SWG Basic Combat Training: TKO Hunting Group Methods and Tactics

§ X.A.2 Basic Combat Tactics: Primary Group Member Roles: Melee

Objectives:
- Understand the role of Melee Combatants in group.

The philosophy of the Teräs Käsi Order on melee, particularly in regards to the conduct or Teräs Käsi, is: Fight smart, die hard, die first. Basically, take all the damage for the group. The clearest sign of an effective melee team is a ranged team that never needs healing.

1. Tank
   Tanking is a long-lived term used to refer to characters who could go toe-to-toe in combat dealing out and taking tons of damage.Compared to other games, SWG melee combatants can hardly be considered true tanks. However, the term connotes the strategy of holding MOBs in position while healers heal and ranged combatants attack the MOBs risking little harm to themselves. The fundamental strategy is to position melee combatants between the ranged group members and the MOBs being attacked (the forward position), and for the melee to let no MOB get past them.
2. Intercept
   Very often the GL will call for a ranged attack to pull MOBs through the melee in forward position. The job of melee is to attack the MOBs once they are in range so the the MOBs stop and fight the melee. Lunge attacks are good for melle interception. The melee group members may be staggered with one or two behind the most forward melee to intercept any MOBs that get past the forward melee. Simply by your proximity to a MOB, attacking should stop the MOB and have it attack you. Teräs Käsi often do better at intercepting without vibro knucklers.
3. Pull Off
   Should a MOB get past the melee forward position(s), or other MOBs appear and attack the non-melee group members, it is your job to pull the MOB(s) off your group members. The decision to pull off is easy if you are not in combat, but can be difficult when you are engaged in combat or many group members are going solo against different MOBs. Certain conditions lend themselves to clear decisions such as:
   1. Assailed Medic
      Do everything you can to get the MOB(s) off the medic and keep the medic on his or her feet.
   2. Assailed Group Member Running Away from You
      Stay on your current target. The best you can do is tell the group member to pull the MOB to the melee. Otherwise, assistance must come from other ranged group members.
   3. Assailed Group Member Running in Your General Direction
      Move to intercept and tell the group member to move to you and plant.
   4. Assailed Group Member Pulls MOB to You and Plants
      Best scenario. Attack the MOB. Once the MOB turns to face you, the group member can move off, get optimum range and assist with the kill.