Hacking, Medic or Engineer

[ZeroG]

Basically, i have 5 cert points i want to spend on the 3 certs above. I want to go to second level (e.g. adv medic.).

Which would u say is best. Or if u dont like any of them plz post an alternitive.

cheers

ZeR0g

[Riyu]

Didn't respond to you poll since I really think it depends on your play style, so I'm going to give you my opinion on the 3 cert types.

I personally solo alot and go sniping. Snipers usually get hit by other snipers. 1 Bolt Driver shot = 66hp loss and 33 armor loss. Because of this, I picked medic first. But since I'm usually not squaded, I don't have anyone to rez, so I skipped advanced medic.

If you squad alot though, engineering is good since MAXs takes armor damage first. Comes in handy when you can repair your squad's MAXs and vehicles so Engineering is very good imo as well. Combat engineering is useful and I plan to get that next.

I wouldn't go with hacking at all unless you plan on getting advanced hacking. The recent change makes basic hacking almost useless imo. I find there to be an abundance of advanced hackers anywhere you go to. Usually within 1 min of asking for an equip term hack I get it. Then again, when used properly, Advanced Hackers are insanely powerful combined with Infil suit. Sneaking up on enemy AMSs and jacking them doesn't exactly make your enemy's day.

Just some thoughts.

[Knuckles]

My thoughts are somewhat like Riyus.

It depends on what You want to be able to do with that toon.

For myself, playing Vanu, I set out to build the "perfect grunt". I wanted him to have all the heavy weapons (AV, HA), combat engineering and adv medic (which would leave me at a sum of 19 cert points). But then I found out the extreme unl33tness of the Lasher. (Just thinking about that piece of trash gives me a heart burn). So I forgot that cert, and went back to my Lancer/Sweeper combo (which suits me quite nice)... But the thing was that I now had points to spend. Where to put it?

For me it wasn't hard. With the now remaining points I am buying the AMS cert (which I love dearly), and the last three points I'm guna tuck away into Hacking. Why hacking, You ask? Well, I often find myself as the last standing (or the first) guy to hit the console, both in towers and in bases.... and it's not like You have any time to spare once You are there, right? You need hacking speed here. I don't care that I won't be able to hack vehicle pads and such - all I am after is the ability to hack fast. (I've lost count on how many times I've been shot in the back of the guy I killed some 35 seconds earlier :ugh: .)

So all in all my lil' guy looks like this (certs are not in perfect order though):

3 Reinforced
2 Medium Assault
3 Anti Vehicle
3 Engineering
3 Medic
2 Combat Engineering
2 Adv Medic
2 AMS
3 Hacking
--------
23 (20)

Implants are:
Surge
Darklight
Second Wind

I didn't get the "perfect grunt", but I think I got pretty close.

Know what You want to "build", and how Your certs and abilities connect and interacts - then go from there.

Knuckles
BR18 vanu
Werner

PS: I have just started a 2nd toon,which I intend to be a full time pilot of heavy attack vehicles... But that's a different story.

[MilitantB0B]

If I had to pick from one of the options up there I would say try out Combat engineering, but if you don't like it (as it is very much dependent on personal preference) then pick up Adv. Hacking. You might not like placing mines and turrets, but whats not to like about getting your equipment while everyone else has to wait for the hack.

[Nitsch]

Just to add to what Bob said... Combat engineering allows you to change your playstyle. If you really like being a grunt, medic and adv hacking will just make you a better one.

Being a serious combat engineer is a different pace from being a grunt. It's a bit more strategic... and doesn't always pay off. Sometimes you can lay 30 ACEs and not get one kill... but other times you place a couple mines and get the credit for taking out a full sunderer.

All 3 are fun... just matters how you want to play it.

[Sandman]

Get an AMS :thumbsup:

[aiwest420]

imo, save up another point and get eng+med. ;)

otherwise, advanced medic is a great choice.

[EarlyDawn]

Go for the medic line. They'll be getting some nice changes next month that are going to make them much more helpful.

