:;,,,,;: ;LGL; :tjjLLLLLLjji;;,jffi :;ttjfLDDGDGGGLffLGGGfLi :jLLLjjtfE##DGfttjLK#WGjjft;: :iiijj;,,:tfjLEWEGLLffLKWELLLf ..... :tfjfDDDDGft; :tLGffEDGDDDDDGGff; :,ijf; :ifLLLLffLLGGGDt: tDGLLLLGGLGfjt: ;LGGLffLDj ;LjffjjGEKEDDDEKEDEEGLLfGt :;;;;GGGDt jGfjjjLGDEKKKWEDDGDEDffGf: tEDDLfDDGLLLGGDKEGGDEELGGGEELf; :;;;;;;;;fEDEEt :tffLGGDKKDLEjtfffLKfLLLDt jEDDDDDGGLfffGLjffft: tGDEKD;tDLfLGEKffLGDt iLLLffffEGLLLDDELjjf; iGLEKt..fDGDKKGfLLGDt DLGDEEKi: :,::LL,,;::;fGGGGfjLGDGt: :;tfjjfEGGLLGE ::.:jitLLfjffffLLGGGEWf GLfffffEKGjjtj .itiiji..:;ijLGGGKW#G: ;ffjfjjjfDEDfjji;;,:.tiiij;.::itfEWW#W###G: tKWL. ;tDKEEKWKKKGfGfjLLtjfffGDKW##;tK##Ki :itG##D;.:,tGKWWWWKEEKKDGDGDDDGjttGEEW## iK#Wj :jGGDKWEfjjjDEEKKKWKEEWWEEEEDLjjttiLDDEEL :i;. ;jjffGKGGDDGGGGGGGGDKEEEKWWWKKKEGjfffDEDEj tLtjDEEEGGGDGDGLGGGGDEEDLjjffLDKjiGLDEKKEt iLtfDEDKDEEDDEDDDEDEEKGjLDDEDLfDj.,;;;;i;: tGjfGEEEDLffLffffLGDDEfjDEDDKDjGt ;fffjfGDKDLfjjjjjfGGGKGjLDDEEGfDj GEtjfjjjfGEDDEDDGGLGKijt;jtDKL Created by TechDude, unfortunately, the formatting requirements killed it. If you want to see what it looked like BEFORE the 79 10-point character: http://techdude.topcities.com/omgitsamy250char.gif Thanks TD ____ ____ ____ / ___| | __ ) _ | __ ) ___ ___ _ __ ___ ___ _ __ | | _ | _ \ (_) | _ \ / _ \ / _ \ | '_ ` _ \ / _ \ | '__| | |_| | | |_) | _ | |_) | | (_) | | (_) | | | | | | | | __/ | | \____| |____/ (_) |____/ \___/ \___/ |_| |_| |_| \___| |_| Table of Contents ================= I ------- About this FAQ II ------ Boomer Introduction III ----- Basics a Strengths/Weaknesses b The Shots IV ------ Lobbing V ------- Hookshots VI ------ Backshots VII ----- High Angling VIII ---- Item Setups IX ------ Final Words X ------- Contact Me ======================== = NOTE = = ---- = = This guide is based = = on avatar off. While = = it is applicable to = = avatar on, realize = = that damages and = = other such things = = are directed towards = = the avatar off users = = since that's my = = personal sevrer = = preference = ======================== =================================================================== = = = Part I - About this FAQ = = = =================================================================== Author : Dissemble Email : nevertoomuchsoccer@yahoo.com Please read the Section 'Contact Me' before emailing Version : 1.1 Last Update : March 19, 2005 Game : Gunbound Version Updates: 1.1-March 19th, 2005 Added item setup/item setup strategy section Resubmitted .8 -March 2nd, 2005 Got rejected, probably due to low version number when there is an existing Boomer FAQ up Copyright Junk This guide was written by Dissemble, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without my specific written consent. I have no problem letting people host my guide, provided that they ASK FIRST. If you get permission to repost this, it must be kept exactly as-is, with no advertisements, banners, HTML, etc. Keep it as a text file. TO contact me, either to ask permission or you see this guide displayed elsewhere, see the Contact Me section. Thanks. This guide may be displayed on GameFAQs.com, linked to by Gamespot, or found on Supercheats.com. *Newest version will always be at GameFAQs/Gamespot* All ASCII art at the beginning of this document is Copyright (C)2004 Nick "TechDude" Green. And may not be used in any way without express permission from Nick "TechDude" Green. =================================================================== = = = Part II - Boomer Introduction = = = =================================================================== Boomer is one of the harder mobiles to master in this game. Unlike other bots, you can't just lob it across the screen for every shot. Wind affects the shots way too much, and causes them to do a variety of things, based on wind speed and direction. If you just start using Boomer, without a clue, it can get frustrating if you don't know what the wind'll do to your shot. However, all the different things you can do with Boomer makes it, IMO, a fun bot to use, even if it has a higher learning curve than most bots. Yes, Boomer can be fun, but when you're just learning it, it can be pretty frustrating. When I was learning Boomer, I gave up about 2 or 3 times before I finally stuck with it. So if you're really set on learning it, be prepared to spend a bit of time losing and missing. If you do intend to learn Boomer, kindly remember these: - Do not high angle every damn shot for the extra gold. I do high angle occasionally, but that's usually out