Operation: Vengeful Eagle - Tactics and Concepts EXPLAINED

Just shy of a week before OP:VE I’ve started getting messages asking about the perceived incongruity of the point system that will be used for the game. If you’ve checked out the player’s guide you probably have noticed that the U.S. point system is generally higher than the P.L.A.V.’s. This is not an error, but rather is a specifically designed part of the game. While I was hoping the respective Comm Officers or other players would step up and start discussing tactics or strategy (and they very well may have), in the following post I’m taking it upon myself to explain why there is the difference in points and the reasoning behind it.

The first thing that must be considered is that the difference in teams is more than just cosmetic. That is to say that not only do the teams LOOK different, but they must essentially PLAY different as well. As stated in previous posts, this OP is set up with the OPFOR guys as the main aggressor. This is very different from most other events. As such this requires the P.L.A.V. to be aggressive for sure, but also smart. They must realize that their goal is not to just TAKE control points, but to KEEP them. It is true that any control point that is retaken by the U.S. will be a devastating blow to the P.L.A.V. With this in mind, it may be beneficial to realize that a control point may only be RETAKEN after it is ACTUALLY taken in the first place. This means that perhaps the P.L.A.V. might only flip and capture a point when they feel confident they can hold it.

(SITUATION: If two guys get to a flag, flip it, call it in, and then have no backup… What do you think are their chances of holding it?)

The U.S. on the other hand will have 2 ways to score. First, obviously, they can retake any control points they have lost (officially), but they will also get a very small amount of points for defending control points over extended periods of time. This means that strategy and gambling comes into play. Is it better to hold a point or attempt an ambush of careless P.L.A.V. players and retake for massive points? That’s a choice you guys will have to make.

For the P.L.A.V. there are other considerations as well. For example, as the P.L.A.V. captures control points they become respawn points (providing that they are not still being contested. This means that reinforcements for the P.L.A.V. are actually much more readily available than for the U.S. This does also open the door, however for heavy U.S. entrenchment on the next point. Once control points are taken the Comm Officers will move to the appropriate locations for the next phase of the game and things will move on.

In all actuality I’ve been concerned about the U.S. side’s ability to gain points in this game, but have set things to play to play to two distinct playing styles and strategies. If the P.L.A.V. isn’t aggressive and smart they will be destroyed by natural “kill-zones” when attacking and the fact that even after the P.L.A.V. retake of a point they will be down by 10 points (U.S. Retake = 20 ; PLAV Capture = 5 & Retake = 5). This is the same as a verification of an HVT. Similarly, if the U.S. doesn't figure out how to effectively retake control points and defend area's there is a very good chance they will be easily defeated.

Speaking of HVTs, these are bonus points really. If you want to come and play without even worrying about verifying HVTs then that is perfectly acceptable. If, however, you want to try verifying HVTs then there is something you have to keep in mind. While technically you can kill and call verify on an HVT at any point in the game, they will only be active at certain times. If you kill and verify one (get their card) when they are not active you have lowered your team’s potential HVT points from 50 to 40 and so on. They will keep playing, but will no longer be an HVT and their card cannot be cashed in later in the game.

PLEASE DISCUSS THIS AND POTENTIAL TACTICS BELOW. I’M GOING TO GIVE AN ABBREVIATED RUNDOWN OF THESE CONCEPTS AT THE GAME.