"I always let the Vanguard die."

[Dragon Zero]

Kill stealing? Hell, the Infiltrators and Soldiers (or anyone with a high damage sniper rifle) tend to kill much more than I do! More often than not they will kill the enemy I was going to charge to refill my Barrier. Then again, I've never really given a full commitment to Nova so maybe I'm doing something wrong. I tend to charge and let the shotgun do the heavy lifting. Hell, I'll be the first one to tell you not to revive me if I get in a bad situation, usually following up with how it serves me right. The point I'm trying to make is that you can't just put it down to the class, you should look at the Player. If they seem to only be in it for the killing, then they're playing the wrong game, it's about team work and playing to the strengths of your classes.

 

[boag]

NOTE: I DO NOT ENDORSE LETTING THE VANGUARD DIE. I DO NOT SUPPORT IT. STOP THINKING I DO. READ, READ, READ, READ, READ.

Has anyone else noticed this trend in ME3's multiplayer? When the vanguard goes down, they seem to be substantially less likely to be picked up. It's not because of bad teammates or because they're in a troublesome area (though that can often be true), it's because vanguards are annoying as all hell.

Usually a vanguard player is the standard human and they'll spam charge and nova until everything around them is dead. The issue is they'll charge any enemy - so that sniper you've been slowly picking the shields at and are ready to start doing some serious damage? The team vanguard is more than happy to help you out with that. Finally kick the barriers off of that Banshee? Here comes the vanguard. They'll usually lead the team by around 20k points on a bronze challenge.

I don't generally subscribe to the "let the vanguard die" meta game, but I just got out of a match where I gave it a go. I felt terrible about it, but I ended up doing a mark better than him. Plus, I actually had fun playing while he was down, without the constant killsteals from him (though the infiltrator on the team got in quite a few himself, the sneaky bastard). It's not something that I'll make a habit of, but it was made quite clear that the vanguard class is a broken, overpowered character.

So, Escapists, my question is this: Do you let the vanguard die? If not, what tactics do you adopt to stay competitive with one?

If I am playing Infiltrator, it is my Job to go pick up the Vanguard and anyone else that falls down.

It is also my job to do the hacking hacking of stations and disabling of reaper devices.

Not sitting like an asshat shooting shit because LOL SNIPERS RULEEEEEE

 

[Yeager942]

ME3 multiplayer is the epitome of dumb fun, so I go with the champion of pure dumb fun itself: The Vanguard. Charge is honestly the most entertaining ability in the game ( Next to double, pull field slam spamming. Just saying that sounds fun.).

 

[kidd25]

But the vanguard are trying to help the team or just get points. But as long as i'm charging with my adapt holding a sniper rifle. Yes i'm just a suicidal as a vanguard.

 

[Marcus Kehoe]

Yeah those who are letting them die are playing bronze, in silver and above they are much appreciated.

More I do have to let the vanguard die because I'm playing engineer and I can't make it to them. If I am my usual class Infiltrator I will go out of my way to revive you.

 

[teh_Canape]

I am an infiltrator, though I must admit, using vanguards is pretty damn fun with shit like Charge or Shockwave
so I more often than not save them, usually hacking the turrets, cloaking and hauling ass to get the vanguard up

though I must admit, that's mostly when I'm paying attention
I spend most of the time playing snoipah with the Geth Rifle ^-^

 

[nuba km]

NOTE: I DO NOT ENDORSE LETTING THE VANGUARD DIE. I DO NOT SUPPORT IT. STOP THINKING I DO. READ, READ, READ, READ, READ.

Has anyone else noticed this trend in ME3's multiplayer? When the vanguard goes down, they seem to be substantially less likely to be picked up. It's not because of bad teammates or because they're in a troublesome area (though that can often be true), it's because vanguards are annoying as all hell.

Usually a vanguard player is the standard human and they'll spam charge and nova until everything around them is dead. The issue is they'll charge any enemy - so that sniper you've been slowly picking the shields at and are ready to start doing some serious damage? The team vanguard is more than happy to help you out with that. Finally kick the barriers off of that Banshee? Here comes the vanguard. They'll usually lead the team by around 20k points on a bronze challenge.

I don't generally subscribe to the "let the vanguard die" meta game, but I just got out of a match where I gave it a go. I felt terrible about it, but I ended up doing a mark better than him. Plus, I actually had fun playing while he was down, without the constant killsteals from him (though the infiltrator on the team got in quite a few himself, the sneaky bastard). It's not something that I'll make a habit of, but it was made quite clear that the vanguard class is a broken, overpowered character.

