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How-to-fight: Devus D3 Guardian

Oct 14, 2004 Agonizer link
After reading the ApuTech-17 tread, i think here should be a forum space where we can discuss different -successful- figthing strategies against various types of bots.

Here is how i beat the Devus D3 Guardians:

First 'problem' is, they'll attack in pairs. If you kill one of them, another fresh Devus D3 will join the party. So the first thing to do is, move outside the asteroid field into free space.

When using a Vulture, then i use energy weapons only, i.e. dual Tachyon MkII (this gives the best fire-to-hit rate, i.e. it does 600 Damage with a fire rate of every 140ms = ~7 shots/seconds -> would do 7*600 = 4200 Damage/s, whereby Gauss is somewhere at 3000 Damage/s (single cannon). Thats why i prefer Tachyon over Gauss. Dual Gauss drains energy to much for me btw.

So, when you're outside in space, prepare to fight the two D3s. Concentrate your fire on one of them (do not change targets). Keep the other D3 at distance by shooting at him. Strafe right/left and backwards, in case of emergency turbo to the side where you strafe-moved.

If they're bot at higher distance (~300m) break and move forward (no strafe until they~re below 230m); while accellerating (not turboing!) forward fire your Tachyons. This gives your Tachyons an additional speed and this way i can hear them hit beep-beep-beepbeepbeepbeep-beepbeepbeep-beep ;-)

If you're at 230m range of them, strafe left or right (plus keep forward pressed!). If they start firing at you, release forward accelleration, face to the direction where you're strafing to and TURBO.

I can handle them this way mostly without getting hit by them.
If you got one of them Down, try to collect the cargo crates :-) I do it just for fun, and it gives Money and trade XP :-)

Now go and attack the single Devus D3! It is possible! Move forward, perhaps turbo into them until you're ~230m away. Release turbo, press AND HOLD forward accelleration down, start strafing left (or right). Fire at them. Strafe to the other side (do not release forward accelleration!). They aren't using the tachyon gun if you're too close but they use their popcorn gun on you! Hammer short salvos of dual-tachyon at them, while they try to keep distance. Do not release forward key, move into them or try it at least. Dont forget strafing, and switch strafing. You'll get hit by the popcorn gun but hey. However if you should get beyond 40% hull then you should consider another tactic.

They wont hurt you much if they try to dodge your tachyons so keep them busy!

And get a distance if they're about to explode! Watch your, and Devus health!

Collect the cargo if you've got free space, return to station to repair.

Oh, and i use this strategy for most types of bots, also ApuTech-17. To get heavy WP xperience i use a Warthog and Jackhammer them when i've got them down with Tachyons.
Oct 14, 2004 toshiro link
interesting!

My method is somewhat different:

Loadout is the same: Vult, preferrably SG or Corvus, dual Tachyon Mk II, Fast Charge Battery.

Then I enter a sector that has nothing but Devus in them, I get jumped by two.
I break and look for a third one that's haplessly circling the 'roids. I approach him on full boost, watching the bot's changes of course and blast a full battery's load into him.

If you're lucky, it's down to about 40% of its hitpoints.

After that, I switch autoaim off and time my shots, getting the job done even before the other two can catch up with me.
Oct 14, 2004 spacecowboy link
I just barrel and blast - works every time!

Turkey
Oct 15, 2004 toshiro link
That way I lose too much health every time to be a valuable asset for a group.
Oct 15, 2004 WildSnake link
My tactics agains them is just firing and running...
this way i can watch my health and kill both of them slowely..
Oct 15, 2004 Phaserlight link
Nice stuff, Agonizer. I love discussing this kind of thing! :D. An additional tip I might add: Devus D3 Guardians are honking huge, so you don't really need autoaim to hit them. In fact, since they tend to barrel roll to dodge your shots, I've had better luck nailing them with autoaim turned off. Give it a try.
Oct 15, 2004 CrippledPidgeon link
I've found that many of the higher level bots travel in pairs (the four ship groups being exceptions), but I've found a generally universal tactic. As you strafe (I strafe right, so I'll write to that direction), you pick one bot to attack and keep that as close to your front as you can. Keep the second bot to the left of the first bot. As the first bot maneuvers to avoid your shots, rotate to keep the second bot to the left of the first. Keep it up until the first bot dies. The second bot is piecemeal.

Many bots have semi-predictable evasion patterns (or habits). Adjust your firing pattern to match.
Oct 16, 2004 Houn link
Hmm. I've been using pretty much the same tactic on every bot, Devus D3 Included, and they all seem to fall to it so far.

