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1: NC

2: NC and TR

3: NC, TR and Vanu

[Siquo]

So do I have to do anything special, or just play as normal to contribute?  Because PRIZES FREE STUFF WIN etc.

Looks like playing as normal, except that killfarming won't get you points, only captures and defends. Which I Like.

[DJ]

I was mainly thinking about getting HE for dealing with infantry zergs. I thought about getting HE for Vanguard, but decided against it because I reckon I'd be getting owned by other MBTs constantly, with a Lightning I can at least outrun them.

I do use Viper and I like it quite a bit, but it's more for sniping than area denial.

[Toaster]

Pretty much every time I've pulled HE lightning lately has lead to disappointment.  The only MBT I'd consider getting the HE for is the Prowler for its double shot- you'll make Baby Giver of Bonus Checks cry if you run HE Vanguard.

[forsaken1111]

So how viable is certing out a sunderer and engineer for support roles? Will I get a good amount of xp? Is it comparable to just running around as a heavy and gunning people down?

[Toaster]

You'll get XP, sure, but it won't compare to farming kills.

Joining a good outfit's probably your best bet.  Any of the support XPs you get are higher when they are done for a squad member (squad max repair, squad revive, etc) and you'll be helping out a known group of people that will be helping you right back.  (That said, tons of squad MAX repair in a tower farm is actually pretty damn good if you're constantly repping.  You know you're doing it right if you stop getting XP for it/your ammo pack.)

[Orb]

Sunderer deploys are just a small bonus. An icing on the cake while you fight in a battle. Even if you get one in a major 48 vs 48...you'll probably get faster experience killing things in the battle than the sunderer itself.

This is the reason why I'll never understand why people friendly fire sunderers and place their own.

[TolyK]

I actually haven't seen that in a long time...

[Siquo]

The no-deploy zones helped a lot with that, and the XP per spawn was reduced from 10 to 2.

Few things as annoying as some guy deploying his sundy in the middle of the road, blocking your carefully placed sundy right on the point from deploying.

[forsaken1111]

Any good VS squads on waterson?

[sambojin]

Certing engies for support can get plenty of certs. Repairs and ammo are key in most battles (alongside medics) and you can do both. Actually, you can do a bit of everything, which makes it a rewarding class to dump certs into. Fly, drive, repair, AT, snipe, fire support and CQB, there's an option for it with an engy, but you'll have to cert into it.

The jack of all trades and the master of quite a few.

Plus, you can just play like a heavy when you feel the need, except things like ammunition discipline don't apply to you. Even SMGs are perfecty acceptable fire-support weapons with an ammo pack, and shotties are far more forgiving when base run'n'gunning (just drop your regular ammo pack and your "b" one at likely looking places and you can solo pretty well with a shotgun). You're debatably better at medium/long range than a heavy, due to bullet hosing and BR use (with maxs being better at close than heavies anyway), with your own weird unlimited ammo AT weapon should you want that role. Admittedly the AT MANA can't do everything or do it quickly, but it's there as an option.

Heavies need medics and engies. MAXs need both as well. Engies just need someone, anyone, doing absolutely anything to earn a few certs. Or a medic. Preferably one with a UGB launcher.

edit: Also, for a support only role, a shotgun is a pretty viable weapon. Think of it more as AI/AA flak. While you're repairing vehicles, ammoing people, etc, fire a few rounds off in the general direction of the enemy. Chances are you'll plink them a couple of times, making it all the easier for your heavies/maxs to take them out, and getting you a hassle free assist. Even with terrible bullet velocity, you can often plink aircraft if you lead them a bit. The spread might be huge and ineffective damage-wise, but it's still an assist (esfs are pretty big targets when all's said and done). Sometimes it even freaks pilots out a bit. You've also got a perfectly viable CQB weapon in your hands to take out whoever took down your MAX/heavy. With its only problem being ammo (doesn't apply to you) and range (you're plinking for assists, not big damage), shotties work well for pure support engies. Great vs LAs or infies that are trying to C4 or AT mine your sundy too. Think flak. Fire indescriminately. Shotties are great.

edit 2: Oh, and kill stealing. Up to about 30m, it might not be you plinking the assist with your shotgun. Sometimes quite a bit further as well. Your heavy either has his ammo or he doesn't, your MAX will tend to live or die in any short-term action regardless of your repair gun. When there's action on, pull out the shotty and use them as body shields. You'll get the kill, the assist, or kill the SoBs that killed your assault troops. Think of all the repairing/ammoing time you saved by just killing people. Works in all situations, with all class makeups. Repairs and ammo happen before and after engagements, at all other times there's shotgun plinking/kill-stealing. Watch your certs jump through the roof.

