Overview
Steam Mavericks’, aka {MAV}, Guide on how to be and how to play well with other NanoMedics.
NanoMedics: Pros and Cons
Pros
– Able to heal damage from other people on your team
– Can often save people from being destroyed and long respawn times if done correctly
– Pairs well with Teslas for fast-moving and offensive capability
– Earns the most RP after match
– Visual Guide as to where your shots will hit (thin line when holding down Right Click and not targetging)
– Best for destroying Protonium (consistant damage streaming and higher accuracy)
– Automatic Accuracy (Hold Right Click to Auto-Target)
– Can focus healing ability based on where you point the nanos
– Best used in Team Death Match or Battle Arena Modes
Cons
– Cannot heal other medics well (Hallowfest Patch has increased the rate at which Nanos are allowed to heal other Nanos)
– No Zoom Feature (especially if you want to target a particular block/shield/weapon)
– Healing someone while taking damage will merely slow the damage process, not reverse it
– Low Damage Output on Other Robots
– Often the first type targeted in teamfights
– Not very good in The Pit or Single Player Modes
NanoMedics: Design Choices
Best Movement Choices
– Hover – Ignores terrain issues, fast over land with thrusters
– Helo – Vector flying, allowing to control speed and location
– Walker – Reaches hard areas for Snipers
– Wheels – Fast moving over land, higher traction
Bad Movement Choices
– Tank – Slow moving
– Flight Wings – Lack of control in firing beams
– Mech Legs – Not as fast, cannot climb as well as Walker Legs
– Drone – Can be hard to control
Extra Gear Priorities
1. ElectroShields – Added Protection in Fights
2. Radar – Alerts to Nearby Enemies
3. Radar Jammers – Hides you from Enemy Radar
4. Radar Receiver – Expands Radar Capability to Include Nearby Teammates
Max Active Nanos: 6
Recommended Number of Nanos: 8
NanoMedics: Play Style
For Team Death Match
NanoMedics are normally higher in number and typically swarm around the MegaBot while others provide support. There isn’t much to playstyle here other than make sure people do not die.
For Battle Arena
FIRST< NanoMedics are prime when you initially spawn to rush to a tower and begin capturing it. I typically move the NanoBeams up and down to weaken the connection points while others are able to take them down much easier. This typically gives Plasmas and SMG’s who last-hit the tower to gain 1 to 3 levels.
NEXT, you should follow either the team or the highest leveled SMG or Plasma. You can partner up with other players, then, early game to Level Grind faster. Level Grinding is when you have one or two SMG’s or Plasmas (Don’t have too many or else your healing efforts will be diminished) and face the enemy team early on. Typically, most of their team should be around level 1 or 2, so you can have the SMG’s and Plasmas hit the enemy team to gain levels in game while you are able to heal the damage they receive from lower-leveled shots.
NOTE: If the Bot you are partnered with reaches 50 Percent and you notice a steady decline of your partner’s Hit Points, fall back with your partner and abandon Level Grinding as it means you are not healing them enough to keep them alive or the enemy team is too strong.
IN LATE GAME, your best bet is to stick close with teammates. Do not try to venture out to one teammate who is being destroyed as typically they will be too far gone for you to save. I typically stop running around the halfway mark unless there are more of your teammates in the area which could use your help. Getting stuck on your own is especially bad as the Nanos have the lowest damage output of the game, which is why most medics put Teslas on their Bot for higher offensive power.
COMEBACKS can be common if the medic is able to stick with the team and the team is able to catch up to the opponent in terms of damage output and kills. Ultimately, you are the one who will help them do that by healing their damage and, at times, focusing your beams to coutneract the effects of another medic on the enemy bot. While this is a valid technique that can be helpful for weak spots, do not rely on this technique as much unless you know the opponent’s design. Another helpful comeback option is having Radar Jammers which help disguide you from being picked up on enemy maps automatically. If your team is able to hold its own against the opponent, sneaking around a back way and hitting their Protonium Reactor can help as it draws the opponent’s attention away from towers and teamfights to a defensive stance. Granted, you may end up destroyed in the process, but if your team can maneuver to get towers in the confusion, then it can be helpful.
NanoMedics: Getting Along
If you are on a team with NanoMedics, do the following to help ensure they will work for you.
1. Use Q to Spot enemies fast if you end up caught in the middle of the enemy team. Letting your medics know how many bots are around you helps them decide if they can be of assistance to you or if they should go somewhere else. Pinging for Danger if you cannot spot fast enough should be a good indication to them that there are too many of them to help you. Which leads me to…
2. Do NOT think that you can survive a fight, let alone teamfight alone, then call a medic when you realize it’s too late. Medics hate this. We really do. If you want to get an objective or charge in to get some kills, you must communicate well with the team, especially medics. If you don’t communicate with them well enough, you will merely end up destroyed and ask a medic to add to their kill-count and level. Stay together and communicate to win matches.
3. Keep an eye on your medic’s condition. Remember, medics are often targeted first in teamfights as they are what’s keeping them from destroying you. If there are Plasma bombers on the other team or Rail Walkers who can target their damage behind your lines, focus fire on them for a short to cause them to move position or disable their attacking power. Remember, NanoMedics do not heal NanoMedics well anymore, so keeping them safe will keep you safe.
4. Be polite when communicating with medics. I know, we all get frustrated at the medic who thinks he’s a SMG. Or at the NanoMedic who constantly doesn’t communicate with the team and attempts to go off on his own. It happens. If you tell them, though, that they are a -Bleep-ing -Bleep-, they are more inclined to not only continue their play style, but to also play worse. Let’s face it, teamwork makes the dream work. Be polite and thank them when a teamfight goes well. If they are going off on their own, ping or ask them to come with you. Even if you have to tell them that you need them or can’t survive with out them. You may, but making them feel good will make you feel good after you’ve survived that teamfight thanks to the medic.