Tactics for Orcas/Apaches

From RenegadeWiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Before I Continue 3 Aircraft Statistics 4 General Tips 5 Strengths 6 Weaknesses 7 Base-Assault Tactics 8 Orca/Apache tactics 9 The Infamous Harass-The-Harvester Tactic 10 Against Other Orcas/Apaches 11 Important Information 12 Conclusion

[edit] Introduction

The Apache and Orca are very powerful, though vunerable flying vehicles. Although they can mow down infantry in seconds, kill light and medium armored vehicles with no problems and make fun of the Mammoth and Stealth tank, they suffer a weakness to sniper infantry, but a skilled pilot can overcome even that.

[edit] Before I Continue

The Orca and the Apache are basically the same thing--same armor, same weapons, only minor differences exist between the two (Models, primary/secondary are switched around). A slightly more important difference is the position of the machine gun; The Orca's Machine Gun is positioned on the nose, making it slighty easier to hit targets and increasing its range a small bit. The Orca is also very noisy, while the Apache is somewhat stealthy and a bit slower. What is less known, is that the GDI Orca's Machine Gun does a little more damage then the NOD Apache Machine Gun.

It is also best to know the aircraft before going in full battle with them. Many new pilots tend to buy an Orca/Apache, ask a question or two of how to fly and then fly straight away towards the field only to be shot down within a small amount time. Try to first fly in your own base, maneuvering buildings, obstacles and other kind of things you might encounter.

If one doesn't know how to fly an aircraft you can better go on foot then waste 900 credits on a tank.

The Orca and the Apache are the only two flying vehicles in Renegade with some kind of armament and weaponry on board.

[edit] Aircraft Statistics

GDI's Orca VTOL Assault Craft

In order for GDI to protect there Transport Helicopter safely from SAM sites and/or other anti-air units, GDI scientists developed the Orca VTOL Assault Craft. This helicopter like aircraft uses advanced engine techniques, making vertical landings and starts possible. It also gives a high maneuvrability and speed. Making it an ideal assault aircraft for ground and airbourne threats.

It has two main weapons, missiles wich are located next to the cockpit of the aircraft. And a heavy Machine Gun wich is located at the nouse of the cockpit.

Cost: 900 Primary Weapon: Rockets Secondary Weapon: Machine Gun Seats: 1

NOD's Apache

NOD's response to GDI's highly advanced Orca VTOL Assault Craft, is the Apache. It is an armoured helicopter with eventough not as advanced, is still remarkebly fast and agile. Thanks to the Apache, NOD was able to attack and destroy attacking GDI heavy armoured tank assualts.

The Apache has the same weapons as the Orca, it's missiles are located on a wing wich comes out from the cockpit. The Machine Gun itself is not on the nouse as it is with the Orca, but is below on the nouse. Thus making it more accurate but not able to fire as high as the Orca can.

Cost: 900 Primary Weapon: -Machine Gun Secondary Weapon: Rockets Seats: 1

[edit] General Tips

• Spacebar flies up. "C" brings you back down again. Or if you've changed your key configs, jump goes up, crouch takes it down.

• Whatever you do, DO NOT exit an orca/apache when you're in the air. I shouldn't have to say this, but I've seen people do it. Keep your finger away from the "E" key when you use this vehicle.

• The Orca/Apache is powerful, but has little health/armor. Go back for repairs when you're about half-way damaged. Any later and there's a serious risk of destruction.

[edit] Strengths

• There is nothing in the game that an Orca/Apache cannot kill, as with any other unit. One of its two weapons will be effective against anything the enemy can throw at you. In a one-on-one match with an Orca/Apache and anything else, if the pilot is skilled, the Orca/Apache will win. Guarenteed. Giving the situation, a soldier with a 4-clip Ramjet Rifle can, if covered properly, win easily against a Orca/Apache.

• The high speed and maneuverability of the Orca/Apache makes it quite difficult to hit with slow moving munitions, like rockets and tank shells.

• The gun on the Apache has no innaccuracy. It will always hit where you're aiming. Always. The Orca however has longer range on its machine gun, but it's not as accurate. Also, it's fairly effective against everything but buildings and heavily-armored tanks.

• Another strength of the Orca/Apache is that they are able to fly above a tank, and fire directly down. This is called the blindspot for tanks. Any tank will need to move in order to hit it's attacker.

• Flying units are the best with which to run people over, and the Orca/Apache is no exception. Its high speed and the ability to come down on top of you vertically makes it well-suited for running junk over. Altough it takes a little practice to be able to land on units at high speed.

[edit] Weaknesses

• The Rockets are ineffective, I've never seen a experienced pilot use the rockets except for destroying buildings, assualting heavy slow moving tanks or killing those sneaky hiding infantry.

• It's rather common knowlege, but it only takes five shots from a ramjet rifle (60 damage per hit) to bring down an Orca/Apache, and only ten from a regular sniper rifle (30 damage per hit). This, combined with any other damage you might encounter, makes Orcas/Apaches rather easy to kill from a distance if your team has many sniper-class infantry. A PIC or a Raveshaw (80 damage per hit) deal sightly more damage than the ramjet (Four hits required), but have a slower rate of fire and a much smaller range.

