Moch - pro cannoneer ad hoc guide

[mochag13]

I've decided to compile a bunch of screen shots of myself illustrating my mastery of the dwarven multicannon. I will post pictures as I snap them overtime as well as attempt to divulge the fundamentals of how this "double shot" is achieved.

I've already eluded to it in other topics, but I feel compelled to write a guide piece by piece to attempt to educate everyone on what I've learned firing approximately 300,000 rounds of cannon ammunition.

The most pleasant surprise in regards to learning the way of the cannoneer was becoming so intimate with npcs that I know exactly how to manipulate them with subtle variations of movement and gauging the terrain. Yes, even the newer AI that allows for diagnal movement.

For the purposes of this guide, I will not divulge exact coordinates nor will I outline specific spots that are advantageous as that would undermine my own ability to use the cannon effectively once word spreads.

For all intents and purposes this guide is primarily gonna focus on single combat areas and how to effectively use the cannon in multicombat areas keeping in mind the same principles.

As stated, I will update this from time to time and also would ask that anyone that has already mastered the double shot to post pics of them doing so.

For now enjoy this picture that illustrates my mastery of the technique in quite possibly the most inhospitable place to use a cannon in. The metal dragon lair. I have yet to see anyone using a cannon succesfully there.

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

None of the pictures you see have been altered other than cropping.

What you see pictured is a real time snapshot of one combat round. Three seperate attacks in ONE round. It is what I reffer to as the double shot.

The Jagex knowlege base addresses this and subtly dismisses this as a random occurance. In actuality it is soley dependant on precise positioning.

When the npc target aligns perfectly into this sweet spot the cannon will continuously fire two shots per round. You effectively get three chances for damage each round presuming you are attacking with either melee (my prefferance) or range.

The very first picture was snapped an hour ago on an iron dragon task. For those, the only reasonable way I've found was to range them. However melee can be done just as effectively so long as you find suitable terrain to manipulate them in.

[mochag13]

I left the mini map in the first pic on purpose. That EXACT spot is where I set up each and every time. Same thing with every other location I visit.

Finding the best possible terrain take expirimenting but once you find a suitable spot, revisit it each time. It's best to know the lay of the land and how the npcs around you will be reacting to the stimulus. Specifically with the more dangerous targets.

All it really takes is a momentary disruption of your concentration in a few of the heavy spots such as Kalphite Gaurdians and you are in grave danger.

I recomend only using the cannon if you are alert and awake in such places.

[mochag13]

[mochag13]

This was snapped earlier today. Yet another example of a moderately difficult place to use the cannon. For the uninitiated, it could spell certain doom.

Being targeted by their mage attack because your cannon fired a stray is no fun and can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation. Also being able to coerce the darkbeasts into the exact spot you want presents a very tough challenge.

Normally there is nobody there. It is by far the most desolate of slayer training areas and unfortunately for cannon users trying to practice the double shot technique, it can be frustrating.

There are always several dark beasts lurking and just waiting to pounce on you the moment you are done dispatching one of their brethren.

As I've already eluded to, terrain is one of the quintessential factors in determining success with the cannon. Notice I had a very narrow gap between the rune rock and the cavern wall? That is in order to properly manipulate them into that spot you see. It takes a fair bit of dancing sometimes but most of the time they fall right in if you know where to click and how they react.

Always be vigilant here, never let your prayer points get down too far, be on the look out for beasts that target you from a distance. That is the the worst threat. Staying pinned in that corner will help with strays, will help with luring them into the sweet spot and most importantly keeps you near the rune rock to see when it spawns!

[mochag13]

This is the relavent information in the Jagex knowlegebase.

Main Menu > Manual > Skills > Ranged > Ranged FAQ > Sometimes my dwarf cannon shoots twice, what is going on?

Indeed, the dwarf cannon is known occasionally to fire twice at a single target. This is the way the dwarves originally intended for the cannon to work.

The reason it now fires only one at a time is that, with the cannon firing continually at the higher speed, the dwarf engineers could not keep it cool enough, resulting in the barrel melting slightly. The cannonballs would then begin to damage the inside of the cannon, until it blocked up completely and its furnace exploded.

You need not worry, though: the occasional double shot will not cause you or the cannon any harm.

[ferrariman12]

That is REALLY cool Mochag.

I definitely plan on using this technique when I start training slayer. I remember seeing the double shot when I'd be using it against Dagganoths or Kalphites, but I thought it was just an uncommon occurrence. Glad to know you can manipulate it so that it happens all the time :]

[mochag13]

Well it does not happen "all the time". Or it would be severely overpowered. It CAN happen in theory if you are that good that you can somehow force the target into your spot effortlessly and with 100% accuracy, however in practice I have found success rates of roughly 80%.

