How to be l33t at Allegiance

[Joey[kins]]

Right, after many conversations with Afty, Wildhog and Wizzo, we've decided that the Staff Fleet needs more of a challenge at i9, so I will (at some point) be putting together a piloting guide for Allegiance. However, it'd be excellent if everyone who plans to play at i9 could have a read of the PlanetAllegiance pilot's guide (http://www.planetallegiance.com/guides/pilotsguide/) now. It's a bit outdated in certain areas and it doesn't go into very much detail about the optimal ships loadouts and use of the inventory in flight (which are both extremely important) but it gives a good idea of getting started and when to use each ship.

Something else to have a look at (I've not had time yet but it's been recently updated) is this site (http://www24.brinkster.com/firebird453/ai/index.asp) which looks like a really substantial guide to playing and being good

[zhardoum]

Actually, that was better than i thought it would be, didnt know about the anti util thingy either, very handy that :)

One question though, can someone please tell me how to lower shields in the bomber, oh, and when MPUK plan to play again online as a group battle v..?

[Catachan]

To lower shields you need to mount and dismount the cargo bay areas in your ship.

Just dismount the shield, then remount when it's needed.

Just make sure you don't get caught with your pants down, so to speak :D

[- Maverick -]

The true way of play is the abilty to ram other ships with you escape pod. Or trying to take on lux interceptors in a scout

[Cabe]

allegiance is good as long as the commander knows his stuff, I think thats why MPUK are so good, as the punters dont have any skillz :D

[Catachan]

Right Cabe, in that case, YOU command the punter team :D

[Zeb]

naah, just get a good commander.. ;-)

all falls into place after that....

[Cabe]

Catchan , i have no skills, thus the game would be crap, the problem is all the skill is on the MPUK side, and thus all the games are cack!

[Catachan]

That's cos we practice. If more people would take the time to appreciate Allegiance, then they'd learn that we're just using tactics which can be found on any decent strategics site for Allegiance.

[Joey[kins]]

no offense to my loyal subjects of Staff Fleet but compared to the AZ players trying to effectively command the i-series pilots (both staff and punter) is a nightmare... most people underestimate the effectiveness of eliminating the enemy miners and constructors before they get the money or the technology which is why we end up with good dogfights, but little tactical play. On a standard zone game you can expect to lose at least 2 miners and a constructor.

The things that need to be drilled into the players are as follows:
Use stealth fighters with util cannons to kill miners and constructors immedeately - sit in silence in resource rich sectors near the enemy's home and kill anything that looks expensive
To counter sf's (stealth fighters), all miners and constructors should be accompanied by a nanite (scout with the nanite repair system gun equipped), and at least 2 fighter or interceptor class ships. The scouts will detect the sf's and then the figs or ints can own them.
Bombing: all bomber runs should have both turrets manned, and at least 3 nanites accompanying the bomber. Shooting the nanite gun at a craft with damaged hull armour will heal the ship (although it won't affect the shield recharge) and nothing can dish out damage enough to beat the combined strength of 3 nanites.
To counter this, when an enemy bomber is on the way camp the aleph - don't rush it. Chances are the commander will have placed a minefield over the aleph so anything coming through will be very slow. Take this opportunity to either waste the bomer before the scouts come through and can adjust their heading to effectively nanite, or get the scouts while they're slow and can't drop mines themselves - once the scouts are gone, take out the bomber quickly.
At the beginning of the game, unless instructed otherwise, get a scout with as many EWS probes as you can. As soon as you launch, hit F4 to bing up your inventory display. While you're piloting it's best to switch to command view by pressing F3 to get an overview of the entire sector. You can autopilot to any point by right clicking on this map. You should find any alephs in the sector (they're usually found in a circle about 1/4 from the edge of the sector). Make sure there's 2 or 3 well spaced probes in each sector.
Obey any command given from the commander. Ever. Just hit insert and do as you're told :smokin:
Stealth bomb in pairs.

