Scrambler Balance?

[garcia1000]

I am playing some games against blckace who is a great Scrambler player. Wowow, he is good!

[Katastrophe]

(10-24-2012 07:00 PM)garcia1000 Wrote:  This match is better.

Turn 15: Instead of a second sniper, you should save up wits for a scrambler.

Also you should be attacking his side witpoint, not defending the center in this type of game. If you're massing troops in the center, you are basically trying for a surprise rush. If you're trying for a surprise rush, you need a scrambler.

Aaaaaand now your tips are greatly appreciated.

The only reason I so heavily defend the center is currently, that's a lot of what I'm encountering (center attacks). However, that side Witpoint is usually my first target. You're suggesting keeping vision of the center for preparedness, but more heavily reinforcing their Witpoint side to take that first?



And as a general reply to the Scrambler, after watching a few more ST replays and hearing this discussion, the general consensus seems to be that if deployed and/or escorted properly, the Scrambler is one of the few units that can outright change the game's tide and win it. The Mobi is probably next in line for this risk/reward, but the Bombshell is just more generally useful. It's a pretty classic "occassionally do a lot" vs "gradually do a little". Also, considered the established metagame, deploying the Scrambler is even effectively is even more difficult while the Bombshell becomes more useful due to the clumping.

I also agree that the map will play a large role in how useful it is.

And @alexjiang1, I liked that game. The Scrambler definitely helped your team push the top with great effectiveness and then cut in to blue base, now less defended, and make short work of it. I can see it being easier to use in 2v2 simply because you'll have more units to defend it with. Granted, your teammate has to be on the same page as you or it's all sent to hell.

[garcia1000]

vivafringe wrote a good guide here: http://www.onemanleft.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=659
I think it is a pretty good explanation of why you only need the minimum to defend the center against a rush, and you can concentrate your forces against his wit point.

In high level play your goal with a scrambler is to scramble a unit, but not to lose the unit next turn. If you can manage to do that you have an absolutely massive wit advantage. It's really hard, though.

The standard scrambler vs bombshell is to scramble a soldier adjacent to their bombshell, attack with it, move it away, then move in another soldier to kill the bombshell. The wit trade should be slightly in your favor.

[worldfamous]

(10-24-2012 11:13 PM)aaronINdayton Wrote:  Here's how I see it:

Bombshell- lock down a pretty good section of the map with proper surrounding units

Scrambler- excellent near-spawn defensive capabilities, sneaky offensive abilities, very scary if you know one's been deployed but can't figure out where it is

Mobi- summon heavies or snipers to front line, attack from 7 hexes away for 3 damage, attack twice from a single hex by bringing the first attacker to mobi, pull medics to units needing healed or units needing healed to medics, jump a runner into enemy territory(maybe hit their base too) for vision then pull it back to safety, move partner units on your turn in 2v2, other things I haven't seen or thought of

Three very different play styles each good at different things. Play the one you enjoy the most!

+1

Well said.

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(10-25-2012 01:14 AM)Katastrophe Wrote:  

(10-24-2012 07:00 PM)garcia1000 Wrote:  This match is better.

Turn 15: Instead of a second sniper, you should save up wits for a scrambler.

Also you should be attacking his side witpoint, not defending the center in this type of game. If you're massing troops in the center, you are basically trying for a surprise rush. If you're trying for a surprise rush, you need a scrambler.

Aaaaaand now your tips are greatly appreciated.

The only reason I so heavily defend the center is currently, that's a lot of what I'm encountering (center attacks). However, that side Witpoint is usually my first target. You're suggesting keeping vision of the center for preparedness, but more heavily reinforcing their Witpoint side to take that first?



And as a general reply to the Scrambler, after watching a few more ST replays and hearing this discussion, the general consensus seems to be that if deployed and/or escorted properly, the Scrambler is one of the few units that can outright change the game's tide and win it. The Mobi is probably next in line for this risk/reward, but the Bombshell is just more generally useful. It's a pretty classic "occassionally do a lot" vs "gradually do a little". Also, considered the established metagame, deploying the Scrambler is even effectively is even more difficult while the Bombshell becomes more useful due to the clumping.

I also agree that the map will play a large role in how useful it is.

And @alexjiang1, I liked that game. The Scrambler definitely helped your team push the top with great effectiveness and then cut in to blue base, now less defended, and make short work of it. I can see it being easier to use in 2v2 simply because you'll have more units to defend it with. Granted, your teammate has to be on the same page as you or it's all sent to hell.

Actually, for me, it's much tougher to use in 2 v 2. You actually have the same amount of units to defend, except you only control half of them and you have two enemies taking a shot at you before your next turn. Since you have to protect 2 bases, you are often spread thin and low on wits. When defending 2 bases, it can be very challenging to store wits and build a proper defense at the same time. That's why Alex and Mr.Banger are so good. They seem to do a better job than any team at properly defending while storing wits at the same time. In 2v2 it took us several games to even get a super on the map. So, imagine a 1v1 where you put out a scrambler but you can only use him every other turn. That's the 2v2 challenge.