Simple Things for Newbs to Make into HABITS

So here are a few things I know personally I noticed and underestimated the value of, or simply didn't do at all when I started a few weeks ago, and if I had done them habitually it would have improved the transition greatly (even as a long time gamer). They also aren't really in the tutorial youtube videos, so here they are:

1. Location, location, location. Pay. Attention. To. Your location and North South East West orientation. This is vital for you to survive. Say you've been following the convoy for a while, then you get killed by some guys up on a ridge. When you're going to redeploy, LOCATE WHERE YOU DIED AND WHERE YOU WILL SPAWN. Don't just click the green dot where the action is and wait 10 seconds. Notice which direction, North South East or West the threat that killed you was relative to your respawn, notice the direction of friendly territory compared to enemy. You NEED to keep in mind which direction you can fall back to for safety, and which way is deeper into hell.

2. Use. That. Damn. Spot Enemy button. Seriously, if you're coming from an MMO with tab targetting, rebind your Spot Enemy keybind to Tab, and just like you've done forever, aim at & tab target the bastard you're about to tag. This changes a vague figure, possibly in camo, moving around doing who-knows-what into a big HEY RED HERE SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT sign over their head.

Not only is it good for you to identify enemies in order to keep them in your sights more easily, it stops them from surprising your nearby friends and brings bullet's attention from everyone around there. Time to locate, identify, and decide to shoot at someone not spotted is longer than the simple reaction time for when they are tagged.

Toooo many times I've been running along with the masses, not even close to combat areas and some random enemy was in plain sight and no one tried spot enemy on him, then he just sort of kills a couple of us and I facepalm at myself. Don't know if someone in the distance is friend or foe? STOP GUESSING AND LEARN TO TAB! Make it your ritual.




This is from the top of my head (for some reason I felt the need to post this today). Did you eventually learn to do something all the damn time that now you wouldn't quit doing as long as you're playing? POST IT HERE! Know something missing from the tutorials, or just good for new players to see? post it!

Got this one bookmarked. As a new player (less than 2 hours), I find this kind of thread invaluable. /salute

I thought of something else just now as I went back into game that it's better you go in expecting.

3. If you instant action drop into a combat zone, expect to be shot at the second you land. IMMEDIATELY find cover, and begin finding which direction is your empire's front line and which direction is the enemies'. You may be dropped into an area your empire basically owns, you may be dropped into a warzone, you may be dropped into the enemies' coffee table and you'll be surrounded the second you land. It is unpredictable.

If you are in a position to do so without getting into tom uch trouble, move to attack tanks/vehicles from behind or on the sides. They have less armor in those areas, and will take more damage.

Always take a moment to look behind you after a series of flankings or lack of flankings have happened. Very likely and surprisingly you will find out that about 1/10 or so times you do this, you will catch someone running up behind you to knife/gun you down. Even if you die maybe you can still warn some friends.

Learn to think and play like your class is designed in the game, not the way you want to play personally. This will drastically improve your enjoyment of each character but also help you identify the class you are in your "soul". You will live longer and have a LOT more fun.

Flanking is KEY. If you have a clogged door, look for a new door.

If the enemy has an air superiority, fight where they air cannot get you/see you easily. dont bunch up. If the enemy has a tank supperiority, Start to fight where tanks have the most difficult time in going. IE cannot go... biolabs, bases in the sky, ditch and mountainous areas. Make those your footholds.

Sometimes speed means victory. Sometimes not being heard is twice as sweet.

Make things difficult on your opponent, even in loss.

Dont get frustrated. This is a rock, paper scissors game. You need to pick your opponents.

To further this point. You can actually control your drop pod with the wsad movement arrows. As your pod falls, aim it for a safe/advantagous spot to avoid a needless death.

**** I never even tried that, seemed like more of a cinematic when I first dropped in and never questioned it since. Thanks.

By default, pressing "H" will enlarge your minimap. This is tremendously helpful as a driver or pilot and will help you to avoid taking wrong turns. Also, as a pilot, by default (for keyboard and mouse) middle mouse click will enable you to free look. The hat on your joystick will do the same thing. Keeping your head on a swivel will keep you in the sky.