of necessity as opposed to a compulsion to earn a little bit of gold - Do not PM me asking me to "teach" you Boomer. I don't really teach people bots, and I would only halfway consider it if you're someone I know at least kind of well. I get way too many requests for that as it is. Besides, I believe you learn it better if you go out and try it yourself, making mistakes and guessing, as opposed to someone telling you what angle/power to do - Accept the fact that just because the wind is against you, you can't always backshot far enough to hit. SO please don't spend 4 turns trying to backshot someone who CAN'T be backshotted from where you are - Also accept the fact that sometimes you can't do a full powered hookshot because the wind is too strong - Last thing you need to realize is that reading this in itself won't make you a better player. Nor will using hookshot charts, or formulas, or whatever. Except for high angling, which you sort of have to memorize, for everything else, I just guess. Guess as in I pick a random angle and (I use slice since I have a junky mouse) and just randomly decide, hey, this power might work, and let go. All there is to it =================================================================== = = = Part III - Basics = = = =================================================================== =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= a - Strengths/Weaknesses =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Boomer Types: +Hit +Creature Strengths: 4% More Damage to Shield Bots: -Mage -JD -Lightning -Asate 4% More Defense against Electric Bots: -JD -Grub -Lightning -Aduka Weaknesses: 4% Less Damage to Machines -Armor -Nak -Raon -Aduka -Knight -Bigfoot 4% Less Defense against Lasers: -Raon -Asate -Mage -Knight -Aduka Pros: + Huge Angle + Lots of money (or, money gold, as some may say) + Decent movement/climbing + Lots of damage Cons: - Low HP/Defense - Anti-boomer bots seem to be gaining popularity - Not really good at bunging - So many other people use it too =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= b - The Shots =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Shot 1: Base Delay: 730 A single projectile, like the other Boomer shots, very light. Usually around 150-ish, less on high defense bots Shot 2: Base Delay: 880 Four shot 1s clustered together to look like a single shot, but it also hits 4 times, so if there's a little land in the way, you can still deal some damage. However, this also means that weather effects, like Force, my personal favorite, will cause the shot to deal a lot more damage SS: Base Delay: 1280 The Boomer SS is one of the most powerful in the game. It takes a little time to "activite", and if it hits prior to that, you'll get junky damage. Hitting 500 damage with this shot isn't uncommon. One of the major downsides, well, pretty much the huge one, is you can't always use it. Sometimes the wind just won't allow you to, given your position in relation to the opponent. Or, there might be land in the way if you're trying to lob it with a higher angle in order to increase air time. And yes, it's incredibly annoying when you can't get a shot off due to constraints like that, but there's not really anything you can do about it. Boomer is the bot with the shots most affected by wind. Unlike most bots, where you simply need to adjust a little to deal with wind, and 1 wind won't totally throw your shot off. The shots you can do with Boomer depend on what the wind speed and direction is. I'll go on to describe each of these shots, excluding the basic lob shot and shot gun. =================================================================== = = = Part IV - Lobbing = = = =================================================================== Alright, to be blatent, I don't care HOW many trick shots you can do, or how well you can UHA hoar. Lobbing is important. Lobbing is necessary when you can't backshot, and UHAing isn't exactly impressive, you need to learn to lob, no questions asked. Lobbing occurs when the wind is either going in the diraction you're shooting, or is going against you, but not strong enough to hit. There's not really much I can say about lobbing, and I'm not a fan of formulas, so I won't provide those. Realize that boomer has a light shot, ESPECIALLY in upwinds. When you have winds like 20 upwind, that switch from 20 to 21, or 22, will make a difference if you're using higher angles, such as 70 or 80. In high upwinds, the shot will