Tips for newbies

[daenyth]

Let's get some tips from more experienced players in here.
This first post will be modified and kept up-to-date with suggestions from the community.
This topic is under construction! More to come soon!


Quick links

• Humans
• Aliens
• Building
• Binds
• Improving as a player
• General tips
• Terminology
• Links to other resources

Humans

Your first purchase should usually be a helmet.
If you buy a gun but not a helmet, because "you don't have enough money", you are being a RETARD.
The bottom line is that ANY human with Helmet + Armor + Rifle will do MORE damage than any human with an expensive gun and no armor.

When you are stage 1, you should avoid buying guns if the enemies have no evolved. Rifle is a fine weapon. When the aliens have a dragoon, buy armor to avoid getting instant-killed from pounce.

To save money: Shotgun + helmet + armor is the BEST combination for credit savings. Average goon vs this combo means the goon will die. It can also be effective against tyrants; ~3 shotgunners vs an average tyrant is a dead tyrant.

Aliens

Building

If the game is moving slowly and you are afraid to leave the base, Grab a ckit and repair! When I was new at the game I knew I sucked at fighting, so I built every game. Your team can have great attackers, but as human OR alien, you are doomed without a good base. Study designs, figure out how things work, and learn from good builders. Keep in mind that most servers have around 100BP, so playing on SST will give you HORRIBLE habits.

For grangers: Acid tube damage is based on HOW CLOSE the humans are, and has NOTHING to do with the animation! This means that acid tubes on very high ceilings are almost always bad!

Trappers have a cone-shaped line of sight. They are most effective when slightly above the door facing down, or on the wall facing sideways near foot-chest level. Trappers can be the most important defensive structure, if used properly. Trappers are useless when placed on the floor.
 
For building on either team, I have found some things about good bases.
Don't block your teammates with buildables! For humans, this means making sure there is a FOOTPATH through your turrets. If your teammate has to jump, it is NOT a great design. Mostly when people run back to base they are wounded, and low on stamina. Having to wait those 1-2 seconds to refill can mean that they DIE. For aliens it means making sure that your tyrants can get anywhere inside the base to defend. An example of a bad building is a hovel on the ATCS ramp, because it makes it VERY hard for tyrants to defend the overmind!

Human and alien bases have differant strategies! For humans, you want a base that doesn't lend itself to being sniped out, and making sure that alien attack paths are well covered with damaging items. For aliens, I've found the good bases try to slow humans down more than damage them.

Bases with one door are almost always bad. The phrase "Make your stronghold too hard to get into and you will never get out" comes to mind.

Erm... One recommandation:Newbies should not build! Get some fighting experience first to realize how the game works. Building is something quite sophisticated that requires a deeper understanding of the game, newbies should not do it. A bad base can ruin the whole game. A team full of superb players will kiss the ground goodbye when a noob places the reactor next to the entrance or moves the reactor the time the gun turrets are needed most, et cetera.

Binds

Improving as a player

Listen to players who are better than you! I can't stress this enough.

Another point I've thought of is that you can learn from spectating good players. By doing so, you can learn their habits, movement patterns, etc.

Learning how to build makes you a better attacker. If you understand what makes a good base, you can spot the weak points of a bad base and exploit them.

Teamwork is very important in tremulous. Some might even say it's the most important.

General tips

Your base should almost ALWAYS have at least one person guarding it at all times. Sometimes this means you miss out on frontline action, but it can make the difference between losing and winning.

Communicate with your team! If your enemy has staged up, let them know. If there is a grenade, let them know so they can dodge it. If your base is being attacked, let them know. If you are planning to move the base, let them know!

Camping can be a good strategy sometimes, but if you do it ALL the time, you will lose Trem takes a balanced mix of offense and defense to win.

If you are feeding, then stay near your base instead of running out so much! 90% of the time, this is true. however, in some VERY specific cases, feeding can be a useful strategy. If you don't KNOW when it's good, don't do it.

My overall tipp to newbies (because I am one myself and learning to play the game more and more):

The amount of offensive gameplay is directly proportional to your skills.

If you know nothing, stay behind and wait for some target practise, if you start to become better, join a group of your buddies for raids, if you are a superhero, then you may lead the attack. There are also servers with bots on them. try those. If you are alien, you can learn headbites, if you are human, you can get some excellent target practise. I played about 30min today on a bot-server, then I ceased playing that "simulated game"  and joined a "real game" [oh boy, what a word  ) and shot down ten dretches, where I usually shot down, erm, one or two more by accident then on purpose.

I know it seems a bit dull to put so much effort when you just want to play, want to have fun, but without any skills, you can't enjoy it, I think.

