GBO2 for Dummies V3.6

PCK's Piloting for Dummy's guide~

WITH REGARDS TO WAYPOINTS/MAP STRATEGY:
- WAYPOINTS ARE FUCKING IMPORTANT. Take Mountain for example:
[Negative IQ players cluster around the side of the cliff, or flank the entrance to the middle ground depending on starting location (while also forgoing capture of the first waypoint). Intelligent players like myself on the other hand will attempt capture of C as soon as possible or stop others from doing so.
This is because either of the 2 first options gives you a very limited amount of visibility, and really only the opportunity to take potshots at the enemy whenever you get a peek of their foot or head (or some idiot who walks into the open.) Taking point C grants you access to a great vantage point that basically covers the whole battlefield.]
- Capturing waypoints works on TF2 rules. Meaning the more pilots ontop of the waypoint, the faster the capture. 3 people can pretty much cap in an instant.
- Learning the environment will also help you out in combat, as you will know how and where to navigate whenever shit goes down. Especially if you're using a stealth or support MS. Take your time in practice mode to learn the ins and outs of every map.
- NEVER let your support capture the first waypoint. You want supports to get into position as soon as they can.
- If your team manages to wipe the enemy team and is moving into enemy territory, capture the waypoint unless you want them to spawn right on top of you. Use the "Capture waypoint!" command to communicate your intent.
- Spawning alone to prevent enemies from capping your waypoint NEVER works unless your allies are soon to spawn or you have EXAM/are straight godly. Doing so otherwise is just free points for the enemy.
- Learn which of your ms are best suited for each map (while also considering your playstyle). Just because you can take the Guntank into space, doesn't mean you should.

---Impact Site:
- Impact Site Mountain is the worst map.
- If you're on Impact Site and enemy infantry has captured your middle waypoint, you're better off capturing theirs instead of trying to fight the little bugger. Unless you're on the crashed ship side, then you can actually fire at them with a beam weapon while they're hiding between buildings. Just make sure you're zoomed in.
- Definitely DO try and retake your waypoint if you can though. Otherwise you might just find your entire team being pushed back to base.
- The tail thrusters of the crashed spaceship is a perfect spot for long range snipers, as its provides a wide view of the battleground and is far away enough to retreat to safety before enemies can find and kick your ass.

---Port Base:
- If the enemy team manages to capture waypoint D on Port Base, you can bet your ass someone will attempt a base bomb. Keep a constant eye on the map overview whenever you're waiting to respawn.
- While it is optimal to take the center, absolutely take point D if the enemy takes center point first. Approaching from a single waypoint makes your team predictable and easier to deal with.
- Do your best to never fall into the "pit" during battle, which is the low ground surrounding rockets at the center of the map. Being down their makes you fodder for explosives.
- If you have a camping support on your team near the first waypoint, do your best to lure enemies into their field of view. They'll appreciate the effort, and you'll appreciate their stun.
- If you're a camping support and the fight is clearly taking on the other side of the map, move your ass up.
- If the enemy is in the lead, and is camping near their first waypoint across the gap, don't waste time shooting them from afar. 90% chance you'll lose more people that way since you have to expose yourself to get a good shot. Go for the flank, and make sure to drag the rest of your team with you.
- You'd think the map being so spacious would be perfect for stealth ms. However Port Base is so open that you can usually see them from a mile away. Keep an eye on your environment, both near and far.

---Abandoned City:
- The verticality of this map makes it excellent for supports. If you don't have anyone on your team that can counter-snipe, I can guarantee that you're going to get fucked.
- On the other hand due to the cramped nature of this map, teams with plenty of supports are most definitely going to get fucked as well. Never go all support on this map.
- You see those side roads? If you love stealth ms, you're going to love this map. That said due to simplicity of the map's design, it makes your approach quite predictable. Don't rush to attack. Wait until you're certain they're distracted.

---Tropical Desert:
- I have nothing to say about this map except capture both 2 side waypoints if you don't manage to capture the center point. Everything else is a crapshoot.

---Mountain:
- Mountain is also the worst map; but only because its shoved onto the map rotation so often.
- Due to the presence of the tunnel, like Abandoned city this map is a favourite of stealth ms users as it allows them to flank enemies and take out supports while they're busy. Make sure to do a headcount when you first encounter the enemy to confirm they're all present. Otherwise you might just have a Pixie on the other team.
- As was stated earlier, capturing Point C is a must.

---Deep Space:
- Most people overlook capturing Point C as they usually go straight into combat mode once everyone meets at the middle. Park your ms in some corner and capture that shit.

---Research Sattelite:
- There is only one waypoint. Make it your life purpose to capture it.

