Tremulous Forum

Community => Strategies and Tactics => Topic started by: Unanimated on August 17, 2008, 06:53:31 am

Title: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 17, 2008, 06:53:31 am
Okay, I started playing Tremulous a few months ago, but I mostly played on humans. Now, I want to learn how to play on the alien team, and I'm wondering about some decent tactics for dretches, basilisks, advanced basilisks, marauders, advanced marauders, dragoons, advanced dragoons, and the tyrant. The ones I really want to know are dretches, advanced marauders, and dragoons. Thanks!
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Kaleo on August 17, 2008, 09:39:17 am
The best tactic for Basis is not to go them. They are a very hard-to-use class.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Tycho on August 17, 2008, 11:34:21 am
I've only met a few good basi players... most people, including me, will just simply bleed out of every orifice playing basilisk... I don't recommend trying to play it until you are good with goons and marauders  ;)
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 18, 2008, 04:43:01 am
Alright, thanks--basically what I really want to know is how to effectively use the Dragoon.
Title: Re: Goon Tactics
Post by: player1 on August 18, 2008, 04:50:49 am
from TremWiki (http://www.tremwiki.com/alien_classes):

Dragoon
headshot - 160 dmg. The dragoon can be extremely deadly to stage 1 humans. A pounce or chomp aimed at the head will kill any stage 1 human (no helmets) in one hit. Since most stage 1 humans are still wielding rifles, the dragoon can take a full clip (150 points of bullet damage) without dying. So in any one-on-one confrontation, a dragoon has many seconds to inflict one good hit on the target human, while the human must shoot a full clip, reload, and then be well into the second clip before he can possibly kill the dragoon. Humans MUST stick together in groups in stage 1, or risk becoming dragoon-fodder. The proper method to pounce is to aim high - jumping over the target's head - and then look down with the mouse during the leap, usually in a sort of slashing motion. The dragoon need not physically contact the target of a pounce in order to kill - think of the pounce (like the dretch's bite) as being a sort of lightsaber extending straight out during the pounce. You jump high, and then saber the target's head as you pass by during the leap.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on August 18, 2008, 02:09:14 pm
BASLICK!

That said, yes, save basilisk for when you're more experienced with the other aliens. However, know that the skills to being a good basilisk tie in heavily with dretch, more than anything in my opinion. Another important thing to know is that the basi grab slows turret turning, which is very useful. I've gone into the early human base many times and sat on the turrets easily headswiping humans from them because I kept looking at the turrets to slow them down.

As for marauder, try to balance out jumping and attacking while looking down a bit at their heads and fighting from the ground. A huge key to mara is learning how to headshot from the ground well.

And dragoon, the key is being quick to aim and quick to pounce. Just get used to ALWAYS being ready to pounce, or people who back away for a dance will own you, no questions asked. And with advanced dragoons, be careful of its larger size, it can be harder to maneuver through some areas. But, and I can't stress this enough, use snipes in combat whenever you feel you've got the time for it. They do massive damage on servers that aren't shit, and if you chomp them and then they run away you can usually still kill them with only one snipe after that. I've gotten good with sniping and it pays off huge to make those long range hits that piss people off.

EDIT: I forgot, listen to player1 on that pounce thing. Pounce has a decent range to hit people aside from your goon's actual body so when you're going at someone with it you keep your aim on them. And also, don't use marauder zap on humans with S2 armor stuff or battlesuits. It's not worth the risk. It's not even worth seriously using on S1 humans really, eating them is a lot faster and more efficient.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Revan on August 18, 2008, 04:16:20 pm
And also, don't use marauder zap on humans with S2 armor stuff or battlesuits. It's not worth the risk. It's not even worth seriously using on S1 humans really, eating them is a lot faster and more efficient.

I disagree on one point; on a naked human if you head bite and zap right after it you get a dead human, sometimes its faster then biting them.

Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 18, 2008, 05:13:56 pm
Thanks for the tips, I'll try them out once I get done lifting heavy objects and moving furniture. :(
Title: Re: Moving Tactics
Post by: player1 on August 19, 2008, 03:44:20 am
Interesting warm-up.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 19, 2008, 05:52:31 am
Ha, thanks - our basement was all moldy from rain (we live in Iowa, blah blah, recent flooding), so we had to rip up carpet and throw it at the dump.

Also, I used everyone's tactics, and I did make a few kills as a Dragoon, just not as many as I would like. I've been spectating some Dragoon players, and they don't pounce, but they just slice. I also noticed that Dragoons are similar in controlling and attacking to Tyrants. I can make a lot of kills as a Tyrant. I'll do some more playing tomorrow, it's midnight here and I still need to take a shower and get up early to go to a doctor's appointment.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on August 19, 2008, 02:36:12 pm
The key to pouncing is knowing WHEN to pounce. After only a few pounces, the room you have for pouncing becomes apparent. Only use pouncing if you're not within chomp range, and use it to close up distances. Just make sure you don't overshoot, try to pounce so you just sorta slide only the distance you need to gain up on the enemy.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: 3of12 on August 20, 2008, 05:17:28 am
pounce is best against humans without armor or helmeted humans, as it reduces the number of chomps needed and is easier to hit with. For mara, learn the range and stay within it while holding down the attack button for massive damage output. Basi is perfect for ambush and 1v1, but has a sharp learning curve. Master the dretch completely before exploring the lisk.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Lava Croft on August 20, 2008, 10:34:34 am
I think you are better off ignoring all the Alien classes and just completely focussing on the Basilisk. It's the only Alien combat class that gives you some kind of satisfaction.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Snake on August 20, 2008, 11:14:50 am
I think you are better off ignoring all the Alien classes and just completely focussing on the Basilisk. It's the only Alien combat class that gives you some kind of satisfaction.

That was so nice.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: gimhael on August 20, 2008, 12:59:04 pm
I think you are better off ignoring all the Alien classes and just completely focussing on the Basilisk. It's the only Alien combat class that gives you some kind of satisfaction.

I have made the experience that playing as basilisk makes you the #1 target for all goons and rants in the area. Especially when you have grabbed a human, they rush to 'help' and usually kill you too.

So you may have more fun with the most common alien tactic: get a goon, camp behind a corner and then spam "humans are campers" messages until somebody leaves the base and then quickly chomp his head off.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Lava Croft on August 20, 2008, 01:16:48 pm
I think you are better off ignoring all the Alien classes and just completely focussing on the Basilisk. It's the only Alien combat class that gives you some kind of satisfaction.

I have made the experience that playing as basilisk makes you the #1 target for all goons and rants in the area. Especially when you have grabbed a human, they rush to 'help' and usually kill you too.
That's pure jealousy. The Dragoons and Tyrants just lack the skills to go Basilisk, and they have no other way of expressing their discontent with their own abilities.

I wonder if we have some kind of stats on how many players go Basilisk and how many of them get teamkilled by some fat ignorant Alien.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: 3of12 on August 20, 2008, 04:37:38 pm
I wonder if we have some kind of stats on how many players go Basilisk and how many of them get teamkilled by some fat ignorant Alien.

I believe it's about 99% , even when not near the humans.:'(

Based on personal experience anyway.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: St. Vrayne on August 20, 2008, 04:41:10 pm
A lemur should be fast enough to dodge those big aliens anyways 3of12.  What happens in those situations to you?  Intimidation?
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on August 20, 2008, 06:04:26 pm
I get on the walls and swipe them from there.

LOL CUZ 3OF12 JUST SUKS!.!.!.!.!.!
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: mooseberry on August 21, 2008, 01:06:07 am
LUL ONCE I EAT A HUMUN AS BASI


AND HE DIE.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Bomb on August 21, 2008, 03:10:10 am
This would actually be a pretty useful thread if you people could resist spamming it to death.