[Toaster]

Playing like that, have you considered a Battle Rifle?  Those plinks at range suddenly become hard hits if you can aim it well.

[sambojin]

Yeah, but I like the versatility of a shotgun. Good up close, a force multiplier at medium, a flak cannon/assister at long range. I actually don't use the AT mana in infantry vs tank engagements. My advice for shotty use doesn't apply there. You can either repair/ammo a MAX/heavy and stay out of the way (or be on anti-infy/LA/anything duties) or you can run in and C4 something. Essentially you're body blocking some ammo for the team. Chucking a standard MANA down is fine if they already know you're there. Explosives act very strangely to the shields, sometimes offering complete immunity, sometimes doing nothing. Having an AT mana would be helpful, but I don't own one.

BRs are nice with ammo packs, but shotties are nicer. They're the "generalist" weapon you need for a support build. Great inside, not too bad outside. You're the best tank commander/pilot class already, what you need is close support and flak plinking. Thus a shotgun.

Great for base assaults, fun solo, a multi-role force multiplier. You shouldn't just ammo people while supporting a push. Those pellet plinks are worth their weight in certs. Even as a tank/sundy commander they have their uses. You're the best tanker or pilot class, but to be able to play with the big boys in base assaults, AA defense and still do well in a support role? Get a shotgun.

[Jim Groovester]

You're not convincing me that engineers are a good combat class (they aren't) but you're convincing me that shotguns are good (which they are).

Here's a thought: why not use a shotgun as a heavy? You'll probably get more kills that way. And of course kills = certs.

[sambojin]

I'm not in an outfit, just a pubby, and tend to join squads or make up micro-missions with anyone around me. Most of my advice was centered around Forsaken1111's post. Support engy=shotgun or empire specific "s" class weapon with an UBGL. Maybe a SMG. But neither of those is as good for a sundy support push engy. Not as much plinking, not the AI defense, not quite as multi-role for that job.

I stand by my advice. Engies are great support classes, can assist massively up close and at medium range, can get lots of assists and kills, all with a shotgun. You can choose whatever type you prefer. Otherwise grab a SMG or "s" class. The shotgun is great if you're primarily there for support though. 3-400 damage plinking from 2-3 shots is pretty sweet support at most ranges combat happens in, and it's more versatile than a BR. The UGBL is nice too. So's a SMG. But a shotgun is cheap and it works. Regardless of skill.

edit: Anyway, try it. I've always felt better as an engy in any role, inside or outside with a shotgun. Remember that minimum damage doesn't stop pellets, it's just when they're at their weakest. Pew-pew-boom. It works. AFAIK they have one other advantage. No bullet tracers. I could be wrong, but it's an advantage. In any case, grab a shotgun, preferably a low pellet spread one with a magazine. Standard semi-auto with extended mags works a treat. Quickish reload, works with every class but MAXs or infies, but makes an engineer so much more kill/assist happy it's ridiculous. Try it, then post on the viability of it. Engys aren't great assault, AT, or damage classes, but a shotgun works better for them in their role than most. Plus it makes those same assaults roll forward quicker than a repair gun. Plus, you can cert the repair gun (and your ammo pack). Try it. Then post away.

[Toaster]

I just had an incredible fight defending Crux from various attacks by the VS and TR, and for a while a concerted push from both.  We had a dozen or less guys defending while there were twice that or more attacking us.  Through good coordination, me repping MAXes like crazy, keeping turrets up, and keeping darts ammoed, we held off all comers.

(And I ran the Warden battle rifle and scored several kills with it.  Killed at range, killed midway, pistol/knife up close.  Your shotty advice assumes a large battle- in a skirmish, you can't count on someone else finishing off guys for you.  I do see its merits, though.)