---Space Fortress:
- This is only map in which I would say supports are totally uneccesary. A team of only blue and reds is perfectly viable.
- This map is pretty much 80% cover. Take advantage of it.
- Get use to going up and down a lot on this map.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH REGARDS TO ALLIES/TEAMPLAY:
- ALWAYS pay attention to the commands given by your allies. (Unless the person is just spamming cuz they're assmad)
- IF YOUR SUPPORT REQUESTS HELP, YOU FUCKING GO HELP THEM.
- If an ally comes to help you with an enemy, don't be a dick and abandon them. Finish off the enemy before moving on.
- If an ally is peeking around the corner, don't try to peek around the same corner as well. You're most likely going to get in their way, and get them shot. If you must, move back enough so they still have room to duck back behind the corner.
- If an ally gets the stun on an enemy and is boosting in for the kd, don't be greedy and rush in too. Let them do their melee combo, and then get the baddie while they're laying on their ass. Clashing with your ally will just waste the opportunity made by their stun.
- If your allied stealth ms is going for a plant or even a waypoint capture, don't fucking follow them. You're just giving them away.
- If your team is cornered, the "sortie together" command becomes incredibly important. Here is also where you need to take the most advantage of your environment to survive. Don't forget you can use the ship as cover.
- If there are multiple allies surrounding a downed enemy, let the closest one get the strike. No point in accidentally knocking down an ally just because you want the points.
- ALSO if there are multiple allies surrounding a standing enemy, stunlock said enemy by hitting them with regular strikes and then boosting/moving away or just zooking them; allowing your ally to keep them stunned longer by coming in and continuing the combo. Repeat til dead.
- PAY ATTENTION TO THE STATUS LOGS ON THE BOTTOM LEFT. Too many times have I been knocked out while defusing by a dumbass teammate with a rocket, because he failed to notice that the enemy pilot was already dead.
- If you see an ally being attacked, either tackle or go for the downswing. Even if you knock your buddy down as a result of the latter, I'm sure they'll appreciate the fact that they're not dead.
- 2 Supports are mandatory for 6v6 matches. Hell, I would say it's good for 5v5 as well.
- There is literally nothing wrong with having more than 1 Raid on your team. An entire team of raids is actually quite terrifying when competent.
- In rated matches, Team composition >>>>>>>> Playing the MS that you want. (Unless you're just really fucking good with that ms in any situation, but that's probably not happening since I assume you just started playing.)
- If your allies are being moronic about team composition in the lobby, you can attempt to trick an ally to change to the desired ms by picking an MS from an undesired class, and then switching to the proper one at the last moment after an ally has changed their MS and before the timer hits 0. Otherwise just pick a lvl1 GM Light Armor and walk into the open as much as you can because your team is full of morons and doesn't deserve to win. Joking (not).


