Join fellow Qt3ers for MAG Tuesdays!

[merryprankster]

Originally Posted by Omniscia

Prankster's a cranky squad leader, though, yeowch.

Only when the squad doesn't listen. ;)

To be fair, wreaking a bit of havok in the backfield is a good idea and slows them up. Retaking abunker can actually be a great strategy if the situation allows.

The problem is if they are holdind C (last nights objective) they are putting points on the board. The thing about MAG is that, unlike a lot of other shooters, if part of a squad goes freelance it can cost you the match.

Anyway, sorry if I was a bit cranky, but I did have my reasons. I suppose I should realize that other people play online shooters 'just for fun' though.

[Omniscia]

Originally Posted by merryprankster

Anyway, sorry if I was a bit cranky, but I did have my reasons. I suppose I should realize that other people play online shooters 'just for fun' though.

Yeah, it's no problem, man. You just seemed under duress. Fuhgeddaboutit.

I'm still not entirely sure how the enemy racks up points. If only there were a guide, but Googling "MAG guide" only brings up unfinished placeholders for FAQs, plus a gay travel review site and a Christian children's magazine.

Anyway, played a few more rounds tonight, and moved up enough in rank to get my improve rocket launcher reload speed skill. Yeah!

And I managed to finish first in the squad in a Domination match. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough for a Top 3 finish in the platoon, so it must have been a really lousy squad.

Plus, some guy thought I was good enough to play with that I got invited into another group, and picked up a new person for my PSN friends list! Score! I guess... But I'll never leave you guys. Maybe we can invite The_Kid in once in a while, if we have an empty spot in our group, though.

[Chaplin]

Originally Posted by merryprankster

Only when the squad doesn't listen. ;)

To be fair, wreaking a bit of havok in the backfield is a good idea and slows them up. Retaking abunker can actually be a great strategy if the situation allows.

Look out there Mr. Charge the Enemy Gunning Shuddup Chap with Your Silly Tactics. =)

[merryprankster]

Originally Posted by Chaplin

Look out there Mr. Charge the Enemy Gunning Shuddup Chap with Your Silly Tactics. =)

Not my fault, they nerfed the LMG :(

Omni, When the enemy controls the lettered points (A,B,C...etc) the inflict damage (these points are only accessable after the burnoff towers are blown). This damage is displayed on the orange band at the top of the screen. If the band fills the defender looses.

That's what I was on about. If the enemy controls our point it is priority 1 to get it back. If it's secure then it is tactically advantagous to have a small cell wreak some backfield havock, but never forget that Domination is ultimately won or lost at the control point. The barracks are your first line of defense, but once the AAA is down they are difficult to hold and a diversion at best. Not worth loosing the game to retake.

I guess I assumed everyone knew how that worked by now, so I was getting frustrated that we weren't concentrating our efforts where the game would be won or lost in those last 10 minutes. I razz about kill/death, but that is ultimately meaningless in MAG. Defending the different points is what matters.

[Omniscia]

Originally Posted by merryprankster

Omni, When the enemy controls the lettered points (A,B,C...etc) the inflict damage (these points are only accessable after the burnoff towers are blown). This damage is displayed on the orange band at the top of the screen. If the band fills the defender looses.

Oh! Okay.

I assumed the damage indicator was how many frags we had, or something like that. Good to know.

I've only been playing for a little while, anyway, and spending most of that time in the back field patching up bunkers, or sneaking around the perimeter. Not too hep to this assault stuff yet.

But I'm getting there. I may be level 42, but I'm still somewhat of a n00b.

[merryprankster]

Originally Posted by Omniscia

Oh! Okay.

I assumed the damage indicator was how many frags we had, or something like that. Good to know.

I've only been playing for a little while, anyway, and spending most of that time in the back field patching up bunkers, or sneaking around the perimeter. Not too hep to this assault stuff yet.

But I'm getting there. I may be level 42, but I'm still somewhat of a n00b.

Repairing is actually a critical function, but in the last 6-8 minutes of the game if you are pushed all the way back spend the effort repairing the doors. That keeps the enemy from being able to flood the control point. It's also useful to keep the sensors and mortar up late game.

If you are on attack, reparing is less of an issue. That's about forming up for a concentrated attack to break the defenses. Then generally res-ing like crazy to hold the position. A well timed res can often start a cascade that means the differnce between being pushed back and a succesful attack.

One other note, Domination and Extraction (or whatever you call the stealing the trucks one) are very different in bunker priorities. In the latter it is vital to retake the line and AAA.

