How to be an effective alien

[temple]

To be a very efficient mara, goon, or rant, you need to master moving backwards. It's just as important as moving forwards against many of the good human dancers out there. It's especially important with mara though. If a human runs into you when you're a mara, it gets very difficult.

It boils down to accuracy, who hits who fastest or in the case of a mara, hitting them in the head quickly. 

A good alien should never be killed by a rushing human.  A skirmish between good players should play out as expected, aliens trying to close and humans trying to distance.  When humans start rushing, its because the aliens are weak.

[ChaosSquirrel]

Actually, I've seen many good rants killed by a human rush. One thing *NOT* to do is try to run away with a rant. Especially if you only have 2 hp. Kill that guy with the shotgun first, at least. (I've actually killed a rant because he hid behind the corner when I was chasing him. Five shotgun blasts work wonders.)

[toastisgood]

about that,'sneaking behind them' trick,i tried the other day and it went like this

  v me
 
......................................
 


                                                 v charging noobrant
......................................      .................................
............................
 



                                                         
......................................:DEAD:  ZOMG LOL SO SRRY
................................................. ........... lolz...

................................................. ..................




......................................:DEAD:  GIVE ME 20 MIN ILL PAY YOU BACK
................................................. ...........:DEAD:
                                                                  :slash:
................................................. ..................








afterwards i was kind of pissed because i never got my evos back

[Dracone]

To be a very efficient mara, goon, or rant, you need to master moving backwards. It's just as important as moving forwards against many of the good human dancers out there. It's especially important with mara though. If a human runs into you when you're a mara, it gets very difficult.

It boils down to accuracy, who hits who fastest or in the case of a mara, hitting them in the head quickly. 

A good alien should never be killed by a rushing human.  A skirmish between good players should play out as expected, aliens trying to close and humans trying to distance.  When humans start rushing, its because the aliens are weak.

Accuracy is only a combination of how often and how precisely you hit them. You want to get headshots, but it is very often best to go with body shots with mara because it is easier to keep a good lock with them. Mara is very low to the ground, and thus has its angle drawbacks. Also, movement IS very important. If you're hitting a human with the mara's well-known constant stream of hits, it is incredibly easy for them to get away simply by jumping. If a human gets distance, you're in trouble unless you're good with movement, and THAT becomes the deciding factor.

[temple]

Maras are the most predictable alien because all their movement relies on jumping.  If they are away from a wall, they are toast against a human that knows how gravity works.

[Le Compilateur]

Agreed. I've been an Adv. Mara and gone up against a rifle-wielding noob, I didn't stand a chance. Perhaps it was because of the open space and lack of walls to jump off of.

[Dracone]

Maras are the most predictable alien because all their movement relies on jumping.  If they are away from a wall, they are toast against a human that knows how gravity works.

Not always true. Ever heard of the way mara is often split into two categories, ground mara and jumping mara? There are plenty of maras out there who never have to jump to kill even good humans. However, many of the good, and all of the best humans, force the mara into jumping. However, I usually only have to jump once during these situations to get my bearings back, and it isn't that bad.

[temple]

Maras are the most predictable alien because all their movement relies on jumping.  If they are away from a wall, they are toast against a human that knows how gravity works.

Not always true. Ever heard of the way mara is often split into two categories, ground mara and jumping mara? There are plenty of maras out there who never have to jump to kill even good humans. However, many of the good, and all of the best humans, force the mara into jumping. However, I usually only have to jump once during these situations to get my bearings back, and it isn't that bad.

I'm not trying to be tit for tat, but that goes back to what I said about accuracy.  If a human allows a mara to get close (via rushing), the winner is who is more accurate.  But good humans can out maneuver a mara far easier than most other aliens.  Maras are all about momentum but that is easy to predict if you look for it.  The only reason I think maras are successful is because most people don't expect them. 

[Dracone]

It is true that mara is much easier to out maneuver than other aliens, with the probably exception of the dretch, but it is hard to say that whoever is more accurate will win the fight, since there are variables in the damage each will do with said accuracy. Hypothetically, if you take a mara that doesn't miss headshots and a helmeted human that doesn't miss any shots, the mara will always win if it gets close, 100% of the time, unless the human is using a flamer, luci, or (depending on the distance) a painsaw.

That may be taken as too much of a stretch for an example, but my point is that the damages are different. If a human DOES get that close with two equally skilled opponents, the mara will, theoretically, have the advantage, accuracy aside.

[ChaosSquirrel]

Yes, but there is no "Mara beat human S2 armor" equation. Even the best player has been killed by a nudist.

[player1]

[ChaosSquirrel]

Just pointing out that Tremulous is a game, not a statistical emulation. Anyone can kill anyone, given time, location, luck, and allies. This is important to remember. The one key element of killing is teamwork, though a good stealth attack can help. I once got four or five kills by dropping down from a vantage as a dretch, headbiting, and running fast to hide again.

