Post by daddio86 on Feb 9, 2021 2:24:59 GMT -5
It’s been a while since I’ve seen any threads on strategy and game play.
So much focus on power, drones, and the Pay-to-win method of pixonic.
Sure, if you have a bottomless pocket you can buy success - such is life.
But I think there is much one can do beyond spend spend spend. I do think strategy/ gameplay/ timing/ reading the game/ knowing your bots/ being observant, all play a part. Having played this game 3 years with something like 17000 wins, I’ve seen it all.
We all have our own play styles, and I accept that. Some prefer long range sniping - yes I’m looking at you the leech with the 4 pulsars. Some are all out brawlers, current top dogs being maxed out Shells with sonic weapons. With that all said and done there are some rookie mistakes and habits that really make me grind my teeth, having made all these mistakes myself on many occasions. Perhaps you can add a few to my little list? [this is Beacon Rush, as I play this mostly, and when playing with randoms - ie no discord/chat to coordinate things]
1. On Beacon Rush, why O why back out of a Blue beacon when being shot?
Keep that Beacon BLUE! You may be surprised that another blue is waiting to join and help you keep the beacon. By backing out it turns while and....no cavalry will be arriving. Backing up a little while not save your bacon, and its not like you are running for cover. You just feel that with all the flack you are taking you should retreat...learn to stand your ground at the right time, and HOLD that beacon open.
Tip: while making a decision whether to stand your ground or run, look at the top bar and see if only 4 or 5 blues are in the game. If all 6 blues are in the game the Cavalry is probably not waiting to arrive. BUT if 1 or 2 blues are out, they are likely waiting to jump in.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that gives up a beacon through sloppy play - backing out of a beacon for no purpose.
2. After losing a bot, and going to re-join the game, learn to read the state of play. you have 2 key decisions: which bot to choose and which Beacon to drop into. This is strategy and knowing your bots and the rock/paper/sissors nature of the game. Perhaps even towards the end of the game you hang back, luring the Reds forward thinking you have ‘bottled out’, only for you to spawn after they have come forward from cover allowing your hawk* to mow them down and turn the tide of battle. [*other bots are acceptable]. Take a moment to consider where best to add your weight. Perhaps respawning in the same beacon before it turns white, using a better bot to that the Red who killed you - sweet revenge. Or spawning on another beacon under threat.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that unthinkingly jumps back in without stirring your brain neurons a little first.
3a. Learn to look for team mates to work with, bots that complement each other. This means looking around the battle field and being proactive. If you have a shield, can you walk alongside an unshielded blue to give them cover. If a healing bot, spot those Blues in distress.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ for whom your only consideration is chasing and shooting reds [Look! A squirrel!] ignoring your team mates needs. Yes, they are just randoms...but they have feelings too
3b. ‘Check your 6’, meaning always be scanning the battle field for sneaky reds [eg that scorpion ready to pounce] and opportunities that are fleeting but could turn the tide of the battle.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that gets taken from behind...if you know what I mean.
4a. Consider what reds are trying to do. Look for unguarded easy to reach beacons. Likewise, do you have beacons that need guarding and are under threat. This takes a sacrifice: not chasing damage, sitting on a beacon protecting it. You are taking one ‘for the team’.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who is never willing to take one for the greater good. I spit on your grave.
4b Consider what your Blues are trying to do. Learn to ‘read’ your team. Are they randomy randoms - sheep to be slaughtered, with low rating hangers/ no sense of timing or strategy. Or are they playing intelligently and in a 10 min game they ‘gel’ and become a force to be reckoned with? For me, the best wins are when a group of randoms takes on a good full Clan...and win. Savour the moment. It doesn’t happen by chance.
Remember in BR the beacon goes slow, but speeds up as the game goes one. The main ways to win on BR are to rush forward, crush Reds but capping 4/5 beacons. But if the beacons are 2 or 3 a piece, then you have 5-6 mins to sit back and whittle Reds down and help them bot out. Who doesn’t like a ‘come back’ win? Having been down all game, your bar also gone but then RED bot out and in the dying seconds you 5 cap them and win. So look around and consider what the ‘mood’ is within your Blue randoms: push and win quick/ or die trying, or hold and whittle Reds down for a push half way through the game. Go with the major game plan.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who is so inflexible he/she has only one style of play...half the time you will be wrong.