You have to keep in mind that I typically do this with npcs with high hits and typically the most challenging and fearsome opponents as depicted in my images. You have to be adequately prepared, which in the case of most of the creatures depicted means prayer potions and in some cases super anti poison.

I always always cancelled most slayer tasks that were not "cannonable". Forunately every single take Turael gives (The master that allows you to downgrade/switch your tasks) can all be cannoned. Switching tasks was always quick but moreover good exp because you can choose higher level versions of nearly all his tasks.

I'm trying to figure out a way to display step by step instructions without using video to demonstrate where to click and under what circuimstances.

If ANYONE wants an ingame demonstration for any specific creature, I will be happy to oblige.

[mochag13]

Another tip for adventurers cannoneering in dangerous situations...

Always keep in mind that the cannon is safer out than in your pack. Your warranty is rock solid. I have yet to have Nulodion not honor the warranty and I've had lag, glitches, and all kinds of odd circuimstances where I feared I would have lost it. He's always replaced it. Even once when I was doing Temple Trekking (Hard path is so much fun with cannon) and I went to go to next event screen forgetting to pick up my cannon! Nulodion, ever the gentleman honored our agreement.

Along those same lines, the cannon stays out for a specific amount of time. You can teleport all over Gielinor, even log out and come back to it so long as it's within that alloted timeframe. (Sorry I never really timed it precisely always re-deployed after 300 shots)

[Mariah Wynd]

My only exposure to cannons have been the folks mindlessly shooting any and all things that move. It is a pleasure to see an expert at work.

[mochag13]

Why thank you

Incidentally, that mindless shooting at targets is counterproductive in the long run for a number of reasons.

Focusing on one target at a time, not only speeds up exp rates but conserves ammunition.

[deirdrel]

*is seeing cannonballs in her sleep*

just levelled smithing

*wonders how many cannonballs it takes to bury a person*

[mochag13]

Depicted here is advanced strategy for mining the runite whilst maintaining absolute efficiency.

Key is lining the Dark Beast up into the target area and positioning your self in that exact spot (Provided you have your cannon set up in the same real estate)

What this does is enables you to mine the rune ore while the cannon fires two consecutive shots per round as you mine.

[mochag13]

Here we have in Figure A, a Dark Beast in a non favorable position. In this position your cannon only fires single shots. Here is where I will attempt to school you on the intracacies of lining the npc up. My choice to educate using arguably one of the most difficult npcs to manipulate is because if you can master this, you can certainly do all of the less difficult npcs.

The GREEN arrow indicates where you want the NPC.

The YELLOW arrow indicates what you are waiting for. The target Dark Beast will NOT move under that present model. You have to wait patiently for conditions to be right. In this case, for the Dark Beast that is blocking to move towards the direction the arrow indicates. That will then open up the possibility of manipulating the target into the desired spot.

The ORANGE arrow indicates the square you want to move to. This is only a temporary move. You will want to move immediately back into the target range or two things could happen. 1) The target npc could start firing its magic attack or 2) Another close by npc will start attacking you.

Always move in smoothe linear motions along a solid axis. More on that later.



In figure A-2 you see that the Dark beast has moved into the desired position and you are getting three chances for damage each round. I snapped a screenshot of 3 zeros on purpose as to illustrate that simply because you CAN hit three times per round does not mean you are going to each round. Here at the Dark Beasts it's far more common to miss than to hit as they have notoriously high defense.



Here in figure A-3 I show in ORANGE the correct axis to move in and still remain in battle. Remaining within it's melee distance is imperative to keep it from moving. One square outside that range will manipulate it to move towards you. Two squares MAY provoke it to start using it's magic attack.

In this figure I also show where reloading is feasible. The ORANGE check marks are the best spots for reloading while still maintaining the melee combat lock.

[mochag13]

Here in figure B is yet another example of a non favorable position and instructions on how to manipulate them into a favorable position. In this figure you can only fire once per round and melee once per round. You want to move to the square I indicate with the orange arrow.

Note however I have a BLUE exlamation point there. That spot is solely to manipulate them into the desired spot. You are immediately in danger there from their magic attack. It WILL move, however it will also go into magic firing mode as you are one square outside of its melee distance.

You have several choices here. You can move right back into the square you came from or to the position you see in figure B-2.

The reason I moved to that position is because the cannon needed reloading, not because it was advantageous because that solely depends on the positioning of other Dark beasts. In that case, I was safe from interferance and needed to reload.