Engineer battle droid
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- "Eliminate the clone"
- —An engineer battle droid shooting at a clone trooper with a shotgun.[src]
The engineer battle droid was a B1 battle droid programmed to pilot and repair ground structures and vehicles for the separatist droid army. It was designated with yellow markings to separate it from the rest of the droid army, and had backpacks in which supplies were held to assist them in completing their duties. They were also used as infantry support droids capable of repairing damaged units and providing vehicle or turret support.
As the engineer droid was often close to enemy lines, it was armed with a shotgun which shot a wide spray of shots that could kill in one hit from close range[5]. The droids used F-187 fusion cutters to repair damaged vehicles, droids and structures, they were also known to repair vehicles whilst using them in combat. Using the fusion cutter they could also slice enemy vehicles and pilot them for the confederacy.[3]
The droid could pilot almost any ground vehicle and control most turrets with its extensive Baktoid programming, paid for by the Trade Federation. [1] The Confederacy of Independent Systems also used the droids as a part of their extensive droid army to support other B1 battle droids, B2 battle droids and a wide range of other droids from IG-100 MagnaGuards to Droidekas.
[edit] Star Wars: Battlefront series
In the Star Wars: Battlefront series the engineer battle droid class appears in Star Wars: Battlefront II and replaces the droid pilot's role from the first game, Star Wars: Battlefront. As the droid pilot is only available in space combat in Battlefront II, the engineer droid took up the previous ground duties of the droid pilot. Its equivalents in other factions are the Imperial Engineers, Rebel Smugglers and Clone Engineers.[6].
The award for achieving eight kills, whilst playing as the engineer and using the shotgun, in one life is called regulator and provides the player with a flechette shotgun which does more damage and has a larger range but a smaller target area than the standard shotgun. The standard shotgun it carries has three hundred and twenty bullets loaded, but due to the eight bullets per shot ratio this only lasts for forty shots, unless ammo is replenished. One way of using the health and ammo pack it is equipped with is to save them until they are needed by the player, rather than team-mates, and then drop them to the floor and collect them. This can be particularly useful to the droid engineers as they do not carry backup weapons.
[edit] Strategies and tactical usage
The engineer battle droid is often used at the start of the battle to prepare turrets and pilot vehicles, however as the battle continues, vehicles will be damaged as will support droids, turrets and team-mates. As the engineer battle droid is fast, but its weapons are useless at a long distance, a preferred tactic when engaging enemies in the open is often to charge at the enemy whilst firing so that the player gets close enough for the shotgun to be effective. This tactic also works with turrets if the player uses a detpack and jumps backwards whilst detonating it.
Engineers are also useful in flanking manoeuvres as they can take down many enemy units from behind in just a few shots. They can also lay detpacks at chokepoints, which at the very least delays the enemy from advancing and allows the player to find cover or a flanking position to engage the enemy up close with the shotgun. If the separatists are ever out numbered or outclassed by enemy vehicles, engineer droids can quickly change the outcome by either fixing the separatist vehicles, or slicing the enemy vehicles. The sliced vehicle can also be used as another vehicle for the separatists, allowing the situation to be reversed.
When slicing enemy vehicles a good tactic to use is to try and sit on the enemy vehicle, as the vehicles weaponry cannot reach the player there, this also stops the risk of the vehicle just boosting away from the player. This tactic can also be reversed when repairing vehicles, allowing the vehicle to travel whilst being repaired.
When forming an attack squad at least one engineer should advance as they can give supplies to units, preventing risky stops at enemy supply droids, which could be mined or marked by enemy snipers. In smaller levels they can also be the best advancing units, with the ability to clear entire corridors within a short space of time if multiple engineer droids are used.
In many situations engineer droids can adequately defend a command post by them self. By hiding in corners or behind objects they can rush out and surprise the enemy whilst shooting them up-close. Detpacks can also assist in the defence of a command post.
[edit] Coruscant: Jedi Temple
On the map Coruscant: Jedi Temple, the engineer droid can be very effective at clearing corridors with the detpack and shotgun. In general they should stay away from the main hall due to its openness, however some engineer droids are needed to repair turrets around the edge of the hall. Another chokepoint they are good at guarding is the data archive area, as it is an area full of dark and narrow routes.