become very "floaty", and take quite some time to land, as well as traveling further, much further than any other bot, since Boomer's have the lightest shot in that sense in the game. If you have trouble hitting, try to generally use the same angles to lob, my personal preference being either 40 or 70, depending on the situation, and occasionally 80. You'll develop a feel for shots on those angles, and be able to guess more accurately. That does NOT mean landmark 10 different power shots with your angle. Just be patient, and you'll start to know where the shots'll land, not because you can memorize locations, but because you actually KNOW your bot. There's not really much instruction to lobbing, you'll need to practice it on your own. =================================================================== = = = Part V - Hookshots = = = =================================================================== This is the shot that naturally happens when the wind is going against you (to clarify, when the wind is going in the opposite direction from you that your opponent is. A hookshot angles downward in the air Junky ASCII Version of a Hookshot: Wind Meter Thingy <---(some number 2 or greater) /`\ / \ / `\. / `\. (Boomer) (Opponent) When possible, I prefer to use the full-power hook shot for two reasons: 1.) Doing a full powered drag shot takes little, if any, extra time at all, so I won't get a few seconds worth of delay added to my shot 2.) It's a lot easier to miss the correct amount of power on a shot that isn't a full powered shot. So, after you've hit, assuming you watch the wind and your angle, it's sort of hard to miss (unless one of you moves) So what you do you pick an angle you think might hit (this takes some time to learn how to judge), and do a full powered shot against the wind. It should hook downward, sort of like in my stunning ASCII picture above. The way the shot hooks depends on the wind. If the wind is going up and against you, then it'll be a gentler slope down, and go farther. If the wind is going downward, it's be a sharper, steeper slope. If they're an inch away from you, don't try to look all pro and whatnot and try an angle 86 hook or something. Just lob it. Hookshots don't make you extra gold or anything, so don't try to do a fancy shot when they're right there. I myself would rather lob, or, if I happen to be set up in the position for it, I'll shotgun them. I'm personally in favor of the 'I'd rather win hit and win the game than possibly miss and lose it', and chances are, your teammates are like that too. If your shot isn't a full powered one when you use a higher angle, there's the chance it'll curve back behind you, resulting in a backshot, But I'll describe backshots later. The closer you are to someone, the more likely it is to hook back (since you're using a higher angle). 10 wind might not cause an angle 62 shot to go behind you, but it may cause an angle 82 shot to. If the wind is strong, it might hook back anyway. Don't even bother trying to hookshot if the wind is like 21 against you. High winds and angles too high for that wind will cause it to go back. In the event you're put up against wind that curves back on you when you try to shoot, or you know it will, use a lower angle. The higher the wind, the lower the angle that you need to use to make sure it doesn't come back and hit you in the face. Generally, angles under 40 don't come back at you (well, don't use like half a cm of power). Doing it this way still gives your shot a slight hook, but now it looks like: ______-~-______ __---"" ""---___ (Boomer) as opposed to the steeper sloped ASCII version earlier. If the wind is going pretty much horizontal, it'll usually hook on about 2 wind. If it's going much closer to the down or up arrows than the horizontal ones, it may not hook until 5 or so, or sometimes even 12 or 13 if it's really downward in direction. *FAKE WIND* - This is what I and some of my friends refer to as "fake wind. If the wind is EXACTLY horizontal, and one wind, it may hook. This is somewhat rare, but if you see one wind hook, no, the game is not broken. It's merely attempting to annoy you by making it more difficult to predict where your shots will land. So go sacrifice some raon babies to the gunbound gods and maybe you'll appease them enough to stop sending confusing/annoying wind. =================================================================== = = = Part VI - Backshots = = = =================================================================== Next up is the backshot. Unlike the Hookshot, the backshot does bring in extra gold: the backshot bonus. A backshot with boomer essentially looks like this: Wind Meter Thingy 10 -> \`-. \ `-. (B) `(Oppoent) The wind must be going in the same direction as your opponent is from you. (If you look in the stunning diagram above, the person wants to shoot right, and the wind is going right). First, you need to realize that: YOU CANNOT ALWAYS BACKSHOT The wind may simply be not strong enough or the opponent too far away. I absolutely HATE playing on teams with people who can't accept that fact. Alright, now that we got that squared away, we can continue. What a backshot basically is, as shown in my wonderful diagram, is where you shoot out in front of you, and the wind carries it behind you to hit someone. (Remember how wind against you can bring your shot behind you if you use a high enough angle and either too little power or there's too much wind? That's what a backshot is) My personal angle of preference for backshotting is 70. If 70 is just outside of my true angle, I don't mind using like 67 or so. Realize that if your angle is too low, especially with lower wind, like 2 or 3, the shot may just hook out in front of you. Higher power can also cause it to hook forward if it's a low wind and angle For most angles, 2 bars of power, or half of the full guage, is the near the maximum shot for backshotting, otherwise, it'll actually go less distance. The maximum distance and the angle/power needed to achieve it is based on the wind speed and direction. Generally, if it's low numbered wind, and/or pretty downward orientated, you're best off going with 2 bars or so. If it's higher numbered, and/or pointed upward, around 2.3 or so bars of power might get better distance. So what you actually do to backshot is face away from your opponent, with the correct type of wind, and take a guess at about how much power you need. Obviously, with more distance, you'll need more power. Again, this is something you need to learn to judge. I can't possibly type out a chart with all the possible wind variations, directions, and distance from your opponent. In addition to the amount of wind, the direction is important. Wind that is going downward will bring your shot down faster. Wind going more upward will carry it farther. Now, when backshotting, there's pretty much three main types: Regular Backshotting: Angle: Usually in the ball park of 70 or so Power: Usually around 2 bars or under Description: The most common type. You shoot forward, and it does a curve back, not really a sharp angle, a bit more gradual than that. This is my personal preference for the most part, since it's applicable most of the time, and usually fairly accurate. High Angled/Hooked Backshotting: Angle: Usually around 75 and higher, though with enough power can be done with lower angles such as 70. Power: Dependent on the angle, the higher the angle the less you need. Around 70, it's around 2.5 bars or more, adjust from there. Description: Less useful, but still applicable to some situations. I use this to bypass land that would otherwise be in the way of a normal backshot without digging through it. What it looks like more is a sharp angle/cornerlike thing as opposed to a more gradual curve. It then goes downward at a steeper angle, depending on the angle you shoot with. What this allows you to do is shoot upward, and have it go down a steep angle, allowing you to bypass a high land mass that may be right next to you, and your opponent on a lower elevation. Occasionally, this may be the only way to hit with some of the wind the game throws at you. Not as useful, applicable, well, practical application, as the regular backshot, but worth learning. Lower Angled and Higher Powered Backshotting Angle: Usually below 70, probably 65 and down Power: Dependent on angle, I usually use around 2 bars, though you can use more. Description: The only time I really use lower angles is to get the air time required for the SS. I don't really like using full powered or 3-barred shots (3 barred on the lower angles) unless for some reason I have to. Full powered hook shots are generally more inaccurate, and leave a larger margin for error. The only practical use I can see for lower angles is to get your SS, else, I wouldn't reccommend wasting time learning full powered shots. =================================================================== = = = Part