Note: Some people who have flown Orca/Apaches before have asked me "But Dover! How do you get those pesky noobjetters?!". The answer is easy, my friends. I'll use the example of C&C_City_Flying. Assuming there's a sniper on the opposite side of the bridge, get under the bridge, get as close to him as possible, and then attack with the machine gun while trying to run him over. If done properly it almost always works. So, as a general rule first stay out of sight, then approach if possible, then squash the sucker.

• Besides snipers and base defenses, the Orca/Apache's next biggest problem is an APC. APCs fire bullets, which are impossible to dodge. They're reasonably well armored and flee much faster than tanks. Use caution, and try to stay in the driver's blind spots, preferably directly above him.

[edit] Base-Assault Tactics

If base defenses are present, STAY AWAY. An Obelisk kills an orca in one blow and the Advanced Guard Tower it's bullets can do significant damage if staying to long in it's firing range. The exception to this is the Apache on C&C_City_Flying, as it can sneak behind the Weapons Factory with little to no damage.

Specifically on C&C_City_Flying:

• An Orca can easily destroy the turrets on both sides of the Nod base alone. While dodging the turret's fire and staying covered from the Obelisk behind the large buildings flanking either side.
• An Orca can fly to the Hand of Nod side, get killed by the Obelisk and the pilot can run up the HON ramp to kill the HON quite easily if you do it just right.
• More skilled players can fly towards the HON, then fly straight towards the OB, ofcours once the OB has discharged himself. The OB will not be able to fire at you thus you can attack the base defens without being hit by the OB. If you get attacked by ground forces, you can use the building itself for some cover. And if needed you can exit your aircraft and place C4 on the MCT if the building issn't mined wich in most cases is.
• An Apache can land on top of the large buildings on both sides of the GDI base without getting shot at by the Advanced Guard Tower. This allows for emergency repairs without flying all the way back to base.

Specifically on C&C_Walls_Flying:

• The middle hill makes a great repair zone, just watch out for snipers...
• When GDI, watch out on the middle hill for sbh, they tend to steal an orca if your repairing it.
• Try to fly in the little gaps in the wall on either side as opposed to flying over the enemy wall or through the entrance.
• While retreating, Stay out of any defender's line of sight. People love to shoot at reatreating Orca/Apaches on C&C_Walls_Flying.
• Sometimes it's better to fly low on the ground and suprise the enemy from behind. Since enemy's mostly louk to the sky when trying to find an orca/apache.

[edit] Orca/Apache tactics

Besides using the Orca/Apache for assaulting the enemy base, it is best to know that these aircraft are very vertisale and have a wide range of capability's. Here are some explained:

• Rushing:

On any map without base defenses or when the power is down, an Orca/Apache rush can mean a swift victory. Only four Orcas or Apache aircraft can take down an entire base without to much difficulty! This is, ofcourse, if the enemy doesn't have to many anti-air units like snipers, pics/ravs or apc's.

• Defeating rushes:

The GDI's Orca VTOL Assault Craft and the NOD Apache are actually the best units to destroy an incomming rush! The only rush which can be a little harder to defeat is a Stealth tank rush as you can't see them unless you are close. One Orca/Apache is able to destroy or break a part of a rush.

• Reinforcements Abilities:

Becuase the speed of the aircraft in the game is the fastest in the game, it is a great unit for giving fast backup to hard spots! The map C&C_Terrace is a great example for this. It is a big map, and thus being able to send units to the other side of the map fast is essential to be able to win the game.

[edit] The Infamous Harass-The-Harvester Tactic

As I stated above, the greatest advantage of the Orca/Apache is its speed and manuverability. This makes them ideal for quickly destroying the enemy harvester on C&C_City_Flying, and then quickly withdrawing. I'll put up screenshots when I can, but for now a written description will have to do. The best place to do this is in C&C_City_Flying, because the harvester is only a short distance from your base, and you're partially covered by the bridge.

This is also a great scoring method. Since the harvy is slow, you can target it rather easy and almost never miss! Even better, the first 10 sec you fire upon a harvy you'l get a masss increase in score and credits. After this, the "boost" will drop to a much lower rate. tough the damage is still the same!

[edit] Against Other Orcas/Apaches

Try to avoid this as much as possible, as both vehicles are vunerable for Ramjet Rifle infantry. If you have to engage an enemy aircraft, STAY HIGHER THAN HIM. If he's below you, he cannot fire upon you.

• Still, as a general rule, if he doesn't engage you, then do not engage him.
• If you are facing an enemy wich is going to attack you, the best option is to fly backwards while firing! Most enemy's (especially those that havent' flown much) will fly towards you while you are firing at them and staying out of there range of fire.
• Bullets are best used if you are a somewhat away from the enemy, eventough bullets don't do as much damage as rockets do, rockets tend to miss or not even hit an enemy aircraft if they are fired from to far of.
• If it comes to close combat, try firing a missile or 2 against the enemy. It's much more effective then bullets are and could make the difference between victory or destruction.

[edit] Important Information

Important info for all you pilots out there.

• Try to take out there Barracks or Hand Of NOD first. This is because if they can't build snipers or other high lvl infantry then the sky will become much safer for you to fly.
• Always make sure to fly close to an obstacle, in order to not be hit from more then 1 side.
• Make sure that when encountering a heavy enemy that you are higher then them. If you are above them, you will be able to do the first hit against the enemy thus being at an advantage.

[edit] Conclusion

I can't deny it even though they are vulnerable, it's always a great experience to mow down infantry and tanks with my Apache/Orca and it's machine gun. All hail the Orca/Apache!