Req strategy : spreading or focusing ?

[Kesserline]

Let's take an example :

Beginning of the round, high-pop.
You have 240 points available.

_________________________________________________________

You can either go Heavy Weapons + regular attachments to the battalion :
- 3 HW crates (NV : net value : 102)
- 1 muzzle attachment crate (for BCs on HPRs and RCs on BR) (NV : 34)
- 3 big ammo boxes (for HPR loadout) (NV : 42)
- 1 BFA crate (for your BR attachy) (NV : 24)

Total cost of your early operation : 202 points.
You have enough points for your early metal/plasteel/sandbags first drop (especially if you grab the crates from firing range and upper engineering).
Especially because you have at least also 30 minutes to wait before the first drop, making the gain of even more points until you really need to order shits.

OR

Going full attachments for the battalion :
Two ways of doing that :
- 2 muzzle attachments crates (the advantage of having more EBs and RCs alongside BCs) NV : 88
- 2 underbarrel attachments crates (good for having BFAs and resplenishing a little your gyro and FG pools) NV : 88
- 2 rails attachments crates (good for the QFs + Rail scopes and resplenishing a little your RDS and MH pools) NV : 88

You have a total of 4 BCs/EBs/Supress/RCs, 4 BFAs/Gyros/FGs, 4 QF/Scopes/RDS/MH added to your attachments-pool, allowing you to supply about 22 weapons.

Total cost of the operation : 264 points. Difficulties to do it quickly, you need to let time between each elevator dance for the tick-rate-points. But you can do it. Yet, this will handicap your first building-materials order of the early round.

Second way is the focusing on the handsome and critical attachments
- MUZZLES, focusing on BCs, EB and RCs : X2 BCs (NV : 48), 1 EB and 1 RC (NV 48)
- UNDERBARREL, focusing on BFA, Gyro and FG : BFA x2 (NV : 48), Gyro 1 and FG 1 (NV : 48)
- Rail, focusing on QF, RDS and MH : QF x2 (NV : 48), RDS x1 and MH x1 (NV : 48)

You have a total of 52 attachments, for about 26 weapons geared :
- 4 BCs, 10 EBs, 5 RCs
- 6 BFAs, 5 Gyros, 10 FGs
- 4 QFs, 10 RDS and 8 MH

Total cost for the operation : 288 points. Impossible to do it quickly without ruining the early buidling-materials orders. Yet, you're set for the ENTIRE operation, especially with late waking marines.


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What would you think is best for an early round ?
More attachments battalion-wide with about 20 % to 25% more of marines who can have a decent loadout on their weapons ? (Of course, you can order a little less to have more flexibility on the first supplies orders)
Regular shit + specific badassness for only 6 marines ?

[Bronimin]

Neither, order 8 boxes of Suppressors x10 and grenade the attachments vendor accidentially

[GoliathTheDespoiler]

I just don't order attachments and do as requested.

On highpop you get alot of orders quickly, so its best to just save up or stockpile resources/points.

Attachments do like almost nothing, anyway, the USCM use them so snowflakes feel spehsul

[Kesserline]

Attachments do things. But people need to understand them.

I trained with only a MH pulse rifle at my first rounds. And then, I studied the attachments to get optimized loadouts depending on how I want to play.

Attachments are useful. There is neat difference between a Battle rifle vanilla and a RC+BFA Battle rifle. In terms of accuracy and DPS.

Saying that attachments are for snowflakes is a ego-argument, flattering yourself for not using them.

Not using them is not a good thing itself. Not needing them is.

We don't have the same high-pop rounds. Most of mines, Command let me live my life and I only get sporadic orders from LTs. You don't have orders in the first 30 minutes except building-materials.

After that delay, the first orders may concern Spec ammo (nade, sniper and RPG) depending on the skill and the survivability of said specs. Then, you need mostly regular bags of ammo, 100 stacks of metal to send.

And rarely : plasteel.

I usually, if the B18 is good, enforce a battalion-wide restriction on nade to allocate them specifically to the spec. And when he dies, I lift the restriction and proceed to distribute grenades again.

Req rounds are very linear.

[Symbiosis]

Attachments provide a noticeable benefit; but I almost never spend points on them.

Heavy Weapons Crates are alright. I like them mostly because it's fun for the player getting them. The A19 bullets are also pretty strong. Never give to a Spec.

Biggest "bang for buck" would be, IMHO, Grenades, Rockets, and Sniper Ammo. Specifically rockets. (super cheap for instant click stun!)

I'm not a fan of giant FOB's without reasons, so I generally only order 30 plasteel and 100 metal.

[Arbs]

Imo it's best to place priorities so to say. From the most essential to the least essential items.