I'm tired. Don't pay too much attention to me.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: your face on August 21, 2008, 03:52:05 am
LUL ONCE I EAT A HUMUN AS BASI


AND HE DIE.

omghax
Title: Re: whut basis r gud 4
Post by: player1 on August 22, 2008, 02:30:03 am
(http://web.mac.com/onestagehand/iWeb/Site/Blog/4C962FF2-084B-4B91-8CF2-C185E359FFAA_files/shot0465.jpg)
Title: Re: whut basis r gud 4
Post by: Unanimated on August 22, 2008, 02:56:29 am
(http://web.mac.com/onestagehand/iWeb/Site/Blog/4C962FF2-084B-4B91-8CF2-C185E359FFAA_files/shot0465.jpg)
And just what is that showing, exactly?
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: 3of12 on August 22, 2008, 03:43:25 am
He's showing the usefulness of a lisk. (Notice the title of his post)
Presumably, he just killed the rc without the human team noticing.

Again, lisk is very powerful, but takes precision and practice. It shares many qualities with the dretch, but costs evos and is easier to hit.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Lava Croft on August 22, 2008, 11:18:06 am
Well, the Human team that lets a Basilisk sit on the wall next to their Reactor while eating it is a Human team that deserves to die. It has little to do with showing off what the Basilisk is good for, although eating Reactors with Basilisks makes them taste so much better.

What I usually do is steer clear of my fat, ignorant Alien friends and cover their huge behinds. Everytime a fat Alien friend attacks, gets hurt and retreats, you save the day by happily grabbing and swiping the Humans who are bright enough (but not that bright) to chase the aforementioned fat Alien friend.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on August 22, 2008, 04:34:37 pm
RC jumps are only useful when enough humans have left their base or if they are heavily distracted by a large amount of aliens in their face. This is speaking of a team of humans with average experience. Noob teams often let basis/maras/goons go right over their heads.
Title: Re: reac jumps
Post by: player1 on August 22, 2008, 07:53:36 pm
This particular Human team was distracted by the steady stream of rantz & +goonz rushing & sniping their doomed default base. If you look closely, you can even see a rant running through their base in the screenie. They never noticed me. I slashed the reactor to bits all by my wee little pink self.

P.S. If you ever want to see a Human team freak out in S3, basi the Armoury (they are nice to hide behind), when they are all out of the base rushing. They really hate to spawn as nekkid humies and have no place to buy toys. Game ending manuever, usually. Aww, no bsuits and lucicannons? Poor pitiful pinkskins.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Bissig on August 23, 2008, 12:32:02 am
I've seen some funny base setups where I could hide near the medi and gas the healing humans *g* They just don't use their ears. That's the same reason they let basis or maras eat the reac.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: your face on August 23, 2008, 05:44:43 am
I usually play with my sound off anyways.  :D
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 23, 2008, 07:43:47 am
Wow, lots of replies.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: toastisgood on August 24, 2008, 03:11:58 am
LUL ONCE I EAT A HUMUN AS BASI


AND HE DIE.

omghax
ONCE,IN ATCS HS1 AS1,HUMMIES WERE IN PACK AND I R WAS LUCKY SO I KEELED 3 OF THE 4 NOOBY HUMMIES,THEN I GOT EATED BY A DUMBASS GAYF***STUPID GOON SO I GOT VERY  )': AND I LEFT.
an eyesore,huh?
OH BTW I WAS BASI
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Unanimated on August 24, 2008, 06:51:55 pm
LUL ONCE I EAT A HUMUN AS BASI


AND HE DIE.

omghax
ONCE,IN ATCS HS1 AS1,HUMMIES WERE IN PACK AND I R WAS LUCKY SO I KEELED 3 OF THE 4 NOOBY HUMMIES,THEN I GOT EATED BY A DUMBASS GAYF***STUPID GOON SO I GOT VERY  )': AND I LEFT.
an eyesore,huh?
OH BTW I WAS BASI
Um, okay.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: toastisgood on August 24, 2008, 09:32:31 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Shadowgandor on August 30, 2008, 11:21:52 pm
LUL ONCE I EAT A HUMUN AS BASI


