Let's Discuss Drones!

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Equipped Trooper drone on Industrial Zone DM. Did very well, overtaking first place for awhile before losing it due to bad spawn points. Drone has only 5 MUs but it still allowed be to get plenty of quick kills.

 

I did spawn a couple of times with no drugs due to drone cool down, but that’s to be expected on DM.

 

Additional MU steps will help spawned Supplies last longer. I ran out a couple of times just driving around on this map trying to find someone to fight.

 

I used Isida Viking. Might have done better/worse with a heavy hull and mid or long range weapon. There was a Titan Twins doing very well with Plasma Core Accelerators.

 

Need to also experiment with Assault. Not sure if team battle or DM is the way to go with that drone.

[thesquarerootof2 165]

The planned drones Demoman and Rescuer sound very OP. I think they should have very long cooldowns. Something like 1 minute. 

[austen_pierce 1,948]

So I have played with a Assault Drone.

 

At first I didn’t do well. I kept drugging and rushing into a cluster of enemies. I would get a kill or two but almost always die under enemy fire. No real change from normal drugging.

 

In team battles, I struggled to get kills, which are needed to activate the Assault Drone mechanic. Many times my needed kill was stolen by a team mate.

 

So I returned to DM. I took a slightly more cautious approach. I stayed out of the fight as much as possible while I got all supplies active. Then I would approach enemies, taking care not to get myself surrounded. Worked pretty well. I was able to sustain supplies for a very long time and do very well in most battles. Very small maps and very large maps were a problem since Assualt Drone can’t save you from an onslaught of many enemies, nor do you get much benefit if you can’t kill enemies fast enough. It also requires a bit more skill to use effectively than Trooper, which in my mind is the noob drone “spawn-kill-die-repeat”

 

So - which is better Trooper or Assault? At 5 MUs, the two are close in effectiveness, but I give the edge to Assault. Why?

 

-because of the time needed to activate all supplies, the cooldown for Assault has completed, this Assault is always ready when you need it. If you die too quickly, you don’t get Trooper activated on your next spawn

 

-Trooper only helps once per spawn, and for a small time. Assault kicks in with each kill. As long as you maintain health, you can run full supplies indefinitely.

 

But Assault Drone is very popular. It’s the most common one I see in battle. If that trend continues, it’s bound to get nerfed.

 

Back to maps for a moment. Large maps are a problem for both Drones, and maybe not suitable for Drones at all. Think maps like Yorkshire where you do more driving than fighting. All that time burning those expensive batteries....

.

Edited October 20, 2018 by austen_pierce

[austen_pierce 1,948]

 

 

 

 

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But Assault Drone is very popular. It’s the most common one I see in battle. If that trend continues, it’s bound to get nerfed.

 

.

Future predicted. Assault got nerfed.

[Bydo 20,121]

ok first time every using a drone .. I found that for my lower and other accounts I got great scores . it was like playing before drones came into play. for Bydo well its like normal , players love to gang up on me in battles lol . even when I don't use drones. don't know why when others do and use the same items I use..

[Desty 275]

Do I understand booster Drone correctly? It increases duration and DAMAGE when DD is active? Like if railgun shot did 1000 damage, it will increase it?

Edited November 4, 2018 by Desty

[Tranquil 211]

Original posting: http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=372723&page=8

 

DRONES

 

Choosing the right drone for yourself is a difficult choice: only 1 will benefit you most, and costing precious batteries to run, 1 million crystals and half a year to Micro-Upgrade to maximum, you better make the right choice or you'll end up wasting a small fortune.

 

Sure, you can buy more than one, but if you're like me, and want to keep things simple and minimal, you'll invest in just one and continually micro-upgrade it until it's maxed-out.

 

You should think long and hard about the purpose for which you want to use your drone.

 

Owning a drone does not mean that you have to have it equipped all the time until its batteries run out; you can use it selectively, switching it on and off as and when needed.

 

There are many considerations to take into account when choosing your drone.

 

You should choose the drone that will help you best achieve your goal in the game, whether that be supporting your teammates, getting a high score, or just having fun.

 

Perhaps you want a drone to help you finish those pesky Deathmatch or score Rugby goal missions quicker, so you can resume playing Capture The Flag, or maybe you want a drone with which you can support your team with supplies or as a backup sniper, or maybe you're fed up of being helplessly spawn-raped and want a decisive solution for your next spawn, maybe you want to be able to repel the enemy from your flag as you stand guard or want something to assist you in capping the enemy's, or maybe you just want to have some plain good old-fashioned fun.

