[Issue 44] The Pathological Miner

[TheGoldenTanker 4,951]

I saw a second lieutenant say this :blink:

It's ok... I've seen some Commanders and even Generalissimos say it ._.

 

Either they're trolling, or just super-duper dumb.

[Mattz_GT 0]

I've found a favourite mining spot...
Iran map - when on a good high point, mine the approach, stops you getting your butt kicked by someone creeping up the ramp

[matthew576 0]

I'm suprised there is no "mines" section in the "Down to a Science" article on the TN.

Edited December 11, 2015 by matthew576

[viratno2 146]

Finally an article that doesn't read like a rant (no references here).

[Foxfox105_PRO 0]

I've been using that lay a mine in the ghost trick for so long...  

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

Good article and laying mines on a gold box drop zone would be awesome imagine someone going to camp on the drop zone and allofasudden getting blown up I would be extremely pissed and probably rage quit

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

And I think. Night-Sisters will make a great addition to the reporter staff. And I never thought about spawn mining need to try that.

[The-Operator219 1,929]

Another tactic I commonly use is driving off something and dropping one on anyone unlucky enough to be under me.

[H.E.A.T9 0]

Very well written article and helps alot! :)

[r_PC-JACK0 91]

Thanks for the pointers. :) :)

[r_PC-JACK0 91]

Thanks for the pointers. :) :)

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

 

 

 

 

Mines; though not a common sight outside of Parkour matches, they lend a truly explosive element to gameplay.

 

All bad puns aside, mines really are a complex, deadly asset to every tankers arsenal. Available from the rank of Master Corporal ([rank 5]) and costing 50 crystals in the garage, they require ingenious and tricky use that adds a rewarding layer of interest to combat situations.

Sadly though, it is only too often that the potential of a stash of anti-tank landmines is lost as time and time again, tankers utilize that beloved #3 to extricate themselves from a sticky situation. 

It's an unfortunate, but highly exploitable state of affairs; if mine deployment isn't registering on an enemy's radar, he\she won't expect it from you.

 

Author's Note: Right, I think that'll just about cover the intro blather. I shall move on to an insanely challenging, intrinsically demanding, frighteningly oblique question that is difficult in the extreme.

 

 

What is a mine?

 

Oh, wipe that disappointed scowl off your face. It'd be a sad world indeed if a girl couldn't engage in a bit of sarcastic hyperbole every now and again. Anyways, returning to the question at hand... 

 

The answer to that, is this.

 

 

 

And also this...

 

  

 

 

But with regards to Tanki, I'd hazard that the diagram beneath this sentence is most pertinent.

 

 

A mine is a trigger-activated explosive device with a minimum damage count of 120 and a maximum of 240. Now I know the top damage number may look really impressive -240 is more than enough to take out M2 Dictator- but you'll have to take that with a grain of salt.

"Technically" a mine can deal out that much destruction...but only under perfect conditions. Due to less-than-ideal circumstances, the stress of battle, and strangely uncooperative victims, the actual inflicted damage usually falls into the 180-185 range.

The practical implications? You'd have to be quite lucky to take out a M3 Hornet with only one mine. Any of the more-heavily armored hulls will definitely require two.

 

And, the other illustration components are various smart cooldown times. The picture is self-explanatory, so I won't offend your sensibilities with a pointlessly long-winded dissertation on the topic.

 

 

Deployment

 

 

Compliments of Tanki Wikipedia, the diagram above depicts the location of the 'mine dispenser': it sits at the very center of the tank, on the axis point of where turret meets hull. This isn't particularly important when it comes to run-of-the-mill, humdrum mine placement...but when attempting the more difficult stunts, it is soon apparent that the dispenser is awkwardly far back. To assure accurate mine placement you will need to overcompensate with your driving.

Also, keep in mind that after deployment, a mine has a one-second 'arming' period.

 

Careful...that arming period may seem insignificant, but if a M3 Wasp or Hornet hot on your tail has the speed to drive clear over your mine before it's primed. 

 

 

Defensive Mining

 

Woah there. Don't just skim over this part with a casual "Been there, done that. Ya drop the mines around the flag, blah, blah, blah."

Please. There's so much more to defensive mining than just dumping your explosives by the flag and waiting for an enemy to arrive.

You need to be proactive!

Place your mines further out, on the high-traffic choke points. Mine pressure areas...escape routes. Put 'em in unexpected places and it'll make your enemies cautious: every meter of ground they cover could be their last.

