43 réponses à ce sujet

[thisisme8]

I've been a pretty active member of the Mass Effect 2 Characters, classes, and Builds forum for a while now and I've come across the same two questions a whole lot of times:

1.  How do I beat ______ mission, or ______ encounter?
and
2.  How do you run in and out of cover and not get killed?

The second one generally comes up after someone watches a posted video.

So I decided to write up a very, very (and I mean very), very basic guide on playing strategically and being lethal with any class on any map.  This is not meant for those that are already very skilled and have beaten the game numerous times with different classes on Insanity, but for those that have played casually and seen some videos and wonder how we do it.

The guide is short, concise and gets right to the point.

Controlling the Battlefield

I plan on updating it with more vids and hope it helps at least one person in this crazy forum.



Disclaimer: This post isn't meant to become real popular or start a "which class is best" debate...  I just
wanted to publish it so anyone that needs it can find the guide, and from there, let it get lost on page 8 amidst better threads  about Miranda's ass and broken Biotics.  A link will stay in my sig if anyone ever needs it.

Modifié par thisisme8, 21 février 2010 - 09:44 .

[VirtualAlex]

It's good to put this stuff into writing. The internet is lacking a true ME2 "combat guide" which this might turn into. You should collaborate with Gatsby. He says some really great stuff in his videos, but I would like to have it in writing.

[thisisme8]

Edited video to contain the strategy via annotations.

[SmilingMirror]

huh, I don't have any trouble flanking people as long as my teammates are creating the diversion. I'm a Sentinel and I hide around cover a bunch...

[Looy]

Good stuff. I don't think the "surrounding the enemy" tactic is worth doing though, puts too much faith in your following squaddie not spazing out and is nearly always slower and riskier than just doing a flank.

[Average Gatsby]

Subbed. The annotations are a really good touch.

[thisisme8]

Looy wrote...

Good stuff. I don't think the "surrounding the enemy" tactic is worth doing though, puts too much faith in your following squaddie not spazing out and is nearly always slower and riskier than just doing a flank.

Sure, it can be risky, but it's overwhelming when it works.  And it works more often than not.  They aren't all that bad, really.

Also great fun to pull that off.  I've beaten the game on Insanity, I have the Achievement.  I want a little challenge, and setting up stuff like that is great fun.  I mean, look at how I play my Infiltrator.  Slower and riskier than just laid back sniping.

[thisisme8]

Just updated the blog with an "Assault Basiscs" and "Assault and Cover" video. Let me remind all the min/maxers and elitists that this is a beginner's guide. Follow the link in the OP or the one in my sig for Controlling the Battlefield.

[Jaekahn]

This should be interesting, though I am a veteran so I know this stuff. Yay for beginners though!

[thisisme8]

thisisme8 wrote...

Just updated the blog with an "Assault Basiscs" and "Assault and Cover" video. Let me remind all the min/maxers and elitists that this is a beginner's guide. Follow the link in the OP or the one in my sig for Controlling the Battlefield.

Forgot to mention this:

Assault Basics simply covers the benefits to advancing.  For example: Thermal Clips, flushing enemies out of cover, and gaining control to force enemies into a disadvantage

Assault and Cover is about preventing and removing enemies from cover, proximity, and controlling maneuverability.

And the second video's link is fixed.

Modifié par thisisme8, 23 février 2010 - 12:36 .

[DirewolfX]

Nice stuff. I've done insanity a few times, but it's still interesting to read about this stuff from a theoretical point of view. And I still think there's more I can learn.

Sadly, all baddies in ME2 seem to have a special Shepard Radar and know where you are at 100% of the time.

So true... =(



Also, I like how the music in you CQC video cuts out right when Harbinger says "Releasing Control" =)



Side note, it might be worth going into more explanation about how not to get flanked... especially when advancing (Assault). I think a lot of people try to advance when they're new and get themselves flanked and destroyed, so they don't explore the options fully.



Also, something on proper squad mate control would be useful. Then again, I find their AI so fickle that they never seem to do what I want. These days I rely on them for bonus cooldowns...

[thisisme8]

DirewolfX wrote...

Nice stuff. I've done insanity a few times, but it's still interesting to read about this stuff from a theoretical point of view. And I still think there's more I can learn.

