Mastering the nailgun

Post by **Foo** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:57 pm

Alright, this is a little condescending, but on servers I'm seeing LOTS of players who don't seem to understand how the nailgun should be used.

Think of the nailgun like a miniature rocket launcher. Essentially each nail is a mini rocket; they inflict splash damage. With the rocket launcher, you wouldn't bother aiming at someone's head, you'd aim at their feet. This applies to the nailgun too!

The nailgun excels as an escape weapon. Run backwards and throw nails at the floor. A chasing opponent will find they're bounding up into the air and can't start a decent strafe/chase you. This is especially powerful for flag runners. Also, since the nails take time to fly, you can be around the corner and away by the time the opponent gets to the nails... so in order to engage someone chasing you, you never actually have to risk exposing yourself to their railgun.

Public service announcement FOR THE WIN!

Post by **jester!** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:04 pm

How much damage does each nail do in a direct?

Post by **axbaby** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:09 pm

entityDef damage_nailSplash_mp
{
"damage" "30"
"radius" "75"
"knockback" "30"
"push" "0"
"gib" "0"

Post by **jester!** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:11 pm

Sweet thx, where did you find that?

Post by **axbaby** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:18 pm

i have the source code

check pak001.pk4 nailgun.def

Post by **jester!** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:20 pm

Ah thanks.

Post by **Oeloe** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:21 pm

I looked up the nailgun dmg in the MP guide, but there's some bollocks about rockets there: "If you're trying to avoid rockets, keep your feet off the ground."

Jumping when rockets are fired on you isn't smart. There's a big chance you do an unwanted RJ, leaving you in the air, waiting to die (by rail/SG or a second rocket usually). To avoid rockets, just walk opposite to where the rocket is heading.

Post by **Survivor** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:26 pm

Experience is the best teacher.

Post by **Requ!em** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:28 pm

jester! wrote:How much damage does each nail do in a direct?

http://ucguides.savagehelp.com/Quake4/weapons.htm

Post by **DRuM** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:10 pm

I also read about shooting nails at the feet and have tried it. It does work. What if you were to also strafe left and right spraying nails in the same way you'd spray the hyperblaster, or PG in Q3? Would that be effective too?

Post by **Foo** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:21 pm

DRuM wrote:I also read about shooting nails at the feet and have tried it. It does work. What if you were to also strafe left and right spraying nails in the same way you'd spray the hyperblaster, or PG in Q3? Would that be effective too?

It works, but nails are a lot slower than the HB or PG shots. It's possible to track someone as they jump from a ledge with the NG if you've practiced enough/lucky enough. Quite satisfying to get a midair with the NG

Post by **Oeloe** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:03 pm

Foo wrote:It's possible to track someone as they jump from a ledge

You mean lead. You can get some nice kills with it on close/mid range. I wonder at how many ups nails move (it's not in the .def file).

Post by **MKJ** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:29 pm

leading someone with a fastfiring weapon just aint as much fun as leading them with a single rocket and hitting them straight in the face :icon32: