Situational Awareness... Too Many Lack It

Karrd · February 2005

A perfect example of situational awareness killing a game: (ns_tanith, large game)

1) Early skulk rush. Rather than leave some people guarding the base while others capture Res nodes, the entire team is so caught up in the frequent rush of skulks they never leave the base. The commander tries to get them to leave, but they ignore him.

2) Marines assualt double. A few minutes into the game, after finally leaving start, almost the entire marine team attacks double Res. In it are several gorges, an OC, and several skulks. Instead of going around or through, they repeatedly rush to thier deaths just to capture double. The commander repeatedly and directly tells them do not go to double, capture Res elsewhere. Again, they are so caught up in fighting they ignore him.

The marines started hurting as soon a 1 happened. While most of the other team was rushing base, others captured Res. Meanwhile, the marines (while gaining some Res from kills) are not capturing Res, and almost as important, they are not gaining room to fight.

2 was the nail in the coffin. Already at a severe Res disadvantage, the marines focus on the most heavily defended location on the map, ignoring all the other Res nodes that are probably not as defended.

If you ever needed a good example of situational awareness killing a game, this is it.

Shirtguns · March 2005

Sorry, but good luck getting people to learn about situational awareness. These are things you pick up if you're interested, not things you can teach people. Face it, pub nubs are just too stupid. I've spectated some people, and its unbelievable how unaware they are. I could hear skulk footsteps behind them, even the skulk biting someone to death, and they would not even notice it until they start getting bit by that skulk.

Good post, but you're preaching to the choir. Nubs need not apply.

Dreya · March 2005

Still, shirtguns, you could always tell them about the value of sound and help them out. I've seen some that are beyond reason, but if you give them a couple tips in game, in my experience, most are willing to listen and wind up coming back as better players. Great post though, I agree wholly with it.

OrionStar · April 2005

Thank you CombatJoe for some interesting points - I'm new to NS (I know the basics, I've even read the manual

), but I'm sure I can use some stategic/tactical knowledge.

I didn't know MT is disabled while building - must be because I early discovered THAT use of the minimap

I'm from germany and when playing on servers with english-speaking players I sometimes find it difficult to understand what they are saying over voice-comm, especially if they yell or if the connection lags. I'm pretty sure that there are some things I did which seemed really silly because I didn't know what the Commander wanted from me. Maybe I'll get over it - There isn't much I can do about that besides from learning by doing, right?

Orion

MadAngel · April 2005

lol.. i figured that map part by myself after 1 day.. and for the ppl that dont like me to fully load my guns.. you DO get tired of running out of ammo and NOT getting any new one because the com dosent know how to see who is requesting..
but GREAT post.. someone said its only for ppl who care.. i guess i do then.. i hope i can play with some of you guys sometime soon.. id love to get some help and to see how YOU do it..

(err... nuuby question but does ammo packs spawned by comm give pistol ammo?)

Swift_Idiot · April 2005

When you pick up an ammo pack on the ground, you get one full clip of ammo for whatever gun you are currently holding when you pick it up, unless you already have maxed out ammo. If you have a weapon that doesn't use ammo, you won't pick it up if you run across it (your knife works).

SLizer · May 2005

I have been giving this thread a miss for long time but not anymore! we have situational awarness needed right here on forums! That kharaa strat forum Is dying! see theres 5 thread s on first page and all of them quite bad or nothing special! WE need to wake up the kharaa!

and for in-game get those earpads for playing.....

Egad · June 2005

Most of this is common sense to me, it really is mind boggling how mnay people dont do this.

~Egad

voulge · July 2005

CombatJoe --- GREAT POST!!!

Something i think that is missing here (but also makes use of the holy grail = the map):
SCANNER SWEEP!!!... you missed it

I just love it when the big blue rings of salvation cut a swathe through all cloakers/the hive with its lovingly embracing *pingggggg* oooh... goosebumps

anyways; when you scanner sweep, all aliens/alien structures (mc/dc/sc/hive/rt) show up on your map. With the use of communication from the comm - you can quickly open your mapski and watch the little red blips bloom onto your screen. This is excellent for helping new players/players not aquainted with the map to identify hives/problem spots but also allows players to identify the spots where that nasty cloaking onos is sitting and devouring us ... one... by .... one

And last but not least --- Shirtguns and Dreva --- YES!!! Encourage them to use their ears!!! too many times you've got the hoolagans playing without sound/pumping mp3'z into their ears at ungodly decibels!!!

And do not shirk from pressing the MUTE key to gobsmack those punks who sit in spawn spamming their flashlight pumping out mario... sifnt MC HAMMER anyhow???

whell, thats hte end of my chapter, gj tho jo.... :O OMG! RHYZMS!!!!!1111

lol orion --- MACHT MIR MEINE OBS!!! JEZT KIND JEZT!!!

Cxwf · July 2005

As useful as Scanner Sweep is for finding cloakers, remember you can also use it to find non-cloakers that are simply hiding. If you know the Kharaa doesn't have Sensory, put random sweeps ahead of your marines anyway to reveal ambushes.

And every once in a while I'll be walking along, not see anything in front of me, and notice a red alien blip show up on my minimap near me. Then I have to stop and search the area and try to figure out where he's hiding. Great for finding aliens hiding in dark corners/ceilings/etc.

inveigle · July 2005

Thank you brother, excellent speech.

voulge · July 2005

minimap also is good for squads moving forwards... have one person covering back of train/team and their viewing cone will show all marines that there is a red blip (alien) following them even if you cannot hear them (no sound/mp3z/silence)

Thor_Bishmark · January 2009

Great post, a relevant subject for any NS player. SA is important for marines aswell as for aliens. Im still kinda new to NS and learning, and this post made alot of great mentioning of things to know and check regularly. Such as the map, MT and reading the game.

And then one thing which I think you can't stress enough and must beat into the head of players over and over and over again, is communicate with your team! Always listen, answer and follow orders.!

spellman23 · January 2009

QUOTE(Thor_Bishmark @ Jan 22 2009, 12:36 PM) »

Great post, a relevant subject for any NS player. SA is important for marines aswell as for aliens. Im still kinda new to NS and learning, and this post made alot of great mentioning of things to know and check regularly. Such as the map, MT and reading the game.

And then one thing which I think you can't stress enough and must beat into the head of players over and over and over again, is communicate with your team! Always listen, answer and follow orders.!

w00t! A New Player!

Note that most of the veteran have moved to the NS2 forums, so don't fret if it seems quiet here.