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Post by slayernz on Aug 8, 2013 22:05:35 GMT -5
Haha I wasn't really taking this thread that seriously either ... I would kill to have a trained hydra to act as mop-up, but every time one asks to join the squad, they somehow get an injury (large caliber mis-fire) and get ruled out of active duty. Oh this is very true about Hydras in TA ...  |
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Post by slayernz on Aug 8, 2013 23:16:41 GMT -5
I guess as a consolation, Hydra specialists can indeed be geriatrics ...  |
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Cyrus
Hero
Hydras rock! BURN BABY BURN!
Posts: 159 
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Post by Cyrus on Aug 9, 2013 0:52:24 GMT -5
As my avatar might suggest, I'm now firmly in the Hydra camp.
On normal and hard I loved the Neptune as it indeed killed everything that came near, but on brutal I found them lacking. The issue is that some xenos moves 4 times, letting them stay out of range until your defensive AP are gone, then with their last two moves run up and tear your Neptune a new one. In general, defensive fire is much weaker in brutal due to this.
I lost one "hold out for 12 turns" mission on the very last move like that. Everyone was in good positions, the Neptune had a clear line of fire and 2 AP, with no xenos in view anywhere. After hitting turn, everyone lost 1 AP, so I thought no aliens in range. Then after the second alien move phase, one gravity-type xeno pops into view at 5 squares. Well, I think, it should only have one more move left. Nope, it ran right up to my Neptune and reduced him to 1 AP, after which the victory screen popped up with one fallen Templar :-(
That was the moment I started saving up for a Hydra and I haven't looked back since. 5-7 hits from running through flame will hurt the xenos much more than any defensive fire, plus it doesn't cost nearly as much AP as always turning around and keeping 2 AP saved up. My Scout + Hydra team is now running through Brutal at high speed, setting the rear and side corridors on fire and barely ever seeing any xeno coming up from the rear.
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Post by slayernz on Aug 9, 2013 1:15:25 GMT -5
Oh that sucks Cyrus (about your Neptune that is). I will give the pyros a chance ...
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Cyrus
Hero
Hydras rock! BURN BABY BURN!
Posts: 159
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Post by Cyrus on Aug 9, 2013 1:25:11 GMT -5
Oh that sucks Cyrus (about your Neptune that is). I will give the pyros a chance ... No, don't! We'll have nobody left in the Neptunes camp then and this thread will die! Better prove us wrong, or find flamethrower accident statistics on wikipedia and make a wall-of-text on how that applies to TA... |
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Post by slayernz on Aug 9, 2013 2:02:16 GMT -5
You know my bias won't fade ... "Sir, Pyro reporting, I just took out the Xeno's ready to continue my mission" "Excellent, there should be some documents you need to retrieve. They contain extremely sensitive information about where the Xeno hive ship is located" "Err ... there may be a problem sir ... "  |
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Cyrus
Hero
Hydras rock! BURN BABY BURN!
Posts: 159
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Post by Cyrus on Aug 9, 2013 2:31:35 GMT -5
"Templars MOVE! We have less than three minutes before the ship's Void engine goes critical!"
**Sound of Heavy Neptune firing continuously**
"Why are you still standing around there? MOVE!"
**Sound of Heavy Neptune firing continuously**
Scout Cordoba points at his ear and raises his hands in question
**Firing stops**
"What sir? Couldn't hear you."
"We need to get the h...**sound of Heavy Neptune firing continuously**
External view of the derelict ship. It starts to shake and erupts in a bright white light as it disintegrates.
**Silence**
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Post by slayernz on Aug 9, 2013 2:49:47 GMT -5
LOL ... my Neptunes are all trained in the art of melee, and are equipped with Storm Fists. Further, unless there is a need for a prolonged siege, I don't often have 3 Neptunes in operation at the same time. I always have at least one scout to help cover retreats. Never left a Neptune behind - and always left nice crimson smears.
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Cyrus
Hero
Hydras rock! BURN BABY BURN!
Posts: 159
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Post by Cyrus on Aug 9, 2013 3:51:42 GMT -5
This screenshot shows how I use my Hydra: I set side corridors on fire and put up a block behind the group every few turns. Notice there are NO aliens anywhere in view chasing the group. This allows me to move a full 5 squares about half of the turns and 3 on the rest. Much better than 3 squares with a Neptune in front and 1 measly square if a Neptune is rearguard.  Often I look at the briefing map, select my route and pick a number of corridors/junctions I want to set on fire, then roughly follow that plan depending on the actual situation. Thinking in corridors and blocks rather than aiming at xenos makes all the difference and sets the Hydra apart from all other Templars. |
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Post by contributor on Aug 9, 2013 4:13:15 GMT -5
Cyrus, that's textbook Hydra goodness right there.
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Post by fallen on Aug 9, 2013 10:46:08 GMT -5
Cyrus - truly beautiful shot.
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Post by slayernz on Aug 10, 2013 0:47:47 GMT -5
Suuuuuuuure ... every one likes lots of plumes of fire. Nobody appreciates the splatter art that comes from a well-positioned Neptune ...
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Post by johndramey on Aug 10, 2013 19:38:20 GMT -5
No one said that, slayernz. A Hydra's work is that of a master, the Picasso of war. Neptunes are cute with their bludgeon of a weapon, kind of like your 7 year old finger painting.  |
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Post by slayernz on Aug 12, 2013 17:51:32 GMT -5
Excuse me, but you can't call charred lumps of carbon art.
Conversation with a Hydra
"What ... is that a Xeno?"
"No, actually it's a couch that we walked past. Didn't like the color. It clashed with the vase over there. Oh wait, the vase is gone too because I can't actually CONTROL where my frickin fire goes. I just watch it ooze like a velveteen serpent, gliding along the corridors and rooms consuming all in its path. oh sorry, I was just drooling."
Conversation with a Neptune
"Interesting splatter you got there on the wall, it's almost like one of those ink blot test"
"Yeah man. I see pretty butterflies with that one there. Oh and this one's my favorite. It has pretty unicorns prancing around a meadow of lush grass that is swaying in the gentle summer breeze"
Then a Hydra steps into the room.
"Oh cool, who did the drawings of stuff burning?"
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Post by johndramey on Aug 12, 2013 17:56:26 GMT -5
Excuse me, but you can't call charred lumps of carbon art. Conversation with a Hydra "What ... is that a Xeno?" "No, actually it's a couch that we walked past. Didn't like the color. It clashed with the vase over there. Oh wait, the vase is gone too because I can't actually CONTROL where my frickin fire goes. I just watch it ooze like a velveteen serpent, gliding along the corridors and rooms consuming all in its path. oh sorry, I was just drooling." Conversation with a Neptune "Interesting splatter you got there on the wall, it's almost like one of those ink blot test" "Yeah man. I see pretty butterflies with that one there. Oh and this one's my favorite. It has pretty unicorns prancing around a meadow of lush grass that is swaying in the gentle summer breeze" Then a Hydra steps into the room. "Oh cool, who did the drawings of stuff burning?" This is exactly why Hydras rule. They LIVE their job. No need to get distracted by silly things such as tactics, strategy, or aim. Just, you know, push butan = FIRE! |
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