"Rocket spam" -- my views.

**Zhohar** · 09-14-2009, 04:03 AM

I don't like the term "rocket spam." I don't like people who say "rocket spam." Let me explain why.

Rockets are an integral part of Battlefield 2142. They are the optimum solution to taking out infantry at 20+ meters, behind cover.

I suspect that people say "rocket spam" because they believe rockets require less skill, than, say, shooting someone with an AR. I suspect that they get this notion from real life or other games.

The problem here is that BF2142 presents a unique reality: rockets do exist here, and they are the optimum solution to some problems. Refusing to adapt to that, refusing to embrace rockets, means refusing to embrace the optimum solution to a problem. It's a refusal to adapt, to evolve.

This is why I dislike people who say things like "rocket spam" -- they refuse to evolve and to adapt to what's given to them. It's no different from people who will blame their team, other squads, other medics, and most everyone else before they'll say "yeah, that was my fault. I shouldn't have been there."

In terms of this game, and most any other human engagement, I believe the chief way of judging "fitness" of a person is their ability to quickly and efficiently adapt to a changing set of circumstances. Headshotting people is the optimum way to play CS -- adapt. Aim better.
Rockets at 25m behind cover is the optimum way in BF2142 -- adapt. Pack rockets, practice using them, and become better at that facet of this reality.

This is, in my opinion, the problem at its most basic: BF2142 offers a different set of circumstances from other games, and people don't like change. They don't like evolving, adapting, and growing to embrace possibilites. They'd much rather label them as "skill-less" or "cheap".

There's a quote I've loved -- "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."
What do you think happened to those poor souls 1000s of years ago who first encountered molten metal weapons and said: "Screw those bronze spammers. I'm a wooden-club-and-sharpened-rock purist."

Those bastards got cut down. Their children don't walk the Earth.

BF2142 presents a unique reality. The attitude necessary when walking into something foreign should be "what can I learn from this? How can I best adapt to what's given to me?" and not "I know what's best, I decide what's skill and what's spam."

**machowner** · 09-14-2009, 04:11 AM

Very good comments Zhohar, I hope everyone really sees that he isn't just talking about rockets here. Succeeding is about learning to adapt to the situation.

About rockets though, I love the rockets, it is the one ammunition I find myself running out of most often.

**Axis_Sniper** · 09-14-2009, 04:15 AM

Rocket Spam.

I don't know where I am going with this, but I just felt like letting it out. Rockets ruin the game for me.

Bommando. · 09-14-2009, 04:41 AM

Yay

**Fruvous** · 09-14-2009, 05:03 AM

I use the term Rocket Spam. Spam is still Spam, no matter how you look at it. I still like rockets though. I don't refuse to use it, even if it is stale.

Personally, I would've liked it if rockets should operate more like M203s.

**BarrytBaptist** · 09-14-2009, 05:45 AM

I call it "rocket spam" for it is spamming. Yes, I can get wipe out so many people, so many kills, yay.... Sorry, but the rockets are just plain boring, I am going to go even further, I would call rockets a "noob cannon"... Let me repeat myself, boooooooring. (-:

p.s. I do not have problems with people using rockets.

Fruvous - Have you ever played America's Army Operations? Omg, M203 was and is absolutely insane in this game... Nothing like getting pegged by 203. (-:

**Fruvous** · 09-14-2009, 06:03 AM

Oh yes I have.
At least you couldn't get resupplied

Resupplies make spamability possible.

SilentSunshine · 09-14-2009, 09:15 AM

So, to make sure your children are the ones sprinting the earth in 3142, try Zhohar's Magical Rockets. You'll be glad you did.

**MDFubar** · 09-14-2009, 09:16 AM

There are many uses for the rockets and many ways to counter them, Zhohar is correct and makes a good point. I used to hate them until I learned to use them..once I learned to use them, I learned to counter them. Adapt and overcome, TG has been about tactics and learning....teach and learn.
Good points Zho.

**Sargentkyle23** · 09-14-2009, 09:27 AM

Battlefield 2142 would not be BF2142 without rockets. Yeah they make it so that cover is only useful for small amounts of time, but if you want to sit behind cover and snipe people to death then go play BF2.

Like Zhohar said rockets shape BF2142 into what it is. They force you to continuously be moving which is one aspect of this game that I enjoy so much. They are boring...ok well yes 30 minutes of shooting rockets between toll station is not as fun as buggy rushing power station. However can you imagine that standoff without rockets? We would be having this thread all over again only it would be called "Grenade spam".

As for the argument that they are overpowered. No, they are not, they balance the game. Think about the defib, without rockets there would be almost no way to cover dead bodies and it would be the defib that is so "overpowered".

[sidenote]
Oh and for any of you out there that hate rockets because you die to them so much. I'll give you the hint.don't stop moving. Rockets come at a slow enough rate that it is really not that hard to avoid as long as you don't stand still for more then a few seconds at a time.[/sidenote]

**Mixa** · 09-14-2009, 09:50 AM

Just about the general rockets - no rockets

I've played on UKCE that allows NO rockets used at all, what ever reason. Server size is 1/2 what it is at TG so it is extremely hard to tell how such gameplay would be on our server, besides the fact they mostly play Camp Gibraltar. Still the game is very adaptive, terrain actually offers you some cover and those blockades where one team can't come through do not exist. Unfortunately one of the minor tweaks that 2142 offers thanks to the hit rates is that going crouch -> up -> repeat fast is annoying.

Any weapon that has bigger area of damage than normal, can be spammed. On the other hand you can't ''spam'' bullets even if you blind fire them in order to kill people. For instance in cs you can ''thrill'' through the walls even if you have no idea whereas the target is.

In my opinion the difference between ''spam'' and skill is knowledge of targets location and how much you do it.
For instance I see a target behind a small fence, I shoot rockets into hes position in order to score a kill. On the other hand there could be guy trying to get though the area near the fence, so I expect him to go near it and start shooting in that spot. If he then doesn't move out I keep shooting rockets in order to keep him pinned. Now I would use term spam.

**austforbeer** · 09-14-2009, 09:50 AM

I don't think there is anything wrong with the term rocket spam. It perfectly describes a continual rocket assault on an area.

**Lyramion** · 09-14-2009, 10:22 AM

I love Rockets ! ... and I barely die from them ! ... and if I die I backed up before, so my body cannot be camped ! I love Rockets ! Rockets are the long arm of God !

**WhiskeySix** · 09-14-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zhohar

"Screw those bronze spammers. I'm a wooden-club-and-sharpened-rock purist."

Those bastards got cut down. Their children don't walk the Earth.

good stuff zho... yeah coming from other titles to 2142, definitely takes some adjustment. The biggest thing is to change your definition of what "cover" is. Once you do that, you stop ducking behind a wall, getting sploded, and getting frustrated because of it.

**Repaq** · 09-14-2009, 10:59 AM

Do you like
Rocket spam?

I do not like them,
Pub-I-am.
I do not like
Rocket Spam.

Would you like them
Here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
Rocket Spam.
I do not like them,
Pub-I-am