Rockstar Newswire

Recently, we brought you some of our choice Loadout options for Gang Wars, Max Payne 3's narrative driven, objective based multiplayer mode. Those Loadouts suggested directly by our Multiplayer developers were designed to be good all-around set-ups, flexible enough to give you the edge in those first weeks of competition. Now that we're starting to see more advanced strategies and a generally higher level of play online and in our Social Club Multiplayer Events live-streams, let's move the magnifying glass closer to the subject and take a detailed look at how the very best players from our development teams go about each objective, studying not only which Loadouts they equip, but how they work together to break through the toughest defenses.

How to Plant the Bomb in 'Short Fuse'

When playing as a Crew, it's important that you're communicating at all times and it's a good idea to assign each member a specific role for each objective. It's no good for the entire team to sprint carelessly towards the bomb site, as even average opposition will be able to swat this strategy away with relative ease. Similarly, if everyone is swarming around the map looking to increase their kill count, then the bomb site simply isn't going to blow up by itself. Below we have detailed three roles that we suggest delegating to specific members of your Crew before the match.

One of the keys to this team-oriented approach is the idea of complementary Bursts - not everyone on the team necessarily needs to be using Big Dog, for example, when one player can deploy it at Level 3 and share the benefit across the entire team. Better still, if all players all have different Bursts equipped, each boosting the whole team at Level 3, and are co-ordinated well enough to all deploy them at the same time, that adds up to a healthy team boost across a variety of attributes.

The Bomber

The player tasked with planting the bomb needs to be light enough to get to the target quickly and also well-armored to survive the crossfire when they get there. We recommend a single handgun to keep the Loadout weight down. This player's role is simple: use the Sneaky Burst to get close to one of the objective markers and plant the bomb. When that's done, switch to the Bodyguard Loadout (detailed below) and defend your good work.

Single Handed Weapon Slot: the PT92 (with Gas Block) provides lightweight personal protection
Burst Slot: Sneaky lets you slip through to the bomb site unnoticed
Item Head Slot: Helmet
Item Chest Slot: Heavy Body Armor
Item Gear Slot: Multitool is essential here as it enables you to plant bombs more quickly
Item Gear Slot: Sneakers will aid you in slipping through to the bomb site undetected
Item Gear Slot: Lockbox lets you keep your Painkillers after you die

Bodyguards

This role has two responsibilities: protect the Bomber while they complete their objective and then stop the opposition from defusing the bomb by causing as much damage as possible using the large arsenal at your disposal. We've equipped the M4 Super 90 shotgun here (because our dev players like to get up close and personal) but you could easily substitute that for the LMG .30, depending on personal preference.

Single Handed Weapon Slot: M972 (with barrel upgrade/mag guide/gas block)
Two Handed Weapon Slot: M4 Super 90 (with barrel upgrade/laser sight/)
Projectile Slot: Flooding the area around a planted bomb with Tear Gas will make it difficult to defuse
Burst Slot: Weapon Dealer at Level 3 will give your entire team 20 seconds of unlimited incendiary ammunition to keep the other team at bay
Item Head Slot: The Gas Mask will keep you safe from Tear Gas
Item Chest Slot: Medium Body Armor for adequate protection on the front lines
Item Gear Slot: Autoinjector to keep the Adrenaline building despite the weight
Item Gear Slot: Vampire Fangs reward kills with a health boost
Item Gear Slot: Light Fingers  - with so many fallen enemies around your feet, you might as well relieve them of useful items

Sniper

When the Bomber has completed their task, the Sniper trains their sights on the planted bomb to easily pick off any opponent that tries to defuse it. If you're spotted, try dropping a Smoke Grenade at your feet to prevent enemies from locking on to you while you take up a new position. Whenever your Bomber is approaching a target, not only should you clear their path but you could also activate your Weapon Double-Dealer Burst, causing the other team's weapons to malfunction and making it more difficult for them to bag your saboteur.

Single Handed Weapon Slot: Micro 9mm
Two Handed Weapon Slot: FMP G3S
Projectile Slot: Smoke Grenade
Burst Slot: Weapon Double-Dealer
Item Head Slot: Balaclava
Item Chest Slot: Urban Camo to help stay off the enemy radar
Item Gear Slot: Ammunition Pouch so that you can carry more bullets and stay in position for longer
Item Gear Slot: Autoinjector to keep Adrenaline building with each kill and take you closer to that Level 3 Burst

Of course, this is just one approach to planting Bombs in 'Short Fuse', one of the dynamic objectives in Gang Wars. The key is knowing that, with the right preparation and communication, you and your Crew can work together and greatly improve your chances of success. If you have any other tactics or techniques you've used to get ahead, share them with us in the comments.