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH REGARDS TO BASE-BOMBING:
- If someone plants a bomb in your base before the 3 minute mark, ignore it. If your team is far enough in the lead to ignore it, ignore it. Otherwise get your ass back there while also spamming the "Back to base!" command to get an ally to help out.
- If you plan on planting at the enemy base, besides checking if you have enough time, don't do things that make your intention obvious to the enemy like capturing waypoints near their base while on your way there.
- If the enemy has their ms parked outside of the base while planting, ignore it. Let an ally take care of it while you attempt to kill the enemy pilot or defuse. If you're alone however, check if its an MS with explosive capabilities. Destroy it if is. Otherwise go straight for the bomb/enemy pilot. The reason for this is that the enemy pilot can easily fly back to their ms and blow you up with a rocket while you're defusing.
- Also make sure the ms parked outside of your base isn't just crouching. You can see its eyes glowing if it's on, and is just pretending to be deactivated.
-Never immediately rush to defuse unless you know the enemy pilot is dead or away.
-It take approximately 2m20s to take the wappa from one base to the other in Impact Site, plant the bomb, and have the bomb successfully detonate.
-It takes approximately 2m10s to take a tank from the rightmost waypoint nearest to base in Abandoned City to the enemy base, plant, and have the bomb explode.
[I suggest any of you do your own experiments regarding how long it takes to plant on any map, or any other action you can think of.]
-Overall I would say the most optimal time to plant is when you have [3 MINUTES] remaining.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH REGARDS TO PERSONAL PLAY:
- This is just me, but I've reassigned my buttons for easier use. For one thing I've made the weapon swap button my left trigger. I've also reassigned my commands, as the default selection is completely useless imo.
- If you stay still for a short period of time, your radar marker will disappear from the enemy radar. It will only reappear once you begin moving again or attack. (I'm not sure, but I think going prone helps make this process go faster.)
- Countering is performed by tackling an enemy right as they try to melee. A properly timed counter-tackle will leave your enemy on the floor with heavy damage, and your boost gauge full. If your timing is off, you'll stun the enemy for a second while still also doing some damage; however the mistimed tackle will leave you vulnerable as your boost gauge will have been depleted. Some ms have increased tackle damage and distance, so keep that in mind when fighting/piloting them.
- Always keep an eye on your radar. Doesn't matter what class you're in. Pay attention. Not just for yourself though, but also so you'll know when an ally needs help even if they haven't communicated it.
- Never rush in/fight alone. I think this one is simple.
- Actually if your team is being overly defensive, and refusing to budge. Rushing in on your own and breaking the enemy line might just provide the right amount of motivation for your team to stop being pussies and charge in.
- Never chase after a weakened ms if they're heading back towards their allies. Even if you manage to kill them, you've just fucked yourself as well.
 - UNLESS of course the ms you're trying to kill is tactically important, like an enemy support or the enemy ACE. Just make sure you can actually kill them, and won't just die trying.
- Learn the effective range of your MS. This one is simple as well.
- Some MS have attack strings you can perform for massive damage. While practicing your preferred ms, you should try to learn this as well. Don't be afraid to experiment in the midst of battle.
- LEARN THE TIMING OF INVINCIBILITY FRAMES.
- LEARN TO PREDICT WHEN ENEMIES WILL PREMATURELY END THEIR INVINCIBILITY TO ATTACK.
- Stealth ms are actually much better utilized in the thick of combat, waiting completely still just out of sight before coming in for the strike. Players are often tempted to flank by going all the way around the map to wack some lone support, but you usually end up wasting a lot of time or get gangbanged by spawning blues. The only time I would do that is if you got an annoying camper that your allies can't help but keep walking in front of, or you're using an Acguy. Port Base is a map in which such an event happens frequently. Flank the fuck out of Port Base.
- If you're playing an ms with Maneuver armor, take advantage of it and bait enemies into tackling needlessly by going right passed them. Then turn around and whoop their arse.
- If you're a support and you see an MS with maneuver armor charging at you, your best defense is to fake a tackle and just boost right past them (and toward your allies).
- When using a beam charging support ms (or the G04), go prone when charging, only getting up to fire. That way no one can interrupt said charging. In general when playing support, use the stagger invulnerability while prone to your advantage. You can still tackle while crouched.
- Due to latency + dodge roll, you're better off blowing up infantry with explosives than trying to walk on them.
- If you have the enemy cornered and you're in the lead, don't pursue unless you know your team can handle it. Let them come to you. Use the "Drop Back!" command to emphasize this strategy.
- Speaking of being in the lead, in general said advantage is not an excuse to play recklessly. The tide of the battle can turn very quickly against your expectations. Always play as if you're at a loss.
- ALWAYS pay attention to the clock. Among other things, you don't want to go charging at the enemy if you're in the lead and there's about 30 seconds left. This also goes back to my tip about dealing with base bombs.
- If you see an airstrike/laser bombardment warning, you have precisely 3 seconds before the bombs begin to drop. The timing never changes even for space. If you're out of your suit for whatever reason, but get in your ms at the right time, you can COMPLETELY avoid damage.
- Once you get to a certain level of expertise with an ms, you might begin to notice other players lacking in the piloting department. So if you think you'd probably play better as a support than the other guy. Don't be afraid to play support. And if they refuse to change, well there ain't no harm in having multiple of an ms.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETC:
- When it comes to customizing ms parts, build according to either your personal strengths or the strengths of the ms. Trying to strengthen your or the ms's weaknesses just leads to an ms that is just mediocre all around.
- This is explained in the tutorial, but given the amount of people who skip the tutorial, I'll mention it here in etc. You can repair your ms by parking it right next to the side or front of your base. You basically have to be touching its frame with your ms. You can increase the speed of repair by getting out of your ms and using your welding torch. In SIMPLE BATTLE (where you can't get out of your ms), you repair by crouching and by going prone. Going prone makes repairs go faster.
- If you're having a bad run and you can't seem to stop losing matches, take a break. Doesn't matter if it's an hour or a month, take a break.
- If you value your letter rating, don't play rated on weekends. That's when the kids are playing.
- Don't spend money on this game. Ever.

One final thing, this is just advice for beginners. Even for the suggestions in which I say you should never do something, with enough experience you can probably make it work somehow regardless.
Honestly if you play enough, you'll eventually start being able to predict enemy movement like a newtype! So don't stop practicing and keep up the good work!