 

Study the characteristics of each drone and decide which one will optimally facilitate the achievement of your goal.

 

 

As a Wasp-Isida player, I went for the 'Saboteur' drone to best safeguard my escape from the enemy base in the crucial opening action of Matchmaking CTF battles.  I also intend to use it in MM CTF battles in which I've equipped my Twins-mammy because my side's base is getting overrun and needs a powerful and quick response to clear the enemy.

 

SABOTEUR

Recharge: 40s
Number of mines: (1 → 8) hp

200 000

[wolverine848 13,097]

Do I understand booster Drone correctly? It increases duration and DAMAGE when DD is active? Like if railgun shot did 1000 damage, it will increase it?

Looks that way.

 

For the lifers (or buyers) that can afford ~ 1M to MU the drone all the way, for 5 seconds it will do 4x damage.  Imagine what a twins or Ricco or auto-loader smky can do in 5 seconds.  Rails instant kills on anything.

 

Ridiculous.  PAY. TO. WIN.

[Desty 275]

Looks that way.

 

For the lifers (or buyers) that can afford ~ 1M to MU the drone all the way, for 5 seconds it will do 4x damage.  Imagine what a twins or Ricco or auto-loader smky can do in 5 seconds.  Rails instant kills on anything.

 

Ridiculous.  PAY. TO. WIN.

 

 

 

It was actually 1.8m(with current discounts) to fully MU and I would say it's a scam. Hammer only works for one shot, not 5 seconds, following shots are normal damage, Isida, barely works at all, think I saw just 1-2 times in 5x matches isidas 4x boost.! Twins with heavy plasma was good, each ball did 1k damage + explosions.

 

I would see it being useful only with magnum if full team is camping in the base.

 

But overall, not worth it unless they fix the issues and actually give 5 seconds of 4x boost.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Desty

[wolverine848 13,097]

 

It was actually 1.8m(with current discounts) to fully MU and I would say it's a scam. Hammer only works for one shot, not 5 seconds, following shots are normal damage, Isida, barely works at all, think I saw just 1-2 times in 5x matches isidas 4x boost.! Twins with heavy plasma was good, each ball did 1k damage + explosions.

 

I would see it being useful only with magnum if full team is camping in the base.

 

But overall, not worth it unless they fix the issues and actually give 5 seconds of 4x boost.

Fully MU-ed module does not actually give 5 seconds?  Even though that's what description says?

 

Guess it depends on where enemy is when DD activated, right?  I envision some players activating too soon...

Edited November 5, 2018 by wolverine848

[Desty 275]

Fully MU-ed module does not actually give 5 seconds?  Even though that's what description says?

 

Guess it depends on where enemy is when DD activated, right?  I envision some players activating too soon...

 

It does work for some turrets, but I do think this drone is glitched with some turrets and it was reported to devs.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Desty

[wolverine848 13,097]

It does work for some turrets, but I do think this drone is glitched with some turrets and it was reported to devs.

Shame ^_^    (wish there was a violin emoti)

[austen_pierce 1,948]

I see that I was mistaken on my assumption regarding how Booster works. It’s impact only lasts a very few seconds, and thus it is critical to activate your drug exactly as you engage your enemy. Then, a lot depends on which turret you use - the ability to hit multiple targets using Firebird, Freeze or turrets with healthy splash like Striker and Thunder would seem to be good choices.

 

IDK, IMO too many factors have to line up in order for Booster to be effective. Doesn’t look like a good return on Crystal investment to me. Plus all those batteries you’re burning while this drone is NOT doing anything...

[wolverine848 13,097]

I see that I was mistaken on my assumption regarding how Booster works. It’s impact only lasts a very few seconds, and thus it is critical to activate your drug exactly as you engage your enemy. Then, a lot depends on which turret you use - the ability to hit multiple targets using Firebird, Freeze or turrets with healthy splash like Striker and Thunder would seem to be good choices.

 

IDK, IMO too many factors have to line up in order for Booster to be effective. Doesn’t look like a good return on Crystal investment to me. Plus all those batteries you’re burning while this drone is NOT doing anything...

Striker - if missile looks like it will impact target - hit DD (it's retroactive until the hit)

 

Twins/fire/Freeze/Isida/Hammer ... just gotta be within range - hit DD and pretty much insta-kill?

