MAX squads - Page 3

Camping Carl · 2003-04-02, 09:40 AM

If it were me commanding the max suits, and some guys showed up with tanks, say 2 prowlers, and 4 infantry. (I'm trying to make it a fair 10 on 10 match, but that's assuming the prowlers are fully crewed.)
I'd order my max suits to circle around them and kill the infantry first, then kill the tanks, one at a time. Cause, they could only focus on a few max suits at once.
The max squad would probably take heavy loses, but I think they'd win.
You'd be better off with reavers and skeeters, using the skeeters as a distraction while the reavers try to sneak up behind them and blast them in to tiny bits. Possibly supported by infantry using thumpers like mortars.
^That's just what I think tho, it would vary a lot depending on other factors like terrain. For example, if you could pin them between a few tanks, say, in a valley or something, prowlers/vangaurds would be the way to go.

shodan · 2003-04-02, 10:28 AM

The only problem with that is your assuming they stand still.The only thing you could probably encircle, if you were lucky, would be the prowlers's. But then you'd have infantry behind you just making mince meat out of you.

Besides you'd actually have to get there to encirlce them and with a chain cannon and twin-100mm cannons you'd probably lose 2-3 before you even got there.

To be honest I don't think that tactic would stand a chance by the time you took all that and the MAX's poor manoeuvrability into account (and the original post only had 3AV MAX's in it)

Vis Armata · 2003-04-02, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by luapo
i think in planetside having squads with flexibility would wipeout a full MAX squad

I totally agree. MAXs might be powerful, but mass 10 of them together without a diverse mix of units, and their weaknesses are just magnified. A good, balanced squad should be able to wipe the floor with them, because they can adapt to the situation.

NapalmEnima · 2003-04-02, 12:40 PM

I'd expect ramming to be extremely effective against MAXes, particluarly TR MAXes when they're locked down.

But that really relies on some manuvering room. Outdoors without too many trees to hide behind.

Another idea would be to meet those 10 MAXes with your own squad of 5 MAXes and 5 support personnel... repair and advanced medic certs.

Your MAXes might initially face overwhelming fire, but could be repaired and REVIVED. You'd eventually win just through attrition. Some additional AV/AP fire from the regular infantry would certainly help as well.

EDIT: It occurs to me that the success of the 5 & 5 idea I mentioned relies heavily on terrain. If all your regular infantry only have MAXes to hide behind, they'll die fairly quickly. And without those support personnel, 10(or 9 or 8 by this time) vs 5 is gonna be messy.

But in the halls of a base, or outdoors with some form of cover, I'd put my money on the 5 & 5 squad.

Camping Carl · 2003-04-02, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by shodan
The only problem with that is your assuming they stand still.The only thing you could probably encircle, if you were lucky, would be the prowlers's. But then you'd have infantry behind you just making mince meat out of you.

Besides you'd actually have to get there to encirlce them and with a chain cannon and twin-100mm cannons you'd probably lose 2-3 before you even got there.

To be honest I don't think that tactic would stand a chance by the time you took all that and the MAX's poor manoeuvrability into account (and the original post only had 3AV MAX's in it)

Good, very good, but of course I have to disagree with you.

Couple things:

1. The plan calls for the maxs killing the infantry first, that's 4 infantry vs. 10 max suits. I would give them a life expectancy of maybe 5 seconds.

2. Maxs are not as sluggish as you seem to think.

3. You also seriously underestimate their armor. In the beta test, a squad of TR maxs was dropped into a base. They wiped out every living thing in the courtyard (is that what you'd call it?) with relative ease and while surrounded by base turrets and surely being fired upon from every angle. I'm sure the max squad took heavy loses, but because of this, as I recall, the TR took the base shortly after.

Vis Armata · 2003-04-02, 01:22 PM

So Carl, what are the MAXs weaknesses? There's got to be a way to blunt a MAX assault.

Zatrais · 2003-04-02, 01:26 PM

AV weapons and lack of self sufficiency, those are the 2 major weaknessess of the MAXs

Camping Carl · 2003-04-02, 01:27 PM

As I see it, Phoenix's, lancers, thumpers, reavers, other max's, engineer's turrets, etc.
Max's are one man wrecking machines, but I'm sure they'll have their weaknesses too.

NeoDrgnMech · 2003-04-02, 01:35 PM

I'd say that in the above situations, which are mostly outdoors, yeah, a MAX squad would have a hard time fighting a well organized enemy squad of armor and infantry. Of course, the emphasis is on well organized, and whether or not you can organize a suprise assault on the MAXs.

As for which MAX is best in the situation, it's already been said that the VS MAXs manuverability will make it a better choice for outdoor environments. The NC MAXs shotgun weaponry will make it vulnerable to distance attacks with AV weapons, and the TR MAXs ability to lock down would do squat if they were surrounded (and even worse with tanks. Nothing like an immobile target to lob a few shells at.) This isn't to say that the VS MAX isn't gonna have a hard time either. I doubt the VS ability to jump is gonna let them dodge too much fire, and chances are if they keep jumping around they're gonna get separated, which would probably result in some sort of search and destroy kinda deal, which most likely isn't gonna turn out good for the MAXs.

Still, a full MAX squad in an enemy base is a different matter. No Prowlers or Reavers for support. Only infantry and other MAXs to stand in their way. And no need for AA MAX's in a base, so they'd be far more lethal to enemy infantry and armor. Say, suppose, they have a squad of 9 MAXs and a hacker in an Inf. suit. It would take either a very well organized defense or another squad of MAXs to keep them from trucking through the base like they own it.

Well, that's all the stuff I could think of off the top of my head.

NeoTassadar · 2003-04-02, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by Vis Armata
So Carl, what are the MAXs weaknesses? There's got to be a way to blunt a MAX assault.

All that armor makes a very large target (not quite a Galaxy or Vangaurd, but it will do), making it a perfect bullseye for AV weapons, especially since it doesn't have near the armor of a tank (which those are designed to kill).