Your Orbital Strike Questions answered!

[Revolver]

Alrighty, since I've seen so many ppl ask how it works, etc, I figure I'll tell it from my own experience. I'm a CR4, and so I can. Orbital strikes are no where near as easy as you think they are. Heres what you gotta do.
1) Get CR4
2) Whip out your CUD and press Fire
3) Select "4. Orbital Strike" from the list. Then it goes into map view. here's where it gets tricky.

You're presented with what looks like an SoI centered on you. that "SoI" is how far you can do the Orbital Strike in. meaning the CR4 has to be a half-an-So's length away from the target at most. Also, getting it to be accurate is no easy task, since your zoom level is forced at a rather zoomed-out level, and it's locked. cant zoom in. It's like Shrinking a dartboard, and still trying to hit the bullseye. Once you've got your spot, you click "upload coordinates" Then you'll exit the map. A blue/red/purple beam will mark the spot on your map. This beam is visible by everyone, so it's a good idea to get it over with quick, as it's easy to avoid if detected. Then, all you have to do is clock fire on your CUD again. (if you put the CUD away after you upload coordinates, you'll have to start over again). And the final countdown will start. once it hits 0, the strike will fall out of the sky and deliver massive damage to an area around the target. the "kill zone" is about the size of an AMS's cloak bubble. if you're within that area when it hits, you're dead, regardless. So, you must say, how powerful is it? well, it can 1-shot an AMS, the toughest vehicle in the game to kill. Is that good enough? Thought so. And don't think you have any hope if you're in the kill zone. You're dead. Even a MAX with full stats doesn't stand a chance.

Hope it helps.

[Ceiba]

I'd also like to point out that you have to be outside to use the CUD.

[Frozen-Monkey]

THX:D

[Slab]

How often can you use it?

[Intruder]

Originally posted by Slab
How often can you use it?


Once every 3 hours.

How many outfit points does it cost?

[MrVulcan]

about 4K I am told

[sniper4evr26]

does the blast go through walls and underground like the AMS cloak bubble does?

[EarlyDawn]

I thought they had yet to implement the outfit point costs for the OS.

[ghost018]

You're right, it's free for now. But when they do strap a price on it, it's going to be around 4k Outfit Points.

ghost

[Revolver]

Originally posted by sniper4evr26
does the blast go through walls and underground like the AMS cloak bubble does? Nope. That was a rumor that I tested out myself. Big ol batle over a TR-held Gun Tower. I OS'ed the roof. managed to take out 2 guys (they were on the roof). If it went through it would have gotten me alot more. The sweetest is when you use it on a vehicle pad of a base the enemy just finished capping. 20+ kills. Ohhhh Yeah!

[NeoTassadar]

Can it give you grief points, and how long of a delay from mark-to-fire?

[Revolver]

yes, you can get grief, so careful marking is everything. And once you mark it and pull the trigger again, there's a 10-second countdown. once it hits 0, the strike hits.

[Agathon]

Hello,

Thanks again for the help in tells the other day Revolver! This added information helps. Right after you told me what you did the other day, my squad mates were running along, and then a blue beam appeared in front of them. I stopped and in TeamSpeak and Chat told them to get the hell back, but it was too late. <chuckle> They got fried before I could explain it to them. hee hee At least next time they will know! I got some revives in at least.

8-)

An important thing to remember apparently about this thing is that it is good for defense, correct? It seems to me since everyone can see the beam, it is rather limited for offense with an enemy that is on the move. AMS's need to watch out for them, but I can easily move my AMS in 10 seconds _IF_ I see the beam in time. What I have mostly seen them used for however is to defend courtyard entrances and back doors to bases, etc.

The commander ques the strike up, and then they just sit on it. When the attack comes, they start the countdown. My questions related to this then would be:

1. Once you have the beam on the map, you can cancel it simply by putting away the CUD, right?

2. How long can you leave it primed waiting to start the countdown?

3. I thought the radius for a CR3 to CR5 was larger and larger the higher CR you were, so is this correct?

4. Has anyone tried it on a bunker, and does it go through the roof of them since they are really open to the outside? What about a back door underneath the roof of the wall above you right before you go in the door?

Thanks,

[Yogi]

That's neat, can't wait to hit 4. In the mean time, does anyone know what the ranged on the EMP blast is?

[Agathon]

Hello,

Unless I misunderstood your question, Revolver already answered you. hee hee It is about the size of an AMS cloaking bubble according to his findings. I was under the impression there were two sizes though, and the CR5's OS was larger in diameter. Does anyone know this or not?

Thanks,

[Madcow]

Originally posted by Agathon
AMS's need to watch out for them, but I can easily move my AMS in 10 seconds _IF_ I see the beam in time.

It seems to me unless you're feeling real lucky if you see the beam in time you'd best just haul butt. 10 seconds really is not that much time when you consider that you're most likely not near a position to disengage the AMS, so you have to do that, get in and get moving (and the AMS acceleration isn't all that great) within that 10 second window. I'd probably just write that AMS off for dead.

[Chanfan]

Cool info, keep it coming.

Like all things in this game, I'd expect to see it adjusted as time goes on. 10 seconds seems like a lot of lead time - not for now, as most folks don't know what the strike beam looks like, but as they learn, they will learn to run away.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the delay cut down later, especially after they turn on the outfit point cost.

[Agathon]

Hello,

Well, I'd be all for no warning at all frankly, or the beam should only be seen by friendly forces as a marker to avoid.

8-)

[Yogi]

Originally posted by Agathon
Hello,

Unless I misunderstood your question, Revolver already answered you. hee hee It is about the size of an AMS cloaking bubble according to his findings. I was under the impression there were two sizes though, and the CR5's OS was larger in diameter. Does anyone know this or not?

Thanks,

I'm talking about the EMP ability you get with CR3

[Agathon]

Hello,

I thought the EMP blast is the same thing we are talking about? If there is an EMP ability separate from the Orbital Strike (OB), maybe someone could answer Yogi's question please?

Thanks,