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This topic has moved here: Subject: The Warthog: A "How-To" of sorts
  • Subject: The Warthog: A "How-To" of sorts
Subject: The Warthog: A "How-To" of sorts
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I wrote these tips for the MAW clan and posted it there, but I wanted to post it here as well to see how it is receieved. I have a similar "guide" for Banshees written and posted for the MAW clan as well, but I'll wait on transferring that one to B.Net to see if you guys even like this kind of information.

The Warthog-

* Driving:
* Tips on how to keep from rolling
Don't turn the hog as you go up/off a ramp or bump. Doing so causes your 'Hog's wheel base to skew, so when you hit the ground next, you land on one wheel which oftentimes results in a roll. It is best to go straight off the ramp/bump and wait to turn until after you've landed.

* Don't drive drunk
This may seem obvious but seems to escape many drivers; Avoid running into stationary targets such as rocks, trees, humungous buildings and the like. It serves no purpose to go ramming into these solid objects. Also avoid ramming other hogs or tanks as this tends to flip you and you become a much easier target.

* Look out!
Know that when enemies see an incoming hog, they'll compulsively throw nades at it. It's a sickness, every HaloPC player has it. Don't go running blindly into these nades as you or your gunner or your passenger or any combination of the above will pay the price. How to avoid these 'nades? Always be prepared to quickly spin the hog around in circles (read: spin cookies) as soon as you see a 'nade thrown. Usually, the 'nades are thrown short, in anticipation of you running over them. After a few throws, the enemies are out of 'nades, so you're okay to make your flag runs.

* Take care of your gunner
Your gunner keeps you alive by killing other fools before they can kill you. Protect him, watch his health and shields. If he needs health, or if his shields are down, do something about it! If you know a sniper is on the loose, try not to drive in a straight line, doing so can quickly turn your gunner into a meat-shield.

* Splat!
Running people over takes some finesse, as it's not as easy as most people think. The major problem with splattering your enemies is that they tend to not want to get splattered. I've not yet figured out the reasons for this, but the fact remains. Thusly, when they see you coming, they'll do everything they can to step out of your way (while throwing grenades). One of the best ways to splatter an evading opponent is to swing your hog into him. It's easy to avoid a head-rush, but nearly impossible to jump out of the way of 2 tons of fishtailin' madness. Swing the 'Hog; the rear end of it is better for splats than the front of it is. Remember that all weapons in HaloPC need to lead their targets; splattering people with the 'Hog is no different.

* Gunning:
* Aim, then fire, or fire, then aim?
You must lead your targets when gunning, as with any other weapon in the game. This is especially true for the Rocket 'Hog. The Rocket 'Hog is difficult because of the randomness of the projectile. It is usually (read: sometimes, or, once in a while) true that when aiming upwards, the rocket will go higher than the reticle. When aiming downwards, it tends to fly lower than the reticle, so aim accordingly. With the Rocket 'Hog, shoot at the ground in front of the direction that your target is heading. Rarely should you aim straight at your target.

* Avoid TK-ing or Sui-ing
When gunning the Rocket 'Hog, it can be really easy to take yourself or anyone else in the vehicle out of commission by blowing yourself to bits. Avoid shooting walls, trees, rocks, etc that are close to the vehickle. Also, avoid shooting in a forward direction when the hog is rumbling up a hill. Many times the driver will unknowingly drive the hog into the rocket and one of you will die. For your sake, pray that it will be you.

* Flag runs:
* On the offensive
Make every effort not to kill your enemies on the way to the flag. Why, you ask? Because everyone you kill on the way there will then be waiting for you when you get there. With 'nades. This sucks. Instead, slip past as many people as possible and never shoot or kill anyone that isn't looking at you. If you pass enemy vehicles that are heading to your base, go ahead and engage, but if their driver just drives by in a mad rush, try not to kill them. Let your teammates take care of it.

* Who gets out?
If there is no passenger, there usually isn't, the GUNNER is the one that gets out to grab the flag. The reason is mind-blisteringly simple, yet impossible for so many people to grasp. If the driver gets out, what do we have left? A parked hog with a stationary gunner. This equals a quick three shot kill for anyone on the enemy team. Remember everyone's compulsion to throw 'nades at 'Hogs? It's especially tempting when that hog is parked. This makes it impossible for the driver to get back in the 'Hog and make his getaway, as the 'Hog has a slow acceleration. When the gunner gets out, the driver makes circles around the base and usually picks up the gunner on the opposite side of where he dropped the gunner off. I have made so many successful flag runs this way and so few any other way.

  • 07.28.2006 6:37 AM PDT
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Good tips. However, I think that it's better for the driver to take the flag instead of the gunner. Yes, I have witnessed many occasions where stupid drivers leave their gunners to dry out in the hot sun of Blood Gulch exposed and unprotected while they go out to get the flag. However, the driver is more protected than the gunner. Ever shoot a rocket at a vehicle or stick it? The gunner is usually the first one to go, followed by the passenger and then the driver. Something in the game prevents you from killing all of them at once with one rocket. The only exception to this rule is if you do a direct bodyshot. If you get a headshot off of the driver with a sniper rifle, stick him, or get a bodyshot with a rocket, then it will kill the driver. Same thing goes with the gunner and the passenger.

But you need skilled marksmen to consistently accomplish such feats, so most people just tend to shoot the warthog, not aiming at any particular enemy in the vehicle. The gunner is almost always the first player to die in a warthog due to being more exposed and therefore more vulnerable, while the driver is more protected.

  • 07.28.2006 6:46 AM PDT
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Yea it ant a good idea to give gunner the flag. Most of the time they die whn ur just getting to the base.

