noob question about generators

[daveelton]

hey all,

i've only been playing this game for about a week, but am having trouble finding details about base generators. firstly, i understand that destroying a generator takes it "offline", but can a generator be brought offline without destroying it and while a base still has NTUs? in other words, is there something than can be hacked, jammed, etc. to shut down a generator? yesterday a squad jumped into our base while it was mostly empty due to having an AMS farther down the battlefield and they managed to take our generator "offline", but i do not remember seeing any messages about it being under attack or destroyed. did i miss this message, or is there a way to bring it offline? the primary reason i am interested in this is because we were pushing pretty hard into an enemy base but once they did this, even though it was a temporary problem, our offensive was quite crippled by it.

next question: how much firepower does it take to destroy a generator, from a cloaker/engi standpoint? would an inventory full of ACEs (plus an REK) deployed to boomers do it? if so, can anyone tell me specifically how many boomers it takes? a couple time i have managed to sneak into an enemy base while the enemy is primarily respawning from an AMS, but i am reluctant to spend 5 cert points to get advanced engineering just to find out its not enough to blow the generator and then have to wait to unlearn it.

any thoughts?

[Ivan]

Back when I played there wasn't any why to hack or bring a Gen down other than killing it or it running out of NTUs.

The Outfit I was a part of I was in the Spec. Ops. And Recon Team. We took gens down like no body's business. :) I remember putting down several boomers, dropping the detonators then throwing a jammer on them. I don't remember how many boomers I would put down and it probably has changed by now. What worked then might not work now.

[Firefly]

It used to be between eight and nine Boomers. I usually put an entire Rexo suit's worth (around 15?) down, just to make a hellacious loud racket. Not sure what it is now. You lay down all your Boomers first, discarding the trigger mechanisms, and then you toss a Jammer grenade at the pile.

And there's no other way - you have to physically destroy the generator. You get a warning indicator via text message if someone so much as damages the generator. The reason you didn't get a warning was because someone went in there and laid enough Boomers to take it out in one fell swoop.

However, the developers are now planning to implement a Generator Shield-generator (GSG) that will be in a separate location, thus requiring at least two personnel to effectively disable the generator. This device was unveiled at the SOE Fan Faire. Not sure when it will be released, or how far along on development they are.

[Phaden]

so much for the solo cloaker gen havoc action. but i like it.

I think its about 12 boomers atm to drop it. i know less than 60 Rocket rifle shots is enough by alot. but you prob missed the message as they hit ti so hard with an AV max or 2, those things pwn now

[xMars]

it surely never was nor is 12. it is either 6 or 9, tending more to 9 though.

BUT dont do it. leave the poor gen alone, he isnt even shooting you

[daveelton]

thanks for the responses guys. i read an infiltration guide on the net, but in one spot it says to place 7 boomers around the generator to blow it up, and in another spot it says to place 10 boomers in case one isn't close enough to it (implying that it takes 9). i also am not sure how old this guide is. does anybody know the specific number of boomers required to blow the generator?

[Ivan]

Well sounds like you could do some experimenting. :)

[Rei]

I've always used 7 Boomers and I've blown a LOT of gens. Makes it difficult since as an Infil I'm very limited on what I can carry. Keep them in a tight group so the Jammer takes them all and that gen is coming down. Always drop the trigger as you set each one, this allows you to set the next one closer to the previous one.

[BUGGER]

I actually perfer the MAX approach, Pounder MAX to be exact. I guess it doesn't qualify for the sneaky approach, it just gives the MAX some useage cause they sure as hell don't work against vehicles. :p

[xMars]

#1 pounder requires another person to come with you, while boomer cloaker can do it all alone

#2 pounder is AWESOME, it takes down even mbt's fairly easy. of course NOT if you go head on. create a favorable position (get on top) and shoot down. about 1 clip for a mag if you can aim

#3 what was your post supposed to do? it was asked for help with boomers, but hey, D2A cant let go from maxes it seems

[daveelton]

thanks again all for the responses.

ivan: i'd like to experiment with it, but still need 2 more ranks before i can pick up combat engineering :(

rei: thanks for the tip on dropping the triggers, never heard of that.

eventually i'll be able to pick up combat engineering and will come back to let you know what i find out, but so far it sounds like 7 is number to go with.

[xMars]

as expected it takes SIX boomers for a gen

[daveelton]

im not sure why that was "expected", but it definately does work with 7, so it doesn't suprise me that 6 works.

[cheeseprata]

The part about not getting the "Generator's under attack" message is easy. You're not in the base's area of influence.