Tactical Tuesdays and Thursdays – WindPower’s Gunslinger Antics

Starting today, Top Tier Tactics will be kicking off its first regular feature:

Tactical Tuesdays and Thursdays

Every Tuesday and Thursday, T3 will highlight videos and articles from the darkest recesses of the ‘net, exposing the most devious, well-executed tactics and strategies out there. From bunny-hopping hilarity to all-in SCV rushes, if it works and it’s entertaining, you should see it.

While I originally planned to spend 90-300 hours a week mastering every game in existence and composing guides for them, I ultimately decided my time is best spent curing diseases and/or nitpicking the work of others. Realistically, I’m terrible at most games that don’t involve hats (yes, they exist), and there’s only so much to be said when arguing the benefits/risks of assorted headwear.

But when it comes to game-winning maneuvers, there are so many other geniuses out there, many of whom simply don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Tactical Tuesdays and Thursdays is about answering questions with elusive answers. How do I beat Puzzle Quest on Hard difficulty? What’s the best way to hit tanks with bombs in Battlefield 1943? How the fuck do you win anything with Makoto, ever?

Yesterday I talked about the invaluable tactical applications of the Engineer’s Gunslinger unlock. With semi-credible logic, I established the strategic, humorous, and potentially moral superiority this device bestows upon its wielder. If only there was an easy way to illustrate my ingenious points…

But, little did I know: one of the article’s commenters would be WindPower, a talented Ninjaneer and video editor.

I’d like to kick off the first iteration of Tactical Thursday with WindPower’s two-part Gunslinger guide:

For the time being, I’ll ignore the fact that WindPower is about twelve times better at video composition than I am. After all, there’s not much I can do about that other than track him down and slash his car’s tires. But there’s more to say than that…

I think what WindPower really captures well in both videos is how useful the Mini-Sentry is as an instant deterrent, distraction, and adorable death-dealing doohickey. Of note is the fact that he never bypasses an opportunity to lay down a Mini-Sentry. While the old, boring Sentries required thought, care, and time to use to their full potential, Mini-Sentries are much more valuable when they’re constantly popping up unexpectedly and pestering foes.

Additionally (and to my preference as seen in my Spy Videos), I appreciate that WindPower shows his successes and failures. Too often are “strategy” videos online merely a compilation of kills from which little application can be gleaned. For every failed attempt, after all, there’s a lesson. Usually the lesson is don’t suck so much, but often there are particular pitfalls one can avoid moving forward. To that extent, this video is incredibly helpful in both the Dos and the Don’ts facets of strategy.

While I could prattle on incessantly, I’ll let WindPower’s video speak for itself.

Good job, WP, and I hope you tune in for Tactical Tuesday next week!