5. Just going for damage?...FU. To only have such a style of play means you’re probably a whale or a fool
Just going for wins?...good luck with that. Matchmaking will therefore frustrate you no end. Consider what makes you tick and what you most enjoy about the game - ignore the rest. I’ve seen too many players spend spend spend, only to give up when a new META is introduced and their bots have been degraded. It’s how Pixonic puts pressure on you to keep spending.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who burns out and gets so frustrated with the game you give up. Choose carefully your aims and purposes for playing. Develop pixonic resistant purposes that you enjoy.*
[*My aims include enjoying a loss if I’ve played well and helped blues. Making a full Squad or reds, even ‘death squads’, work for the win and have moments when they feel they aren’t bossing things. Squadding and chatting on discord with Clan mates, and getting ‘the gossip’ and news from around the World. A window into others lives so different to mine. Trying something new, and it working well.]
6. Timing. Allow that almost dead to Red turn the beacon white, THEN kill him. You turn the beacon blue and gain the points for doing so. Allowing yourself to be hit without firing back [sooooo tempting to hit the fire button] knowing when their ability ends you have reloaded and can take them down. Learning how long a Hawk is in the air, and consider where he/she/it is going to land - time your run to be there when they do. ALL bots have a weakness - timing helps you exploit it.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who’s finger never leaves the fire button.
7. Don’t bot our early. Ok, I know this is some peoples strategy to get lots of games it: run hard and fast, get in get out. Perhaps there is a time for that. But, learn to keep your last bot alive and be useful. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a bot with a slither of health and no weapons left! Now isn’t that fun, rather than just running to a new game? You may not hear the ‘thank you’ from your fellow Blues, but they do take note and silently nod in your direction in respect.
Don’t be that guy who bots out half the time at 5 minutes. You are doing something, probably lots of things, wrong - and it’s not just your hanger that’s the problem.
8. Learn to appreciated, if not exactly enjoy, being beaten by a better opponent when they have the drop on you and you never saw it coming.
Don’t be that guy that ‘Phase Shifts’ when your pants are down - I had you fair and square mate.
I’d be interested in others comments on these ‘don’t be that guy’, and perhaps a few more?
So much focus on power, drones, and the Pay-to-win method of pixonic.
Sure, if you have a bottomless pocket you can buy success - such is life.
But I think there is much one can do beyond spend spend spend. I do think strategy/ gameplay/ timing/ reading the game/ knowing your bots/ being observant, all play a part. Having played this game 3 years with something like 17000 wins, I’ve seen it all.
We all have our own play styles, and I accept that. Some prefer long range sniping - yes I’m looking at you the leech with the 4 pulsars. Some are all out brawlers, current top dogs being maxed out Shells with sonic weapons. With that all said and done there are some rookie mistakes and habits that really make me grind my teeth, having made all these mistakes myself on many occasions. Perhaps you can add a few to my little list? [this is Beacon Rush, as I play this mostly, and when playing with randoms - ie no discord/chat to coordinate things]
1. On Beacon Rush, why O why back out of a Blue beacon when being shot?
Keep that Beacon BLUE! You may be surprised that another blue is waiting to join and help you keep the beacon. By backing out it turns while and....no cavalry will be arriving. Backing up a little while not save your bacon, and its not like you are running for cover. You just feel that with all the flack you are taking you should retreat...learn to stand your ground at the right time, and HOLD that beacon open.
Tip: while making a decision whether to stand your ground or run, look at the top bar and see if only 4 or 5 blues are in the game. If all 6 blues are in the game the Cavalry is probably not waiting to arrive. BUT if 1 or 2 blues are out, they are likely waiting to jump in.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that gives up a beacon through sloppy play - backing out of a beacon for no purpose.
2. After losing a bot, and going to re-join the game, learn to read the state of play. you have 2 key decisions: which bot to choose and which Beacon to drop into. This is strategy and knowing your bots and the rock/paper/sissors nature of the game. Perhaps even towards the end of the game you hang back, luring the Reds forward thinking you have ‘bottled out’, only for you to spawn after they have come forward from cover allowing your hawk* to mow them down and turn the tide of battle. [*other bots are acceptable]. Take a moment to consider where best to add your weight. Perhaps respawning in the same beacon before it turns white, using a better bot to that the Red who killed you - sweet revenge. Or spawning on another beacon under threat.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that unthinkingly jumps back in without stirring your brain neurons a little first.