[gonnagetyou]

I like getting both Engineering Certs. It gives you more weapons to use and they in essence become an extention of yourself. Being able to use the ACE during an assault or for defense comes in very handy and keeps the enemy off balance. They not only have to worry about you, but all your deployables as well.

I have some screen shots of what the map looked like after last nights fight on Amerish/Markov that turned into a huge bloody battle between the TR and Vanu over the gun tower located near the base leading to the VS Sanct. There were huge numbers of engineers on both sides and the number of deployables being used was insane. The map was litterally dotted with hundreds of mines, spitefires and motion sensors. The TR never did push us out of that tower and thanks to a small NC push in the north they finally had to split some of their forces. Very awesome fight.

[Vick]

Try combat engineering first, if you dont like it get advanced hacking, it is great no matter what.

Might wanna try out advanced medical next week too.

[Smaug]

Hello fellow NCSF-mate :p. I would say if you are sniping, or maybe even doing just grunt work, that maybe you should save for medic-engy combo. As a sniper I have lots of experience with it. If I ever get hit by a bolt driver it takes away 75 health and 25 armor(agile armor) and 65 health and 45 armor(reinforced, im not sure on numbers for reinforced) so right away I'll duck behind cover and bring out the medical aplicator and heal up, you'll still have enough armor to survive another shot so theres no need to waste the time. Then if I get hit again, I just repeat with med aplicator. With agile you can survive 4 shots from bolt driver without having to repair armor. Now this is turning into a sniping-tutorial and I bet you don't even use bolt driver :p.

[Mr1337Duck]

My personal opinion on the perfect support role would be advanced medic and engineer, but you only have 5 certs... I think it'd be awesome to be a Terran with medium assault and those two. The cycler is a very nice gun, and if you have those, so long as you can get cover for a few seconds, you can repair completely, and if your buddy dies a bit out from the battlefield, you can revive him and fix his armor way faster than respawning could.

[gospadin]

I'd disagree with some of this...

I'm a sniper most of the time (sniper/av/med assault/reinf/adv hack) and when I get hit by another sniper, I move a bit and use the regen implant to get back to 100hp. The time I am ducking behind the hill is usually plenty for the sniper who shot me to get bored, which lets me locate him when I pop back up a minute later when he's looking for a different target.

Adv hack means I can get full armor and hp at any inv station owned by any side... it might be a bit of a jog to get to, but it is definitely nice to be getting through doors instantly and being able to hack a tower in 20 seconds or so

--gos

[Entra]

I personally use CE as it keeps me busy repairing and setting up some defenses. You can get a lot of "thanks" by being an engineer. :) Also, you will have an added flexibility as a grunt with the usage of deployables.

It's great to have the best of each world but with only 5 points, look at each of the professions' benefits that attracts you. They're all useful certs in their own way and situations.

Medical - adds longevity to yourself and squadmates while saving inventory space and an implant slot. The healing canisters are resourceful as its draining is slower than the engineer's. Welcomed support role in reviving squadmembers but is really ignored in a battle with friendly strangers.

Hacking - advantage in base/tower assaults. Quicker hacking process and the ability to use terms for resupply and knocking out spawns and gens. Hacking will definitely save your butt during these situations.

Engineer - good downtime certs. You can always find something to do be it repairing armor or machinery or set up defenses with the ace. CE takes up the most inventory space though when more of its resources are used. Can also set up traps as a CE.

My friend plays a hacker/medic and he definitely attests to the benefits of adv. hacking. You can practically resupply anywhere. The drawback is that you'll get used to the faster speed and will never turn back. ;)

[Smaug]

Interesting tactic godspadin but usually I like to re-heal quickly and catch the sniper before he gets bored. Otherwise he may move and I can't get a shot on him. The med aplicator is much faster than regen, and you dont have to go to a eterm to get new stuff, but I see where you're coming from. Ever since I've been using this setup I feel sort of crippled when not using a character with engy/medic so I rely on it fully.