SWG Basic Combat Training: TKO Hunting Group Methods and Tactics

§ X.A.3 Basic Combat Tactics: Primary Group Member Roles: Ranged

Objectives:
- Understand the role of ranged combatants in group.

1. Acquire, Move, Set
   Ideally, melee and pets will be holding MOBs in or near one place. Your job a ranged is Acquire your target, Move to best range and Set there until your target is down. If you are not being melee attacked, taking a kneeling or prone position will increase your damage and accuracy.
2. Throw those Specials
   If the tanks are doing their job, the only damage you are taking is from your own special attacks, so use them.
   1. Reduce MOB DPS, Increase Group DPS
      Status effects such as Stun, Dizzy and Blind increase the amount of damage MOBs take from attacks, and reduce the damage they do to the group. Pay attention to what status effects are already on your target and hit it with something else.
   2. Damage Over Time (DOT)
      DOT attacks are like getting periodic extra attacks. Even low-yield Bleed attacks add hundreds or points of damage as they run their course, and reduce group downtime.
   3. Posture-down Attacks
      There is a timer (30 seconds at the time of this writing) which prevents a player from throwing consecutive posture-down and knock-down attacks of the same type. Unless MOBs have ranged attacks, they cannot attack from a kneeling or prone position. MOBs cannot attack from a knocked-down position. There is also a long-standing bug which causes a knocked-down target to recover from a knocked-down position if another knock down attack is effective. Do not use a knock down attack on a knocked-down target.
3. Best Target
   Groups are most organized on the first MOB attacked, or when there is one clear target. When multiple MOBs are engaged, Acquire a new target, Move to best range and Set. Look for three things when selecting a new target:
   1. Group Leader's Command
      If your GL says attack a particular target, do it.
   2. Group Member Overwhelmed
      If a group member is in trouble and holding position, attack the target your group member is attacking. If the group member is running (usually a bad idea), use an attack to lower stance or reduce movement.
   3. Common Target vs. Target Nearest a Group Member
      If there are no instructions from the GL and no one in the group is in serious danger, attack a target that is already being attacked. If there is no fighting then wait for the GL's instructions, unless the group is taking out an entire group of MOBs in which case you should attack the target nearest a group member.
4. When you Get in Trouble
   When holding a ranged weapon you will take more damage from melee attacks. When moving, you will be less accurate and medics and melee will have more difficulty trying to help you.
   1. Being Attacked at Range, MOB not Closing
      Get distance moving either so you are with other group members, or other group members are between you and the MOB(s). If the MOB engages another group member, move to best range and heal while attacking.
   2. Being Attacked by Melee
      Move to melee group members so the MOB(s) are right by a melee and plant. Once the melee has the MOB(s)'s attention, get best range, and heal up while attacking.
   3. Watch for MOB Stance Change
      Especially when a ranged group member is helping you, you may not see you're being assisted. Watch the MOB's status window for lowered stance. When the MOB is in a kneeling, prone or knocked-down position, or runs off, it's time to make a break.
   4. Using Specials when Escaping
      Special attacks are risky when HAM is low, but if you are being charged by and aggro'd MOB while your HAM is still good, posture-down attacks and specials such Warning or Stopping Shot can give you the running room you need.
   5. Why Running Around Screaming like a Little Girl is Almost Always the Worst Thing You Can Do
      Hunting solo is usually a matter of sniping and kiting, and running to break melee contact. But in group, you are almost always better off holding ground because:
      • Most Stims Don't Fly
        With the exception of Combat Medics, anyone trying to heal you will have to be close to you for about 5 seconds to apply a stim.
      • Melee Can't Kite
        Your best chance at having someone pull a MOB off you is a melee group member or melee pet attacking the MOB. If you're running and a MOB is chasing you, melee attacks will very often miss because the MOB goes out of range.
      • Ranged Combatants Can't Shoot Through Trees, and Probably Won't Get MOB Aggro
        Running around can cause ranged combatants to lose sight of the MOB when collidable structures and terrain come between the MOB and them. Furthermore, MOBs tend to attack near targets, so a ranged combatant is unlikely to get a MOB's attention away from you unless they are closer.