Of course, mining the direct vicinity of the flag does make up a large part of stout defense so if you have the time, patience, and wherewithal to stay alive, a heavily mined flag is nearly impenetrable.  

 

 

In DM mode, where self-preservation is the modus operandi, a well placed mine functions as a temporary, nearly invisible "wall" to be thrown up at a moments notice. This is especially useful for the high caliber weapons; Rails, Shafts, Vulcans, and Thunders - anything with a significant reload time can benefit hugely from deploying mines defensively.  

 

 

Offensive Mining Tactics

 

You should deploy a mine...

 

-when you are being followed closely by another tank. 

It takes determination and cool precision to reach for #5 to extricate yourself from a sticky situation. If a Viking\Flame with double armor is stampeding towards you, the knee-jerk reaction is to fumble around for a DD while hastily driving backwards.

End result? You get off maybe one shot and deal very little damage to the hulking monstrosity before you crash and burn. The Viking pushes past the remains of your dead tank, taking its destructive onslaught elswhere.

A mine, however, can even the odds a bit.

Imagine the same Viking\Flame is again barreling towards you. This time, while moving backwards quickly equip shield and lay a mine.

Your opponent now has three choices: cease and desist, slow down to maneuver around, or run over the mine. If your assailant should select option one or two, you'll have plenty of time to make your escape. Choosing to simply take the hit and continue pursuing will weaken the Viking considerably. You should now be able to easily make the kill. 

End result: You live. 

 

 

 

-when you are retreating with the flag.

Congratulations. You've just managed to snatch the enemy flag and are currently on your way back to base. However, the rival team is dead set against this, and they're all stampeding after you screaming bloody murder.

Do you politely give the flag back, roll over, and play dead?

Heck no! Lay a mine, preferably in a choke point, and skeddaddle out of there as fast as possible. With a bit of luck, some unfortunate enemy will drive over it. Boom, dead. Any other pursuers who were hot on your tail now have the remains of a dead tank to push through. One mine, and you've created enough of a diversion to get away. Good deal.

 

 

 

-on a 'ghost' tank.

Don't view an enemy 'ghost' as just a tank waiting to respawn...consider it a turkey an opportunity ripe for the plucking. Do a smooth drive-through and lay a mine in the ghosted tank of your opponent. When they materialize fully, the mine will activate.

Talk about spawn-killing.

 

 

 

-on a spawn point.

This is a bit like laying a mine on a ghost tank, minus the tank. The idea here is that if you know where the spawn points are, you can anticipate the arrival of an enemy tank by laying a mine. For obvious reasons, this is only effective in a Deathmatch. 

 

 

 

 

-on a supply drop

You can't chuck mines at the enemy...so, bring your opponents to the mine. Deploying an explosive on an empty drop zone is perfect because the next tempting supply box that falls will completely cover the mine, rendering it invisible to even the closest inspection. The first tanker to drive through the pickup will find it a bit more than they bargained for. 

I reserve a special affection for mining the ol' health drop site. The wounded flock to it, thinking to restore their damaged health. But just as the repair kit begins its work and the injured tanker lets out a sigh of relief at this auspicious second chance, an untimely explosion snatches away the last remnants of life. 

There are those who would call use of this tactic back-handed, mean-spirited, and low. I'll admit that they might have a point, but it is also undeniably and satisfactorily effective...so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  ;) 

 

"You can't chuck mines..." 

Yeah, no duh Sherlock. These ain't flippin' hand grenades, after all.

 

 

 

-on a gold box drop zone

If rigging a supply drop to explode is low, then mining the location of the gold box drop is the meanest, rottenest, most despicable trick to ever hit Tanki Online. It's guaranteed to produce cries of 'nub mult hacker noob' and give you insta-enemies galore - unless, of course, your mine causes some lucky tanker to careen directly into the descending gold box. In that case, you've just made yourself a brand spankin' new BFF. Congratz!

 

 

 

Ending Blather

 

Because all things, good, bad, or ugly, must eventually come to an end.

 

This really is just the tip of the iceberg on all the various uses of the mine. Their versatility is only limited by your imagination and penchant for use. Just keep an open mind, and you'll soon see opportunities to be taken advantage of, mind games to play, and opponents to befuddle.

And, of course.

 

Watch out for mines.  ;)   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*A special thanks to @Prince_The3rd, @DarthMaul667, and @opres667 for your assistance with the pictures. You're awesome, guys! 

Waiitt a minuitttteeee!

 

Night  Sisters is a girl?!

Edited December 15, 2015 by LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH
Place large quotes in spoilers

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

 

 

 

 

Mines; though not a common sight outside of Parkour matches, they lend a truly explosive element to gameplay.

