How to be a badass in UT2003

[HAMMER]

This was a fun topic when I started it for the Sammy community a while back, so I thought I'd start one here. In every game there are always a few people who shine above the rest, and it helps to learn what it is they do to be successful in their respective games.

My particular area of interest is the Gummibear group. WTF? How the hell do you romp so hard in BR? Please do tell. Share some details about how we might improve our game.

Personally, I play a lot of deathmatch. I have found success in much the same way that I did in Sam.

Against a Rocket Launcher: Jump like a madman...try to stay off the floor while moving TOWARD your opponent to confuse his aim. Mix rapid left and right strafe movements so he cannot track you, and do not use any rythm whatsoever. Keep them guessing.

Against a Flak Cannon: Do NOT JUMP. Stay on the floor, and get close to your opponent. This makes it more difficult for him to use the splash damage of the secondary fire, and forces him to go with flak shots. Move rapidly right and left to confuse his aim.

The other weapons are better defended against just using common sense and trying to confuse timing as well. Remember, making yourself hard to hit is what separates good from great. ALWAYS remember your armor/health level too. Think about that the whole time you play. It will help you to win engagements more often if you have a bit of a cushion to fall back on in case you run into The Machine :)

So...let's hear some tips from some great players.

[Yellow[GummiBear]]

well, myself, and the rest of the Gummis really don't have a whole lot of tips to use as far as deathmatch tactics go because we never play dm... in UT we were (well, and still are) a straight CTF team... in UT2003 we're BR and a little CTF... as far as how we are able to romp so heavily, I'd say that there's a lot of things that go into that...

first and foremost I'd have to say that teamwork is the key... there's a lot that can be said about teamwork actually... for example, most of the Gummis have been playing with each other constantly for the last year or two which gives all of us a great understanding of everyone's strengths, weaknesses, habits, strategies, etc. THAT is an extremely important part of our success... always being able to anticipate what the other guys are gonna do next really helps with where I'm going to go on the map, or where I can set up a little defense or diversion, or where I can go and collect a pass, or where the flag carrier's gonna be so that I can escort him back to base... sometimes it's actually really funny when we play against each other because we know everyone's game so well that we can place a combo at the exact spot they're going to show up and BLAM... this however, forces us to change our routes/tactics and further enhances our versatility... so basically the more we know each other's games the more our game grows...

secondly, we're all pretty good players... playing with good players just makes you better... for those of you who played against Smooth know he's pretty darn good... well when he joined the GummiBears he sucked ass and he'll be the first to admit it... just by constantly playing with us and taking beating after beating he has become one hell-of-a player... good competition is key

thirdly, I'd have to say is ability to use weapons... know the weapons that are most useful and learn how to use them well... for example some weapons are great for defending but suck ass for attacking... take for example the biorifle and shock rifle... they are both excellent for defending but not so great for attacking... the shock rifle takes a lot of skill to throw out the secondary and then slap it with the primary... and when you're under a lot of fire by pursuing defenders you may not have the liberty to take the time to aim and complete the combo.. that's why flak and rockets work great for attacking...lotsa splash damage without having to worry about aiming precisely... another example is the impact hammer... I haven't really experimented with it a whole lot in ut2003 yet but I know in UT it was very valuable in capturing the flag... hammer jumps could prevent you from running all the way to a doorway or something when you could just hop over a wall... they greatly increased the amount of distance covered in a short amount of time when use properly as well... HOWEVER, as far as weapons go I would have to say that the one we are prolly most known for is the translocator... I know when we were at our first Lanwar in kentucky (shameless plug www.lanwar.com) we gave the reigning champs a real run for the money and a lot of it was because they just couldn't handle our translocating skills... no, we are not tranny spammers... we use them strategically and effectively... we're not the kinda people who just go across a map in a total blur because we're trannying so damn fast and it's impossible to hit us... instead we'll take a few long translocations, wait til a guy throws up a secondary shock waiting for the combo and then pull the tranny back and go around him while he's still trying to combo you where he thought you were gonna be... it may be easier to actually see it all happen than explain it but I'm sure a lot of you know what I'm talking about

fourthly, movement is very important...as mentioned in the post above dodging back and forth and keeping your opponent guessing is totally necessary... also when running the flag or the bomb you gotta move across the map quickly.. this means lots of dodging, dodge jumping, throwing the ball and translocating after it, etc.... the ability to move fast and your teammates abilities to move fast is very very important

