The kidc beginner guide to ns

Kid_CKid_C Join Date: 2002-04-27 Member: 524Members
<div class="IPBDescription">A playtester's simple guide</div>Ok well rested friends. You must be new to Natural Selection. Here is the basic lowdown of tips and hints to make your transition all the easier.

Lets start with the Marines. Why? Because you WILL start as a marine. As a Marine you have someone else telling you (ordering) where to go and what to do, and you WILL stay close to the other Marines and thus have the illusion of safety in numbers. You are not good enough to play Alien, yet.

Life as a Marine:  <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::asrifle::'><!--endemo-->
You build. You stay near the group. You follow your orders.
You shoot any enemy that attacks.

You DONT become Commander. You DONT chatter on the Headset. You DONT make demands. You DONT shoot at enemy structures without being instructed to do so. You DONT whine for stuff.

Simple. Like I said.

I hear the "whys". I hear the questions. But just listen up! You are a soldier. You do not question your orders, you just follow them.

Marine Relations:
You will need the squad's love more than they need yours. In fact, your joy in the game will be significantly effected by whether the Commander likes you. Here is the simple plan how to get the Commander’s respect and how to help your squad and yourself.

- When you spawn after dying, stay at base and Ammo up, awaiting orders and/or teammates. Never run off alone.

- Do not demand weapons/ammo/health.  You are not part of the elite team that deserves this. You are Skulk Bait.

- Do not take weapons that are specifically dropped for other Marines. This pisses off your team, and you do not deserve the weapons. They are worthy, not you.

- Do not harass the Commander for Orders. He is not there to entertain you. Let him know once that you are available, then defend the base.

So what do you do then, to get to be a part of the heavy armored, jetpak wearing, HMG toting Marine death squad you envy?

- Wait at base till they respawn and load up. Then follow them offering support and, like I said, bait.

- Learn from them, get involved in their tasks, do the building, and make a difference.

These guys are the ONLY ones the Commander is watching, protecting and outfitting. Mind your tongue, help them out, and suddenly you are part of that group.

Or you can go back to the Losers hanging around base whining for a shotgun. Your choice.

Now go, play, and enjoy the death fade to black. Again and again. Trust me it will be fun.

Marine goal:

Marines have a pretty simple Mission. Accomplishing it is where it gets difficult.

1)  Build defenses around main base.
2)  Obtain more resource collectors, perhaps build a second base or defensive position.
3)  Take a hive and build defenses within it.
4)  Make sure upgrades or research path is developing.
5)  Take a second hive and build defenses within it.
6)  Constantly respond to these defensive position and base being attacked.
7)  Take out the third hive.
8)  Hunt down remaining Aliens.

Final Marine Hints:

-  Marines must be offensive. If you do not get out of Base quick enough and take control of a Hive room, you have lost.

- Do not forget to defend Base. I have seen many times a game where the Marines are winning and then suddenly no Commander.  A Skulk had sneaked into base and wiped out the Commander and the Commanding Station.

- Cover the builders, check the ceilings before advancing and have one Marine checking behind you as you advance. These Aliens come out of nowhere and fast!

Aliens  <!--emo&::onos::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::onos::'><!--endemo-->

Ah, played Marines enough and think you have the game down. Lets flip it over then. I hope you learned the maps pretty well as a marine, because now they just got TWICE as complicated.

Welcome to life as an Alien.
No you can't be a Loner.

Sure other guys can go it alone. But they don't suck. They actually kill more than they get killed. Their constant feeding helps the team.

You are not them. And the Hive is counting on you to help the team. Really.

Here are the simple steps:

1 - You start as a Skulk. Follow the other skulks to learn path to the marine base. Congrats, you have passed the first test and you now are a hunter. Move on to step 3.

2 - You failed to even follow your teammates. So evolve into a Builder (Gorge). Exception to this rule is if there are already 50% of the team becoming Gorge. You do not want an Alien team of just GOrges. That means Death.

Ok Gorge, do NOT build any upgrade chambers (movement, defensive and sensory). You have no clue which upgrade chamber the Aliens should choose first, second or third on this map. How could you?

You can build NO MORE THAN 5 offensive chambers near the first hive. You can also go explore the map, placing resource chambers where you can. Do NOT say you will go build a hive, because you won’t find it or live long enough to do it. Just go, run off, be quiet and stay away from trouble for at least 10-15 minutes.

3 - Hunter! As a Skulk you have learned the path to the Marines and you have died quickly. Rinse and repeat 5 or 6 more times. We do not expect you to KILL any marines, as you have no skills for that. But maybe you can harass them enough to slow their process some, or at least distract them so WE can kill them. Here are some simple Skulk hunting tips:

- If the marines know where you are, don’t charge them.