When using a 4X4 vehicle (flash ect...) if you press T you can get a behind the back view to drive more effectively.

4. If you fire your weapon, consider yourself spotted, meaning you now have a BIG RED ARROW THAT SAYS SHOOT ME to everyone that so much as has you on their screen. DO NOT crouch behind a small crate and assume you can shoot carefree. You shoot, you don't see it yourself, but your position is now given away to everyone. Period. Relocate afterward or go back into cover and wait it off. If you stand out in the open firing full auto hoping to hit something, you're gonna have a bad time.

(The exception to this is if you have dropped 100 certs into a suppressor. But that has downsides too and you won't be buying it anytime soon. )

= is default autocruise for flight, however excessive use will result in your arriving to your destination as a flaming heap.

Binding your personal waypoint to a nearby friendly airbase is a good way to sanity check your flight excursions, and provide a quick visual queue to safe haven.

Don't bunch up around choke points with the lemmings getting farmed, get 3 or 4 of you together and charge in. You will die, but if enough of your fellows follow you, as a team you can break the stalemate by at least distracting the opponents and allowing the masses in - think Matrix Revolutions, breaching the dock. Kill Death Ratio is NOT important in this game, forget it and you will enjoy it more.

Buy grenades, use your infantry resources especially if they are getting high 500+. Once you unlock stickies, mines, C4, ect, spending resources becomes more important.

limit being road kill:

Look both ways before crossing a road.
Don't go AFK standing in the middle of the road.
Don't walk/run across vehicle spawn ramps. They can't stop even if they see you.



Limit being tank fodder:

If a tank drives past you and does not see you (you have no weapons to destroy it), don't shoot it with your gun. It does nothing except give your position and for them to turn around and put a shell up your behind.
Don't chase a tank into the open area. That's what they want you to do, as you have no cover and now they have a clear shot at you.
Shooting a tank with a AA or engineers mana turret. Only gets their attention to kill you.



Enemy spawn rooms:

They can shoot out, but you CAN'T shoot back in.
Outside spawn rooms if tanks are shelling enemy running out, don't stand close to or around the door area. You will die.



Sneaking around a base trying not to be found:

Pressing you spot key (Q). Your player yells out what you here it says, "Tank spotted, enemy soldier spotted". Close by enemy now knows your around and will seek to kill you.
Being and infiltrator with cloak does not mean you are invisible. You can be seen easily by running/walking. Easy if enemy knows your where about by standing cloaked. Less noticeable if crouched/cloaked. Cloaking in and out makes a distinct noise which nearby enemy can hear.

Always. Always, approach your target from an unexpected direction.

I'd like this thread to have another chance to be seen by new players before it's buried.

Always go to a cap point if there's one that isn't full. Instead of running around doing nothing, help it cap faster. It might be more boring but it will help in the long run.

Be wary of bunching up in any conflict- Bio Dome and Tech Plant especially. Ops will begin the frag grenade spam and it'll all be over.

All it takes is 4-5 peeps and a close resupply point... Sunder outside a portal, etc... to keep a steady stream of grenades flowing in any direction. If the room is full of folks... leave. Better to miss conversion points than die without having fired your weapon at all ( much less return the favor ).

If you are getting hit by someone... DON'T STAND STILL LOOKING FOR HIM. MOVE. Jump. crouch behind a rock. Standing still pivoting for the shooter is a great way to die.

This is HUGE actually. Flipping any zone denies the enemy a garunteed spawn point.

Amp stations, Tech Plants, etc... it doesn't matter if they have shields, turrets, generators repaired, etc... if you can deny them the control point- you will win the battle.

Seen too many assaults get repulsed and then plain rolled because nobody was willing to sit on the control point- which speeds up capture. 1000 points... 8 certs? Given away for a few minutes of common sense.

Unless you are engaged in a double bluff.


Now, if we attack where the line is strongest, then Fritz
will think that our reconnaissance is a total shambles.
This will lull him into a sense of false security, and
then next week we can attack where the line is actually
badly defended. And win the greatest victory since the
Winchester flower-arranging team beat Harrow by twelve
sore bottoms to one!