[edit] Dagobah: Swamp
The engineer battle droid is not very effective on the Dagobah: Swamp map, however their speed is useful during the early rush for command posts, and their shotgun can be effective at guarding or attacking the command post inside the cave. Despite having a small feel the level is very open making the use of detpacks and the shotgun very ineffective, there are also few support droids and no turrets or vehicles to repair.
[edit] Felucia: Marshland
The map Felucia: Marshland is a bad level for the engineer droid as it is a very open level. There are no small chokepoints and the shotgun is virtually worthless however there are several vehicles that, if kept in good condition, can tip the side of the battle into the confederacy's favour.
[edit] Tantive IV
The map Tantive IV is a good level for the engineer droid. Almost the entire map revolves around small corridors and rooms, making the shotgun and well placed detpacks very effective. Detpacks can be placed behind the various crates lying around allowing the engineer droid to take out an enemy unit that takes cover behind them from a safe distance.
[edit] Utapau: Sinkhole
The engineer battle droid is not a very effective unit on this battlefront as it is a very open map, better suited to snipers. Vehicles are essential to matching the enemy as if an enemy vehicle is left unopposed it becomes a large threat, because of this engineers are vital at securing enemy vehicles and repairing the AAT battle tanks that spawn for the confederacy.
[edit] Naboo: Theed
Naboo: Theed is a mixed level for the engineer droid. It is very good at keeping vehicles running and squads of engineer droids can secure and/or defend the rotunda command post with ease, however in the wider courtyards the engineer battle droid is virtually worthless unless it is repairing or slicing a vehicle.
[edit] Tatooine: Mos Eisley
Tatooine: Mos Eisley is a good map for the engineer droid. There are plenty of turrets that need fixing, however this is a lower priority due to the Jawas that do this automatically, a higher priority for the engineer droid is attacking enemy forces with the shotgun and helping units with the health and ammo dispenser. Whilst the droid fills a great supporting role, it is also very effective at attacking enemy command posts due to the combat being up close.
[edit] Mygeeto: War-torn city
Mygeeto: War-torn City is a good level for players who like to pilot vehicles as vehicles are essential as if your factions vehicles are not used, the enemy vehicles will be free to support their team. The engineer droid can play a large roll in helping the confederacy to keep their vehicles running. The shotgun can also be useful if repairing because the republic vehicles are at a disadvantage to the AAT battle tank, especially if they have only one pilot per vehicle, making the chances of an attempt to slice an AAT likely. The engineer droid can also help bring more firepower about by constructing turrets.
[edit] Mustafar: Refinery
The engineer battle droid is very well suited to the map Mustafar: Refinery as there are plenty of narrow corridors in which to use detpacks and the shotgun. The two command posts that are surrounded by a fairly open space should be avoided by the engineer droid as it puts the droid at a disadvantage to be fighting in open environments. The engineer droid can also help the confederacy by fixing the walkways control, or destroying it with a detpack, the player can also lay a detpack on the control panel and watch for enemy units to cross, allowing the bridge to be used as a trap.
[edit] Death Star: Interior
Death Star: Interior is an excellent map for the engineer droid. Their are many corridors and chokepoints in which players can achieve high amounts of kills and the engineer droid's speed and light weight help when navigating the walkways as they can jump on to other platforms. The engineer battle droid's effectiveness drops dramatically when fighting inside the hangers, so it is best for players to avoid the hangars whilst using an engineer battle droid.
[edit] Polis Massa: Medical Facility
Polis Massa: Medical Facility is perhaps the engineer battle droid's strongest map. Almost the entire map is close quarter combat, and the level is full of tight corridors and chokepoints. Due to the amount of chokepoints, enemy units are likely to mine entrances to their command posts, giving the engineer battle droid another advantage, as being in the engineer class allows them to bypass mines and even destroy them safely.
There are also plenty of vehicles for the engineer droid to control, and unlike the other factions, the confederacy is the only faction that can have additional engineers repairing the vehicles and slicing enemy vehicles as their is no oxygen outside on the rock face of the asteroid, giving the droid forces a large advantage. Any enemy pilots removed from their vehicle by slicing will quickly take damage and die, allowing the droid forces to either use their vehicle, or leave it there so that it will not respawn for a long time, and will not be reachable. The engineer droid can also be essential at protecting attack squads that move across the open rock face from enemy vehicles.
