Hunt around for a server size that's comfortable for you.
Try to learn one particular map. For me playing ATCS a couple of dozen times let me worry about all of the weapons, alien actions, features, associated hotkeys, stages, health, ammo, armor, buying, evolving, attacking, defending, standing-my-post-or-joining-the-egg-hunt decisions, wallwalking and pounce-jumping, and not have to think too much about the map (if ever there was a n00b training map in classic Quake1/2/3/Daikatana fashion, the Advanced Tactical Combat Simulator is definitely it). Then, maybe I was more ready to play Nexus6 and Karith (and find my way around more Deus Ex/Splinter Cell/Thief areas, with pipes and crawlspaces, etc.).
Play as a human on maps you don't know. Then play as an alien on maps you don't know. Then play the maps you do know, as alien, then human.
Which do you find easier? Which is more interesting? Find a class/weapon/loadout you like and stick with it. Then try some weapon/class/tactic/tool you haven't tried. Give it a shot. Did you feed? Do you care?
Read the manual again.
http://tremulous.net/manual/ Look for wikis on the web. Try these:
http://www.tremwiki.com/http://mercenariesguild.net/index.php?option=com_openwiki&Itemid=46&id=documentation_projecthttp://trem.maci.ws/pmwiki/pmwiki.phphttp://wilhelmrahn.googlepages.com/tremulousstuffhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TremulousCheck out the base-building thread, to know what rooms on certain maps are called. (Actually, all the stickys are very useful on this subforum.)
http://tremulous.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=559 Try not to feed too much (don't die needlessly - camp the turrets/acid tubes, defend the builder/granger, defend the reactor/overmind move, rush the enemy only with adequate resources/teammates, try not to damage your own team or equipment, provide cover fire/action, stay out of areas where you might die easily, heal and reload between battles, don't forget to run backwards, don't forget the "M" key for humans or to run away and heal as alien, cover your head as human and look around, use the walls as alien and keep moving, and don't forget this is a Quake-based game so jump and strafe, crouch and sprint, learn the physics of the engine and use them to have fun, etc.)
I made a short list of the few maps that are in the base folder:
Arachnid 2
ATCS
Karith Station 2
Nexus 6
Niveus: Outpost 652
Transit Station
Tremor
Uncreation
Pick one or two that you like (I personally recommend ATCS for the n00b-trainer it was intended to be, and I also like Nexus6), and try to find them in the server list, where you have a decent ping (less than 100 is a good place to start, if available). Or set up a server, and try to build on your favorite map. Or find an empty server, and try to build on that.
Or find someone in the forums who is friendly, and when you see them ingame, say hi. Try to notice what clan they're in. Then stop by that server sometime. If you see the player again, say hi again. Sometimes people will have the time to point out something you weren't noticing.
Find two or three nearby servers, where you have good ping, and play there continously, until you tire of them. Then take a day off. Read the manual again. Go smell the flowers. Then go find three better servers than those other ones. If you can't, make your peace with the first ones and play on.
I'm not saying any or all of these things might help you, or even be possible for you, or be something you're interested in doing. They're just a few of the things that helped me. I, too am a botmatcher.
Sometimes you can learn much from playing against one or two people. Other times you need to play in a pack of 26. I like a nice 6v6 on a small-to-midsize map, but that's just me. You really don't need the botmatch. People who play Trem are even cooler than the bots were in UT (they don't talk half as much smack, and you can't hear them anyway). Don't fear the multiplayer. Embrace it. It's good for your ego. By the way, I'm new as heck, too. I've only been playing about a month now. lol
Aliens:
http://tremulous.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3595Humans:
http://tremulous.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3614Screenshot (F11):
http://tremulous.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3651Stages:
http://tremulous.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3571