- Do not go over to that other Skulk hidden in the corner, or you will blow his cover. Find your own damn hiding spot.

- Charge and attack when you see other Skulks attack. Let the biting spam begin.

- You are more effective lurking around a corner making the Marine's sweat your presence for 5 minutes than KILLING one marine. Keep that in mind before you charge that gunfire. A Skulk chuckling in the shadows keeps more Marines at bay than you can ever hope to kill.

- If Marines are cleared, try to destroy the infranty portal first.

- The ceiling is your best friend.

- Parasite. Parasite. Parasite. Always parasite before attacking.

- If the marines are starting to explore further out, pick a spot, lay in wait and then drop on their heads. Element of Surprise is your best weapon.

Your job for the first 10-15 minutes is to slow the Marines progress and expansion.

4 - The game is 15 minutes old and hopefully your has a second hive. Welcome to defense, the life of the Alien Side. See, you have 2-3 places to defend, the Marines often just one. You will spend much more time running to save a hive than ever. Here is what you do in the middle game.

Skulk - remain Skulk if low on RPs or if your team needs attacker’s quick, such as the case when a hive is under attack. Otherwise, upgrade to a more advanced Alien.

Gorge - build up defenses and webs around hives. Also build more chambers offering abilities to your fellow Aliens. Gorge can also go to battle scenes as a medic, healing the attacking aliens, placing webs, and building offensive chambers.

Advanced Aliens:

The Lerk (flyer)

This is your first  (and with one hive, your only) distant fighter. Very weak armor, but hard to hit if it KEEPS MOVING. Start with the machine gun needles and learning the art of flying (it really is an art in this game).

- Learn to find high hidden perches. The skies are yours alone until the marines get Jetpacks.

- Attract enemies by playing the wounded bird hopping on the floor, then hightail it out of there when they approach. You are great bait to get them to advance and become lunch for your hidden Skulks.

With 2 hives, you get the Umbra ability. This defensive cloud gives you the armor your need, but quickly exposes your location. You shouldn’t be stationary to begin with, so get flying! Umbra’s true strength is when you spray an area to protect your fellow charging aliens, not yourself.

The final ability is your spore cloud. This cloud of poison forces the marines to move out of their well defended positions, thus opening them up to attack from your brothers. A great element of this attack is that it is silent. You can be hidden up in the rafters shooting spore clouds on the marines below without being revealed.

Final thought on the Lerk, one of the most versatile and fun aliens. You also have a nasty bite, and you can close the distance faster than any other alien. So get chompin!

The Fade (tank)

This nicely armored alien is the devastating range fighting machine. Your  Acid rockets and later on, your bilebomb does great damage and has splash damage. Launching this artillery  under the protection of a Lerk’s Umbra or a Gorge healing is a near unstoppable force, and this example is what I mean about Teamplay as an Alien.

The Fade also can close distance fast with the Blink ability. It also works very nicely as a get-away tool. Once close to the enemy, the Fade’s swipe attack is devastating.

- The bilebomb is the most effective weapon at taking out structures from a distance. It is this ability and the Evolved Alien called the Ohnos that brings out the Marine phrase "Game over man!"

- The Fade is very difficult in juggling abilities. To launch an acid rocket and a bilebomb, then fade up to the marines and start swiping like a blender, you need to switch weapons numerous times. Until you get very good at this difficult key manipulation in the heat of battle, start by sticking with one or two forms of attack at a time. (just stay at range, for instance).

5 - Alien Endgame:

Aliens have three hives, and are now cleaning the map. Here are some thoughts.

- Advance on Marine fortified positions with the devastation  of protected Fades fighting from range.

- The final Skulk ability of Xenocide is truly amazing.  An entire counter-attack Marine squad rushing to take out a hive can be wiped out by this device. Drop into the middle of them and explode. Simple and Deadly.

- The final Gorge ability is basically Bot-Skulks. A-I controlled Skulks that you spew forth that can cause havoc to the marines caught in your webs. Yes, The Gorge is now a Hunter as well.

You will eventually have the marines down to just defending their base. Send in the Ohnos and watch the beauty. We will not discuss the Ohnos because this is a beginner’s guide, and the beginner is not ready for such an Alien. Not that the Ohnos is that difficult to use, but nothing is more sad than seeing one rendered useless due to poor play.  One hint - an Ohnos can not do much of anything versus Marines up on ledges or turrets up on crates.

6 - The Marines are pinned down ,gasping for air in the spore cloud, getting bilebomed to death, and their structures and turrets are slowly getting destroyed.

