Playstyle and tactics howto?
Playstyle and tactics howto?
Hi,
I'm fairly new at BZFlag, and thus not very good at it yet. I would like to be a lot better. Are there any suggested learning paths?
I've seen this posting, giving advice about not jumping, because the poster wants better competetion. Cool. So is there a playstyle and tactics howto somewhere, containing the condensed knowledge of this forum? It would really help beefing up the competetion...
I'm fairly new at BZFlag, and thus not very good at it yet. I would like to be a lot better. Are there any suggested learning paths?
I've seen this posting, giving advice about not jumping, because the poster wants better competetion. Cool. So is there a playstyle and tactics howto somewhere, containing the condensed knowledge of this forum? It would really help beefing up the competetion...
- optic delusion
- Special Forces
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Here's a few... this isn't by any means a complete list. You can keep looking.
My avice is to join as an observer and follow some good players to see what they do.
http://www.willempen.org/bzflag/tutorial/
http://web.archive.org/web/200308220717 ... uction.htm (is this the correct link or an old one?)
http://www-swiss.ai.mit.edu/~bentz/bzflag/bzflag.html
http://bzflag.org/wiki/
My avice is to join as an observer and follow some good players to see what they do.
http://www.willempen.org/bzflag/tutorial/
http://web.archive.org/web/200308220717 ... uction.htm (is this the correct link or an old one?)
http://www-swiss.ai.mit.edu/~bentz/bzflag/bzflag.html
http://bzflag.org/wiki/
Take a look at my Defender game mode concept.
Thinking is not an automatic process. A man can choose to think or to let his mind stagnate, or he can choose actively to turn against his intelligence, to evade his knowledge, to subvert his reason. If he refuses to think, he courts disaster: he cannot with impunity reject his means of perceiving reality.
Thinking is not an automatic process. A man can choose to think or to let his mind stagnate, or he can choose actively to turn against his intelligence, to evade his knowledge, to subvert his reason. If he refuses to think, he courts disaster: he cannot with impunity reject his means of perceiving reality.
The 'correct link' was shellshock.bzflag.bz. Unfortunately, Dutchrai's ShellShock site is down since a long time now. I already wrote him an email...let's see what he'll answer...because his guide was the best one I've ever seen. ;o)A-Delusion wrote:...
http://web.archive.org/web/200308220717 ... uction.htm (is this the correct link or an old one?)
...
A pessimist is an optimist with experience... ;o)
- The Red Baron
- Sergeant First Class
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strayer - If Dutchrai replies, could you post me on that.strayer wrote:The 'correct link' was shellshock.bzflag.bz. Unfortunately, Dutchrai's ShellShock site is down since a long time now. I already wrote him an email...let's see what he'll answer...because his guide was the best one I've ever seen. ;o)A-Delusion wrote:...
http://web.archive.org/web/200308220717 ... uction.htm (is this the correct link or an old one?)
...
Beware! I'm going to clone myself and spread those clones all over the world!
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- Private First Class
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The best advice I can give (coming from someone who was in exactly your position not so long ago) is to pick a map that you like a lot and play it to death. By playing with people who are better than you, you'll spend a lot of time in the blowup animation, but you pick up tricks and strategies very quickly. Also, maps have little nuances and tricks, as much as it may seem that they are so random (though some are). A well-designed map like Two Castles (viper.pimpi.org:5158) always has something new to teach. Every single building is there for a reason.
Also, the advice given about watching other players is fantastic. Spending time in observer mode is great, but I would also recommend playing against them as well. Face them head-on, play your trumps, and see what they do. Before too long you'll be dishing it out as well as the next fellow.
Don't get frustrated by the number of times you hit -50 or lower. We all started there. It's all the more fun when you start breaking even, and then achieving positive scores, and then start teaching other people some of the stuff you've learned.
Also, the advice given about watching other players is fantastic. Spending time in observer mode is great, but I would also recommend playing against them as well. Face them head-on, play your trumps, and see what they do. Before too long you'll be dishing it out as well as the next fellow.
Don't get frustrated by the number of times you hit -50 or lower. We all started there. It's all the more fun when you start breaking even, and then achieving positive scores, and then start teaching other people some of the stuff you've learned.
- the obvious trap
- Private First Class
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Personally , i really started learning bzflag on ducati servers (mainly dub.bzflag.org). Ducati is 2 shots , no jumping , and ricochet. The more i played there , the better i got. Eventually , i branched out to pillbox , which is 3 shots , no jumping , no ricochet. From my ducati training , i began pillbox fairly good.
