Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

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idleray
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 4:55 pm

Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

Post by idleray »

I was just theory-crafting about pushing Shinobi defensive perks to their extreme on untimed missions, particularly Swarming supply raids:

Can I have a single Shinobi going around aggroing pods, and then hunkering down to keep the pod in the same place while a squad of Snipers (4-5, one of them holo-target spec) shoot down the pods from squad-sight?

There would be two specialists to take turns using Aid-Protocol on the Shinobi, and I would also use smoke grenades to keep it nigh-untouchable. The snipers would take out rocketeers/grenadiers and other enemies that use explosives first.

All up that makes a squad of eight. How effective would this be in clearing out Supply Raids with minimal risk? What modifications would you use to make it work/work better? Would this be viable on legendary?

edit: and perhaps to account for wounds, the "tank" Shinobi can use Smart Macrophages as a PCS after-mission, and the Specialists can bring some medkits during the mission.
Psieye
Posts: 829
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:27 am

Re: Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

Post by Psieye »

idleray wrote:Can I have a single Shinobi going around aggroing pods, and then hunkering down to keep the pod in the same place while a squad of Snipers (4-5, one of them holo-target spec) shoot down the pods from squad-sight?
I already do that for timed missions too on Veteran. Specifically about your current theory: too many snipers, replace with more backup tanks (you need to hold flanks in case of bad activation). To account for wounds, have lots of replacements to rotate around.
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Dwarfling
Posts: 524
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:16 pm

Re: Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

Post by Dwarfling »

I think you do have to hurry and kill the pod because the AI does try to flank the cover you're using on said tank. Also you need to dispatch the ability-using enemies first, and there's more of those than there's "only-shooting" ones.
Psieye
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Re: Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

Post by Psieye »

Dwarfling wrote:the AI does try to flank the cover you're using on said tank. Also you need to dispatch the ability-using enemies first, and there's more of those than there's "only-shooting" ones.
The snipers (and off-tanks) need to be placed to take advantage of the flank attempts - the AI will expose its flanks to the rest of your (out of sight) team while trying to flank the visible tank. A lot of abilities can be ignored with Hazmat + Mindshield on the solo tank. For example, M2 grenadier only has incendiaries. To re-iterate what I've said elsewhere, if aliens are even attempting to shoot your tank, you haven't buffed him enough. AI outright gives up shooting if it has a 0% hit chance. If AI is busy making blue moves and OW walls, that's when you know your tank is doing his job.

You may want to bring 2 shinobi then, as it's critical you don't get a random pod walking into your flank while you're slow-grinding a pod down.
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Icarus
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:26 pm

Re: Is it viable to have a single "Tank" absorbing all the shots?

Post by Icarus »

Maybe a few OWers laid back a bit behind (out of alien sight) the shinobi, in case the enemies don't take the bait? Carries the risk of the aliens running and shooting the OWers instead, of course.

That was my setup, though I kept my shinobi hidden and had the guys running into my OWers directly.

Oh, and it doesn't need to be a shinobi IMO. Every class can be nice for this depending on how they roll the AWC. Lone Wolf as a first-level perk isn't that uncommon.
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