Orbital strikes
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| Region | Const | System |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Maseend | Ana |
| Tash-Murkon | Ajah | Marthia |
| Kador | Trigentia | Kothe |
| The Forge | Otsabaira | Soshin |
| The Citadel | Nagaslaiken | Saikanen |
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| Tash-Murkon | Anidaza | Paye |
| Tash-Murkon | Rifenda | Iro |
| Tash-Murkon | Mimishia | Mimen |
| Derelik | Orshed | Tidacha |
| Devoid | Ryra | Dihra |
| The Forge | Orpana | Mastakomon |
| The Forge | Etsala | Vouskiaho |
| The Forge | Okkelen | Vahunomi |
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| The Citadel | Ieyama | Usi |
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| Lonetrek | Mito | Vuorrassi |
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| Sinq Laison | Wyllequet | Croleur |
| Sinq Laison | Spaen | Ney |
| Sinq Laison | Lolbrerie | Dodenvale |
| Sinq Laison | Jonenor | Estene |
| Everyshore | Giatole | Uphene |
| Everyshore | Elalan | Odixie |
| Everyshore | Chasnaye | Torvi |
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| Metropolis | Rollera | Eldjaerin |
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| Metropolis | Panorad | Dantbeinn |
| Metropolis | Tiat | Amo |
| Metropolis | Jonar | Freatlidur |
| Heimatar | Osta | Sist |
| Heimatar | Wiedadur | Rokofur |
| Heimatar | Akimamur | Offugen |
Orbital Strikes are military bombardements performed by EVE capsuleers on some planets in New Eden. They can have devastating effects on battles taking place in DUST. DUST battles can significantly influence Faction Warfare in EVE. The proportion of districts owned by each side in a FW system increases or decreases the number of Victory Points required to make that system vulnerable. Each fully controlled planet will shift the balance by 12.5%, and there can be up to four planets in a system resulting in a maximum shift of 50% VP [1].
Introduction
DUST is a First Person Shooter free to play game on Play Station 3 that takes place in New Eden and is directly connected with EVE. Players join as mercenary clone soldiers and form or enlist in corporations and alliances to fight in various battles. These battles take place on temperate planets in empire and faction space in New Eden. Each planet is divided into districts that can be owned by a faction or corporation, and events in EVE and DUST can heavily influence outcomes in one another including district or solar system ownership.
Orbital Support Conditions
EVE capsuleers can support their DUST allies by providing Orbital Strikes. EVE orbital strikes (aka bombardments) can only be requested in Faction Warfare or Planetary Conquest battles from capsuleers meeting the following criteria:
- Faction Warfare: EVE capsuleers must be in a corporation enlisted with the same faction (militia) as the DUST squad requesting support
- Planetary Conquests: EVE capsuleers must be in the same alliance as the corporation attacking or defending a district in DUST
Preparing for Orbital Support
Location
EVE capsuleers must travel to the planet where the battle is taking place in DUST. It can be very convenient to utilize Wormholes for faster travel, especially to distant systems. The location of the battle can be a challenge because:
- Faction Warfare: FW battles take place in a random district on a random temperate planet in one of the FW solar systems listed in Table 1. This can be problematic as pilots would not know the exact location of battle until it starts. Thus pilots should be prepared and ready to be mobile
- Planetary Conquests: PC battles take place in a specific district that a corporation either holds and defends or one that Terrestrial Logistics Officers choose to attack in an attempt to conquer from other corporations. These districts are all located in the Molden Heath region of Minmatar space. A live list of district ownership is available on DOTLAN. This means that anyone, especially pilots actively involved with PC battles, can know the exact time and place of the battle at least 24 hours in advance
Communication
EVE capsuleers must communicate with their DUST allies (e.g. Terrestrial Combat Officers, Squad Leaders, etc.) to coordinate activities and share intel. Pilots and mercenaries can join the same in game channels and use EVE Voice for communication. Counter support resistance and/or third party interference should always be expected.
Ships and Fitting
Most EVE ships can perform orbital strikes if properly fitted. However, gunnery destroyers are the most optimal ships for this role for many reasons:
- Orbital Strikes require specific types of ammo that should be used with small sized guns (Tactical Laser S, Tactical Hybrid S, Tactical EMP S)
- Gunnery destroyers have 8 high slots thus they can fit more guns than any other ships causing more damage
Note that the damage output is dependant on the type of ammo (lasers deal more damage) and the number of guns. Damage bonuses or meta level of the guns do not affect the damage output.
