The Feeding, Care and Use of the Striker

Lithpope · 2003-12-24, 03:51 AM

Yes, you must feed your Striker a steady diet of Reavers, Skeeters, Lightnings, Buggies, the occational wounded tank and of course it's favorite dessert, MAXES.

All kidding aside I know most persons prefer the Deci to the Striker. In some cases it is a superior weapon in others, it is inferior. This thread is not about a comparison between the two or about which is the superior weapon, this thread is about the strengths and uses of the Striker.

Since the BP Striker use has gone down. Is it what it used to be? Nope but, it is a good weapon, lock bugs and all. The following is a compiled list of my experience with the Striker and it's uses.

1) Protect your Airdales - See a nasty furball going on in the skies above you? Tip the balance in favor of good ole Red and Black. Lock an enemy aircraft and start shooting. Nine times out of Ten the enemy airdale will turn tail and run giving your airdale the opprotunity to shoot him out of the skies and occationally you will get the kill yourself. After all, we grunts want our airdales shooting down those nasty Libs and harrying the ground troops in front of us not dogfighting.

Some would say this is unsporting and it interfears with an honorable dogfight, I say phooey, move your Empire foward to the next base! No it is not killstealing I am sure the airdale wants that nasty aircraft out of his way. Another way to protect your airdales is to pop those nasty AA MAXes, Lock those buggers and drop them so our friends in the sky have a free run of the sky and I am SURE your friend in the sky will appreciate this kill. Tip on multiple air targets, If you lock one and fire and he hits the burners quickly lock another watch that missle hit your new target. Remeber, nothing says intimidation to an enemy aircraft like a missle lock.

2) Support your Vehicles - See a Prowler in a nasty fight? Lock and load baby and tip the scales again. Watch the enemy vehcile freak while he is facing your friendly vehicle and has that nasty ole "Missle Lock" on his screen ( side note, I have noticed that Vangard drivers do not seem too concerned with the Striker, Van drivers correct me if I am wrong). Again, we want our vehicles laying waste to enemy grunts not dueling enemy vehicles. Also, Lock and drop those AV MAXes.

3) Drivers and Pilots Tote one with you - Nothing says I love you as much as bailing out of a dying craft and painting that poor slob who did such a nasty thing to your craft, than a Striker up the tailpipe. This is espcially good for pilots and non combat vehicle drivers.

4) The Stiker is a FIELD Weapon - Indoors there are better alternatives to the Striker, in the field or a base courtyard nothing is better at picking off moving MAXes, I almost feel sorry for the sorry bastards, ALMOST (Particularly if it is a Scattermax moving to the fight, Hate you guys

).

5) Travel in packs - As with all AV weapons the Striker is better in packs, find your fellow Stirker users and move with them, you can put up an effective AA umbrella and a decent vehicle shield while moving in the field if you move with you fellow Stiker users. In this mode Lightnings and buggies are easy kills, Aircraft generally run and stay away and tanks while they may not die are out of the fight either repairing or do get killed when your Prowler drivers show up.

General Tips:
- If fighting an aircraft, charge it and strafe some, work your way under him and get those free shots.

- If your Target is at range fire ONE round and gauge reaction, if they move away ( or behind a tree or rock if it is a MAX) don't waste your ammo by firing any more. If they remain stationary after one or two seconds, unload on them.

- Altitude is an advantage, you want to be high so you don't lose your lock by the enemy going over a hill but, you don't want to be too high as to lose your range vertically.

- As mentioned above you can retarget a missle in flight. Your primary target moving out of range or moving behind a barrier? Quickly find a target for that missle, LOCK SOMETHING if at all possible.

- Even if out of ammo, a Lock will more often than not turn away an aircraft.

- Don't waste your ammo on a Lib at max altitude unless you have an ammo resupply nearby and frankly you could be doing something more constructive than shooting at something you more than likely cannot hit.

I know since the BP the Striker has seen a lot less use and it does have a lock bug and maybe I am just plain stupid or crazy but, I love the weapon and get a good pecentage of my kills with it ( I am guessing somewhere in the 30% range) but, I feel the weapon is underutilized and underestimated by the TR. Feel free to flame, taunt, call me stupid or whatever but, it won't change my opinon of this good and functional field weapon.

Rayder · 2003-12-24, 04:00 AM

When using my NC char, and I have Van, I'll sit there and let the Striker users shoot at me, it's fun! And when I feel like moving my gunner will just shoot em. Only time I feel threatend by a Striker when in my Van is when I'm fighting a Prowler, I'll tend to just run over the infantry while running, or, when I'm low on health (and by low I mean low).

Zatrais · 2003-12-24, 07:26 AM

You could do that or you could spend 2 points on a Burster max and get the same results and more effictive AA hehe.

ZjinPS · 2003-12-24, 09:19 AM

You could spend 1 more point and actually be effective against buggies and MAXs. 1 Clip will bring a MAX. Anti-Air Max for the TR is terrible against anything else. Atleast with the striker you can blast buggies and other Tank Fodder. I've been a long time supporter of the Striker before and after nerfs. Rock on baby!

