sc1ence

The SD-8 Accipiter Sentry drone shoots enemy troops marked by the NetBat system. It is about as powerful as a sentry gun, perhaps less.

I have been in a few squads lately where the squad leader used the interceptor drone. I have thought about this about as much as any sane person can and have come to the conlustion that it has almost no tactical value. The otus is better in every way tactically. The only thing that the SD-8 Accipiter drone is good for is a laugh. Worse, it lets the enemy it is firing at know that they are detected on someones netbat.

For those of you who use it, how on earth do you justify using it over the otus on a TacticalGamer server?

For reference, the otus

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Lyramion

Wow science thats a necroquote from hell!



SD-8 Accipiter drone is good for 1 thing:

Revenge killing the guy that killed the SL because that guy will somehow land on your Netbat.



SL using the Accipiter drone and then losing the Battle makes my cry.

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Lorax74

We ran into it a few times during some BFCL matches and other than detection of hostile troops, it seems pointless to me. The only time I found it highly irritating was during a 5v5 match on 16p Belgrade and the enemy SL was sitting on the wall at Statue with one of these deployed. They must have snuck in and dropped an IDS on our flag at Comm Tower, that damn Accipiter would lock on us as soon as we spawned. Annoying yes, extremely useful no.

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ZWood15

I agree that it isn't that tactically effective, but when you go down as a SL and then see sparky light up the guy that killed you as well as the guy that was going to revive him, it is a pretty good feeling

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|TG-9th|ZWood15
"By Any Means"

daithi1

Spanky needs diamonds, give him diamonds... Dystek pulse meter. If you have to have spanky using pulse meter may be a good idea. Although it is a bit crap.

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AoC Cimmeria RP-PvP: Casla 48 Ranger

sc1ence

The thing is, if you have a support, throw an ids on the otus and have them equip emps for the other slot. I wonder if having the pulse meter would improve the function of the otus?

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Reaperassault

Spanky is very fickle and some days she is a monster and other days she just like to sit and watch.

Otus and recon w/ NetBat is great and is far superior to any thing + spanky.

This message is approved by the #20th-ish (I haven't looked in a while) ranked player with spanky.

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Augustus Gloop

One of the only times I use spanky is when I squadlead on a vehicle map and I task my engineer squad with holding a point near the enemy's ucb. I direct my squad to go entirely engineer to beat back the vehicle assaults, and spanky and I hunt the incoming infantry.

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Azura

I'm beginning to assign a Recon with a Lambert into my squad when I run the otus, it seems to really bring it's effectiveness out. The only question is, well alot go Lone Wolf ho everytime I assign them Recon, so I just got to wait for Guardian or Anospa

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westyfield

Right, I won't be choosing the Accipiter for my next unlock then.

IMO the Accipiter should be an Otus, but with guns. And have Spanky written on the side, or perhaps a little Spanky dogtag...

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|TG-irr| westyfield

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Irregular since Sept 15th, 2007

pred011586

Before I joined TG, I'd use the Accipiter all the time. Me and my friends would always squad together, and I'd be SL. We were nowhere near as organized as I'd like, but we had fun and we played to each others strengths. I'd always go Support, with the Accipter, and drop an IDS on it, then hop in a Tank or APC, a friend would be Engineer, drop a PDS on Spanky, then gun for me. It worked rather well, between Spanky randomly shooting, and the IDS attached to him, I was able to tell when someone was coming up behind me alot of the times.


Then I found TG... Haven't used the Accipiter since. It's always Otus, or Beacon, or neither (I very often forget to equip a leader kit since my kits never save for wuteva reason). The Beacon gives your squad away too much, and the Otus gives the SL away too much.


Now if the Accipiter flew at chest level, and by equipping the Accipiter your gun's sights acted as a laser target for Spanky, I'd be using it alot more. Maybe making it so that if you use the alternate fire of it you can change the mode it runs in: Default, Laser Target Priority (shoot at your target), Laser Target Ignore (shoot at targets you're not), and Silent.

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[T-BAGZ]Pred011586

jazy2

I've still got to work on my SL'ing. I'm getting better but sometimes I focus too far away on what is happening on the map and I get overwhelmed (too much to say and don't know where to start!) but, the other day I gave it another go and focused on the south approach and main road on Fall of Berlin with great results. We finished top squad and I was well proud of myself. it did fall apart at the end a little, there was a breakthrough and I don't think it was on "our" side (south). I brough support kit and OTUS and it really helps to have that intel. I find it nearly impossible to match most players kill scores unless I get a heads up on enemy positions, but, as my squad proved, intel = kills! OTUS +PDS rocks!

It was only later that it dawned on me that I hadn't had a single order from the CO! As usual, I can't remember who was in my squad but they all performed very well and stayed tight enough to the order radius. I think we were eventually capped out but it wasn't the fault of my squad IMO. I did notice a fall in my VOIP activity towards the end as my usual "clam up" happened but by that time we'd lost our main and possibly square and got stuck in a 2 flag relay race!

Good times, I must try it more often and I must give the sniper + Otus combo a go.

Things for me to work on...
1) CO communication
2) Prioritising intel on VOIP
3) Kit assignments
4) Reduce "clam ups"
5) General tactics and positioning

If I can do those 5 things I'll be laughing!
Wish me luck. Because I rambled so much I'll re-state my point which may have been lost in the ramblings.....bring an OTUS....help me to help you!

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Kaboodles

How would you improve the Accipiter's effectiveness?

It would be much more effective if it automatically targeted enemies the squad is shooting at. The SL's target would get top priority, with SM's targets prioritized according to proximity. It should also return fire on enemies attacking it or the squad, so long as they're on the NetBat.

It might be interesting if its bullets had some kind of slight EMP effect to make it useful against vehicles. It could be very useful against those pesky walkers.

MDFubar

I find that Spanky is useful for me... but as pointed out, very fickle. It would be a true gem if it was more consistent. The main thing is to spot the enemy, when working properly..he will do his job. I have also found that he can provide cover-fire for the medic trying to revive me.
I don't usually use it when assaulting, more defending and to watch my back. I always put an IDS on spanky. Also, when in armor spanky is deployed and will take out that pesky infantry trying to sneak up on you.
The best combo for spanky and I, the shotgun+IDS+clarkRDX+spanky. He may not always get the kill, but when working right those extra bullets can make a difference.
I will use the Drone also, but I very rarely carry the beacon.

Good post!

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"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
- General George Patton Jr

SithJedi

Excuse me? The SD-8 works fine, sometimes it fires without me doing anything! One time it pinned down an entire squad down in Belgrade with that constant fire, I am not kidding.

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Proud Battlefield 2142 Player Since November 21st, 2006