Drop Pods

[Navaron]

Paragraphs pls.

Even if it took off 50% damage, you'd still have the element of surprise, and in theory, you wouldn't be attacking a fully barracked base, so there'd be minimal defense. I wonder if you can shoot while free falling, could be handy with a TOW or thumper...

[Modulus]

ME personally i would use them for flanking like drop some guys behind the enemy while the others fight head on, good strategy i think. . .

[Airlift]

One point to consider is that multiple Galaxies will probably be a small engagement, whereas 30+ Galaxies is a large one. I think you lead off with your Air Cav / Drops and you follow up with your AMS support and main ground forces. We won't find out for sure until about a month or so into release.

[HotDogTommy]

Here's the way I see it. When you assault a base, especially if it's a surprise to the enemy, you're not going to be facing more than one squad, maybe two. These people would have to just be sitting around waiting for there to be more. You are also going to have some of the defenders wandering off looking for the AMS. You will have (hopefully) 3 squads attacking a scouted position.

So you use your airborn for repelling reinforcements. Have a galaxy or two rove around outside the SOI and look for a tank column or any group of vehicles coming towards the battle. The main purpose of airborn has always been penetration. So if you can't actually penetrate the SOI, you still put them behind the lines in a defensive capacity.

[The Prudential]

Navaron: I'm not sure if you can fire while falling, but it would be cool. Anyway, I wasn't referring to droptroopers as being ineffective due to the defense of bases. In probably most circumstances the droptroopers would quite easily seize the base form the defenders who would probably be unorganized and surprised. That's not really the primary problem. The main issue from that point is the droptroopers being forced to defend that base for 15 minutes against a coordinated enemy counter attack.

The droptroopers could probably hold off a few assaults depending upon the capabilities of the force assaulting them, but eventually the enemy would wear them down through attrition if nothing else. Droptroopers definitly have a value, and the would likely be able to seize some bases against weak enemy counterattacks. However, I feel that their offensive strength could be better used in support operations rather than as the main combat arm. In real life examples paratroopers generally act in a fashion to support the regular troops. In operations where they are the primary striking element (German invasion of Crete & Operation: Marketgarden) they generally take heavy casualties.

Airlift: You're right, aircav or droptroopers would be best used to confuse the enemy and pave the wave as a first strike force. Then a large ground force could quickly work in conjunction with them to secure the area. Of course the situation is infinitly more complex than that, unfortunately.

[Zatrais]

Drop pods will also be usefull for times when your outfit is assaulting a base and you logged on abit late and missed the transports... just do a drop from your sanctuary and to your outfit =)

[BLuE_ZeRO]

I was thinking... on the subject of jumping from aircraft... wouldn't it be cool if you could leap from one to another while in mid air? Just attack some mosquito in mid air while you're in a max.

[Sturm]

If anyone could survive a fall w/ or without dampeners from such a high height itd be a vanu max using their limited jumpjet ability

[Airlift]

How much playing have you done so far, Pkay?

[Lexington_Steele]

Damn it, why can't I have a girlfriend that works on Planetside.

[Jester]

actually using drop troopers you could have a small outfit or maybe even just one guy bring the ams around one side of the base, and drop onto the other, making a big show of what direction your attacking from. when you die you respawn at the ams and attack from a differnt direction, giving you mobility and suprise

droop troopers would also be very handy from a comman point of view for having fast-reaction squads. your main force attacks from the north but a scout spots reinforcments arriving from the east. drop some troopers in front of them and give youself enough time to secure the building

[rockarfett]

I think I'd use drop pods much like paratroopers. Send them in behind the enemy to capture important objectives and to sabotage. I don't know what the geography will look like in PS but if there are choke points in the enviroment that is where I would put them in order to delay any reinforcements or counter attacks. Specially if not all types of equipment spawn at all bases. The troops should consist of lots of combat engineers and a few medics. Certainly lots of anti-vehicle weapons since you probably won't find many people walking in the middle of nowhere. Maybe also a sniper or two.
Another scenario is to send in infiltration units to capture important enemy base features in neghbouring bases. Like air craft spawn sites and such.

[quiet]

Can a MAX use a drop pod???

I figure Warborn and Napalm both know what they are talking about so there ust be contradictory info out there.

[Hamma]

Not sure on the max quiet.

[Marsman]

I think someone recently posted and said a MAX could use a drop pod- I think they quoted an official thread too. will see if I can find it.