The all newbie threat... no, sorry, I mean "threaD"

[zybork]

Hello. My name is Zach. My ingame-name is zybork. Maybe you have killed me before. If not, I hope you will so soon. The chance that you will is better than I ever wanted it to be...

Let's be serious again, there a lot of people out there who gamble like hell because they've got nothing better to do. In fact, there are *many* worse ways to waste your time than gaming, but, bloody hell, those guys rule - leading to one big disadvantage if you're kind of new, not a regular gamer, and just want to endulge yourself in biting someones ass without having to brush your teeth afterwards - do it in the virtual world of Tremulous, usually being a dretch.

You know, I play this game for fun (which it definetely is), but I also don't want to have other people suffer for my lack of talent/practise/fast internet-uplink in this game by getting in their way, being just an obstacle, or even feeding the other team. So I collected a bunch of hints I want you to judge about, a bunch of hints for the alien (AH!) dretch or the human (HU!) rifle gunner, for players which are, well, not that good, but don't want to get others pissed by their lack of ability:

HU! You cannot outrun something faster than you.

AH! That pointed thing in the hand of a human is a "gun". It is no good idea to run straight into it, especially if it is firing. In that case: Get outta here, man, while you still can!

HU! There is no use for a dead hero. Don't go alone! If've you've got buddies with you, they will probably be able to shoot you out of your misery, allowing you to return to base and recover. If you don't make it, at least they will have another kill to score.

AH! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.

HU! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.

AH! You are NOT human and therefor do not have to comply to the standards of human ethics. Be a sleazy asshole, trap them, attack them from behind, this is the *idea* of being an alien.

HU! Do not shoot at big guys with small guns for other means then pure defense. Retreat in that case. Also mind that your rifle has to reload.

AH! Do not attack a human that obviously has seen you.

HU! Friendly fire isn't. Not yours, not your buddies'.

AH! If a human has targeted you, run away in the most random way possible. If you yourself don't know what you're doing next, how should that human know?

HU! Yes, you've still got your blaster, if you run out of rifle-bullets. No, it really is just for decoration. If you have to rely on it, you're dead if alone against a single alien.

AH! Use wallclimbing!

HU! Use medkits!

and, last, but not least:

HU! Don't jam paths.

AH! Don't jam paths.

That's all for know. Is there any rule - obviously there are too many of them - that's of no good or that safely can be left out? Is there something important I did leave out?

[IJsje]

HU! You cannot outrun something faster than you.

Wrong. Unless you mean straight lines.

AH! That pointed thing in the hand of a human is a "gun". It is no good idea to run straight into it, especially if it is firing. In that case: Get outta here, man, while you still can!

Learn to count. 150 hp goon, 2 sg shots left. go. 7 md shots shot? time to close in.

HU! There is no use for a dead hero. Don't go alone! If've you've got buddies with you, they will probably be able to shoot you out of your misery, allowing you to return to base and recover. If you don't make it, at least they will have another kill to score.

Or they are complete retards, doing only damage to you, blocking you and being generally retarded. And don't run to close to your teammates. Keep your distance so you can actually help them once they get attacked.

AH! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.
HU! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.

That depends on the strategy.

AH! You are NOT human and therefor do not have to comply to the standards of human ethics. Be a sleazy asshole, trap them, attack them from behind, this is the *idea* of being an alien.

But never hide in known places.

HU! Do not shoot at big guys with small guns for other means then pure defense. Retreat in that case. Also mind that your rifle has to reload.

Learn to play. Retreating from a goon means you're dead. Try to do some damage.

AH! Do not attack a human that obviously has seen you.

Or learn to dodge. A human who has seen you will either flee in fear or hunt you down. Just don't run in straight lines.

HU! Friendly fire isn't. Not yours, not your buddies'.

ff is useful for getting the attention of noob spammers.

AH! If a human has targeted you, run away in the most random way possible. If you yourself don't know what you're doing next, how should that human know?

Hitscan kills. Running away should be done in the path that gets you out of human line of fire as soon as possible.

