Guide to playing in Highland effectively By SNAKES_R_BOSS About Overview: Highland is a small but interesting map that is popular amongst many ranks. Modes: CTF, TDM, CP, DM. Size: 8v8, 16 players. Tactics DM DM on Highland is tricky. It is kind of a cramped map, and it is hard to avoid other tanks. These are 4 good tactics that will help you in DM mode. 1. “Cover” tactic. Wherever you are on the map, or whatever game mode you are in, you should always have some cover to hide behind if you get low on health. On Highland, there are many white walls that you can hide behind. These provide excellent cover when you have low health, or when there are lots of long-range tanks. This tactic is particularly good for evading Shafts or Strikers. But beware! If the place where you are taking cover is below a ledge, then enemies could climb up there and jump right on top of you! 2. “Sniper” tactic. Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVxbKQqrTa7Ym1PU0Q4WFFScnM/view If you are using a turret that has long range, then you should head to higher spots on the map where you will be able to snipe your enemies. This tactic is good for pretty much any game mode. There is a particularly good spot near where the blue team’s flag would be in CTF mode. Go to the hill to the left of where the blue team’s flag would be. Yes, that’s right, the one with the building on top. This is an especially good spot because you have a view of the gates in the white walls. This is important because nearly everyone passes through those gates, and you can pick them off like a bear waiting in the path of migrating salmon. You also have a view of the center of the map, where most of the action goes on. With these views you can snipe your enemies and get to the top of the team. The hill on the blue team’s side is probably better than the hill on the red team’s side. Blue’s hill not only has a better vantage point, but it also has a large house that you can hide behind when you have low health. However, there are dangers, and you should keep Repair Kits handy. If some enemy tanks are on their hill, then they can shoot you, too. Railguns and Shafts are especially dangerous here. Another danger is the enemy sneaking up on you. There is a blind spot on the hill behind the house. Close- to medium-range enemies can sneak through the blind spot and onto your hill. To prevent this, put mines on each of the hill’s ramps. 3. “Ninja” tactic. Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVxbKQqrTa7NDBhTm1LNm5oT3c/view Probably the best tactic in Highland DM is surprise. If you have a short-range gun and a fast- to average-speed hull, try to find spots where you can attack your enemy without them spotting you ahead of time. Some of these spots are on the hills. If there is a Shaft on a hill, and if he is in scope mode, then sneak up behind him and let him have it! If he is in scope mode, then he either has to release his shell and wait for it to reload, or he has to turn his turret all the way around to shoot you, and since his turret swings slower in scope mode, he will probably be dead before he can fire. 4. “Crocodile” tactic. Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVxbKQqrTa7Sl96XzhTYmNUdUE/view This tactic is good with any gun, on any map, and in any game mode. The objective is to ambush your enemy. Hide behind a wall, building, or other large object. But make sure you weren’t seen. Sit in wait until an enemy comes along, and then take him by surprise! Like a crocodile or alligator, your enemy will never know you were there until it’s too late. TDM TDM on Highland is like TDM on any other map, but there are some special tricks and tactics you can use to defend your teammates and get ahead of them at the same time. 1.“Howitzer” tactic. Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVxbKQqrTa7M0JJanRJVDRGdmc/view This tactic can only be used with the Magnum. The object of this tactic is to be able to keep your tank safe while you are firing at the enemy. Go up against a wall, position your turret to the right angle, and keep watch for any intruders at the gate. Beware! Tanks can sneak behind you, too! 2. “Stationary turret” tactic. The Stationary turret tactic is a tactic that is not used very often, but is quite effective. It requires 2 players: an Isida and a Vulcan. The Vulcan should probably have a heavy hull, like the Mammoth or the Titan, but Viking works sometimes. The Isida should have either the Hornet or the Viking. Find a place with your partner that would be a good place to defend from. A good example would be a hill, or one of the gates. Once you’ve found your spot, the partner with the Vulcan should plant himself down and not move his tank, but move his turret a lot. The Isida can move, but should stay behind the Vulcan and heal it. This way, you set up a machine that can fire for prolonged periods at many tanks. 3. “Potshot” tactic. The Potshot tactic works best with the Railgun, but can be used with the Thunder, too. To use this tactic, you will have to find a part of the white wall with a large crack in the top of it. This is your firing box. Occasionally, peek into it and fire, but be careful! You could get shot while you are trying to fire. It is best to use a fast hull such as the Hornet or Wasp because you’ll need speed to get out of the enemy’s fire in time. It is a good idea to shift your view to almost a bird’s eye view. This way, you can see who is coming and get ready to fire in time. 4. “Blitzkrieg” tactic. In World War II, the Germans used a special strategy called Blitzkrieg, which means “lightning war.” Blitzkrieg contained two elements: the bombers and the Panzer Units. The bomber planes would go first into battle. The air raid would either destroy or greatly weaken the enemy. Then, the Panzer Units moved in. The Panzer Units were made up of motorcycles, trucks, armored cars, and (yup, you guessed it) tanks. This strategy can be replicated on Highland, but requires at least 6 players. Half of the players must have Magnums, while the other half must have Hornets, Hunters, or Vikings, and can have either Freezes, Firebirds, Hammers, or Thunders. The Magnums position themselves behind the walls of the map’s center square. Their turrets should be positioned to either be able to fire at the enemy’s gate, or to fire in the middle of the square. The close-range tanks should be behind cover by now. When enemies come through the gate or into the square, the Magnums fire all at the same time. Like the air raid in the real Blitzkrieg, the Magnums will either kill or weaken many of the enemy. Then, the close-range tanks rush in to finish them off. CTF CTF mode on Highland is complicated. There are many spots of cover, backways, and hiding places that the person with the flag could seek refuge in. These tactics will teach you how to get on top of the game in no time. 1.