Name: Umagon
Side: GDI
COST: $2000
ERA: Tiberian Sun
Tier: Hero unit
Build limit: 1
Base Asset: Westwood
Blurb
GDI command could hardly hide their bemusement. Here before them stood the forgotten legend (in both senses) Umagon apparently ready to assist GDI once more. The issue is that Umagon was reported has being dead, died in yet another pointless mutant skirmish.
The dimensional rift had both removed and added people before. But, with all respect due, it had never brought back any individual that really mattered in terms of the past 3 conflicts.
There is still a lot of bad blood between GDI and the forgotten, and the truth is that GDI command do not trust Umagon, or any other mutant for that fact.
But in the here and now, GDI could do with all the help they can get, and they figure that having a mutant legend like Umagon on their side would help to pacify other mutants, and while most mutants will not fight with GDI, they would at least stop ambushing GDI convoys and allow safe passage for important ammunition and relief supplies.
As for Umagon, she is looking for answers. The mutants never recovered from the massive plague that befell them. GDI again promised to be the saviours and offered to settle the mutants into large camps 'for their safety' and so vital medical attention could be given. Umagon was among a number of mutants who urged caution, but eventually the amount of mutants falling to the plague was so high that they panicked and the mutant elders excepted GDIs offer.
GDI had a developed a vaccine that they claimed would completely immunise any mutant against the plague.
And to be fair it did immunise them, however it also had a side effect of rendering any mutant that took it sterile. This effect was apparently irreversible and the numerous riots that broke out in the mutant encampments led to a permanent break down in GDI-mutant relations.
Nod had warned Umagon that GDI would never except the mutants. Nod said that GDI viewed the mutants as a threat. The mutants ability to thrive in tiberium wastelands naturally meant, that in a world being overtaken by tiberium, they would become dominant, while humanity receded. Nod specifically warned that when the issue of GDI's offer of encampment and vaccination came up, that the vaccine would have side effects, in fact Nod rather ludicrously claimed that the actual virus was bioengineered to specifically effect only mutants.
Is it possible that the forgotten were victims of an elaborate extermination plot? while a number of elements of GDI are friendly towards the forgotten, there are also those who are openly against the very existence of any kind of mutant.
And what of Nod? Nod had betrayed the mutants on a number of occasions, it was high time for some payback!
And finally what about the Scrin? the forgotten elders had spoke of an alien race that lived in harmony with the 'children of tiberium'. Could this be the Scrin? would they allow the forgotten to live in peace together amongst tiberium? Umagon intended on finding out, and she could offer the Scrin something that they would struggle to refuse... information that would lead to the defeat of both GDI & Nod!
So Umagon has much to do, all under the watchful eye of GDI under their banner. She already has a head start on GDI though... they think that Umagon got here due to the dimensional rift...
Scrin Avatar Umagon
Having gathered enough information, Umagon makes her approach to the Scrin. They are apparently intrigued, as they grant Umagon a unique 'Blink pack' ability! This is to be used to bypass GDI and Nod security at will, and to provide information that will help sabotage both sides effort. They want her to remain under GDI for the time being and to hide her new found abilities.
How will Umagon use this new found power? who will she betray first? GDI, Nod... or maybe the Scrin!
Gameplay
Umagon replaces the current GDI commando as the new 'hero' unit.
She is unique in that she is a sniper in addition to having C4 for melee range demolition work. This means that she can be effective at both far and close ranges.
Let us look at a quick list of Umagon's strength and we will see how she compares to others in her class.
- Able to engage infantry at sniper range.
- High health for an infantry unit.
- Very fast for an infantry unit.
- Can place C4 on any vehicle, not just walker class vehicles.
- Is not only invulnerable to Tiberium, but also heals and is invisible on it!
- Full stealth detector.
(1) This has two sides to it. On the one hand Umagon can engage infantry from a safe distance. On the other hand, it is very easy to overwhelm Umagon once infantry can get close enough. For example it is recommended to swarm Umagon with cheap rifle class infantry in an emergency, because she has no choice except to fall back or risk getting killed by the cheapest units in the game!
In terms of worth, while Umagon is a very good sniper, for her price you can purchase two Sniper squads, and they have the benefit of being invisible while not firing as well as their Juggernaut spot ability.
(2) When it comes time for Umagon to be up close and personal, her high health allows her to last longer than ,for example, the GDI commando would have. So for example if an APC comes at you, you might be able to rush into it and C4 it, and survive to tell the tale! Also if Umagon gets swarmed, her extra health (and speed) will give her more of a chance of escape than the replaced GDI commando would (a single use of his Jet-pack permitting of course).
(3) Has discussed above her speed also plays into her survivability. Umagon has the joint fastest infantry ground speed (shared with the Mastermind ). It makes her very responsive, and very dangerous if she manages to get inside a base.