Just outside of the base, the Gorges builds Regeneration Chambers for Aliens to fall back to. Offensive Chambers are can be built closer to base to aid in the battle.

The Marines are respawning like mad. They will fight to the bitter end. Your main goal at this point? Destroy the Infantry spawn Portals. With these gone, there is no more Marine Reinforcements and just the lonely Commander quivering in the Command chair.

Final Alien Hints:

- Make the Marines fear you, with unconditional attacks, Surprise death from the ceiling, and that rich Alien chuckle from the shadows. This makes the Marines more cautious and defensive, and if they are not advancing and advancing quickly, they usually lose.

- Parasite the Marines and keep them in view. Hive sight is an amazing tool, and much faster than typing "I need help with 4 marines and the water hive".

- The vents are your secret passageways to get to the enemy fast. Use them, learn them, and defend them.

- Do NOT gestate into a new Alien out in open view. Use hidden corners, well defended hives, and vents.

So that is it, a basic guide for beginners to Natural Selection. Most of all, have fun. There is no rush to be the best, and the most powerful team is the one that works together.  

Like I said earlier,

Enjoy the fade to black.

edits -
Changed references to Lerks where I meant Skulks
Added GOrge point that there should not be too many Builders at once.



<!--EDIT|Kid C|Nov. 01 2002,14:46-->
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Comments

  • kingmobkingmob Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3650Members, Constellation
    wow thanks
    i will try again soon

    BTW is there a key to 'chuckle' as an alien?
  • citixencitixen Join Date: 2002-03-26 Member: 354Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Nice guide KidC.

    As for the chuckle:
    I'm not sure if there is a hotkey, but on the pop up menu it's, down-left-up. You can do it real quick without waiting for the text once you get the hang of it. Kind of like a reverse smiley face gesture <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> For marines the same gesture does a random taunt. The perfect finishing touch for the dead enemy to hear before they switch to follow cam or spawn back in.



    <!--EDIT|citixen|Nov. 01 2002,14:57-->
  • HHUKHHUK Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 1936Members
    Very good guide, thanks <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

    <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::asrifle::'><!--endemo-->   <!--emo&::onos::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::onos::'><!--endemo-->
  • Br0joBr0jo Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4096Members
    Nice post, helped out alot. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
  • WiwoWiwo Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2763Members
    Pulls no punches, I like it.  Thanks for taking the time to write it.
  • oblivion_is_at_handoblivion_is_at_hand Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4250Members
    I liked the quit your whining part <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
  • Sergeant_McMorrowSergeant_McMorrow Join Date: 2002-10-28 Member: 1687Members
    I don't need it, but thanks for your time to help others.
    I don't want to say I'm a show-off, but I like finiding ways to learn by myself, discovering tactics and stuffs, and it works really well for me. I already got used to the two sides! But I won't denie it learned me some things about the Onos, don't want to say I suck using this one, but let say that the first time I evolved in it, it was quite painfull   , but now it's getting better.
    <!--emo&::siege::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/siege.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::siege::'><!--endemo-->   <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::gorge::'><!--endemo-->
  • KoroziveKorozive Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2259Members
    Extremely informative for this absolute newbie here, As I haven't even gotten in a game yet  <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->  Think I will spectate a lot of matches as well. Thxs again for your time.
  • uberbrokeuberbroke Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2438Members
    Ouch.... I gatta start fixing my behavior as a marine. As a marine, it's not shameful to die as a bait. You dont even have a personal score.
  • WytedWyted Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4364Members
    hey man thats a leet guide for n00bies like myself <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

    i feel a new confidence and i am gonna go play NS now <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->



    thanks alot dude  <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
  • Troy_RageTroy_Rage Join Date: 2002-10-18 Member: 1530Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--ub3rbr0k3+Nov. 01 2002,18:34--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (ub3rbr0k3 @ Nov. 01 2002,18:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ouch.... I gatta start fixing my behavior as a marine. As a marine, it's not shameful to die as a bait. You dont even have a personal score.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    actuly i think you do...
  • J4s0NJ4s0N Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2337Members
    hehe nice one, but it would be SO MUCH cooler if you would see that in a game...................................
  • AmeanmanAmeanman Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4678Members
    Wow, that was a good guide! But i guess i should start off with the hazard course before i get too confident about multiplayer
  • ORG-OrgyMeyerORG-OrgyMeyer Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4996Members
    Wow good guide... now I know what to do for the beginning, and how to better use the Skulk!