Additionally, destroyers are relatively not expensive and small enough to navigate in dangerous low-security space with ease. The following destroyers are thus recommended:
The Coercer, in particular, is preferred because lasers deal more damage in orbital strikes. Additionally, laser ammo can be switched almost instantly should the need arise and pilots can have a quicker reaction time to deal with hostile ships warping to grid. Thus, a PvP fit Coercer is optimal, see the example fit below.
Orbital Support
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
Gatling Pulse Laser II, Orbital Laser S
1MN Y-S8 Compact Afterburner
Fleeting Propulsion Inhibitor I
400mm Steel Plates II
Damage Control II
Small Ancillary Armor Repairer, Nanite Repair Paste
Small Energy Collision Accelerator I
Small Energy Locus Coordinator I
Small Energy Locus Coordinator I
Nanite Repair Paste x26
Orbital Laser S x1
Scorch S x8
Conflagration S x8
- Orbital ammo can be fitted on T1 guns
- The metal level of the gun doesn't affect the damage output for orbital strikes
- Damage bonuses do not affect the damage output for orbital strikes
- Lasers deal more damage than any other orbital ammo type
- The number of guns directly influence the amount of damage, thus guns should be grouped for maximum damage output
Performing Orbital Strikes
EVE capsuleers must travel to the solar system where the battle is taking place. Once in the system, the pilot can use the context (right click) menu to warp to the district satellite (e.g. Planets > Planet I > Districts > Ditrict 1 > Warp To). It is very important to note that once anyone is on grid with the sattelite even if cloaked, the sattelite will be visible on the overview of everyone else in system (similar to Cynos). This means that anyone can warp to the sattelite directly, which poses a lot of risk to the pilot. Thus pilots should be always watching local and D-Scan for any hostile ships.
Connecting to the District
To be able to receive orbital strike requests, pilots must connect to the district by clicking on the planet overlay shown in the picture (the blue circle on the planet surface). The pilot should always be within 10 KM of the district satellite at all times or else the connection will be lost and will need to be reestablished. Once connected, a confirmation message will be displayed and a new chat channel (District) will be opened, allowing the pilot and mercenaries to text and voice chat, if they haven't already been doing so using another channel.
The Strike Request
At this point, all the pilot can do is wait for a strike request.
On the Ground
Each individual mercenary fighting gains War Points for performing certain actions (e.g. killing enemies, providing logi support, taking objectives, etc.), and these add up to the total pool of WP for the squad. The squad should accumulate enough WP to request one of four tiers of Warbarge Strikes, with stronger types requiring more WP (these do not require EVE orbital support). However, in the presence of friendly EVE orbital support, the squad leader can request the much stronger Orbital Strike instead (comparable to the highest tier of Warbarge Strikes) for the minimum required amount of WP. This can shift the balance of a battle as one side has access to strong strikes much more frequently. Once the required value is reached (300 WP minimum), the squad leader can open their map and request a strike on a specific location or target’s coordinates.
In Space
All pilots connected to the district receive the orbital strike request from their affiliated squad leader. The request appears to the pilots in the form of an automatically locked target with the squad leader's portrait as shown in the picture. The pilots can then choose to fire their orbital ammo loaded guns against that location, causing devastating damage with the potential of clearing the area from hostiles. Only one pilot can fire their guns per orbital strike request, and as soon as one pilot fires the locked target is lost for all other connected pilots. Thus, the damage dealt by orbital strikes does not increase with more pilots. The only benefit of having more pilots is ensuring that any counter support or third party force can be more effectively dealt with.
The Strike
Friendly fire is enabled in FW and PC battles, hence the devastating strike can hit anything including friendly mercenaries, vehicles, and structures. The location should be carefully and accurately selected by the squad leader to make sure that there are hostiles in the vicinity and that it is free from friendly units. The pilot receives damage notifications and killmails for hitting anything in the vicinity. For FW battles, the pilot also gains LP with the militia for killing enemies. This video illustrates what orbital strikes look like in EVE and DUST simultaneously.