 

Drones don't really look like ROI items - they are there to give you extra advantage, but will unlikely pay for themselves.

 

Got nothing else to buy?  Buy a drone - as all else being equal - will help you win.

[Benefactor 6,888]

Shame ^_^    (wish there was a violin emoti)

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Got nothing else to buy? Buy a drone - as all else being equal - will help you win.

I tend to agree. If used properly and when conditions are right, Drones do give you a boost. But despite the appeal of the newcomer drones, I still have to give the thumbs up to Trooper and Assault (despite the nerf to the latter)

[stalagmite 12]

How about a drone that lives 3 to 4 seconds after you get killed - to keep the mines you laid alive for the same amount of time??  

 

It would give people who don't have Firebird that death-after-death capability!

[Merkava_1978 0]

I think these drones kill the game.

Tanki is not the war of tanks anymore but rather the war of drones.

So not the skilled player is successful but the one who has more crystal (money) to buy drones and batteries :(

[wild004 35]

I think hard and bought Saboteur drone, 200k in the end on my high rank, and start slow mu process, non buyer,

How i choose drone,
1. Must be effective on most situation
2. Must be able control by me not been controlled on how i play
3. Must good for both defense and attack.

I fisrt bought mechanic and it is 10/20 mu now, it is goos on team when do rugby, cp, ctf, since most time team run together. But no effective on dm or solo duel, since it only give 500 extra instance health when hit by firebird, not save you much.

Since i got m4 combo already, drone is last safe bet to stay competive in game in later stage, mu take long time, so start early and slow mu.

Because most likely drone wont get discount, i go ahead and buy that 200k drone instead of mu those 47% module to 50%, which cost as much as drone but not boost you very much.

Why Saboteur?

Easy to time and control when do use, because mine supply is not rare used compared to other, so u dont have to save usage till need, unlike health supply for mechanic drone, which when u need to use health, u have to run to teammate to max usage of that supply with drone, mine is free to use any time.

HOW Saboteur works?
Without mu, when use mine, it place one mine under your hull like normal, and place 1 extra behind your hull,

 

      1 Mine: place at back of hull

      2 Mines: one at back of hull, and one in the front

      3 Mines: one at back of hull, 2 in the front side (2 o'clock and 10 o'clock position)
              <I think 1 mine in front more useful to head to head siutation, but i guess next upgrade will put 1 in E,W,S,N position>

If you drive with hull backward, you can make the mine place in front of you instead of behind u, good when u head to head with enemy and place mine right below their hull.

I am still upgrade, i will update on how each mu places extra mine,

But i know maxed, it place 8 mine in a clock , 12,1,3,5,6,7,9,11 oclock position.

Note, if you place ur hull near a house, or wall, it will place the mine under the building, lol,

If you on a ramp, the mine will place in air and disappear, so make sure you in a flat ground.

Edited November 30, 2018 by wild004

[Desty 275]

If you on a ramp, the mine will place in air and disappear, so make sure you in a flat ground.

 

Also, when you play moon and are flying, you can make ''mine rain'', it's freaking hilarious.

[loginci 877]

Drones have no value if you don't have batteries to activate them.

[wild004 35]

Drones have no value if you don't have batteries to activate them.

 

drone also not effective/worth the battery usage if not fully mu-ed. (fully mu a drone is expensive unless you only mu in 50% sale only a few times through a year = 20 50% sales still at 500k)

 

stock saboteur drone only give you 2 mines in total per battery.

fully mu-ed saboteur drone give you 9 mine in total per battery.

Edited November 29, 2018 by wild004

[Astute_T.O 63]

I like assault drones best, specially sprinter . I have experience on my friend's Marshal acc.

[Benefactor 6,888]

Blaster drone is odd. If I am using a turret (say Freeze) and I self destruct, if the opponent next to me has Freeze protection, it will somehow shield him from the full brunt of the blast. Is that type of protection supposed to carry over for splash damage?

[TheCongoSpider 8,942]

Blaster drone is odd. If I am using a turret (say Freeze) and I self destruct, if the opponent next to me has Freeze protection, it will somehow shield him from the full brunt of the blast. Is that type of protection supposed to carry over for splash damage?

It only seems fair if that happens. At least there is a way to counter it and not let it be the overpowered mess it was thought to be when fully Mu-ed.