From: jive@spanky.ssc.gov (Jim Ivey)
Subject: Re: SB ogging
Organization: SSC Laboratory, Dallas, TX
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:15:45 GMT


> I have had multiple people call me a fool for locking onto the SB while
> ogging it, so I'll post my method for critique.

     I must have missed this thread, or I would have slammed them in your
defense.  Locking is good.

> This is written assuming a CA and a lightly defended base.  I don't
> usually kill a decent base if I'm by myself, but I can hurt her enough to
> make her withdraw from the front.  There are some bases that are so good
> that I am pushed away and killed before I can finish uncloaking.  I
> normally don't bother them more than once or twice.  It's strange, my
> team normally looses when one of these bases and a small amount of clue
> is on the other side. :)

     You've got a bad attitude, son.  _Any_ base can be squashed.
(Response/flames in e-mail, please.)  It just takes a little planning and
some clueful friends.

> 1. Aim 90 out from directly toward the base.

     Hmm... every place is 90 degrees out from the base.  It's a circle:)

> 2. MaxWarp.

     I always slam on the maxwarp button, but I rarely make it _to_ maxwarp
before I'm changing speeds to avoid torps/phasers.

> 3. Lock onto the base.  You should stay about the same distance from the
> base but move around to the back half.

     Don't get too predictable.  Any real baser watches for certain people
and learns where they'll go.

> 4. Drop warp to about 7.  You should do this about the time you cross to
> the bases half of the map.  You will begin to spiral into the base.

     You're too far out, if you're going warp 7.  Tighter spirals are
necessary to actually get to the base.  A good baser will peg you with
phasers if you spend too much time flying on the periphery.

     And ah... I see why people criticized you.  I _never_ lock on to bases
_this_ far out.  I'll finish with your list, then say where I'd do it
differently.

> 5. When you are fairly close wait for a torp spread/plasma in your
> direction. After they pass drop to around warp 5. You will aim for the
> base.  Since you will slow down because of the lock you may need to hit
> the speed key several times.  On a good base you may need to forget the
> lock at this time and dodge, but not usually.

     You're getting way too specific here.  It's impossible to judge what
will happen at this point.  You just have to react.  That's why warp 5 is
also too fast.  Try warp 4 when you're "fairly close"  A psychic CA can
weave his way through SB torps fairly well, alternating between 3 and 4.

> 6. Uncloak and follow S.O.P. (Standard Ogging Procedure.)  Don't forget to
> tractor.

     Tractoring should not be an afterthought.  _Ever_.

> 7. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.

     Perhaps you should focus on a different mantra my child.
     *edit* *edit *edit*

> 7. Blood, blood, blood makes the grass grow...



     Okay... it seems Roger has the right idea, for the wrong reasons.
Let's go visit FillInTheBaseOgg and see what he thinks about this (not that
any of you give a flying Philadelphia, but it's my post, so there..)

     The locking function is very useful..  when you're practically on top
of the base.  After you've weaved your way through the torps at warp 3-4,
follow this procedure (modifying as necessary).

     1) Aim past him to the side, and increase to warp 5-6.
     2) Raise shields if they're not already up (they should be up:).
     3) Wait until you're just about next to him, then...
          LockonUncloakTractorPhaserTorpTorpTorpTorpTorpTorpTorpTorpPhaser
        If he had people on or near him, insert liberal detting in with
        the weapons firing, in the hopes of taking someone with you.

     The reason for the lock on and tractor, is that at warp 3-4 you can
pull a tight circle on top of him, and since you're not really allowed to
dock, you'll just drop to warp 2 and flit back and forth across his
surface.  Even against the best bases this can cause a few of their weapons
to miss.  You don't have to change your aim, of course..  Just keep the
mouse on his center and slam those weapons.

     Some quick hints :

          Against the better bases, drop your shields on top of them.  Die
     before they get the opportunity to pressor you away.

          If there are people on top of him, treat it just like you're
     ogging them.  If they try to get away, tractor/pressor them right back
     onto the base, while you're firing all your weapons.  Explosions are
     pretty..

          Don't worry about losing fuel..  You won't be needing more than
     5000 when you hit the base.  So you'll spend about 2000 crusing to
     the base at maxwarp, shields down, then another 3000 getting in close,
     cloaked.  With 5000 left, you'll have enough for a full round of 
     weapons, tractors, and a det.

          The Tractor, inserted between the Uncloak and Phaser in the
     sequence I presented earlier, is a necessity, and has no penalty
     associated with it.  There's the delay between uncloaking and firing
     that you can't avoid anyway, so make use of it by tractoring and
     even dodging a little.

          Don't clump your torps if you're firing from a distance.  Use a
     nice spread, so he can't get them with one det.

          Phasers are _nasty_ at close range.  If you get on top of the
     base fully uncloaked, you should do a _minimum_ of 200 damage between
     your phasers and explosion.  If he's a pressor base, make sure you
     drop your shields in the hopes of exploding before you get too far
     away.

          When you're coming en masse, always have one person uncloak a
     little earlier.  Make sure he is your best dogfighter, with the
     ability to phaser plasmas and dodge torps.  Have him uncloak at
     about maximum phaser range for him, and then try to proceed toward
     the base at warp 4, detting and phasering.  Torping is optional.  It
     can be used by the base to blow up your teammates, but if they're on
     top of him like that, you _want_ them to explode;)


     Ack.. I've gotta run to a meeting.. more later.

     Jim / FillInThe_____