AMS Tips

MilitantB0B · 2003-06-20, 12:34 AM

Seeing as how the forums have been filled talk of nerfing and overpowered n00bcannons and several other unpleasant topics, I figured I would give a go at writing a helpful guide.

One of the most potent tools in a squad�s arsenal doesn�t kill anyone. The AMS can help your side out quite a bit. The problem is that most people just plop their AMS down and run for the door of the base. This makes for a very happy enemy infiltrator or reaver pilot when it either gets blown up or hacked, that�s why I am writing this guide to help out some of you AMS users (and abuser alike

)

First things first, I�ll assume first you do not have access to Combat engineering. When placing your AMS, there is a couple of things you must remember:

1.) Try to avoid placing your AMS in the direct line of sight of your enemy; placing them just over the hill from an enemy base is good for this.
2.) Try to deploy them in places not easily accessible to aircraft. In Hossin, you can actually place it under some of the trees, if not on Hossin, just place it in thick tree cover if you can to make it harder for reaver to light up your little AMS.
3.) Always face your AMS towards the enemy base. Why? This forces your troops to travel the length of your AMS. They start in the middle, travel to the back, then pass the front on their way to the enemy. That way, if there is someone hacking your AMS, your friendlys will be more likely to see them and stop them.

Now that you have your AMS in the best possible position available, its time to defend it (assuming you have Combat engineering, if not, get the heck out of here and go frag some enemies, the best defense is a good offence.) Now remember, if the enemy still hasn�t seen your AMS yet, don�t start placing any deployable defenses outside of the cloak bubble till they notice you. Being a infiltrator, nothing tells me where a AMS is better then a ring of Spits in the middle of nowhere. Below is an image of an excellent mine placement that hasn�t let me down yet:

(the placement and number of the mines is very imprecise, but you get the general idea)
You lay a ring of mines just inside the cloak bubble all the way around. This way the enemy won�t know there is a mine there till he is right on it and choosing a respawn point. Since most AMS hacks take place at the very front of the vehicle, you place a mine at the front of the vehicle to make those infiltrators think twice before hacking. Then, with all the mines you have left, place mines outside of the cloak bubble in between the ones you placed on the inside. That way, the enemy sees the mines on the outside, goes to either the right or the left to avoid it, and Face plants right into the ones around the cloak bubble. If you want, spruce the place up with some spits and motion sensors, but I normally find that they only attract attention to your AMS, which is something you don�t want.

That�s about it, I hope it helps, and that none of my enemies read this.

Zenny · 2003-06-20, 12:41 AM

Very useful, I too often see people just tossing them near an enemy base where they can spot after a bit of this and that.

To add to this and been said before a lot, if using an AMS DO NOT head straight to the base from the AMS. It'll just lead the enemy straight there, instead go to the side of it a bit before heading to the base.

MilitantB0B · 2003-06-20, 12:46 AM

Yeah, that is the number one cause of death for an AMS. I always call my AMS the porta-zerg because after about 10 minutes for fighting for a base, I set up an AMS and troops just come pouring out and straight to the nearest enemy holding. Honestly, I spend most of my time babysitting my AMS and not getting much fighting done. Oh yeah, and one more thing,
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS DECENT AND GOOD, LEARN WICH SIDE OF THE AMS IS THE TERM AND WHICH SIDE DEPLOYS THE AMS!
I can't tell you how many grief points I have from killing idiots that keep undeploying my AMS and cursing because they can't get their stuff.

PeregineDive · 2003-06-20, 01:42 AM

Great advice man. That will definetly come in handy - I'll still working on getting my engi certs =P

-DS

�io · 2003-06-20, 02:10 AM

Excellent stuff. I'd add just a few things.

1- Deploy at least one motion sensor near your AMS. 1 in the bubble and other around the AMS if you want as long as you make sure said sensor is well hidden (behind a tree, hill or rock)

2- Don't be afraid to move your AMS, if you think or know the enemy knows where it is don't just get a new one or try to defend the current one. Undeploy it, get away from a moment then find a new spot. (this is of course assuming there's no zerging going on) If you leave it there it will get killed no matter what. (again unless you have a zerg to defend it)

3- Make sure it's well hidden but also easy acces, i've seen quite a few AMS deployed where it took you 3 jumps and 4 mins to get out of the spawn tube.