3a. Learn to look for team mates to work with, bots that complement each other. This means looking around the battle field and being proactive. If you have a shield, can you walk alongside an unshielded blue to give them cover. If a healing bot, spot those Blues in distress.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ for whom your only consideration is chasing and shooting reds [Look! A squirrel!] ignoring your team mates needs. Yes, they are just randoms...but they have feelings too
3b. ‘Check your 6’, meaning always be scanning the battle field for sneaky reds [eg that scorpion ready to pounce] and opportunities that are fleeting but could turn the tide of the battle.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ that gets taken from behind...if you know what I mean.
4a. Consider what reds are trying to do. Look for unguarded easy to reach beacons. Likewise, do you have beacons that need guarding and are under threat. This takes a sacrifice: not chasing damage, sitting on a beacon protecting it. You are taking one ‘for the team’.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who is never willing to take one for the greater good. I spit on your grave.
4b Consider what your Blues are trying to do. Learn to ‘read’ your team. Are they randomy randoms - sheep to be slaughtered, with low rating hangers/ no sense of timing or strategy. Or are they playing intelligently and in a 10 min game they ‘gel’ and become a force to be reckoned with? For me, the best wins are when a group of randoms takes on a good full Clan...and win. Savour the moment. It doesn’t happen by chance.
Remember in BR the beacon goes slow, but speeds up as the game goes one. The main ways to win on BR are to rush forward, crush Reds but capping 4/5 beacons. But if the beacons are 2 or 3 a piece, then you have 5-6 mins to sit back and whittle Reds down and help them bot out. Who doesn’t like a ‘come back’ win? Having been down all game, your bar also gone but then RED bot out and in the dying seconds you 5 cap them and win. So look around and consider what the ‘mood’ is within your Blue randoms: push and win quick/ or die trying, or hold and whittle Reds down for a push half way through the game. Go with the major game plan.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who is so inflexible he/she has only one style of play...half the time you will be wrong.
5. Just going for damage?...FU. To only have such a style of play means you’re probably a whale or a fool
Just going for wins?...good luck with that. Matchmaking will therefore frustrate you no end. Consider what makes you tick and what you most enjoy about the game - ignore the rest. I’ve seen too many players spend spend spend, only to give up when a new META is introduced and their bots have been degraded. It’s how Pixonic puts pressure on you to keep spending.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who burns out and gets so frustrated with the game you give up. Choose carefully your aims and purposes for playing. Develop pixonic resistant purposes that you enjoy.*
[*My aims include enjoying a loss if I’ve played well and helped blues. Making a full Squad or reds, even ‘death squads’, work for the win and have moments when they feel they aren’t bossing things. Squadding and chatting on discord with Clan mates, and getting ‘the gossip’ and news from around the World. A window into others lives so different to mine. Trying something new, and it working well.]
6. Timing. Allow that almost dead to Red turn the beacon white, THEN kill him. You turn the beacon blue and gain the points for doing so. Allowing yourself to be hit without firing back [sooooo tempting to hit the fire button] knowing when their ability ends you have reloaded and can take them down. Learning how long a Hawk is in the air, and consider where he/she/it is going to land - time your run to be there when they do. ALL bots have a weakness - timing helps you exploit it.
Don’t be ‘that guy’ who’s finger never leaves the fire button.
7. Don’t bot our early. Ok, I know this is some peoples strategy to get lots of games it: run hard and fast, get in get out. Perhaps there is a time for that. But, learn to keep your last bot alive and be useful. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a bot with a slither of health and no weapons left! Now isn’t that fun, rather than just running to a new game? You may not hear the ‘thank you’ from your fellow Blues, but they do take note and silently nod in your direction in respect.
Don’t be that guy who bots out half the time at 5 minutes. You are doing something, probably lots of things, wrong - and it’s not just your hanger that’s the problem.
8. Learn to appreciated, if not exactly enjoy, being beaten by a better opponent when they have the drop on you and you never saw it coming.
Don’t be that guy that ‘Phase Shifts’ when your pants are down - I had you fair and square mate.
I’d be interested in others comments on these ‘don’t be that guy’, and perhaps a few more?
