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MWO Tactics
Retain your ability to act and deny your enemy the ability to act. This is the sole principle of tactics.
-Sun Tzu
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FOCUS FIRE
An enemy who is dead is denied all future actions. The sooner he is rendered dead, the more actions he is denied.
Two bloodied enemies have twice as many actions as one untouched and one dead enemy. When all other things are equal, damage must be concentrated.
The weak enemy stings lightly, but falls quickly. The great beast pounds with force, but falls slowly. The master studies his enemies and calculates each reward in measure of the effort required. Then the enemies are picked one by one, like fruit from a tree.
*****
The party said to the paladin, “Why do you always tell us which monster to attack? Who gave you the right to decide?”
The paladin said, “Very well, if you do not accept my leadership I shall step down. Who shall you chose to lead in my place?”
They replied, “We are equals and require no leader. We shall each decide for ourselves.” When the paladin heard this, he left in disgust.
Later, the party stumbled across goblins. One wanted to rush their archers, the other wanted rush their mage, the third insisted their leader must be broken, the forth insisted the weaker minions had to die first.
In the afterlife, each was absolutely certain they would have survived, if the others had followed their plan. Each was correct.
*****
Each fallen enemy grants your team a strategic advantage. Focus your efforts.
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TIMING
The master neither rushes to battle, nor flees it. He delays precisely as long as he must and no further.
Too often, the failure of one creates the failure of many. For when one commits to battle, the whole must commit to battle. The impatience of one ruins the plans of the many. When one falls, he burdens another to save him.
If you face two groups of enemies, engage one as quickly as possible, while delaying the other.
If you are in a room, with two locked doors, and your enemies are attempting to break both doors down, gladly open one. In doing so you draw half the enemy in early, giving you time to defeat him before facing the rest.
*****
Patience is key. Await the opportune moment. Divide and conquer.
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ADVANTAGE
When you face an group of enemies who have no or little power at range and your power at range is great, then do not gleefully rush into melee. By forcing them to come to you, you sacrifice the actions of part of your force, while causing your enemy to lose the actions of his entire force. Your patience is thus rewarded. If you can place dangerous ground between your enemy and yourself, the effectiveness of this technique is heightened.
*****
A warlord was walking along the river, when he saw hungry wolves. He took out a bow and began to fire at them. Though his aim was shaky, and many arrows missed, he killed several before they crossed the river. Once they had finished, he drew his sword and fought with great power, slaying them all.
A bard saw this and asked, astonished, “Why did you use a bow when your aim is inferior to your swordarm?” The warlord asked, “How are wolves at archery?” The bard said, “They have no skill.” And so the warlord replied, “My superiority in melee is excellent, but my superiority at range is total.”
*****
After a lengthy battle, a warlord was preoccupied with the outcome. “Perhaps if we struck from here we could have killed the troll faster. We did not use this high terrain, when we could have."
The swordmage said, “Good warlord, why do you preoccupy yourself with this battle? We were stronger and were victorious. Not a single one of our number fell!”
The warlord said, “I am not preparing to fight this battle again. I am preparing for the one like this, but harder. We will not always be stronger than our enemies.”
*****
Know your strengths and use them effectively. Teamwork is essential to victory.
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PURPOSE
While death is permanent, a great and mighty enemy cannot be killed quickly. Denying him actions grants reprieve from his wrath. Learn when to deny and when to damage.
A slowed or immobilized enemy is denied actions only as long as nothing is within his reach.
An action which misses is equivalent to an action not taken. An enemy who is blinded and swings wildly is no different than an enemy who is stunned.
*****
A sorcerer said to a rogue, “Your effectiveness relies too heavily on an ally. My spells can harm from afar without the aid of anyone else.” The rogue did not answer, save to frown.
Later, the party was overrun. The sorcerer screamed and shouted, “Where is our front line?” The rogue did not answer, save to smile.
*****
There is a time for killing and a time for distraction. Learn to recognize each. Some units are better at certain tasks. Know your roles.
