Sunderer Deployment Guide

[Grendalsh]

There appears to be numerous unwritten rules regarding 'proper' Sunderer deployment locations. For those of us that roll as support, giving others spawn points, it would be beneficial to share knowledge on do's and don't for Sunderer deployment. An open source guide will help avoid issues like having to destroy a friendly AMS because it's placement is causing issues.
(Please note, I do not take credit for all these. Many have been culled from a similar thread on the official forums. Hoping to cross pollinate ideas.)
To start;

• Do not deploy in an open field. You are a sitting target, and everyone that deploys from you will have to sprint for cover. Do deploy near cover, both for yourself and your spawners.

• Do try to leave a gap between your vehicle and cover. Players will spawn on either side or the rear of the Sundy unless a side is blocked by terrain or another vehicle. A gap will provide a covered spot for players to access the terminal or repair the Sundy while it takes fire.

• Do try to deploy in a position that doesn't prevent other friendly AMS from deploying in a useful location, especially at larger bases. When deployed, an AMS prevents other Sunderers from deploying around it. This is noted by a large white ring on the minimap around the deployed AMS, approx 200m in radius.

• Do NOT deploy on top of vehicle spawn pads, or blocking the exits from them. This will either prevent friendly vehicles being spawned or the result in the destruction of your vehicle.

• Do NOT deploy with your terminal facing a vehicle spawn pad. This will force spawning players into the path of spawning vehicles.

• Do man your Sundy's weapons on over watch when deployed. Until there's spawners to help assault, there's no point lone wolfing into a base. Stay on over watch to help secure a beachhead for your teammates to spawn into.

• Do try to avoid deploying in spots where your weapons will have no line of fire. While this means no one will have LoF on your Sundy, it also means you won't see trouble coming till its too late.

• If your AMS comes under fire more than once you should consider moving it. Even a hundred meters up the wall can make a huge difference, as the base defenders will be popping in at the wrong spot to attack it.

• Do NOT Lock your AMS when deployed. It makes it impossible for friendlies to jump in the turrets to defend it.

• If there are AV Turrets facing your AMS you should clear them out once people start spawning in. Leaving the turrets there makes it too easy for the defenders to take out your AMS.

• At Biolabs, DO deploy near the gravchutes at the edges of the landing pads. Leave room for another Sundy to deploy near the gravchutes on the opposite side of the biolab.

• At Biolabs, DO NOT deploy directly under the biolab. This denies another Sundy from deploying near the gravchutes. If the elevator inside the bay hasn't flipped, players will have to run for the gravchutes. If the elevator has flipped, players using it are prone to being bottled in the elevator spawn room. Also, the bay itself has vehicle spawn pads.

Some thoughts for folks helping crew a deployed Sundy

• Check to see if the AMS is damaged when you spawn. If it is damaged take a moment to repair it - you'll get XP and be able to spawn in later.

• If the AMS is under fire you should defend it. Either get in Engy gear and repair, get in HA or AA Max and attack, or man one of the two turrets. Remember to check both turrets - F2 and F3 allow you to switch between them, and many Sundy's have two different turrets good for two different kinds of targets.

• Avoid drawing attention to your deployed Sundy by shooting at anything not directly threatening your vehicle. While it may be possible to assist taking down an enemy vehicle, it's better to 'not be seen'. Do lay into any enemy infantry in close proximity - don't let them camp your spawners.