So you want to be a Engineer Player?

The Sentinel can get you a lot of xp fast. It is also less likely to be targeted by monsters.
The Lightning sent is usually the first thing in a room to be targeted by monsters because it is usually the first thing to attack the monsters. This can be useful for drawing monsters into a location ideal for you turret.

Shieldblast is handy for staying alive. Keybind it if you can. If you are low on health just keep your shields above 100.

Vehicles can be useful too (except the TC)
The scorpion blades instantly kill many monsters. It is useful for getting to other sides of the map quickly...Try and keep you web charged up while traveling to attack monsters you can't get to.
The Hellbender is a portable turret. After entering the driver seat you can press 1-3 to get into different seats. Seat 2 is handy for clearing rooms full of monsters. Fire a bunch of plasma balls in the area then use the alt fire to detonate them all. While they are detonating fire more plasma balls to finish off any monsters nearby.

Vehicle eject has saved me many times, but at level 1 i have to wait 2 mins before it will save me again. If you get ejected, don't rush to get back into a turret.

If there is a noob stealing your turret spawn a TC or another vehicle.

Small blocks will not disappear from players crouching by them. They are much quicker to spawn too. Use them instead of regular blocks when making perimeters.

If there is a noob stealing your turret spawn a TC

why ? noob go and rush into it?

I have a question that may or may not be fit for this thread...

Does anyone have the data on Blocks? I'd like to know the following things about blocks:

1) What are their base HP?

2) Are small blocks the same, stronger, or weaker than big blocks?
(may be answered by question 1)

3) What friendly-fire do blocks stop? I know lightning sentinels can fire through them, as well as defense sentinels, but what about lightning rods, splash damage, etc?

4) What about rocks vs. blocks? I've seen a single Titan rock take out up to four freshly placed blocks (deep) in a row with one rock! Alternately, I've seen a single block stop 3 Titans' rocks for up to 20 seconds before giving out. Is it the Titan's level that makes this difference?

and can you "heal" blocks or give them shields? pets don't make sounds when you give them shields but they get it.... does a block get the same?

Piper wrote:

I have a question that may or may not be fit for this thread...

Does anyone have the data on Blocks? I'd like to know the following things about blocks:

1) What are their base HP?

2) Are small blocks the same, stronger, or weaker than big blocks?
(may be answered by question 1)

3) What friendly-fire do blocks stop? I know lightning sentinels can fire through them, as well as defense sentinels, but what about lightning rods, splash damage, etc?

4) What about rocks vs. blocks? I've seen a single Titan rock take out up to four freshly placed blocks (deep) in a row with one rock! Alternately, I've seen a single block stop 3 Titans' rocks for up to 20 seconds before giving out. Is it the Titan's level that makes this difference?

mm i dont know about the blocks hp, but i think there is a skill that add "HP" to any construction made by engi's :D

well many of u might not take my comments as true, (since im new to the engis' style) but i have find that small blocks are better u can spawn them faster u can aim better and well they still cover u and dont let omnsters pass.. any feelings?

Code:

class DruidSmallBlock extends DruidBlock;
 defaultproperties
 
 {
      HealthMax=1000.000000
      Health=1000
      DrawScale=0.900000
      CollisionRadius=10.000000
      CollisionHeight=10.000000
      Mass=5000.000000
 }

Code:

 class DruidBlock extends Pawn;
 ...
 defaultproperties
 {
      bCanBeBaseForPawns=True
      bNoTeamBeacon=True
      HealthMax=2000.000000
      Health=2000
      ControllerClass=None
      DrawType=DT_StaticMesh
      StaticMesh=StaticMesh'DCStatic.Block.TestBlock'
      bAlwaysRelevant=True
      Physics=PHYS_Falling
      NetUpdateFrequency=4.000000
      DrawScale=1.200000
      AmbientGlow=10
      bShouldBaseAtStartup=False
      CollisionRadius=50.000000
      CollisionHeight=15.000000
      bBlockKarma=True
      Mass=10000.000000
 }

Normally the default properties may not be what is on DC, but it doesn't look like there can be a config file for the blocks.