Warthog Territorial Defender
Heavy Battery
Tachyon MkII (Or Graviton is nice)
Plasma Devestator MkI (Still leveling heavies)

Step 1: Find a bot.
Step 2: Roll "e" + Strafe "a"
Step 3: Constantely accellerate, decellerating only to prevent ramming it, or if a fast turn is needed.
Step 4: (Optional) Drop into a flat strafe if you need a second to re-adjust aim, or use "f" to drop downwards if you find another bot firing at you from the side.

And that's it. Bots are SUCKERS for this tactic. Figured out the Strafe roll against DenTek Collectors, honed it on Apu-5s, and recently brought it to near-perfection against Fennus and Devus. I can usually hop into a sector with any bots in this calibur and take down 6 or more in a row before even thinking about running for a repair. =D
Oct 18, 2004 mh link
Interesting tactic there Houn - tried it yesterday, and it worked like a charm against anything in reach on my combat list. Seems to work even better against the small, hard to hit assault bots than the large guardians.

mh
Oct 19, 2004 Houn link
Heh. I took down a Hive Queen last night doing this. I lost only about 10% hull the entire battle. I ignored the escorts and mopped them up later. It was beautiful XD

Mad Props to Misfiredrailgun for finding it - I went in to assist him, and ended up taking it out, lol.

http://home.comcast.net/~justinrcalhoun/stuff/queen1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~justinrcalhoun/stuff/queen2.jpg

Forgot to grab one of it blowing up, lol

Anyway, sorry for wild-tangenting. Back on Topic!
Oct 20, 2004 Wanderer link
Much of the tactics here work pretty well. Here's mine. Tested against the Fennus R-18s using rapid fire weapons.

1: Let one lock on you. You'll know when they start closing in fast.

2: Turn around and boost into empty space. Preferably 3000m away so you can jump out if it turns bad.

3: Only use the targetting system until they close in at about 300m. Deactivate it then.

4: Fire a full salvo as it comes straight at you.

5: About 1 second after salvo initiation, start dodging left and right.

6: Spread a tight cluster of shots in the general vincinity of the Fennus. If it hits, it will fall back.

7: Point towards the other Fennus and cut of a short burst of fire. The same thing happens if the shot connects. The Fennus will fall back.

8: Repeat steps 6 and 7 until both are space junk.

Its a bit like ping pong.
Oct 20, 2004 Kyphro link
Here's my 2 credits:
1. Grab a vult, med batt, dual MkII or III tachs (III is easier to find..) and set your home station to close to where there is a cluster of them.
2. Stay away from the groups of red dots on your radar, I have gotten 4 on me befor, and trust me, it is NOT fun to have to kill them all or run away!
3. Get one on your tail, then box or circle straif out to open space. With the speed of their weapons and accuracy, they will only hit about 5% of the time.
4. Keep your speed down, you don't want to get too close or it will be hard to dodge. Depending on how well you can aim, or how coordinated you are, use one the following combinations of straifing; A+W then W then W+D then D then D+S and so on, this will make your ship do a kinda spiral, this however takes alot of concentration and makes your fingers hurt after about 10 mins. Or, you can use the good old A+W+E barrel roll. I have found this very effetive, except for the fact that you HAVE to turn of auto aim, because it gets a little messed up.
5. Don't let your energy or hull get too low, if all else fails, RUN.
6. Keep about 150-200m away at all times, this may be hard, but you will get better at it in time.
7. When using the barrel roll, you have to can't aim where the aimbot tells you to, or you will miss constantly. depending on the bot, try aiming different places.
8. Pick up all cargo, and after 2 or 3 kills, return to the nearest station and sell/repair.
Have fun!
Oct 20, 2004 Houn link
Kyphro:
I disagree on the aimbot while rolling slightly. It works FINE when you are CLOSING the gap to the enemy. When you are backing away, or holding a constant distance, it tends to miss.

I typically A+W+E until I'm about to smack it, and unload everything I've got. I then cease firing and A+S+E until I'm backed out a bit and energy has recharged some, then repeat.
Oct 21, 2004 Morbidly Wrong link
ahhh 3d combat...

well i'm not the best combat pilot... but... I've put together some binds to help myself...

Check out the "Custom Binds" post, use your browser search to look for "evade"

basicly I use arcade mode to always move forward...
4 binds total
1: strafe left, barrel roll left, strafe down
2: strafe left, barrel roll left, strafe up
3: strafe right, barrel roll right, strafe down
4: strafe right, barrel roll right, strafe up

Now I'm always moving in some direction and it's given me the best combat results... the best compliment was when I was fighting in the sector 9 war pre huge universe, I think I was fighting Arolte. He said I gave him the best run for his money in awhile... somthing like he needed some tea to calm his nerves...

but I still mainly suXor at PVP combat... but those binds do work wonders for bots...

MorbidlyWrong