fifthly, our success has a lot to do with the type of game it is... we all suck ass at DM but we rock at BR and CTF... there are quite a few reasons for this too... one reason for me is how I value my life... there are instances when I will translocate right up to a guy carrying the ball or flag and blast him with a deemer right in the grill just to save a capture or a score... I don't care if I die because I will have prevented a goal... in DM the object is to stay alive as long as possible and really value you're life.. personally that's a little hard for me to get used to... in ctf and br I'll pretty much take anyone on regardless of how much health I have and how much health he has... if I wound him and die then it'll be easier for someone else to kill him... in DM you rarely try to take someone on who has more health/armor than you do because there's a very good chance that he will win...

sixthly - map familiarity is extremely important... DM player will tell you this too... knowing where the pickups/weapons/portals/etc are is a huge part of the game... you gotta know the quickest routes to and fro, you gotta know the most heavily trafficed routes, you gotta know the most/least favorable places to battle on... map familiarity is huge in being successful, especially in a teambased game like ctf or br

lastly, and most importantly to the GummiBears is to have fun... you can't ask for more when everyone on your team is laughing with ya and trash talkin' ya and complimenting ya.. I mean it's just great... I can tell by the kinda guys here that ya'll know how to have fun and I don't think this is much of a problem...

I've written a novel here already and my dang fingers are getting very tired so I'm gonna stop for now..if I think of anything else that helps us be so good I'll add it later but for now I think this'll do... nice thread topic too, I really like the idea

*edit* btw keep those DM tips coming... I know I would like to improve my DM game quite a bit...imo it's severely lacking compared to my team based games

[Mr Clean]

I'd say the most important thing is having a fast connection and a computer that isn't a complete piece of crap....that's all I know cause that's all I got....

[Grimmy]

Those are some good tip Yellow. I will have to print them out to read them all!

[Red[GummiBear]]

damn yellow! you wrote a book and covered all the things we talked about on our way back from lanwar!!! and i agree with every one of your points.

one other thing i would like to add to that is just practice and keep playing. when yellow and i started the gummis WAY back we absolutely blew. but we spent a lot of time online just playing and gaining experience. learn moves from your opponents, dont just get upset when they kill you, learn from them. watch them and see what they did that caught you offguard or made you lower your guard. and the next time you meet an opponent try out what youve learned.

definitely know the maps and definitely know the weapons. the gummis are basically a CTF-Face and CTF-Thorns clan, we know the maps like none other, i can seriously go around Face with my eyes shut, while translocating. i know exactly what will happen if i tranny somewhere or shoot somewhere, learn them, it helps a ton.

as for the weapons, what i did when i first got the game was just started a multiplayer game with bots, tried out all of the weapons in ALL of the MAPS. play the single player game through, at least once, at least then you will have a little familiarity with the maps. and dont play it against novice bots, that wont help you, the ut2k3 bots are smarter and can adjust skill but novice still wont help you. the first time i played it i beat it at adept, just to get used to the maps. now i am into instagib (its TONS of fun, especially with bombing run!). i set up an instagib multiplayer game on EVERY BR map against masterful bots. this way i learn the maps and the shock rifle, it at least helps me get used to the new feel of the game and helps me get my aim down (its helping, i havent lost a match yet against bots and i started BR instagib against godlike bots last night, they are TOUGH)....

anyway, try these things, but the best thing is to not get a shitty attitude about it, just learn from your mistakes and others' success and it will help you greatly.

[Red[GummiBear]]

oh yeah, a bottle of beam sitting next to your computer can help too!!! no joke, for tthose of you that are of age but any of the gummis can attest that i play semi-drunk about 75% of the time and i lay down the ownage...i find i am more fluid and care less of being killed and i sort of just get in the groove this way, does this mean i am an alcoholic? some may say so. i say no. in no way am i promoting this practice, but you asked how we played!

[Mr Clean]

I'm gonna practice tonight using your technique. Not the gaming part yet, just getting sloshed on whiskey... :D

[Grimmy]

lol, that is if you are old enough!

[G|Star]

here's an extremely good tip!

if u hear someone firing of the redeemer run like hell to the spot where the redeemer is located,they never shoot there.

[Grimmy]

Good point!

[Mr Clean]

G you are a fountain of information...