From there , i branched out to GU servers (gamesunited) , which is 3 shots , jumping , ricochet. So now that i've gotten good at shooting 2 shots , 3 shots , rico , no rico , jumping , no jumping , i found that if i go to places like planet mofo , i can whoop many people there with no superflags! Just shooting my 2 or 3 shots , getting people as they drop with rico , and jumping at the perfect time , which i learned from ducati , pillbox , and GU.
So now , i can do fairly well at all servers. Its all about getting good at many different styles , not just one. It will help you out TREMENDOUSLY.
From there , i branched out to GU servers (gamesunited) , which is 3 shots , jumping , ricochet. So now that i've gotten good at shooting 2 shots , 3 shots , rico , no rico , jumping , no jumping , i found that if i go to places like planet mofo , i can whoop many people there with no superflags! Just shooting my 2 or 3 shots , getting people as they drop with rico , and jumping at the perfect time , which i learned from ducati , pillbox , and GU.
So now , i can do fairly well at all servers. Its all about getting good at many different styles , not just one. It will help you out TREMENDOUSLY.
i agree with SFM. it is a good thing to try. People say when being competetive you should use your mouse instead of the arrow keys because it is easyer to dodge.
Also, try to practice on servers that dont use flags, because when you eventually go to one that does have superflags, you will be already so good, that when one comes along... youll PWN like a maniac!!!
Also, try to practice on servers that dont use flags, because when you eventually go to one that does have superflags, you will be already so good, that when one comes along... youll PWN like a maniac!!!
- CannonBallGuy
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Dodging is always easier with a mouse?
Yeah... Right. 'cause everyone is the same and has the same mouse and mouse settings, obviously.
Yeah... Right. 'cause everyone is the same and has the same mouse and mouse settings, obviously.
Merry Christmas!
"Look, if I don't buy booze for the kids, I don't get any incriminating pictures to show to their parents, my business goes down the sink, my girlfriend leaves me and the baby goes on ebay. So help me search..."
"go Play With Toys urself in a dark alley u donkey ******" - Lt-Kirby2007
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Unless you get so good at playing without flags that you forget how to use them.A Heart Attack wrote:Also, try to practice on servers that dont use flags, because when you eventually go to one that does have superflags, you will be already so good, that when one comes along... youll PWN like a maniac!!!
Or try playing without flags on a flags server (ie, against players using flags) for more of a challenge.
IIRC, you have shot me a couple of times - that is, if there is some correspondence between your forum name and gaming names.CannonBallGuy wrote:Dodging is always easier with a mouse?
Yeah... Right. 'cause everyone is the same and has the same mouse and mouse settings, obviously.
I've wondered what was best for dodging. I've tried arrow keys and mouse, concluding that mouse is better. But still I can see others dodging way better and faster than me.
Can you make some recommendations? Which kind of mouse/ trackball/lightpen/whatever do you use? Any experience with joysticks in BZFlag? And you mention mouse settings - any tricks there?
I realize of course that I'm asking about your competetive edge, and understand it if you wont give away any secrets.
Tank you!
- optic delusion
- Special Forces
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The best player I ever saw, Wonko the Sane, uses a trakball. not many people have one. I think maybe that's the best way to control acceleration.
A big trick is to land where you want to land, after a jump. If someone is shooting behind you, turn just before you jump, so you land pointing at them, they'll probably still get you, but at least you have a better chance.
As for forum names matching in-game names... You may have noticed a +plus sign next to your name (in-game) after you registered. If you see + next to another player's name, you can be reasonably sure that's the name they use on the forum, but there's no guarantee, as many players have registered more than one name.
Did anyone find anything about Dutchrai? That's the best player guide, even without the pics.
A big trick is to land where you want to land, after a jump. If someone is shooting behind you, turn just before you jump, so you land pointing at them, they'll probably still get you, but at least you have a better chance.
As for forum names matching in-game names... You may have noticed a +plus sign next to your name (in-game) after you registered. If you see + next to another player's name, you can be reasonably sure that's the name they use on the forum, but there's no guarantee, as many players have registered more than one name.
Did anyone find anything about Dutchrai? That's the best player guide, even without the pics.
Take a look at my Defender game mode concept.
Thinking is not an automatic process. A man can choose to think or to let his mind stagnate, or he can choose actively to turn against his intelligence, to evade his knowledge, to subvert his reason. If he refuses to think, he courts disaster: he cannot with impunity reject his means of perceiving reality.
