The Minimap!11
gekigarion
Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20172Members
Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20172Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Yes, it's useful</div> I've noticed that many marines, without a voice comm that tells them his every thought and action, are left in the dark about many things. The res node they jsut build 15 seconds ago got chewed up by a skulk who was waiting for them to leave. Their base lost its only IP. Their locked-down hive is becoming unlocked.
ATTENTION, SOLDIERS!
The minimap displays ALL your marine buildings and buddies. Therefore if you look at it and see that res tower that's red-colored, you can go over there and eliminate the threat before your comm even realises it was under attack and starts recycling too late.
Also, using this will tell you if your buddies are engaging in a battle so you can quickly rush over and help, if they last long enough.
If you check your minimap often, you'll become very knowledgable of what's going on in the map. Kind of like a mini-command chair console.
ATTENTION, SOLDIERS!
The minimap displays ALL your marine buildings and buddies. Therefore if you look at it and see that res tower that's red-colored, you can go over there and eliminate the threat before your comm even realises it was under attack and starts recycling too late.
Also, using this will tell you if your buddies are engaging in a battle so you can quickly rush over and help, if they last long enough.
If you check your minimap often, you'll become very knowledgable of what's going on in the map. Kind of like a mini-command chair console.
Comments
If a building is under attack, it does not flash red or anything, nor can buildings actually 'see' enemies in the area. You only hint that buildings are under attack is if you have your map up and actually notice one of the buildings disappear.
Still, I often serve the role of recon man when i'm not doing anything else important. Just sit in a safe location and leave your map up. You can tell your team what enemies are where (based on what enemies your teammates can see, but they might be to busy to relay where the fade that just killed them was), or when certain areas are under attack (by noticing if a turret/marine disappears or something).
therefore, the use of the minimap is for the sight of fellow team-mates - to see how far that onos is behind you when you're running away
On the other hand, if you notice your RT dissapear, you will know so you can quickly replace it and not walk around with 1 less RT for several minutes...
It puts less dependency on the commander, comm-ing isn't that hard atm and so we should leave some space for "commanding skills" to be developed. Its good that there are some bad comms and some good, I don't want commanding to be so easy that just anyone can do it striaght away and will be no such thing as a bad comm or a good comm.
As for seeing RTs dissapear, I'm sure it only shows "marine sight" so it won't dissapear on your map unless you or some other marine sees the target/building to update your map.
Most of you probably know that as common sense, but just in case some of you don't...
Only enemies that are actually in the field of view of marines will show up. Therefore, you cannot use the map to notice sneaky aliens running up behind you.
Hmm...looks like they're going for that hive to turret it up.
Hmm...they're going to clear out double res node...
Huh? The hive rush already started? Looks like they're taking the left path, so I'd better go there too instead of the right.
On the other hand, if you notice your RT dissapear, you will know so you can quickly replace it and not walk around with 1 less RT for several minutes... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I might be wrong but i think buildings might flash if a commader pings the area ? I know for sure the scanned area will show all aliens & buildings.
Anyway, while looking at the map your not moving , meaning your an open target and/or of no use to the team.
Also, I didn't say hold the map up for the whole game, just check it every say, 20 seconds or so to keep updated on whether you lost a res tower and you commander either doesn't know or hasn't said anything and you need to cap it back, whether your squad that left before you is taking the left or right path, or most importantly, if you're trying to secure an area that currently has no PG, check how many marines are left alive to guard it.
I've played too many games where we've tried to take double node with 5 marines, and then one by one a marine died....until there was one left trying to defend and build double node while not a single marine came back because they were busy building an arms lab at base.
You can see alien movement sometimes...
Most important of all you can see the most optimal route to an area/wp if you are new too the map, or you know the aliens have an OC's wall nearby.
I love tapping open the mini-map for a split second now and then.
It doesn't update structures, yeah I hate that too.
Not to say it isn't obscenely useful...