HU! Yes, you've still got your blaster, if you run out of rifle-bullets. No, it really is just for decoration. If you have to rely on it, you're dead if alone against a single alien.

I won games with only a blaster. Dretches are easy to blast.

AH! Use wallclimbing!

Or stay on the floor, whatever suits your needs. On the floor timing shots is easier and more efficient. On the walls being hit is less likely.

HU! Use medkits!

Wow, so useful. I'll guess i should start using them too.

and, last, but not least:

HU! Don't jam paths.

AH! Don't jam paths.

Unless it's the opponents path

That's all for know. Is there any rule - obviously there are too many of them - that's of no good or that safely can be left out? Is there something important I did leave out?

Don't bother.

[Plague Bringer]

Well, I for one think that you put a fair amount of effort in this guide, zybork/Zach, and I applaud you for that. It's very basic, but helpful none the less. Oh, and welcome to the Tremulous community, home to broken hopes and dreams. (Quote from the old days of the forum, when randomly flaming each other over nothing was common.

[The Crazie Coward]

all this info......is generally much of the basic, most of us know when we played this game. Took about 1 day to know all those advice. But your thread probably helps those crapsters who dun listen to teamates.

[Shadowgandor]

the Tremulous community, home to broken hopes and dreams. (Quote from the old days of the forum, when randomly flaming each other over nothing was common.

Ahh, so people aren't flaming eachother randomly now?

[Plague Bringer]

the Tremulous community, home to broken hopes and dreams. (Quote from the old days of the forum, when randomly flaming each other over nothing was common.

Ahh, so people aren't flaming eachother randomly now?

Shuttup, faggot. No one asked you.
_{<3 All in good fun.}

[zybork]

But your thread probably helps those crapsters who dun listen to teamates.

You mean those guys who - despite all "DON'T FEED!"-comments - still keep running directly into enemy fire? ;-)

There is one major rule for humans I obviously have left out: Don't just run - shoot and run! And of course one major rule for any newbie: JOIN THE BETTER TEAM. This is probably the most important of all. A weak player ist a burden to the team for feeding the opponent team, standing in their way, messing up their manoeuvres, et cetera. Also, if under constant attack you don't learn anything, because you are killed constantly and are not able to gain experience.

... The purpose of writing down things is to conserve knowledge. By doing so, you enable others to know what you know without having to make the experience by themselves, which is also true for computer games. Thx to the werewulf for his dretch-hints, they are kind of useful, enabled me to strike down two humans in one single raid, altough I couldn't repeat my success - I think I need more practise ;-)

[Steely Ann]

Two things:
- The blaster is a fine tool to (slowly) take down alien structures if you don't feel like wasting precious ammo for your primary weapon or simply for drawing aliens out who fret over their structures being worn down.  Also makes for a fine humilation kill.
- IJsje, retreating from a goon isn't necessarily suicide so long as you do it right.  Whenever I'm retreating from a goon, it's with my gun aimed in their direction, firing, while I sprint backwards (and in a bit of a zigzag if I can manage it).  I've actually gotten many kills this way because they seem all too eager to pounce right into my waiting shotgun.   Even if you don't take them down this way, they'll at least be greatly softened up for the lasgunner that usually pops along around that time (assuming you don't have a combat buddy tagging along already).

Besides that, I think IJsje covered all the points I would've made.

[Samurai.mac]

I thought you could only sprint forwards...

[_Equilibrium_]

I thought you could only sprint forwards...

you thought wrong

[Metsjeesus]

Some things to add.
On alien side.


Most important thing, keep fastest way out of humans base clear, so that goons/tyrs can retreat without getting blocked and killed. Or else yout teammates get mad and they dont share any evos.