Zatrais · 2003-12-24, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by ZjinPS

You could spend 1 more point and actually be effective against buggies and MAXs. 1 Clip will bring a MAX. Anti-Air Max for the TR is terrible against anything else. Atleast with the striker you can blast buggies and other Tank Fodder. I've been a long time supporter of the Striker before and after nerfs. Rock on baby!

1 clip will bring a max? What do you mean by that?

Rayder · 2003-12-24, 09:27 AM

5 rockets doesn't kill a max, unless they did a stealth buff.

Lithpope · 2003-12-24, 11:52 AM

Yea, figured you Van drivers would not swaet strikers too much

Madcow · 2003-12-24, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by ZjinPS

Anti-Air Max for the TR is terrible against anything else.

Then you haven't used it much. I got so tired of being shelled by the Burster when I was on base walls that I had to cert the thing and try it out. From range it mows through MAXs and infantry like nobody's business. Does a number on smaller vehicles as well. If somebody gets close to you, you're screwed so you'd best have somebody watching your back, but at range the Burster is unbelievable vicious.

The flak effect also isn't contained by walls or rocks, if somebody is hiding behind an object to try and avoid the hell that you're raining on them just continue to rain it and watch them drop anyhow.

I'm most effective downing aircraft with the Starfire, but the Burster definitely has the advantage over both the other AA MAXs when it comes to usefulness outside the intended purpose.

ZjinPS · 2003-12-24, 12:31 PM

Corrections:

It takes 6 Striker missles to bring down a untouched MAX. The 6th is pretty much an overkill because there isn't much armor or life left after the 5th hit. Most of the time one box of ammo (5 missles) is enough to bring down a MAX because of already existing damage. If they are spawning in a tower and walking out, yes they will require 6 missles to take down. If they have walked from the tower to your base usually 4 or 5 will do it. I'd face any max in a open courtyard with my Striker. Providing we don't start off face to face.

Secondly, the TR anti-air MAX..

I have used Burster MAX. As a matter of fact I play TR and every toon I have has a Burster MAX cert. It is usually the ONLY MAX cert I have. I do agree that -at range- they can damage people and vehicles. But, like you said, at range. In a courtyard defense once the enemy is in the wall Burster is not terrible effective against anything w/o wings. You'll do as much damage with area effect damage to yourself as you will to them. Someone in rexo with a Jackhammer can easily own you, especially if they have AP rounds loaded. While you are shooting them they jump in your pocket and eat you alive. Your own flak damages you too.

As far as the Striker goes, I have said it in other threads, it is should be called Anti-MAX more than anti vehicle. Yes the Deci packs more punch, but its hard to hit a jumping VS MAX at 150 yards with a Deci.

Also, 1 box of 5 will usually end a skeeter. Even if you dont outright kill it after taking 5 rounds the pilots usually bail. If they have a fully charged shield, than it may take a few more.

Oh, and 1 more thing, the VS anti-air MAX... I have a limited knowledge of them as well. They are incredible air defense MAXs. I think they are better at switching to anti personel than the TR version. I can usually drop infantry with the provided 8 shots. My 25 shot TR MAX.. well it usually takes all or more.

Madcow · 2003-12-24, 12:47 PM

If you are killing any infantry with the Starfire, they aren't doing their job real well. The orbs don't move fast enough and don't do enough damage that the Starfire is a real threat to troops. Don't get me wrong, I've killed troops with the Starfire as well, it's just not very effective at it.

The Burster is not useful at all once defences have been breached, that I'll grant you. It's useful in very specific situations, and in those situations absolutely owns. Of course you don't want anybody to run up on you. I killed a Burster with a Gauss loaded with AP rounds and didn't even bother dodging the flak. From point blank you'd be better off with a knife than with the Burster.

When you are attacking a base, raining flak on the walls can be incredibly effective (have you not seen the number of Skyguards that do this?). Likewise, when a base you are in is coming under siege the Burster is equally valuable at shelling those who are staying back and firing from a distance.

I used the Burster the other night after we'd secured a courtyard and just shelled anybody who came out one of the upper doors. I killed 5 MAXs and 3 infantry in a very short time period and didn't take a point of damage. Besides all the damage you do you just cause absolute chaos making it even harder to hit you. I'm in love with the damned thing, I just can't believe somebody would say it's only good for AA.

Cauldron Borne · 2003-12-24, 05:26 PM

HAHA! Just now I was in my Burster on Ish. I shelled a tower for an hour strait! A friend was resupling me with rounds so I never had to go far. The absolute scare fctor on tht thing is crazy! Infantry are scared and disoriented when that crap lands around them! I downed atlest 20 inf and about 4 MAX with that sucker. When the VS FINALLY did pull down their Air resources, not one of them lived, once I spotted them! Also last night I stood outside of an NC base with a perfect veiw of the Air Pad. EVERY PLANE DIED! The Burster is truly the ownage machine! There are times when I wished I had a striker though... Like when I can't grab my Burstie and that annoying reaver is floatin' 'round.