Most essential: Building materials (Metal, plasteel, sandbags) and other necessary stuff for the operation (ammo etc)

Less essential but also important: Specialist ammo (grenades, rockets, sniper ammo), attachments

Least essential: Heavy weapons, extra expenses and so on.

Requests from other departments of the ship (research, medical and so on) can be prioritized according to their importance to the operation. For as long as you cover the essential needs of the FOB and keep marines and specialists supplied on ammo, you're doing good. Once that's sustainable, use any extra points for less essential expenses.

[spookydonut]

Spend all your round start points on metal, stamp invoices and you've got a lot of points left over.

[Kesserline]

You're a bit missing the point.

The thing is setting your early operation/round.

I set the example of the 240 starting points of a high-pop. Spending 240 points on metal would mean 3000u of metal.

This the beginning of your round 1200 to 1230.

[Steve_Rhino]

I spread the supplies. I send to Medical, Engineering, and the Key segments of the marine combat force (Aka Squad leaders, Specalists, Medics, and Engineers).

600 metal, 6 Rockets, 12 Inc sniper magazines, Grenades, Supply beacons, Medical supplies, Ammo boxes (M41A Normal & AP). 52/240 points left.
Maths and reasoning underneath.

The juicy bits:

► Show Spoiler

Here's the juicy bits for me. If I can, I order 600 metal. "Woah Steve! That's 120 points alone on metal! Are you nuts?!"
Ahh, here's the beauty of Requstions. Each metal shipment costs 10 points. That's 50 metal for 10. It comes with a crate. Send that back, it goes down to 5 points. Stamp the manifest it comes with, put it in the crate, and close it. Another 1 point.
Thus 50 metal = 4 points after everything is sorted.
So you spend 120 points at the beginning on items. But you get 60% of that left. So.. 48 points for enough metal supplies for numerous FoBs.
So.. 48 points for 600 metal. That's some distributed to Engineering for any projects that have (Let's say 100 sheets). Another few for Medical for emergency resupply of the bio printers (Let's say 50). 12 points keeps the ships mostly intact for fail safes.

So we're down to 450 metal left. Let's take out 100 for ourselves for the Racks. 350 metal left for any emergencies they might require down below.
Down to 192 points as well. (Little more due to time ticking up).

Check nade boxes. How many do you have? 2? Save one for 'Nade specalist. Let's assume no. If not, half for general marines, other half saved in back.
Rockets. Get that rocket marine some rockets. That's between 20-30 points. 30 points for AT, we'll bring this down to 26.
12 Inc mags for snipers. That'll be 60 points. It goes down to 48 points after everything.

All specialists armed: 74 points.
Down to 118 points.

General order supplies:
Supply Beacons. 20 points, brought down to 14 points. Every time a Supply beacon goes down, shove one in. Boom keep up the resupply lines. Don't wait for Command to ask you to send down one else it'll be too late.
Down to 14 points. 104 points left.

FoB Supplies:
Medical Crate for medics (20 points -> 14)
Ammo box M41A (20 points -> 14)
Ammo box M41A AP (30 points -> 24)
Some magazines and shells. (Nothing, you have these in your vendors).

A solid FoB with sustainability for marines. 52 points spent.
52 points remaining.

At this point, the points would of gone up due to the time it takes to get everything ready and such. But you get a good idea.

Occasionally, if there's a squad leader or marine that specifically needs some attachments I am out off, I'll tell 'em to come round and I'll buy something special. Mostly BC's, QFs, or occasionally a Heavy Weapons crate.

For Special-operations marines:

► Show Spoiler

Extras I might do if you're an elite marine or I like ya
Heavy Weapons box: 40 points
M41A Ammo box (For Heavy Pulse rifle): 20
M41A AP ammo box (For M4RA): 30
First Aid kit crate for backpack, self-sustainable. 20.
Ponts: 110 coming down to 92. Very, very strong marines. Only in capable hands. This I rarely do.

If the commanding officer orders you not to buy anything:

► Show Spoiler

Well. You're outta luck.

[Cry of Wolves]

I spread the supplies. I send to Medical, Engineering, and the Key segments of the marine combat force (Aka Squad leaders, Specalists, Medics, and Engineers).

600 metal, 6 Rockets, 12 Inc sniper magazines, Grenades, Supply beacons, Medical supplies, Ammo boxes (M41A Normal & AP). 52/240 points left.
Maths and reasoning underneath.