“Rampart” tactic. Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVxbKQqrTa7VXEzdmpDay1wS1E/view?usp=sharing The Rampart tactic is very similar to the Potshot tactic, except that it can be used with any long-range gun. Like in the Potshot tactic, you should find a wall segment with a large crack in the top of it. Now, instead of taking random potshots, you should be peeking through your firing box frequently to see where your enemies are. When you have an enemy in your sights, fire at him, but draw away quickly if he does some damage to you. This can be a good way to defend your side from enemy invaders. Warning! Your enemy can sneak around your wall and attack! Be alert, or you’ll get a nasty surprise. 2. “Drop squad” tactic. This tactic is used for capturing and taking flags. This tactic is tricky, but very useful if performed well. If you are either going to take the enemy’s flag or capture it, go onto a hill, ledge, building, or any other high place above the flag terminal. When there are not many enemies near the terminal, drive at full speed off your high place, and you should land either near or on the flag. However, be careful that no one follows you up to your jumping spot. Alert! This tactic can NOT be performed well with the Mammoth, Dictator, or Titan! Attempting this with these hulls will most likely result in aggravating failure! 3. “Flank” tactic. Flanking your enemies is a very effective tactic on Highland. Simply drive along the outside of the square. If there are enemies in the square, try to drive and fire at them at the same time. Also, if you can, try to get a buddy to do the same thing on the other side. CP CP is not as complicated on Highland as it is on other maps. There are only 3 terminals. But with enough people, CP can turn into a frenzy on this map. These are some tactics that you can use to keep your team above the crowd. 1. “Sentinel” tactic. This tactic is similar to the Howitzer tactic mentioned in the TDM section. Again, you have to use the Magnum, but this time, you can move to different spots on the map. Find a spot where you have some cover, but are still in range of a Control Point. It is best to adjust your camera to a bird’s eye view at this time. When an enemy comes along to take control of your point, let him have it! 2. “Stampede” tactic. This is a simple but effective tactic to quickly gain a control point. Try to get your teammates to all rush toward a control point at once. This stampede of tanks will send the enemy fleeing, and you will be able to successfully take the point. 3. “Ring of fire” tactic. This is another tactic that involves more than one player. You will need at least 5 other tanks, and all of them should have the Firebird equipped. After you have captured a Control Point, you and your fellow Firebirds should form a ring around the Control Point with your tanks. This will allow you to fend off enemy tanks more effectively. It will also allow you to gang up on intruders. However, it is best to use more heavy hulls, such as the Viking or Dictator. Gold Boxes There are a few special tactics in Highland that can get you a better chance of taking a Gold Box. 1. “Bombardier” tactic. This is a special anti-dogpile tactic that works best in DM mode. The objective is to thin down a dogpile underneath a Gold Box drop zone. These dogpiles are tricky obstacles that appear underneath almost every Gold Box drop zone. If you are on Highland during a Gold Box drop, and there is a dogpile on the drop zone, then equip the Magnum. Next, find a spot near the drop zone that is not too close, but close enough that you can rush to drop zone quickly. Then, equip Double Damage, and fire on the dogpile! This will greatly decrease the dogpile’s size, if not completely eliminate it. You can then dash to claim your well-deserved Gold Box. 2. “Interceptor” tactic. The Interceptor tactic is like the Bombardier tactic in the fact that it will totally aggravate everyone trying to get the Gold Box! However, this tactic will only work if the drop zone is directly under a ledge or hill. You will need three things for this tactic: the Wasp, some Speed Boost, and expert timing. Go up onto the ledge above the drop zone. Wait until the Gold Box is about one supply box’s length above your turret. When it reaches this height, equip Speed Boost. Remain where you are. WARNING! DO NOT JUMP ONTO THE DOGPILE NOW! When the Gold Box is just about level with your turret, floor it! You will zoom right through the Gold Box, and right over the heads of the awestruck tankers! Recommended Equipment These are various pieces of equipment that are recommended for the different modes on the map. DM: Hornet, Viking, Hunter, Titan. Hammer, Firebird, Freeze, Smoky, Railgun. For Sniper tactic: Vulcan, Shaft. TDM: Viking, Hornet, Wasp, Titan, Mammoth. Firebird, Vulcan, Isida, Smoky, Ricochet, Twins, Magnum, Hammer, Shaft, Railgun, Thunder. CTF: Hornet, Viking, Wasp, Titan, Dictator. Freeze, Firebird, Isida, Railgun, Vulcan, Thunder, Ricochet, Smoky, Shaft, Hammer. CP: Dictator, Hunter, Viking, Hornet. Shaft, Hammer, Firebird, Isida, Thunder, Magnum, Ricochet, Twins, Vulcan, Freeze. Conclusion This concludes the Guide to Playing Effectively in Highland. I hope these tactics and strategies will be of use to tankers that enjoy playing on this map. Even if some of the tactics don't work at first, keep trying. As I always say, the tanker that will thrive will be the persistent one.