 

All bad puns aside, mines really are a complex, deadly asset to every tankers arsenal. Available from the rank of Master Corporal ([rank 5]) and costing 50 crystals in the garage, they require ingenious and tricky use that adds a rewarding layer of interest to combat situations.

Sadly though, it is only too often that the potential of a stash of anti-tank landmines is lost as time and time again, tankers utilize that beloved #3 to extricate themselves from a sticky situation. 

It's an unfortunate, but highly exploitable state of affairs; if mine deployment isn't registering on an enemy's radar, he\she won't expect it from you.

 

Author's Note: Right, I think that'll just about cover the intro blather. I shall move on to an insanely challenging, intrinsically demanding, frighteningly oblique question that is difficult in the extreme.

 

 

What is a mine?

 

Oh, wipe that disappointed scowl off your face. It'd be a sad world indeed if a girl couldn't engage in a bit of sarcastic hyperbole every now and again. Anyways, returning to the question at hand... 

 

The answer to that, is this.

 

 

 

And also this...

 

  

 

 

But with regards to Tanki, I'd hazard that the diagram beneath this sentence is most pertinent.

 

 

A mine is a trigger-activated explosive device with a minimum damage count of 120 and a maximum of 240. Now I know the top damage number may look really impressive -240 is more than enough to take out M2 Dictator- but you'll have to take that with a grain of salt.

"Technically" a mine can deal out that much destruction...but only under perfect conditions. Due to less-than-ideal circumstances, the stress of battle, and strangely uncooperative victims, the actual inflicted damage usually falls into the 180-185 range.

The practical implications? You'd have to be quite lucky to take out a M3 Hornet with only one mine. Any of the more-heavily armored hulls will definitely require two.

 

And, the other illustration components are various smart cooldown times. The picture is self-explanatory, so I won't offend your sensibilities with a pointlessly long-winded dissertation on the topic.

 

 

Deployment

 

 

Compliments of Tanki Wikipedia, the diagram above depicts the location of the 'mine dispenser': it sits at the very center of the tank, on the axis point of where turret meets hull. This isn't particularly important when it comes to run-of-the-mill, humdrum mine placement...but when attempting the more difficult stunts, it is soon apparent that the dispenser is awkwardly far back. To assure accurate mine placement you will need to overcompensate with your driving.

Also, keep in mind that after deployment, a mine has a one-second 'arming' period.

 

Careful...that arming period may seem insignificant, but if a M3 Wasp or Hornet hot on your tail has the speed to drive clear over your mine before it's primed. 

 

 

Defensive Mining

 

Woah there. Don't just skim over this part with a casual "Been there, done that. Ya drop the mines around the flag, blah, blah, blah."

Please. There's so much more to defensive mining than just dumping your explosives by the flag and waiting for an enemy to arrive.

You need to be proactive!

Place your mines further out, on the high-traffic choke points. Mine pressure areas...escape routes. Put 'em in unexpected places and it'll make your enemies cautious: every meter of ground they cover could be their last.

Of course, mining the direct vicinity of the flag does make up a large part of stout defense so if you have the time, patience, and wherewithal to stay alive, a heavily mined flag is nearly impenetrable.  

 

 

In DM mode, where self-preservation is the modus operandi, a well placed mine functions as a temporary, nearly invisible "wall" to be thrown up at a moments notice. This is especially useful for the high caliber weapons; Rails, Shafts, Vulcans, and Thunders - anything with a significant reload time can benefit hugely from deploying mines defensively.  

 

 

Offensive Mining Tactics

 

You should deploy a mine...

 

-when you are being followed closely by another tank. 

It takes determination and cool precision to reach for #5 to extricate yourself from a sticky situation. If a Viking\Flame with double armor is stampeding towards you, the knee-jerk reaction is to fumble around for a DD while hastily driving backwards.

End result? You get off maybe one shot and deal very little damage to the hulking monstrosity before you crash and burn. The Viking pushes past the remains of your dead tank, taking its destructive onslaught elswhere.

A mine, however, can even the odds a bit.

Imagine the same Viking\Flame is again barreling towards you. This time, while moving backwards quickly equip shield and lay a mine.

Your opponent now has three choices: cease and desist, slow down to maneuver around, or run over the mine. If your assailant should select option one or two, you'll have plenty of time to make your escape. Choosing to simply take the hit and continue pursuing will weaken the Viking considerably. You should now be able to easily make the kill. 

End result: You live. 