VII - High Angling = = = =================================================================== Well, more specifically Ultra High Angle Shots. While High Angling can be extremely accurate, please don't overdo it. Unless you're trying to use the Boomer SS, please don't be one of the Money Whores that feels obligated to high angle even when their opponent is an inch away to get their 45 extra gold. I myself never use high angling for angles closer than 86 or so, unless there's a major difference in elevation. That said, we can continue. Most people refer to 'High Angling' as getting an 'Ultra High Angle' (UHA) shot, which normally consists of a full powered shot a pretty high angle. ____________________________________________________________ | | | WM | | | | | | | | | | | | (| |____________________________________________________________| Pretend the little "(" is your mobile; you can only see half of it when you measure out angles this way. The little WM is the Wind Meter. The angles here only apply for null wind, that is, 0-1 wind, and you may have to adjust an angle for 2 wind. These angles are for full powered shots in null wind on pretty much level land. If they're half a screen above you, you'll need to just use a lower angle, and vice versa. + Angle 81: The full width of your screen + Angle 86: About a centimeter out from the closest side of the wind meter. In the gorgeous ASCII version of your screen above, an Angle 86 shot would land about a cm to the right of the right edge of the wind meter + Angle 85: About a centimeter to the far side of of the far edge of the wind meter. Diagrammed above, it would land about a cm to the left side of the left edge of the wind meter Everything in between, you have to guess, but that get's fairly easy after some practice. If the person is more than a screen away, look where the screen's width is, and measure from that point. So if say you knew that the person you were shooting was 4 angles away from where your angle 81 is, just do 81-4=77, and try using 77. Obviously, the person may not always be perfectly in line with an angle: you may have to move, hope they move, or just do a little less than full power on some shots. =================================================================== = = = Part VIII - Item Setups = = = =================================================================== NOTE: These are AVATAR OFF-based, and pretty much assume you have more than like... duals enabled, since when there's only one item on, I would REALLY hope you don't need to be told which items to use. If so, you pretty much shouldn't be here. Dual - Medkit - Bandaid - Wind Change ===================================== --Thanks to Novasol for a description of his item setup-- Well, it's a defensive setup, which seems counter-intuitive at first, given how fragile Boomer is, but there's a reason for it. Simply put, the longer a Boomer can stay in a fight, the higher the chance it has to win, because very few bots can withstand a prolonged Boomer pummelling. Between the Boomer's ability to hide, the healing items, and the windchange to throw off enemy aim, you actually have a good way to keep yourself in the fight much longer than normal, especially at range. The Boomer SS is especially important in this scenario -- since you only have one Dual, you need to rely on the SS as a way to deal heavy damage fairly frequently -- treat it as a Dual that refreshes itself. Try not to use the Dual unless your SS is already used, or if you need to dig to hit your target first. The windchange isn't there for your own utility, it's there to interfere with the enemy. You CAN use it for your own shot purposes, but optimally, it's there to prevent critical Duals and such from the enemy. Bandaid - Wind Change - Dual - Dual+/Wind Change x2 - Dual - Dual+ ================================================================== This is my own preferred item setup. Obviously, it's more offensive-orientated, to take advantage of Boomer's high damage shots, while you live. Due to having high effects from the weather with the multi-part shots, use the dual+ during weather, more specifically, to take advantage of force or thor. Same goes with the SS. Use the dual to pretty much finish your opponent off, or if someonme else can, because 1500-1600 delay is quite a hefty amount. In addition to being used for weather's added damage, the dual+ can be used to counter SS shots, especially in situations where the person does such a