How To Learn Ns Faster
Sarisel
.::' ( O ) ';:-. .-.:;' ( O ) '::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
.::' ( O ) ';:-. .-.:;' ( O ) '::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">and stop being a newbie sooner</div> Here's a good read for those who are tired of being called newbies and who are dedicated to improving their gameplay. We need more people like you in the Natural-Selection community.
Right off the bat, so you're new - don't be ashamed that you are new. Everybody was new once, and those who were ashamed had a harder time than those that weren't. If somebody asks you if you are new, don't lie and claim that you aren't. They may be trying to help you.
Throughout your newbie career, you'll encounter situations which will be frustrating for you and for others around you. In these situations, have the courtesy to be polite and articulate at all times. This will allow for a more relaxed transfer of thoughts and easier communication - and will make you lots of NS friends in the process.
<b>Some general things:</b>
1. Accept suggestions and constructive criticisms (where you're told what you're doing wrong and are offered a correction). In certain situations, you should not assume that what you're told is correct - see point #3.
2. Pay no heed to insults and destructive criticism (where you're getting no help at all but only being discouraged). If the people don't stop discouraging you, ask for them to stop and help you instead - don't start an exchange of insults. If you ask for help, you may be surprised that there are actually a lot of people who would help you. If you still keep getting insulted, contact the administrator of the server or play on another server. Don't absorb the negativity if you can't shrug it off.
3. Be weary of misinformation. There may be people out there that will give you the wrong information or tell you just what they believe in - being biased themselves. If you get misinformed (and you'll know when you do), don't take it to heart. Move on and learn from the experience.
4. Be good-natured. As a newbie, you may have practical jokes played on you by the more evil people of the NS community. Don't take these personally and don't become paranoid. You may actually find humor in the situation. Besides, there are only a few popular practical jokes out there and once you learn them, you won't fall for them again.
5. Don't be annoying. Don't text-spam for help so that you can't even read what people type. Don't mic-spam either. Ask once or twice, but don't go overboard. If you get no help, look out for people who seem to be able to help. There'll usually be players who are willing to provide you with the knowledge that you need. If there aren't any, try a different server.
6. It is a great frustration for experienced players when new players just refuse to <b>listen (or read)</b> what is being communicated to them. Therefore, listen and read more and try your best to apply what you learn.
7. There are many acronyms in use by players of natural-selection to make communication easier. Learn them, most of them can be found <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=17&t=23782' target='_blank'>here.</a>
8. Don't think that you can learn how to play well in a few hours or in a day or two. It may take you a week or two, but if you make it harder for yourself it will take you forever. Don't bite off more than you can chew, don't try to go too fast. You will just end up setting expectations for yourself that aren't reasonable.
9. Keep your head up, don't think that you can never learn how to play as well as others. Always be determined and don't give up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Taking notes:</b>
The desired result of the learning process is to know what to do in NS and how to do it. Often, you can speed this up by being more aware as you are playing - and consciously analyzing what you are aware of. Here's a method to make this happen:
1. When you are playing, pay attention to what is happening around you. Ask yourself some good questions and be as detailed and as honest as possible when you answer them. Here are some sample questions to get you in the right frame of mind:
<ul>
<li>what exactly are you doing wrong each time that gets you killed?
<li>what can you do to avoid that kind of death in the future?
<li>what exactly are you doing right that keeps you alive?
<li>what exactly are you doing each time you manage to kill an enemy?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing wrong when they get killed?
<li>what could they have done differently to avoid that kind of death?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing when they manage to stay alive?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing when they manage to get a kill?
</ul>
Ask many questions of yourself. Get as many answers as you can. Look for patterns in what you observe - there may be obvious things that work and that don't work for example.
2. Once you have some data (answers) to work with, try to use them to improve your gameplay. Take one at a time, and practice it. Rinse. Repeat.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>NS Training, it really does exist!</b>
So you want to learn how to play commander or gorge, or generally improve your aim, or increase your knowledge about maps. You can get some practice first without embarassing yourself on servers.
