It's a game, too! (Favorite tactics?)

[Blorf]

It strikes me that a new community member could be forgiven for thinking this is a community exclusively for builders of robots and their lore. I don't think the building and lore should be reduced, but let's have more talk about this tactically rich game in its own right!

I'll get started. What's your favorite game tactic?

For me, it's a highly mobile close range force (such as swarmers) packed together and backed up by a pair of delegators. I love the scare tactic of advancing several close range frames in formation onto a brightly spotted target. You can usually plan on cutting a path of destruction in whatever direction you choose as long as you stick to the plan, and activating the delegators early can also let you avoid too much incoming spot chaining. I don't always run it, but it's a great time when I do.

And just to keep the discussion more than just a list of favorites... How would you counter the person above you's tactic with your own favorite force?

[Mantisking]

I'll get started. What's your favorite game tactic?

If I can pull it off, "Stick & Move". Chain spotting with a bunch of Soldiers and moving them across the board to take the objectives I want.

For me, it's a highly mobile close range force (such as swarmers) packed together and backed up by a pair of delegators. I love the scare tactic of advancing several close range frames in formation onto a brightly spotted target. You can usually plan on cutting a path of destruction in whatever direction you choose as long as you stick to the plan, and activating the delegators early can also let you avoid too much incoming spot chaining. I don't always run it, but it's a great time when I do.

And just to keep the discussion more than just a list of favorites... How would you counter this tactic with your own favorite force?

Since we got chewed up by this tactic a few weeks ago, I think the best bet would be to try and break the chain by targeting individual Swarmers and knocking them out of sequence.

[VitorFaria]

I believe that Swarming is a right risk/right reward tactic.

If you manage to find favorable positions and use movement optimally it gets really hard to counter. The issue is that an opponent that knows what you're doing will seldom make that an easy task, by keeping distance and coordinating different ranged units from afar it's not incredibly difficult to drive swarm squads into dead zone where they will be next to useless.

[KungFujiApple]

As a fan of close combat, I do favor tactics that cater more towards hand to hand melee. I guess a better question for the Swarming tactic would be: When do you find this tactic to be more effective, in 1 on 1, 3 players, or more?

[CmdrRook]

Favorite tactics, hmm? Well I haven't played as much as many of you have, but I notice myself trending towards two techniques when I do:
1. As defender, instead of ceding my activations, I use a pseudo-delegator to destroy a piece of cover and spot a threatening enemy frame behind it first. If no other opponents are nearby to seal the deal, I use a brawler to do so immediately. This hopefully means a major threat is likely neutralized or tied up with another opponent and eases the pressure I'm about to endure.

2. As attacker (any): I deploy one of my stations within capture range of a defender frame who is already defending a station. This is a risky leap-frog effect to allow late game maneuvers to swing points more aggressively, hopefully in my favor during the final moments.

Both of these strategies are aggressive and demand an all-in method, leading to varied results, but I love daring plays and hard-earned underdog victories, so they suit me fine.