Thinking is not an automatic process. A man can choose to think or to let his mind stagnate, or he can choose actively to turn against his intelligence, to evade his knowledge, to subvert his reason. If he refuses to think, he courts disaster: he cannot with impunity reject his means of perceiving reality.
- CannonBallGuy
- Private First Class
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I use the arrow keys on my iBook keyboard where have a trackpad but no mouse.
I first started on an iMac with a mouse but I'd never played a game with a mouse like this before, so keys felt safer, then I got the laptop and much prefer to use a trackpad over a mouse for normal computing so have no wish to get a mouse at all.
And yes, I recognise your name from in-game.
I also heard that the barons use TrackBalls - some at least, and they are mighty good!
I first started on an iMac with a mouse but I'd never played a game with a mouse like this before, so keys felt safer, then I got the laptop and much prefer to use a trackpad over a mouse for normal computing so have no wish to get a mouse at all.
And yes, I recognise your name from in-game.
I also heard that the barons use TrackBalls - some at least, and they are mighty good!
Merry Christmas!
"Look, if I don't buy booze for the kids, I don't get any incriminating pictures to show to their parents, my business goes down the sink, my girlfriend leaves me and the baby goes on ebay. So help me search..."
"go Play With Toys urself in a dark alley u donkey ******" - Lt-Kirby2007
Thanks for a great match last night!CannonBallGuy wrote:I use the arrow keys on my iBook keyboard where have a trackpad but no mouse.
I first started on an iMac with a mouse but I'd never played a game with a mouse like this before, so keys felt safer, then I got the laptop and much prefer to use a trackpad over a mouse for normal computing so have no wish to get a mouse at all.
And yes, I recognise your name from in-game.
I also heard that the barons use TrackBalls - some at least, and they are mighty good!
I got my butt kicked, but I feel some improvement in my skills.
A big issue is indeed my controls. I use a mouse, simple, cheap Microsoft wheel mouse with a ball (not optical), and it s*cks. Not that the mouse bears all the fault - I'm not a shark at BZFlag (yet).
Anywho, I played some ducati style with my MS mouse, and my kills/killed ratio was bad, around 1/4. I left the game and switched to an IBM optical mouse, and my ratio improved to 1/2.
Not that this proves anything, but I really can feel how bad my MS mouse is for playing BZFlag, now that I actually try to dodge.
So now I'm considering a trackball. I don't like mice anyway, at work I use a RollerMouse. Anyone tried BZFlag with a RollerMouse?
Tank you!
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- Private First Class
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Short answer is no, but the long answer (you may know this already, but I thought I'd throw it out anyway)...
I used a Kensington Orbit some time ago in lieu of any mouse. I found it nice for precision work, but lousy for any sort of freehand/loose selection or drawing (I'm a web graphic artist by trade). The biggest issue I ran into is not having an equal roll/cursor ratio - ie, it takes more than one roll of the ball to make the cursor move across the screen. Of course, this didn't stop me from giving the ball a wicked spin and sending the cursor flying every once in a while. But then, if you crank up the mouse speed, you lose precision...
Maybe if you play with a very small mousebox size it wouldn't be an issue - but otherwise I would suggest trying to match your trackball/screen ratio as closely as possible - otherwise you'll find yourself desperately scrolling sideways trying to recover control of your tank while your opponent breathes down your neck. I normally play with a pretty small mousebox anyway so I find I only need minimal mouse movement.
By the way, if anybody wants a cheap Orbit, I have one with a pretty blue ball in my office (PS/2)...
I used a Kensington Orbit some time ago in lieu of any mouse. I found it nice for precision work, but lousy for any sort of freehand/loose selection or drawing (I'm a web graphic artist by trade). The biggest issue I ran into is not having an equal roll/cursor ratio - ie, it takes more than one roll of the ball to make the cursor move across the screen. Of course, this didn't stop me from giving the ball a wicked spin and sending the cursor flying every once in a while. But then, if you crank up the mouse speed, you lose precision...
Maybe if you play with a very small mousebox size it wouldn't be an issue - but otherwise I would suggest trying to match your trackball/screen ratio as closely as possible - otherwise you'll find yourself desperately scrolling sideways trying to recover control of your tank while your opponent breathes down your neck. I normally play with a pretty small mousebox anyway so I find I only need minimal mouse movement.
By the way, if anybody wants a cheap Orbit, I have one with a pretty blue ball in my office (PS/2)...