Auto-cover, soft cover and Right (& left) Hand Advantage

Is that a stick man Salarian head?

This is going to seem no-brainer to experienced users, so just bear in mind that new players should see some examples. I selected a map that everyone is familiar with, Firebase Giant.

Here in Example 1, we are in the little hallway directly behind the "main intersection", where pugs like to set up their Juggercamp. Assuming your team is hanging around spawn, this spot is vulnerable to flanking from the left, where enemies can come up the ladder and surprise you if you're not paying attention. It's good practice to spin around and look often, I usually do this whenever I reload. This, of course, holds true in every example.


Here in Example 2, I am in the room with the ladder. Again, I am vulnerable to enemies coming up from behind, so it's important to pay attention!


Example 3, here we are across the bottom, in the other building. I'm hanging out on the ramp overlooking the bottom hack area. This spot is vulnerable to enemies coming down the ramp behind me.


Example 4, in the hallway above the ladder. This is not only vulnerable to enemies from the left, but also from behind in the room with the ammo box. Vulnerable from two directions! Don't hang out here for long!


Example 5, I've made the circuit and ended up at LZ for Extraction. This spot is vulnerable from the left.


Example 6, Here I am across the top, by the ammo box. This spot is vulnerable to enemies at the top of the ladder coming out of the control tower.


You may have noted that I don't need to be right up on the wall for this to work. And it can be done with boxes, support beams, Extra Bigass Hex Shields, other players, anything that you can put in front of you will work. You also may have noted that each of these spots is vulnerable to attack from at least one direction. For the most part, the ME3 maps are all designed so that any spot you choose to set up a Right Hand Advantage, can be flanked.

Off the top of my head, there's only one spot that comes to mind that can't be, and that is the corner hallway on Glacier, which is why some pugs foolishly try to set up a campsite in there. Well they can't be flanked, but they also have no way out either. So don't camp there.

Basically what you do is move around the map, finding whatever opportune spot you can set up FOR ONLY AS LONG AS IS NEEDED to RHA whatever enemies you can put on the other side of your obstacle. Once you kill all enemies, or you are getting flanked, it's time to move on, and find the next opportune spot to do this.

You need to be aware of what you can handle, know what situations you are able to fight your way out of, and when it is time to run. This can vary depending on your personal skill level, comfort level, kit, loadout, numerous factors really. Know yourself, know your kit, know your enemy. Understanding how enemies behave can also be used to your advantage, and help you to select the best RHA spots for the current circumstances.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making, is when they get flanked, they stop whatever they are doing, and TURN TO LOOK AT WHAT IS SHOOTING THEM.  Don't look, just get out of there and move on to your next RHA location.  You'll have plenty of time for revenge afterwards.

You didn't do it with Krobine like a sane person?/j

I'll be sorely disappointed if I get stuck to cover in mea as much as I do in me3mp. The one phrase I say (yell) when not on mic more than any other one is 'Get off the fucking wall!'

then prepare to be sorely disappointed, because it's gonna get a hell of a lot worse. you'll be unwillingly sticking to cover a whole lot more in this game compared to 3. at least in 3, you knew you couldnt get into cover as long as you werent running or pressing the run button for whatever reason. now we dont even have this tiny luxury, there's no way to avoid cover.

or perhaps even more deadly

or maybe something like this  

I have this problem as well. Seems like I get stuck on everything with ease. Probably going to be doing my fair share of cussing in MEAMP too the way it sounds.

I even get stuck on Banshees and can't get away from them.

My experience with Frostbite games (Battlefield, Battlefront) is that cover is not sticky at all, neither automated nor by pressing a button. All cover is essentially soft cover, no matter your distance from it. The Battlefield games merely adjust your aiming animation to any map feature you may be using as cover, i.e. if you use the left side of a doorway as cover, the aiming down sights animation will make your character lean right so you're not staring at the wall right in front of you.

RHA only exists because the ME3 AI only opens fire if it has a LOS to your exact center mass. If I remember correctly, Frostbite's standard enemy AI fires at any of the player's body parts it can see, so trying to use the RHA would likely just result in getting your right arm pelted with gunfire.

Sticky cover was never a thing with Frostbite - it's always been soft.

Drats, that's discouraging. Thanks for the warning, I guess...

My most oft-repeated phrase is: 'get off me' but I'm referring to husks and Abombs.

I usually get hold that I don't take enough cover, that I run too much into the action field like some sort of female Rambo! Maybe that's why I die so much...  I don't have the patience to stand in cover.