Start Natural-Selection and create a LAN game. In console, type: sv_cheats 1. This will allow you to play the game all by yourself. Now, of course, it would be boring if that was it. <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=7509' target='_blank'>So go here</a> to find out some cheat codes to give you free resources, god mode, 'self-building' buildings, and so on. Now you can experiment all you want with commander mode, gorge, as a marine with technology, and as other alien lifeforms.
If you want to improve your aim, there are bots available for natural-selection, such as the <a href='http://rcbot.houstondod.com/' target='_blank'>Rocket-Crowbot</a> or the <a href='http://whichbot.sourceforge.net/' target='_blank'>Which-Bot</a>. These emulate players that you can shoot at. You could also see how the bots fare against buildings, and so on. Be creative.
Keep in mind that bots and playing with cheats is not the same as playing online with real people. Playing against intelligent players is where you get the real skill from. But playing offline with cheats/bots will at least give you a chance to practice whatever you want to practice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Player Emulation</b>
While playing Natural-Selection, you'll come across players on servers who look like they know what they are doing, and who are able to play the game really well. Some of them might be in competitive clans, some just playing for fun.
If you do happen to encounter such people on a server, study the way that they play whenever you can. If you're on the same team, observe them whenever you are waiting in the spawn-in line. If you're a marine, then try to be in their squad. Listen to what they say, but keep in mind the points in the <b>General things</b> section of this post. You may even manage to befriend them.
Now, here's where there is a division: some of these players are jerks while others are very nice people. It is hard to tell which is which because they may be having a bad day when you get your first impression. Don't assume them to be either until you've played with them for a while.
If you're on opposing teams, then keep on studying them. If you happen to fight such a player, put extra emphasis on the <b>Taking notes</b> section of this post. Don't get frustrated if you get defeated over and over again - and whatever you do don't start typing "hacker" or some similar nonsense. Let those with more experience judge who cheats and who doesn't. Focus on finding out what you are doing wrong and try again.
The ultimate goal is to emulate the player that you are studying. Learn the style, learn what he does and how he does it - then try to use what you learn and apply it to your own style. Different players have different strengths and weaknesses. If you can emulate them and mix together their strenghts and minimize weakness, then you can become a very competent player. This process takes time, and the sooner you start the greater the results.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Now, the more you play the game, the more you will learn.</b> If you don't get help on something in-game, you could ask for it on these forums. People would be glad to help you, as long as you be polite and clear about it.
[edited for some minor grammatical faults, and added a link]
Right off the bat, so you're new - don't be ashamed that you are new. Everybody was new once, and those who were ashamed had a harder time than those that weren't. If somebody asks you if you are new, don't lie and claim that you aren't. They may be trying to help you.
Throughout your newbie career, you'll encounter situations which will be frustrating for you and for others around you. In these situations, have the courtesy to be polite and articulate at all times. This will allow for a more relaxed transfer of thoughts and easier communication - and will make you lots of NS friends in the process.
<b>Some general things:</b>
1. Accept suggestions and constructive criticisms (where you're told what you're doing wrong and are offered a correction). In certain situations, you should not assume that what you're told is correct - see point #3.
2. Pay no heed to insults and destructive criticism (where you're getting no help at all but only being discouraged). If the people don't stop discouraging you, ask for them to stop and help you instead - don't start an exchange of insults. If you ask for help, you may be surprised that there are actually a lot of people who would help you. If you still keep getting insulted, contact the administrator of the server or play on another server. Don't absorb the negativity if you can't shrug it off.
3. Be weary of misinformation. There may be people out there that will give you the wrong information or tell you just what they believe in - being biased themselves. If you get misinformed (and you'll know when you do), don't take it to heart. Move on and learn from the experience.
4. Be good-natured. As a newbie, you may have practical jokes played on you by the more evil people of the NS community. Don't take these personally and don't become paranoid. You may actually find humor in the situation. Besides, there are only a few popular practical jokes out there and once you learn them, you won't fall for them again.