Once she is in your base, you are in big trouble!
(4) The ability to destroy any vehicle at melee range should not be scoffed at. While even a pair of gun based vehicles can quickly kill Umagon with no fuss, tanks, firing their shells that often miss infantry and do very little damage when they do hit to hero units, have no choice except to retreat. So if you are against an opponent that cannot be bothered to mix units, take advantage.
If she is this close to your vehicles, she is far too close, Flee!
Even if it's the faster units, as long as they cannot easily damage Umagon, you can use her to force them to retreat. So for example, because Umagon can detect stealth (6) she can 'see' Nod stealth tanks and while it is unlikely that she will be able to plant C4 on them if the opponent is competent, she can force them into evasive manoeuvres.
(5) This is a real big deal. It means that Umagon can recover any lost health at a number of point around a map. As an added bonus, she becomes invisible while recovering her health because she is on Tiberium! Use this important aspect to your advantage.
Do not bother to approach her unless you have stealth detectors with you!
If you can sneak Umagon to an enemy expansion field (or main), you can cause havoc destroying their harvesters while you invisibly run around their tiberium field!
No stealth detectors! Using the mutants as a distraction, Umagon should be able to destroy at least a couple of Harvester before any response can happen!
As you can see from the above, there is greater opportunity for Umagon to be used in general combat or tactics, rather than the highly specialised usage of the old GDI or current Nod commando. If you are going for general usage, it can help to have the attitude that you try and destroy say double Umagon's worth each time you build her, this can help to ensure that you never waste money by building her, while training an aggressive usage of Umagon.
Against better players it is still about trying to hide the fact that you have a commando for as long as possible, if you intend on using them at C4 range. This comes down to denying them the 'enemy commando detected' EVA event (which means they only have to press the space bar to instantly find your Umagon). The traditional way of doing this is to use an APC. Consider using 'Hold-fire' stance to stop Umagon from firing out from the APC (and thus giving her away to alert players, although remember that Umagon will keep the 'Hold-fire' stance once she exits the APC).
Also using the 'Call for transport' ability to get a Blackhawk helicopter is another way (again do not forget that her firing from the transport might give her away) manoeuvre around the edge of the map, avoid static defences... once she is in the base, the fun begins.
Here I have sneaked Umagon in a Blackhawk around the edge of the map, so I can destroy this poorly guarded Temple of Nod!
Countering Umagon
Has stated before, at the lowest level massing cheap infantry will at least force a retreat.
However:
- For the Scrin, simple, Buzzer storm special power. Or failing that, 2 Gunwalkers (she might try and rush a C4 against a lone Gunwalker).
- For GDI 2 Humvees (1 can do it easily, but 2 is less fussy and they cost half of what Umagon does). If you are up against a skilled base infiltrator then as an extreme measure you can have a Sniper squad inside a Blackhawk (cost: $1200). Give it a Ctrl group if necessary and once she is spotted, quickly move the Blackhawk across to put her out of her misery with minimum fuss.
- For Nod an Apache will deal with Umagon in less than a second. If you cannot manage that, then 2 Buggies will deal with Umagon, although you will need to keep a reasonable distance from her. 2 x 2 groups of buggies, still cost less than Umagon and will protect a large base, greatly minimising the damage she can do.
Mutant support
As a mutant hero, Umagon can periodically call for 3 squads of mutant Marauders to be dropped off where ever she pleases. Please note that this ability is tied to Umagon, if she dies then you lose the ability to call for Marauders. They perform exactly like the mutants you would get from capturing the Mutant hovel.
Let's face it, they're not famous for being any good!
Heroic Umagon
As per storyline, upon reaching 'HEROIC' rank, Umagon will receive a blink pack. This basically means that she can teleport herself short distances almost instantly (just like the Scrin Shock troopers with the Blink upgrade).
"GG!"
Together with her C4, this is exactly as lethal as it sounds!
Indeed in skilled hands it is basically game over, unless you slip up in your usage of the teleport ability. Obviously you now have the ability to completely evade defensive lines in order to attack deep in an enemies base.
In the above sequence, a Temple of Nod is spotted and then the Heroic Teleport ability is used to close in and destroy it!
You can now destroy defences (such has anti-infantry defences) that you would previously have had to avoid, because the speed you teleport at means that it is easy to get the 'jump' on a defence and to take it out before it can fire (you can magnify this effect by deliberately teleporting to the opposite direction from were the defensive turret is facing), this also goes for many gun based vehicles that you had to avoid before you reached heroic rank.
Of course you can save the teleports use for a defensive measure. Use your increased health and rate of fire that you get from being heroic to battle the enemy, and when it gets too hot, simply teleport out of trouble!
Good luck stopping a heroic Umagon player who knows what they are doing.
As you can see, there is enormous potential for Umagon to be decisive in a battle. Keep practising getting the most out of this great unit!
