Lotek21

Because the shot, the explosion are just so rewarding. Getting a kill with a pilum is amazing, especially sniping down an enemy from far away with it.

Plus, it would say it's the most powerful feeling gun in the game compared to teh Baur. it's just so bulky and powerful

Caronbot

For me it's the mobility and no-lock. I've won countless duels with tanks because I dart around cover taking pot-shots at it. More importantly is what people have mentioned: no lock means this tactic is viable. It would be ridiculously hard to dart around cover and do the 10-15 degree off-shot with the guided missiles and still maintain mobility.

Plus I've found it a lot easier to hit buggies with the Pilum because I can lead my shot as it's driving by and I know the round will be quick enough to hit it.

N.B. Forrest

When engaging infantry with the Pilum, what's the best position for your aimpoint?

I've had my aimpoint centered on non-moving infantry only to see my round impact near them and do no damage.

Arithea

If you're not actively engaging a vehicle as an engineer, regardless of the type of AV rocket you're carrying, you should always keep your SMG out. It's only reliably accurate within about 20 meters, but it's your best bet and has more ammunition before reload than the Pilum, Mitchell, or Sudnik. However, if you find yourself having to use an AV rocket against infantry at range, it's better to use the Mitchell or Sudnik. The Pilum's high random deviation renders it nearly useless against small targets at distance.

Of course, you always have the (debatably better) option of closing with said infantry before engaging, then using the SMG for the bullet hose it is at close range.

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BigMcLarge

I can't aim the stock engineer AV weapons at all, probably because I never really played engineer before I got to the point that I was unlocking the engineer tree. When I fire them, my projectile is flying all over the place, except for into the enemy vehicle typically. So I've used the Pilum almost exclusively and had to come to grips with the deviation.

A perfect example of the unpredictability of the Pilum was when I went pub-raiding last night. I "sniped" a Walker from quite a good distance away, hitting it twice on two shots. I was extremely pleased!! A few minutes later, I ran out from behind a crate and faced another walker nearly point blank. I had to be no more than 10 meters from this thing, pulled the trigger while aimed at the bodies lower rear (it was already severely damaged and one shot just about anywhere was going to kill it), and the shot went high and right. I was NOT pleased by the 3 enemy infantry who ran to the Walker's aid at that point and gunned me down.

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Mr.Ander50n

I think it boils down to which weapon you like better. sure, you can control the guided missiles, but if you can't aim worth crap, the Pilum is a good alternative, because you just have to fire straight. If you can aim the guided missile, and like to use it, then it is definitely a better option to use, simply because you can aim.

<FHC]==0 HighNoon

To answer N. B. Forrest's question, the shots you fire from the Pilum while scoped will always land somewhere in the bottom-right quarter of the Pilum's reticle. Imagine that the reticle's bottom-right quarter is shaded in. Now remove the shaded part from the inner circle, so only the outer circle is shaded. That's where you want to point your shots for maximum accuracy (infantry OR vehicle).

Greyed

As Arithea says, your best aimpoint is down the barrel of your SMG.

Are you aware it is guided and actively guiding it? The first few times I played engineer I was dead firing it. Rockets that are dead fired have a really neat flight pattern. They flight straight for 10-15m, then curve down for another 30-40m then arc upward and to one side.

If you're firing and immediately reloading, you're dead firing. Keep the above flight pattern in mind. Straight, down, up and to the side.

If you're firing and stay zoomed in (holding down the fire button works for me) then you're guiding it. Just keep you're reticule on the vehicle and the rockets will head toward that point.

With that said I prefer the Pilum because there is no choice, it is dead fire or nothing. Sounds silly but not having the temptation to guide the projectile means I will fire and get back behind cover rather than be a sniper/armor target for the 5-10s flight time of the rocket. Hit or miss at least my butt is out of sight. The Pilum makes dead fire more accurate.

Arithea

I know it sounds pretty basic, but every time I mention this in the basic engineer course, someone gets a light bulb over their head and goes, "Oh, so that's why it never worked for me!" So I'll mention it here: In order to guide the rockets for the stock AV guns, you have to hold the fire button (default: left mouse) and guide the missile/s. Just an FYI, in case there's someone who doesn't know.

Personally, I'm not that great at it. I think a lot of it has to do with your mouse sensitivities and how much you practice at it (which isn't a lot, for me). I'm also horrible with TV missiles on the gunship.

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LordKelvin

Aiming the default rockets is actually incredibly simple. Aim about an inch above the target. Fire, continuing to hold the mouse button. Now, watch the projectile. When it is about 3/4 of the way there, bring your aim down onto the target itself, and hold the reticle there. 90% of the time you will hit them, and about 60% of the time it will be in the top or the side which does more damage. Not bad.

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Why MTG has lost any sense of balance:
Lotus Cobra

Arithea

Saying and doing are two totally different things for me when it comes to the default engi rockets.

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LordKelvin

Oh I see, this is a SPECIAL case. :P

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Why MTG has lost any sense of balance:
Lotus Cobra

BigMcLarge

DING, DING, DING! Lightbulb going off for me.....again! The first time it went off? When I took your basic engineer course, of course. Then I went back to shooting my Pilum and turning and running away screaming and completely forgot about this tip. Duh!

There needs to be a TGU course that solely covers firing stupid TV missiles, because I do technically understand how they work, but can't hit a thing with them.

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<FHC]==0 HighNoon

The trick is understanding that your motions have a brief lag before they translate to the missile. So the key is twofold:
1) Make your corrections small and don't do a second correction before the first one has manifested itself.
2) Lead your target.

Oh, and practice, but that should go without saying. I recommend landing a gunship on top of one of the suez towers and just firing a ton of missiles from it at various targets.

LogicalHarm

Actually, I find one of the best practice drills I can do with the guided rockets (which I do a lot when waiting for a gunship) is trying to hit the top of the black lightposts.

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