Phallus in Wonderland

4 variations / easy-medium

This trick is the most common I've seen. It is usually used with two walls in the second and third spaces from the target pill. The only difficulty is in getting your tank lined up just right so that you can hit the pill, but it can't hit you. Here is my method for getting your tank in the right position:

First, approach the pill, check for mines if necessary, and send your builder to build the first wall. As he is building, line your tank up against the cursor as shown below, with your turret one pixel away from the edge:

Now your tank is lined up perfectly, just as if you had built a wall to drive up against. Turn toward the pill and send your man out to build the second wall. Start advancing toward the pill before your builder even gets to the spot:

Move into position and begin shooting at the pill as the man builds the second wall. If you time it right, the man will not die (Thanks to Leech for showing me this technique):

The pill will shoot through both walls before it is dead in most (low lag) situations. You should continue firing until you've sent enough bullets to kill the pill, then turn and accelerate simultaneously to avoid stray shots. I can do this entire operation in about 8 seconds, which is as fast or faster than any method I've seen anyone else use. Note that if you are building more than two walls, you shouldn't start firing until the man is building the last wall you intend to build unless you have excellent timing skills.

Being Crafty

You can use Phallus to pick off enemy builders when they least expect it. You will need two pillboxes. Build one pill in a block position (1-3 squares away from target) and start shooting. As you are shooting, send your builder out with the second pill and place it right behind the first. The enemy pill will kill the first pill and start shooting through the second. When the enemy pill is dead, you won't have to move or stop shooting. By the time you've placed the second pill, the enemy has probably already sent her builder, and has to watch it march to its fiery doom. Be careful with your timing, because losing your man trying to execute this move is embarrassing (Ixion was the first player I saw use this trick).

Getting in the Right Position

In the example above, I lined the tank up against the cursor in this position:

(1)

It is also possible to line it up in this position (with the turret again one pixel away from the edge of the cursor):

(2)

Notice that with the first method, the pill will shoot through 3 block squares to get to you, and with the second, it will shoot through 4. I use both in different situations. I find it easier to line up the crosshairs so that they will miss the block squares and hit the pill using method (1), but in situations like these:

It is better to use method (2), for obvious reasons: if I had used method (1) in these situations, my tank would not have been lined up properly, and the friendly pill / second wall would have been useless.

If you have a pill or wall set up 5 squares away from the enemy pill, it is still possible to use it as a block square:

medium

BUT you must move the tank 5 extra spaces into the cursor to make this angle work (put the tank at regular position (one pixel away from edge of cursor) then move 5 pixels forward).

Why Should I Use This Stupid Method of Positioning My Tank?

Accuracy. Using this method, you can take pills that seem like they wouldn't be worth the effort. In situations with an enemy base blocking your access to the pill, for example, it can be essential:

It may slow you down a bit at first, but once you're doing it as second nature, you will be unstoppable. After you've played for a while, you'll be able to eyeball the correct position, but my method of lining up is, in my opinion, an important addition to any bolo player's arsenal. I use it whenever I have to get a shot right the first time and can't afford to retreat and line it up again.

Thomas Michael Apodaca (apodaca@colorado.edu)