Favorite Map - "Caldera"
What is the best game type for the map?
This is a fantastic map for coop mission. It requires teamwork to take about both towers simultaneously. Enemies can come at you from multiple directions, meaning loners won't last long without respawns. Completing this mission with respawns off is quite an achievement.
What is the best team strategy?
You normally want three teams for the coop mission: one for each of the towers, and one waiting in the open area after crossing the bridge to catch anyone trying to sneak in behind. Ideally, this third team is a Sniper team. Use one assault team to clear out the bridge and initial approach; too many people just get in each other's way and lead to team kills. Let the Sniper team clear the area in front of the dish, but don't forget to check for Snipers on the dish! The assault teams then move around the sides to get the towers simultaneously, while the Sniper team cleans up the dish and prepares to cover the extraction. Get the comm facility, and then up on top for extraction, watching for stragglers.
What is the best soldier class?
You really need at least one Marksman, or at the very least a Rifleman with an SA-80. There are Snipers working against you, and someone needs to be able to reach out and touch someone on this map.
What is the best weapons loadout?
Since I'm a lousy Sniper, I'm usually a Rifleman with an SA-80 and some frag grenades. The SA-80 gives you some long-range punch while not completely giving up on short-range firepower, and the frag grenades are useful for digging enemies out of cover among the rocks and bushes on this map.
What is the best use of the terrain?
This is tricky on this map, because in many cases you end up fighting from the open against enemies in cover. You really have to make careful use of ground features. For example, once clearing the bridge, prone-crawling to the top of the rolls in the road leading to the dish is the best way to survive all the way to the dish. Then you've got a rock or two to stay crouched and peek from behind to clear out the guys among the construction equipment. But in most cases, you're dealing with less cover than the guys you are trying to take out. Don't forget your smoke grenades!