AND HE DIE.

omghax
ONCE,IN ATCS HS1 AS1,HUMMIES WERE IN PACK AND I R WAS LUCKY SO I KEELED 3 OF THE 4 NOOBY HUMMIES,THEN I GOT EATED BY A DUMBASS GAYF***STUPID GOON SO I GOT VERY  )': AND I LEFT.
an eyesore,huh?
OH BTW I WAS BASI
Um, okay.

You'll get used to it :P
Anyway, I don't think I read any dretch tactics here, so here're a couple:

Never ever EVER walk straight to the enemy, always strafe left and right (or if you think you can handle it, jerk your mouse left and right while strafing and walking forward, although I tend to miss my target that way :( ).
Always aim for the head, aim slightly above the head for a headbite, which does 96 damage to a human without a helmet.
Wallwalk and jump, though again, keep on strafing, this tactic is easier to learn.

If you want more tips, try reading the tips written here: http://forum.clanzerorisk.com/index.php/topic,963.0.html
(Shameless promotion :P)

Good luck :)
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on August 31, 2008, 04:15:53 pm
A dretch with strafing movements in its approach is, all things considered, much easier to avoid getting hit by. In fact, if a human sprints backwards from a dretch that has too much sideways movement, the human will outrun the dretch. Getting kills with dretch is not about simply not getting shot. The most important thing is the speed with which you get to your target. Trying not to get shot while you do it is an obvious must. However, if you move extremely randomly, it doesn't matter how many shots you avoid, you WILL have terrible general results. You can't just wallwalk and short jump randomly and expect to get a kill.

Maybe we could use some demos of good dretching, I think it could be pretty beneficial.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: daenyth on August 31, 2008, 05:16:46 pm
I know I could use it... my dretch has gotten much worse :/
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: ChaosSquirrel on September 18, 2008, 01:58:01 am
Dretching has been my favorite alien tactic. I get screamed at less this way. When I drop rant, my team hates me. IDK why, I earned the rant, but apparently using them to get just one kill is not good.

Alternatively, my dretches get 2-4 kills per life.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: fingered banana on September 19, 2008, 09:00:00 pm
Tyrants should protect advanced goons when they are sniping.
Also snipe when other aliens are distracting humans
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Nux on September 19, 2008, 10:19:23 pm
Tyrants should protect advanced goons when they are sniping.

If by 'protect' you mean 'GTFO the way of'.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: fingered banana on September 20, 2008, 12:37:17 am
yes
they should not let them chase my goon
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Mage on October 13, 2008, 05:41:49 pm
I tried to set my mouse's sensitivity much higher, and its great! I had 5, yesterday i had 10, and today i have 15, and its great! It's better to chase or dodge, much better.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Lava Croft on October 15, 2008, 05:23:57 am
High mouse sensitivity is for people who have shitty mice. Buy a better mouse.
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Dracone on October 16, 2008, 11:57:26 am
This may be about alien tactics, but since we're on the topic of mice: Faster mouse movements helps a ton with human dodging, if you use cursor dancing (which I find to be extremely effective, though I don't see many people using it to such an extreme.)
Title: Re: Alien Tactics
Post by: Valour250 on October 23, 2008, 02:57:51 am
Have you checked out some of the guids posted by people on aliens??? if you havent you should different people with different techniques, mind find some that you like or modify your own slightly.

while all these poeples tips are helpful, going out and learning them your self is much more beneficial, when you have the hang of the aliens and understand there basic workings and how to use them then you start to refine technique and learn new ones.

o if your looking for guides for aliens i think there is some on page 2 and the mercinaries guild does alot of that stuff.