[Omniscia]

Originally Posted by merryprankster

Repairing is actually a critical function, but in the last 6-8 minutes of the game if you are pushed all the way back spend the effort repairing the doors. That keeps the enemy from being able to flood the control point. It's also useful to keep the sensors and mortar up late game.

I did, and I kept getting grenaded and shotgunned, and that's when I decided to run off and try to get the AAA back up.

[Mightynute]

From experience, if you can keep the AAA down reliably, stop attacking the bunkers - at that point, you WANT the enemy spawning in their bunkers instead of the backfield in the endgame.

Defensively, the same principle applies. If you can keep your AAA up, the bunkers are absolutely essential. If the enemy is just wreaking havoc on the AAA, abandon the bunkers and keep everyone back around the control points and resources.

[Omniscia]

Next time out, I think I'm going to try my new build. It's nothing special -- just an LMG with a reflex sight, that triple-plated steel armor, a rocket launcher, frag grenades, and smoke grenades -- but I'd love to see how much damage that can soak up.

[Mightynute]

...but where's your medkit?

(says the guy who takes great pains to fit a medkit into EVERY loadout)

[vyshka]

How much does the triple plated armor impact your mobility? I was looking at it in the loadout screen and it made a point of mentioning that so I opted for a lesser one.

[Mightynute]

Armor restricts your sprint ability in three categories:

Ballistic Mesh/Enhanced Ballistic Mesh = no impediment
Ballistic Vest/Enhanced Ballistic Vest = minor impediment
Steel Reinforced Armor/Triple Reinforced "Fat Boy" Armor = major impediment.

The "enhanced" versions of each armor loadout offer slightly more protection with no additional movement penalty.

[merryprankster]

To be fair I've used both the heavy and medium armor and barely noticed a difference in mobility. I use the medium+ armor these days because that way I can have both a medkit and repair kit. I think that the added protection of the heavy armor far outweighs the cost and mobility reduction, especially untill you get good at headshots.

There are a lot of cool loadout gadgets in the game, but none of them do you any good if you are dead all the time.

[vyshka]

Do more gadgets and equipment become visible as you level up?

[Omniscia]

Gadgets and equipment become available to you when you choose, assuming you have enough skill points to unlock them. Go into the Barracks section, in the game, and then to the Skills tab.

You've got to play to level up, level up to gain skill points, use the skill points to get new gear, guns, or perks, rinse and repeat.

And then, of course, you have to attach the stuff to the guns in the Armory screen.

[Omniscia]

Thanks, Crater, for joining me for a couple matches tonight. It's a shame that second match was such a resounding beat-down, though.

Seriously, we were totally pinned down in our own spawn point in a Domination match. Couldn't make it more than 10 or so feet without getting gunned down. Somehow, I managed to finish with 264ish points, to lead the squad, despite also picking up another Purple Heart ribbon. And my first Combat Launcher ribbon.

The first of our two matches wasn't much better, as Squad Leader Wally2004 kept berating everyone about how much they sucked, and trying to instigate a kick of random squad members so his friend could join. I somehow finished second in the squad in that match. Wally2004 had 49 kills for his part.

[Kevan]

Has anyone tried Sabotage now that all the maps are unlocked for all factions to defend? I wonder if this will dispel the SVER map balance claims. Anyone know who owns the contracts at the moment?

Also, someone may want to correct Tom on his math on his Fidgt post today (I can't link it because apparently I don't have enough posts - it's still on the front page of Fidgt). We don't get new maps, we just get to play defense on maps we haven't been able to previously defend, and we get to attack on a map on which we previously hadn't been able to play offense. Not to mention that the mode he described is Acquisition, not sabotage.

Sorry I haven't been able to join you folks on Tuesdays, it's usually not a good night for me to be on. I will try to squad up if I see any of you playing it on PSN when I'm on, though. I'm up to level 32 now and thoroughly enjoying it.

[Mightynute]

And he got the map wrong. Sabotage is the "Seize/Defend points A and B, then C" map.

Edit: Which you said. Just goes to show that you can't trust Tom Chick! Apparently he has a grudge against MAG, what with not being able to drive an APC and all.

[Dave47]

Originally Posted by Mightynute

Just goes to show that you can't trust Tom Chick! Apparently he has a grudge against MAG, what with not being able to drive an APC and all.

Hey, enough berating (bereting?) Tom! It's MAG night!

...Well, not quite yet. But soon!