So, Escapists, my question is this: Do you let the vanguard die? If not, what tactics do you adopt to stay competitive with one?

well I often find other vangaurds to simply pick off the weakest enemies around, when I play as a vangaurd I always try and head to the areas that my team aren't focusing on, as I hate stealing someones kill, though sometimes I have to steal someones kill as the moment you stop using biotic charge you are left without a shield and easy to kill so the instinct is to biotic charge the first thing you can. The only two reason I die is because I am taking on multipal phantoms by myself and one gets a insto kill on me/a atlas gets an insto kill on me or I am too far away form my team when I am downed. the point I am clumsily trying to make is that a vangaurds job isn't to kill the weakened enemies but rather weaken and distract the enemies so his team mates can finish them off, you are the first into the field of battle so you can to that, I don't get those vanguards who hang back and just go in for the kills.

Also as for vangaurds being I broken class I have to disagree, they are merely the most aggressive and there fore the highest damage dealers so they get the most points, the soldier is a close second being able to keep his distance and be generally more defended and better equipped then a vangaurd. The engineer is able to easily get foes behind cover with his drone who can be upgraded to deal pretty good damage, the drone also acting as a tank for the engineer at times. sentinel has less firepower then the soldier but better defense. Infiltrators can easily get out of tough situations and use their cloak ability to deal massive damage. Adepts are great at forcing the movement of their foes out of cover and to disable them, leaving them open to be shot at. All these classes are for the most part equal in usefulness just that the less likely they are to go down in battle the lower their damage out put in battle is as well meaning less points. Making the assumption that vangaurd is overpowered is like saying that medics in battle field are overpowered as they den't to get the highest scores, its just they do things which get you points.

I also have experience with all of these classes as in the mass effect 3 multiplayer demo I got them all up to at least level 10, so I know what I am talking about.

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

I play a Krogan Soldier. Half the time I forget I even have a gun. And to be honest, I don't go stupid with it. I always stay within a reasonable distance of the team while my snowplow of a forehead breaks faces. I can't imagine why it'd be any different for vanguards.

 

[SpaceBat]

I've had a bit of trouble with this myself and I'm a male human vanguard. I started playing multiplayer just after reading this thread, so I decided to be extra careful during waves. I usually tend to focus more on survival rather than getting the most kills, but I decided not to attack lone enemies that are being beaten by my teammates. I usually go for fresh kills or groups, but still try to stick somewhat close to my team in case they need help. For some reason though, people just refuse to revive me.

I literally played a couple of matches in which I saved the asses of my teammates many times, never required revival and tried not to "kill steal" and I still saw a couple of people just ignoring me and walking right fucking past me.

If I kill the enemy you were concentrating on, it's not because I dislike you, want to take all possible kills and kill steal you at every moment I get. Vanguards are supposed to be played aggressively (with a strategy in mind, of course. Can't just do random shit and expect to get away with it). I have to be on the move and I have to keep my shields up and I usually just don't have the time to observe what you're doing.

 

[Gitty101]

Never leave a man behind. I mostly play as an Infiltrator, but play as a medic most the time. Somebody goes down, no matter who/where they are, cloak on, run to their aid.

 

[Knight Templar]

I always roll Vanguard and I am a big team player.
If I'm not watching out backs I'll position myself so that hostile units cannot spawn where we are surrounded. I have a light set making me more or less unable to deal with boss units aside from phantoms. So I just spam shockwave at them and give my teammates time to kill them, picking off the little ones as I recharge. Charge allows for Vanguards to be great medics, pop right to the downed team member and clear out the area for them to run for it and get shields back.

That said many Vanguard I see are foolish. They charge off from the LZ when we are moments from evac, or charge into boss units/a mess of hostile units and expect a revive. They either never use Nova or use it with no plan to survive the lack of shields. They play the class as if it is the single player, where dying isn't a big deal and you have more powers than your own. Idiots.

You get points for doing damage, the person getting the kill might get fewer points than the assist, so don't worry about that. Let such infighting be saved for the lobby, your real foe is out to kill you, do not blame your allies for being good at killing this foe. If they get themselves in a position where you cannot save them, then that is how the dice fell and you are not letting them die, you are refusing to kill yourself in the vain attempt to save them. But if you can save them then do so, a extra gun is worth it.

 

[Texas Joker 52]

I normally try to revive any teammate that goes down, seeing as I prefer to play as a Quarian Infiltrator, which is a surprisingly popular class. The only problem is, they usually get revived before I get there, or they happen to be so far away, they get curb-stomped, which instantly makes me say, "Oh shit, I'm sorry dude!", then I immediately kill everything around their inert body as an attempt to avenge their death. That, and as an Infiltrator, I also go "Ok, I'll get the objectives, you guys stay safe and kill some shit!".

