What Makes A Good (competitive) Player.
crisano
Join Date: 2004-09-01 Member: 31152Members
Join Date: 2004-09-01 Member: 31152Members
<div class="IPBDescription">My past experiences.</div> I know I wasn't the cream of the crop type player back when I was active in competitive NS but being in #cri put me in a rather unique position to view what makes a good player, I was able to see the good side and the bad. I took a look in the new competitive forum section and didn't see a post like this, there is probably one in the General Discussions but it's buried to who knows where. This is of course my views on what makes a good (competitive) player, anyone is free to add their own or criticize, voice their differences in opinions.
The list is of course not listed in importance, just key points.
-Raw ability, this is of course a given. The ability to execute commands quick enough, the hand-eye coordination ability that will allow you to track your target better, or perform intricate maneuvers in times of need. This trait is needed, but not the most important. The reason for that is this ability can be refined and practiced over time.
-Experience, this is in my opinion the most important aspect of being a good player because it encompasses a lot of aspects in NS that makes a player good. With gaming experience, one would understand the different functions and workings of the game to improve their own abilities. This includes strategies and knowledge of different maps, strategies and knowledge in usage of different weapons and abilities, knowledge of basic gaming function and physics as well. A lot of this information can be found at www.nslearn.org, anyone can access it and read the information. But that is only part of gaining experience, a player must also use the newfound knowledge and play with it in game. Sometimes experience can only be gained in game because in certain situations, a skirmish occurs and only in that skirmish will you gain the knowledge of how to react, how to counter and whatnot.
One quick example is countering a fade, good faders were unkillable, they had the ability to soak up damage and run off. However, as players gain experience, they strategies to prevent fades from hitting and running, they find ways to block fades retreats. It takes experience to know how to immediately react to a fade threat, inexperience may cause players to panic and just stand trying to empty their clip only to find the fade has claimed one teammate and gone off to heal.
Experience will also cause a player to panic less when something unexpected occurs. I know at times when I was a fade, I would panic when ambushed by either shotgunners or a cleverly planned trap. Sometimes I would panic and be slaughtered, other times I would remain focus and look for a clear path to escape to safety or do what is necessary and kill the remaining marine even though you are already low on health.
- Teamwork. This aspect of NS also comes with experience, you can't assemble a team and expect it to perform flawlessly together. It will usually take weeks for everyone to gel together, knowing each other's flaws as well as strong points. Knowing how each teammate will react in situations, so combining their skill to achieve a stronger fighting force.
Another important part of teamwork is attitude, ironic that one from #cri would post about this since in the past, it was evident that #cri probably had the biggest problems in this regard. It was probably one of the biggest factors why my team wasn't able to perform better. This is also one of the hardest things to change in a team, one can't force another to change who they are, it has to come with the players themselves. The first step to that is to recognize the problem, and step up to it. Morale actually plays a role in the game of NS. Maybe it's just me but from my experience, confidence is directly related to your ability to perform. If you feel the opposition is a bunch of newbs, you will trust your own abilities better, therefore being able to perform to your best. If you feel inferior to the other team, you might hold back, afraid you'll make a mistake and lose. That is when you really make mistakes. Morale also has its effects in the middle of a game, losing a key hive or half your base can have drastic effects. Good teams though will regroup and quickly strike out again while others will just mope and wait for the end.
This post wasn't written to educate players who have already been in the clan scene for a while and knows the ins-outs of competitive gaming. But it's for those newer up and coming clans new the scene. It's true that all it takes is 6 active players to form a clan, but I know every team out there really wants to win. They know that to win they need to constantly try to improve. I just wanted to lay out stuff they probaby already know, emphasize those facts and to let them know it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time and dedication to become a better team. The rewards of improving however is great, you'll end up having a lot more fun playing with a team that knows each other, compliments each other's abilities to become a lethal fighting force. Everyone has to start somewhere.
The list is of course not listed in importance, just key points.
-Raw ability, this is of course a given. The ability to execute commands quick enough, the hand-eye coordination ability that will allow you to track your target better, or perform intricate maneuvers in times of need. This trait is needed, but not the most important. The reason for that is this ability can be refined and practiced over time.
-Experience, this is in my opinion the most important aspect of being a good player because it encompasses a lot of aspects in NS that makes a player good. With gaming experience, one would understand the different functions and workings of the game to improve their own abilities. This includes strategies and knowledge of different maps, strategies and knowledge in usage of different weapons and abilities, knowledge of basic gaming function and physics as well. A lot of this information can be found at www.nslearn.org, anyone can access it and read the information. But that is only part of gaining experience, a player must also use the newfound knowledge and play with it in game. Sometimes experience can only be gained in game because in certain situations, a skirmish occurs and only in that skirmish will you gain the knowledge of how to react, how to counter and whatnot.