 

 

 

-when you are retreating with the flag.

Congratulations. You've just managed to snatch the enemy flag and are currently on your way back to base. However, the rival team is dead set against this, and they're all stampeding after you screaming bloody murder.

Do you politely give the flag back, roll over, and play dead?

Heck no! Lay a mine, preferably in a choke point, and skeddaddle out of there as fast as possible. With a bit of luck, some unfortunate enemy will drive over it. Boom, dead. Any other pursuers who were hot on your tail now have the remains of a dead tank to push through. One mine, and you've created enough of a diversion to get away. Good deal.

 

 

 

-on a 'ghost' tank.

Don't view an enemy 'ghost' as just a tank waiting to respawn...consider it a turkey an opportunity ripe for the plucking. Do a smooth drive-through and lay a mine in the ghosted tank of your opponent. When they materialize fully, the mine will activate.

Talk about spawn-killing.

 

 

 

-on a spawn point.

This is a bit like laying a mine on a ghost tank, minus the tank. The idea here is that if you know where the spawn points are, you can anticipate the arrival of an enemy tank by laying a mine. For obvious reasons, this is only effective in a Deathmatch. 

 

 

 

 

-on a supply drop

You can't chuck mines at the enemy...so, bring your opponents to the mine. Deploying an explosive on an empty drop zone is perfect because the next tempting supply box that falls will completely cover the mine, rendering it invisible to even the closest inspection. The first tanker to drive through the pickup will find it a bit more than they bargained for. 

I reserve a special affection for mining the ol' health drop site. The wounded flock to it, thinking to restore their damaged health. But just as the repair kit begins its work and the injured tanker lets out a sigh of relief at this auspicious second chance, an untimely explosion snatches away the last remnants of life. 

There are those who would call use of this tactic back-handed, mean-spirited, and low. I'll admit that they might have a point, but it is also undeniably and satisfactorily effective...so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  ;) 

 

"You can't chuck mines..." 

Yeah, no duh Sherlock. These ain't flippin' hand grenades, after all.

 

 

 

-on a gold box drop zone

If rigging a supply drop to explode is low, then mining the location of the gold box drop is the meanest, rottenest, most despicable trick to ever hit Tanki Online. It's guaranteed to produce cries of 'nub mult hacker noob' and give you insta-enemies galore - unless, of course, your mine causes some lucky tanker to careen directly into the descending gold box. In that case, you've just made yourself a brand spankin' new BFF. Congratz!

 

 

 

Ending Blather

 

Because all things, good, bad, or ugly, must eventually come to an end.

 

This really is just the tip of the iceberg on all the various uses of the mine. Their versatility is only limited by your imagination and penchant for use. Just keep an open mind, and you'll soon see opportunities to be taken advantage of, mind games to play, and opponents to befuddle.

And, of course.

 

Watch out for mines.  ;)   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*A special thanks to @Prince_The3rd, @DarthMaul667, and @opres667 for your assistance with the pictures. You're awesome, guys! 

 

 

Excellent Article!

Edited December 15, 2015 by LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH
Place large quotes in spoilers

[Strawwitz 86]

Placing them in darkly lit high traffic tunnels works well. Especially under any supply drops in the same. 

[Dusk 1,629]

Nice article :D

And mining health box drop zones, and waiting for the injured tank to come along, and see the hope in its...turret? Then watching it blow sky high....straight SAVAGE! D:

[markc9 0]

Very nice article good job!

[r_awesoke0 0]

I consider myself a great miner. One time on a map with few paths and many choke points I got 29-30 kills with 1-2 deaths. I've used ghost many many times before this post, and I'm happy that someone else is using it and sharing it with everyone. Mines are underrated.

[TankingEpicMadman 0]

Sorry to say, you can't mine Gold Box Drop Zones anymore. Sad.

[bossman161 276]

Never really thought about improving my skill with mines but maybe I should!

[Benefactor 6,888]

Sorry to say, you can't mine Gold Box Drop Zones anymore. Sad.

Oddly enough, I was able to do so. 

[Benefactor 6,888]

Never really thought about improving my skill with mines but maybe I should!

If you do lay multiple mines (two or more), then you need to ensure you preserve yourself (hint: multiple repair kits, hiding/camping spots) because now you've invested a lot on the field. If you're gone, so are your mines. And they don't go back into your supply count, either.

 

Other than that, mines are useful when you are being pursued and have no time to turn/reverse your turret.

[Kestrel47 2]

Very Nice article Night Sisters. Good job in the Spring Showdown As well!! :)