Hansim wrote:
@Jester.retseJ: Jester, i have seen that you have also experience in other maps, not only in "Wake Island 2007". Nothing <against> Wake Island 2007, but the map is IMHO one of the easier ones, meaning no hills, no huge smokestacks, etc to crash into. Additionally there are no mobile AAs to bring some more "ground competition" into the round.
I think it would be very, very interesting to read and see also something about Dragon Valley, FuShe Pass and for e.g. about the handling of the mobile AAs etc.
I play a lot of diff maps, mostly 32 player servers as up here in the East it's hard to find a lag free 64 player server. There's lots in new york area but they're always full. The trick with other maps like Dragon Valley, Fushe Pass, etc. is to use the terrain in your favour. Going over/under bridges, through cranes, under frames etc. Here's some tips for these maps:
Dragon Valley: Only 64p has jets. Most of the action here is in the middle on either side of the river banks. These are the most contested flags and have the highest concentration of targets. Always focus on the helicopter spawns as this greatly increases your team's vehicle mobility. Along either banks you'll find lots of apcs/tanks to bomb away at. Pay no attention to the AA's in this middle section; as long as you keep your airspeed up, they have no chance of shooting you down. The only thing to worry about is the USS carier if you're flying the J10. Those in F35s should use this to their advantage in help against the faster J10's. Ask your commander to man one of the Vulcan cannons on the ship to help out and lead the J10's into his/her missile range. As F35, it's critical to maintain defense on your flag containing your UAV/Radar so always attack when this flag is in danger. I fly under the cargo unloading cranes (T Shaped steel beams) while i use the MG in defense of this point. Does 2 things: a. keeps you in perfect low altitude for lighting up any enemies on the flag, b. makes the enemy pilots think twice before following you through it (usually they crash or break off).
Fushe Valley: Only 64p has jets. This is not a friendly map for jets i've found. The winding corridors make it hard to line up shots on targets. I don't have much experience in a jet on this map, if i have any tips later on i'll post. I'd follow the same tips as in Dragon Valley and focus on the river banks though.
Kubra Dam: 32p & 64p has jets. This is a fun map.
Lots of vehicles to bomb away at and pretty straight on shots for most of the map (except for the huge dam in my way you say). Ha! The dam is your best friend. You know you can fly through it right? Yup, under the crane, through the path by the heli pad (on knife edge), and even through the circular tunnels on the bottom. You can fly through the tunnels on the bottom??? YES YOU CAN. Practise this... it's a great way to lose an enemy jet! When you have a bogey on your tail, pull this manouever off and just watch the screen as "XXX is no more." shows up.
No more bogey! This map is chock full of pesky AA though. Always take them out first and focus on the flags that spawn AAs. As SL i always order my squad to take these flags first to make sure my airspace is clear. Use the bridges/cranes to shake off pursuers by dodging over/under them.
Dalian Plant: 32p & 64p has jets. This is another fun map.
As F35 your main goal here is to help your team secure the heli pad on the coast. This is a very important spawn as it houses both a chopper and armor. The next spawn you should try to take is the first flag by the enemy base straight north of the above mentioned spawn. Once this flag is secured it is VERY difficult for the PLA to re-capture as their paths are limited through the valley. The opposite is true for the PLA side... capture the flags mentioned above in opposite sequence for victory. As F35 your main objective is to harrass the jets/choppers coming through that north valley. Most targets are concentrated in this area. As J10 (once the heli pad on the coast is captured) i fly back and forth along the coast line. You will find all the cobras/BHs/ribs coming through this channel and hitting them from the sides back and forth makes for easy kills while you patrol the front two flags. Never mind the F35's coming through but do not go too close to the carrier's vulcan cannons while patrolling. Keep your airspeed up and you should have no problem.
Daqinq Oilfields: 32p & 64p has jets. A bomber pilots dream come true!
So many vehicles/targets to bomb back to hell. As Su-30 you can simply circle your airfield all day re-arming. Always bomb flags when you see them neutralized by the enemy ASAP. Easy kills. For bombing the flag by the smoke stacks, attack from the NorthWest (better sightlines) fly through the flag releasing your bombs and perform a knife edge through the gaps in the smoke stacks. This is also a good way to lose a pursuer. The F15/F18 cannot shoot you down unless you make a mistake. As USMC you can do the same with the F15 but your bad maneouverability in this jet is a weakness. You must have a good pilot with you in the F18 if you wanna last. As F18 your one and ONLY job is to keep the J10 OFF the tail of your F15. If you can't do that then you've already lost. The SU-30 will bomb you into submission very quickly.
Gulf of Oman: 32p & 64p has jets. Advantage is with the MEC side with the SU-34. This is another devastating bomber and as USMC both your F35s need to focus on keeping this bird on the ground often or you will quickly lose terrain. The problem here is that the MIG29 is a match for BOTH of your F35s put together so the ideal thing to do as USMC is to fly in tandem. Alone in the skies you will not last at all. There is rampant base raping on this flag. I hate it when i see it. So please refrain from being cheap. The MEC armor spawn is a key flag for both sides. This flag usually determines who wins the round so always focus on it when you see it neutralized. The smoke stack/hotel are great places to circle when you're being chased and give yourself a breather. I try to fly East/West on this map cuz noone else does. Keeps me out of the line of fire of North/South and i still have good sightlines on targets.
Operation Clean Sweep: 32p and 64p has jets. Advantage with the MEC side again with the MIGs/SU-34. I try to always bomb the bridges and limit the movement of vehicles on this map. Less routes for them means more concentrated targets for you.
Take care not to bomb the bridges when your teammates are on them. Tip: As MEC, even if your airstrip is taken in 32p map, you can use the airstrip to the east (in the red zone), no flag but it still rearms and repairs you. EA/DICE should fix this IMO but until then you might as well use this trick.
Zatar Wetlands: 32p & 64p has jets. Advantage with the MEC side again. Faster MIGs against the F35s. As USMC use your carrier teammates in the vulcan cannons to help you out. Lead your pursuers into ambushes over them. Another trick is with the USMC airfield on the west side. I rearm/repair South to North and fly through the hangar (yes through). Takes practise but it's a quick way to get rid of a pesky pursuer. "XXX is no more."
The heli pad spawn in the middle is key for both. Always focus on defense on this point as everyone and their mother wants to fly the chopper and so always a lot of targets there for you. Like Clean Sweep, i bomb the bridges to limit routes and concentrate my targets.
Commander Tip: I like to ask the commander to supply drop at the end of the runway (middle). Sometimes you fly in too fast (like in a J10) and can't repair/rearm fully (single bomb reload). Having the supply crate at the end of the runway eliminates this hassle. The supply crate will ALWAYS repair no matter how much of the runway you've gone over and the J10 rearms fully even when you're coming in at over 1200.