr. Corndog's advice: USE BLITZKREIG!!!!!!!!! BLITZKREIG!!!!! i mean it, BLITZKREIG!!!!!!!! time and speed is everything in torlan.

if you don't know what blitzkreig is, look it up in the dictionary or look up World War II, the year 1939...................

[Vaginalistical]

I want to add something to the manta situation. Sometimes there isn't a mad rush for the manta immediately or players just aren't getting to it fast enough. The manta needs to be on its way to the first node within the first 10 seconds. It's counterproductive to be so worried about turning the manta into a clown car that the other team has their node halfway up by the time your manta rolls out. So if someone leaves the base without you on the manta don't get all mad and start firing your shock rifle at it as it heads toward the node. They are trying to get the ball rolling for the team.

[Mikko]

awesome video. wher'd u get it?

[Vaginalistical]

I snatched it off the internet while doing a search for something entirely unrelated to crash test dummies or decapitation. It just showed up for some reason.

[DARKPAINTER]

u never give spatza or if u like artie admin autority.....cause your sure to loose he never kicks switchers and a bot was on his team today and he didnt kick him.....this is a very good tip......and i know corndog is gonna give me a reply and im ALPINE now on umg and i know what im talking about........

[Mikko]

wait a sec, darkpainter, you're ALPINE in umg ONS???

[TheArtOfManta]

[DARKPAINTER]

[TheArtOfManta]