I think noobs should try all sort of things, and should do all mistakes. that's the best way to learn.
and that's why are noobs sorted if they want to play the game or leave it.

so nade base once, accidently decon reac once, feed till u get skills, get kicked occasionally, and so on. better gamers will warn you if u act stupid anyway so you can learn from them. at the same time they will promote their ars poetica also...
like if you build a trapper on floor they will laugh they ass off and yell at you so you won't do that again.

let's don't talk like there are hundred thousands of nubz out there, because they are only a small bunch of people who are playing trem. and we should keep them to make the community stronger and more fun.

To those who accuse me of being an asshole, I only do it to people who don't listen. If I'm being a dick to you, you are very likely doing something wrong. In general, If you are polite, and ASK for help, explaining that you are new, most players will help

Terminology

Links to learn more

[HamStar]

Nice guide, could potentially help the very new to 2 week players.

[zybork]

Erm... One recommandation:Newbies should not build! Get some fighting experience first to realize how the game works. Building is something quite sophisticated that requires a deeper understanding of the game, newbies should not do it. A bad base can ruin the whole game. A team full of superb players will kiss the ground goodbye when a noob places the reactor next to the entrance or moves the reactor the time the gun turrets are needed most, et cetera.

My overall tipp to newbies (because I am one myself and learning to play the game more and more):

The amount of offensive gameplay is directly proportional to your skills.

If you know nothing, stay behind and wait for some target practise, if you start to become better, join a group of your buddies for raids, if you are a superhero, then you may lead the attack. There are also servers with bots on them. try those. If you are alien, you can learn headbites, if you are human, you can get some excellent target practise. I played about 30min today on a bot-server, then I ceased playing that "simulated game"  and joined a "real game" [oh boy, what a word  ) and shot down ten dretches, where I usually shot down, erm, one or two more by accident then on purpose.

I know it seems a bit dull to put so much effort when you just want to play, want to have fun, but without any skills, you can't enjoy it, I think.

[+ OPTIMUS +]

I think noobs should try all sort of things, and should do all mistakes. that's the best way to learn.
and that's why are noobs sorted if they want to play the game or leave it.

so nade base once, accidently decon reac once, feed till u get skills, get kicked occasionally, and so on. better gamers will warn you if u act stupid anyway so you can learn from them. at the same time they will promote their ars poetica also...
like if you build a trapper on floor they will laugh they ass off and yell at you so you won't do that again.

let's don't talk like there are hundred thousands of nubz out there, because they are only a small bunch of people who are playing trem. and we should keep them to make the community stronger and more fun.

[daenyth]

(Post removed and merged with first post)

[Ildamos]

Newbie here. What is feeding? There are so many terms and strats not on the manual... 

[Knowitall66]

Feeding - Basically is letting the enemy kill you many times. You may not do it intionally but people can get nasty about it.

[Ildamos]

Ah. Thanks.

This is a flaw in the game --- mayhap servers won't be noob-friendly because of this? Because newbies WILL die more often.

Also: "in some VERY specific cases, feeding can be a useful strategy. "

How? I fail to see that.

Thanks for the reply!

[Troy1]

Feeding can be a strategy on a pub servers. Usually if you fail to lure the humans out of their base for a LONG while it can be useful to give them S2, hence they will be more encouraged to come out, and considering their skill level (-> 0 due to such camping) even hs3 with as1 will bring aliens a fast S3, since bsuits will be dretchswarmed.

There are quite a few more guides lying around in this section which you might want to read as well, since this one is just a common sense with a bit of info.

Good thing is to look for the weapon damages (stikie), might even try to read my own huge post about human weps (==Troy=='s guide to something... dont remember the actual name), which I still need to  finish of and rework.

[daenyth]

Feeding is most effective on uncreation when humans are competent and attacking with s2 or s3, and aliens don't have s3 yet. Make many eggs, booster if you can, and just hit them so much that they have to return to their base for hp. You may die 5 times to one kill, but once you hit s3 you can turn the tables. Make sure your team knows what you're doing though, as some people may not realize this is useful.

One way to avoid feeding as a human is to use buy/sell binds at the armory. These are great for many reasons; one, you don't have to use the menus, you can just hit a button a buy your stuff. Also, it means you don't have to stand still unable to fight! Similarly, alien evolve binds are great because you don't have to go through the menu and can evolve on the run, in midair, and more. One nice trick on karith is to be dretch above the default reactor, drop down, evolve in midair to a tyrant, land on the RC, and go to town.

[daenyth]

Newbie here. What is feeding? There are so many terms and strats not on the manual... 

You bring up a great point. Later today when I have time I will write up some terms and such.