5. Don't be annoying. Don't text-spam for help so that you can't even read what people type. Don't mic-spam either. Ask once or twice, but don't go overboard. If you get no help, look out for people who seem to be able to help. There'll usually be players who are willing to provide you with the knowledge that you need. If there aren't any, try a different server.
6. It is a great frustration for experienced players when new players just refuse to <b>listen (or read)</b> what is being communicated to them. Therefore, listen and read more and try your best to apply what you learn.
7. There are many acronyms in use by players of natural-selection to make communication easier. Learn them, most of them can be found <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=17&t=23782' target='_blank'>here.</a>
8. Don't think that you can learn how to play well in a few hours or in a day or two. It may take you a week or two, but if you make it harder for yourself it will take you forever. Don't bite off more than you can chew, don't try to go too fast. You will just end up setting expectations for yourself that aren't reasonable.
9. Keep your head up, don't think that you can never learn how to play as well as others. Always be determined and don't give up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Taking notes:</b>
The desired result of the learning process is to know what to do in NS and how to do it. Often, you can speed this up by being more aware as you are playing - and consciously analyzing what you are aware of. Here's a method to make this happen:
1. When you are playing, pay attention to what is happening around you. Ask yourself some good questions and be as detailed and as honest as possible when you answer them. Here are some sample questions to get you in the right frame of mind:
<ul>
<li>what exactly are you doing wrong each time that gets you killed?
<li>what can you do to avoid that kind of death in the future?
<li>what exactly are you doing right that keeps you alive?
<li>what exactly are you doing each time you manage to kill an enemy?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing wrong when they get killed?
<li>what could they have done differently to avoid that kind of death?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing when they manage to stay alive?
<li>if you are a witness, what exactly are your teammates doing when they manage to get a kill?
</ul>
Ask many questions of yourself. Get as many answers as you can. Look for patterns in what you observe - there may be obvious things that work and that don't work for example.
2. Once you have some data (answers) to work with, try to use them to improve your gameplay. Take one at a time, and practice it. Rinse. Repeat.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>NS Training, it really does exist!</b>
So you want to learn how to play commander or gorge, or generally improve your aim, or increase your knowledge about maps. You can get some practice first without embarassing yourself on servers.
Start Natural-Selection and create a LAN game. In console, type: sv_cheats 1. This will allow you to play the game all by yourself. Now, of course, it would be boring if that was it. <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=7509' target='_blank'>So go here</a> to find out some cheat codes to give you free resources, god mode, 'self-building' buildings, and so on. Now you can experiment all you want with commander mode, gorge, as a marine with technology, and as other alien lifeforms.
If you want to improve your aim, there are bots available for natural-selection, such as the <a href='http://rcbot.houstondod.com/' target='_blank'>Rocket-Crowbot</a> or the <a href='http://whichbot.sourceforge.net/' target='_blank'>Which-Bot</a>. These emulate players that you can shoot at. You could also see how the bots fare against buildings, and so on. Be creative.
Keep in mind that bots and playing with cheats is not the same as playing online with real people. Playing against intelligent players is where you get the real skill from. But playing offline with cheats/bots will at least give you a chance to practice whatever you want to practice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Player Emulation</b>
While playing Natural-Selection, you'll come across players on servers who look like they know what they are doing, and who are able to play the game really well. Some of them might be in competitive clans, some just playing for fun.
If you do happen to encounter such people on a server, study the way that they play whenever you can. If you're on the same team, observe them whenever you are waiting in the spawn-in line. If you're a marine, then try to be in their squad. Listen to what they say, but keep in mind the points in the <b>General things</b> section of this post. You may even manage to befriend them.
Now, here's where there is a division: some of these players are jerks while others are very nice people. It is hard to tell which is which because they may be having a bad day when you get your first impression. Don't assume them to be either until you've played with them for a while.
If you're on opposing teams, then keep on studying them. If you happen to fight such a player, put extra emphasis on the <b>Taking notes</b> section of this post. Don't get frustrated if you get defeated over and over again - and whatever you do don't start typing "hacker" or some similar nonsense. Let those with more experience judge who cheats and who doesn't. Focus on finding out what you are doing wrong and try again.