[Omniscia]

I'll be on around 20:00 EST.

[Mightynute]

Make sure to psych yourself up with the new QT3 MAG Night theme song!

[Mysterio]

Originally Posted by MAG Blog

If you consider yourself the type of person who likes getting new video game features for free, then our next MAG patch — version 1.07, due in early August — is definitely something for you.

Yes friends, in just over a week from now, players will be treated to a number of features that you’ve been asking us for all summer in addition to a few surprises. Like what, you ask? Like these…

• A new “Happy Hour” Double XP bonus that’s applied to the first hour of any player’s gameplay session in a 24-hour period
• Suppression will join Sabotage as a “Faction Neutral” gameplay mode, allowing any PMC to battle each other on any Suppression map!
• Faster download and patching code that allows us to update MAG with more content and bigger file sizes in a speedier way
• Redesigned versions of the Flores Basin (Raven) and Alyeska Terminus (Valor) Domination maps that include new obstacles and repaired exploits
• New lighting effects for more attractive and realistic environments
• Various fixes to address bugs or glitches to improve MAG’s overall performance

Of course, there are a number of other additions and fixes coming with MAG v1.07, but the points listed above should whet your appetites while you wait for the full list of changes closer to the update.

Link

[Kevan]

Thanks for the games tonight, t'was fun.

[Omniscia]

Yeah, it was.

I finally got to be a Platoon MVP, for once, if only #3.

[Mightynute]

We were indeed on a serious roll. Our rapid repair team on those Domination defenses probably saved the game on more than one occasion, keeping multiple bunkers up and forming a rolling wall of defense against the Raven hordes.

I think my top moment, though, had to be running up to set a charge on the bridge, having an enemy APC charge me - AND MISS. Seriously, I was kneeling RIGHT THERE, and they MISSED. Worst. Driver. Ever.

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by Omniscia

Yeah, it was.

I finally got to be a Platoon MVP, for once, if only #3.

I see some of the scores on the MVP list and can't fathom how people are doing it. I feel like I'm busting my ass all match running around repairing, healing, killing 20-30 guys, and I'm still sub-1000 points even with the directives bonus.

Originally Posted by Mightynute

We were indeed on a serious roll. Our rapid repair team on those Domination defenses probably saved the game on more than one occasion, keeping multiple bunkers up and forming a rolling wall of defense against the Raven hordes.

It seemed like everyone had repair kits, it was great. I have a build that's just a smoke grenade, Med Gun, and Repair Gun, which is what I ran with pretty much the whole night on defense.

Sorry about the TK in the turret, everything was shrouded in smoke and I was just bulletspamming for no real good reason.

[Omniscia]

Originally Posted by Kevan

I see some of the scores on the MVP list and can't fathom how people are doing it. I feel like I'm busting my ass all match running around repairing, healing, killing 20-30 guys, and I'm still sub-1000 points even with the directives bonus.

See, I got mine by running around repairing and healing and blowing up enemy APCs with turret rockets. With the bunker FRAGO'd, those get you some major XP.

I may have to try your repair kit/med kit build. When we're on big defensive pushes, getting bunkers back on line, I rarely have time to return fire, and the extra armor I could afford by dropping some of my weapon attachments would be useful. I'd still pack an RPG, though, for those pesky APCs.

[Mightynute]

My engineer build, which is standard on Acquisition/Domination defense is:

1) T2 Assault Rifle w/reflex sight. I usually swap this out for enemy weapons at the first opportunity.

2) Medkit

3) Repair Kit

4) RPG - APC-killing is a major priority in most locations on the map. If you're in a location where APCs aren't a threat, then the RPG is a great anti-sniper tool, especially if you have a buddy to pull off a Cold Charlie technique.

5) Treated Ballistic Mesh. Light armor = moving faster between objectives. Yeah, you get killed a lot, but most of the engagements are at close range around the bunkers where heavy armor does you no good against a knife.


Sub out the weapon for your weapon-of-choice, but I highly recommend the Medkit/Repair Kit/RPG triad as the necessities of defensive builds, and am a big fan of mobility over protection when it comes to armor.

[Mysterio]

I played some team death match with my friend this afternoon, and we were both wondering what the orange, glowing dog tags + the number 1 in the lower left corner of the main screen represented. Help us solve this mystery!

[Mightynute]

If you're part of a clan, that's how many clan members are online. If you're not, that's how many invites you have in your box. Go to the Community tab, select Clan, and you can accept/refuse.