Player Vs Player
PVP is an important part of the game and no guide would be complete without looking at this subject. By its very nature
PVP is a fairly advanced subject, and any success requires a fairly broad knowledge of the game.
Lower level
PVP is currently heavily dominated by twinks (Characters made using the resources and knowledge of a higher level character), which makes it difficult for new players to get into.
This section of the guide was written in conjunction, and with the help of the rest of the members of this forum since my knowledge of PVP as an Engineer isn't so good... so don't ask me about it in game 
Combat Specialist Engineer or Trade-skill Specialist Engineer
This is one of the first things that effects your ability to fight other players. Trade skills as I've mentioned earlier are a massive drain on IP, to the extent where Combat related skills have to be neglected to a certain extent.
So first of all, if you want to be really good at fighting then trade skills have to become secondary.
Skills
For any combat based profession that is required to take damage Evasion skills are essential. This includes Evade Close Combat, Dodge Ranged, Duck Explosions, Nano Resist and Run Speed.
In addition to these you need to select a good weapon and make sure you fully utilise any advantages you have over other professions.
For your weapon choice you should look at maxing all the skills associated with using the weapon, the Initiative type for that weapon.
Nano Init would also allow you to instantly cast the root / snare breaker on the pet and the offensive auras.
Maxing out the skills associated with the specials on weapons will decrease the recharge time of that special attack, the fastest this will become is once every 10 seconds.
Weapon Choices
Note this is not a definative guide by any extent, I leave the choices to you, I just wanted to present you with some options.
The choices for
PVP combat differ as you level. Some weapons to consider at lower levels might be:
- Manex Catastrophe - Heavy burst damage, generally a slow weapon. No longer drops in game.
- X-3 Rifle / Caterwaul Rifle - Rifle and Aimed shot are very popular in PVP. Although an up and coming change to how Aimed Shot works in PVP might make this less useful.
At higher levels:
- Pain of Patricia - A level 175+ pistol as mentioned earlier. A very respectable choice. Improves even more if you implant Pistol further as opposed to the Nano skills used to summon your bot.
- Martial Arts - Fast but highly crit dependant. Utilises slayerform and the damage is relatively good.
In addition to your weapon choice a scope should always be considered:
- TIM scope - This is available from TIM in the Foreman's dungeon. Basically a scope to increase Ranged Init, with only a small crit bonus. Very useful for slower but heavy damage weapons like the Manex.
- Vision Enhancer - This and the next scope reduce initiatives as a price for gaining a critical bonus.
- Low Light Targetting Scope - This particular scope doesn't drop anymore and can only be bought from players. As a result it's hard to obtain and very expensive.
Ranged or Close Combat?
In general I believe Ranged Combat styles to be better for
PVP as an Engineer. It allows you the chance to avoid damage by simply not being close enough to your opponent.
Unlike our Close Combat (Martial Arts) combat style a Root program isn't likely to be the end of the fight for you.
Nanos
- Special Blocking shields - Each one of these programs blocks a certain amount of special attacks dealt against you. These include Burst, Full Auto, Dimach, Brawl, Aimed Shot etc. Essential for any fight.
- Blind Auras - Very powerful auras, but each breaks very easily.
- Reflect / Damage shield debuff auras - Works against anything from Nullity Sphere to Corruscating Screen.
- AC, Reflect & Weapon auras - These add additional reflect damage. More damage reflected back each time they hit you. More AC for you. More damage.
- Snare aura - This one runs on the bot, reducing your opponents run speed drastically to stop them escaping the claws of your bot.
- Root protection programs - Give your bot a resistance to root and snare programs, however short duration.
- Root Breakers - Break the roots and Snares and enable your bot to run free, obliterating everything in it's path.
Tactics
This section is brief in the extreme. Tactics are something you have to develop for yourself, and are relatively closely guarded secrets to those who have a successful strategy.
"No battle plan, no matter how perfect survives contact with the enemy"
Trimmer - Divert Energy to Avoidance can be used to break calms cast against your pet.
It is highly recommended that you obtain at least 2 root grafts. These are time locked and each will only be usable every 15 minutes or so at QL200.
Things to watch out for
- Bureaucrats can charm and calm your robot.
- Traders can calm and root pets, but generally won't charm because they wouldn't last long.
- NTs can root and calm pets
- Enforcers and MAs can scare pets away.
If you're fighting a player filling their NCU with junk programs in order to prevent them running buffs is considered an exploit.
Overwriting Soldier Reflect shields and Adventurer or Enforcer Damage shields are also considered exploits.
For clarification using flaws in the Game Mechanics to obtain unintended benefits is considered an exploit. I only list these here because they come up repeatedly on the forums. So if you have read this and you use it then you have been warned.
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