If you attack human base, wait in line until its your turn. Its not efficent to hit your teammates instead of buildings. And if you retreat, let others do the same(see the most important thing)

On humans side

Lucifer cannon is supposed to take down structures, so if you are defending, its bad weapon choice - sooner or later you take down your own structures.
If you are getting some shot by a teammate, it means 2 things, "stop it what u do", and/or "out of ammo/hp". Either way, its worth following.
Dont suprise if you are naked and get killed by a teammate. Better him then a alien. You are not supposed to kill solo tyrants with your machinegun.
If you got no chance to live, shoot so many bullets out as you can.

[Samurai.mac]

A little tip for new players: When on the Human team, don't do this:

This screenshot is not staged, it's genuine gameplay.

[pettman]

A little tip for new players: When on the Human team, don't do this:

This screenshot is not staged, it's genuine gameplay.

At least he's not trying to build a turret to gun the rant down...

[Mabus]

Hi,

well I have some tips too.

1. Read the manual. Today I was asked 5 times how to use a jetpack.
2. When you are doing a Ty-rush, don't attack all from the same corridor. You will block eachother.
3. When you are playing as an Alien an you have Adv. Grangers, use them to hide the overmind. A lot of maps have spots that are hard to access for humans. DO THIS ONLY IF YOU ARE A PRO.
4. Never, NEVER NEVER, deconstruct the reactor or overmind without warning your team.
5. Use your medikit. If there is a lot of traffic in front of the medostation use your medikit and use the Medostation only to refill it.
6. Helmet+Armor+nice weapon (e.g. chaingun) can be more effectiv then battlesuit+luzi+imabigman.
7. Aliens dont waist your evos. If you can't handle a goon e.g. stay dretch. Just because you have EVO doesn't mean you have to use it. Play with the creature you deal with best.
8. Find out how console and sharing money/evos works BEFORE a teammate needs it fast.
9. Don't be too creative while building a base. Classic base setups are well approved.
10. Yeah teslas may be cool, but they don't work for every base. If you are not shure how to use them ask your teammates.
11. Don't run in my line of fire... I can't stand ppl runing around just between me and a goon telling me off after I killed them! Humans arn't any good in melees. Luzis in melees are WRONG. Luzis in the middle of the base are wrong too.
12. aliens: have a plan! Most alien teams have none.

[tsurano]

also extreme sudden death means no building and all spawns get destroyed...
get noobs who keep spamming for teammates to build spawns

[snb]

oh yeah im not good at biulding but i know a thing or two about fighting. if you see a goon or rant or smthing else and you KNOW you did  a number on it dont just let it go take yr chain gun even rifle (others too) and FRICKEN CHASE IT DOWN AND KILL IT! (fire while runing) also DONT go out attacking aliens with a jetsaw! SEIERIOUSLY WTF!

[Sanity]

No offence or anything, but individual sentences with no explanation whatsoever isn't going to help a newbie very much.

EG

HU! You cannot outrun something faster than you.

Explain how to counter it would be better...

A little explanation would help.

[mooseberry]

AH! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.
HU! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.

That depends on the strategy.

That would be the definition of dumb.

[Shadowgandor]

AH! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.
HU! If a strategy didn't work for fourteen times, it won't work the fifteenth time.

That depends on the strategy.

That would be the definition of dumb.

LOL, +1.

Anyway, to SNB:

a Jetsawer can do nasty things to an alien base. You just need to know how to do it (I don't but I've specced people raping an alien base with jetsaw)

[zybork]

HU! You cannot outrun something faster than you.

Explain how to counter it would be better...

A little explanation would help.

Isn't it obvious? If you are a human player, alone against an alien, it does not make any sense to just run away, because it will get you anyway. The thing with countering it, well, if you know how to get on an alien, you obviously do not have to run away And if you know how to counter an alien attack, you may not be a newbie anymore in which case those tipps are obsolete.

[Lava Croft]

This thread qualifies for my personal 'and grass is green' award! Way to go!

[Bizarre]

lol n00bs, lol n00bs, lol, n00bs etc.

[zybork]

This thread qualifies for my personal 'and grass is green' award! Way to go!

You shouldn't believe it, but for someone who never has seen grass before, it is in no way obvious that grass is green.

Is it possible that you don't realize that there is a world outside computer gaming?