Sadly, all baddies in ME2 seem to have a special Shepard Radar and know where you are at 100% of the time.

So true... =(

Also, I like how the music in you CQC video cuts out right when Harbinger says "Releasing Control" =)

Side note, it might be worth going into more explanation about how not to get flanked... especially when advancing (Assault). I think a lot of people try to advance when they're new and get themselves flanked and destroyed, so they don't explore the options fully.

Also, something on proper squad mate control would be useful. Then again, I find their AI so fickle that they never seem to do what I want. These days I rely on them for bonus cooldowns...

You like the sound edit right there?  I heard it a bit in the background when making it and decided to cut the music.  It's like a "mission complete" statement. 

Thanks for the tip, I just may have to do a quick vid on preventing flanks while I record some "Hold the Line" stuff.  I'll try and work some Squadmate control in there too.

I honestly am quite proud of the Assault and Cover vid, so if anyone hasn't seen it, check it out.  Interesting stuff in there.

Note that I'm using a Soldier and relying mainly on random Squad mates to show how a good gameplan can overcome troubled battles.

[DirewolfX]

Yeah, I like how you used Soldier, but didn't use Adrenaline Rush. That gave it kind of a vanilla flavor and highlighted tactics over class abilities. The only ability that another class can't really get is Sniper Rifles (I didn't see shotguns, and ARs are really just better versions of SMGs in terms of mechanics).



You picked really good battles for the videos, too. Those are both tricky fights. I remember dieing like 5+ times on the Omega fight with my Vanguard. Totally destroyed it on my Engineer, thanks to using strategies similar to your video (only with various Engineer class abilities to make it easier).

[Jaekahn]

thisisme8 wrote...

DirewolfX wrote...

Nice stuff. I've done insanity a few times, but it's still interesting to read about this stuff from a theoretical point of view. And I still think there's more I can learn.

Sadly, all baddies in ME2 seem to have a special Shepard Radar and know where you are at 100% of the time.

So true... =(

Also, I like how the music in you CQC video cuts out right when Harbinger says "Releasing Control" =)

Side note, it might be worth going into more explanation about how not to get flanked... especially when advancing (Assault). I think a lot of people try to advance when they're new and get themselves flanked and destroyed, so they don't explore the options fully.

Also, something on proper squad mate control would be useful. Then again, I find their AI so fickle that they never seem to do what I want. These days I rely on them for bonus cooldowns...

You like the sound edit right there?  I heard it a bit in the background when making it and decided to cut the music.  It's like a "mission complete" statement. 

Thanks for the tip, I just may have to do a quick vid on preventing flanks while I record some "Hold the Line" stuff.  I'll try and work some Squadmate control in there too.

I honestly am quite proud of the Assault and Cover vid, so if anyone hasn't seen it, check it out.  Interesting stuff in there.

Note that I'm using a Soldier and relying mainly on random Squad mates to show how a good gameplan can overcome troubled battles.

And at the beginning of your "Hold the Line" video, you should include the speech from the Salarian in ME1. That, my good sir, would be the most epic video to date!

Correction, Salarian Soldier from Virmire. I reckon there are a ton of Salarians in ME1 :/

Modifié par Jaekahn, 23 février 2010 - 01:51 .

[thisisme8]

DirewolfX wrote...

Yeah, I like how you used Soldier, but didn't use Adrenaline Rush. That gave it kind of a vanilla flavor and highlighted tactics over class abilities. The only ability that another class can't really get is Sniper Rifles (I didn't see shotguns, and ARs are really just better versions of SMGs in terms of mechanics).

You picked really good battles for the videos, too. Those are both tricky fights. I remember dieing like 5+ times on the Omega fight with my Vanguard. Totally destroyed it on my Engineer, thanks to using strategies similar to your video (only with various Engineer class abilities to make it easier).

The sniper rifles was just for Thermal Clip management info.  Advancing = more "ammo."  I'm going to try to stick to the Avenger Assault Rifle.  It's as vanilla as they come, and any class can get it after a point.  Honestly, the Shuriken feels like it actually does better in my CQC vids...

