How Many GAL Pilots we have out there?

Lex · 2003-08-01, 11:35 AM

I'm the DD for the Digital Marines, Basically I fly my GAL Any where any time we go on a Mission regardless of a payload. I was just wondering who else out there is a primary GAL pilot and spends more time in the hot seat flying the "Tub" then doing anything else.

Lex

Nixon · 2003-08-01, 11:46 AM

For the past three weeks, I've been my outfit's only Gal pilot and probably spent nearly half my time flying, repairing, or stealing one. It can be somewhat fun when you just happen to find three snipers on a mountain nice and close to each other, or when you can ram a tank off the cliffs of Cerysh or Ishundar.

It really opens up a squad's opportunities, though you have to actually like flying a Gal in order to take advantage of it. It's not for everyone out there, since there's only one base to get it from and it takes a good minute and a half to repair one that's been damaged from flying over a base. Still, allowing a full squad to bypass chokepoints and land on the roof has been helping, but another great ability is hauling in ANTs to refill bases. Still, it is a bit too big at times... and I suppose I'd rather have something smaller and faster to ferry around troops.

For the next week I've decided to take a break from the Gal and spend more time leveling up before regaining the cert. Before, I had no ground transportation which made it hard to play whenever I was soloing.

Piith · 2003-08-01, 11:53 AM

some times well back when I first got the game (7 day trial) I was like the only GAL pilot, well it felt that way. I actually like flying the GAL, another role I'll play is if we have someone that wants to be the GAL pilot, and I seem to be closer to getting one, I'll grab it and give it to them, I dont mind be #2, aslong as we all get what we want. I like transporting troops. I could do that the whole game, but I dislike it whne you have 2-3 squads wanting a ride all at the same time

CrazyCrazy · 2003-08-01, 11:59 AM

Yes, I've noticed a large decline in the number of Gal pilots recently. I might get this cert later on, but right now AMS and combat engineering is more imprtant for my outfit. I think if you are a GAL pilot, you should always broadcast open seats available once a hack goes thru, and your next destination. When I frst started playing, there were usually 5 or 6 gals at a base after a hack went thru. Now we're lucky if there is even one. I don't know how many tower battles I've been in recently where a gal drop would have cut the time to take it in half. Or how many times I've been filling an ant, and begged for a gal to come pick me up on command chat. Anyway, I'm glad you're out there flying those big fat targets,

Lex · 2003-08-01, 12:15 PM

Good to see a couple other GAL pilots out there. I know its not the most glamours job. but it sure is fun to come flying straight at a group of ground pounders at full throttle and watch them run to the four winds. I've been thinking about this for a bit and I'm considering starting a GAL pilot group where units that dont have GAL pilots can send in a request for one during a specific mission or ask for GAL support. It seems the only people that Fly GAL's now are the ones that truly enjoy it. Also this group could talk about tatics and better usuage of the "tubs" any one interested post so and we can see what we can get started.

Caspertoo · 2003-08-02, 04:58 AM

Interesting thread.

Just the other day I was in a squad (not my outfit cuz nobody was on), the squad was full and we were gathering at the sanctuary. The SL wanted someone to get a gal, but nobody had the cert, I had just gotten hacking cert so I forgot that and grabbed a gal. I had fun for about 10 minutes. Flew in fast and hard dumped the entire squad (minus the skeet and reever pilots) plus the lightning on a NC base. I scooted out with minimal damage.

Now where were a few NC, we got 1 tower and were fighting for the other tower but most of the squad had to respawn at a tower near the warpgate. I speant the next 10 min just ferrying people from that tower to the action. Even though I was helping out the squad big time, it was still really really boring.

I think for myself, I'm gonna forget the gal cert and get the hacking one back, that is following along with my plan. When and if I decide to start trying to get higher CR I'd get the gal simply to better organize the squad i'm leading.

With the lodestar I wonder if it'll be able to carry a sunderer or a deliverer, and if so can they be fully loaded?

Cease · 2003-08-02, 06:31 AM

If your empire has a the dropship center, matrix bind there and then just ditch the Gal and join your mates in the fight after the drop. The reason Gals arent more popular is because the pilots feel they need to babysit them during base seiges. In some cases yes, but often you don't need to. Once the fighting is done, run over to an AMS and de-con/re-con back at the dropship center and grab a gal. Its a little leg work, but beats hovering over a base for 15 mins doesnt it?

You can also get your whole squad to bind there in case it goes under hack you all can de-con and re-con back and resecure it.

Lex · 2003-08-02, 06:46 AM

Good point on the Dropship center. Something my outfit has found to be both effective and rather fun. is to use the GAL as a Mobile Gunship. With a good pilot and three gunners. the GAL is pretty effective. we took on a tower and hovered near its doors with the rear gun and blasted anything that walked out while the outfit hit the other side and pushed them out towards us was alot of fun and rather funny watching guys get nailed by a GAL Rear gunner. some intersting things where said thats for sure.

BigDickMccoy · 2003-08-02, 08:28 AM

Why respawn at the center, my Gal pilot is certed in Gal's, engineering, and AI Max.....so its pretty much ditch the galaxy in the back forty, find a tower, don the suit....after the fun is over change armor and head to the ship. I like the gunship Idea...but I'm still learning the finer points of piloting the "Pregnant Yak"

Lonehunter · 2003-08-02, 12:07 PM

Lex I remember you I've been in your Gal once. Couple days ago I think. What division are you joining in our outfit?

Cauldron Borne · 2003-08-05, 01:43 PM

Whats a CE to do? I need a dedicated GAL pilot. If any of you guys/gals want to or know someone who wants to be the Demon's Dragoons designated pilot please PM me. Right know the dragoons are in a 'cycle' system where every day a new guy looses a cert for the GAL. It would be so much better with a des GAL. This person would be automatically promoted to captain (platoon leader) and in charge of our fledgling air corp.

Demon's Dragoons: oo ee oo aa aa ting tang walla walla bing BOOM

TheRagingGerbil · 2003-08-05, 02:24 PM

I have always been a gal pilot, since exclusive actually. Sadly, I gave it up last Friday. The changes to the physics engine and to the landing restrictions was too much. 2 out of 3 times, I could land with no trouble, that third time was always the bitch. THe gall would start quivering in fear as we neared the ground, then wham, we're upside down. An explosion and death would then follow...

Once the bring back the days of slamming that tubby bird into the ground at 35 kph and having her come to a dead stop, then I'll pickup my trusty gal once again.