I don't know why there is a difference for the mass...I wonder if the larger blocks are better for crushing turret stealing noobs. (elite

Code:

	momentum = vect(0,0,0);		// blocks do not move

I think this is why blocks act weird when you run over them with a vehicle

Thè-Hättêr wrote:

If there is a noob stealing your turret spawn a TC

why ? noob go and rush into it?

yes...that tends to be what happens...if they don't, oh well TCs are cheap on time.
If you don't heal it the noob will steal it and most likely die quickly.

greg11 wrote:

Normally the default properties may not be what is on DC, but it doesn't look like there can be a config file for the blocks.

The list of items an Engineer can spawn is configured under AbilityLoadedEngineer. This lists the points required to summon them, the starting health and their normal maximum health - so unfortunately it is configured. However, I expect it to be 1000 and 500 for the big and small blocks.
However,

Thè-Hättêr wrote:

mm i dont know about the blocks hp, but i think there is a skill that add "HP" to any construction made by engi's

as Thè-Hättêr says, ConstructionHealthBonus will increase their health.

greg11 wrote:

I don't know why there is a difference for the mass...I wonder if the larger blocks are better for crushing turret stealing noobs.

A block twice as big should weigh twice as much.

greg11 wrote:

I think this is why blocks act weird when you run over them with a vehicle

The momentum setting to zero is to stop blocks flyng around the place when hit by rockets etc. There are some side effects, but it was necessary.

greg11 wrote:

The Hellbender is a portable turret. After entering the driver seat you can press 1-3 to get into different seats. Seat 2 is handy for clearing rooms full of monsters. Fire a bunch of plasma balls in the area then use the alt fire to detonate them all. While they are detonating fire more plasma balls to finish off any monsters nearby.

If you shoot a bunch of plasma balls successively out, then shoot a single alt-beam to detonate them for about 1/10 of a second, then immediately let up on the alt-beam and hold down the main plasma ball repeater again quickly, you can get the balls setting each other off continuously. Its difficult to do until you get good at it, but the effect is a long succession of shock-blasts detonating each other about thrice per second as long as you hold down the fire button. The blasts advance upon you slowly... like about 3 feet each blast... ending automatically when it reaches the vehicle.

The timing of the alt-beam is the crucial part... you have to experiment with it. First you learn to set off the chain reactions and keep them going for a few blasts. Then after you get better, you learn to get them to start further and further away from the vehicle so you can get long-duration shock blast streams going from far away, annihilating everything in between you and the targets. One key is to keep the blasts a little bit away from your targets, since hitting any target directly with any of your streamed plasma-balls stops the effect.

I've cleared hords of warlords in a tight area with about 5 seconds of these things -- all in one motion. It also kills off Titans and Queens pretty quick after you get better at it. (sometimes in groups)
Funnest is killing off about a dozen skaarg bunched up in a hallway area all in about 6 seconds of blasts in one motion.

i'm a eng. too... i can fall back in bases etc. bit i kinda feel it boring, even if i were to die, i like to rush in.. it gives me more of the "unreal" feeling ya know

could someone give me a good build?

I think sometime I will record a video or 2 of engineering and speed up and slow down portions to make it shorter but still have the important parts pointed out.

Wat lvl of loaded engineer do you have to be to spawn turrents?

RageSeeker wrote:

Wat lvl of loaded engineer do you have to be to spawn turrents?

player has to be level 30, and have sufficient levels of loaded engineer to have a turret to summon - level 4 LE should get you the minigun turret.
This thread gives a bit more information, but isn't complete.

I made it to level 14 engineer today.
I made a list of the points required for each item so far:

Code:

 Defense Sentinel       5
 Lightning Sentinel     8
 Sentinel              10
 
 Mini Turret            4
 Energy Turret          8
 Ball Turret           10
 
 TC                     2
 Scorpion               5
 HellBender             8
 
 Small Block            1
 Block                  1
 Wall                   5
 High Wall              7
 Nest Wall              8
 Curved Wall            9
 Tall Nest             12
 Square Wall           14

That should give you an idea what level you get each thing up to 14. I will try and remember to update it again when I level.