One quick example is countering a fade, good faders were unkillable, they had the ability to soak up damage and run off. However, as players gain experience, they strategies to prevent fades from hitting and running, they find ways to block fades retreats. It takes experience to know how to immediately react to a fade threat, inexperience may cause players to panic and just stand trying to empty their clip only to find the fade has claimed one teammate and gone off to heal.
Experience will also cause a player to panic less when something unexpected occurs. I know at times when I was a fade, I would panic when ambushed by either shotgunners or a cleverly planned trap. Sometimes I would panic and be slaughtered, other times I would remain focus and look for a clear path to escape to safety or do what is necessary and kill the remaining marine even though you are already low on health.
- Teamwork. This aspect of NS also comes with experience, you can't assemble a team and expect it to perform flawlessly together. It will usually take weeks for everyone to gel together, knowing each other's flaws as well as strong points. Knowing how each teammate will react in situations, so combining their skill to achieve a stronger fighting force.
Another important part of teamwork is attitude, ironic that one from #cri would post about this since in the past, it was evident that #cri probably had the biggest problems in this regard. It was probably one of the biggest factors why my team wasn't able to perform better. This is also one of the hardest things to change in a team, one can't force another to change who they are, it has to come with the players themselves. The first step to that is to recognize the problem, and step up to it. Morale actually plays a role in the game of NS. Maybe it's just me but from my experience, confidence is directly related to your ability to perform. If you feel the opposition is a bunch of newbs, you will trust your own abilities better, therefore being able to perform to your best. If you feel inferior to the other team, you might hold back, afraid you'll make a mistake and lose. That is when you really make mistakes. Morale also has its effects in the middle of a game, losing a key hive or half your base can have drastic effects. Good teams though will regroup and quickly strike out again while others will just mope and wait for the end.
This post wasn't written to educate players who have already been in the clan scene for a while and knows the ins-outs of competitive gaming. But it's for those newer up and coming clans new the scene. It's true that all it takes is 6 active players to form a clan, but I know every team out there really wants to win. They know that to win they need to constantly try to improve. I just wanted to lay out stuff they probaby already know, emphasize those facts and to let them know it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time and dedication to become a better team. The rewards of improving however is great, you'll end up having a lot more fun playing with a team that knows each other, compliments each other's abilities to become a lethal fighting force. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Comments
<span style='font-size:30pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:red'>RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF IDLE TIME</span></span>
It doesnt only come down to things as twitch-shooting, tracking, movement patterns, it also affects situational awareness (positioning on a tactical and strategical plane), since before you updated your hardware you couldnt trust your raw skill you had no chance to improve these parts of the game.
It's silly really, but hardware is a major restricting factor. Unfortunately much greater one than most people imagine.
[Edit]
As a comment on the original post, I agree that raw skill BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT is one of the least important factors. The truth, however, is that you need to be able to perform at a certain level and trust your skills enough to be able to actually put your experience to use. Not to forget, keeping calm is much easier if you know you have the ability to gun that skulk down if he does jump around the corner.
<span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:red'>RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF IDLE TIME</span></span> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I play 3 hours a week and I can still shoot just as well as some of them :> ( ok yesterday didnt' count)
note: good read, well layed out. This should also go on the cal-NS forums
Nicely put sano, for my sake I'm glad you didn't put the computer remark <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Don't forget to add in: Good internet connection. 56kers need not apply :-p
note: good read, well layed out. This should also go on the cal-NS forums <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed compleatly.
<span style='color:white'>Be nice.</span>
Its all about attitude and learning from your mistakes. Learning from mistakes involves not making excuses for when you do make a mistake. Calling out "BS" or hacks or whatever, doesn't help you any.
Acknowledge the mistake, learn from it, and try not to make it again.
You should come back to NS.... :*(
Don't forget to add in: Good internet connection. 56kers need not apply :-p <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can live with 56k. Raw latency is really half as big a deal as lossyness or a bad router is - but even under really bad conditions, NS is playable. You will have a harder time learning the most effective tactics - and some are simply a bit different than those of the non-lagging, but 150-250 ms of lag actually feels less restrictive than say a bad mouse and 30-40 FPS in a fight.
I have both right now - FPS spikes down to nearly nothing in any fight and really bad lag (even on nearly local servers its spiky and worthless - in US scrims its just crazy laggy). Yes it hampers my ability to do anything, but mostly it just means that interims of mediocre play will get me owned where they'd normally suffice for survival - like bad positioning but good aiming vs a skulk will likely end me up dead, but lag and low fps or no, correct aiming and positioning usually still works.