    <!--emo&::skulk::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/skulk.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::skulk::'><!--endemo-->
  • Stirfry_NinjaStirfry_Ninja Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4990Members
    thanks for that. much knowledge was gained <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
  • HaydukeHayduke Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5048Members
  • DeadalouSDeadalouS Join Date: 2002-10-19 Member: 1553Members
    thx kid c... very nice guide... learned me alot <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

    hail kid c
  • MutantMFMMutantMFM Join Date: 2002-07-27 Member: 1005Members
    Very very nice guide I will use those tactics in my next game. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
  • NecromanZerNecromanZer Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3407Members
    thx a heap for the guide. i've been looking for a while (ok a day) for a basic guide like this to play, and its really helpful. what would be even more helpful is a detailed guide to being a commander. i mean being a playtester, u have to assume that you have been playing for ages, and u know the game, the newbies out there in MP land dont.  So atm we in aus are all newbies, and noone knows how to command very well.  doesnt help much.  anyway yeah good guide, well done, much appreciated.
  • LawBeefaroniLawBeefaroni Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4104Members
    Is this why every game I join has 12 marines and 3 aliens?  I know the commandment was for newbs to always play marines, but it seems pretty dumb to when everyone else always plays them too.  "I'm the f*&king commander because I was a beta tester.  Now go out and kill those two aliens for an hour."  Fun.

    Anyway, aliens aren't that much harder to figure out than the marines.  Unfortunately I haven't yet been in a game where the aliens had more than 2 hives so I don't know much about their endgame.
  • FluffyFluffy Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2067Members
    Maybe this guide is why servers keep ending up with 8 marines, 4 aliens, and half the commanders booted out.
  • ShadowedShadowed Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6517Members
    Good Guide dude ! <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> It teached me alot <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->
    Anyway, can someone tell me why te Skulk Teeth doesnt do that much damage as the first machine gun from the Marines  <!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo-->

    NiW, Game On  <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/asrifle.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='::asrifle::'><!--endemo-->
  • GhostBomberGhostBomber Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6910Members
    It was good, but It would've been MUCH better had you said WHY one shouldn't build certain buildings, or whine about things, or not play certain aliens. Still, for the n00b that wants to jump in fast and figure more advanced things out later, its good.
  • BarbarianBarbarian Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 6967Members
    <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>THERE IS NO HAZARD COURSE, the button is in by mistake. </span>

    Most important thing for beginning players to know.

    Oh, and use All Seeing Eye to find servers, the built-in browser insists on refreshing all 30000 cstrike servers as well.
  • Titanium_JohnsonTitanium_Johnson Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7018Members
    AWESOME guide, especially for someone (like me) who is completely new to the game upon release.

    Will be using a lot of the advice posted there in my first real gaming session with NS tonight. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

    TJ out.
  • WolvWolv Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 56Members
    <i>THERE IS NO HAZARD COURSE, the button is in by mistake.

    Most important thing for beginning players to know.

    Oh, and use All Seeing Eye to find servers, the built-in browser insists on refreshing all 30000 cstrike servers as well.</i>

    Are you sure you're not running the game from the desktop-shortcut? If you're running it from the start menu it should work fine.
  • BarbarianBarbarian Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 6967Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Wolv+Nov 5 2002, 08:39 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Wolv @ Nov 5 2002, 08:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><i>THERE IS NO HAZARD COURSE, the button is in by mistake.

    Most important thing for beginning players to know.

    Oh, and use All Seeing Eye to find servers, the built-in browser insists on refreshing all 30000 cstrike servers as well.</i>

    Are you sure you're not running the game from the desktop-shortcut? If you're running it from the start menu it should work fine.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The shortcuts are identical, I checked.

    I think the cause for this is the first two masters timing out all the time when updating, the backup one must not support querying servers of only X type.
  • LeusugiLeusugi Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6576Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lets start with the Marines. Why? Because you WILL start as a marine. As a Marine you have someone else telling you (ordering) where to go and what to do, and you WILL stay close to the other Marines and thus have the illusion of safety in numbers. You are not good enough to play Alien, yet.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I would like to add to this and disagree a bit. Don't be afraid to join aliens if they are terribly outnumbered! Even if you are new to the game, if marines outnumber aliens 2-1 or something extreme as that, don't join the marines! The aliens could use you no matter how inexperienced you are at that point.

    Besides that one little thing in that instance, listen to Kidc!
  • deimos_telarindeimos_telarin Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6248Members
    A well writen guide for new NS players.

    Very good. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Thumbs up!
  • RaideNRaideN Join Date: 2002-11-06 Member: 7471Members
    Nice guide.

    To fix the query all servers and hazard course, left click on the desktop icon and under 'start in' type 'C:\SIERRA\Half-Life' if you use hl. (With no ') And make sure you have your filters set if you use the ingame browser.
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