Also, I think it is at level 11 you get to spawn 2 def sents. I don't remember being able to spawn two at lvl 10.

More engineer advice

Sentinels:
Try and place sentinels (any type) on the ceiling if possible: Floor sents tend to be destroyed quicker. Sometimes if a titan steps on it, it will just disappear. Also floor sents tend to block your shots and can restrict movement within a base. An offensive ceiling sent can usually target more monsters.

Protect lightning sents with walls. If you have a lightning sent on the floor, put some blocks around it. The sent can shoot through the blocks. Later levels allow you to spawn a def sent with a lightning sent. use the def sent to protect the lightning sent.

Monsters tend to attack lightning sents more than the other sents. The lightning sent is usually the first to attack a monster in the vicinity. The lightning sent can be used to bait the monsters into your line of sight (for your turret or hellbender combo attack)

Protect yourself. Waves 6 and 14 are titan waves. Make sure you have your def sent(s) out by the time the waves start. Offensive sents can be useless on these waves since titans can take them out instantly. Two well placed def sents can really maximize your lifespan. Save up your dren on the prior waves so you can go bezerk. Keep an eye on those def sents too. Its pretty common to see most of the players wiped out shortly after the def sents are destroyed. Also, don't worry about the projectiles that keep coming at you, your def sents most likely destroyed them...they will continue to exist due to a limitation in the code. Def sents also get you exp now (thanks Szlat.)

Blocks:
"Hey don't destroy my blocks!!!"
Blocks can be destroyed by translocating into them, or crouching (except small blocks.) If you are building a base, allow a reasonable gap for players to enter/exit through.

Don't underestimate the small blocks. They can be spawned quickly (3 secs). They also don't disappear when a player crouches. They will last much longer than normal blocks. Monsters that can jump over the small blocks, can jump over the normal blocks anyway. Players have an easier time hurdling over the small blocks too.

Spawn a step stool. Use a small block as a platform to get your shots through a window or over a crowd of players heads.
You can also use a block as a ceiling to keep you grounded when the titans pounce.

Vehicles:
Clear the room with the Bender. The Bender combo mentioned in an earlier post is great for clearing out the room (and removing pesky red gnats.) The Bender can be used as a mobile turret. Press 1 to drive, 2 for plasma cannon, and 3 for Ion gun. There are many locations on a map that you cannot spawn a turret, but you can drive a bender into them and use it as a turret.

Occasionally you might find yourself OUT OF BOUNDS. As long as you are in view of a monster you should be fine...so if you get a OB message in between waves, step out of the vehicle and wait until monsters arrive.

The scorpion blades can kill many monsters instantly...it takes some practice though.

The TC is useless...Trooper did point out that they are fun for racing.(anyone have a piercing blue turtle shell?)

Flubber cars. Blocks and Vehicles don't seem to get along. If you run over blocks with a vehicle, weird things tend to happen, and your vehicle will start floating. You can't control it, but you might be able to utilize the increase in elevation. Sometimes the vehicle will pancake a couple of monsters on its own this way. If you are racing Trooper, try and turn his car into a flubber car

Turrets:
Low level players can link high level players in turrets and get a couple of levels quickly.
Make sure you have eject if you are going to use a turret. Dying in a turret without eject has been known to crash the server. This might be corrected at some point, but until then buy eject.
Each turret has some advantages
The mini turret is the first turret you get, but wont be replaced by the other turrets when you get them. The mini turret has the shortest clearance requirement and you may find that only a mini turret will fit.

The mini and energy turrets hits their targets instantly whereas the ball turret requires you to lead your target.

The energy turret has a wider range of motion than the other two.
The ball and mini can be zoomed in and out with the up/down keys, while the energy uses a toggle zoom via alt fire.

Other stuff:
If you find yourself with a broken trans, spawn a block.
Use your link alt fire when you are close enough to a monster, and aim at their heads when ever you can.
Shield boost players whenever possible. It only takes a second, and you can get more exp in that one second than killing anything.
Don't link a player that is linking a turret, link the turret directly.
If you used an adren combo, you can stop it by entering a turret or vehicle.
If you have stunt vehicles you can hold jump or crouch after jumping to flip. (no real use for this though)