12 replies to this topic

[Death Mallet]

Like, I get that you press the Home key. But not sure what's going on.

[Josef Nader]

Aim at a spot on the ground that you would like to be the center of the strike. Press home and a red cloud of smoke will appear. After a few seconds, a set number of shells will fall from the sky, dealing 40 damage on a direct hit and splash damage for a small area around them. The shells will fall within a set radius around the smoke in random locations. The radius can be adjusted by strike accuracy modules.

Edited by Josef Nader, 21 February 2014 - 09:39 AM.

[DONTOR]

I still havent been able to test whether it is where your arms or torso is aming. Does anone know which one it is?

Edited by DONTOR, 21 February 2014 - 09:41 AM.

[Suko]

Something I noticed; The aiming point is based on your arms, NOT your torso crosshairs. I made that mistake once.

Second: does anyone know if you press home while your crosshairs are over a mech, does it pick that mech's location as the center of the strike, or does it choose whatever magical point in the distance your crosshair is over as the point? I ask because I usually see a group of chubby assault mechs and I'll target an Atlas as it crests a hill with Artillery Strike, but I never see the smoke or strike happen, but it did use my AS consumable. It's possible server lag had an effect and although I thought I hit HOME while the crosshairs were over the mech, the server sees that they aren't, but I just wanted to be sure.

[LauLiao]

Haven't actually used them yet, but from what I understand Arty/Airstrikes have a "universal cooldown" so if one of your teammates just popped one, you have to wait a bit before you can use yours.

[DEMAX51]

If you're aiming at a 'Mech when you launch it, it'll put the smoke right at that 'Mech's feet.

[General Taskeen]

When I was playing a while back, I only used them when I was the last one alive (Assault Mode). I get to a spot on certain maps where i have a clear view of the base capture zone. Then I pop my artillery when the entire team is standing on it.

[Pyrrho]

ShadowVFX, on 21 February 2014 - 01:40 PM, said:

Second: does anyone know if you press home while your crosshairs are over a mech, does it pick that mech's location as the center of the strike, or does it choose whatever magical point in the distance your crosshair is over as the point? I ask because I usually see a group of chubby assault mechs and I'll target an Atlas as it crests a hill with Artillery Strike, but I never see the smoke or strike happen, but it did use my AS consumable. It's possible server lag had an effect and although I thought I hit HOME while the crosshairs were over the mech, the server sees that they aren't, but I just wanted to be sure.

When you are aiming at a 'mech, the smoke will drop on the ground at the distance that your cross-hairs displays. Effectively, this will be at the 'mechs feet. Or a meter or in front or to the side if you happen to be on an arm or protruding CT. At least, this has been my experience with it.

[Roughneck45]

DEMAX51, on 21 February 2014 - 01:43 PM, said:

If you're aiming at a 'Mech when you launch it, it'll put the smoke right at that 'Mech's feet.

Including jump snipers while they are mid air.

The aim for the drop needs to be precise though. If you put it in between their legs or arms and torso you will drop a strike on the other side of the map making it a waste of c-bills.

Edited by Roughneck45, 21 February 2014 - 02:44 PM.

[Sandpit]

Another thing to note about them.

There's no range on them. They will deploy at any range so you don't have to close to any specific distance.

Personally, I use them in conquest to help force mechs out of a cap point and to force poptarts and ridge humpers to move out of their position giving my team a chance to move and close. The most effective way I've found to use them is aim just a tad bit behind the enemy mechs. That way the smoke deploys behind them and they don't notice as quickly.

[Tatula]

Arty/Air Strikes are not enabled until 1 minute into a match. Bitching Betty will let you know when it's online. If someone on your team initiates a strike, then you'll have to wait like 10 seconds before you can use yours.

You can practice placement in Training Grounds and get the hang of it before trying to use it in a real match. It does not actually get "consumed" in Training.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

You might consider re-binding the keys if you find you have a hard time pressing the defaults in the heat of the moment. I use a mouse for my fire groups, so I've bound 1 and 2 for arty and airstrikes and 4 for UAV, IIRC. It's far more convenient that way during a fight when I'm trying to maneuver while also laying down a strike.

[Sandpit]

or get a gaming mouse and bind the buttons on that.