Week 1 - South Sydney Skorpions - Prokhorovka Defence
Team Compositions
Panthers (Attacking) |
Skorpions (Defending) |
|
S. Conqueror (Twit) |
S. Conqueror (Auzzi) |
|
Vz. 55 (JS) |
S. Conqueror (Benny) |
|
Vz. 55 (Dastardly) |
60TP (Night) |
|
B-C 25 t (Goober) |
WZ-132-1 (JT) |
|
T-100 LT (LightningMan) |
WZ-132-1 (Russian) |
The Skorpions spiced up the traditional use of a light tank on Prokhorovka Defence by not only debuting the WZ-132-1, but bringing TWO! While not as fast as a T-100, the WZ-132-1 boasts a much stronger turret, higher alpha, and a more accurate gun while still having the mobility, camouflage and view range of a traditional Light Tank. Running Hardening increases their HP up to 1710, closer to that of a medium tank, which prevents against the HP disadvantage of running a double Light Tank and allows an unusual alternative to the traditional methods of obtaining map control on the eastern side of the map after initial spotting runs.
With such a light lineup, Skorpions needed a lot of well-armoured hull-down tanks to defend against an aggressive push, so the double S. Conqueror in A2 either shuts down or stalls a push, depending on how many tanks are committed to digging them out. While not spotted, it is assumed that at least one S. Conqueror will be in A2 on Prokhorovka Defence as losing this will give up critical map control of the 1-2 line.
The key anchor in the center of the map is the 60TP which is not only able to dig out potential S.Conquerors with HEAT or HE shells but also provides critical information regarding enemy positions. The more aggressive the 60tp can crest on the E line, the more information is given about where the enemy is NOT, which eliminates possibilities and allows for rotations early. It is also tasked with attempting to spot out the 1-2 line push which it is able to do if the enemy crests the 2 line ridge too far. Having line of sight on the gap between the bush-line was vital to spotting out LightningMan’s aggressive spotting run and prompting the WZ-132-1 rotation.
Week 6 - North Sydney Sentinels - Ghost Town Defence
Team Compositions
Bulldogs (Attacking) |
Sentinels (Defending) |
|
E-100 (AVP) |
S. Conqueror (Speed) |
|
E-100 (Ravvi) |
S. Conqueror (Syndy) |
|
Vz. 55 (Joeattora) |
E-100 (Monkey) |
|
B-C 25 t (Dark) |
E-100 (Wym0) |
|
B-C 25 t (MadHouse) |
IS-7 (Rainbow) |
As Ghost Town became a more and more popular pick, it was not uncommon to see a double B-C 25 t on the attacking side, either splitting to get early vision or map control, or pushing together to clear one side out. Sentinels countered this by sending an IS-7 straight to K3 to intercept a potential enemy B-C 25 t there. Normally, an IS-7 doesn’t have enough speed to make it to this position in time, however the Sentinels brought a very unusual loadout; Grousers, Turbocharger and Rammer, with a Removed Speed Governor! Normally, the IS-7 plays a more defensive role, running Hardening, Rammer and Vertical Stabilisers, and using this bizarre loadout allowed the Sentinels to unlock a new potential for tactics.
Upon arriving, Rainbow had far too much HP for the B-C 25 t to clip out by itself. This forced a retreat from MadHouse no sooner than had he arrived, putting him in a precarious crossfire!
Their double S. Conquerors pre-aimed the crossing back, ensuring at least one shot would connect from both them and the IS-7, leaving the B-C 25 t on critical HP while retreating. Meanwhile, the E-100s kept guard over Base 2 and were able to push on to Base 1 should a reset be required.
Having secured the southern side of the map, the E-100s and S. Conquerors pushed hard, utilising their deadly combination of HP and DPM to destroy the isolated Bulldogs E-100s with sheer numbers. Having bled out so much HP, the game was an assured victory for the Sentinels, before the other two Bulldogs tanks could even get into the fight.
Playoffs - Perth Panthers - Sand River Defence
Team Compositions
Sentinels (Attacking) |
Panthers (Defending) |
|
Kranvagn (SoYMilk) |
Kranvagn (LightningMan) |
|
S. Conqueror (Syndy) |
Kranvagn (Dastardly) |
|
Vz. 55 (Wym0) |
STB-1 (JS) |
|
STB-1 (Speed) |
STB-1 (Twit) |
|
STB-1 (Rainbow) |
B-C 25 t (Goober) |
Sand River has been notoriously difficult for teams to win on the attacking side, as the defenders will often hold static defensive positions and wait for the enemy to push into them. With the Panthers at Match Point, they subverted everyone’s expectations by utilising an aggressive push through the middle of the map instead!
The strategy began with the B-C 25 t doing a spotting run on the 7 line hill to get early information about where the Sentinels were moving. Having spotted nothing and not getting spotted in the process, Panthers immediately knew that Sentinels were playing the southern side of the map and an aggressive tactic would work, should Sentinels be splitting their forces.
Leaving the Kranvagn up north to cover against flanks and provide crossfire, the B-C 25 t moved south to the J line to set up a second line of crossfire for any tanks in F5. Meanwhile, the double STB-1 and Kranvagn pushed hard to surprise any tanks Sentinels had sent in the middle to attempt to get vision. The combination of DPM and burst damage forced the Sentinels onto the higher ground to attempt an escape, which put them in a three-way crossfire with no hopes of survival.
The Sentinels reacted by bringing the remainder of their forces in the south, who were previously out of the brawl, to the riverbed on the G-H line. Despite this, by the time they arrived the bleed into the total HP was enough to keep the momentum going for the Panthers, which was only amplified when the Kranvagn rotated to the F line hill to provide the high ground advantage.
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