The ultimate goal is to emulate the player that you are studying. Learn the style, learn what he does and how he does it - then try to use what you learn and apply it to your own style. Different players have different strengths and weaknesses. If you can emulate them and mix together their strenghts and minimize weakness, then you can become a very competent player. This process takes time, and the sooner you start the greater the results.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<b>Now, the more you play the game, the more you will learn.</b> If you don't get help on something in-game, you could ask for it on these forums. People would be glad to help you, as long as you be polite and clear about it.
[edited for some minor grammatical faults, and added a link]
Comments
Thanks for taking your time, and helping the community.
cautiously.
It will get you called a n00b by someone who has actually been out killing with their lmg\pistol\knife for the last 5 minutes. Then, once declared a n00b, it is suggested you go out and prove them wrong by killing something, not by calling them a n00b for 5 minutes in return. This solves nothing. It is an even worse idea to call them a n00b if they happen to be a server admin. If you do slip and call the admin a n00b, it is wise to pull down your console and type "exit" or "quit" as fast as possible in hopes that they won't be able to get your wonid and ban you. Then, if you ever choose to return to the server, do it under an alternate name if possible to connect at all.
I was playin op4ctf before NS, and there were these posts on a forum:
"NS - poo tbh", nothing more and
"Its bollocks, so are most mods
(waits for CS:CZ)"
To me that's just saying "im too lazy or too stupid to learn to understand NS".
I think the NS staff needs those quick guides you see over here at the forum more accessible. A first time NS player doesn't run off to the forum to find help, he goes to play. And if he then decides not to give up and try to understand the game, then they go to the website and they read the manual BEFORE they go to the forums and discover that there's guides taht are just as good, but a lot shorter. The fact that the manual is quite long may discourage a few players as well.
just my 2 cents <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
And yes, don't tell me, i am not really noob.....
*g* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Silencer, for the love of god, STOP SPAMMING.
please learn some internet etiquette before you post again, ok?
(etiquette = Etikette, gute Umgangsformen)
At least my random, off-comment posts normally have at least a wee bit of wit. And less punctuation.
<!--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-->Now, the more you play the game, the more you will learn.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You need to bold this.
Know the maps!
Learn the maps as much as you can.
Learn the ready rooms, so that you can tell what map your going to be playing just from joining the ready room.
No one expects you to know the name of every place on the map, most VETS, don't know where every location is off the top of their heads.
When I started playing I had a problem with getting lost (2.0 has a nice useful map that 1.0x didn't) so I use to take a pen and paper and write down the name of the area that each Res Nozzle and Hive was in on a certian map.
Due to the fact that the resource nozzles play a larger role in 2.0 game, its important that you know when some one yells "Power Sub junction 3 is under attack!" that you know where to go, without looking for that red orb on your Hive sight.
Learn the short forms and acronymes as well. Players wont have alot of time when under attack, so if you see a player type
"Holo is under attack by HA/SG"
You need to know that he means Holo Room is being attacked by Heavy Armor marines with Shot Guns. If you're a gorge, not much you will be able to do, so making OCs in the area and healing the injured is a better idea then being a hero.
Learn the layout of the map and don't forget to use your MAP and Large MAP
"C" by default!
<!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif'><!--endemo-->
and as a bit of a joiner to this, you might be interested in this post to learn acronyms and abbreviations (self plug, i know)
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=17&t=23782&hl=acronyms,and,abbreviations' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...d,abbreviations</a>
Oh the memories. I learned from Ensuna, and told a newbie that the welder was the best gun in the game. The glee we had when everyone was dead, he hoped in the comm chair, and droped himself...
...a welder. Oh the memories. <b>8D</b>
But I agree on the idea, I probably wouldn't have thought to come to these forums if the guy who intoduced me to the game hadn't given me the link for them. A link to some of the better guides on these boards would be ideal.