Greetings Roboteers!
I was recently tasked with helping to train some new guys in the tackler role but RL is biting huge chunks out of my playtime at the moment.
Firstly, what do I mean by 'tackle'? You will chase your enemies at high speed and snare - slow - them by using a module that you personally activate.
Tackling is simply brilliant fun in Perp and I hope this guide can not only inspire but also help some new guys to get set up.
A big thanks to every indy and miner guy or gal who helped me into a bot and thanks to CIR leadership & officers who were around to trade them to me.
*TACKLE-TORIAL*
The Tip of the Spear – a 12 step light EWAR tackling guide for Perpetuum by Stradivar of CIR corp, July 2014.
In this guide I shall provide you with some insights into the motivation, fits and tactics that I have employed during my tenure as a tackler in Perpetuum. My guide simply contains my opinions and, seeing as you are playing in a sandbox, you are entitled to your opinions too. This guide does not necessarily show you the way to play but I hope that some ideas regarding good practice may be gleaned from reading it.
Contents:
Step 1 - The Role
Step 2 - Basic Extensions
Step 3 - Basic Fits
Step 4 - PVP Preparedness
Step 5 - UI
Step 6 - Radar
Step 7 - Terrain
Step 8 - Landmarks & recap
Step 9 - Versus 'X'
Step 10 - Looting
Step 11 - Advanced Fits & Modules
Step 12 - Advanced Tactics
Step 1: The Role
The guts & the glory. The blame and the shame. In all of Perpetuum, the role of the tackler represents the edge of the switchblade. "On the cutting edge you just might get cut and that’s the chance you’ll have to take"(Wayne Kramer).
If you consider yourself as capable of thriving under the immense pressure of expectation (that of your FC, your fleet and every single miner and indy guy in your corp who helped create the bot you are sitting in), a constantly evolving battlefield and the real adrenalin rush associated with the hunt, then this is the role for you.
Operating sometimes several hundred metres away from your FC and fleet, you’ll be responsible for advanced target acquisition, target calling, intense levels of teamwork if working in tandem with a fellow tackler(s) and naturally self preservation is your highest priority.
It will take time, wins and unfortunately some losses to master this supremely important role but you’ll find it to be the most exciting role in the game. You will dictate the outcomes of battles of all sizes and with great power comes great responsibility – you’ll need to be focused on a level beyond that of hitting a spacebar.
Step 2: Basic Extensions
Thelodica clan – Intakt
Nuimqol clan – Cameleon
Pellistal clan – Troiar
All robots come with an information icon in the top right hand corner of their avatar. Click on this and you’ll be provided with a robots’ parameters, bonuses and also build & extension requirements. If you choose to specialise in tackling, you’ll be spending the majority of your time in a light EWAR and all clans’ robots are effective as tackles. Pay extra attention to the bonuses tab of the robot info. Increase the extensions specified here and your tackler will improve dramatically.
Your extensions can be found in the agent tab at the top left hand corner of your UI. It may help to highlight extensions (click on the star) which you feel are important. You can then simply scroll down on the extensions filter list at the bottom of the extensions tab and click on ‘marked extensions’ to locate your important extensions again swiftly.
Step 3 – Basic Fits.
Your tackler has three areas about it’s chassis where modules are fitted. Head slots, chest slots and leg slots.
All modules come with an information tab similar to the robot avatars. Be sure to check extension requirements before buying and fitting. All modules come in tiers from 1 to 4+. These tiers will affect fitting requirements as you progress onto more powerful modules. As you progress to higher tiers of equipment, you may wish to revisit and mark extensions which improve CPU, reactor and accumulator skills. There are also extensions which will lower the requirements of modules you wish to fit, in particular be sure to thoroughly read the descriptions of all the engineering and electronics extensions.
At the bare minimum, you can tackle with a lightweight frame (LWF – enhances the speed of your tackler) and a demob (the module which actually provides the stopping power and snares your intended target). Demobs come in both long and short range variants, however, we will only be focusing on the S-Demob for the remainder of this guide. Be sure you are fitting the correct demob, always.
There are two other modules that I would recommend for a basic fit. A sensor amplifier (SA – reduces your lock time and increases your lock range) and a shield. Again, shields come in two sizes, be sure to fit a small shield. You can activate your S-Demob with your shield up. These two modules will require further extension considerations so revisit and mark as before.
Once you deploy and activate your modules, revisit the robot parameters info screen and compare the differences your modules have made from when you were docked.
Step 4 – PVP Preparedness
Speak with your corp regarding the importance of spark teleportation and ask where they wish for you to have your sparks set. Spark teleportation will allow you to teleport instantly, at a cost of 1000 nic, around the various outposts of Nia. You can currently have up to ten spark teleportation points. You can also set what is known as a ‘Blood Spark’ – this is the location you will arrive at when you die. This can be set apart from your spark teleports.
Spark teleport points require substantial extension point (EP) expenditure. Set them wisely.
Alpha Island = 1 point
Alpha II Island = 2 points
Beta Island = 3 points
Once you’re able, set up tackles, spare bots & mods at each outpost you’ll be deploying from. This will improve your availability and readiness should you be required in the field far from your current location or should you be required to refit and redeploy swiftly.
Before you deploy, familiarise your self firstly with the various island names and the PVP status you can expect once you jump there (some islands are free for all, full loot PVP and you can be targeted and killed on sight. You’ll spend most of your time on these islands. Lucky you!), learn the names of the outposts, then the many teleports. A competent Fleet Commander (FC) will always have your route in mind so just sit tight and check your squad / corp or listen in teamspeak channels for guidance to your target zone.
Open your cargo and place a teleport beacon inside. Standard TP beacons can be bought cheaply at outposts if your corp has no hangar set up where you are now.