Besides, if I end up dying, I usually tell people to leave me. After all, its probably because I did something monumentally stupid, and hell, I deserve the death.

 

[Luke3184]

No love for the Salarian engineer? Well fine ¬_____¬

OT: I'll pick up a vanguard if he/she's down, it is a team gamer after all.... You know who I wouldn't revive? That one guy at the end of a silver, or even gold match, that decides the best thing to do whilst waiting for extraction is to run at the Banshee/Atlas/Prime with 10 seconds on the clock. Yeah, f*ck that guy.

 

[Risingblade]

Sometimes, I know it's a team based game but I'm there to play not to watch you kill.

 

[a ginger491]

I see the vanguard as well, being a vanguard. A front line unit that is expendable. I try to revive people as much as possible, particularly because I've had so many times when I am downed right next to a team mate who then keeps fighting, gets overwhelmed because I've been taking out all the guardians with my widow, and then leaves me to rot. Most of the time when a vanguard is downed trying to help them only makes things worse because they are in the middle of the enemy ranks. So attempting to revive them will most likely result in your death as well. I think the knowledge that it's unlikely to be revived when incapacitated adds to the risk/reward element of the class.

 

[boag]

No love for the Salarian engineer? Well fine ¬_____¬

OT: I'll pick up a vanguard if he/she's down, it is a team gamer after all.... You know who I wouldn't revive? That one guy at the end of a silver, or even gold match, that decides the best thing to do whilst waiting for extraction is to run at the Banshee/Atlas/Prime with 10 seconds on the clock. Yeah, f*ck that guy.

Decoy is a beastly skill, <3 Salarian Engis.

Also Quarian Infiltrators are a god send against Geth.

 

[a ginger491]

I play a Krogan Soldier. Half the time I forget I even have a gun. And to be honest, I don't go stupid with it. I always stay within a reasonable distance of the team while my snowplow of a forehead breaks faces. I can't imagine why it'd be any different for vanguards.

Clamore shotgun + krogan soldier + drell adept to pull shields off those pesky guardians for the krogan X 2= Most OP team in the multiplayer mode.

 

[latenightapplepie]

The Scoreboard is irrelivant, it doesn't affect your EXP or Credit gain at the end of the match. So...who gives a shit?

I don't care about the scoreboard. I mean, I'd like to be on top. But winning the match as a team and getting a Full Extraction is more important to me.

That, and you know, having fun.

 

[CCountZero]

So, Escapists, my question is this: Do you let the vanguard die? If not, what tactics do you adopt to stay competitive with one?

That's pretty much exactly what my best mate is doing, and yes, it can get a little annoying.

I didn't mind having to work my ass off to keep up with him in Bronze, and it's easier in Silver 'cus he's being more careful about it to avoid dying all the tine.

However, when you're trying to headshot an enemy, something which is fairly easy to do for a Soldier using the M-13 Raptor, it gets problematic when the Vanguard, or anyone else using heavy AoE abilities, starts making enemies fly all over the place.

It's a great tactic for the Vanguard, but as far as I can see, it lowers the performance of everyone else.

Also, no, it doesn't really matter who's on top of the scoreboard. But, if you're failing in Silver by getting overwhelmed, then you need to ask yourself why you aren't killing the enemies fast enough.

And frankly, I often find myself thinking that if only the Vanguard wasn't making enemy movement unpredictable, we'd all have more headshots and ability hits.

---------------------------------------

As for the original question, no, I don't let the Vanguard die. I'm not vindictive, and we're still better off with the Vanguard alive.

And my tactic is working my ass off, trying to aim for something he isn't, and otherwise just spamming Frag 'nades whenever there's four enemies, or something with a lot of health.
Those 'nades are awesome.

 

[FateOrFatality]

I despise Vanguards.

I play as an Infiltrator quite a lot, and there is nothing I dread more than the biotic charge that makes your screen shake like an earthquake has just hit. It ruins countless headshots and is extremely annoying.

They also steal tons of kills. Sure, you get assist points but the game gives an unproportionate amount of points to whoever gets the kill, even if I've taken down all their shields and half their health.

And do you know why Vanguards are left to die a lot of the time? I can't speak for bronze, but I play on gold and when a Vanguard shoots of across the map alone it often really screws over the entire team. Sticking together is extremely important on gold, so when a team mate ends up bleeding out on the other side of the map, surrounded by enemies (often multiple brutes and banshees, etc.) there is no way we can revive him. Or if one or more of the team tries to, that often means the entire team will die.

tl;dr Vanguards are bad for everyone that isn't themselves.