LogicalHarm

It occurred to me the other week that the majority of players playing engineers play with the pilum. Indeed, I myself would use it religiously as my primary engineer weapon not so long ago. When I started my new soldier and didn't have my pilum, I became accustomed to the default weapons, the sudnik and the mitchell.

In comparison, I really see absolutely no advantage to the pilum at all. The benefits of being able to guide your fire is something people seem to neglect: all those inaccurate pilum shots would be a thing of the past. The difference in damage also seems negligible. While I don't have any figures to back my thoughts up, an engineer should always be aiming to take down armor in the most efficient manner.

Tanks: a shot to the back is ideal. Default weapon damage is no different from the pilum. When facing the PAC strafing tank you don't have to overcompensate your shots with the defaults. I've also found it quite easy to curve your shots into the side of tanks, even if it's facing you head on.

Walkers: While I have noticed some difference between the default weapons and the pilum (the defaults deal less damage) the benefits of having a guided rocket on those hard-to-hit legs truly outweighs the inferior damage.

APC's: The easiest target for pilums, but this fact is largely irrelevant as no weapon (not even TVM's) can one-shot an APC. In fact, if the previous discussions on the weak points of an APC are correct, the vents on top of an APC could in theory be hit by a sudnik of mitchell that was at the same height as the APC (an incredible shot i imagine but doable).

In my opinion the pilum is being used by players with no advantage to the user. So, TG engineers, could you tell me why you use it?

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Hablos

The one and only reason I favor the Pilum is it´s fire & forget nature. Pop up behind cover, shoot and move to the next piece of cover. Guiding the anti tank rockets take time and leave you exposed for a long time.

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DrBeat

I use the pilum on a situational basis. On larger maps like Suez, the ability to guide rockets is invaluable. While on smaller maps like Fall of Berlin where engineers need the extra damage to drive armor back, the pilum is good.

Once again, it is a situational thing.

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LordKelvin

On EU, I use the Pilum because the Mitchell's projectile moves slower than a grandma crossing the street.

On PAC, I use the Sudnik for armor and infantry sniping.

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Why MTG has lost any sense of balance:
Lotus Cobra

PM07SNV

ok, I'm not a Pilum user anymore.. and I agree the basic weapons are far better, but the ONLY advantage, is you can fire and run... The sudnik and mitchell require you to stay there looking at your target (Mostly), and this means you are somewhat exposed (possibly), and they see you and gun you down. Of course the way around this is to fire around and over obsticles, so you are out of sight, of simply, do it when they are not looking..

Your right about damage being the same, and maybe it doesn't look as good as the Pilum??

I think the problem is, you see this not so friendly sudnik when you first play and don't like it, and can't hit anything as you don't know why your missing, and can't wait for the Pilum, when you can shot in a true straight(ish) line, and you never go back. Then you start again, and try this weapon again and figure out you were silly, and now know how to guide the missile, and it becomes your number 1 engy weapon! But you must still unlock it, as the SMG clip upgrade is excellent!

Nice topic to bring up, but damn you for bringing it up!! We shall no longer be able to dodge the Pilum shots!!!!

EDIT: Was beaten by 3 people!?!?!?!?! (Damn people disturbing me at work!)

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LordKelvin

The other advantage of the Pilum is the fact that its projectile moves about 3 times as fast as those of the default ones. Of course, it's a lot harder to avoid an actively controlled slower missile than a really fast dumb-fire one.

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Why MTG has lost any sense of balance:
Lotus Cobra

Damonte

Small fact:

Pilums do not trigger the alarm for the pilot when the vehicle is targeted.

Guided rockets do trigger the alarm for the pilot.

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LordKelvin

I have to disagree. I get warning klaxons when guys are aiming Pilums at me. So unless there is a random guy in the back aiming a default one at me to warn me every time a Pilum is fired at me, this cannot be true.

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Why MTG has lost any sense of balance:
Lotus Cobra

Damonte

If you don't believe me, ask the Oracle! :-)

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PM07SNV

I thought this to be true.. The way to avoid this warning is not to aim at your target the whole time, Fire above, or to the side and just direct your missile last minute, not allowing them time to shield.

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LordMeatwad

My only reason for the pilum. Its like a massive sniper rifle! Me and Fyah constantly brag about long distance Pilum kills - its a fun (but low scoring) way to pass your time on armor maps. Plus when you lead a long distance shot and hit! Man thats awesome.

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|TG-21| LordMeatwad
XBOX live = TG Lordmeatwad
Aion = Neovalan

Its a GUNDAM!

PM07SNV

So far we have:

1 - Fire & Forget
2 - Faster projectile
3 - Doesn't trigger armor alarm
4 - It looks good..(?)
5 - Leading long shots are Awesome!

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RoadWarrior

My second most used kit is engie, and I have a lot of hours with it. Saying that, while the Pilum is a fine weapon and I have nothing bad to say about it, I decided to continue to stay with the default weapon long ago.

There is a difference in damage compared with the Pilum, but it is small (~10%). The ability to direct the missles far out weighs the slight damage difference vs the Pilums. If you consider hit percentage as part of your damage difference, then you more than make up that difference with the higher hit rate of guiding the shot. You can shoot and hide with the Mitchell or Sudnik, the shot goes straight just like the Pilum but if that is what you want to do, stay with the Pilum.
Also, I have never noticed that the projectile is slower with the Mitchell or Sudnik(other than initally out of the weapon), but once the projectile is in air, it appears to be the same velocity as a Pilum shot ( I have no measurement of that though).

With the Mitchell or Sudnik:
I have destroyed many PAC tanks zig-zagging (due to missle guidance.)
I have shot tanks around corners.
I have shot many APC's in the weak spot while in motion over hilly terrain.
I have shot many tanks head on and hit the sides on impact, including lateral moving PAC tanks
I have shot buggies going to or coming off the ramps while being at a lower vantage point.
I have shot many buggies zig-zagging on the road
I have shot people running, going prone, then getting up and running
I have shot many Gunships in flight
I can go on...but I think you get the point. :-)

These shots would be either impossible with the Pilum or extremely difficult.

So, for me, the slight damage difference is made up by more hit success.

Like any weapon discussed in these forums, there is a bit of a learning curve with the Mitchell/Sudnik, but once you learn it, it is a very dangerous weapon.

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|TG-3rd| RoadWarrior

HellHarry

I bring pilum on small map because of the fire and forget and because it does not trigger the warning alarm for the pilot. Since I'm a big armor pilot you never freak out more then when you lose 50% of your health and you had no ideal it was comming.

On the big map I would bring mitchel or sudnik but I normally bring SAAW since I travel by tank and I need an AA with me to make the gunship stay away.

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Lyramion

This, this and this again.

No lock tone is priceless on the small maps where you can flank armor.


On big maps I usually bring guided Rockets, too.

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Ponies need you !