4- As Bob said, always make sure to check around the AMS when you leave. Killing those jackers is a lot of fun.

Sleepwalker · 2003-06-20, 03:35 AM

wow, that's actually... incredibly helpful.
i'm considering getting AMS pilot skill. is it 2, or 3?

Jaged · 2003-06-20, 03:43 AM

I think i might get an AMS cert now.

Doppler · 2003-06-20, 04:20 AM

Two points that if you followed bob's advice you should be doing anyway.

Avoid high traffic ares. Everytime I see an AMS set up right by the back door i just want to tear my hair out. (speaking of which here's more for your rug bob) The advantage in the shorter run for your zegites is more then nullified then they can now be found reached from the base and cluster fragged while gearing up.

DO NOT place AMS in line of sight of a wall turrent, this is even more important now that uaoturrrents will once again autofire. The real reason for this however is that in large base battles all turrrents ternd to be manned even if sparadicly. A turrent will chew up your AMS going up, it will continue to chew it up after the cloak buble deploys, and will chew up people popping out of it.

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My own hints for everyone:

Dont head straight from the AMS to the base, if theres a hill near the ams duck and circle around the hill anbd then come at the base from another angle.

Madcow · 2003-06-20, 04:27 AM

You forgot how fun it is to drive. It's slow as can be (and if you're being chased up a hill say goodnight), but for some odd reason it's really difficult to tip over. I've had some fantastic chases with the enemy all over my tail trying to blast the AMS before I can lose them. Your best bet is to try and score an AMS as one or two other people are getting them as well. Head towards the same base, if one or two people start chasing you then you get to split up from the other AMSs and hope they follow the other suckers. If they follow you instead, drive like a bat out of hell towards green dots. Try not to run them over, but they can certainly make life a bit more difficult for whoever is in pursuit. Oh yeah, and remember which side you got in on, it's the same side you'll get out of. When trying to deploy in a hurry the last thing you need is to get confused about which was is the front.

Hamma · 2003-06-20, 08:57 AM

Nice guide

Tatter · 2003-06-20, 10:22 AM

Knowing when to move you AMS is very important. I've also had fun laying mines in a circular pattern on the ground. If you do it right, it looks like a position that used to have an AMS stationed at. This can bring out some of the enemy from the base as they "search" for the moved AMS.

Finally, try not to park your AMS near a wall. Alot if times this causes the invis field to go through the wall, making your AMS even easier to find.

Bad Mojo · 2003-06-20, 11:48 AM

Don't be too concerned about parking too far away. Just inside the base SOI or just outside is an acceptable run for most people. Towers are that far away, too.

Too many times I see people focus on getting the AMS to a close spot, not a better spot.

Mr1337Duck · 2003-06-20, 12:29 PM

And if you know that your AMS has been discovered, MOVE IT! Get your friends to say... get into MAX suits and storm the courtyard. Cause a distraction while you move the AMS. Once the enemy has found the AMS, they'll continue making kamikaze runs at it until it dies. They won't run in looking for your soldiers, they'll be looking for the AMS, and it's an easy target.

�io · 2003-06-20, 12:45 PM

Oh and another thing i forgot. Do NOT be afraid to use your AMS as a weapon. This might sound weird but if there's an AV guy shooting you most likely you won't get away in time so ram him. An AMS is one of the best ramming vehicles out there, i once managed to kill a squad by myself thanks to my AMS, i got like 6 or 7 of them in a min or 2 before dying, it was hilarious.

gonnagetyou · 2003-06-20, 02:02 PM

Lots of good tips here already.

Just a word of warning though. Don't place mines too close together inside the cloak field. I've seen one jammer nade take out half the mines and reduce the AMS to half strength and damage or kill everyone nearby. Space them slightly further apart. You don't get the same coverage, but you reduce the chance of some serious damage.