Edit:  That's also a point worth mentioning:  By using basic strategy and just the AR, really, I show how it can be done in its simplest form.  If an Adept or Engineer were going through the same level, they would know how to flush enemies out of cover, advance to gain control over more ground, set up bottlenecks (in another vid to come soon), and all the while, be able to do it easier with all the tools built in to their class.

Modifié par thisisme8, 23 février 2010 - 01:58 .

[ODST Steve]

Thisisme8 you are amazing.

[thisisme8]

Added a new video:

Assaulting the High Ground - It's a short section covering encounters against unreachable enemies with a high ground advantage.  The properties of Disruptor Ammo, staggering enemies, and keeping them off balance to line up shots or maneuver to a better position are all covered.

Follow this link for the Controlling the Battlefield blog.

Edit:  Subscribe to the blog if you like it, I plan on adding many more short videos to it in the future.

Modifié par thisisme8, 24 février 2010 - 02:23 .

[Jaekahn]

The link's dead broski.

[thisisme8]

Fixed.

[Jaekahn]

Duude.. so when you make the "Holding the Line" video.. are you going to include the Salarian General's speech from ME1? You soooo should.

[thisisme8]

Hold the Line videos are coming soon. I have a couple maps in mind, but I need to get to them first.

[Atmosfear3]

Nice use of shockwave but I think we can all agree its far too situational. Theres only several places in the game where enemies will actually be on a ledge and they usually only appear once or twice on any mission.

[thisisme8]

Atmosfear3 wrote...

Nice use of shockwave but I think we can all agree its far too situational. Theres only several places in the game where enemies will actually be on a ledge and they usually only appear once or twice on any mission.

That's actually the main reason for bringing her.  I could have brought any Squadmate along and done the video using the same concepts.  Almost all powers have a staggering effect if used against a defense they are not made for.  I brought Jack because A) I just got her, and she seems like a terrible choice for that segment.  Miranda and/or Garrus are too obvious and I already used Jacob twice...  But:

Incinerate
Pull
Concussive Shot
Throw
Cryo Blast
Warp

All of those powers will stagger vs. shields.  So the point of the guide isn't, "Bring this person to this mission because of this power to use in this situation," it's more like, "Here is how you can handle any situation with any Squadmate."  In this case, Pressure, Stagger, Keep Off Balance = Control, regardless of available powers.  The Disrupter Ammo was just for a little info on its Squad Properties and Overheating capabilities.

Am I making sense?


Edit:  The fact that you said that, though, shows how any character can be powerful.  Maybe not optimal, but powerful.
Edit Edit:  I'm going to update the Blog and perhaps the OP, because all that should have been clear from the get-go.  Sorry.

Modifié par thisisme8, 24 février 2010 - 04:00 .

[Atmosfear3]

thisisme8 wrote...

Atmosfear3 wrote...

Nice use of shockwave but I think we can all agree its far too situational. Theres only several places in the game where enemies will actually be on a ledge and they usually only appear once or twice on any mission.

That's actually the main reason for bringing her.  I could have brought any Squadmate along and done the video using the same concepts.  Almost all powers have a staggering effect if used against a defense they are not made for.  I brought Jack because A) I just got her, and she seems like a terrible choice for that segment.  Miranda and/or Garrus are too obvious and I already used Jacob twice...  But:

Incinerate
Pull
Concussive Shot
Throw
Cryo Blast
Warp

All of those powers will stagger vs. shields.  So the point of the guide isn't, "Bring this person to this mission because of this power to use in this situation," it's more like, "Here is how you can handle any situation with any Squadmate."  In this case, Pressure, Stagger, Keep Off Balance = Control, regardless of available powers.  The Disrupter Ammo was just for a little info on its Squad Properties and Overheating capabilities.

Am I making sense?


Edit:  The fact that you said that, though, shows how any character can be powerful.  Maybe not optimal, but powerful.
Edit Edit:  I'm going to update the Blog and perhaps the OP, because all that should have been clear from the get-go.  Sorry.

Oh I wasn't trying to poke holes in your video.  I thought it was quite excellent at showcasing the staggering mechanic and creative uses for not so common abilities and teammates.

[Bill Hooks]

Quick note of thanks for the Infiltrator assault videos. After watching them, I tried some aggressive flanking with my Infiltrator on the last fight in Miranda's mission, instead of my usual shooting gallery approach, and it really added another level of excitement.