Pistoleer Archive

I'm 3 skill boxes up the Tactics branch (bodyshot3), and one up the Support branch (meleedefense1), and am wondering what tactics everyone uses against NPC (humanoid) targets? Specifically against faction destroy missions.

What I've beendoing that sort of works is circling to find the NPC furthest from the base, and pulling them with healthshot1 & 2, then backing up. If only one comes I'll run up and pistolwhip him to death. If 2 come I can sometimes Dot kite them, but usually they are too tough (yellow and red). Fought one today with 8000 HAM. Got him to 1/4 health before he killed me.

I have a peko peko with 1800 HAM (still young), and Ive tried sending him in once I've pulled the NPC, but he doesn't hold the mob's attention.

Any tips, ideas?

You died one on one against the 8000 HAM npc? I guess pistol whip doesn't necessarily guarantee victory one on one with npc's, but if you combine it with the use of cover, your chances are much better.

Here's what I usually do. First, I look for cover near the mission target. Boulders, trees, or even another lair/base will work. If there's absolutely no cover, you could use the mission target itself, if there's only one guard and you're willing to risk additional spawns. Pull one npc with a dot at max range, run for my cover. The npc will get an initial shot in, and then I'll be out of range or out of sight.

A single npc usually waits, prone or standing, and then comes after me. Once he gets near enough, I pistol whip and start in. If he breaks free of the knockdowns, he'll usually run out of range while firing. In that case, I circle around the cover and wait for him to get in range again. I take virtually no damage this way, one on one.

With two npc's, it's a lot tougher, especially when they are yellow or red. Since I can self-heal, so I'm willing to risk these fights. Usually, I use the cover routine, dot both, and just trade blows with one while keeping the cover between me and the other. Once one is down, the second one is easy. If I get three white+ mobs, I dot what I can and run.

I don't try to go head to head with a red if I can't use the knockdown. So if it happens that there are two reds, I dot and run out of range. Yesterday, I had two reds chase so far that I was able to double back, kill one guard, and blow up the base. That usually doesn't happen, though. I don't know why they didn't warp back like they usually do.

Another thing on bases: npc's are stupid. If you have a base that is as tall as you are, or if the base structure happens to give them no line of sight on you in some way, you can sneak up, stand right next to the base and blow it up without the guards ever attacking you. Just make sure ALL of them can't see you, or it will be hell. I usually kill the guards for faction points, but with two reds guarding, I might try this instead if I'm solo.

I discovered this method while trying to avoid killing slaves. If you shoot once, they'll circle the lair to stand where you shot from. If you start and keep shooting, they'll just stand there. This won't work all of the time, as it depends on where the npc's are standing. So you have to take in each situation and work with what you have.

Hmm. I also have great faction(5000) with Jabba's people, Desert Demons, and Jawas on Tatooine. If they happen to be near my mission target, I can buy some time using them to tank for me. The Jawas tend to die fast, while the Desert Demons usually show up in great numbers.

Usingline of sightworks well, especially with missions.However if you are fighting a 10,000+ hp mob that deals out more damage than you want to risk, this is the tactic that I use:

1.crawl up prone within range, and make sure you get two good DOT pops in before they aggro. Maybe sneak a bodyshot in for good measure.

if you are fighting a human:

2. They will normally drop to prone to fire on you, get up, healDamage self, run out of range. This can give you enough time for an extra heal or two that you may need. Drop prone. When they come in range pop them with Bodyshots, once they get prone, rinse and repeat.

if you are fighting an animal:

2. get up and pop them with warning shot. kite using bodyshot;bodyshot;warningshot. Heal at leisure.

This does't work well for taking out missions, as normally when you are kiting like this, your mission respawns. . I just use it to take out the ten point bucks like kimos and storm troopers.

Cheese

Doh! What is Dot and kite?

DOT = damage over time

kite = basically like a kite works, it follows you around as you lead...so you lead the enemy without it getting on you to lay damage on you, all the while you firing on it.

Excellent response, thank you.

I feel dumb now. I actually used the cover tactic yesterday. There were two whites, and I popped Dot on one, ducked behind the tree. He ran right up to me, pistol whipped him to death. Second was rinse and repeat.

As to why I didn't think of this tactic TODAY? Uhmmm......I ran out of gas! I got a flat tire! I didn't have change for cab fare! I lost my tux at the cleaners! I locked my keys in the car! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!

I do some stupid crap sometimes too, heh. I got killed yesterday by a bunch of dark blues. I guess I was in Daoc mode or something, thought I could take five of them somehow, in an open field fight. Though with 5000 Alkhara faction, they shouldn't have attacked me to begin with. Ah well.