  • 07.28.2006 7:09 AM PDT
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Good tipos. I already know of them, because most are common sense. But htis is good for people who don't have that.

  • 07.28.2006 7:17 AM PDT

Don't drink to excess– You might shoot at tax-collectors... and miss

Computer: Power Mac G5 CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (2.2) Number Of CPUs: 2 CPU Speed: 1.8 GHz L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB Memory: 1.25 GB Bus Speed: 900 MHz

ATi Radeon X800 XT Mac Edition
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Nice post! I did one a while back focusing on hogs. It mostly addressed the stooopid things people do when it comes to hog usage– like getting in the gunner seat with 1 bar of health, or not getting health when the driver brings you to it even when he types "GUNNER GET HEALTH" several times.

The other option with a 2 man hog team is for both to jump out for the flag, (it works best if there are several parked vehicles). Whoever gets the flag drives. Team mate can either get in gunners seat or if that's not convenient for a quick get away, he can keep enemy busy to allow flag carrier an easier escape.

I agree, that on an outgoing flag run, the driver should pick the path of least resistance, the gunner should kill only who he must to keep enemy from respawning at their destination. But gunner should keep EYES FRONT till you're at the enemy base, unless taking fire from another direction. The gunner needs to eliminate any enemy before you get there.

When escaping with the flag, gunner shoots any pursuers. Once out of range of pursuers, EYES FRONT.

One exception to the gunner-eyes-front rule is if you have the flag and the enemy does, too. You don't want to go back to base because the enemy is looking to return their flag, (I'm thinking about Death Island and Infinity here), You can keep mobile near the base– patroling. While mobile– eyes front. But if you stop to hide behind a boulder or something, then the gunner needs to watch your back– otherwise someone can sneak up on you. Once you're rolling again, EYES FRONT, unless you're taking fire from another direction.

  • 07.28.2006 10:07 AM PDT

Posted by: Nessy

The bungie.net community is the halo PC community that is renowned for being unbelieveably sucky.

Good post and follow up tips, I'l add a few things:

Do not alway floor the accelerator on the hogs. Learn to drive erratically and unpredictably.

Getting air is not good in most situations. You cannot steer, accelerate, or brake when getting airtime. This goes back to the fundamental issue of not always flooring the hog. Keep all 4 wheels on the ground, especially when enemies are near.

It's all about playing smart, not overly aggressive. And for gawds sake, do not drive straight.

Also, when attacking in a convoy, the rocket hog ALWAYS goes first, followed by the machine gun hog. It should be fairly obvious why.

On maps such as infinity, when in a machine gun hog with a gunner, creep around the map looking for banshees. Keep your distance. When a shee is spotted from the distance, the driver should stop the hog, get out, and begin using his/her pistol or sniper rifle on the shee while the gunner simply shoots the shee. The gunner has a much better chance with accuracy from a stationary hog, and usually a few pistol shots from the driver will finish the job. Alternatively, the driver can simply slow the hog down allowing the gunner to fire upon the shee, then erratically change course to avoid the fuel rounds. Whether to stop the hog completely or drive slowly depends upon how close the enemy shee is. The farther away, the better it is to simply stop.

Also, when requesting to join a hog, ONE shot from a pistol is all that is needed to get the attention of the driver, not 2 or 10. If the driver doesn't turn around to pick you up after one shot, trust me, you don't want to go on that ride with that noob driver. You have a much better chance of survival on foot.

[Edited on 7/28/2006]

  • 07.28.2006 10:54 AM PDT
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Allow me to add one simple trick I found out a while ago and use constantly. Spinning. Going off a HUGE ledge like off the top to Death Island? start spinning, you will stay upright and land on your wheels, this almost ALWAYS works, it will take some practice however.

  • 07.28.2006 11:06 AM PDT
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Now what 'Hog is better chain-gun mounted or gauss cannon mounted. i like both, but is the chain-gun coolest!

  • 07.28.2006 11:34 AM PDT
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...there is no gauss hog in Combat Evolved... there's only the rocket warthog. Somebody made a poll about that a while ago, and almost everybody chose the LAAG over the rocket warthog.

  • 07.28.2006 11:41 AM PDT

Don't drink to excess– You might shoot at tax-collectors... and miss

Computer: Power Mac G5 CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (2.2) Number Of CPUs: 2 CPU Speed: 1.8 GHz L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB Memory: 1.25 GB Bus Speed: 900 MHz

ATi Radeon X800 XT Mac Edition
Display Type: LCD Resolution: 1680 x 1050 Depth: 32-bit Color

Another thing: Even if FF is off, don't 'nade team mates out of a hog because you think you should be driving. It seems like the enemy convoy always shows up just as you're flipping the hog over. They blast the crap out of you and then you scramble in, find your gunner and passenger have 2 bars of health between them and you die the fist time you get shot. Then they get your hog and convoy it back to your base and baserape you again.

[Edited on 7/28/2006]

  • 07.28.2006 1:35 PM PDT

I wonder if the Wolf thinks the Moon listens when he howls at it.

i know all of these by instinct. and flag runs i pwn at those especailly in bg. i dont need any gunnner for flag runs.

  • 07.28.2006 2:23 PM PDT
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i know all of these by instinct. and flag runs i pwn at those especailly in bg. i dont need any gunnner for flag runs.
Ditto.

  • 07.28.2006 2:24 PM PDT

I wonder if the Wolf thinks the Moon listens when he howls at it.

seriously its all a matter of where the battlezone is. if they are concentraiting on the hill then you drive by the clifside. If they are fighting near the cliff. you go around the hill. Then why they are all sprinting through the teleporter you park out back wait for a group to go through th teleporter, grab flag, and run.

  • 07.28.2006 2:52 PM PDT