thing first turn. For example, first turn, Thor is on, melee with an asate, the sate SSes, which is around 1300-ish. The dual+ will gave you around 1100 delay, and with Thor, is likely to deal enough that you'll delay the person and finish them off with a dual. It's not really something you can teach, but you'll end up getting a feel for the items. Heal is pretty self explanatory. Just note that due to Boomer's low ability to take hits, try to use the heal earlier on, since if you're in the red hp and use the bandaid, chances are, your heal won't bring you enough HP that a dual by most bots won't take you out anyway. So you your heal earlier on, and when you can spare the delay if possible. The wind change has a dual purpose: one is to screw up the other person's shots, especially if you know they're going to dual or ss or something the following turn due to things like Thor or your low HP, either they don't notice, dual, and fail spectacularly, or they need to adjust and hopefully miss. The other is for when you get wind that makes your shot very difficult to make (IE, 25 up and with wind), or in some cases, you actually cannot hit, which is most annoying in levels like Adiumroot and Metamine B, where there are no wind changes. If you cannot hit the other person due to high amounts of hookwind and bad spawns, well, you're in trouble. =================================================================== = = = Part IX - Final Words = = = =================================================================== Some of this may be a reitiration of what I've said before, but you'll live. Just a few key points: - You cannot become a pro boomer user simply by having read this. Reading helps, but you need the correct shots to become somewhat of an instinct. That's something you can't learn by reading this. Oftentimes, I'll do what we call in our GameFAQs games 'STUPID SHOT TIME', where I'll dual, dual +, or SS at a shot I haven't even done a test shot for, many times over a full screen away. And I hit pretty often. It's instinct; I've played Boomer enough that I can guess those pretty accurately. I can't teach you that - Realize that sometimes the backshot just can't reach. Don't spend 5 turns trying to backshot someone if they're out of reach. Just turn around and lob it - Don't be a complete money whore. Believe it or not, you don't HAVE to do an UHA shot with Angle 89 if the person's right there, ESPECIALLY if you are outside of true angle. If you are using the SS, I can understand. But if you're taking ALL your shots like that, especially when you're missing, I get a bit annoyed. =================================================================== = = = Part IX - Contact Me = = = =================================================================== Email: nevertoomuchsoccer@yahoo.com If you're going to mail me, PLEASE put Gunbound FAQ or something similar to identify your mail in the subject, otherwise I may delete it as junk mail. Feel free to mail me if: -You have a correction to make to something I said, whether a grammatical correction, or an informational one -You have a contribution to add, whether it be strategies, tips, avatar sets, whatever -You've got a question that I haven't answered -You're going to yell at me for my laziness of having not finished the FAQ before I posted it Do NOT mail me if: -You have a question and it's answered in this FAQ already, but you just haven't looked (yes, I know I'm a hypocrite, telling you all not to be lazy and actually look for it) -You're going to beg (OMG YOU'RE A WAND SO YOU MUST BE RICH SO YOU CAN AFFORD TO GIVE ME FREE ITEMS!111 doesn't work. It actually will make me regard you as another idiot who doesn't seem to realize that if/when I give stuff away, why should some unknown person I don't even know benefit off my hard work? If anything, it's going to a friend) -You are one of the people that uses 'AOL-Speak" and it renders your message utterly incomprehensible. This is an email to a person you probably don't know, it won't absolutely kill you to spend a few seconds adding the y and the o to 'you'. -You're trying to scam me. Saying 'Go to (insert scam site here) for free avatars and gold' doesn't work on me, I'm sorry. I'd like to give thanks to all the people that I've regularly played Gunbound with, there's way too many of you guys to list, most notably Novasol, Sol, and 404Error. Then, of course, CJayC for this site. Thanks Nova for writing up his item setup description also