Author Topic: The Bonsaibase (Read 15619 times)

BobTheJanitor · January 03, 2004, 08:54:12 PM

I see several comms lately using the 'bonsaibase' strategy, namely building a TF, electrifying it, and then building everything around that one TF to avoid skulks chewing the base up while the marines are out. I'm wondering what others think of this idea. I don't particularly mind it when it's used just to protect a few really important things. Say, the IPs. The problem I have with it is when everything gets crammed into one teeeeeeeny space and I end up having to duck jump over half the base just to get to the armory, only to get telefragged because the comm built another IP right next to said armory.

When I comm, I usually tend to build things far apart -- especially the armory away from the IPs -- because I know how aggravating it can be negotiating and defending a base that's designed to fit in a closet. I rely on a turret or two (mostly for the 'sentry firing' warning) and maybe a single base guard for base defense and don't mess with any tricky electrified TF defending everything strategy. What do others think? Good strategy or horrible annoyance?

Malevolent · January 03, 2004, 09:03:44 PM

Hmm, well when I comm I do build the TF and put the IPs and Armory around it. I do try and make the IPs on the very outside though. I might also squeeze an Observatory in the back, if it fits. The rest of the stuff is placed so there's more room. Also, on an Hive that is captured or important location that has a PG and RT (like Pipleline), I electrify the RT and place the PG right next to it (but almost every single person does this).

EDIT: If a Hive doesn't have a RT in it, I'll just electrify the TF and put the PG by it.

Satanic Monkey · January 03, 2004, 09:04:49 PM

Personally i think it's annoying , If he/she was a good comm , they will know how to defend their base without worrying about their marines getting telefragged just to get ammo,etc,etc.

Grimm · January 03, 2004, 09:33:38 PM

This setup is very annoying when I am a marine, as I have to hop over everything and manuever every which way to get to anything, and it makes it easier for skulks to get in a kill as the marines are distracted before the offender gets zapped. Although its a perfect setup when I'm Onos, as everything I need to worry about is nicely crammed into one little space. I can be goring the arms lab one moment, then a marine spawns in, I turn a couple degrees to get the kill in, then go back to the armory.

I can understand dropping IPs right next to an electrified tfac, and maybe the armory on the other side, but it should be common practice for ocmmanders to assign at least one marine as base guard. In most games it really isn't worth the frustration and annoyance to have everything so cramped; If you're gonna do it anyway though, perhaps consider dropping one tfac to protect the IPs and Armory while making another one to protect the other structures.

Dirty Harry Potter · January 03, 2004, 11:10:31 PM

i've done semi bonsai setups, which is IPs, PGs, and Ocs near the RTs or TFs.

but i dont make those cramped up bases, since i too hate them as rine. i remember that some guy got stuck in a 'playground', he was a HA too, then i came to his rescue and put myself in his place - cant really waste a HA like that.

Legionnaired · January 03, 2004, 11:12:45 PM

I like the Obs, IPs, and the arms lab right next to the TF, but the armory goes a distance away just for that very reason; telefrags.

Uranium - 235 · January 03, 2004, 11:45:36 PM

I think it's a lamer tactic, and the ironic thing is, almost every time I see a bonsai base, it's when I'm ripping it to pieces, because for some reason every time they bonsaibase they LOSE. Probably because it's such a craptacular 'strategy'.

Niteowl · January 04, 2004, 12:33:24 AM

i find 3 turrets are much more effective for base D than elect, imho.

lolfighter · January 04, 2004, 10:33:17 AM

I've seen bonsaibases done right, and I've seen them done horribly, horribly wrong. I'll have to take a look around and see what's causing it the next time I see a bonsaibase that's easy to negotiate.

Jefe · January 04, 2004, 03:33:51 PM

doesn't anyone use mines?

Lito · January 04, 2004, 03:49:06 PM

i'm a electrifying comm, so i need that tf. first 3 minutes of the game i only have 2 ips, and an electrified tf. without that ele'd tf, my base would be defenseless. But after that, i spread everything out, because if that lone skulk has enough time to come into your base and start chomping on your armory and obs, then its a sign that you're not pushing them hard enough, and that your most likely dead, and that stuffing your base into an area of 2m^2 isn't going to help it any further.

Mines are also not quite that good.

Armory (20, 25 res i think) + mines (10 res) gives you a quick 30 - 35 res defense against skulks. However, then you have armory humping which will kill the teamwork of the whole game. I find that once i build an armory, my team hardly listen to "PHASE THROUGH!" and "SAVE DOUBLE RES!". The only reason i build an armory at all is to dispense shotguns, and get armslab and obs.

BobTheJanitor · January 04, 2004, 05:03:37 PM

No armory eh? That's an interesting strategy. Doesn't being unable to get upgrades and having to waste 2 res every time your team runs out of ammo and not being able to get a proto lab hurt a bit?

Lito · January 04, 2004, 05:46:52 PM

who needs ammo when you can die?

! rarely do i give ammopacks in the beginning. They get thier objectives done (mainly get res, defend until elec'd), and thats all i ask of them, staying alive isn't one of them D:.

besides, the reduced humpage is a godsend for fast res rush.

lolfighter · January 05, 2004, 04:27:25 AM

How the hell am I expected to defend an RT without any ammo? Baby, I burn through those two puny lmg clips faster than a horde of cops through a doughnut outlet. 's what keeps me alive and turns the nasty critters into gooey stuff that sticks to my boots. Girl, you better give me my armoury!

Ok, not building an armory right off the bat is fine with me. But by the time I've respawned a few times, I want to be able to grab a little ammo before heading out again. I am now reasonably capable of holding my own against skulks - I have an almost 90% success rate against the kind that come jumping at you down hallways (for comparison: Statistically, that means I generate 10-30 res for my team before I die). Getting my previously subpar aim up to snuff has been a hard time, so now I want the ammo to take advantage of that. Nothing annoys me more than a comm saying "nya-nya, no ammo for you!". I just can't hold my own against skulks with only a knife.

Leaderz0rz · January 05, 2004, 05:29:44 AM

it doesn't matter either way to me, there is always 1 thing out of the range, usaly the proto lab,

or the command chair muhaha

Satiagraha · January 05, 2004, 08:38:37 AM

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but i dont make those cramped up bases, since i too hate them as rine. i remember that some guy got stuck in a 'playground', he was a HA too, then i came to his rescue and put myself in his place - cant really waste a HA like that.

haha, thanks DHP, I was kinda stuck in my playpen, guess I just needed a human stepstool

crack · January 06, 2004, 03:59:43 PM

good.

BobTheJanitor · January 07, 2004, 07:08:02 AM

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good.

Can you elaborate?

Lito · January 07, 2004, 11:33:32 AM

Bottom line: wastes time, makes you look stupid, and is impossible in 3.0

Niteowl · January 07, 2004, 11:49:23 AM

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Bottom line: wastes time, makes you look stupid, and is impossible in 3.0

HAH!! i can look stupid all by myself thank you very much!! i don't need bonsaibase stupid looking of the making appearance hax!!!

er. no. wait..