3 replies to this topic

[Train Squad]

Of the 5 times I have joined lobbies, all have have been horrible experiences. The concept of learning competitive tf2 is a great idea. However all that happens is you get yelled at and called bad. I dunno about you but that doesn't help me learn.

[Highvlass Heavy]

The TF2 community can be rather hostile towards new players, especially if you do not fall above the skill curve that many expect to find in your average competitive game.

 

My advice would be to read some guides and how to's on the class you're interested in playing, as well as the game mode. Be aware that not all classes are created equal, and there is much more to learn and understand playing medic, than there is playing say, Pyro. 

 

List of guides: http://forums.tf2cen...es-superthread/

I'd also recommend going on Youtube and looking up guides as well as gameplay from top players in whatever class you choose.

 

You'd also benefit greatly from participating in newbie mixes, they're designed to teach new players how to play 6v6 and are lead by a really good group of players. They meet Friday nights, but all the information can be found here: https://steamcommuni.../na6v6newbiemix

 

Feel free to ask any questions here or in main chat. Some people will be mean, but some people will help you. Just remember to be respectful. 

[Migthy Burger]

The Dunning Kruger effect runs strong among many TF2C users, I will concede this.

 

The common advice given to novices usually falls into two categories: learn by watching or reading (guides, pov's, casts, etc) and learn by doing (newbie mixes, lobbies, mge, jump maps, walkway/aim maps, etc). Both complement each other and are the best advice that can be given when trying to get into the formats. TF2 was never designed with a specific and constrained way to play in mind (not when you compare it with stuff like Enemy Territory or Dirty Bomb), so the comp side functions more as an addition than an integral part of the game for now and need to be learned separately.

 

That being said,  I will add that if you want to play in a competition format, there are some basic pre-requisites that I find to be a must, simply because they apply to every FPS games:

 

• Basic aim, movement and weapon knowledge : TF2 is a shooter. Not being able to shoot the other doods puts you at an instant disadvantage. Poor aim will get you killed already in pubs, so why even try to play comp without working on that part beforehand? You don't have to be the next Shocky, but a good feel of how the common weapons work (time between shots, reloads, projectile arcs and speed, etc) and of movement within the game will help you big time. 5cp pubs and training maps such as tr_aim and tr_walkway are always a good place to start. MGE and Soap DM are much more brutal, and are here to perfect aim rather than learn it. And you may think that Medic exempts you from this, but good melee and knowing what weapons can do to you (like blast radius, spy knife registration...) will save you from many stupid deaths.

 

• Know your class(es) : TF2 classes all have their own strengths and limitations and need to work together to mutually support each other. Scout has low health, Heavy can't chase and sucks at long range, Medic can't fight well, Demo is vulnerable close up but dominates at mid range... Hence, an integral part of playing effectively is to learn how to lessen your weaknesses and cover those of your teammates. How can you contribute meaningfully if you do not know what your class can and cannot do? This is true in HL, but even more so in 6v6, where offclassing must only be done if the situation calls for it, and can cripple your team if done wrong. Next time, don't challenge Snipers at long ranges as a Heavy, or perma snipe in 6v6 to "practice". Another good practice is to learn from your deaths (who killed me? how? what could have I done to avoid it?).

 

• Know the maps : This one is self-explanatory. If you don't know where to go, you will have a bad time. The competitive pool isn't that big and the majority of it maps are also played in pubs (or are revamped versions like barnblitz_pro and product). You can take an some time to load a map offline and run around it to get acquainted with the layout,  routes and recognise the main spots to control. You can even try and imagine what classes can/cannot do in different areas, because it helps you understand where and when they will be the most important (ex: narrow choke? looks like a Demo could lock it. Massive sight line? Sniper candy...). But knowing the the layout is only half the battle, because the game is dynamic. It's important to also have an idea of spawn times, because they will dictate how carefully you must play. On koth, spawn times are longer if you hold the point (8-16s vs 4-8s if you don't), so getting frags is more important for the attackers because their deaths matter less. On Steel, defenders take a whole 20 seconds to respawn, making staying alive a top priority for them. On other maps, spawn times remain very even, so dying together in pushes is always better than being out of sync with your team by dying one by one.

 

You'll need to get a basic grasp of these things before jumping into competition, for TF2 or any other FPS, simply because they will give you a healthy base on which you can improve. After that, you'll keep refining and perfecting them as you go.

 

 

 

Finally, you are probably not without knowing that in a competition, participants are playing to win, because succeeding (or at least trying your best)  is where the fun really lies in the end. TF2C offers a simple way for lower level league players to improve or diversify their skillset in their favourite format, and they don't necessarily want to have to put up with players who don't even understand those basics I listed. That is not to say that they themselves don't make mistakes (in fact they make a lot of them, they're in Iron/Steel/Open for a reason), but these often stem more from a lack of experience with the format itself rather than with those bare basics.

Edited by Migthy Burger, 23 December 2015 - 02:04 AM.

[Rela]

Along with all these good tips above, my advice is that you play lobbies with good friends, around the same skill level. Once you start playing more lobbies, you'll get the hang of it.

 

Another way is to find a higher level mentor, and ask him questions/tips on how to play.