Hi guys, I'm new to your forums and noticed this topic. Excellent discussion and I'd like to add my 2p, if I may. Smoking as a defensive measure seems to be one of those things that is also overlooked.

One of my favorite things to do is dig in at the Trenches CP on "Fallen" with an engineer kit. The stopping power of the shotgun at close range, especially the German kit, can't be beat IMHO. Add that to the availability of 4 MG positions to keeping attackers at bay from a distance and it makes for a powerful combo, especially if there are med packs lying around to keep you going strong.

Where the smoke comes it is this. If attackers manage to overwhelm your position in force, smoke the flag pole, thus providing cover for the whole trenches area, blinding everyone who enters (including yourself). Where I find that this is advantageous is that, most people charge the assault on that position and make a great deal of racket while doing it. If you are quite and with practice, you can easily pick out their positions with your ears as they stumble around. Dropping med/supply packs is also another dead give away.

I should note that, if you have to move while defending in this way, it is super important to crouch while doing so in order to make less noise than them and not blow your position. With the way the trenches are laid out, it provides a maze of cover to keep your foes guessing as you sneak around and finish them off. I find that I can very effectively defend that location from multiple attackers in this manner.

The only really tricky part is to not let adrenaline take over completely and blast your comrades while you’re at it. (Oooops)

It's probably not for everyone. But for me, coming from a long stint playing "Aliens vs. Predator 2" and being used to sneaking around dark places with little more than melee weapons on hand, this kind of CQC is my bread and butter. But my point is that blind-fighting is a skill well worth developing when terrain and opportunity provide for it.

Cheers.