Learn to manipulate your inventory - the numbers by the item can be used in a variety of ways:
1-4 switch between individual guns mounted on your ship, if only 1 gun is firing, keep pressing 1 until they all work
5 will fire a missile - better to use the joystick
6-9 on its own doesn't do anything
0 will drop a probe or mines depending on what's mounted
s cycles through your currently selected unmounted item
using ctrl and 1-0 will unload/load an item - if you have a replacement in cargo it'll swap, otherwise it'll just unload (or load if there's nothing there)
ctrl and s ejects the selected item into space

Always pick up technology (marked with a T symbol on your command view or HUD outline) - if you've not got space, eject something. Tell your commander what you've picked up - sometimes he'll want it straight away

That's all I can think of for now... let's make i9 a challenge :smokin:

[- Maverick -]

I need to get a joystick now. Due to I have been using a keyboard all the time to play it.

Best one's are the ones with hat switch so you can configue them as vertical trust. Which is good for dog-fights and quick turns

[Catachan]

One quick question, how do I eject something?

[- Maverick -]

Um you shoot it. When you run out of armour you eject. and end up in a little escape pod which goes about as fast as a slug

[Catachan]

No mate, I mean there is a way to throw things out of your ship. Was just wondering what the command for it was.

[Catachan]

Never mind, just ran through the tutorial again...

CTRL + S :D

[PRINGLES]

am not that good at the game but am getting there and i still maneged to kill most of the MPUK staff in the dog-fights i had and i look forwad to doing it again :tongue:

[Joey[kins]]

some other useful tid-bits:

get to know the 3 core technologies:
tactical - the most offensive tech, causes great damage and chaos but isn't an option for defending or dogfighting - needs support tech of sup or exp
supremacy - middle of the road, great for fighter class ships in defense and offense situations, also toughens the bomber and gunship - also, adv figs can use the galvonic blaster which is capable of destroying bases like refineries, outposts & teleport receivers
expansion - strong defensive technology, nothing dishes damage like the interceptor, and no other non-capital ship can take as much of a pounding, however ints can't teleport and have low fuel and ammo capacity so long haul flights and strike missions aren't an option

usually the techs are found complimenting each other, lovingly referred to as expremacy, supractical or tacspansion :smokin:

remember to go slowly through alephs - you never know what's on the other side (usually a minefield)
if you're in a scout and being chased, wait till the ships on your tail are heading straight for you at a fairly high speed and drop mines, bear in mind that minefields take a second or 2 to arm, but they're extremely effective against anything behind you. also, you can drop mines when escorting bombers - if an int wing comes at you at full speed and overshoots into a minefield, you guarantee they won't bother you again.
fighter and interceptor pilots: remember that chasing a scout can be painful - never go straight at their back, adjust your course to come in from an angle
cap ship pilots: remember that srm tactical nuke missiles and xrm cruise missiles are very bad at tracking their targets, keep at least 400m from the target base and face it, don't expect the missiles to turn at all cos they won't. also, make sure you have sufficient escort (turrets, nanites, fighters and other capital support craft)
get used to the strengths and weaknesses of the 5 factions - while they mostly concern the commander, they can affect your piloting:
Iron Coalition: Heavier armour, greater damage, higher ammo capacity, stations are immune to galvonics, very weak economy
Bios: Weaker armour but heavier shields to compensate, low signature on ships and bases, all ships can carry heavy cloak, 10 minute research time, half price research, expensive bases, no station upgrades, teleporting eject pods (25 second)
Gigacorp: Weaker armour on ships and bases, missing research in tech tree at start, loads of money, option for luxury model advanced craft (heavy interceptor, adv SF, adv fig)
Belters: no shield on fighter class ships, but greatly increased hull armour to compensate, interceptors carry dumbfire missiles, more versatile tech tree, more versatile craft (all ships can carry nanite for instance), 4 minute research, cheap ship tech research and bases, expensive weapon and enhancement research
Rixian Unity: scouts, adv scouts, enh fighters and adv fighters can teleport to scouts (provided the scout has sufficient energy), no missiles (except LRM aleph resonator), increased pw range and damage, weak shields and armour, 12 second research, high left/right turn rate and roll speed, very low up/down turn rate

remember not to kill enemy eject pods unless:
the pilot of the pod has a high kill bonus (25% or above)
the enemy team is bios (who have teleporting pods)
keeping the enemy in eject podsis tactically sound when you are on a counter-offensive - if their entire team is podded, who's guarding the garrison? :tongue:

choose your targets wisely: if the enemy are all in fighters and you're stealth bombing their home sector, hit the teleport receiver first to stop them getting back - then get their other bases at your leisure. however, if their heavy ints are causing big problems, get their expansion complex