[Revan]

Just pointing out that Tremulous is a game, not a statistical emulation. Anyone can kill anyone, given time, location, luck, and allies. This is important to remember. The one key element of killing is teamwork, though a good stealth attack can help. I once got four or five kills by dropping down from a vantage as a dretch, headbiting, and running fast to hide again.

Indeed that is true, but team work is more necessary for humans than aliens this is part of the reason (I think) that we see these crazy stats of matches won/lost for each team.

the n00bs and newbs go to humans
the mildly experienced players go to aliens so the team doesn't kill them right off
the good players ditto or pull the weight of the entire team on humans
the best players go either

[ChaosSquirrel]

Not necessarily. I've seen it the other way. Like yesterday, I was playing a match, and hummies repeatedly dominated the aliens. (This was also one of my best games of the week)
While neither team was necessarily noobish, the hummies were more experienced? and quite well prepared.

About maras, I just don't let them get near me. I killed a dretch and lisk while running backwards with a shotgun. It took me 10 shots, so it's not that easy. Then again, sprint can save your hide.
To be a good alien, don't stand out in the open, or think that stealth will save you. I killed three or four wall-hangers yesterday when they should have rushed.

[+ OPTIMUS +]

About maras, I just don't let them get near me. I killed a dretch and lisk while running backwards with a shotgun. It took me 10 shots, so it's not that easy. Then again, sprint can save your hide.
To be a good alien, don't stand out in the open, or think that stealth will save you. I killed three or four wall-hangers yesterday when they should have rushed.

about maras... i experienced the opposite. if they are jumping all around, they are much more likely bite your head off, but when they are close and on the ground, they are just slow, fat-ass dretches with a so huge hitbox that swallows all your shotty sharpnels(?) at once. maras usually make headshots while in air, because jumping requires aiming downwards, so most of the dudes out there are not changing their aim so much while bouncing.
from far away, they are swallowing less of the bullets, especially when speeded up - so i found the only useful way to kill them to let them close, dodge 'em, and give them a close range round of ammo.

[Dracone]

It's not always about really aiming downwards. Usually, when I jump, it's to close the distance between me and a human, OR, if they get too close, to open a little bit up. In either case, when I jump I aim only slightly downwards most of the time. If you're aiming too far down, a good human that is already moving in a confusing dodging pattern will only confuse you even more because of where you're looking. Also, using a marauder from the ground actually gives you a mobility advantage, as well as a MUCH greater attacking opportunity, as you can land many more hits consecutively while on the ground than while in the air. Practice a bit, and headshotting from the ground becomes incredibly simple.

[your face]

Yes, but there is no "Mara beat human S2 armor" equation. Even the best player has been killed by a nudist.

1 vs. 1, mara and human = full hp, mara is the 'best player,' mara pwnz human.  end of story.

[ChaosSquirrel]

Simply, no. *I've* killed maras naked before. And he was good. Both (I believe) were at full HP, and there was little maneuvering room. We met around a corner, and I pulled a run and gun.

[Revan]

Simply, no. *I've* killed maras naked before. And he was good. Both (I believe) were at full HP, and there was little maneuvering room. We met around a corner, and I pulled a run and gun.

What weapon were you using?

[Lava Croft]

Simply, no. *I've* killed maras naked before. And he was good. Both (I believe) were at full HP, and there was little maneuvering room. We met around a corner, and I pulled a run and gun.

If you are naked and you are able to kill a full HP Marauder, that means the Marauder is even shitter at Tremulous than you are, which is quite the accomplishment. Stop acting like a freak lucky moment is standard practice.

[Revan]

If you are naked and you are able to kill a full HP Marauder, that means the Marauder is even shitter at Tremulous than you are, which is quite the accomplishment. Stop acting like a freak lucky moment is standard practice.

Have to agree with you; Chaos I like you but you really need to play more trem.

[Dracone]

I'm just getting really tired of the fucking "Trem is not a statistic formula" shit. Is there anyone here who is dumb enough to need to be told that? Don't post such obvious statements in argument.

[Lava Croft]

Is there anyone here who is dumb enough to need to be told that? Don't post such obvious statements in argument.

If people keep bringing their freakish, lucky situations as standard practice, yes.

[player1]

Is there anyone here who is dumb enough to need to be told that? Don't post such obvious statements in argument.

If people keep bringing their freakish, lucky situations as standard practice, yes.

in other wordz, +1

[Dracone]

Yeah, that is where Squirrel is getting all that...

Soon there may be posts on how someone hit a turn 360 bind as an alien attacked and the alien missed, so if you do 360s you'll never get hit...Who made the popcorn?

[Lava Croft]

That's why we must remain vigilant and put a stop to people like ChaosSquirrel, who do nothing but spread misinformation.