Jester1968
08-16-2006, 04:55 PM
Here are some more tips for those of you who fly and gun in the attack chopper...
The one thing that separates the pros from the noobs is the use of the minimap.
So many players do not utilize the minimap in this game. If you really want to increase your skill (or the appearance of skill) you need to train yourself to constantly monitor that minimap. There is a TON of useful information there that you can gleen by just a glance. Since I'm on the topic, make use of your "N" key on your keyboard too. That zooms in and out your minimap. It is helpful to zoom that baby in to locate enemy by their UAV dots on the minimap.
Ok with that aside, let's move on to the real tips...
If you are going to gun for a pilot in the attack chopper then you NEED to join his squad. It takes both hands to keep that chopper flying, don't expect him to invite you. You need to take it upon yourself to find out what squad he's in and join that squad. There are a ton of good reasons why, the most important of which is so you can use VOIP to communicate instantly about enemy threats such as other choppers you see or AA ground targets. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MIC, join his squad! Chances are that HE DOES HAVE A MIC. And at a very minimum you can at least hear him tell you what to shoot at. The pilot is always the commander of a chopper. What he says you should shoot at, YOU SHOOT AT! Ignore all else. He is responsible for keeping you both aloft and alive and pointing you at enemy threats. It is the LEAST you can do to help him perform that duty by following his command.
If neither you or the pilot have voice, then the very least you can do is keep your gun pointing FORWARD at all times! Don't be looking left and right to shoot at targets. Look FORWARD because your pilot will be pointing toward a thread he determined is the worst threat. If you are trying to kill one infantry that is running away off to the left and he points you at an manned AA gun, you will not see it and you will both die.
Trust me, you'll get a TON more kills if you stay alive and kill the targets your pilot points you at!
Now I know what you're thinking... "But I use F9 and I can't tell which direction I'm facing."
All I have to say to that is... LOOK AT YOUR MINIMAP!
Now you know why I made that speal about the minimap at the beginning of this thread. :icon_biggrin:
Take a look at these screenshots I have provided to help you figure out which direction you are facing (compared to the chopper itself)... it's not hard! There is a FOV (field of view) indicator while you are a gunner in the chopper. It shows you exactly what direction you are facing. :)
This is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking forward...
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6927/lookingforwardam7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
This is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking left...
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6914/lookingleftso2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
And this is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking to the right...
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7181/lookingrightfu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
Now on to the next tips...
If you are going to fly a chopper, then you should create your own squad. There are too many good reasons why to list here. IMHO the most important reason is: So you can talk to and hear your commander. Often good commanders say where enemy are going and you are in a fast vehicle that can intercept them.
Last night for a round or two I flew the attack chopper and spoke with the commander the whole game. Our team kickes A$$! The commander spotted all moble AA's for us and we took them out quite easily that way.
The next tip has to do with turning the attack chopper. Most people do not realize there are two tricks to getting that big hunk of metal to turn quickly...
The first is to tap the power button while turning. You will turn slightly faster than if you simply hold it down and rudder left or right.
The second tip for turning tight is to full power bank into the turn. Remember that when you are level and go full power the chopper moves up. If you nose down and go full power you are still moving up but in a forward direction because you've changed the angle of attack. If you lean the chopper to the left and nose into the turn while going full power you can turn real fast. But remember you lose altitude doing that. So if you are fighting another chopper I do not recommend that move. When fighting choppers, the chopper who is higher usually wins. At a minimum the chopper who is higher has an advantage. So the trick there is to keep the chopper level and get high quicker! Besides choppers usually can't circle around you faster than you can rudder left or right while level.
Well that's if for this installment. Hope someone found this info useful.
Happy gaming!
The one thing that separates the pros from the noobs is the use of the minimap.
So many players do not utilize the minimap in this game. If you really want to increase your skill (or the appearance of skill) you need to train yourself to constantly monitor that minimap. There is a TON of useful information there that you can gleen by just a glance. Since I'm on the topic, make use of your "N" key on your keyboard too. That zooms in and out your minimap. It is helpful to zoom that baby in to locate enemy by their UAV dots on the minimap.
Ok with that aside, let's move on to the real tips...
If you are going to gun for a pilot in the attack chopper then you NEED to join his squad. It takes both hands to keep that chopper flying, don't expect him to invite you. You need to take it upon yourself to find out what squad he's in and join that squad. There are a ton of good reasons why, the most important of which is so you can use VOIP to communicate instantly about enemy threats such as other choppers you see or AA ground targets. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MIC, join his squad! Chances are that HE DOES HAVE A MIC. And at a very minimum you can at least hear him tell you what to shoot at. The pilot is always the commander of a chopper. What he says you should shoot at, YOU SHOOT AT! Ignore all else. He is responsible for keeping you both aloft and alive and pointing you at enemy threats. It is the LEAST you can do to help him perform that duty by following his command.
If neither you or the pilot have voice, then the very least you can do is keep your gun pointing FORWARD at all times! Don't be looking left and right to shoot at targets. Look FORWARD because your pilot will be pointing toward a thread he determined is the worst threat. If you are trying to kill one infantry that is running away off to the left and he points you at an manned AA gun, you will not see it and you will both die.
Trust me, you'll get a TON more kills if you stay alive and kill the targets your pilot points you at!
Now I know what you're thinking... "But I use F9 and I can't tell which direction I'm facing."
All I have to say to that is... LOOK AT YOUR MINIMAP!
Now you know why I made that speal about the minimap at the beginning of this thread. :icon_biggrin:
Take a look at these screenshots I have provided to help you figure out which direction you are facing (compared to the chopper itself)... it's not hard! There is a FOV (field of view) indicator while you are a gunner in the chopper. It shows you exactly what direction you are facing. :)
This is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking forward...
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6927/lookingforwardam7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
This is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking left...
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6914/lookingleftso2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
And this is a screenshot of the minimap while you (being the gunner) are looking to the right...
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7181/lookingrightfu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
Now on to the next tips...
If you are going to fly a chopper, then you should create your own squad. There are too many good reasons why to list here. IMHO the most important reason is: So you can talk to and hear your commander. Often good commanders say where enemy are going and you are in a fast vehicle that can intercept them.
Last night for a round or two I flew the attack chopper and spoke with the commander the whole game. Our team kickes A$$! The commander spotted all moble AA's for us and we took them out quite easily that way.
The next tip has to do with turning the attack chopper. Most people do not realize there are two tricks to getting that big hunk of metal to turn quickly...
The first is to tap the power button while turning. You will turn slightly faster than if you simply hold it down and rudder left or right.
The second tip for turning tight is to full power bank into the turn. Remember that when you are level and go full power the chopper moves up. If you nose down and go full power you are still moving up but in a forward direction because you've changed the angle of attack. If you lean the chopper to the left and nose into the turn while going full power you can turn real fast. But remember you lose altitude doing that. So if you are fighting another chopper I do not recommend that move. When fighting choppers, the chopper who is higher usually wins. At a minimum the chopper who is higher has an advantage. So the trick there is to keep the chopper level and get high quicker! Besides choppers usually can't circle around you faster than you can rudder left or right while level.
Well that's if for this installment. Hope someone found this info useful.
Happy gaming!