[Troy1]

Feeding is most effective on uncreation when humans are competent and attacking with s2 or s3, and aliens don't have s3 yet. Make many eggs, booster if you can, and just hit them so much that they have to return to their base for hp. You may die 5 times to one kill, but once you hit s3 you can turn the tables. Make sure your team knows what you're doing though, as some people may not realize this is useful.

when as1 faces hs3 there is NO such defenition as feeding. Its a survival, a single dretch cannot kill a bsuit (average skills), and having your whole team as dretches will force you to attack as that class. Especially knowing that a goon will be just killed on sight.

Feeding is generally a death which is clearly disadvantages your team. If you go out in ATCS into the corridor when it is as1 with hs1 and feed the pro-rifle 10 times is going to be called a feed. But if you do the same thing, trying to hold lucy from getting to your base, is going to be called DEFENCE not feed.

Generally feeding :
1) A death that could have been easily prevented
2) Which leads to a significant disbalance between teams
3) Meaning that it is either helps opponent to advance in stage, or gain credits/evos, which they undoubtedly need. (hs3 naked human with rifle)
4) Which is in no way a defense, such as slowing down human rush, trying to cover the base etc.

But is nowhere the "dretchstorm" technique which is the only way to survive with as1 against hs3

[daenyth]

Good point. It's not quite feeding then.

Another point I've thought of is that you can learn from spectating good players. By doing so, you can learn their habits, movement patterns, etc.

Learning how to build makes you a better attacker. If you understand what makes a good base, you can spot the weak points of a bad base and exploit them.

I think I might start modding my first post to organize it and include tips from other people. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Should I do it or leave the thread as it is?

Could a mod please sticky this thread? I'll maintain it.

[Lava Croft]

Stickied under the condition that this thread stay clean of the usual insulting. It should be a help for newbies, not a showcase of how some Tremulous people have slight communicative problems.

[daenyth]

Stickied under the condition that this thread stay clean of the usual insulting. It should be a help for newbies, not a showcase of how some Tremulous people have slight communicative problems.

Thanks! I'll try my best.

[Troy1]

About weapons and alien classes:

Things you need to learn by using /devmap :

How to run it : type /devmap atcs  in the console (`) to enter a "cheat" mode in your server.
What commands to use : /g_alienstage 0-2 /g_humanstage 0-2  /give funds /god
What to practise :

Aliens :

1) wallwalking. Try to accommodate your sensors to the ability to wallwalk and an abundant change of screen orientation. In the most advance try to look at one point, while wallwalking from ceiling to walls, floor, back on ceiling + strafing. If you can do that reasonably good, then you are there with wallwalking for online game.

2) pouncing. Learn how to pounce. Also learn how to pounce fast, meaning that you charge the second pounce WHILE you are still in the air from the first one.

3) BunnyHopping. Easy to explain, jump as dretch and repress and hold the spacebar, you will notice that you will jump second time immediately after you land. Now do that while pushing forward key. And finally press forward key, a direction key (left-right) orient yourself that the final vector is still forward and jump, while in the jump change the direction key to an opposite one and repeat. You will soon notice the acceleration you gain with this method. can save your life sometimes. Usefull with dretches, grangers, basis and marauders.

4) Minor things such as tyrant charging control (do not get stuck in the walls, build a barricade and learn to make a few circles around it without hitting it or walls)

Humans :

1) Lucy charge. there are 2 important things :
     1) Cancelling your charge : Altfire! immediately altfire if you see that you are going to do something bad with it, the charge is going to be cancelled and only smaller lucyball is being released, which deals 27 damage. The way to do it is : you are holding left button. You realised that you dont want to shoot. KEEP pressing left button. Press right button briefly and immediately release BOTH buttons.
     2) Getting to a FullCharge (FC). Fullcharge takes 10 ammo and deals 250 (255) damage. Just stand near armory/reac/rep and try to get 15 FCs from luy in a row. If you will make it, then you are fine with lucying goons.

... some things to add, but these are the general ideas.

[daenyth]

Good tips troy.

I learned wallwalking by practicing with the speed (in options) set slower, then bumped myself to walking faster once I was used to it.

You can also improve your reaction time by making your mouse more sensitive, by using the \sensitivity command. I like aliens at 35 and humans around 27. You should start off with something like 10-15, then once you are comfortable make it higher. Sensitivity helps you because you can turn around quicker. Have you ever followed someone and seen them do a 180 to shoot at you immediately? They had high sensitivity.

Also, it's worth practicing stealthy movement as alien. Lean what makes noises. (jumping, slashing, walking). For all classes, you can walk instead of run by holding shift (default) and it will make you walk slower, but silently. This is also useful with the bsuit.

[St. Anger]

Good tips troy.

I learned wallwalking by practicing with the speed (in options) set slower, then bumped myself to walking faster once I was used to it.