[Ekim]

I wanna play Alleigience on the Saturday night, one problem is I don't know how to play the game at all! :D suppose going thro the tutrial would be an option, if it weren't so borng

[Catachan]

The tutorial is a must really.

[Joey[kins]]

the tutorial is a must cos it just helps you with the basic controls (some of which are unlike any other flight sim) and can also help with getting used to the 3 different ship types

[Eva_01]

im up for any game of allegance, im your loyal bitch fearhawk, you can count on me and wildhog DISPENCING DEUL SB PAIN :)
please dont randomise the teams, it has to be staff vs punters, unless all of the punters run scared and only staff want to play. :P

[Catachan]

We could have a mixture...

ie. a few games

Staff Vs. Punters
Mixed Vs. Mixed
etc
etc

[Joey[kins]]

if we do get more than 40 people there will have to be at least 1 game with more than 2 teams... i'm sure wizzo could be "pursuded" to come out of (forced) retirement to command against afty and myself (watch them reprise their Strat5 system of both victimising me)

still - hopefully there's a fair bit of interest

[Catachan]

rah.

[- Maverick -]

Prepare for ownage

[Sgt_Pepper]

Please read a useful game guide

Allegiance Vault (http://alvault.ign.com)

This is written better.(not by me!)

Thanx.

[Eva_01]

fearhawk if me and wildhog are in your team, make sure u get sb's
thanx

[ShadowMan]

i want this game. anyone got a spare copy to sell me? or even copy one for me?

/me does not like warez but i cant find it anywhere!!

[Zeb]

I'm sure as a temporary basis, I could lend you an original.. :-)

[D0c]

There was a copy on jungle.com for a while, not sure if it's still there now or not.

[Catachan]

If anyone needs a copy, Game UK are selling it on their website:

http://www.game.uk.com/review.asp?tab=pc&rev_id=132224

Grab it fast guys!

[ShadowMan]

one problem. it takes about 3-4 days for it to ship


so zeb could you lend us a copy for i9?

if so now all i need to do is find my flightstick!
/me goes searching through university washing pile. Hope i survive for i9!

[afty]

Hmmmm, what if I want to *pilot* at i9 instead of commanding eh?

It would be nice to have one of those lovely 23/0 records again sometime soon.

[Catachan]

Could do both , y'know :D

[Joey[kins]]

russ you've only not been shot down when you've been on my team :smokin:

[Roob]

The reason you find it hard to get Allegiance is that Microsoft have deleted it as a product. I assume the high street retailers are selling the last of their stock...

[afty]

Oooh look at her

/me points at Rooth

:)

As for *you* Fearhawk, I have frequently commanded Allegiance and ended up without being shot down, despite having repeatedly flown defence in an Interceptor, you don't often get 23 take downs in a game though, if you're only playing defence while trying to command too.

Quality offensive hunting in stealth craft, good solid defensive Destroyer work (with alot of associated well positioned teleport receivers) or rapid reaction Interceptor pilot seem to be those most likely to rack up alot of kills without dying much. Of course, these roles are also quite boring and are about patience as much as skill, but there you go :)

Hoping to have some *massive* Allegiance games at i9.

Russ / Afty

[SupahFly]

How long has this game been out? It sounds fantastic and seems to have loads of things in it that i've been looking for in a game for ages!!! From what i've seen though, it seems to be a dieing breed, as all the relevent websites to the game have not been updated in months :(

I'm still gonna try and find a copy though, coz I really want to play it at i9 :D

[ShadowMan]

if you find one b4 i9 then could you get us one as well. i've been trying for ages but evrytime i try at eb or game on the web they say they are out of stock!!


/ME WANTS THIS GAME NOW!!!