The juicy bits:

► Show Spoiler

Here's the juicy bits for me. If I can, I order 600 metal. "Woah Steve! That's 120 points alone on metal! Are you nuts?!"
Ahh, here's the beauty of Requstions. Each metal shipment costs 10 points. That's 50 metal for 10. It comes with a crate. Send that back, it goes down to 5 points. Stamp the manifest it comes with, put it in the crate, and close it. Another 1 point.
Thus 50 metal = 4 points after everything is sorted.
So you spend 120 points at the beginning on items. But you get 60% of that left. So.. 48 points for enough metal supplies for numerous FoBs.
So.. 48 points for 600 metal. That's some distributed to Engineering for any projects that have (Let's say 100 sheets). Another few for Medical for emergency resupply of the bio printers (Let's say 50). 12 points keeps the ships mostly intact for fail safes.

So we're down to 450 metal left. Let's take out 100 for ourselves for the Racks. 350 metal left for any emergencies they might require down below.
Down to 192 points as well. (Little more due to time ticking up).

Check nade boxes. How many do you have? 2? Save one for 'Nade specalist. Let's assume no. If not, half for general marines, other half saved in back.
Rockets. Get that rocket marine some rockets. That's between 20-30 points. 30 points for AT, we'll bring this down to 26.
12 Inc mags for snipers. That'll be 60 points. It goes down to 48 points after everything.

All specialists armed: 74 points.
Down to 118 points.

General order supplies:
Supply Beacons. 20 points, brought down to 14 points. Every time a Supply beacon goes down, shove one in. Boom keep up the resupply lines. Don't wait for Command to ask you to send down one else it'll be too late.
Down to 14 points. 104 points left.

FoB Supplies:
Medical Crate for medics (20 points -> 14)
Ammo box M41A (20 points -> 14)
Ammo box M41A AP (30 points -> 24)
Some magazines and shells. (Nothing, you have these in your vendors).

A solid FoB with sustainability for marines. 52 points spent.
52 points remaining.

At this point, the points would of gone up due to the time it takes to get everything ready and such. But you get a good idea.

Occasionally, if there's a squad leader or marine that specifically needs some attachments I am out off, I'll tell 'em to come round and I'll buy something special. Mostly BC's, QFs, or occasionally a Heavy Weapons crate.

For Special-operations marines:

► Show Spoiler

Extras I might do if you're an elite marine or I like ya
Heavy Weapons box: 40 points
M41A Ammo box (For Heavy Pulse rifle): 20
M41A AP ammo box (For M4RA): 30
First Aid kit crate for backpack, self-sustainable. 20.
Ponts: 110 coming down to 92. Very, very strong marines. Only in capable hands. This I rarely do.

If the commanding officer orders you not to buy anything:

► Show Spoiler

Well. You're outta luck.

I'm remembering this for future RO plays.

[Steve_Rhino]

I'm remembering this for future RO plays.

Glad it was that good! I look forward to seeing you as RO and how you play & improve on it! (Just please don't kick me outta line :P)

(A tip. When RO, your biggest strength is communication! Keep your cargo techs busy! Entrust them with responsibility and fun things to do. They'll generally be at their best then in my terms of playing. I'd suggest never put the crates on the pads until ready. I have seen too many times it be launched without anyone saying it was ready).

The most important part as well, have fun!

[Lumi Pharon]

While I would PREFER to spread the love, the reality is that focusing on kitting out robust marines round start is far, far more effective points wise.

Attachments (and for that matter, basically everything you buy with points) are force multipliers - so you can get a dramatic difference when given to robust or even simply competent marines, where as the general population is a lottery in terms of if the person you're giving shit to will actually be able to make the most of it.

[Solarmare]

You only really needed to have supplies ready beforehand when you had the cargo shuttle and it would take 4 minutes for the things an SO asked for if you had it just arrive. With the new elevator there's really not much of a need since you can do it as quick as you can order now. If you really wanted too, good to have metal in stock and a stack of plasteel with MA41 ammo backpacks.

Never order attachment crates though, unless you're floating a hundred points or such into an op.

[Steve_Rhino]

I find emergency essential supplies at hand really useful. If you're dipping into lower points later on, you always have these supplies on hand to send down. Plus you can keep up to date on stock easily. Such as metal etc. That said, I might have one stock of Plasteel or such, but everything else is gonna be made-to-order rather than pre-ready.

Attachment crates I *might* order at times, like RDS's if we're not through the Req rush and running low. 10 for 24 points. Not great, but it's pretty much 2.4 points for happy marines.

[Jonesome]

I'm not a fan of giant FOB's without reasons, so I generally only order 30 plasteel and 100 metal.

Nothing like a sadomasochistic RO.

[spookydonut]

You really don't need to order much plasteel, engineers waste so much of it on pointless plasteel barricades, metal is much cheaper and better for FOB construction.