You can also improve your reaction time by making your mouse more sensitive, by using the \sensitivity command. I like aliens at 35 and humans around 27. You should start off with something like 10-15, then once you are comfortable make it higher. Sensitivity helps you because you can turn around quicker. Have you ever followed someone and seen them do a 180 to shoot at you immediately? They had high sensitivity.

Also, it's worth practicing stealthy movement as alien. Lean what makes noises. (jumping, slashing, walking). For all classes, you can walk instead of run by holding shift (default) and it will make you walk slower, but silently. This is also useful with the bsuit.

You shouldn't tell people what sensitivity to use since we don't all have the same mouse as you.

[daenyth]

Good point. When I add it to the main part I'll make that edit. I'm *fairly* sure that those numbers would have similar results as long as you're using the same Xorg driver though. YMMV.

[Troy1]

8 for humans and 12 for aliens here, high dps mouse. if you set windows sen. higher the values will not change in trem but the sen. will increase.

better say :
'have your sen. in the limits:
human :
make sure crosshair does not miss out pixels (jump)
your complete palm twist should be 120 seg, and complete arm twist 720 deg


for aliens 240 and 1080.

(Edited spelling, its hard to type all of this on PPC)

[Metsjeesus]

Usually, if i play on new servers and in human side, i must get lasgun and shoot walls abit to see how big is lag. You should then get slight idea how much further you must aim to make hits. It really helps against dretches.

[daenyth]

Usually, if i play on new servers and in human side, i must get lasgun and shoot walls abit to see how big is lag. You should then get slight idea how much further you must aim to make hits. It really helps against dretches.

Very useful and creative! You can also see if the server has unlag (and more), by clicking server info, and looking for "g_unlagged 1"

[HamStar]

Movement

Keep moving, especially if you're an alien. ince aliens are melee fighters, you're pretty much screwed if a human sees you. If you're a human, its just as hard for you if you don't have a helmet, due to the alien's advantage of an in built radar.

For aliens, use your wallwalk and jump, as well as your speed to out manouvre the enemy's sight and where possible, set up an ambush for the humans instead of running headlong into death. If a human spots you, try to engage them in a random format, getting ever closer to them while dodging their attacks. A bigger alien such as the dragoon should have the phsycological advantage as it can take plenty of hits before dying. If you're a dragoon or bigger and a human is dancing you, try to predict their movements and get in their way. This should give you time to attack while they readjust their movements, saving a you precious seconds to heal after you have killed them.

For humans, your movements depend solely on the type of attacker you're facing. If they are small and running straight at you, simply jump or circle them while raining down death on their bodies. If they are bigger aliens who run at you, do the same but don't jump. When facing the larger aliens such as the marauder who can't wallwalk, if they are jumping, crouch. In conjunction with doing this, continue to fire into their bodies. The much bigger aliens (dragoons onwards), unless they run at you, stand a much better chance than you at winning, so its best to just circle them, using the walls to your advantage until you have done enough damage for them to run away, kill you or be killed by your teammates. Bear in mind that these movement tactics will only last you for so long, so don't forget to bring a friend with you

PS: Sorry for the essay, I just type alot

[daenyth]

Hey, don't apologize! Great contribution.

When I'm feeling less lazy, I'll add it to the first post.

[conqueror]

Very good topic  .

(I can help for the binds )

[Sanity]

Your base should almost ALWAYS have at least one person guarding it at all times. Sometimes this means you miss out on frontline action, but it can make the difference between losing and winning.

Ahh, games so easy won on s3 humans when they forget to guard their base.
Goon + no human defenders = dead humans.

[UniqPhoeniX]

Add a section about default controls, if possible a poll about which section was most helpful to new players.

To try and learn without annoying others, write '/devmap atcs' in console; then for stage 3 use '/g_humanstage 2' and '/g_alienstage 2'; for credits/evos use '/give funds [amount]'; invulnerability is '/god'. If you are building, you might want to try '/cg_drawBBOX 1'. This shows the hitboxes = size of structures (and other players in servers where cheats are allowed). '/g_humanbuildpoins [amount]' and '/g_alienbuildpoins [amount]'.

Options:
Disable Warning dialogs - if you know all warning dialogs and what causes them, you can turn this on.
Tutorial mode - after you have learned all weapons, upgrades & classes, you can turn this off.
Wallwalking speed - set how fast you want camera to turn when you are wallwalking.
Auto wallwalk pitching - set if camera turns if you wallwalk from one surface to another on a different angle.

Add Tremwiki.com to links.

[daenyth]

Sorry that I haven't really been updating lately. It's on my todo list... eventually. If anyone else wants to add something, I can paste it in if you take the time to format it.

[+ OPTIMUS +]

we should make some short youtube video series to povide easy-access tutorials maybe. i'm in with the visuals if needed.

[Despairation]

Yeah, that would be a good idea, but it might be kinda hard to get that organized.