Aaaaanyway, I can imagine its harder to learn off of bad conditions, but not impossible to play under once you know. It also gets frustrating as hell, but when does NS not do that?
Btw : Seriously, smooth play on a Gf2 MX? What drivers? :/
When I had a GF2 a while ago, it wasn't a MX. I think it was a... GTS, I forget but it was 32 megs of ram. I was able to push constant 50-60 fps though, with CS and NS. Atleast when I looked at it, and I didnt' feel any fps lag droppage when I played with it.
You generally have to be able to do things by yourself until there are fades or your team gets things done too slowly. A good marine should have a higher than 50:50 chance to kill 2 skulks attacking him.
Same goes for well executed ambushes on lone marines, as well, you're generally going to be in trouble. If you can set up a good defensive position, however, even if you're parasited, you should generally be able to kill those two or three skulks rushing down the hallway.
now you got wannabe's, and my arguement is won by the existance of this thread
do we need to be reminded what makes good players?
do we actually want to know?
back then we didnt talk about this crap, it came to us like the urge to go to the toliet
this isnt a topic of discussion
Fair enough, I'm probably not banned because it would be my first offence in any way on the NS forums (and the mods seem to be avoiding this forum all together anyways ATM).
<span style='color:white'>What can I say? Modding you is sometimes interrupted by this 'produce NS' hobby I've got. Irresponsible, I know.</span>
I'd like to apologize to firewater, he's done some things that have bugged me in the past but he didn't deserve my criticisms, exspecially since alot of my opinions were based on rumors that I don't nessicarily belive were founded any more.
Sorry firewater.
[edit] and malibu, it's a little unfair to say that I have been commiting "repeated insulting posts", the one here is really the only one I made. The other one may have been acusitory, but it wasn't meant to be insulting, sorry firewater on both counts anyways.
Though i do respect you for apologizing, you are a lot classier than the people on the server you hail from.
Strange. You know, I played games in the 90s, and all I remember is the same mix of classy types, me-too-ists, social inepts, and down-to-earth-smacktards I see today, only on vastly smaller scales and in worse graphics...
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->now you got wannabe's, and my arguement is won by the existance of this thread<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, so the intention of self-improvement is a standard of wannabeism? In that case, sign me up!
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->do we need to be reminded what makes good players?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dunno about you, but me? Yup.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->do we actually want to know?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hell yeah.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->back then we didnt talk about this crap, it came to us like the urge to go to the toliet<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"Back in my days, the young respected the elderly, work was hard, but the payoff was fair, there was no crime... Not anywhere near here, at least, and people knew how to behave. Now gimme my crane."
Sorry, ruffeh, but if you consider the 90s the passed golden days of gaming, you live in a dreamworld, plain and simple.
Back on the CAP server people respected him, when they could have just as easily thought him a cheater, but the difference was that he helped people.
To me personally, having a sense of where the game is leading to is the most important. I personally lack great personal skill beyond my ability to sense where the game is heading and adjust my play accordingly. One has to understand the game concepts and put them to practical use. It's a foresight that is built only with experience and sound knowledge of the game. Most good commanders possess this ability, as do many excellent alien players of all types (Mustang is known mainly for his personal skill, but he's always in the right place at the right time, and it's not a coincidence).
Great personal skill is another ability that most possess. It's not just aim or movement, but knowing when to do what. When to glide jump around the corner and when to wait for the first marine to pass, so you can get a jump on the second one instead. This is also built off of experience, and requires more innate abilities than anything else.
Communication skills are also important. Most people simply lack the ability to communicate useful information without the excess garbage most people add. I often mute people in pubs because they add so much trash to their voice communications. It's also important to know when to coordinate and when to let things flow.
Personal skills can also be important when interacting with other players beyond your own team. Being able to talk to random people and not come off as overzealous or arrogant is a quality that many players never learn, and some don't want to. I personally believe you need a bit of arrogance and a feeling of self-importance to do well in the competitive community of any game, otherwise you'll get overrun by people less qualified to do what you do. What most people lack (myself included) is knowledge of when to turn this off and be a normal person around ordinary players who lack your skill. Romano and several of great NS players have this ability to talk to the average person and not be over-the-top, and they are regarded far more kindly than those who don't do this.
Edit: and yes, those are in order of preference at least to me. Personal skills are the least important in a competitive player, but the most important when dealing with anyone outside the competitive community. Inside the competitive community, people respect those good at the game, whether they generally like them or not. This doesn't apply outside channels like #findnsscrim, the average person does not care that you are the Commander of a great clan or most likely the best fade in the game. They care that you're being an **** to them and they will hate you and your clan, if not the entire community, for being a ******.
Don't forget to add in: Good internet connection. 56kers need not apply :-p <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sigh, unfortunately true. I can't even begin to bhop because of my ping...