[edit] Geonosis: Dust Plains
There are many vehicles that must be kept running by engineer droids on the map Geonosis: Dust Plains as the Republic faction has an AT-TE command vehicle, and destroying it is the engineer droid's main priority as it cannot be sliced. The engineer droid is not very effective in fighting on this map as most of the fighting is medium to long range.
[edit] Jabba's Palace
Jabba's Palace is a good map for fighting with the engineer droid as the entire level consists of small dark corridors. The player should stay away from the main court room when playing as the engineer droid however, because that section of the level is open enough to make the shotgun less effective. The engineer droid in particular should avoid the Gamorrean guards as the shotgun is a close range weapon, as is their vibro-axe, however their weapon does a lot more damage.
[edit] Kamino: Cloning Facility
Engineer battle droids are fairly important on the map Kamino: Cloning Facility. They are needed to create and repair turrets early on, and can do a reasonable job of defending and attacking the walkways, however they are not very effective on the wide platforms. As they can jump long distances, they can use alternative routes to the walkways, however their weapon is most effective on the walkways.
[edit] Kashyyyk: Beachhead
On Kashyyyk: Beachhead the engineer droid is great at using the various vehicles to take control of the beach, however their only other use is repairing and manning turrets as the shotgun is not effective on this level as their are no chokepoints. Whilst detpacks and the shotgun can be effective in guarding the sea wall, the confederacy is usually attacking the sea wall, rather than defending it and even if the droid army is defending that command post, any engineers will usually be busy in repairing the gate winch, which opens the sea wall.
[edit] Weaponry and equipment
[edit] Primary attacks and functions
- Shotgun - five shots of eight per clip, forty clips total. (Award- Flechette Shotgun)
- Fusion Cutter - unlimited usage.
[edit] Secondary attacks and functions
- Detpack - three detpacks.
- Health and ammo dispenser - five pack of health and ammo, each pack replenishes up to seventy five percent of ammo and health.
[edit] Control functions
These are the functions, which are individual to the engineer droid, that the controller serves when the player is using an engineer droid. They are all assuming the player is using default controls.
[edit] PlayStation 2
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| R1 button[7] | Fire shotgun/flechette shotgun or if primary is changed use fusion cutter. |
| L1[7] | Drop/detonate detpack or if secondary is changed drop health & ammo pack. |
[edit] Xbox
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| Right trigger[8] | Fire shotgun/flechette shotgun or if primary is changed use fusion cutter. |
| Left trigger[8] | Drop/detonate detpack or if secondary is changed drop health & ammo pack. |
[edit] PC
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| Left mouse click[9] | Fire shotgun/flechette shotgun or if primary is changed use fusion cutter. |
| Right mouse click[9] | Drop/detonate detpack or if secondary is changed drop health & ammo pack. |
[edit] PlayStation Portable
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| R button[10] | Fire shotgun/flechette shotgun or if primary is changed use fusion cutter or if changed again drop/detonate detpack or if changed for a third time drop health & ammo pack. |
[edit] See also
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Notes, references and sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Star Wars: Battlefront II Prima Official Game Guide, engineer droid's description in the units and weaponry section on page 17
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Same statistic as the B1 battle droid, as it was a differently programmed B1 droid.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Star Wars: Battlefront II Prima Official Game Guide, engineer droid's equipment list in the units and weaponry section on page 17
- ↑ Rise of the Empire campaign in Star Wars: Battlefront II, Tying up loose ends mission, found as opponents.
- ↑ Mentioned throughout the Star Wars: Battlefront II Prima Official Game Guide
- ↑ Star Wars: Battlefront II Prima Official Game Guide, the droid is grouped in the same category as the equivalent units, it is titled engineer class.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 PlayStation 2 Star Wars: Battlefront II instruction manual.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Xbox Star Wars: Battlefront II instruction manual.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 PC Star Wars: Battlefront II instruction manual.
- ↑ PlayStation Portable Star Wars: Battlefront II instruction manual.
