Name: Hover MRLS
Side: GDI
Cost: $1500
ERA: Tiberian Sun
Tier: 2
Base Asset: Tiberian Aftermath (Shader, rigging & coding edits by me)
Intro
The Hover MRLS is a lightly armoured, highly mobile, rocket based hover platform, that can hit all targets except infantry efficiently.
Lets review the basics:
- Hit and run against static ground based targets.
- Medium range anti air.
- Medium range homing missile support against mobile targets.
The Hover MRLS has the same ground speed as the now departed GDI Pitbull.
It has the same armour as the Nod Stealth tank, it is more effective against structures than the Stealth tank, but less effective against vehicles and aircraft.
The primary role for the Hover MRLS is it's anti-air ability. With no Pitbull, GDI have lacked any quick rocket based ground-to-air ability. The great attack power, along with the medium range and fast speed, means that the Hover MRLS is very effective in an anti-air role. Speaking of it's attack range it is 360, which means that it can out-range static tier 1 base defences, which leads us to its other important role.
Excellent for dealing with the enemies airforce!
The Hover MRLS allows GDI to perform quick hit and run tactics against static or slow enemy targets. The heavy damage that the Hover MRLS missiles do to structures means that it is especially effective at taking out important enemy structures. For example a main force of tanks could be engaging enemy tanks in the battlefield while a small group of MRLS take out a key enemy structure. Or in a similar scenario the small group of MRLS could attack enemy harvesters.
Good against low tier static defences!
The secondary, but still important role, is to use the MRLS as a support vehicle within a mixed attack group (typically tanks, APCs etc).
I Personally set the Hover MRLS to 'HOLD-GROUND STANCE', this prevents the vehicle from wandering into trouble and allows them to use their enhanced range behind a shield of tanks (especially effective if the tanks are Mammoths!).
If they are in hold-ground stance then you can just leave them to attack whatever is in their range, they do a decent job of picking targets, while you concentrate on your tanks or APCs. If the group is attacked from the air, and if the Hover MRLS does not pick the air target itself, then you can switch to manually targeting the enemy air units.
Likewise if your attacking an enemy base and there are static defences that you need taking care of, you can manually target them with the MRLS, especially effective vs Tier 1 defences as they'll be unable to respond!
The key is making sure that the Hover MRLS is not leading the line, most units will make short work of it, and it's price tag means that they'll be well rewarded in terms of experience!
The Hover MRLS is not so good against infantry. Its missiles are unable to lock on to infantry, and it cannot even run them over. Just make sure you don't run into any massed rocket class squads!
If you can get a Hover MRLS to the 'HEROIC' rank then you'll unlock the 'Rocket barrage' ability. This ability allows you to fire 16 unguided rockets at a location in rapid succession.
This ability is useful for doing massive amounts of damage to static or very slow ground based targets. Unlike the normal missiles, the rockets warheads are effective against vehicles, so if you have a large group of enemy vehicles, consider using the ability.
This ability has more range than the standard missiles (450 vs 360) so remember that as well.
It reloads every 20 seconds.
Good against structures or groups of ground units