E 101


So you want to be an engineer?
 

By: Pliers McJones

By far the most challenging and rewarding class in RTCW is the engineer.  Simply for the fact that the game can't be won without an engineer on maps like Depot, Base, Assault ect...  I couldn't imagine playing a whole round without being an engineer even once.

This guide mainly pertains to the Depot map...  At the Happy Penguin server to be exact.  What?  Don't be silly, there are no other servers worth playing on :).


Step one - At the Depot *it is a lot* easier to plant as an Axis, especially if you have the cover of an experienced Lt who know what he's doing*.  If you want to start your path to be a big time engineer, start on the Axis team and try to plant until you found the best path & tactics to reach and blow up the Allied field ops.

*Note to Lts [when FF is off]- Go first, throw an air strike (NOT support fire) on the objective then start shooting any enemy in sight, if for nothing else but to draw attention away from the engineer.  This will give plenty of time for the engineer to plant.

Step two - Say goodbye to your "one hit kill" weapons like the Panzer (sorry Shaft), because your going to need to learn some real survival skills with a Thompson or MP40.  If you normally play as a Lieutenant or Medic this shouldn't be hard for you to do.  The cool thing about it, is if you play an engineer almost exclusively, your gun skills will get better on their own.

Step three - Just like in real life, shooting everything in sight is not the way to go.  One of my biggest secrets is avoiding everyone at all costs and hide.  Also, you should factor and measure in the spawn time (hit tab, it's in lower right corner in the top box).  Because if your in the Axis steps and you rush out and plant at the AA gun when the spawn clock is at about 7, your dynamite will likely get defused.  Try for 27 to start planting.

Step four - I have 25 bullets, 30 life and no back up!  I better wait here!  Wrong, don't be a chicken, if you put yourself in tough situations you'll learn to improvise real fast (and people will like you because you won't stand around and block the way!) like rushing past flamers in the steps and taking out entire crowds with a grenade.

Step five - Cover it!  The best method is to put those 8 grenades to use!  Douse the dynamite with nades.  This works best if you see the engineer start to defuse the dynamite then throw him a little disheartening surprise.

Step six - Don't get frustrated because of some other player who camps at the objective with a panzer or flamethrower cough::becausetheyhavenoskills::cough.  I used to get way too mad at this all the time and I would start to play worse.  Start to think of ways around it, and maybe even ::shutter:: ask for some help/back up.  And sometimes it gets so out of hand the best thing to do is just leave and take a break.


Here are a few myths and facts covered -